ElizabethRedux's Progress

[ElizabethRedux]

Like many others, I've decided to move my progress posts to this category. Seems more appropriate.

In one of OopsieDaisy's recent posts, she said that people have asked her "Is that ALL you are going to eat?" I've heard that now a couple of times! I think it's amazing, though, that I feel completely satisfied after I eat...I find it hard to believe I was able to eat so much more food at one sitting...and that was only 3 weeks ago! Every Friday, my co-workers and I would go to a restaurant and get the same thing: a really incredible grilled chicken salad. Lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, peppers, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, bacon, grilled chicken and french fries (in western Pennsylvania, we put french fries on our salads. I know it's weird to some people.). This salad is enormous...it could feed a family of four. And a nice, toasty warm breadstick accompanied it. The three of us EASILY polished off these salads. It was great going down, but by about 2 p.m., my stomach hurt, I was so full I could barely move, and I was ready for a nap. Now, I can't even imagine what would happen to me after I ate one of those. Seriously...I haven't had one experience where I felt bloated or lethargic after eating, and that's the best feeling in the world. I think I could truly continue to eat this way...I'm loving this plan!

Tomorrow morning I do my Week 3 weigh-in. I'm hoping for a 4-lb loss this week to bring me to a total of -15 lbs. I'd be pretty happy with that! I can't ask for any more...because 3 weeks ago, no matter what I did, that scale was not budging. Now look at me!

[apachejenn]

Awesome! Just be careful with weighing every week. People fluctuate daily with their weight, especially women. I would try to do it every 4 weeks just to be safe. ;)

And good luck!

[Rachelson]

Elizabeth,

Good job!! I totally get what you mean. I don’t have super sweet tooth but a big problem of mine was portion control. My stomach had expanded to the point that I could take out a huge burrito plate with 2 sides and chips & salsa and not think twice about until later when I wanted to roll out of the restaurant. It’s gross to think of all that food going into my body.

Are you weighing in weekly? I thought we were only supposed to weigh in monthly? I am only on day 4 but I wasn’t going to weigh-in until May 7th. I made my husband hide our 2 scales. I thought a monthly weigh-in was a good idea cuz I know I get really hung-up on the numbers and I know if I didn’t see what I wanted to see despite my super strict efforts I might consider throwing in the towel which of course I know I shouldn’t. But it’s that mental battle/games I play with myself.

Keep up the good work!

-Rachel

[ElizabethRedux]

They do recommend a monthly weigh-in. It's probably the best idea for a lot of people. But I did Weight Watchers for many years (successfully lost a bunch of weight on it, too...but gained it back), so I'm used to the weekly weigh-in and I don't really get hung up on the scale. But I can definitely see where it can become a problem...especially after you have a big loss the first week. Most weeks aren't going to be like that. But I stick to the same day of the week at the exact same time--on Fridays, the first thing in the morning after I get up. I go to the bathroom, strip down and hop on that scale. Sometimes it tells me what I want, other times it doesn't. But I don't feel badly about it, as long as I know I've been true to the program and true to myself. The weight will come off...I just have to be patient. As everyone knows, it took years to pack on the pounds...it's not all coming off overnight. But I guess the point is, if you already know that numbers are going to be an issue for you, I'd definitely recommend the monthly weigh-in.

You know, it's funny about the sweet tooth. I don't necessarily have one...unless it comes to chocolate. And I have to say that I haven't really craved it once. Well, maybe on Easter when my kids had their Easter bunnies (from a local chocolate company that makes THE best chocolate)...I think I definitely could've chomped those bunny heads off with no problem. But I didn't...yay for me. Small victories.

[ElizabethRedux]

I did it! I hit -15 this morning! This plan is incredible.

I've discovered something this morning that I DON'T like. Fat free cream cheese. Blecch. I wanted something quick and easy, so I stuffed celery stalks with the nasty stuff. And who knew 50g of cream cheese was a LOT? I didn't even have enough celery to stuff so I had to ingest a glob of it. Right now I'm trying to get my last piece of celery down...terrible. I will never do that again. So, now I have a container of this cream cheese. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do with it (other than throw it away)?

[mommabear]

Elizabeth,

CONGRATS FOR THE 15 POUND LOSS!!!
I also weighed once a week while on the diet and was continuously badgered for it! Weighing once a week helped me. Only I know what I can and cannot handle. Some people cannot handle weighing once a week...then they should not! But, some of us cannot handle only weighing once a month! You do what is best for you! Now that I am done...I weigh myself EVERY morning! And will continue this to keep me accountable!

[apachejenn]

If it's not mozzarella, it's hard to manage the quantities. They're packaged for families, so you never finish it all before it goes bad. Maybe instead of cream cheese, you use mozzarella, ricotta, and cottage cheese in recipes like "pasta" bake (mix spaghetti squash, the three cheeses, tomatoes, and spinach with herbs and garlic and bake) or mini pizzas (steamed veggies with tomato on crackers with mozzarella). I also make quiches sometimes with more mozzarella than the other two, mixed with crackers, spinach, and garlic in cupcake tins.

