Calling all butt-kickers and cheerleaders!

[Juleske]

are you making a habit of those extremely low days?

[Gen]

Originally Posted by Juleske

are you making a habit of those extremely low days?

No way, I'm just riding the wave. The first few days are easy right? It'll get harder as time goes on. I'm actually considering eating higher tomorrow on purpose, regardless of how I feel, just so that morale doesn't drop out from under me.

Calories came to 1234 today because I had a banana before I went out for a run after work and I had some sweet potato because my butternut squash was rotten. 91.9 Protein.

Running today was great. I was out for 45 minutes, 20 of it was running. Not a straight 20, it was split 15/5 with some walking in between, but after >4 weeks off, that's not bad. Hips and legs feel good. I looked up Pose running on suggestion here and tried it. It may work for me. We'll see how my legs feel in the next 2 days.

I definitely need to work on form though. Even walking, I need to focus on picking up my feet with my legs and not throwing my feet forward with my hip. Sounds weird but after my analysis today, it seems that's kind of what I do.

[Gen]

Yesterday went well. 1328 cals. 86.6 protein

Oatmeal/brown sugar
wheat wrap with turkey/cottage cheese/hard-boiled egg
gin/diet tonic
<200 grams of chicken wings, sauteed onion, pepper, tomato, zuccini w/ 75 grams pasta

a bit of a walk during lunch time ~30 min.

I'm sore from running a little bit but in the right places. No shin splint or hip pain! Yay!

First "Break In Workout A" today after work.

Feeling fairly even-willed and content. Not over the top in either direction.

[Juleske]

Good luck with the break in! Prepare to be sore muhahaa!
Nah, you'll be fine, have fun!

[Gen]

Originally Posted by Juleske

Good luck with the break in! Prepare to be sore muhahaa!
Nah, you'll be fine, have fun!

Thanks! I can't wait to be sore again; it's been about a month! I had to put it off due to news that was both good and bad, but needed my attention more than anything else. It is actually a bit more important than a single work out. I'll maybe see how much of it I can do at lunch time tomorrow or just start the whole thing Tuesday. I'd considered that anyway when I wrote the plan.

[missjane]

Your protein numbers seem low....anyway you can bump them up and then plan the rest of your macros around your protein?

[Gen]

Originally Posted by missjane

Your protein numbers seem low....anyway you can bump them up and then plan the rest of your macros around your protein?

They have been low, I know. That'll change a bit for the better very soon when I can drink my soy protein shakes. (I should have bought the whey I know, but I didn't.) Plus I've just generally been eating very low.

I do the best I can, but I've never really been able to get much higher than 90 - 105ish. I mean, a couple days ago I had an omelet with cottage cheese, turkey and spinach in it for lunch. Yesterday, a wrap with turkey, cottage cheese and a hard boiled egg. This is all fine with me, but honestly, not anything I would choose to eat if I weren't trying to pack protein into my system.

[Gen]

Friday I was allotted 1800 calories and I had 1354 somehow, with 75 protein. I knew we were going out to dinner and that we'd be out all weekend so I ate super low all day (almost nothing) until then, and even then watched carefully. I had chicken breast and veggies and just kind of nibbled on the one wheat roll in the basket at the table.

Yesterday (my one year anniversary with my husband, which is why were were away all weekend) I was allotted 2200 calories and had 2739 unfortunately, with 129 protein. But my average for the last 6 days is still only 1500 calories so its ok.

I went for a short run during my lunch break on Friday and I'm about to go for one this afternoon, though I'm very tired so it may end up just a walk. I'm waiting to see how much lunch and water helps.

I'm really excited about how my legs are holding up with the Pose method; I may modify my plan a bit to incorporate some more running!

[Gen]

Originally Posted by missjane

Your protein numbers seem low....anyway you can bump them up and then plan the rest of your macros around your protein?

