Just Give Me 10 Days - Round 36

The first half, I was on vacation with no scale. I tried to be mindful on vacation, but I did not count calories. My last weight before vacation on March 24 was 236.6. My weight April 5 was 238.8.

4/5 / 238.8 / I'm okay with this weight after 1.5 weeks of vacation. We cut our vacation short because one of our two beloved cats died in the care of our wonderful cat sitter. I'm pretty upset. Home just isn't the same right now.

4/6 / 239 / Well, I am comfort eating. I can't deny that I don't feel in total control of things right now.


4/7 / 230 / Comfort eating. Hormonal flakiness. Whee.


Right before our vacation started, one of my uncles died. Then my sister's adult stepson died. Then my cat, who I adopted right after my first husband died in 2009. I feel very battered right now, so I am so grateful for these thread challenges and the opportunity to read about all of the successes and struggles everyone else is facing. You all inspire and encourage me just by being you and being on your journeys. Thank you.

R34 SW 124.2
R34 EW 123.7
R35 SW 123.4
R35 EW 123.0
GW 117

Day/Weight/Comment

03/29 - 123.1
03/30 - 123.1
03/31 - 123.6
04/01 - 124.9 pizza and wine again
04/02 - 124.7 riding this out, trusting to the long view
04/03 - 125.2 ugh, not getting this at all. You would think I was trying to gain weight.
04/04 - 125.2
04/05 - 123.8
04/06 - 123.1 back to where I started
04/07 - 123.4 not what I hoped for, but I'll try another round

W 223
CW 213
GW: 150-160

round 35 EW 215

Goal: increase daily activity
Day/Weight/Comment

3/29 213 dropped 2 lbs since yesterday morning. Thinking my scale may be broken.
3/30 212.4 hmmmm Not sure what I did different this week but I like where this is going.
3/31did not weigh
4/1 Easter
4/2 215. I was not very good
4/3 213.2. Better.
4/4 212.8 did not eat much yesterday. I was under the weather.
4/5 212.8
4/6. 213
4/7 213 not gonna be down that ending weight was same as beginning considering 14 days ago I had surgery and have not had a chance to workout much.

This is so cool. My first round here.

SW: 216 1/01
GW: 185

Day/Weight/Comment

3/29 /202.8/

3/30 /202.8/ worked out (burpees/planks) walked 3.25 miles including hills/stairs, total calories below goal. Food choices today were not stellar but I am only human.

3/31 /202.8/ I weigh in first thing in the am after brb. After chips and beer for dinner last night I didn't expect changes.

4/1 / 201.7 no exercise yesterday just normal routine and stayed in my caloric budget. Lost a 1.1 lbs. Challenges like this make me think about what I am eating and my goals. Will workout today. Happy Easter!
4/2 / 201.7 rode my bicycle 11+ miles yesterday and stayed within my caloric budget. Tired after that. Didn’t realize how out of shape I really am.
4/3 / 201.7 this morning. Did strength training yesterday and felt good. Kept with in my caloric budget.
4/4 / 201.7 loads of exercise yesterday and I burned a lot of calories but I ate a bunch too. In budget!
4/5 I was out of town for work so I didn’t have a chance to weigh myself this morning. I did strength training.
4/6 / 201.7 this morning. Yesterday I walked about 3 miles and I was over budget by about 80 cal.
4/7 / 201.7 disappointed but I was over again yesterday and it showed this morning. I rode my bicycle 10+ miles yesterday.

Round 9 for me. I REALLY wanted to shoot for ONEDERLAND this round, so I'm going to. I may not get there, but I'm going to give it all I've got. Potential issues that could slow me down: one scheduled day of basketball, my brother-in-law flaking out on me again regarding teaching me squats and deadlifts (meeting up with him Saturday night), Easter (dinner and candy), and potentially feeling a little bit MEH. No matter what happens regarding my goal, though, my weight trend is clearly and steadily heading in the right direction.

Age: 45
Height 5’11”
Historical SW (January 2015): 245 lbs
Recent SW: 220.0 lbs (1/14/18)
Ultimate GW: 195.0 lbs (and then reevaluate)
R28 SW = 220.0 EW = 219.8 (-0.2) AW = 220.2 (+0.2)
R29 SW = 219.8 EW = 214.0 (-5.8) AW = 215.9 (-4.3)
R30 SW = 214.0 EW = 214.0 (-0.0) AW = 214.1 (-1.8)
R31 SW = 214.0 EW = 209.2 (-4.8) AW = 211.3 (-2.8)
R32 SW = 209.2 EW = 209.6 (+0.4) AW = 208.9 (-2.4)
R33 SW = 209.6 EW = 207.4 (-2.2) AW = 208.2 (-0.7)
R34 SW = 207.4 EW = 206.6 (-0.8) AW = 206.6 (-1.6)
R35 SW = 206.6 EW = 204.2 (-2.4) AW = 204.1 (-2.5)

Total loss (since 1/14/18, but before this round): 15.8 lbs
Average weight loss per round: 2.18 lbs

R36 SW = 204.2
Goal for this round: ONEDERLAND (going for it)

