It's Wednesday weigh ins! 2007-2022

[haha]

Something I have been noticing is that on a very low carb diet I don't really get hungry. If I go too long without eating, I just start feeling kind of beat and out of gas.

When I eat my energy is restored shortly. Yesterday I had a 4 small patties of country sausage and 2 eggs country style around 8 AM. Then I got busy and forgot lunch, except fopr 2 one oz. bags of almonds. Around 4:30 I was walking up a hill and I thought crap, I am really not doing well. Fortunately I was only a few blocks from Schultzy's Famous Sausage place on the Ave. A bratwurst and some saurkraut had me good to go soon after eating.

Ha

 

[simple girl]

124#. Started weight training (in addition to my cardio) and boy am I sore!

126#

I'd like to think it is muscle gain, but that isn't realistic since I just started weight training 2 wks ago. I think "feeding the monster" is the more likely culprit! I've given in to cravings a lot more lately

Well, it's back to weighing, measuring, and counting calories again for a while. I've worked too hard to take the weight off to let it creep back on.

 

[Kronk]

1/23: 196.8 17.1% body fat.
(snip ...)
6/25: 193.0 16.0%
7/02: 191.4 15.8%
7/09: 196.0 16.5%
7/16: 193.2 15.9%
7/23: 194.8 16.0%
7/30: 191.8 16.0%
8/06: 190.0 16.0%
8/13: 192.0 15.8%
8/20: 192.6 16.4%
8/27: 194.6 16.2%
9/03: 195.4 17.1%
9/10: 195.6 16.2%
9/17: 195.2 16.7%
9/24: 194.6 16.4%

Goal: 190.0 15.3%

While it appears that I might be treading water weight-wise, I'm actually going in the right direction finally. I've gotten my exercise routine back in gear and I'm feeling good. We'll see how the next week goes.

 

[DangerMouse]

22 July: 67.4 kg
27 Aug: 67.0 kg
3 Sept: 66.8kg
10 Sept: 66.1 kg
24 Sept: 65.9 kg

Target 1: 64.0 kg by 30 September 2008
Target 2: 61.0 kg by 31 December 2008

I would say with absolute certainty that I am not going to meet my first goal. I skipped last week as I was out of town. I guess I can't complain as I am heading in the right direction, however I do need to be more focussed on the exercise.

 

[Alan]

6' 1" Target range 170 - 175

7/31 - 174.5
8/6 - 177
8/13 - 176.5
8/20 - 177
8/27 - out of town
9/3 - 176
9/10 - 179
9/17 - 175.5
9/24 - 177

Something I have been noticing is that on a very low carb diet I don't really get hungry. If I go too long without eating, I just start feeling kind of beat and out of gas.

Interesting. I find that with my higher fiber low meat diet I feel full of gas


SG: Pleased to hear your determination to not let things slip. I do the same thing - my trigger is when I get to 180 I start writing down what I eat every day and counting points.

DM: Just keep going, you are still going down towards that first target.

 

[Khan]

Something I have been noticing is that on a very low carb diet I don't really get hungry. If I go too long without eating, I just start feeling kind of beat and out of gas.

When I eat my energy is restored shortly. Yesterday I had a 4 small patties of country sausage and 2 eggs country style around 8 AM. Then I got busy and forgot lunch, except fopr 2 one oz. bags of almonds. Around 4:30 I was walking up a hill and I thought crap, I am really not doing well. Fortunately I was only a few blocks from Schultzy's Famous Sausage place on the Ave. A bratwurst and some saurkraut had me good to go soon after eating.

Ha

I have noticed a similar pattern.

On the rare occasion that I do eat refined carb, I can feel the dropping blood sugar.

 

[Rambler]

OK -I peek in here from time to time just to see how everyone is doing with their "weighty" issues, but rarely post my own. I got up to about 238 or 240 early this year, and started going to the gym. Weight moved down a little, but not much. Went away for a week, came back and was on my own in terms of feeding myself for about a month, and lost about 10#, down to 228# or so, even though I was too lazy to go to the gym for most of that time. Went on a two week vacation and came back at about 231# or so. Started back to they gym in earnest, 5 days a week most weeks and a long walk on at least one weekend day.