Because of your suggestion I was just playing around on fitday and found a do-able hypothetical day of 1128 calories, 132 protein, just by having eggs for breakfast and adding a protein shake. Percentages of 48/28/26! I'm not sure I can have eggs for breakfast everyday but I should definitely be able to get my protein numbers up.

[Gen]

Day 7:

Weight - 73.3 kg (-.8 kg/1.76 lbs)
Waist - 30 in (same)
Hip - 38 in (-1)
Arm - 12 in (same)
Thigh - 23.5 in (same)
Bodyfat - somewhere between 26.1% - 27.6% (same)

I'm annoyed. I was lower than this last Tuesday! Anyway, I'll be patient; it could be anything.

I have < 1200 calories planned with 114 protein.

breakfast today: 50 grams of chicken breast with 2 hardboiled eggs and 2 tablespoons of salsa.
lunch: protein shake and 125 g chicken breast pieces
dinner: chili with 25 g rice

[Juleske]

still too low!

[Gen]

Originally Posted by Juleske

still too low!

The calories? I know, but it's not doing any good anyway. If its the protein, I've calculated 112 grams per day: 1 gram per lb of lean body mass. Thats the target. It's really difficult for me to do better than that. Though I seem to have 123 today.

I ended the day yesterday with 1147 calories and 113 protein. It was kind of a strange hectic day and I got home feeling awful and shaky and totaled up fitday at <1000 calories for the day, so I had 2 tablespoons of peanut butter on some celery. I was kind of wishing it was on toast with nutella though!

[Juleske]

Originally Posted by Gen

The calories? I know, but it's not doing any good anyway. If its the protein, I've calculated 112 grams per day: 1 gram per lb of lean body mass. Thats the target. It's really difficult for me to do better than that. Though I seem to have 123 today.

It was the protein yes, but then I realised that I switched to 1 gram per lean body mass too But the calories still seem low, I'd be sprawled over my desk in gelatinous style with that kind of intake

[Gen]

Originally Posted by Juleske

It was the protein yes, but then I realised that I switched to 1 gram per lean body mass too But the calories still seem low, I'd be sprawled over my desk in gelatinous style with that kind of intake

Occasionally I feel that way, but mostly I'm happy that I've found my groove finally. I have my plan printed out and taped to my wall that I'm taking very seriously so that's helping. It might as well be written in stone! Sort of!

I'm not against increasing a bit to 1600 - 1800. Strange, in the past when I've stuck to those values I've lost easier. These really low days don't seem to be helping. It could be anything though. I'll give it until Monday and if I don't see the some movement I'll increase a bit.

[clubchub]

Wow, you've really been low lately. I could use some of your dicipline. How are you feeling? Have you checked out Leigh Peele's blog about why the scale doesn't move sometimes? (leighpeele.com) You may be doing great, just not seeing movement on the scale yet.

[Gen]

Originally Posted by clubchub

Wow, you've really been low lately. I could use some of your dicipline. How are you feeling? Have you checked out Leigh Peele's blog about why the scale doesn't move sometimes? (leighpeele.com) You may be doing great, just not seeing movement on the scale yet.

Yeah, I probably am. Its moving very slowly, just at a rate I'm not used to. I suppose I lost that original water weight the week before I started weighing myself because I knew I'd gained so much.

I am doing pretty well. I don't know, I just caught the motivation somehow. Hopefully it sticks around for a while.

Off to the gym now. I need to find some time to post my workouts here!

[clubchub]

Originally Posted by Gen

I just caught the motivation somehow. Hopefully it sticks around for a while.

That happens to me sometimes. I could use it right now!

[Gen]

Originally Posted by clubchub

That happens to me sometimes. I could use it right now!

You'll find it again, you just have to keep at it. I remember when you were doing really well and I couldn't do it for more than 4 days, but I constantly started over again.

Part of it was setting a date and working on a plan with the workouts and calories pre-planned for each day for a full 6 weeks. I designed a spreadsheet and printed it out and it's taped up next to me at my desk. I have my calories pre-planned and I write underneath that the actual calories at the end of the day. I weigh myself everyday and write it down too, though that's getting old and frustrating - I wouldn't recommend it.

