Monday, December 31, 2012

Monday

New Year's Eve.  Normally in years past, I'd be thinking of resolutions regarding eating better and losing weight.  And again, this year, not so much.  We'll be doing some tweaks, but we've been tweaking all along, so hardly a resolution.  And I'm trying to figure out how to get some strength-improving exercise going, but if I had to bet, it will not be done at the gym - we just can't get there regularly right now.  

149.2 this morning, but no idea if that's actually an improvement over Friday or not - our scale crapped out on us and this is from the new one.  I think it is, though.  I ate pretty reasonably all weekend.  Not sure I can recall yesterday, but here's what I remember:
  • tea with cream
  • the usual supplements
  • wine (prosecco and pinot noir)
  • scrambled eggs
  • steak
  • a few fried potatoes - maybe five
  • mint chocolate chip ice cream
  • two raspberries
  • ham
  • green beans
  • chocolate (one almond dark chocolate cherry cluster and one meltaway square)
  • a spoonful of coconut oil
I feel like there might have been more than that, but what the day amounted to was a noon brunch on an empty stomach that left me quite full for much of the rest of the day, and a very light dinner.  I don't recall snacking, but I might have done some.

Bought a copy of the Perfect Health Diet yesterday, while killing time at a bookstore before brunch.  I've always liked their website and the Jaminets seem to be level-headed and sane.  The book is also level-headed and sane, and makes a fairly compelling case for upping carbs a bit, using starches - rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tapioca.  So I'm thinking about making a slight shift.  Not sure if I want to do it now, or after Mardi Gras, though - really don't want to risk the dress not fitting if the starch should add weight initially - apparently, that happens.  In any event, the book got me considering taking coconut oil more regularly, so I added the spoonful last night and had some this morning in lieu of breakfast.  Their principle is, essentially, that if we provide ourselves with balanced nutrition, all the items that we're designed to need, hunger will diminish and we should start overcoming illnesses and what-not.  Makes sense to me.

I am fairly sure I've hit ketosis again - haven't been all that hungry over the past couple of days, which is nice.  I was easily able to sit through Les Mis on Friday without any movie snacks, and didn't miss them in the least.  So I think we're on the right track, basically.

I will be exploring the details of the tweaks I want to make here, before implementing them, I think.  One of the things that helped me so much when I first went Paleo was to have defined what I intended to do before I did it, so that I had something to base decisions on.  Of late, I've been floundering a bit, and it shows, I think.  In general, I would like to improve strength in my arms and legs, particularly, and lean out just a tad.  And nutritionally, I think I need a little less emphasis on the fatty acids and a bit more on plants.  So I'll be thinking through a plan to achieve both of those.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Friday

Back to routine yesterday - work and all that.  150.6 this morning - I've been juggling around a handful of pounds since forever, it seems.  And will continue to juggle until I drop everything - or something.  Anyway, here's yesterday:
  • tea with cream
  • bacon (4 pieces)
  • the usual supplements
  • chocolate (2 stale pieces of See's candy - which I should have resisted)
  • cheese
  • coconut flakes
  • beef with snow peas, no rice
  • hot and sour soup
  • chocolate (1 piece of a filled milk chocolate thing that Lee got for Christmas)
I think that was it.  We spent the evening getting drape-clad headshots of the girls for a news article about the Mardi Gras court, which was a fine distraction from boredom eating.

I started today with a fat-bomb smoothie that was light on the berries - seeing if coconut oil will be more filling for me than bacon fat.  This is based on Jamie Scott's latest post about calories and ketosis - the gist is that different people have different nutritional needs based on muscle fiber type and other body comp details.  He suggested a bit of experimentation to see what does and does not work - so I'm experimenting.  Also trying to figure out what to do about exercise - my shoulder is feeling enough better that I think it might be a good idea to lift a bit - so maybe I'll get the free weights going at home again, since our schedule makes the gym really impractical.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Thursday (I think) - first day back from vacation

A week ago, it appears I weighed over 151 pounds, and after a week of being at home with the cheese and sausage and candy, I'm down to 150.0.  It's been a struggle, but I have finally made it back into reasonable ketosis, and am hoping to start losing again.  Had leg cramps last night, and while I'm groggy this morning as a result of the lost sleep, as well as stiff and achy, darn glad to see them.  Weird, I know.