At the gym I have mainly been using the treadmill. I alternate days: 1) jogging for as much distance as I can, then brisk walk, then cool down, and 2) interval training - run one lap, walk one lap, but the run is at a higher speed than on my distance days. Each day, I typically get about 5-5.5 miles in (one mile pre-gym walking from the office to the gym and around the block until gym opens, and 4-4.5 miles at the gym). When jogging, I am up to about 3 miles jogging and 1.5 walking. When doing intervals, it is about 2mi run 2mi walk in total. My jogging pace is about 12min/mile. My running pace is about 8-8.5min/mile.

Here's the problem: I'm gaining weight, not losing. I'm back up to 235#. I am eating less in total caloric intake as well as carb intake than before. I'm eating much higher fiber since April. I rarely eat any sweets.

I did "full-blown Atkins" before and lost a lot, but I fell off the wagon and gained most of it back. That time I did zero exercise. This time, I have been trying to take a milder approach, i.e., less carbs, higher fiber, more exercise, better overall health and slower weight-loss...the problem is that the weight loss is not coming. I guess the good news is that my waist does seem to be shrinking a little (putting on some muscle while losing some fat, total weight still too high).

Does anyone suggest going on full-blown Atkins again, along with the exercise? If I do that, I really have to be careful to get enough fiber, or my other problems will come back...Any better suggestions? Target is good health and losing some weight to make sure that I am able to get health insurance in a year or two when I am ready to FIRE.

R

 

[simple girl]

Rambler, are you sure your total caloric intake is low enough to create a deficit for weight loss? How many daily calories are you limiting yourself to? The only way I can lose weight is to absolutely weigh and measure everything I eat. It's amazing how many calories are in things and how quickly they add up. If you aren't weighing and measuring, counting calories, and writing it all down, I would try that for a week to see how it works. It's a pain, for sure, but it works for me...when I make myself do it. YMMV.

I'm not a big fan of full-blown Atkins, but I really like my carbs. I just try to limit my carbs and when I do have them, focusing on those that are healthier (ie. whole wheat, etc.)

 

[Alan]

I agree with SG about counting your calories. I'm afraid that is the only way I managed to lose weight, and then over the last few years I haven't had to count unless I gain too much which is very unusual fortunately.

Portion sizes are very deceptive. After a while your inceased muscle and fitness will increase your metabolism so that you burn more calories at rest.

 

[Alan]

I agree with SG about counting your calories. I'm afraid that is the only way I managed to lose weight, and then over the last few years I haven't had to count unless I gain too much which is very unusual fortunately.

Portion sizes are very deceptive. After a while your inceased muscle and fitness will increase your metabolism so that you burn more calories at rest.

I'm not a fan of Atkins either although I know it works for plenty of folks.

 

[simple girl]

126#

I'd like to think it is muscle gain, but that isn't realistic since I just started weight training 2 wks ago. I think "feeding the monster" is the more likely culprit! I've given in to cravings a lot more lately

Well, it's back to weighing, measuring, and counting calories again for a while. I've worked too hard to take the weight off to let it creep back on.

125#. Doing better controlling my cravings to eat bad stuff, but I still broke down and had a few beers over the weekend.

I have been reading Younger Next Year and finally decided to go out and get a heart rate monitor. I've been having a lot of fun with it. I initially used the basic method for figuring out target heart rate for aerobic exercise, which is 220 - age = max heart rate, then take 60-85% of that. That came to a range of 108-153 bpm for me.

Well, I did my dance trance workout and kept setting off the monitor (going >85%) for a good bit of the workout. It's pretty intense, but I feel great during it and afterwards. So I did some more research and remembered there is a different formula that is more accurate for those of us who work out a lot - the Karvonen method. Here's a description/calculator: http://www.briancalkins.com/HeartRate.htm You have to get your resting heart rate. Mine is 60 bpm.

Via the Karvonen method, my new range for 60-85% is 132-162. I'm sure I will still be going >85% for a small portion of my work out, but that would be good high intensity interval training, IMO.


My next thing to do is I am going to test my "recovery heart rate". That is supposed to really be a good indicator of your level of fitness and progression. According to Younger Next Year, here's what you are supposed to do: work out hard, say at 80% of your max (of course, don't do this if you aren't used to working out!). Then start working out easy. As soon as you see your heart rate drop one beat, start timing for one minute. If < 20 drops in that minute, not great. 30-40, really good. 50 or greater, wow, you are competing with Lance Armstrong, LOL. However, according to what I read on the web, normal drop is 15 to 25 bpm.