I know how it feels like you're always dieting and never losing because you can't stay compliant. The most annoying thing is that the cheat food doesn't help you to feel like you're not dieting, because its a minority of the time and then you might feel guilty. (Sometimes )

You and I seem to have the same issues; social eating and drinking. Its not always other people and their expectations, but sometimes it is because people get upset if you're not "enjoying yourself" the same way they are (high calorie food and drink). I decided recently to get angry at them (not necessarily explicitly mean) and not give in to their selfishness. I can enjoy their company without eating pizza and ice cream! Its none of their business what I choose to eat for the next few weeks. You still have to fight the voice inside as well, of course, but that's why I decided to get angry at people. I have enough trouble, I don't need them making it harder.

Anyway, that was way more than I intended to write about it. Just stay determined and eventually you'll catch it again.

[clubchub]

For me it is not the pressure from others that causes me to give in. I give in because I love food so much. I see all that delicious food and I lose my will power.

Good luck with staying low. When I did it I made some progress. I haven't been able to repeat it, but I haven't lost ground since then. Hopefully it will be the same for you. Also, are you planning any diet breaks? When you diet really hard, built in breaks help keep you going. If you're not planning any breaks for the full 6 weeks, don't get upset if you have a bad day here and there. Just brush yourself off and keep going. I'll be pulling for you.

[Gen]

Originally Posted by clubchub

For me it is not the pressure from others that causes me to give in. I give in because I love food so much. I see all that delicious food and I lose my will power.

Don't get me wrong; plenty often that's me too. I love good food, cooking, baking, and all the fun around it.

Good luck with staying low. When I did it I made some progress. I haven't been able to repeat it, but I haven't lost ground since then. Hopefully it will be the same for you. Also, are you planning any diet breaks? When you diet really hard, built in breaks help keep you going. If you're not planning any breaks for the full 6 weeks, don't get upset if you have a bad day here and there. Just brush yourself off and keep going. I'll be pulling for you.

I have a long weekend starting July 16th when my husband has his graduation ceremony, graduation ball and on the Sunday I have a 5K followed with a visit to Chili's because there will be one nearby, I haven't been in a year and I miss it. I have 3200 calories on those days calculated into the week.

[Gen]

Day 14:

72.1 kg
I can't be bothered to do measurements today.

I think the scale said 72.1 this morning. Or maybe it was 72.3 or 5 or something. I don't know, I'm getting really frustrated. I probably shouldn't because I'm definitely trending downward (74, 73, 72, duh!), I just feel like I've lost faster in the past with less deficit than I'm eating right now. I'd like to increase my calories a little bit, starve days are getting on my nerves, but I really feel backed into a corner. Like somehow if I eat 1700 calories all week I'm not going to lose anything at all or I'll gain or something. That's ridiculous but with an weekly average of 1491 I should see a bigger drop. Of course, its entirely possible the TOM is approaching. But I was telling myself a week and a half ago that maybe I didn't see much loss because I was ovulating! There are always excuses. Then again, I'm losing close to 2 lbs a week aren't I? Who am I to complain?

If I see my mood getting worse I will increase to 1700 - 1800 for the rest of the week. Otherwise I'm setting myself up for a binge crash.

I had 2 eggs and cottage cheese for breakfast. I have a protein bar and a protein shake for lunch and dinner will be chicken curry for a total of 1081 calories and 107.5 grams of protein. Not enough of either but like I said, I feel backed into a corner, like I have to do this now.

Tomorrow's a workout day, I'll eat more.

