I'm still trying to work my way up to every day!

Central Mass huh? My husband went to UMASS Amherst for a semester last (academic) year while I lived near Hartford CT and worked near New Haven. I drove between the three every waking moment for 5 months. Heh! Good times! Its nice to have a home again though.

No kidding? I have friends that live just outside of Hartford (Bloomfield), and I've been to Zoo Mass many, many times... yeah back in those days.

1600 Calories and 50 minutes at the gym working on my running speed. Legs are holding up so far. Woo hoo!

I have an idea to get my calorie consumption more precise. Rather than counting from the time I wake until bedtime, I'll count dinner as the beginning of my "calorie day" and then by the time I leave work the next day I should be finishing the "day". Its just an adjustment the way businesses adjust their "fiscal year" according to their needs. I think it'll be way easier to get the large meal out of the way first; breakfast, lunch and snacks are much smaller calorifically and easier to manipulate. Not sure when I'll make the switch though. Probably next week.

Onwards!

The wedding last night was pretty nice. I didn't over eat at all. I had oatmeal for breakfast and then nothing until we got to the wedding. If I'd known it was going to be 6:30 before we ate, though, I would have had a snack at some point! Anyway, I ended up with 4 gin & diet tonics, a half (maybe) a glass of red wine, and like 2 or 3 sips of champagne.

I had a small wheat roll with no butter (starving and didn't care about butter or not anyway!) and a bowl of tomato soup. Then they served lamb shank with mashed potatoes, and steamed carrots and broccoli. I had half the lamb, a few bites of potato and all the carrots and broccoli. I felt satisfied but not overly stuffed. Then they served some passionfruit creme brule which was ok, but not really worth the calories so I only had 2 or 3 small bites. The chocolate wedding cake was amazing though. I don't even normally like cake, its usually way too sweet but it wasn't, it was just absolute chocolatey goodness! (I swear god has something against me - I go strict and THEN find a great cake!) So, I ate the cake, but only one small piece, no seconds even though they were sitting there on the table next to me!

I put it all into fit day estimating as best as I could. The dessert was tough though so I just estimated it at 500 calories, and I'll bet 3 bites of creme brule and a tiny piece of cake wasn't actually 500 calories.

It all came to 1793. I've come in under calories every day so far this week. Too much really, but I'm glad I've been able to control myself. I'll get better.

Now I have to go estimate my breakfast. A pepperoni, jalepeno and cheddar omelet. Yum.

great effort with the will power at the wedding, well done

Thanks! Now that I've proven my determination means something, I'm even more psyched!

I'm actually finding this way easier than I thought it would be. Only because everything I like to eat isn't as bad as I thought it was. Some of it isn't great, but none of it is disasterous so far!

Example: My husband and I love to have that omlet I mentioned. Cheddar cheese, pepperoni and jalepenos. I switched to one slice of toast a few weeks ago and have always watched my butter. Anyway, with the toast and some tomatoes and mushrooms sauteed on the side its a 655 calorie breakfast. Ok, that's a lot (and mostly all fat!) but not so much that I have to stop eating it.

I did well this weekend, sticking to my deficit and everything. I've had a few cravings, but that obsessive determination is creeping back in, so I'll be ok. Besides, I have oatmeal cookies I've made that fit within my allowances, I've found out that I can have a large mug of hot chocolate without problem pretty easily. I'm finding it easier to stop eating dinner when I'm about full too. Like most people, I used to just clear my plate. Partially to clear my plate like you're "supposed" to and partially because its usually pretty damn good. (My husband is an EXCELLENT cook. How awesome for me is that?) Now, when I'm full I stop (after a couple more bites lol).

I've lost 2kg since last monday. This means I only have to lose .4 pounds to reach my first goal. I guess I'll have to set one a little higher next time.

So yeah, I'm pretty happy.

5k in under 30 mintes? That'll take a little longer.

Beautiful job this week Gen, very nice!!

BTW, nice avatar... it kinda does something for me...

Anyway, it looks like the team has done pretty well overall this week in the challenge, we'll have to see as the results from everyone come trickling over the day.

I even had some willpower while out with friends on Friday and kept the eating/drinking to a minimum...

Did you say obsessive determination? My wife and kids think I'm nuts. I went to work out today with a cold... They just shake their heads at me.

Thanks!