It's also predictive of mortality, according to this article: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/341/18/1351
Here's an easier article that describes it: http://www.webmd.com/news/20000919/researchers-find-heart-rate-worth-thousand-words

Hopefully you all found this interesting. I'm just having fun trying out my new monitor and finding ways to measure my fitness progression aside from weight.

 

[Kronk]

1/23: 196.8 17.1% body fat.
(snip ...)
6/25: 193.0 16.0%
7/02: 191.4 15.8%
7/09: 196.0 16.5%
7/16: 193.2 15.9%
7/23: 194.8 16.0%
7/30: 191.8 16.0%
8/06: 190.0 16.0%
8/13: 192.0 15.8%
8/20: 192.6 16.4%
8/27: 194.6 16.2%
9/03: 195.4 17.1%
9/10: 195.6 16.2%
9/17: 195.2 16.7%
9/24: 194.6 16.4%
10/1: 195.8 15.6%

Goal: 190.0 15.3%

Weight went up, but fat percentage went down. Today was an outlying data point -- most of the week I've been in the 194-ish range. But I'm feeling good, and I do agree with the scale that I'm losing fat. If I multiply out this week vs last week, the scale tells me I've lost 1.36 pounds of fat since last week. I don't believe that, as it would imply that I burned nearly 700 calories per day than I consumed.

I'm random prediction for next week is 194.6 at 15.8%.

 

[Alan]

6' 1" Target range 170 - 175

7/31 - 174.5
8/6 - 177
8/13 - 176.5
8/20 - 177
8/27 - out of town
9/3 - 176
9/10 - 179
9/17 - 175.5
9/24 - 177
10/1 - 174.5

SG - great info and links to articles. Interesting when I use the Karvonen calculator I get an 85% level of 149 instead of the old method 142. (I'm age 53 and resting HR of 50). It's interesting because I hate it when I'm on the treadmill or elliptical as I have to work really hard to get to the higher levels, but I love it when I'm playing tennis because my HR gets into the 140's and 150's for long periods and so it's good to know that's normal.

I hope your enthusiasm for this continues because I believe the level of exercise called for in the book really works as advertised.

Over the weekend DW and I scanned into our PC a load of 35mm slides from the 70's and early 80's. We hadn't seen them in many years and were amazed at how skinny I looked, even though I know I am only a few pounds heavier (at most 7lb) than I was back then. However there are plenty of photos with me in swimming trunks etc and it is very obvious how much more muscle I have on my upper body today, (particularly my arms).

Back then I was very fit as I played a lot of soccer, badmington, and squash (racketball). These days, I include 2 hrs of weight lifting a week to strengthen my joints. I've had foot surgery, back surgery, knee surgery and shoulder surgery so these last 5 years since I've really got serious about weight training and flexibilty exercises such as yoga and pilates.

 

[harley]

Just checking in. Been busy and on the road for the past couple of weeks, and haven't had a chance to weigh-in. But even with being away from home I'm managing the eating and blood sugar pretty well, so I feel good about it. No idea what my weight is, but I've moved in a couple inches on my belt recently. And my jeans are getting baggy.

I'll weigh myself next Wed. and see if I've managed to maintain.

 

[HelpMeRhonda]

End of week 22: down 1.6 lbs

Total Lost: 37.4 lbs

Haven't heard from you in awhile. How is your progress ?

 

[DangerMouse]

I was away for most of last week so like Harley I am going to refrain from weighin in this week. However, I should imagine that the numbers can't be good going on how difficult it is to breathe in my jeans at the moment.

 

[Bimmerbill]

213 last night. So, I'm down about 30 to 35 lbs overall.

 

[Kronk]

1/23: 196.8 17.1% body fat.
(snip ...)
6/25: 193.0 16.0%
7/02: 191.4 15.8%
7/09: 196.0 16.5%
7/16: 193.2 15.9%
7/23: 194.8 16.0%
7/30: 191.8 16.0%
8/06: 190.0 16.0%
8/13: 192.0 15.8%
8/20: 192.6 16.4%
8/27: 194.6 16.2%
9/03: 195.4 17.1%
9/10: 195.6 16.2%
9/17: 195.2 16.7%
9/24: 194.6 16.4%
10/1: 195.8 15.6%
10/8: 198.0 16.9%

Goal: 190.0 15.3%

I'm random prediction for next week is 194.6 at 15.8%.

Sigh. Haven't weighed in this high in a long time. Well, I'm highly dependent on working out to maintain my weight, and when I can't do so, the weight springs up quickly.