Day/Weight/Comment

3/29 = 203.4 (-0.8). Another BOUNCE BACK™, but a good way to start the challenge. I'm getting excited about the Keto idea, but it's not so much about weight loss (as I'm getting pretty good at that). I've talked about potential health benefits (less inflammation, something good regarding my brain, etc.), but I also recognize how hopelessly addicted to sugar I am. To me, if it's not actually a drug, it might as well be. When I get near it, I go insane. It takes EVERYTHING in me to avoid partaking in this habit, and EVEN MORE to get me to stop once I've started. It's a craving, it NEVER makes me feel good when I eat it (just my taste buds!), and I think my life might be a little better when it's no longer part of it. This will be an experiment, but one that I'm excited to try. As soon as I make an appointment with my doctor to make sure I'm not going to kill myself with it, that is. Food was good yesterday, though may have been just slightly below maintenance (I'm careful to estimate "over" when tracking food). Going to the gym tonight with my wife. I'm pretty fit overall, and I did a bunch of research regarding proper form on squats and deadlifts, so I'm going to try them tonight (with very light weights). T minus one more week before I can play basketball again (stupid Spring Break).

3/30 = 203.2 (-0.2). Had a decent day eating yesterday. I'm noticing that, since I've been tracking steps and having them converted to "extra calories," I've been eating all those calories. It's not bad, necessarily, but it's been happening. What also happens, though, is I'm walking a lot more as a result. It's probably a good tradeoff, but I'm thinking I'll try to eat back no more than half (something I try to do on any exercise day). I'm 99% sure I'm going to try keto. If I can get through the first 8 weeks, I'll stick with it for at least 6 months to see if I notice any tangible benefits. I'm going to start in a couple of weeks, though, because I want to enjoy my Easter candy in a non-binge way. My last hurrah. Don't judge me!

3/31 = 202.0 (-1.2). DROOSH™ (night after drinking). Happy hour with coworkers led to 3 beers (not too bad), a quesadilla (all I had for dinner), and a minor binge on Peeps and Lucky Charms marshmallows (450 calories or so) when I got home. Food otherwise was pretty good for the day. Finally going to learn deadlifts and squats from my brother-in-law today (unless he flakes). Having a hard time trusting that this is my actual weight, but I'm going to suspend disbelief for today.

4/1 = 202.4 (+0.4). I expected a bigger bump than this, so I'm relatively happy with this number. I have to confess that I am writing this in the evening after a really long Easter Sunday at my in-laws' house. I had lunch out with my wife and brother-in-law yesterday, but at a small dinner to compensate (and stayed under calories). I finally learned how to deadlift and squat (as brother-in-law did NOT flake on me), so I'll be starting SL 5x5 soon (probably a week from tomorrow). I'll write about today (Easter) tomorrow morning after my weigh-in. Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend.

4/2 = 205.0 (+2.6). This would be shocking if it wasn't so expected. Holidays are kind of meh. My plan for this week was to spread my candy out over the next two weeks. I'll have some of it, but I think I'll be giving most of it away. Ready to jump back on the wagon this week. Have a friend visiting on Tuesday and Wednesday; will try to make healthy choices and eat/drink reasonable portions.

4/3 = 203.4 (-1.6). BOUNCE BACK™. I didn't eat in a particularly healthy way yesterday, but I was within calories, so it was better than Easter! Yesterday I ate at one of the places I won't be eating at when I start my new way of eating. I'm doing a bit of a "farewell tour" of sorts. I'm not going to change my challenge goal, but it's going to be TOUGH to reach at this point, especially with my friend visiting tonight and tomorrow (she's a foodie/drinkie). I'll do what I can to get close. At least basketball is back this Thursday. That should help out my bottom line. Feeling a little disconnected today; I wonder how much my 5 hours of sleep has to do with it. My wife and I spent about 7 hours cleaning last night after work in preparation of my friend's visit (my wife spent an extra 3 hours after I went to bed). I need to get myself motivated to keep my home cleaner on a regular basis. These marathon cleaning sessions could lead to divorce if we're not careful.

4/4 = 204.4 (+1.0). Had dinner out with my friend (ate too much, salty), and had 3 beers. Definitely over on calories. Going to a museum today, so should get plenty of steps in.

4/5 = 202.8 (-1.6). DROOSH™ again (weight loss after a night of drinking). I actually got myself sick last night: 3 beers, 3 mixed drinks (over a 3-hour period), sat in the back seat when my wife drove us home. I'm pretty sure it was my wife's driving. Ate really healthy yesterday, then pooped on it all with my drinking. I love alcohol, but I think that "drunk" is officially not for me anymore. I'm going to log all my food from yesterday, but I didn't yesterday. Basketball tonight and the gym. Hoping my hangover wears off by then.

