Un-Fazed: Moving Beyond Phase 2

[jhderm]

Hi Chris,

Looks good! Just keep this going. I am still stuck and frustrated but at least, I am not going up. Eventually, I hope to move down. I even revived my PZero thread to deal w the plateau, no takers yet. I guess nobody else is stuck!

See you next week (tomorrow)

[Chris55]

Ky, I guess carcass is a pretty weird word, but i like the sound of it - sounds more substantial than just bones, lol!

Judi, where is your PZero thread???

Today is GORGEOUS - must be mid -50's by now (thermometer is in the shade), which is balmy for March in Maine. I'm sitting on my deck with the sun in my face sipping some coffee. Today I did my indoor walk early this morning. I could have easily put it off thinking I'd walk outside, but so many days lately they've predicted warm temps but the wind has been too raw to walk without gloves and earmuffs. So I walked inside and at least got it done. I may take a quick walk later while dinner is in the oven, now that it's light outside so late. WooHoo!

I'm thinking of cooking up a pot of seasoned pinto beans to have as a side with my dinner. I'm really trying to stay away from the grains and starchy P2 veggies, and I love beans. Needed a change from my black beans for breakfast, so had a veggie omelet and now I need some beans to fill my tummy!

B: veggie/cheese omelet
S: almonds
L: salad w/leftover steak, feta, balsamic dressing
S: more almonds , banana
D: will be turkey breast, kale or asparagus, beans, probably a glass of wine....
Dessert: strawberries/ricotta/squirt of agave syrup

[Chris55]

Another lovely warm day, got a lot accomplished but ended the day with my computer class and more talk about the lousy job market. Ugh! I vented quite a bit on Judi's thread, lol! Just very frustrated with the job market here and the fact that I swore to myself that I would never be in this position and here I am in my 50's looking at entry level lousy jobs that I can't even get.

Anyhow, the beginning of the day was nice Did a bit of weight training on the Total Gym, cleaned the house, actually vacuuming and washing some floors, AND did laundry. Gold star for me!! Then realized that it was indeed warm again so went for a one-mile walk. Ate relatively healthy until my second helping of salted nuts. It was either that or half a box of crackers, so I guess I'll live with myself. But I'm making no progress on the scale or in job hunting.....grrrrrr!

Exercise: Total Gym plus one-mile walk
B: 2 eggs, pinto beans
S: banana/yogurt
L: eggplant lasagna
S: strawberries w/ricotta and agave syrup
D: salad w/chicken,craisins,asian dressing
S: nuts
S: nuts/wine/leftover turkey

Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Goal is to cut up some veggies for snacking instead of all those nuts!

[Kyan]

Hey Chris!

Ugh! Sorry to hear about you trying to find a job in this terrible market! But I must say I am IMPRESSED with how well you are handing the stress, considering! I would be grazing my way through everything in sight if I were in your shoes - I'm sure of it!
Hang in there - I will keep your situation in my positive thoughts and prayers!!

[Chris55]

Thanks, Ky! Feeling a bit better this morning. I seriously should not drink wine when I'm tired and stressed, just makes me eat more, lol! And it makes me rant

Scale is moving in the wrong direction. I need to look at portion sizes and stop eating so many nuts. And I need to get off my butt.

Got myself a new bean cookbook, loaded on my Nook. Hoping for some inspiration and help finding recipes to get the rest of the family on board with fewer meat-based meals. The problem is that their idea of a vegetarian meal includes pasta or pizza!

[Chris55]

Eating on program today, being strong

It was lousy and cold and rainy and raw out today, so I did my 2 mile Leslie Sansone with my new wrist weights and worked up a nice sweat. Just need to stick to doing that EVERY day. My plan is to add the weight training slowly now that my hands can take the stress.

B: pinto beans/egg
S: banana/yogurt/agave syrup
L: eggplant lasagna
S: almonds/warm milk
D: will be pork chop w/peppers and onions, kale, wine

Making a vat of chili for tomorrow, my busy day. I'll have some for lunch, then pack a salad for my dinner.

