We went back on Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet starting 5 days ago (we were going to on January 2, but still had a few "forbidden foods" and I'm too cheap to throw away things which will spoil while we're in Phase 1). We've made lots of progress - Karen's lost 3 1/2 pounds and I have lost 7.
While dressing for church this morning I got out one of my "fat suits" -- I bought two suits on a buy one get one free sale before teaching a class for Accenture in April of 2009. I weighed about 275 when I bought them. With a belt, they are still passable at 232. . .
But just barely. I think it's time to have them taken in.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
End of the year Reflections
Yesterday, I was reflecting on my diet success this year, and it all got put into perspective. A friend of mine announced her pregnancy on Christmas day, and posted a Facebook Status complaining about having gained "3 pounds over Christmas." I shrugged, and pulled up my spreadsheet . . . and discovered that I'm up 4.5 pounds in December. (Although only 2 pounds since Christmas Eve)
Overall, I'm grateful, but the Holiday Season (As expected), has been pretty rough on the diet. I thought I'd share all the numbers, though.
My official first day of the diet was May 15, when my scale showed me at 277 pounds. My last "pre-diet" doctor's visit earlier in the week, his scale showed 278. I've since found out that my peak weight a few weeks earlier had been 282.
My lowest weight since the diet started was the morning before we celebrated my wife's birthday -- when I weighed 231.0 As much as it pains me to say it, I gained 10 pounds over the holidays. I peaked at 241 pounds on December 28, which is the morning after my wedding anniversary.
The good news is I'm already down two pounds since my peak.
So . . . on to the New Year! As we've done in the past, we're going back to phase 1 of the diet starting on January 2. The menu planning has started, but for the first two weeks of the year, there will be no fruit, no bread, no pasta and no "goodies" of any kind. We've done this 3 times before, and while it's not a lot of fun, the weight loss can be significant.
Should you wish to join us on this weight-loss plan, we're following The South Beach Diet: www.southbeachdiet.com
Overall, I'm grateful, but the Holiday Season (As expected), has been pretty rough on the diet. I thought I'd share all the numbers, though.
My official first day of the diet was May 15, when my scale showed me at 277 pounds. My last "pre-diet" doctor's visit earlier in the week, his scale showed 278. I've since found out that my peak weight a few weeks earlier had been 282.
My lowest weight since the diet started was the morning before we celebrated my wife's birthday -- when I weighed 231.0 As much as it pains me to say it, I gained 10 pounds over the holidays. I peaked at 241 pounds on December 28, which is the morning after my wedding anniversary.
The good news is I'm already down two pounds since my peak.
So . . . on to the New Year! As we've done in the past, we're going back to phase 1 of the diet starting on January 2. The menu planning has started, but for the first two weeks of the year, there will be no fruit, no bread, no pasta and no "goodies" of any kind. We've done this 3 times before, and while it's not a lot of fun, the weight loss can be significant.
Should you wish to join us on this weight-loss plan, we're following The South Beach Diet: www.southbeachdiet.com
Friday, December 23, 2011
Small Victories
It's almost Christmas, and I'm celebrating the small victories. Yesterday was our December "Snack Day" at work, with a table loaded down with goodies like brownies, and cheesecake and what my grandmother used to call "Buckeyes" -- a scoop of peanut butter filling dipped in chocolate. These are a personal weakness, along with the doughnuts someone brought in first thing in the morning.
But, through willpower, three chances to walk a mile during the day and a schedule that included about 3 1/2 hours of meetings (OK, I'll admit it, not being able to just get up and walk to the food table was a huge help), I managed to make it through yesterday without gaining any weight at all.
In fact, as the Christmas Munchie season draws to a close, I'm a mere 3 pounds heavier than I was the morning of my wife's birthday, November 10. We have a few celebrations left this month -- my wedding anniversary is December 27 and we're going out to dinner. The only two places left in the running are both Italian places, so not diet approved.
I expect that we'll slip back into our "Phase I" diet in early January, and try to get rid of the holiday pounds and then some.
Until then, Merry Christmas to you all -- and to steal a line from the Food Network: Seasons Eatings!
But, through willpower, three chances to walk a mile during the day and a schedule that included about 3 1/2 hours of meetings (OK, I'll admit it, not being able to just get up and walk to the food table was a huge help), I managed to make it through yesterday without gaining any weight at all.
In fact, as the Christmas Munchie season draws to a close, I'm a mere 3 pounds heavier than I was the morning of my wife's birthday, November 10. We have a few celebrations left this month -- my wedding anniversary is December 27 and we're going out to dinner. The only two places left in the running are both Italian places, so not diet approved.
I expect that we'll slip back into our "Phase I" diet in early January, and try to get rid of the holiday pounds and then some.
Until then, Merry Christmas to you all -- and to steal a line from the Food Network: Seasons Eatings!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Good, good cholesterol
Today was my final follow-up with my doctor for the year. Last weekend, bright and early, I slipped into the lab to be poked so they could measure my cholesterol levels again, and today I left the office 90 minutes early to visit with my sons' pediatrician and then my doctor. The boys are healthy, and remarkably enough, so am I.
I felt going in, that my results would be a bit disappointing, but on the scale in the doctor's office I was 6 pounds lighter than I had been at my October visit. I pointed out that since we had last talked, I've had four family birthdays, and three Thanksgiving meals. He pointed out that it's normal to "plateau" in weight loss and that after my body adjusts to the new weight, the weight loss will begin again.
The big news was my cholesterol counts. LDL, the "bad cholesterol" that normal people worry about has never been a real problem for me. Last May, when I started this odyssey, my LDL level was 126, which is right at the top of the "Near Optimal" range. Today it's 100, which is the border between "Near Optimal" and "Optimal". The big concern with me was always the HDL, or "good cholesterol." The doctors want this number to be above 40, and last May mine was 26. Today it was 41.
Treatment for this issue was (of course) to lose weight and get in better physical condition . . . but also I am taking 4000 mg a day of Fish Oil (for the Omega-3 acids) and 2000 mg a day of Niacin.
Blood chemistry aside, the doctor was also pleased with my explanation of the menu we're using . . . lots of fruit and vegetables and lean meats and fish.
So, on to the end of the year, with two more birthdays, Christmas and my wedding anniversary.
I felt going in, that my results would be a bit disappointing, but on the scale in the doctor's office I was 6 pounds lighter than I had been at my October visit. I pointed out that since we had last talked, I've had four family birthdays, and three Thanksgiving meals. He pointed out that it's normal to "plateau" in weight loss and that after my body adjusts to the new weight, the weight loss will begin again.
The big news was my cholesterol counts. LDL, the "bad cholesterol" that normal people worry about has never been a real problem for me. Last May, when I started this odyssey, my LDL level was 126, which is right at the top of the "Near Optimal" range. Today it's 100, which is the border between "Near Optimal" and "Optimal". The big concern with me was always the HDL, or "good cholesterol." The doctors want this number to be above 40, and last May mine was 26. Today it was 41.
Treatment for this issue was (of course) to lose weight and get in better physical condition . . . but also I am taking 4000 mg a day of Fish Oil (for the Omega-3 acids) and 2000 mg a day of Niacin.
Blood chemistry aside, the doctor was also pleased with my explanation of the menu we're using . . . lots of fruit and vegetables and lean meats and fish.
So, on to the end of the year, with two more birthdays, Christmas and my wedding anniversary.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Holiday eating
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!
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!
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.
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