Where I'm At

I've kind of slacked off on keeping you updated, sorry for that. We've been working a little overtime at work, not used to that at this time of year, it has me a little worn out to be quite honest.

I have one more week of no sugar and starch left. I've done a pretty good job of maintaining my weight around 173 and 172, I even had a day down to 171. Friday night at work, we were having pizza, I had requested a thin crust and only ate two pieces at first break and then had a third slice at second break. My weight was still 173 on Saturday morning, same as it had been on Friday.

Saturday was a different story, I was exhausted from the week and Isabel and Alexis and Ross were all trying to get over something they've had from the week. I ate more pizza, ramen noodles and I've been pigging out on peanut butter. You would think peanut butter would be fine, and it is if I'm eating the all natural one. The Jif we've been using for years has sugar in it and I just haven't been able to resist a smooth full or two of it. It's so much smoother and creamier than the all natural kind I've been getting for myself. Also, chowed down on some wheat thins before bedtime. An overall, horrible day, and the scale told me so Sunday morning. 176.2. Anytime you see a gain of 2lbs or more from your final weight, you are supposed to have a steak day. That means you can have as much herbal tea and coffee throughout the day, but eat no food until supper and you eat the biggest steak you possibly can along with either a serving of tomatoes or an apple. I did my steak day yesterday and weighed 170.8 this morning!

Back last Summer, after we had finished our first round, I tried one of the It Works Body Wraps. Ross isn't a huge fan of them, but I don't see anything wrong with them. I'm wanting to get some more of them and try and tone up the "baby" area of my belly. It's very stretched out and loose and rather gross looking to be quite truthful. Have any of you had any experience with them and what do you think of them?

I'm still doing my 5k training as well. I finished up week 3 yesterday and managed to do okay with it. There were 3 minute intervals of running and at first I thought I couldn't make it that long, but I pushed myself and made it. Tomorrow will start week 4 and I have to do some 5 minute runs. Here's to hoping my determination to do this will push my legs to go for that long. Ross is one week ahead of me on the training and the 5 minute runs were pretty hard on him, but by the end of the week he was doing better with it. He started doing more of his training on the treadmill, because the hills in the subdivision were getting him at all the wrong times.

Doubts

I'm having doubts about this whole running thing. I had done two weeks of the couch to 5k training on the Treadclimber, but it only went 4mph. I started the training from the beginning when we got a regular treadmill. I'm doing the walks at 3.5 and the runs at 5mph. I didn't have any problem doing the intervals in weeks ones training. I just finished the first day of week two and I thought the extra 30 seconds of running was going to kill me. I may be walking the 5k, we'll see.

After

Here are a few pictures from earlier tonight. I feel very proud of myself when I see how far I've come. I'm still not where I want to be, I'd like to go down another 15-20lbs. I know most of you that read this blog have seen the pictures on Facebook already, but I wanted to share them here too.

Measured

Today I weighed 173.4, I'm getting closer to my goal of 170. Today is my last day for 500 calories and tomorrow begins the 21 days of eating no sugar and starch, but not limited on calories.

I took my "after" measurements today, I lost 21 overall inches this time, 40 total from the first and second round. I took 4.5 off my waist, 4.5 off my hips, and 4 off my chest.

Struggling

I've been struggling with my diet ever since Friday. I've gone off the plan several times and eaten things I shouldn't have, and the scale is showing it. I gained two pounds over the weekend. :(

Today (Wednesday) makes day 43. I've only got to make it 5 more days on 500 calories. I'm trying so hard to make it, I really want to see a few more pounds go. Tuesday morning I weighed 177. I highly doubt I make my goal of 170 by the end of hCG, but I lost 5 additional pounds the first time around when I was on the 21 day phase that follows the hCG. You can eat anything you want, just no starches or sugars for the 21 days. That opens up so many more food choices. I can't wait to have some eggs and bacon!

I'm tickled pink that we were able to get rid of our Treadclimber. We did a swap with a friend. She wanted the Treadclimber and in exchange, we got a treadmill, stationary bike and Total Gym. I started my 5K training from the beginning since the Treadclimber only went up to 4pmh. I'm a little sore, but I'm doing some type of exercise every day. On the days I'm not doing the training, I either walk on the treadmill or put in one of my Walk Away the Pounds DVD's.

I am excited to take my measurements in a few days. I can tell I've really lost some inches this time around, and Ross agrees!

I plan to do one more 21 day round of hCG this Summer, probably starting after the 4th of July. I can't believe how good it feels to be smaller and know that I'm living a healthier lifestyle. I think food will always be a constant struggle for me, I was just telling Ross last night that I felt like there was a huge tug of war going on inside me, my desire to be skinny and healthy and my love for all foods fattening and unhealthy. For a few days, the food won, today, I'm winning!

I've come so far from where I used to be and I have no desire to go back there. I think that will help keep me motivated. Plus, buying a new wardrobe is not cheap and I intend to get rid of anything I have that is too big, so it won't be as easy to just slip back into the "fat" clothes. I'm so excited to get the new jeans and bras I ordered over the weekend! I'm trying my first pair of Silver jeans, I've heard lots of good things about them.

I'll post my final weight and inches lost in a few days.

Puzzled

I really thought that going back to work would boost my loss, but for some reason it had the opposite affect. I was 177.2 on Tuesday morning, went up to 177.6. I'm wondering if it's because of extra water weight? I haven't gone off my food plan at all this week. I drink a lot of water when I'm home, but drink even more at work. Plus my legs swell a lot at work, so I'm chocking it up to extra water weight. I am back down to 177.2 this morning, so hopefully tomorrow I'll show a loss again. I hope so, or I may not make my goal of 170 by the end.

Back To Work

My weight loss has been slow over the past few days. Only lost .4 for three days in a row, but finally lost .8 yesterday. I'm down to 177.2.

I go back to work tonight, hoping I can keep my energy levels up and still have the will power to exercise every day. I got 2 miles in today on the Treadclimber.

Ross and I walked the subdivision on Sunday, 2.7 miles and I'm still sore There are several good hills. I can feel a difference from just walking the Treadclimber compared to walking the road. We will try and do that every weekend.