[Chris55]

Time to start journaling again - been off picking the kid up for spring break, getting a bit off track, but not totally awful. We drove down to NY and back on Friday. Packed a breakfast bar, yogurt, and V8 for the trip down, had a very nice ww veggie/egg burrito at the diner near the college (also some homefries ). Drove back, downing many cups of coffee, a Coke, and a Starbucks scone for dinner. We had stopped at a turnpike rest area to grab something besides the bananas left in the car, and the choices were awful - Burger King, Popeyes, and a convenience store with expensive old salads. So went for the scone, which was very good, and then had a snack when we got home.

Last night I made the corned beef and cabbage for the guys. I don't like the stuff, one of the few things I don't eat, so had some leftover eggplant lasagna, glass of wine, and a slice of Irish soda bread that my son brought home. Then 3 Oreos. Geesh!

So a little stressing news - got home on Friday to find out that my oldest son's supervisor's wife, who I know from church, never woke up from a nap on Thursday. Forty years old, 4 little kids, holy cow! And the husband delivers bread at 3am w/my son. Family is out of state, so I'm thinking he's going to be leaving soon, don't know how he'll cope otherwise. So trying to see what I can do to help out. I've signed up online to bring food one day in April - they've got a month of meals organized, and the funeral is this week. My son is working extra shifts to help out the business, but that means less family time this week with my younger one home from college. We're going out to lunch somewhere today, and enjoying the warmth (50-60) and sunshine! Hopefully we'll pick some place that has vegetables .

[Kyan]

Oh Chris, how sad!!! Four little kids, too! I wonder what she died from? That poor husband! I'm so glad that he has such loving support around him - all of you making him meals, etc. I know we all have a "time to die", but four little kids!! It just breaks your heart!

I hope you are doing ok! You have so much stress in your life right now - I am impressed with how well you are hanging in there, Beachy-wise. You are awesome!

[JeffInJax]

That's just crazyness, even though its very tragic I suppose you have to realize its better she went that way being painless. I hope everyone is able to pull together and help them out while their family is going through such a hard time. It's a very sad occasion. Sorry for the stress and stay strong, its always darkest before the morning light.

[Chris55]

What a wild week. Seems that my son's supervisor, the husband of the woman who died, ended up in the hospital with a massive infection and was transferred to our major medical center down in Portland. So the wake and funeral were postponed. Then once they realized he'd be in the hospital for over a week, he insisted that they hold the funeral service anyway. All her close friends are trying to pressure the parents to have someone check out their house. Evidently they were doing a lot of renovations, had a lot of black mold, and she was pulling up moldy tiles the day she died. Autopsy says an aneurysm, which I didn't realize could be caused by severe cases of toxic mold. Evidently the kids have been having respiratory issues all winter. Anyway, I went to the funeral and they'll hold another memorial whey he's out of the hospital. The kids are doing as well as can be expected with two parents disappearing. They each have a lot of siblings, so there area lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins showering them with love. So sad.

Food is not going well at all. My youngest is home from college this week, so I've been cooking up a storm and we've been eating out way too much. It's been 80 degrees here, so I tried to find capris that fit and I've given away all my larger sizes so NOTHING FITS!!!! We did a 2 hour hike up a 525 ft. mountain yesterday, so at least I got some exercise. My quads are killing me. But not sure if it came close to burning off what I ate for dinner at our favorite seafood joint.

The kid goes back to school on Sunday, so I'm thinking that Monday I need to start a real Phase 1 for at least a week and focus on some vegetarian meals. And I need to get moving - aiming for an hour a day of exercise.

[Beaching It]

Wow Chris, that is SO sad about that woman and her family... heart breaking. Those poor kids. I couldn't imagine leaving my kids at their age. So sad!

Sorry to hear you're struggling with the food ... I'm up too with the 2 week vacation and struggling to get it together now that I'm back. WE can do this. Summer is coming!! I may do an 'almost' P1 next week. Need those summer clothes to fit and feel good in them.

[Chris55]

Just got back from an all day road trip bringing my son back to college. We had a great time over his spring break, but my pants now really don't fit!! I tried my best with food today, had a lot of veggies. I had an egg on an english muffin early this morning before we flew out the door. Had lunch at a diner near the college. The boys had huge hot sandwiches w/melted cheese, fries, and split a napoleon for dessert. I had (.....drumroll, please!) salad bar (tiny scoop of potato salad, rest veggies), greek spinach pie, and a side of broccoli. I think I almost gave the waitress a heart attack with all those veggies. She kept trying to get me to order some kind of potatoes, wanted to bring me butter for the broccoli. Kept on asking me! And it was fresh broccoli, and delicious all by itself!! So I am very proud of me. Didn't even have a bite of the napoleon!!

