July 8, 2011: Day 40, Post 188

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds  

Today's Weight:        205.2 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    204.6 lbs

Net Loss/Gain:         + 0.6 lbs

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This is the end. Of my time with the Natural Hormonal Enhancement diet. Tomorrow, I start the 2-week, 3 shakes-and-a-meal regimen outlined as Phase 1 in the 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. 

If you look at the chart, you see that, after initial success with the high-protein, high fat, very low carb Induction phase of NHE, it's been a yoyo, and the trend has reversed and is pointing at weight gain. In fact, I weigh a pound more than what I weighed 70 days ago, on the final measurement day of April. And 7.4 pounds more than my lowest weight after the Induction phase. As well, I can tell by what I see in the mirror, that my measurements are moving in the wrong direction.

There are two ways to look at this. 

One is that maintaining a weight loss for 10 weeks is a victory in itself. I see this, and feel it. It makes me smile.


The other is that I have made no progress in the last 10 weeks. Frankly, this is my emotional reaction to seeing the charts and keeping the records. In 2-1/2 months, I have had some success, getting the weight down below 198pounds 4weeks ago, but I have gained more than I've lost. Keeping my weight down has been unsustainable, and I have failed in my attempt to lose the last 10 pounds or so of fat.  And lost ground. I haven't found a plan that will enable me to maintain my low weight, let alone moving me forward to my goal.


THAT is the plan I am looking for: the one that permits maintaining a healthy body composition.

The 6-week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle is not that plan. A permanent diet that maintains a healthy body composition is not what will be going on for the next 4-6 weeks. My goal for this period is to lose 8-10 pounds over the first 4 weeks. If I achieve that, maybe another 5-7 in two weeks after that. During this time, I will not be eating normally:

For the first two weeks (beginning tomorrow), I will be eating 3 protein shakes and a protein-and-vegetable meal.  Every day. 14 days. 42 shakes. That is Phase 1. 


Phase 2, weeks 3 and 4, consists of pretty much an all-meat diet (red meat, eggs, seafood and poultry are OK, dairy, not so much. Starches, sugars, high-glycemic anything is out). It is, simply: High protein, high fat, ultra-low carbs. 


If I still haven't reached my goal at the end of 4 weeks (which will not be measured in weight alone, but weighted heavily in appearance and body fat % as measured with calipers), I repeat alternate weeks of Phase 1 and 2 until I am there. Which I hope, if necessary, will be only one week of each, bringing me to 6 weeks of Phases 1 and 2.

Then it is on to Phase 3, an almost-normal low carb plan for 2 weeks.


Then I have to think about a maintenance plan. I mentioned yesterday that I'm thinking about a plan that is basically low-carb, with some carb cycling, and that has a 'Cheat' day. This describes a plan I have in my eBook library called 'Cheat Your Way Thin'. 

The last element is incorporating some exercise. Currently, I'm thinking about high-intensity intervals and kettlebell resistance. I have the first of 4 weekly classes to learn the kettlebell routines this Sunday. The HIIT remains an I don't know, since I can't think of anything that is year-round that doesn't involve a gym membership. The option is to do something temporary, until the weather forces me to change up.

Food Log

Breakfast

Skipped.

    Carb count: 0 g. Net

Lunch

An omelet made with 3 large organic eggs, uncured ham, sauteed spinach, and parmesan and romano cheese shavings,  on Spring Mix greens, with vinaigrette.

      Carb count: 2 g. Net

Snack

Almond butter with stevia-erythritol blend.   

    Carb Count:  10 g. Net

Dinner 

Chili (grass-fed beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, spices) over Spring Mix greens and tomatoes with vinaigrette, with parmesan and romano shavings.

   Carb Count:  10 g. Net

Snack

Mashed cauliflower with herbes de provence, butter, yogurt, chia seeds and fresh-ground pepper and sea salt.   

    Carb Count:  6 g. Net
 

Day total carbs:  

    ~30 g. Net carbs. 
Net carbs = total carbs - fiber 

The approximation "~" includes an amount added for calculation error and unknown (therefore, uncounted) carbs.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:  24 oz,   Water: 112+ oz.

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