We're trying to be only moderately strict on the diet with the holidays. But we are bending a little. Yesterday, I joined my wife for lunch at a local Italian restaurant.
While it is possible to make healthy, low-carb Italian food . . . I do not approve of the practice. :-) I had an order of beef ravioli in meat sauce. And bread. :-) And cheesecake for dessert.
Of course, there's a price to pay for such indulgences: We've HIGHLY limited carbs for the last few days.
This evening we'll have roasted turkey breast, and the boys will have full servings of mashed potatoes. I'll take much smaller servings of the carbs. Yes, as my Facebook followers know, there's fresh-made bread to eat with the turkey. But we're being good with all of our other meals, and taking a pass on the snacks today.
My peak of weight loss was just before our "Early Thanksgiving" dinner with my parents last Saturday, at 47 pounds of weight-loss. I've added about 3 pounds since then, and hope to hold the weight gain to no more than another 2 or 3 pounds over the long weekend.
Wish me luck. This is the heart of holiday eating season -- three thanksgiving meals, followed by a Christmas party on the 2nd, birthday party on the 3rd and another birthday party two weeks later. Whew!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
180 Day Reflection
OK, for you purists, I am a couple of days late. Monday November 14 is actually 182 days. But on my ACTUAL 180th day, I was out the door early to volunteer with my son's Cub Scout Pack, so humor me.
After six months on the South Beach Diet, I've lost just over 40 pounds. Disclaimer: we had a big weekend, with a winery trip and several restaurant meals, followed by birthday cake last night. Last week I peaked at 47 pounds of weight loss. I fully expect to reach 50 pounds of loss in the next few weeks, before Thanksgiving bulks me back up.
I have a couple of observations about the process thus far. First, even though the South Beach Diet makes a big big deal about "good carbs" and "bad carbs" and (starting today for 12 days) "no carbs at all" -- what seems to me to be the most important thing is portion control. Last night I had a nice cut of beef loin. A year ago I would have had 8 or 12 ounces, wrapped in bacon. Last night, 4 ounces plain. A year ago, there would have been a cup of rice or a full sized baked potato on my plate. Last night, no starch at all. A year ago, a couple of servings of veggies. Last night, a half cup of black beans. A year ago, no salad. Last night, 4 ounces of lettuce with a few garnishes.
Second, unlike every other attempt I've made at losing weight over the years, this one -- once you're off of "Phase 1" -- is pretty flexible about those "oops" moments. When we're on phase 2, we expect to lose a pound or two a week. . . and I've noticed that a restaurant meal, or a "bribery visit" to Dairy Queen, fits into that plan pretty well. As long as we only blow it once a week or so, we still lose a pound.
Third, snacking is very important, as is proper hydration.
Fourth, exercise seems to be less important than I originally thought, although still very important.
Finally, having my wife on the diet with me has been a key to its success, even though I've lost a lot more weight than she has. (On the downside for me, it's a reminder that when I've lost another 40 or 50 pounds, I'll be just as overweight then as she was when she started.)
On to 50 pounds!
After six months on the South Beach Diet, I've lost just over 40 pounds. Disclaimer: we had a big weekend, with a winery trip and several restaurant meals, followed by birthday cake last night. Last week I peaked at 47 pounds of weight loss. I fully expect to reach 50 pounds of loss in the next few weeks, before Thanksgiving bulks me back up.
I have a couple of observations about the process thus far. First, even though the South Beach Diet makes a big big deal about "good carbs" and "bad carbs" and (starting today for 12 days) "no carbs at all" -- what seems to me to be the most important thing is portion control. Last night I had a nice cut of beef loin. A year ago I would have had 8 or 12 ounces, wrapped in bacon. Last night, 4 ounces plain. A year ago, there would have been a cup of rice or a full sized baked potato on my plate. Last night, no starch at all. A year ago, a couple of servings of veggies. Last night, a half cup of black beans. A year ago, no salad. Last night, 4 ounces of lettuce with a few garnishes.