Last Weds, around 9 hours after I posted, I suffered a Grade II shoulder separation. That's where the collarbone partially dislocates from the acromion process of the shoulder blade. No ligament/tendon tearing. Anyhow, pain was pretty intense for a few days, and it'll take a few weeks to heal to the point that I can do the stuff I was doing. Can't do anything athletic without a whole bunch of pain.

Next week I'm on vacation, so I'm sure when I check back in in two weeks, I'll be over 200. Sigh.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Bummer Kronk, that is depressing. But just try to keep your eating on track--maybe for vacation your goal can be to leave some food on your plate at every meal. That has helped me in the past try to avoid gaining while on vacation.

I hope your shoulder injury heals up okay and that you will be back to exercising soon. It is hard to be sidelined like that, and very frustrating.

We've been drinking beer again, having friends over, and socializing too much lately.
Today my weight is 154, and I certainly know why it isn't going down. Our CSA is starting back up (boxes of vegetables descending on us every week) so I'm hoping that it will be inspiration to eat more veggies this fall.

I'm exercising more, but it can't keep up with the beer drinking. Why is there nothing better than swilling beer while sitting around in the back yard all afternoon, feet up on the cooler, watching a ball game on the TV we've set on top of the picnic table, and telling stories with old friends?

 

[Alan]

6' 1" Target range 170 - 175

7/31 - 174.5
8/6 - 177
8/13 - 176.5
8/20 - 177
8/27 - out of town
9/3 - 176
9/10 - 179
9/17 - 175.5
9/24 - 177
10/1 - 174.5
10/8 - 176

Wow Kronk, that sounds painful. I hope you manage to control your eating. You'll need to try and substitute some low stress exercise such as walking into your routine while you are healing. Good luck mate.

Sarah, I agree about the beer drinking and that is something I really did have to limit. I still enjoy beer but don't drink it more than once a week these days. I try and stick to a couple of glasses of red wine most times.

 

[Dawg52]

I'm suspending my Wed weigh in's. Too much stress from the market to eat and drink properly right now. Yeah....that's a pretty good excuse.

 

[simple girl]

125#

Holding steady at 125#.

I don't expect a good weigh-in next week. We are going away to Gulf Shores, AL for a long weekend with friends for the National Shrimp Festival. I plan to fully indulge in food and drink

Kronk, so sorry to hear about your shoulder injury! Separations can be so painful. Did you injure it during karate class? You may find you could tolerate recumbent biking. That probably wouldn't jostle the area too much.

Sarah, I feel your pain regarding beer along with many other libations which I will be fully enjoying this weekend! We've got beer, tequila, cointreau, vodka, coolers, and gin packed. Oh, I can feel my reflux flaring up just thinking about it. Time to double up on the Nexium, LOL. Sometimes, ya just gotta live.

I promise to stay away from the balcony. We're beachfront on the 14th floor.

 

[harley]

All time high - 262 (2005)
Recent high - 242 (last April)
07/08/08 - 238.4
07/15/08 - 237.2
07/22/08 - 237.4
07/29/08 - 234.4
08/06/08 - 234.4
08/13/08 - 233.0
08/20/08 - skipped
08/27/08 - 234.4
09/03/08 - 232.2
09/10/08 - 231.0
09/17/08 - 229.2
09/25/08 - 10/1/08 - skipped due to travel
10/08/08 - 229.8

First goal - 220
Ultimate goal - 200

Not bad, after 2 weeks away from home eating out every meal. The weight seems to be maintaining, but I'm having a little problem keeping the blood sugar down. I've got a doctor's appointment in the beginning of Nov, and I'm trying to kick ass diet-wise to try to avoid getting put on meds. My camping trip the weekend after next won't help, either. Too much beer. Oh well.

By the way, happy John Lennon's birthday to y'all tomorrow. Happens to be my daughter's birthday too. And her daughter was born on the same day as George Harrison. If she has any more kids, maybe we can reincarnate the Fabs.

 

[Alan]

I'm suspending my Wed weigh in's. Too much stress from the market to eat and drink properly right now. Yeah....that's a pretty good excuse.

I don't think you have quite the right attitude here

 

[Alan]

The weight seems to be maintaining, but I'm having a little problem keeping the blood sugar down. I've got a doctor's appointment in the beginning of Nov, and I'm trying to kick ass diet-wise to try to avoid getting put on meds.

Nothing quite like a Dr appointment for a good target. Good luck with the diet, if you can avoid meds that would be great.