No idea what I ate yesterday, I'm sorry to say.  Bacon, cheese, chocolates, nuts, part of a filet and a salad - that might have been it.  Oh, and carrots with Alouette cheese. 

I'm thinking we need to find a way back to the gym for the next month - after all, within that period, the ball takes place, as does the parade and the cruise, and I would like very much to be in shape for all of them.  And I'm not just now.

FWIW, though, my shoulder seems to be settling down at last - the Rolfing is helping with that and lots of other things, so I'm hopeful that I'll be able to work out without pain.  Going to try, anyway.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Thursday

Bona-fide fast yesterday; just tea with cream until dinner.  Gained about a pound.  Go figure.  I effing HATE menopause.  It's water - I can feel it in my ankles.

Here's the list:
  • tea with cream
  • the usual supplements
  • pizza-top from 3 slices - double meat, double cheese
  • two pieces of cheddar
  • about 8 chocolate blueberries
  • 1 dark chocolate candy thing
  • walnuts
I think that was it.  Seriously - no way I ate enough to gain weight.  And I was starving this morning; not helpful, since the dog woke us up at 3:22 am throwing up and it took the rest of the night to get back to sleep, so of course, we skipped breakfast. 

Grrrr.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Wednesday

Into ketosis yesterday morning, and right back out of it.  Three meals (unusual for me), mashed potatoes and mousse at lunch (office party), chips and salsa at dinner, chocolate after.  That's all it took.  Fasting today - on purpose, so I intend to go until dinner.  See if that helps.  150.2 this morning.  Could be worse.

Here's yesterday:
  • tea with cream
  • scrambled eggs
  • bacon
  • the usual supplements
  • salad with Italian dressing
  • a tomato with dressing, balsamic vinegar, and mozzarella on it
  • pork loin, slightly gravied, probably a roux
  • about 2 Tablespoons mashed potatoes
  • Chocolate mousse with bits of cake clinging to it (it was embedded in the cake; I was trying to eat around that)
  • chips and salsa
  • guacamole
  • chicken fajitas without tortillas - guac, sour cream, pico de gallo
  • a little green chile
  • about 6-8 chocolate blueberries
So not a great day.  My intent, through Mardi Gras, is to make most of my dinners along the meat-and-leaves lines - either a main meat dish with salad, or meat in a big-ass salad.  I'm probably still going to buy a Spanx, though - just in case.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Tuesday

I may be moving this to my Springpad; depends on whether gmail stays available from work or not.  In any event, 149.6 yesterday; 150.0 today after a semi-fast.  

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Thursday

I've been off work most of the week - at home, but on vacation.  Had a physical Tuesday and wanted to report some of the results.  
  • Weight at the doctor's, fully clothed, but barefoot: 152 pounds.
  • Blood pressure: 100/70.
  • Resting (sitting) pulse: 56.
  • Respiration: 12 (I assume breaths/minute).
Haven't got the lipids back yet - possibly tomorrow.  That morning, without clothes, I weighed 150.0 at home - seems likely that jeans would weigh over a pound, so we're close.  Today, I weigh 148.6.  Good trend.

I'll be very interested to see the rest of the tests - 2 years and a bit later.

Working hard at ketosis this week - and fighting cravings.  My body really wants cookies, I think.  Fortunately, we don't have any.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Monday

Possibly the only post this week; I'm on vacation starting tomorrow.  Weight continues to hover in the upper 140s - 149.6 today after a weekend with 150.0 and 149.2, not in that order.  Working hard this week on ketosis - for me and for Lee - although we're going out to dinner with visiting family tonight, for Mexican, so things may not be good.  I'm aiming for fajitas with a side of green chile; if I'm really strong, without the side.  We shall see.

Made coconut macaroons yesterday - surprisingly easy, and sweeter than I would actually have liked.  I think I can cut down the maple syrup component a lot more if we continue to use sweetened coconut (the only kind I could find in thin shreds).  Anyway, worth another try, I think.  They had vanilla bean scrapings in them as well, and that's always good.