4/6 = 204.6 (+1.8). This makes more sense. I basically had a weekend in the middle of the week. Last night was basketball (and I played great), but there's no way I should have lost 1.6 at yesterday's weigh-in. I ate healthy yesterday for the most part (despite my hangover cravings). I think I decided, since I had a weekend in the middle of the week, that I am going to start keto on Monday. I just need to do some shopping and meal prep this weekend. I'm really excited to give this a try, even if I'm a bit afraid of what the transition is going to be like. On a side note, I glanced back at my individual days this challenge, and I decided that this was going to be a rough challenge for me no matter what (happy hour, Easter, friend visiting from out of town in the middle of the week). I'll actually be pretty pleased if I can just get back down to my SW for the challenge (204.2).

4/7 = 207.4 (+2.8). I have no explanation for this. And I'm pretty salty about it. Playing basketball today. Really disheartened right now. This feels like a HUGE step backwards.

So that was my FIRST reaction. Second reaction? I had Pho yesterday. Salt bomb (REALLY bad). Empanadas from my favorite place for dinner. Salt bomb (still pretty bad). Moderate (580 calories) Easter candy binge. I was at about maintenance in calories, so there's NO WAY I gained 2.8 lbs. I know this, we ALL know this. Talking myself down from the ledge. See you all next round!

R36 EW = 207.4 (+3.2)
R36 AW = 203.9 (-0.2)

"Our greatest glory is, not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Oliver Goldsmith

Round 36 Goal = Maintain! Range is 125-130

3/29 - 128.2 - ate just over maintenance yesterday, exhausted emotionally, early night
3/30 - 129.6 - whoops! ate pretty much way over maintenance yesterday. Just in a funk emotionally.
3/31 - 128.8 - ate at maintenance, 10,000 steps
4/1 - 129.0 - under maintenance by a bit, 12K steps including a 3 mile run
4/2 - 128.0 - under maintenance calories, 10K steps, a couple of short walks and a short run
4/3 - 127.2 - under maintenance calories, 10K steps. A new low. Fluctuations are so fun...
4/4 - 127.6 - just under maintenance calories, 10K steps. Possible that my calorie limit is a little low now but more time will reveal.
4/5 -127.8 - Lost my *kitten* yesterday and ate almost 1000 calories over my limit. 5K steps.
Anxious and heartrent about upcoming events in life... I feel fragile and volatile around situations involving family, travel plans, finances, work pressure... I keep telling myself, three weeks from now this upcoming trip will be over and I will be back at work and can settle down in the saddle and live my real life.
4/6 -127.8 - under maintenance and 10K steps yesterday. Thanks for the loves, loves.

4/7 - 127.4 - under maintenance and 10K steps yesterday. Average down .6 lb this round, that's fine - too small a number to correct for and if I am slowly dropping I am fine with that.

R36 * Start = 128.2 * Ave = 128.1 * Min = 127.2 * End = 127.4

Started Keto WOE 7/17/17 (mid-Rnd 10)
*Travel no scale part of the time
Weight on 1/17/17 174.5 SW Rnd 36 138.5 AW 138.85

This is NOT A DIET. It’s a LIFESTYLE.

So far this has been ALL KETO - NO EXERCISE! I’m within a few pounds of my goal!

3/29 139.0 First time in weeks I’ve added HWC to my coffee and it was a Venti latte from Starbucks. No great eating choices working at the quilt show yesterday either. I should have just had the protein shake I took. Back on track today!
3/30 139.5 Sweet Tomatoes for lunch yesterday. Red Lobster with A&C today. Don’t understand the gain, will stick to the plan.
3/31 139.0 I had the Lunch Garlic Shrimp Scampi with broccoli and a garden salad with red wine vinegar for lunch yesterday. YUM! Today I’m going to the quilt show.
4/1 139.0 Yesterday morning I had my coffee and grabbed a “3 ingredient peanut butter cookie” as I went out the door. That little cookie kept me satisfied until 6PM! Then I made a hamburger patty, fried egg and spinach. (The cookie recipe says to make 15 1” balls but I ended up with 26 1” balls. Clearly the writer needed a ruler! LOL)
4/2 139.0. Water fitness starts today! At 7:45AM it is 65* and sunny! I’ve had my morning coffee and have an hour to “process” it.
4/3 139.0 I expected to be sore this morning but think drinking a copious amount of water (at least 17 cups) has flushed the lactic acid from my muscles. I feel GREAT!
4/4 138.5 I am off to water fitness!
4/5 137.5 I had a glass of moscato (which brought me to my carb limit) last night and only drank about 13 c of water. This morning my arms are a little sore. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining and a cool breeze is coming in the back door. Life is good.
4/6 139.0 Up 1.5#?? Is this the effect of 3.5 onion rings?? Or is it from the wine the night before? Something is causing me to have intestinal issues the last couple of days. I cut back on my magnesium supplement to see if that helps. Not sure about water fitness today. Granddaughter has softball double header this afternoon and we have a dinner date with friends at 5. Hope I feel better!
4/7 139 Dinner was good. Went to listen to the band that replaced one of our favorites. These guys sounded like they should be playing in someone’s basement not a lounge. My tummy Issue seems to have resolved. Pool opening party tonight. High wind warnings from noon to midnight. Bye bye lemon blossoms. Glad I got pictures yesterday!