And the beat goes on...

[mom2w]

Closing in on the end of the v-diet proper. Feeling pretty good. I'm kind of excited to get back to solid food on a daily basis. It's not the food, per se, it's the warm food. As the weather has cooled, I've found that I'm freezing a few minutes after drinking my shake. I try to have coffee to offset it. I tried tea. I'm just not a tea girl. I tried.

I think I really do miss veggies the most. I made dh a Greek salad for lunch today and was very intrigued by the multi-color lettuces in the bowl. The best way I can describe how I feel about food is going to a pie shop. You know you'll have pie (food) but there are lots of pies you like/love so you could take any of them and be ok. There are lots of things I like to eat and are healthy for me, but it doesn't really matter which one I choose. I guess I'm a little ambivalent.

It'll be a few weeks before I'm totally back to solid food, but it'll be ok. I intend to take the transition kind of slow. Plan is to do dinner for a few days and then add in breakfast. I think bfast will be easy as I plan to do a smaller shake w/flax and then have an egg too. It'll keep the protein higher without eating 1/2 dozen eggs.

Oh well, I have to work today. One day a week and I'm still bummed about it. It's just that season where people want to work out so badly that they pretend their kids are not dripping green goo from every hole in their head. We send them home after 3 nose wipes and you'd be surprised at the reaction some of these parents have. But, if they walk in with a healthy child and see someone else with the goop, they're aghast. Aiy...

[Lost Dog]

Have you tried your shakes as hot chocolate, instead?

[mom2w]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Have you tried your shakes as hot chocolate, instead?

I tried this afternoon and it's just not right. It's not creamy or thick. It's like drinking watered down chocolate. Good idea though, I'd considered it myself earlier but wasn't sure if I should take the plunge or not. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[Lost Dog]

Use less water?

[mom2w]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Use less water?

I purposely did that. I guess it's just not meant to be or maybe it needs a different PP. I should have used a blend rather than whey but my only chocolate is whey only. Someday I'll try it again.

[mom2w]

Today is day 28. I did my final measurements this morning as I'm going to eat a solid meal tonight so tomorrow might be a little higher as a result.

Here goes:

Starting: wt=147.5 ; nav=29.5; wst=29.75; hip=37
Week 1: wt=140.5; nave=28.75; wst=29.25; hip=36
Week 2: wt=139; nav=28; wst=28.5; hip=35
Week 3: wt=137; nav=27.75; wst=28.25; hip=35
Week 4: wt=136.5; nav=27.75; wst=28; hip=35

Total loss: 11lbs; navel - 1.5"; waist - 1.75"; hips - 2"

Would I have liked to see more loss? Heck ya! But I'm not done yet and this was a good kickstart.

During these 4 weeks I had AF, bronchitis and a bladder infection w/antibiotics. So, there could be issues with any of those affecting the outcome.

However, yesterday I wore my skinny jeans (in size & style) and they slid on like butter. A month ago they didn't go over my thighs. So, I feel better; I look better; and, I'm more confident that I can keep going. I'll have 1 solid meal/day (prob dinner) for most of the next week. It's all good.

I'm happy I did it. I was worrying that I could never get my metabolism kickstarted again. Not positive what my new eating plan will be. Dh thinks I should be able to just "eat healthy and clean" but my brain doesn't always compute that way.

My shins are really sore. Wed night I decided to work on depth with my squats. I can only go ATG if I have my heels on plates, so I did some like that. I could feel the front of my shins pull into my ankles. I didn't think it would continue. I could have hurt them more when I tried to go deep w/o the plates. Thank heavens for safety bars because I got a little too low and dropped the bar (no plates on it). I was there during a busy time and dh was nearby so I did get the "my wife's the idiot du jour look" but I probably deserved it too.

Today's workout was just some bodyweight circuits in my living room. It felt good just to stretch things that way. Back in the heavy gym this weekend.

[Lost Dog]

11lbs in 4 weeks is a pretty sweet deal. Especially for a chick! Good job!

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

11lbs in 4 weeks is a pretty sweet deal. Especially for a chick! Good job!

Brenda, great job! I'm glad you are seeing good results.

I have a question, though. I haven't read much about the V-diet yet, but if you wanted to tweak Plan A of TNT into a hybrid that included shakes, how might you do it?

I'm asking because right now it is important that I eat at maintenance for a bit to get my metabolism revved up. But, there are some days where I just can't seem to get enough food down. I mean, it's really hard. I'm gagging down forkfuls sometimes. Not very pleasurable. So, I'm wondering if shakes would be a good alternative to solid food for those times when I just can't eat.

