Hi Merci,

Have you measured yourself? Even if the scale doesn't move I know you're losing inches.

I don't think I'm hypoglycemic, not that I know of. When I did my blood work before starting the diet my glucose was slightly high. It was 102 and the highest end of the range was 99. I read that hormone fluctuations can cause blurry vision also so that could be it.

Hello, just checking in to see how you're faring. Try not to weigh yourself for awhile, and see how you go. Because you usually walk and you didnt for a couple of days, maybe this affected weightloss?? Like you said, it's probably hormones. I know it makes a huge difference with me. Hang in there. I saw your ? about eating out. I would try and pick the most cohen-like things. Whatever you do, dont worry overly. The weight will come off, and possibly will speed up over time. As Longing2bthin says, measuring is the best indicator. In about 5 more days, you will definitely see a difference. Hang in there. Stay positive. Drinking heaps of water will help with any hunger you may experience between meals in the future. Take heart if you experience hunger in the coming weeks, I usually find my weight has significant drops the next day or two when that happens.
I cant help you with your ? about when to count the 5 hours from, as I am a fast eater (not the best way to be) so I am probably finished in about 15mins. I count from when I started eating.
Hope the next few days are fantastic for you.

Yikes, got up this morning at 5:30 for a meeting at seven that I have every Thursday. Because these days are longer for me in the past I usually ate more. I guess today it will be water, water, water! I did weigh myself this morning and I did lose again so I'm happy about that. I"m really going to work on breaking myself of the weighing habit. It's a craziness of sorts since I can clearly see that my clothes are looser, smaller sizes are fitting, and I can clearly see that I'm smaller. Today at my meeting a couple people commented that they're noticing I'm smaller. I guess the scale number just gives me a quantitative measure of how close I am to my goal and how much longer I'll be at this. It's silly really since what ultimately matters is that I feel comfortable in my body whatever the number.

LJ: I love what you wrote about when your hunger is back you know a weight loss is coming. That is such a wonderfully positive way to look at it. And it's true! I was hungry all night and when my SO went dowstairs in the middle of the night to get something to eat, I just lay there thinking I'm burning fat. When I 'm really on top of things I try to step outside myself when I 'm hungry and just observe it as "oh, that's an interesting sensation" and try no to get emotionally involved (a trick from meditation). When I can do it it's great but sometimes I can't.

Does anybody know, does everyone get the same meal 1,2 and 3 patterns with the same number of grams? Does everyone get the same vegetable list?
Mine had Hubbard Squash which surprised me becasue it's a dense, sweet, winter squash. Does anyone have broccoli--mine specifically excluded it.

Wishing everyone a successful day or restful night for those of you south of the equator.

Merci

Hey you. Well done!!!! It's amazing the power scales have over us hey? I'm actually too scared to hop on them. I"m worried that if I do, I'll be disappointed and think what the heck I may as well eat something off the plan.
About the meals: I think the basic pattern is the same, maybe slight variations. Eg. Some plans allow a red meat for meal 3, on mine I can only have poultry or fish. The grams do vary. Not sure about the vegies. From what I've seen they are usually the same. I'm not allowed broccoli either. I was sent an email about it when it was removed. I was really wanting to have red meat at meal 3, and my consultant reprinted my program with my meals switched around. I wish you could have my consultant. She is sooooo helpful. She does anything she can to help me. I don't deserve her. Hope you are getting a restful sleep, burning off the fat. Have a good day tomorrow.

I love Fridays when I'm done with work and the weekend is here!!! Today was a hard day with hunger. I was tired from a few nights of broken sleep. Between the dog needing to go out and me needing to pee all that water, I haven't had as restful sleep as I need. But I have been dreaming alot which is not ususual for me so I'm getting good sleep just not enough of it. Anyway, when I 'm really tired I just don't have the wherewithall to move throug the hunger. Today was my "worst" day for deviations. Extra fruit (1) and extra crackers (lost count but at least 6). I"m still waiting for the time that many people say they reach in the first week, when I'm not hungry!! Some days are better than others but no day goes without hunger. I think I'm going to experiment with not doing my 30 minute morning walk for couple days and see if that makes a difference. I'd hate to give it up--I enjoy it and the dogs need it--but if it's going to make it continually hard to stick 100% to my program I'll do it. Lord knows I don't want to have to do this any longer than necessary! On a more positive note, had a great dinner tonight. Chopped up cauliflower quite small in the food processor than "sauteed" it with onions, mushrooms, green pepper, and chicken with some curry powder. Yum
I'm really enjoying the meals I'm making. The clinic emailed me (in response to a question) that Kale, Collards, and Bok Choy were OK for me to add so I was ecstatic about that. I have Kale and Collards in my garden and was sad not to use them. Besides, the Kale is light and has lots of fiber so it really fills up a meal (and me). Can you tell I'm fairly focussed on food today?! I think it's time for me to go drink ALOT of water!!

Off to bed,

Merci

P.S. L-Jay of COURSE you deserve a wonderful consultant; we all do. Why ever would think you don't? Popped in to your diary and sorry to hear you had a hard day yesterday (or was it the day before--the PB day?). I'm rooting for you to have a string of good ones here.

Merci! How are you doing? I fell off the bandwagon completely - thank you for your posts... work has been crazy, and yes, I feel the whole sore back thing got too much and I'd had enough. The back is better now, but work is much more crazy than before, a lot more responsibility.. averaging 60hrs/wk at the moment.

Well, before I waffle on, would like to see where you are at, how you are going.. because you haven't updated your diary in quite some time.. hoping all is okay?

Write back..!
PP1