April 2018 Challenge
Replies
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Sunday 4/1 132.4 @ 25.7% FB
Sunday 4/8 131.4 @ 25.3% FB
Sunday 4/15 131.2 @ 25.4% FB
Sunday 4/22
Sunday 4/29
Well....... it could be worse, but I think I'm going to have to make some tweaks.
For the last 8 years, I always platue at 130, and a lot of times to get to that point I have to work really hard.
This week I have been obsessed with numbers; calories, macros, daily steps, working out at like 20 minutes everyday, and most days I do more than that, and of course the scale numbers.
I think this week I'm going to try to change my macro % a little, and lower my carb intake a little.
Bring on week 3!2 -
Sunday 04/01: 227.0
Sunday 04/08: 224.2
Sunday 04/15: 224.2
Sunday 04/22:
Sunday 04/29:
Total Loss: 89.8 lbs
Gah. I was registering at 223 all week long, but then I had a "relaxed" weekend, including dinner out and drinks at home. A rare occasion for me, and I did enjoy myself... so a 0 loss / 0 gain this morning is worth it ( I suppose
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SW-227.2 (4/8)
4/15-220.4
4/22
4/29
First week DONE! I had my ups and downs physically but I must say ZERO cravings for anything. The fact that I haven't had any cravings in mind boggling. I am slowly figuring out how much "value" everything I eat is. Early in the week I found my caloric intake too high (about 200 calories higher) but as the days go by I have found a balance of the macros I need and have been pretty spot on. Another major accomplishment, I learned how to eat cauliflower (I HATED CAULIFLOWER) and I've had it a couple of times this week and it is becoming a major star in my menu. Physically has been a whirlwind, but as the week has gone by I feel much better. I am optimistic for the future and am so glad I found this community.7 -
Hey everyone.
I have been stuck in the 240s for months now.
I am still doing keto and OMAD and I just gave up alcohol altogether even though I was only doing keto friendly drinks.
I went to see my doctor and she thinks I have a bunch of issues with my thyroid, insulin (no diabetes), ovaries and she tested my testosterone which is too high. It sounds like my hormones are out of whack and she is positive that that is causing my weight gain and my difficulty in getting rid of it.
I felt so discouraged that when I got home, I got 2 slices of pizza and a brownie. The next day a whole wheat raisin English muffin with butter and a massive non keto salad with dried cranberries. The day after that a diet coke, a burrito and ice cream. I mean, I did it all. I feel like all my hard work is not paying off because my body is actually refusing to cooperate.
Anywho, I am wrapping up my pity party and I am back on Keto OMAD tomorrow while I wait for all my blood work results to get in. I had so many tubes of blood drawn
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How to you check muscle loss?0
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@JoannaVenuto That's a total pain for you and very understandable that you are really fed up! The good thing is though that you may find out what is happening and why you aren't loosing any weight currently. I just wonder if it is worth trying eating twice a day, not sure why but it might just switch your body up a bit. Also on the bright side although you haven't lost you have at least been sticking around the same weight which is excellent although it may not feel like that just now. I'm not sure about you but in the past if I've not been loosing weight I've not been watching what I eat therefore I've put lots on, you haven't, you've stuck with it and you haven't gained so that's a definite positive. Frustrating but positive
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@JoannaVenuto I'm sorry you're struggling right now but I think you're on the right track with getting your blood work done. And it's huge that you haven't gained - I think it's a good sign that when you get your hormones in balance you'll start losing again. I agree with @chinatownchina about eating twice a day. Maybe do OMAD every other day or a few times a week, and just keep a super close eye on your Macros. Hang in there and it might be that getting your hormones in balance will make all the difference. I'm curious to see if your little carb binge doesn't actually kick things into gear. I've found that when I went over on my carbs and then got right back on track I actually seem to lose more. Maybe I'm crazy... You're gorgeous, btw, and you can do it!!!2
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@JoannaVenuto You're going through a lot. I think you need a YOU day or two. Take some time out to do something special for yourself. I'll echo what the others said about eating more than one meal a day. I've done OMAD, but when I did that exclusively long term, it didn't work well for me. Sprinkled in here and there was fine. My most recent losses have been when I'm eating about every 5 hours with absolutely NO snacking. I think it gave my body enough time to break down the meals then just burn fat for a bit before the other meal.
I'm hoping you're able to get answers to what's going on through the blood work. Oh and while your goal looks like it's weight loss and it doesn't seem to be happening, not gaining while you're struggling to lose it a huge win. Most people would throw in the towel. Big hugs to you!!
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How to you check muscle loss?
Here’s my take on measurements. All measurements are inherently inaccurate (Nothing is perfect). With that in mind I use all my measurements as bench marks to compare progress. I try to weigh myself at the same time, on the same scale, in the same time interval. For me that means; as soon as I get up, on my Tanita scale, every day.
