July 30, 2011: Day 62, Post 210 - Week 1 Phase 2 Measurements

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        204.0 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    205.6 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 1.6 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st measurement for Phase 1 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. July 23 was the 1st measurement for Phase 2.

             Last week     This week     Gain/Loss
  Weight:     197.6  lbs    204.0  lbs    + 6.4  lbs
  Chest:       39.25 "       39.00 "      - 0.00 in
  Waist:       37.00 "       37.00 "      - 1.00 "
  Hips:        37.00 "       37.00 "      - 0.50 "
  Total in:   113.25 "      113.25 "      - 1.50 "
  % Body Fat:  17.6  %       17.6  %      - 1.1  %

This is a chart of my weekly weight since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st measurement for Phase 1 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. July 23 was the 1st measurement for Phase 2.

This is a chart of inches lost (sum of chest, waist, hips) since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st measurement for Phase 1 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. July 23 was the 1st measurement for Phase 2.

Today is the first day of week 2 of Phase 2 from The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle, which, like Phase 1, is 2 weeks long. It is the 62nd day since I switched from the Slow-Carb Diet.

Good news/bad news. The good news: I have maintained all my gains in inches and body composition from phase 1. The Bad news: Weight-wise, I'm back where I started. All my weight progress from phase 1 has been undone.

I am going to continue eating less food of the exact recommended type, and see where I am at the end of next week. In all likelihood, I will go back to phase 1 at that point, but for only a week. Then, phase 2. Then, phase 1, and so on, until I am satisfied with my progress.

Food Log

Breakfast

LES: Lox (Nova smoked salmon), Eggs, and Spinach.

Lunch

Turkey, homemade mayonnaise, Spring Mix greens.

Dinner

Spring Mix greens, onion-burger (Onion soup mix and grass-fed ground beef.

Late-night Snack
Protein shake.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  24 oz,   Water: 128+ oz. 

July 29, 2011: Day 61, Post 209

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        205.6 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    204.2 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 1.6 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st day of Phase 1, and July 23 the start of Phase 2 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

This is Day 61 post-Slow-Carb, day 7 of 14 of Phase 2 of The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

OK. Packing on 8 pounds in 6 days is ridiculous. Since the food that I am eating is all on the approved list, and I'm following every other recommendation, there can only be 2 explanations for this, and it could be an 'and' not an 'or' situation.

1.  I am eating too much food (calorie intake too high).
2.  I am eating too many carbohydrates (seems unlikely, since the number of available carbs in spinach and lettuce (the only source of carbs in my diet) is very low - they are mostly water and fiber, after all - but, I guess it can't be completely ruled out).

So, what to do? Well, the obvious choice is to eat less. Which started with my skipping breakfast today, although admittedly that was more of a response to my being slow to get out of bed and get to work on time. Nonetheless, I am going to cut back on quantity of food eaten.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped breakfast today.


Lunch

Nova smoked salmon on Spring Mix greens with homemade mayonnaise.

Snack
Pepperoni and roast turkey.

Dinner

Spinach with eggs (2) and grilled boneless pork chops with balsamic vinegar. (Not shown: Spring Mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette).

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  24 oz,   Water: 128+ oz. 

July 28, 2011: Day 60, Post 208

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        204.2 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    201.6 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 2.6 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st day of Phase 1, and July 23 the start of Phase 2 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

This is Day 60 post-Slow-Carb, day 6 of 14 of Phase 2 of The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

Yes, I am a little concerned with a 6-1/2 pound weight gain in the last 5 days. I did have a bowel movement before lunch, but I don't think it accounts for that much weight.

Yesterday, I drank a quart of fresh-squeezed lemonade (sweetened with Stevia-Erythritol blend) and counted it in my water intake - but the juice of 3 lemons, without much pulp, may have blown out my carb count - which I'm not tracking - for the day.

The reason I weigh myself daily for only one reason - to give me more data points to make and spot trends. This trend I am seeing - 4 out of 5 days of increasing weight, is a little early, and for this phase, not known, but it does bring this factor to my attention. Will I take some corrective measure? I may cut back calories a little bit, but probably not. In fact, there isn't much to do without abandoning the plan I'm following, and I am not ready to throw in the towel on that at this time.

Food Log

Breakfast

Spinach, Nova smoked salmon and eggs.

Lunch

Spring Mix greens, baby spinach, tomato with balsamic vinaigrette, grass-fed beef burgers with uncured bacon, homemade mayonnaise, Dijon mustard.

Dinner

Turkey, pepperoni, Spring Mix greens, baby spinach, homemade mayonnaise.

Nova salmon, baby spinach, Spring Mix greens, homemade mayonnaise.

Snack
Pepperoni slices.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  20 oz,   Water: 128+ oz. 