[Lost Dog]

Am I in trouble?

[mel]

Brenda, congrats on your discipline in making it through the program! Those are some great losses. IF you are interested in a combined workout/diet program, you might look into HELL. It is specifically for fatloss, but I am also gaining strength while on it.

mel

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Am I in trouble?

Hmpf....nah...we're good. I know you were just being your usual annoying-little-brother self!

Now, back to my original question.....

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Victoria

Hmpf....nah...we're good. I know you were just being your usual annoying-little-brother self!

I'm 40. You're younger than me, aren't you?

Originally Posted by Victoria

Now, back to my original question.....

Yes.

But, they don't need to be v-diet shakes (which are designed to be the minimum you need). You can make a shake that's more caloric and tasty, too. Peanut butter, etc.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

I'm 40. You're younger than me, aren't you?

45....yeah, thanks for asking

But, they don't need to be v-diet shakes (which are designed to be the minimum you need). You can make a shake that's more caloric and tasty, too. Peanut butter, etc.

Aren't my options limited, though, without fruit?

[gregl515]

You should be proud of your results. You lost 7.4% of your body weight in 4 weeks!

[Lost Dog]

So, I just look older.

Originally Posted by Victoria

Aren't my options limited, though, without fruit?

Yes, but if you think a shake with flaxseed meal is tasty, try it. Then switch to peanut butter or almonds, maybe some coconut.

[UConnJulie]

Brenda, nice results! Kudos to you for sticking with it.
Sounds like you might need to work on your ankle mobility to improve your squat depth ... let me know if you need some ideas ...

[mom2w]

Thank you to everyone -- it was quite an experience. This morning I was telling dh that it's a little like childbirth -- I'm glad I did it; it wasn't terrible; some parts were nice BUT I'm not ready to jump right in and do that again!

Victoria-- definately on the shakes. My favorite one is my bedtime shake (200 cals vanillaPP, 2T peanut butter --the Smuckers all natural is pretty good, 2T flaxseed meal and a little cinnamon). I also like the same shake for breakfast but that one doesn't have peanut butter & I use pumpkin pie spice and then dust it with nutmeg when serving. You could easily add more PP, use cream, peanut butter (or other nut butters) and keep it very TNT friendly.

LD-- I'm ok with being called a chick. It's better than being a hen!

Mel-- I have the download, but I don't know that I'm up to HELL. Maybe I'll be more open to it after the holidays.

Greg -- thanks for running the % for me. When I look at it that way, it seems more amazing to me.

Julie -- Yes!! Dh & I have narrowed it down to ankle stuff but are at a loss as to what exactly would help. FWIW, I can't squat down, staying upright etc. normally with no weight or bar at all. I can almost do it when holding onto the squat rack post. Last week was the first I did it with the plates underneath my heels.

I'm getting ready to change up my lifting program. I've noticed the last few times in the gym that I'm starting to slide back in weight on the bar so that's my sign to move on. Dh suggested doing 1 day of 10x3 and the other 2 days of something in the 10-15 rep range. Sounds doable.

I think I found a food intolerance of some sort. Friday night we went out to eat with friends. I had the woodfired chicken, salad w/balsamic on the side, a few bites of mashed potatoes, some veggie mix thing and a glass of wine. About 2am I was wide awake and in intense pain. It took a few hours to get relief (and that was WITH tums). We thought maybe something was wrong with the chicken. Last night we were running errands so grabbed a rotisserie chicken for dinner (with broccoli for a side). About an hour later I felt like a balloon, among other signs of distress.

My solid meal on Sat was mongolian stir fry (at a restaurant, obviously) and I tried more beef and turkey this time. (we had out of town company and went to a college football game so we weren't eating normal for us) No issues. My solid meals during the v-diet were steak (2x) and shrimp (1x). No reaction with any of those meals so I doubt it's something to do with solid foods.

Chicken is truly my most favorite meat. I'd eat it every meal if I could. I think I may have eaten it too much over the past few years and that's caused this reaction. So, chicken is off the list for a bit, I guess. Ironically, our friend who had the "eat right for your blood type diet" book was here this weekend and she reminded me that, for my blood type, chicken was not advised. Weird, I know. Not sure what I think of that book/diet. I've heard Polliquin follows it, but sometimes he's a little quirky too.

I guess it's all just learning and adapting. Good news is that I stepped on the scale this morning and have not gained at all from the solid meals. Yeah.