Let me be clear! I’m not suggesting weighing every day. In my obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) way, that’s what I feel compelled to do. What I am suggesting, is that whatever you do, do your routine as close to the same manner as you can each time you weigh-in.
My scale is a Tanita brand. Along with my weigh it calculates, body fat, hydration, muscle mass and several other measurements. There are a countless number of scales out there that will do the same thing. Although I’m not confident that my Tanita scale is the most accurate measurement tool out there, I am confident in the method I use it.
ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: I use my Tanita scale for muscle mass. For our challenge group I compare my muscle mass reading, as well as other readings, over a given time frame. For example. On my first weigh back on 31 Dec, 2017 my muscle mass was 125.0 lbs and yesterday it was 123.6 lbs. So, 125.0-123.6=1.4. I’ve lost 1.4lbs of muscle mass over those 14 weeks.
Long answer to short question???? Anyway, I wouldn’t take any single measurement to the bank. However, using the same tool, same time, same place method I believe any measurement can be used as a benchmark to compare your daily, weekly or monthly progress. Whatever measurement tool you choose, be consistent and measure away.
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So sick of the roller coaster
March 31st: 244.6
Sunday 4/1: 246.4 (+1.8)
Sunday 4/8: 242.6 (-3.8)
Sunday 4/15: 243.4 (+0.8)
Sunday 4/22:
Monday 4/29:0 -
So sick of the roller coaster
March 31st: 244.6
Sunday 4/1: 246.4 (+1.8)
Sunday 4/8: 242.6 (-3.8)
Sunday 4/15: 243.4 (+0.8)
Sunday 4/22:
Monday 4/29:
I call it the weight loss cha-cha... 2 steps forward, one step bad. As long as your overall trend is down, you're doing it right. I understand the frustration though!3 -
JoannaVenuto wrote: »Hey everyone.
I have been stuck in the 240s for months now.
I am still doing keto and OMAD and I just gave up alcohol altogether even though I was only doing keto friendly drinks.
I went to see my doctor and she thinks I have a bunch of issues with my thyroid, insulin (no diabetes), ovaries and she tested my testosterone which is too high. It sounds like my hormones are out of whack and she is positive that that is causing my weight gain and my difficulty in getting rid of it.
I felt so discouraged that when I got home, I got 2 slices of pizza and a brownie. The next day a whole wheat raisin English muffin with butter and a massive non keto salad with dried cranberries. The day after that a diet coke, a burrito and ice cream. I mean, I did it all. I feel like all my hard work is not paying off because my body is actually refusing to cooperate.
Anywho, I am wrapping up my pity party and I am back on Keto OMAD tomorrow while I wait for all my blood work results to get in. I had so many tubes of blood drawn !
@JoannaVenuto - I just wanted to share that any time my hormones (all of those you listed plus my adrenal hormones, too) are out of whack, skipping meals is one of the worst things to do. It can cause spikes in your adrenaline and cortisol, which basically ratchet up the insulin resistance and levels and just toss fuel to the fire...
The thyroid and insulin naturally kind of due a yin/yang thing. Any time I got my TSH to go down (and my FT4 and FT3 to go up), my insulin would jump up. Any time I got my insulin to come down, my TSH would skyrocket!
So just know that if your reactions are that intense, there is still something out of whack in the overall system...
Take a deep breath and wait on those labs. We all have moments of hesitation and doubt. Don't let them derail you long term. (hugs)4 -
I forgot but 1 more down
Sunday 04/15 1491 -
chinatowninchina wrote: »@JoannaVenuto That's a total pain for you and very understandable that you are really fed up! The good thing is though that you may find out what is happening and why you aren't loosing any weight currently. I just wonder if it is worth trying eating twice a day, not sure why but it might just switch your body up a bit. Also on the bright side although you haven't lost you have at least been sticking around the same weight which is excellent although it may not feel like that just now. I'm not sure about you but in the past if I've not been loosing weight I've not been watching what I eat therefore I've put lots on, you haven't, you've stuck with it and you haven't gained so that's a definite positive. Frustrating but positive
Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words! I am hanging in there and back to keto, one meal at a time!
Massive hugs!1 -
@chinatowninchina @NikkiJRM @eggfooyamyam @KnitOrMiss
Thank you all SO MUCH for your kind and encouraging words!
After my carb binge I did in fact lose 3 pounds
...Not complaining! Just not sure what is going on in this body of mine 
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I agree, I think I am going to ease out on the OMAD and incorporate a keto breakfast (back on my yummy keto McMuffins
!) in my meals.
I will revisit OMAD/IF when I get my lab results and a solid idea of what the issue is.