July 27, 2011: Day 59, Post 207

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        201.6 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    200.8 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 0.8 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st day of Phase 1, and July 23 the start of Phase 2 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

This is Day 59 post-Slow-Carb, day 5 of 14 of Phase 2 of The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

Yesterday, I was rather blase about my weight changes. Today, maybe a little less so.

Phase 2 is not having the effect on my weight I was expecting, being neutral or gaining for the first 4 weigh-ins. I won't draw any conclusions - the last time I did something like this, though, I lost weight dramatically in the first few days (see Day 6, 51 days ago, for the first 7 days of induction in the Natural Hormonal Enhancement eating plan).

One problem, and perhaps THE problem, is that I have not been having regular bowel movements. Again! In fact, I have not had one since I started Phase 2. Despite taking senna a few times. I'm getting a little worried about that. I wish I could get back to my pre-weight loss once-a-day.

Food Log

Breakfast

Spinach and eggs, with bacon.

Lunch

Tuna, baby spinach, Spring Mix greens and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

Baby spinach, Spring Mix greens and balsamic vinaigrette and grass-fed beef burgers.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  24 oz,   Water: 130+ oz. 

July 26, 2011: Day 58, Post 206

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        200.8 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    198.8 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 2.0 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st day of Phase 1, and July 23 the start of Phase 2 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

This is Day 58 post-Slow-Carb, day 4 of 14 of Phase 2 of The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

I certainly did pay the price for yesterday's gluttony. But total hero that I am, I will simply move on, with spirits undiminished.

But I'm really not worried about my weight. I am more interested in my body composition. I only weigh myself daily now out of habit, and to give me something to do as far as daily recordable observations. Weight is just the easiest thing to measure; it is far from the most important.

Most important is probably the way my clothes fit. I'm happy to report that belts bought only a month ago are now on their last punch - new belts will be needed soon. A sport jacket that I bought recently - a size larger than I needed because of its shape and cut, now is big on me (not that I can't wear it, but I can wrap it more than the buttons allow...

So... I'm very happy with my progress. Not down because I got hungry last night.

Today, I ate three meals, and finished dinner relatively early. Then I did the late-night snack thing. Again. It's all good, but, most importantly, I'll be back at it tomorrow.

Food Log

Breakfast

Spinach and eggs, with bacon.

Lunch

Ham, baby spinach, Spring Mix greens and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

Wild-caught salmon with sauteed-onion sauce and balsamic vinegar on baby spinach.

Late Snack
Ham and buttered almonds.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  12 oz,   Water: 154+ oz. 

July 25, 2011: Day 57, Post 205

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        198.8 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    199.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 0.2 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st day of Phase 1, and July 23 the start of Phase 2 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

This is Day 57 post-Slow-Carb, day 3 of 14 of Phase 2 of The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

I did not get the expected weight bump this morning. A bit of weight gain has typically followed one of these 3 things: a workout, eating late at night, short sleep. I did all three of these, a trifecta of eating errors, on Sunday.

I'm thinking, if I hadn't worked out, eaten late, and I'd gotten a good night's sleep, I would have experienced a good weight loss.

Also: I discovered the source of a recent problem with my food pictures (which have been disappointing of late). It turns out, all the settings I had for the camera feature of my Android phone had been undone. Resolution was low, scene was wrong, auto-white and anti-shake were disabled.

I've been having phone problems ever since Verizon tried to push Android 2.2 onto my phone (not that I didn't want it - but somehow, that software update fried my I'm-very-happy-with-it-thank-you Samsung Fascinate). Verizon was very, very, nice - they sent me a replacement, and that seemed to work fine except for one thing: It discharged my batteries when I plugged it in to upload pictures or recharge it. Verizon sent me a new one today. They offered me a different phone, but the only other phone I want is an iPhone, and that wasn't on the table.

Now, I know to check the settings on the camera, and the pics should be back to... well, better, hopefully.

But, back to food...

I had a bad day today, eating-wise. While I didn't eat anything off-plan, I ate a lot - I mean, a lot, all night long. I also succumbed to my previously documented cole-slaw cravings. It is so weird to me that, although there is not one thing in my coleslaw that should mess up my diet, in large enough portions, and I had 3 large portions last night, it just wrecks me.

I ended up nodding off watching tv early, then, when I woke up, couldn't get to sleep.

This will kill me tomorrow. I'm going to have to be extra good...

Food Log

Breakfast

3 eggs scrambled with spinach, topped with Chipotle hot sauce, and a chicken-feta-spinach sausage on the side.

Lunch

Organic uncured ham on Spring Mix greens and baby spinach with  a tomato and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

Local organic, grass-fed beefburgers with Dijon mustard and a side of home-made coleslaw. I had two of these plates (yes, 4 burgers and a mountain of slaw).

Late Snack
Ham and eggs (and the remaining coleslaw).

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  24 oz,   Water: 108+ oz. 

July 24, 2011: Day 56, Post 204

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        199.0 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    197.6 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 1.4 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st day of Phase 1; July 23 the start of Phase 2 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle.