Second, unlike every other attempt I've made at losing weight over the years, this one -- once you're off of "Phase 1" -- is pretty flexible about those "oops" moments. When we're on phase 2, we expect to lose a pound or two a week. . . and I've noticed that a restaurant meal, or a "bribery visit" to Dairy Queen, fits into that plan pretty well. As long as we only blow it once a week or so, we still lose a pound.
Third, snacking is very important, as is proper hydration.
Fourth, exercise seems to be less important than I originally thought, although still very important.
Finally, having my wife on the diet with me has been a key to its success, even though I've lost a lot more weight than she has. (On the downside for me, it's a reminder that when I've lost another 40 or 50 pounds, I'll be just as overweight then as she was when she started.)
On to 50 pounds!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Of wardrobes . . . and malfunctions
Yesterday was my wife's birthday and today is a State Holiday. So . . . my parents helpfully picked up the boys from school yesterday. They kept them overnight and today for us while we went away to celebrate. Enter wardrobe malfunction #1. In July, I purchased a new pair of swim trunks. On July 2, when I bought them, I was wearing a 45 inch waist. Today a 40. Luckily this fact was remembered BEFORE I jumped into a swimming pool wearing a swimsuit that was 5 inches too big. So as of yesterday evening, I have a new speedo. Here's a picture. :-)
I didn't know speedo made baggy shorts style swim trunks, but I'm glad they do.
The second wardrobe malfunction of the weekend was that in my haste to pack on Thursday afternoon, I grabbed KAREN'S winter coat, and not mine. So I spent my day Friday shivering in a navy blue sports coat.
Even with the wardrobe issues, it was a fun weekend.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Maintaining
From 24th October (my dad's birthday) through the 17th of February (my birthday), our calendar is blessed with 7 birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day and a couple of important wedding anniversaries, not to mention several 3-day-weekends which give mid-winter opportunities for a quick getaway.
I can tell that this is going to be a rough time for the diet, so we're working hard. Yesterday, I hit a new peak with 45.5 pounds of total weight loss. However, we celebrated the end of a stressful week and some good behavior at school with dinner out (and bad restaurant behavior from the very boys who'd been good at school).
With the exception of an occasional break like last night, we're pretty faithfully sticking with Phase II of the South Beach Diet, which limits Carbohydrates to "good carbs" of whole-wheat and only one or two servings a day, and pretty strictly limits portion sizes.
For example yesterday's pre-dinner menu.
Breakfast: one slice of whole wheat toast and 4 oz skim milk + a very large cup of hot tea.
Mid-morning snack: one ounce baby carrots
Lunch: one slice very lean smoked ham on whole wheat with a slice of low fat cheese and spinach.
Afternoon snack: one ounce mixed nuts.
We are planning dinner out next Thursday for my wife's birthday (just the two of us!) and my goal is to lose another 1.5 pounds from yesterday morning before then.
That would put me under 230 pounds for the first time since about 1998.
For those keeping score, my peak weight was 278 and my long term goal is to be under 200 pounds.
I can tell that this is going to be a rough time for the diet, so we're working hard. Yesterday, I hit a new peak with 45.5 pounds of total weight loss. However, we celebrated the end of a stressful week and some good behavior at school with dinner out (and bad restaurant behavior from the very boys who'd been good at school).
With the exception of an occasional break like last night, we're pretty faithfully sticking with Phase II of the South Beach Diet, which limits Carbohydrates to "good carbs" of whole-wheat and only one or two servings a day, and pretty strictly limits portion sizes.
For example yesterday's pre-dinner menu.
Breakfast: one slice of whole wheat toast and 4 oz skim milk + a very large cup of hot tea.
Mid-morning snack: one ounce baby carrots
Lunch: one slice very lean smoked ham on whole wheat with a slice of low fat cheese and spinach.
Afternoon snack: one ounce mixed nuts.
We are planning dinner out next Thursday for my wife's birthday (just the two of us!) and my goal is to lose another 1.5 pounds from yesterday morning before then.
That would put me under 230 pounds for the first time since about 1998.
For those keeping score, my peak weight was 278 and my long term goal is to be under 200 pounds.
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