Other than that, a granola bar and some almonds in the car, a glass of wine, lf cheese, and an apple at home tonight. Only really bad thing was a Coke to get me through the 12 hours of driving, but on the whole I'd say that's pretty good. Coffee helps me on really long trips, but that hit of sugar and the caffeine in the Coke really keeps me from falling asleep. It's the only time I drink the stuff.

Tomorrow: Phase 1. I mean it this time. Plus exercise.

[masm2]

Hey Chris,

You can do this...you know you can...you have done it before!

I'll give you all my tips. Look at the calendar and figure out how many weeks you have until your son is back home. (Unless he is going to stay for the summer sessions) I started PI again the day after my DD went back to school after the holidays and I really wanted to be back in my favorite pants by the time she came home for spring break. I ended up making it with a week to spare! When adult kids are home all the time-it is not special and you can get into your own routine, but college breaks are like Christmas...all the old favorites have to be on the table. The mom/nurture gene kicks in and we are toast! I'll miss her but I am happy my DD will be at school this summer.

Do try to for at least 5 days of a clean PI. That is all I need to banish the cravings and drop some water weight. Then PII...do fruit. I still stay away from the other starches as much as I can. My triggers are rice, pasta and potatoes even the good kind sets me off.

Water is your friend. I read somewhere that you should take your weight in pounds-divide by 2-then you know how many ounces of water you should drink daily.

Wine...sigh...I said good by for 6 weeks...Now it has been a few more weeks...sigh. I still drink some beer here and there, but truly empty calories, and I get too snacky!

Chocolate-is still around but just in kisses!

I started to count calories. I use the Daily Plate on the Livestrong site. It is free online and is fairly easy to use. I don't bother to try and put in calories burned. I try to stay around 1200 most days and not to go over 1600 if I can help it. I am sure that I underestimate some of my food amounts-so I figure I am not going too low since I am not losing weight anymore. My BMR is 1300-1400 since I am not a big exerciser! I also don't pay attention to their protein/carb/fats recommendations. I do eat SB and the protein and fat amounts end up higher for SB.

READ...READ...READ-everything you can on weight loss, nutrition, health, etc. You have to find what works for you and it takes a while for things to click in your head and in your body.

Fiber is your friend. I always eat a lot of fiber filled foods. A few weeks ago I added fiber supplements.

If you have a snacky day...start over fresh the next day. Don't tell yourself you have blown it and there is not reason to try anymore. SB is very forgiving. It lets you come back.

I hated the fact that I did not fit in to my pants anymore, but I had to remind myself that the reason I started SBD in the first place was for my health! I was not going to lose my focus. I want to be healthy. I want to feel good. I need to be there for my family. I want to live for at least another 30 years and not be plagued by health issues that I can avoid by eating right.

Take care,
Mary Ann

[Chris55]

Thanks, Mary Ann!!! Big hugs to you

I'm off to a good start today. Made a pot of beans, got some fresh veggies, and made myself a bean/tuna salad for lunch that was excellent. Veggie omelet this morning, lean beef and veggies for dinner - potatoes for the guys.

I'm planning on a week of P1 if I can stand it, will start back with fruit first. Like you, Mary Ann, the grains do me in all the time. Having all this bread around the house is deadly, but I'm determined. I know how lousy I feel when I have a lot of bread, even brown rice makes me feel like a slug. So away with the stuff for a few weeks!!

I did a 30min workout this morning and will try and do something else later today. Still recovering from my long drive yesterday and may take a nap.

Will check out the livestrong site. I was looking at sparkpeople a little while ago but it's too busy of a site for me. Even this site is making me nuts with all the ads!

[Kyan]

Chris, I have the same problem with grains! I don't even eat that much of them, but when I do I gain or stall!

You just took your boy back, I just got mine home! It's hard Beaching when you have a college kid at home, isn't it!