[Gen]

I ended up with something like 1634 calories and 130 grams of protein. That's good, I know, but way more than I meant to eat. I was just hungry and fed up all day. At least I made mostly good choices. I bought a prepackaged tuna lunch that was pretty good and healthy (I didn't eat the pasta but its counted it in my calorie total) with some cheddar cheese sticks, then I had a protein bar snack a half hour before leaving work. We had chicken curry for dinner and I didn't eat much of the rice at all, but my husband added quark to it. And then I had some beef that we cooked for lunches.

I'd really love a cookie.

I did discover quark and baking chocolate with a bit of sugar the other day which I'm thinking could be of use again!! Maybe with peanut butter.

I'm still thinking of allowing up to 1700 calories all week.

[clubchub]

1634 is a great day. Skip the cookie and you've got it made. Building 2 3200 days into your plan is a great idea. Something to look forward to, and no sense of failure when you do indulge.

What is quark?

[Gen]

Originally Posted by clubchub

1634 is a great day. Skip the cookie and you've got it made. Building 2 3200 days into your plan is a great idea. Something to look forward to, and no sense of failure when you do indulge.

What is quark?

Ah! Quark I learned about from Julske and Pips! Its like a soft cheese, but super low calories and good protein. 100 grams, which is like 5 tablespoons, 63 calories, 0.2 fat, 3.9 carbs and 11.3 grams of protein.

I've put it in my oatmeal with jam, I've used quark and low fat feta to stuff eggplant, I've mixed it with chocolate kind of pudding-like, I've put it on strawberries, mixed it with tuna instead of mayo. Its really great! I've been thinking that I could make a cheesecake with it! lol Not yet though.

I didn't have the cookie.

[Juleske]

Welcome to the quark club! Looks like the diet is going well

[Gen]

Originally Posted by Juleske

Welcome to the quark club! Looks like the diet is going well

Thanks, I think it actually is

[Gen]

I ran 30 minutes today and it was great!

Lifting has taken to the backburner a little since I found a way to run. Plus, I have a 5 k to run next week (19th).

It's been a little sporatic, but I've been doing full body workouts using NROL Fatloss moves. Its the reps and sets that have been off. I've just been trying to do better than last time thats all. Anyway, today I did:

W/ two 7kg DBs:
Row 2 x 12
Shoulder Press 2 x 15
DB Bench press 2 x 12
Squat 2 x 10
Step ups 2 x 12


W/ two 5kg DBs:
Lat Side Raise 2 x 10

Just bodyweight:
Back Ext. 2 x 15
Swiss Ball crunch 2 x 20

Then I came home and wrote it all down and realized I got even my own plan all jumbled

I'm eating more carbs this week because they make me happy (but a little guilty now *sigh*). I'm still on nice deficit though. 1567 today with 117 g protein which is too low but tomorrows plan is 130 so it's ok.

[clubchub]

Don't feel guilty. 1567 is excellent. I find 1200 and 1300 to be unsustainable for the long haul. I'm low on protein today too. I have some calories left so I might have an egg white omlette. I really want ice cream, but I don't think there's much protien in that

[Gen]

Originally Posted by clubchub

Don't feel guilty. 1567 is excellent. I find 1200 and 1300 to be unsustainable for the long haul. I'm low on protein today too. I have some calories left so I might have an egg white omlette. I really want ice cream, but I don't think there's much protien in that

I know how you feel! I came across some cookies hidden in the cabinet the other day, but I'm consoling myself with the thought that they're probably stale.

Seriously, see if you can find some quark. (Though it tastes just like lowfat plain yogurt, so that would probably work the same.) I had some last night mixed with chocolate baking powder and a bit of sugar and it was gorgeous! If you don't like chocolate, I'd try some vanilla and cinnamon maybe.... mmmm maybe I'll try that next. Vanilla with cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar.

[realcdn]

There's an ice cream type product marketed as high protein. I can't remember the name of it. I found another that is only sold in Canada (YoPro), but that's not the one I was thinking about. While searching though I found a thread on another board that has a lot of ideas for homemade protein ice cream.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=491806

Oooo... and all kinds of recipes with it...

http://www.biprousa.com/recipes.asp