Heh, I'm not surprised... it almost does something for ME!?

Good job! As I've said, that's where I have the most problems usually. And drinks! It takes way too many calories to get drunk!

With a cold huh? That is some determination! I understand though; there's just a NEED to get out there and MOVE!

I keep trying to lighten things with "it doesn't have to be this way all the time. I just want to get used to what things weigh..." stuff like that. He does think I'm crazy, I think, but he keeps it to himself mostly because he's been listening for the past year to me whining about my body image. He's been superb! As a matter of fact, he asked me to start a fitday for him too, so now I spend an hour every evening entering our foods.

That's outstanding that he gives you that much support, and wants to be a part of what you are doing as well.

Like I said, nice job this week. BTW, I'd be happy to run a 5k, let alone in under 30 minutes... You'll get it. You have the drive.

I've been lax for a few days on updating over here. Still doing well though.

That would be great really. I just got new(ish) sneakers so we'll see if they help. If they don't, I'll break down and go buy some super expensive ones. I just didn't want to have to do that. Once I get that sorted I'll be unstoppable! (I think)

...and I think you'll get to that point too...

My weight hasn't moved in at least 5 days. I mean hasn't moved. I wake up every morning and check and its been exactly 71.4 kg every single time. At first I was just surprised and amused that it didn't even vary by a tenth of a kg (which is less than a quarter of a pound), by Thursday I became a little frustrated. Yesterday I was depressed.

There are a few reasons this could be happening, beyond the regular "sometimes it does" caveat:

1. about a week ago I forgot my thyroid meds, but only one dose. I never have before so I don't know what the reaction to missing a dose could/should be;

2. it is the third week now, and just getting harder

3. it may be getting to that dreaded time we females get

I should add that I've been absolutely exhausted for most of the week, to the point where I could barely exercise. I definitely didn't exercise as hard as usual. I thought it may be because I need more food, but I've been eating an average of 1750 cals per day. My husband thinks its the missed thyroxine dose. I really hope that is it so I can get on with regular exercise this week. But they say it takes 6 to 8 weeks of taking it regularly to get its full strength, so how could missing one dose make that big a difference? I just don't know.

BUT, I did do some calculations today and found out that mostly, the reason I've been stalled this week is because:

The first week I had an average intake of 1665 with a BMR of 2109 (165lbs moderate activity level)

This week I had an average intake of 1754.6 with a new BMR of 1824 (157 lbs, light activity)

Look at all the difference a few calculations can do! lol So I'll try to ramp my activity level back to where it was - hopefully the low energy won't persist - and I'll lower my intake to 1500 - 1600 cals a day.

That's what I'm having a hard time with. I need to increase protein and decrease cals a bit. I worked some stuff out with fitday and... its going to be really difficult. With everything I could think of I still only got to 136.9 grams of protein, and its VERY low carb - 114.6 (I thought 200 was the number to look for, but then I'd go way over calories). So I guess I still have some figuring to do...

On a good note, I did calculations for maintenence at my goal weight and its 2400 with moderate exercise so I'm not going to give up. I was a little worried this morning thinking about how I could live like this forever lol, but I'll be fine.

I have the same problem with protein intake, it's something I actually have to work for. I drink a lot of skim milk 9 - 10 g per cup. Kashi Golean cereal is 13 g per cup. Nonfat cotteg cheese is 14g per serving 1/2 cup. non fat yogurt around 9 g per cup and they are all pretty low in overall calories. Chicken breast rocks too. I forget the actual grams per ounce of protein but its really high.

Hey Gen. Thanks for stopping by my diary and giving me all that great info.. I really appreciate it!! As far as your weight not moving I don't think its the thyroid med.. I forget mine at least once a week.. and it just seems to make me tired when i forget.. but I'm having the same issue I'm actually up 2 lbs tho!! Idk if it's the 3rd week and getting harder or if its bc I'm increasing daliy calories.. I'm assuming my body is just getting used to eating more at least thats what I hope.. lol But your doing great tho!

ah, cool, I'm going to have to get some cottage cheese, I've always like it anyway. I bought some protein powder, so maybe I'll switch to lower fat milk (we'll see). And lots of turkey or chicken breast. I'm going to be eating a lot of salads for lunch I guess, which is actually ok with me, except preparation time is a lot more for that than a quick wrap or pb & j sandwich..