This is Day 56 post-Slow-Carb, day 2 of Phase 2 from The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle, which lasts 14 days.

After another kettle-bell workout before dinner, and another ass-kicking. I was drained - and completely the opposite of whatever hungry is after my shower. Dinner ended up happening around 11:30pm, when I got back from playing. I think that probably means my weight will be up tomorrow morning.

Also: I still have one chicken-spinach-feta cheese sausage left. When I eat it at breakfast tomrrow, I'll be done getting rid of the food I had that is not allowed during this 2 week phase (it's the feta cheese part).

Food Log

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs with spinach and chicken sausage (w/feta cheese and spinach).

Lunch

1/2-a-rotisserie-chicken salad (made with homemade mayo and a little onion)  and coleslaw.

Dinner

No picture - just some organic smoked turkey and cole slaw.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  20 oz,   Water: 128+ oz. 

July 23, 2011: Day 55, Post 203 -End of Phase 1 Measurements (Start Phase 2)

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        197.6 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    199.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 1.4 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st measurement for Phase 1 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. July 23 was the 1st measurement for Phase 2.

             Last week     This week     Gain/Loss
  Weight:     198.6  lbs    197.6  lbs    - 1.0  lbs
  Chest:       39.25 "       39.25 "      - 0.00 "
  Waist:       38.00 "       37.00 "      - 1.00 "
  Hips:        37.50 "       37.00 "      - 0.50 "
  Total in:   114.75 "      113.25 "      - 1.50 "
  % Body Fat:  18.7  %       17.6  %      - 1.1  %

This is a chart of my weekly weight since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st measurement for Phase 1 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. July 23 was the 1st measurement for Phase 2.  

This is a chart of inches lost (sum of chest, waist, hips) since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st measurement for Phase 1 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. July 23 was the 1st measurement for Phase 2.

Today is the first day of week 1 of Phase 2 from The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle, which, like Phase 1, is 2 weeks long. It is the 55th day since I switched from the Slow-Carb Diet.

A pound down for the week, 6.4 pounds down for Phase 1 (happy dance). % Body fat lower, 2-1/4" lost (dance of joy!). It is going pretty well, I'd say.

And today begins the Phase 2, where I eat a lot of meat, get to drink coffee again, and cut out all dairy, and most carbohydrates.

If I lose as much weight in the next two weeks as I lost in the last two, I will have a cheat day, then repeat a week of phase 1 and a week of phase 2. I'm pretty much assuming that will be the case, and that that will be the end of my trying to lose weight (basically, trying to lose an average of 2.4 pounds per week over the next 4 weeks).

I am really looking forward to reaching my goal and getting back to a more normal style of eating after that.

Food Log

Breakfast

Coffee and scrambled eggs with spinach and sausage (chicken sausage with spinach and feta).

Lunch

Spring Mix and Baby Spinach salad with smoked turkey and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

Half a Caribbean lime rotisserie chicken with Spring Mix greens and Baby Spinach and tomato with homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  20 oz,   Water: 132+ oz. 

July 22, 2011: Day 54, Post 202

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        199.0 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    198.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 0.0 lbs

This is my daily weight chart since ending the Slow-Carb diet. July 9 was the 1st day of Phase 1 of The 6 week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. July 23 will be the start of Phase 2.

This is Day 54 post-Slow-Carb, the last day of Phase 1 from The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle, which lasts 14 days.

Stick a fork in Phase 1. Tomorrow's weigh-in will tell the tale of how successful it was, but I know today - the way my clothes fit (my newest belt, bought a month ago, is on its last notch now) that it has been successful. 

It wasn't really that difficult. In fact, compared to my 'normal' practice of making 3-4 meals a day, it was comparatively easy. Three shakes a day is a big time-saver. But... not a lifestyle that has 'legs' I would say. 

Another 'alternate lifestyle' two weeks coming up. This time, it's eggs, beef, fish, poultry, and pork. Maybe a little bison for a treat. And approximately 40 salads. This will be costly, I can see that.

Tomorrow, I have coffee with breakfast for the first time in 14 days. After my measurements, of course. That's a lot of incentive to get up and get going. After breakfast, a trip to the Regional Farmer's market, to get a two or three dozen eggs (I will be eating a lot of eggs in the next 2 weeks) and a bunch of grass-fed organic meat.

Food Log

Breakfast

Power-up shake containing 75 g of vanilla whey protein (61 g protein), 1t of D-ribose, 1t of inulin, 1 whole organic egg, 1/4C Coconut milk, water and ice.

Lunch

One of two bowls of Spring Mix greens and Baby Spinach with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and Chicken sausage with ground and whole seed Dijon mustard. And my hand. 

Snack

Coconut cream pie version of power-up shake.

Dinner

Coconut cream pie version of power-up shake. Last shake for a while!

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  0 oz,   Water: 128+ oz.