Congrats on the first loss! :D

[Layne5]

Elizabeth...mix your cream cheese allowance with cinnamon and sweetner and spread it on your saltines....YUMMY! :)

[ElizabethRedux]

Layne, good idea for the saltines! I just might have to try that one! ANYTHING to kill the taste of it. Or I guess mixing it with other "savory" flavors, too, is worth a try. Thanks for the idea!

Jenn, the quiches...there's no egg in there, right? Just form all the ingredients together? That sounds yummy. The pasta bake...when you do this, are you just doing individual servings or do you make a larger quantity? We get such little tomato, I haven't really figured out how to cook with it. What kind of tomatoes do you typically use?

[apachejenn]

I use organic tomatoes on the vine. I usually buy two which last me about 3 days. If you want to make a tomato paste for pizzas, you can steam them with the other veggies and it becomes pulpy. I usually also cut out all the seeds and do not eat those, so you can eat more tomato flesh.

I don't put egg in the quiches since you can't anyway. They're great for when you are going somewhere like Disneyland or something. Great for putting in a baggy and eating them later. Use less ricotta and cottage cheese though because those get mushy and the quiches will break apart in transit.

I only do one serving since you need to measure them accurately.

[OopsieDaisy]

Congratulations on having lost 15 lbs! You must be so excited. As for the cream cheese, I also have a tub sitting in my fridge at home. I felt the same way when I first tried plain yogurt. YUCK! And the cinnamon/sweetener combination worked there; so I might just give that recipe that Layne suggested.

I also weigh myself every week. I think I need to see that I am actually doing it. Even if I don't see super big results, I see the needle move and I know that I am doing something right. Oh yeah, and every now and then I can't believe that I have actually lost the weight so it helps to remind me :). Hope you have a great weekend.

[ElizabethRedux]

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this plan?? I did my 4-week weigh-in today. A total of 18 lbs GONE!! That's about the weight of my niece! So, essentially, I lost a small child.

My measurements surprised me, too...I lost 14 inches! 14 inches??!?!? Who loses that in a four weeks? I'm just so thrilled that I have found this plan. I never could have done this on my own or through WW. I'm thinking of measuring my calves, too, because I KNOW I lost some inches there, too. I'll probably measure my upper arms (yuck), too.

Well, here I go...kicking off another four weeks. To those who are further ahead, how did you fare on your second month?

Elizabeth

[mommabear]

I lost 17lbs. my 1st month. After that I averaged 10 pounds a month. Some people have had higher averages than me...but that gives you an idea.

Keep up the great work!

[Gnildarts]

Congratulations on losing 18 lbs! That is awesome!

I think that it is a great idea to do more measurements. When I did my initial measurements I only did bust, waist and hips. When I did my 4 week weigh-in I added thigh and arm. I wish I had added calf also. I am on week 6 so maybe I will add that in.

You are doing great. Keep it up!

Gayle

[Wendy2618]

Yeah! Congrats Elizabeth on your first 4 weeks!!! Here we go on our next 4 weeks! Keep up the great work.

{cheerleader}

[Kitty]

Way to Go Elizabeth! I am excited to see your results. I was just thinking...When in our lives have we been this excited to step on a scale? AND Tell people about it?

[OopsieDaisy]

Wow! 18 pounds, you are doing such a great job :). It honestly feels like you just joined in yesterday. Time really flies. The first month I lost 20 and after that I averaged about 10 per month; I think this month will be an exception though as my rate of loss seems to be decreasing.

[Rachelson]

Elizabeth,

WOOHOO you go girl!!! I can’t wait until my 4 week official weigh in, I hope I am as successful as you have been!

-Rachel

[ElizabethRedux]

Thanks everyone! The past few days have been a little tougher for me for some reason. I don't know why, or if my TOM ("time of the month") is approaching, but I just feel in a funk. A couple of days I've felt like I was starving and no amount of crackers or fruit could help me.

It's also been pretty stressful at work and at home the past couple of weeks (big projects at work and my son was recently diagnosed with alopecia areata -- an auto-immune disease that causes hair loss -- but he's otherwise perfectly healthy)...so these stressors are probably playing into how I've been feeling--and not using food as a comfort is probably another stressor! Then last night, I had a dream (or nightmare?) that I was eating a McDonald's cheeseburger. I could smell it, taste it...and it was divine! LOL! This is the first food dream that I've had.

For those fellow B.C. (Before Cohen) Stress Eaters, how have you coped with stressful situations without turning to food?

[apachejenn]

A good way to deal with the stress is turning that negative energy to a positive one, or expelling it somehow. For some, they do stress relief with yoga or walks or something relaxing. I personally find it easier to expel stress through running or physical activity. You just need to find an alternative way to relieve stress.

[OopsieDaisy]

I agree with Jenn, I've discovered that the greatest thing I ever started doing at work was going out for walks during my breaks and lunch. Just getting out and a little physical activity (it does not have to be strenuous) has really made a difference in my day. I find myself looking forward to those little moments when I kick the work stress out of my head and just walk. I even joined a gym for those days when I need to de-stress after work.

[apachejenn]

Hi Elizabeth

Are you still here? Just wondering how things are going!