On the plus side, I left my terrible doctor and met with my new one. She is absolutely amazing, knows and loves keto, understands the benefits of IF and OMAD. YAY! She also mentioned I should add another meal or snack. So you were definitely right.6 -
shizzlebeef wrote: »SW: 256.4 1/06/2018
4/01/2018 222
4/08/2018 221
4/15/2018 218
Not bad. I was able to hit my target. Hoping to finish April around 210-214 lbs. My initial goal was 220. Now I’m going for 200. Annnnnd I’m buying a house. So I guess there’s been a lot of change in my life recently.
well done re the target and amazing.......buying a house!! Soon you won't be able to afford food so that's more weight lost!! 3 -
So sick of the roller coaster
March 31st: 244.6
Sunday 4/1: 246.4 (+1.8)
Sunday 4/8: 242.6 (-3.8)
Sunday 4/15: 243.4 (+0.8)
Sunday 4/22:
Monday 4/29:
stick on in there it will come off, lots of us do this down and up down and up but as long as the trend is down it may take a while but you'll get there 1 -
JoannaVenuto wrote: »@chinatowninchina @NikkiJRM @eggfooyamyam @KnitOrMiss
Thank you all SO MUCH for your kind and encouraging words!
After my carb binge I did in fact lose 3 pounds ...Not complaining! Just not sure what is going on in this body of mine !
I agree, I think I am going to ease out on the OMAD and incorporate a keto breakfast (back on my yummy keto McMuffins !) in my meals.
I will revisit OMAD/IF when I get my lab results and a solid idea of what the issue is.
On the plus side, I left my terrible doctor and met with my new one. She is absolutely amazing, knows and loves keto, understands the benefits of IF and OMAD. YAY! She also mentioned I should add another meal or snack. So you were definitely right.
@JoannaVenuto - That's such great news!!!0 -
JoannaVenuto wrote: »@chinatowninchina @NikkiJRM @eggfooyamyam @KnitOrMiss
Thank you all SO MUCH for your kind and encouraging words!
After my carb binge I did in fact lose 3 pounds ...Not complaining! Just not sure what is going on in this body of mine !
I agree, I think I am going to ease out on the OMAD and incorporate a keto breakfast (back on my yummy keto McMuffins !) in my meals.
I will revisit OMAD/IF when I get my lab results and a solid idea of what the issue is.
On the plus side, I left my terrible doctor and met with my new one. She is absolutely amazing, knows and loves keto, understands the benefits of IF and OMAD. YAY! She also mentioned I should add another meal or snack. So you were definitely right.
@JoannaVenuto before I started Keto, I was looking into doing Carb Cycling. It's low carb most of the time, but then every once in awhile you have a high carb day. From the research I did, which was mostly just watching videos on YouTube, some people that talked about were on the Keto diet and said that sometimes if they just got to a point of not budging in weight no matter what they did, they would do a high carb day and it would throw the body off and they would be able to start losing again.
I haven't done a lot of research on this, but seems like Keto, everyone seemed to do it a little differently. Some said they would do 2 high carb days a week that worked for them, and others said they would just do it once a month.
But maybe that's just want your body needed to make it go "oh snap" and kick it back in gear.
I have also heard that some people don't think Carb Cycling does you any good. I just believe everyone's body is different and what works for one person won't work for another, which I think is why dieting is so hard, there's no one golden diet that makes everyone look the way they want.0 -
I did a diet, which at the time I didn't know was a variation of keto (didn't count carbs from vegetables) and a cheat day/ meal was allowed once a week after becoming fat adapted (2-8 weeks). I steadily lost weight after cheat day, but it was SOOOOO difficult to get back on the diet with a cheat day that often. I was always tempted and NEVER really got over those unhealthy foods mentally. I think it depends on willpower, or doin a clean night carb day0
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@rae1388
Calorie cycling is better for the people who suffer when they have a carb up day and struggle to regain ketosis...
But different doctors have different ideas for how to approach carb cycling. So feel free to try different plans and see what works for you. Just reset between each different type for a few weeks... Good luck.0 -
I steadily lost weight after cheat day, but it was SOOOOO difficult to get back on the diet with a cheat day that often. I was always tempted and NEVER really got over those unhealthy foods mentally. I think it depends on willpower, or doin a clean night carb day
My motto used to be, “If you’re not cheatin you’re not tryin”. However, I’ve got to tell you it has never worked for me. My cheat meal would turn into a cheat day which would turn into, oh well, what’s another day going to hurt………and now I’ve blown it, so I’ll just revert to my old bad eating habits.
That doesn’t mean I don’t cheat. I still do, I just don’t plan on it. In fact, I’ve cheated the last two days because of events that overwhelmed my will power. In both cases I decided to eliminate all the bad eating choices by consuming them.
I’m just not good at saying no. I can usually control bad choices from coming into my house but in the out of the house environment there are cheesecakes lurking around every corner.