I cannot come up with a list of what I ate yesterday, but the macaroons may have been nearly the only carbs.  Well, maybe also the potato starch in meatballs, which were dinner.  Fairly low, I think.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Friday

149.4 this morning.  So I guess the fast was somewhat useful.  Sleep last night was not so great; the cat woke me up at 2:30 and I wasn't able to get back fully asleep  until around 4 am.  So the alarm was a rude awakening, literally.  As a result, we skipped breakfast again, and I may well skip lunch while I'm at it.

Here's yesterday:
  • tea with cream
  • the usual supplements
  • cheese
  • vegetable soup
  • cashews
  • chocolate (milk with almonds, and chocolate coconut bark)
I'm fairly sure that was it.  

I can't be sure, but I think the hot flashes are looming again.  On the one hand, that should mean I can drop some weight.  On the other hand,... hot flashes.  Blecch.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Thursday

It's not like I don't know that McDonald's is a bad idea in general, so the fact that I'm up 2 pounds (151.0) from yesterday shouldn't be a surprise to me.  Double QP with cheese, no bun, small fries, small Eggnog shake for lunch.  Delish.  And maybe I don't regret it much.

Fasting today - looks like I'll make it until dinner, which will be beef-vegetable soup (it's in the Crock-Pot).  I had a brief craving for Skittles earlier today, but since I have a lot of meetings today, I wasn't able to act on it - and won't bother now (it's 3 pm).

Slept crazy-good last night - went to bed around 8 and didn't last 10 minutes, I'd guess - and slept pretty much right up to the alarm at 5:30.  I begin to think I had a lot more pain than I'd realized until the Rolfing session.  Another effect I noticed today: I can sit in an armless chair for an hour without feeling like my upper body is on fire.  This is new.  And I wish now that I'd tried it years ago.  I'll be very interested to see how the remaining 9 sessions affect me.

Yesterday also included our standard breakfast and a dinner of chicken and salad, and a chocolate candy (Godiva truffle thingie), some bark, and the last of my most recent batch of homemade eggnog  (still trying to capture the elusive "eggnog" flavor that I don't have in it) with a dribble of rum (which was not the elusive "eggnog" flavor).  So not the greatest eating day on earth.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Wednesday

I had my first Rolfing session last night - the one that concentrates on breathing, of all things.  When it was done, I stood up and felt like I'd been issued a new body.  Wow!  I'm a little stiff this morning, but not in pain, and I'm finding that I'm no longer feeling pain I didn't even know I had - that's the best way I can describe it for now, anyway.  Kind of amazing.

149.0 this morning; here's yesterday:
  • tea with cream
  • the usual supplements
  • beef jerky
  • a bag of M&Ms (started to type, "a gag of M&Ms"; maybe that would be a better description)
  • Chipotle barbacoa with salsa, guac, cheese, and sour cream
  • iced tea
That was it.  Not quite a fast, but not much, either.  Effective in shedding a pound of something.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Tuesday

150.0 this morning; here's yesterday:
  • scrambled eggs
  • tea with cream
  • bacon
  • the usual supplements
  • beef jerky (2 bags)
  • taco salad with sour cream and cheese and beef
  • egg nog (1 glass, homemade)
  • cashews
I think that was it.  My head is less stuffed up and nasty, and for that, I'm grateful.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Monday

148.8 yesterday morning, the second day of reduction after a night on Advil PM (that is, I took it Friday night).  I think that the "PM" component, which is an antihistamine, has some diuretic properties, since taking Advil PM seems right now to be the ONLY effing way to make the weight go down.  150.8 this morning, and my head is stuffed up and decidedly uncomfortable.  I did some sinus irrigation yesterday that seems only to have made things worse - yippee.  So I feel like crap, I cannot get the water to go away for more than about 24 hours, and I'm frustrated.

I ate things like bacon, cheese, coconut oil, and meat and salad yesterday - the only carbs were 1 (yes, really) Nacho Cheese Dorito and a twice-baked potato half, and whatever carbs are in homemade eggnog (2 Tbsp sugar, and whatever is in 1.5 cups of milk, divided among 6 portions).  Granted, the coconut oil was in chocolate bark, but it was made with Lindt's 85% and a piece of bark probably has about 1/2 square of the chocolate in it, which equates to maybe 1 g carb, I think.  I don't have an exact list of what I ate yesterday, though; my head is so stuffed up that I can't do justice to coherent thought today.  I don't think it's an illness, but it is annoying.

Hoping for a better day tomorrow.