Week 4

Down 2.6 (10.4 lbs total)

I successfully navigated a fabulous dinner out at Stage before taking in the Tom Stoppard play "The Real Thing" on Thursday.

I love Tom Stoppard and I wish they would put on every play, in fact I wish there was a Tom Stoppard festival somewhere. I mean why should Shakespeare get a festival and not Tom? I would like to ask the universe to arrange this please, somewhere nice, like SF or Portland. So I could take my summer vacay there.

Stage is a particularly good choice if you want to have really good food, a little wine, and a great atmosphere while not blowing the Points bank. My friend and I shared each of the courses so I got to indulge in some pâté and cornichon, some fresh cress and beet salad, a scrumptious tuna tartare, and some Lamb merguez sausages. And, because they serve wine in a 3 oz. tasting size, I got to have some nice French whites with my food. Bliss.

And I did some yoga and went for a few walks. All in all a good week.

Week 3

Down 2.6 (7.8 lbs total)

I'm feeling pretty good about being on the plan. There were no food crises this week and I managed to vary the food enough so that I wasn't bored and craving flavour by the end of the week.

A friend is going to meetings with me this time and, though she only has about 20 pounds to lose, keeping her encouraged and attending is helping me a lot. I spent time preparing her for the fact that I would probably lose big numbers at the beginning as I had more to lose and more water weight to shed. Ha! She is down 8 lbs. at the end of week 3. At this rate she'll be gone from meetings in April!! Still, it proves the oft quoted truth that having a friend along for the ride is very helpful in keeping you motivated. It will be great seeing her achieve her goal weight and maintain it.

Ciao

Week 2

Down .4 (5.2 total)

I tracked points and stayed within my daily allowance right up until Friday when circumstances intervened. I had a normal breakfast at work but lunch went out the window when a meeting ran over-time, the cafeteria was slammed and, after 25 minutes, I gave up on my order. Unfortunately I had another out of office meeting to run to so I thought I'd grab a quick lunch at the cafeteria at the client's office. Unfortunately they were almost out of food and the only semi-eatable thing were those little 1oz. packages of cheese. So I grabbed two of them, because at least they are protein, and went off to my next meeting which also ran overtime. So by the time I arrive home an hour later than normal I was tired, hungry, and craving carbs. I went to the local Pizza place, had a pepperoni pizza and a glass of red wine. Now, because the pizza is very thin crust and they put almost no cheese on these things, I ended the week with half of my discretionary points left. But the night before a weigh-in is not the time to be indulging in a salty, carb-y, wine-y dinner. This week I will have to be happy with the way my waistbands are feeling rather than with what the scales tell me. And remind myself that it is still 5 lbs. lost in two weeks.

Cheers!

Week 1

Down 4.8

This was the weigh-in at the end of week one. I feel happy with that loss though it's mostly water - but some of it is fat I'm sure. The rhythm is back, I'm eating the same breakfast and lunch every day at work followed by a varying dinner - mostly good salads with protein this week.

My breakfast is:

1. soft poached egg


2. 1/2 of a large piece of whole wheat toast, no butter


3. dish of fresh fruit salad

My lunch is a Turkey & Havarti sandwich:

1. 3 oz. deli turkey


2. 1 deli slice of havarti


3. lettuce & tomato


4. 1 Tbsp. light Mayo


5. 2 pcs. toasted multigrain, no butter

Dinners have been things like tuna and white beans in a lemon vinaigrette over crisp romaine lettuce; a big greek salad with a little feta; shredded chicken, apple, celery, and grapes tossed in a raspberry vinaigrette over romaine. All pretty yummy.

So, so far so good.

Initial Weigh-in (Attempt 3)

Up 6.8 from the last leaving weight, but down from the weight of my first attempt.

Here we go again.

I gained over 2 pounds a month since I was last at WW. All of it from pizza I'm sure, well, and the chocolate and alcohol of the holiday season. Some things have changed though, I have retained some of the habits from my earlier time on the plan: healthy breakfasts of fruit, poached egg and dry toast at work; smaller pasta portions when I cook; light cream in my coffee. These things are probably why I didn't bounce upward to a higher starting weight this time.

The carb cravings are still pretty intense though. I'm going to try adding chromium picolinate which has apparently had some effect in reducing carbohydrate cravings in people and is also a support chemical in blood sugar maintenance. I'm also taking Wellbutrin/Zyban for Seasonal Affective symptoms. It has been terrific for me - the general background depression and anxiety of this time of year has been much reduced. I will go off it in the Spring when the mornings are light again. I tried light therapy by the way and found that my sleep was disturbed and I had anxiety attacks.

So, stay tuned. And wish me well.