[ElizabethRedux]

Hey, hey! I'm still here, but today's the first day I've been on in a few weeks!! I work in higher education and this is, by far, the BUSIEST time of year for me at work. It's a good thing...at least it keeps me distracted!

Things are going OK...I just finished my 8th week and to date I've dropped a total of 30 lbs....and I'm out of the 200s, so I'm pretty thrilled about that. I'm going to need to re-sign (not to be confused with "resign"!), because I know that I won't get to goal in the next four weeks, as lovely as that would be. But I'm OK with that. I have to say that I have fallen victim a couple of times to eating a couple more saltines than we're supposed to have in a day, but those were definitely time-of-the-month days and I can't be held responsible for what I do during that time! LOL! But I have NOT eaten anything off-plan...a huge feat for me.

People are starting to notice the weight loss...it's funny, I don't see it that much, but I definitely notice it in my clothes. I'm almost down 2 whole sizes (and sometimes I can fit into certain clothing that's 2 sizes lower), and am looking forward to dropping down to the next size.

My friend and I started at the same time, and we said by the time we drop 30 lbs., we were doing a day at the spa, so it looks like that will be my plan for next Tuesday...REALLY looking forward to that!

[apachejenn]

Awesome! Time to update that ticker!

I can imagine with everyone graduating and finals and such. Good luck!

[Wendy2618]

Hi Elizabeth!

I know we started at the same time and I last heard at the end of week 12 you had lost a total of 42 lbs....awesome job!!! I would love to hear how you're doing now that we started our 2nd 12 weeks. Any exciting new things you've discovered?

:)

[ElizabethRedux]

Hi, everyone! It's been MONTHS since I've been on the forum! I've been busy, but probably also a little complacent with my weight loss and feeling like I don't "need" the forum anymore. BIG mistake.

Although my ticker doesn't show it (I forget how to update it!!!), to date I've lost a total of 74 lbs., (228-154), and I'm currently wearing clothing ranging from size 10s to 14s. Generally 12s, but as we all know, it depends on the cut! So, I'm really happy with what the plan has done for me so far...I'm a true believer in it and so happy that I found it.

With that being said, I am having an increasingly hard time staying focused...particularly the past couple of months. I should be further along by now...I've got 34 lbs. to reach my goal (or 29 lbs., before I can start refeed), but I just can't seem to pull it together. I'll admit that I've gone off plan--our 10th anniversary dinner in September I had a glass of wine and in October my family and I went to Florida and Disney World for a week. I definitely went off plan (and I knew I would) there, but I still managed to make relatively sane choices instead of loading my body up with breads and pasta (it didn't help that Epcot had their Food & Wine Festival while we were there...every picture of me through the "countries," I have a different cocktail in my hand!). Then last week, I had a major stomach virus so my doctor told me to eat the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast)....everything totally off plan. So, there were those moments. But nothing compares to my biggest struggle:

Crackers.

Seriously. I hated saltines prior to Cohen's. Now I can't get enough of them. Instead of 12 crackers a day, it's not uncommon for me to polish off a whole sleeve in a day. And don't suggest eliminating the saltines from my diet...I tried that. When there were no saltines in the house, I discovered my kids' Ritz crackers!! Ugh!! It was a sad day. And my water intake has dwindled. Some days it is a real struggle for me to get the water down. And the sad part about it is that I RECOGNIZE what my problem is, I just can't stay focused to forge ahead.

So, I'm back on the boards, hoping to get remotivated. Any suggestions or words of wisdom? I sure could use some!

[ElizabethRedux]

On left: June 2010 (ignore the Batman shirt...it was my son's birthday party theme!) Probably 230. On right, October 2010. Roughly 156.

[jaqui]

Elizabeth,

Just read your post and I sympathize so much! I'm just a few days away from my 16 week weigh-in and I know I didn't do everything I should have this month. Really, really bad about the water and skipping my vitamins all the time cause they give me stomach aches for 15 minutes. Not really going off-plan in terms of eating, but I feel that my progress had been terrible. And worse than the last wasted month, I feel like I'm losing my motivation/focus going ahead. Like I just want a week off, to go out with friends & family, dine like a normal person and enjoy some normal socializing. I won't do it, because at this point I'm not sure I could come back from that... But it's depressing to think I'm not doing this at my best and that what I hoped would be 2 sessions until goal, may likely turn into 3 sessions. And I'm not sure I've got it in me. :( The worst thing since I've been flagging is that I feel very hungry all the time, the meals don't seem as satisfying as they did the first 3 months.

I started skimming the forums hoping to get re-inspired, and was so happy to see someone going through the same thing...

So far, today, I've managed my vitamins and 1/2 my water by lunchtime, so here's to better days for both of us!

Jaqui

[jaeden]

I haven't had any problems yet with motivation because I'm only 11 weeks in but I have days where I just want to hop in the car and go through the McDonald's drive through. Cohen has helped me realize that a lot of the time, I'm eating because I want to eat. Not because I'm hungry. Maybe you can think about why you started this diet in the first place and that'll help you realize how near your goal you are! You just have to stick it out a while longer and you'll be on to refeed and the rest of your life :)