My point is I don’t PLAN on cheating. I PLAN on eating well. When I do cheat it is not because I’ve given myself a preplanned pass to eat badly. It is because I’ve caved. And I will cave again. And I will regret it. However, I’m not going to beat myself up over it. Today I’m back on it. I’m safe in my cheesecake-free house where I can weigh myself daily, log my macros and obsess over things in my control.
In my opinion, rewarding your good eating habits with bad eating habits seems counter-productive. That said, I know at some point I will cave again. I know the scale is likely to go the wrong way for a while when it happens. I won’t try to make up for it by fasting or restricting calories. I will keto on just like it never happened. I will move on as if it were just another I eating fat keto day.
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@stormywxs288 if you ever find yourself desiring cheesecake there are a ton of keto cheesecakes recipes out there, traditional and no-bake, since the main ingredient is cream cheese.
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@stormywxs288 if you ever find yourself desiring cheesecake there are a ton of keto cheesecakes recipes out there, traditional and no-bake, since the main ingredient is cream cheese.
Ha Ha! I love the way you think. Maybe I'll try a whole week of nothing but keto cheesecake. Then I'd be able to say no to the real deal the next time my will power is challenged.
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I periodically allow myself meals with higher carb. I don't consider it a cheat for me, just enjoying life & food with family. It happens about once a month and I don't go all crazy, just a small something, then back to Keto. I don't like feeling like I'm depriving myself.
I don't really carb cycle because I get the wicked cravings afterward and I don't enjoy the torture, but I do have higher calorie days with more protein and fat than usual. That works to kickstart things when the weight loss is slow going for me.4 -
My lab results are back, and my body is basically attacking my thyroid which in turn is causing all my hormones to be out of whack and causing me to feel extremely exhausted just minutes after waking up. This also slows down all the processes in my body, including my metabolism.
I have a sensitivity to carbs and my doctor said that my fasting blood sugar would have been higher if I wasn't on keto.
My insulin resistance is a concern too; according to my doc, my insulin is storing all the food I eat as fat instead of letting me use it as fuel, which adds to my feeling low on energy...I hate you right now, insulin.
So, essentially, my body is a fat storing beast from hell. I am glad my weight situation isn't worse.
My triglycerides and cholesterol are excellent, though gotta thank that bacon and butter, keto is amazing!
@eggfooyamyam, I know you had asked about my results, here they are!
I am so relieved to finally know what the issue is with me. It's not the end of the world, just something else I will conquer.
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So, @JoannaVenuto
Are we talking Hashimoto's or Graves? There are several ladies with Hashi's on the boards... I think perhaps one with Graves?0 -
stormywxs288 wrote: »@stormywxs288 if you ever find yourself desiring cheesecake there are a ton of keto cheesecakes recipes out there, traditional and no-bake, since the main ingredient is cream cheese.
Ha Ha! I love the way you think. Maybe I'll try a whole week of nothing but keto cheesecake. Then I'd be able to say no to the real deal the next time my will power is challenged.
@stormywxs288
I don't know about you, but for me, that argument of burning myself out on a food or on making myself sick on a food never holds weight. I might abstain for a few days or weeks, but the desire always returns, in full force, when least convenient.
And sadly, I've tested that theory many, many, almost countless times.
And it's because our body is auto-set to forget the worst of any situation. It's why women can be intimate again after rough childbirth, why people go after the wrong type of significant other, why we forget how sick something makes us, why we think we can do better this time, etc.
The memories are "softened" so that we can cope with all of life's...adventures?...without staying in perpetual fight or flight mode, etc.
P.S. I believe there is at least once cheesecake related recipe on one of the egg fast short term fat fast protocols, so as long as it was baked, you could probably do it...0 -
@JoannaVenuto Wow, it must be such a relief to have that knowledge, and confirmation that you are on the right track and something else it at play. Seriously, your Doc sounds outstanding! I'd love to know what your course of action will be. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us, please continue.1
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Today is my 100th day of keto. That puts me in the 15th week of my keto journey. My hope is that keto will not be just another diet, but a no-kidding lifestyle change. My hopes are high for several reasons:
1. Scale Victories: lost pounds and inches
2. Non Scale Victories: Brain, Joints, Mood
3. Simplicity: Only eat twice a day, Meal Prep figured out, 6 hour eating window
4. Sustainable: Satiated and I love eating fat
5. Health: No longer obese, Blood pressure in check, approaching healthy BMI
These are just some of the reasons I think keto will not just be another diet attempt but a real change. I also need to acknowledge that the encouragement, support, accountability and guidance I’ve received from this forum are a huge part of my 100 day accomplishment. Thank you all.
By the way, I’m NOT going to celebrate by having a piece of cheesecake.
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