Losing it once and for all…

[krispy1138]

Great progress pics - you really can see a difference!

I started OPT 9/28 and have lost 4 lbs so far. I want to lose 16 more by Thanksgiving. I think the holidays would be a good time to learn how to maintain.

Regarding the headaches - are you getting enough water? I know that can make a big difference for me. Also, are you getting enough sleep? I noticed at the beginning of your journal you were only getting 5-6 hours a night. TOM is also a big trigger; I ALWAYS get a terrible headache the day before. Maybe you could try playing with your macros a bit, too. I personally have never been able to do a very low carb type of diet and need at least moderate carbs to feel my best.

[kobeat]

Results: Sat 10-11-08 ~ Day 69 of 119 (Women’s Challenge)

Calories 1903
Protein 25%
Carbs 39%
Fat 25%

The first hour or so of my yard work was to compensate for my wine treat. After that I at a little extra to keep my energy level up enough to finish out the afternoon.

Exercise: OPT Intervals 40m, 4h 30m yard work (oh, my aching back!)

Originally Posted by krispy1138

Great progress pics - you really can see a difference!

I started OPT 9/28 and have lost 4 lbs so far. I want to lose 16 more by Thanksgiving. I think the holidays would be a good time to learn how to maintain.

Regarding the headaches - are you getting enough water? I know that can make a big difference for me. Also, are you getting enough sleep? I noticed at the beginning of your journal you were only getting 5-6 hours a night. TOM is also a big trigger; I ALWAYS get a terrible headache the day before. Maybe you could try playing with your macros a bit, too. I personally have never been able to do a very low carb type of diet and need at least moderate carbs to feel my best.

Thanks! Good luck with your goal, do you have a log? They're nice for keeping track and getting feedback.

I'm pretty sure I'm getting enough water. That's really all I drink beyond a few cups of coffee in the morning and I do drink it all day. Sleep on the other hand is an issue. It's a little better since starting OPT probably because eating at a deficit makes me more tired than usual but I'm only at 6-7 hours a night (7-7 1/2 is probably ideal for me based on past experience). Short of taking an OTC sleeping pill every night, which will give me 8 hours but leave me pretty foggy in the morning, I'm just sucking it up. I have to workout in the mornings and feeling foggy doesn't really go well with lifting. I've tried melatonin but falling asleep isn't usually an issue so I only use it now if I'm feeling particularly restless before bed.

What I’m going to start today is tracking everything in a spread sheet (workouts, cycle, calories, macros, sleep) to see if there is a pattern. I’ve got most of this already in my log and another spot so it’s just a matter of transferring the data.

[Celestialmom]

Sorry to hear about the headaches. I get them too but they're so infrequent that the cause is hard to pinpoint (not complaining though). It's just frustrating.

[kobeat]

Originally Posted by Celestialmom

Sorry to hear about the headaches. I get them too but they're so infrequent that the cause is hard to pinpoint (not complaining though). It's just frustrating.

Thanks, in the past mine have been infrequent too but most likely tied to my cycle but not every month so I never knew if there was something in particular that triggered them beyond hormones.

Results: Sun 10-12-08 ~ Day 70 of 119 (Women’s Challenge)

Calories 1192
Protein 20%
Carbs 51%
Fat 29%

Exercise: OPT Rest

Nothing to say, had my meals planned out then spent 2 hours wandering around Lowes and Home Depot looking at toilets, sinks and faucets. We’re planning to redo our 1/2 bath and needed to decide what kind of sink to put in there. By the time we got home it was late afternoon and I couldn’t face any food with protein powder in it.

I’m about half way through OPT so I’d rather stick it out for another 5-6 weeks and see where it gets me than give it up. It’s a plan and one that seems to be doing what I was hoping for and I’m sticking to it despite how I feel and a few macro issues.

[Celestialmom]

That's exactly how mine are. Usually during my period but no apparent triggers (at least nothing different from when I don't get them...) Anyway, headaches are a pain. I joke with my kids that sometimes I don't mind being sick b/c it gives me an excuse to rest! But headaches don't give you any peace and quiet anyway!

[kobeat]

Results: Mon 10-13-08 ~ Day 71 of 119 (Women’s Challenge)

Calories 1463
Protein 35%
Carbs 40%
Fat 25%

Exercise: OPT B1w5

I’m down 1.4lb from last week and I did increase the weight in all my exercises today. I have the day off but no particular plans so I’ll likely take it easy and work on some things I haven’t had time for lately.

[kobeat]

Results: Tue 10-14-08 ~ Day 72 of 119 (Women’s Challenge)

Calories 1418
Protein 33%
Carbs 36%
Fat 31%

Exercise: OPT B2w5

I had my macros all worked out within my calories then discovered I don’t like mahi mahi. Live and learn. Upped my weights on this workout too. My legs didn’t feel sore but I could tell I’d worked them harder. All good.

[kobeat]

Results: Wed 10-15-08 ~ Day 73 of 119 (Women’s Challenge)

Calories 1454
Protein 35%
Carbs 39%
Fat 26%

Exercise: OPT Intervals 40m

My legs are noticing the increase in weights. Walking up and down stairs is fatiguing them!

[kobeat]

Results: Thu 10-16-08 ~ Day 74 of 119 (Women’s Challenge)

Calories 1467
Protein 35%
Carbs 40%
Fat 25%

Exercise: OPT B1w6

[kobeat]

Final Results:





Date 8/4/08 12/1/08

Weight 172.6 158.6 change - 14LB
Bust 41.5 39.0 change -2.5"
Waist 35.0 32.5 change -2.5"
Abdomen 41.5 38.75 change -2.75"
hips/butt 44.0 41. 5 change -2.5"
right thigh* 26.0 24.375 change -1.625"
right calf* 15.75 15.25 change -.25"
right arm 12.25 11.5 change -.75"
* body fat % 36.2 33.4 change -2.8%


Almost all of these results were from 9-2 to 10-14. Why? Somewhere about mid-October I opted for Halloween candy instead of real food and then quit exercising. Somehow over the last six weeks I managed to at least maintain my weight.

[realcdn]

Hey, sometimes maintenance can be an accomplishment. It could have been worse (ie. regaining some of the lost weight). So just join us in January for the next challenge.

[Celestialmom]

Originally Posted by realcdn

Hey, sometimes maintenance can be an accomplishment. It could have been worse (ie. regaining some of the lost weight). So just join us in January for the next challenge.

True! AND, you still look like you shrunk--all over!

[Chloe2]

Originally Posted by Celestialmom

True! AND, you still look like you shrunk--all over!

I agree. And I think it's super that you went ahead and posted your photos to follow though with this challenge. Good job!

[kobeat]

Originally Posted by realcdn

Hey, sometimes maintenance can be an accomplishment. It could have been worse (ie. regaining some of the lost weight). So just join us in January for the next challenge.

Originally Posted by Celestialmom

True! AND, you still look like you shrunk--all over!

Originally Posted by Chloe2

I agree. And I think it's super that you went ahead and posted your photos to follow though with this challenge. Good job!

Thank you!

Given what and how much I ate starting in mid-October, the lack of exercise and little in the way of NEAT I am actually very happy with maintenance. Technically I did lose a couple of pounds the last few weeks so maybe posting my pictures helped control things a little even if subconciously.

I'm regrouping right now and have a loose plan for December. It will be a somewhat modified OPT plan of exercise and calorie deficit. I did workout Mon, plan to do another workout tomorrow and if I'm not too sore two more before the end of the week.

I'll probably join the challenge in January as I really want to reach my goal before next summer!

[karenmc6]

i agree with the obvious shrinkage in your photos - you are looking good! and maintaining at this time of year is an accomplishment in itself. good luck with your december plans!