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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 23 August 2008 12:03 am |
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Went to the gym this morning. Did cardio first, and then got called away earlier than normal (long story). Probably a good idea anyway... some parts of my arms are still sore from a few days ago 
Still not back into counting calories. Weekend is going to be very busy, so I'm kinda curious what would happen if I just continued what I've been doing (roughly counting, and ending up somewhere like 1500-1600 each day). Weigh and measure on Monday will have been 2 weeks of non-strict counting. Don't care as much about the weight as I do about the body fat.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 23 August 2008 08:02 pm |
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Squeezed in a nice visit to the gym this afternoon. Did some cardio, but left time for some good arm work too.
The bad news is that I did not resist 2 freshly baked mini rolls as they came out of my oven. I'll be glad when the event I'm cooking for is over tomorrow afternoon. Working on things at home is even MORE tempting than usual!! I think that slip-up will put me at maintenance for the day when all is said and done (instead of under maintenance). That is IF IF IF I have some self-control this evening... don't normally have dinner with hubby, so it always seems like a celebration when it happens!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 2 September 2008 07:55 pm |
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My internet service has been out since I posted last. How annoying! Seems to be all repaired now though.
Informal weigh-in this morning was at 129. So that's good. Need to do measurements again though to make sure it's mostly fat I'm losing.
Still been going to the gym about 4 times per week - half cardio, half weights. I like the new approach. But haven't been controlling food choices very well. More later!!....
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 3 September 2008 03:39 pm |
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trimB wrote: Doing my weekly weigh and measure a few days early, because of the trip...
weight 130.5#, approx 23.5% body fat
waist 28.25"
belly button 31.5"
hips 36.5"
That was early to mid August. Here's today's measurements...
weight 129.5#, approx 22.5% body fat
waist 28"
belly button 31.25"
hips 36.5"
So not a ton of change, but totally in line with my goal of decreasing body fat even if slowly. Ultimate goal is 20% body fat, probably around 125#. I think this could easily take 2 more months to do responsibly.
But what I really need at this point is to get back to tracking my macronutrients in FitDay every day. Have recorded so far today, so no excuses!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 4 September 2008 12:12 am |
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Well, the breakdown for today is not very pretty. This is why I apparently NEED to track my macronutrients, even if every once in a while. I seem to forget how much all the non-nutrient dense foods add up. It's not so much cookies and cake anymore - as it is salad dressings and crackers. They aren't the worst in the world... but I KNOW I can make better choices!
1500 calories, 54% carbs, 14% protein, 33% fat.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 5 September 2008 12:57 am |
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Not much better for today's breakdown, but at least I attempted to track. Despite all of the cookie dough that fell into my mouth while baking. I'll just say it now... sometimes I have a depressing lack of willpower. Will be icing said cookies tomorrow, zoinks!
1600 calories, 53% carbs, 18% protein, 30% fat.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 6 September 2008 12:15 am |
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Kind of a lot of fat today, but also more protein than is usual. I made some homemade chicken salad for hubby today (he likes it), and indulged in some myself. Chicken breast - good, mayo - not good!
Good workout though. Still doing more of a 50-50 split as far as time spent on weights and cardio.
1600 calories, 41% carbs, 26% protein, 33% fat.
I feel like posting a new pic of Theo at the Nationals baseball game last weekend. He sat with us for the entire game... incredible feat for a 15 month old. It was a lucky good day I guess.
Attached Image (viewed 226 times):
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 10 September 2008 12:38 am |
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Still back-sliding a bit from the weekend. I was felt so ravenous on Saturday, and I conciously decided to give in to the feeling and eat way more than normal. On Sunday though, I ate more than normal despite efforts to the contrary. I don't seem to be able to have a limited splurge.
Monday and today have been a little closer to normal, but haven't been closely tracking... which almost ALWAYS means at or a little above maintenance.
On the positive side, my workouts have been great lately and I feel like I am building muscle. Mostly because I look better in my clothes. Am I the most vain person in the world??? I just want to feel confident in my clothes! 
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 10 September 2008 01:14 am |
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aawwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! he's gotten so big (and still so very adorable!!!)
hey, nothing worng for wanted to feel good in clothes- nothing wrong at all! it certainly beats the alternative! and if you think you're vain, lol, you haven't read my diary!
keep it up with the workouts!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 11 September 2008 12:37 am |
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Hi Zen! Glad to see you popped by!
Unfortuneately I am in a wickedly bad mood all day today. Isn't 15-months a little early for terrible-twos?!? Plus hubby didn't get to help me with something that he promised he would. I got some bad news about an unexpected expenseat the doctor's. The car shop sold me the wrong headlight bulb, so that now the whole electric set-up for that headlight is shot. UGH UGH UGH!
I know that sounded like alot of whining. Oh well. Plus I wanted to eat everything in sight. Mostly fixated on a TON of cherrios. Thank the jeez I don't keep junk food in the place!
1700 calories, 55% carbs, 20% protein, 25% fat.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 11 September 2008 11:54 pm |
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Better mood today. Finances are still a mess, but mostly because I'm in between jobs right now. Well, besides running after a toddler. I'm trying to work freelance, but if I can't get up and running in the next month or so - then I'll break down and get a "real" job again. Wish me luck! Patience is not my strongest suit. I've had to stop myself from applying for jobs so many times just in the last week. If I do that, then I won't be able to pursue my freelance work AT ALL!
Made it to the gym, pushed a little too hard with the weights maybe. Maybe ate a little too much but quality was good.
1550 calories, 60% carbs, 20% protein, 20% fat.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 13 September 2008 12:33 am |
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Well, more horrible horrible financial news. After having a giantly expensive clutch replacement 2 months ago, we now need another round of major repairs that will be even more expensive than the last round. And that's postponing the new tires and the brake job. I had a previous EXPENSIVE bout of repairs at 60,000 miles or so... and now I am a bit past 120,000 miles. SO I guess I should have known it was coming in spades.
I'm writing all this here because after I got the bad news, I started stress eating like a fiend. Luckily nothing unhealthy was in the house. Barley salad, grapes, rice crackers, and a piece of cheese. I've stopped eating for the day. I can get back in the groove for tomorrow , I think.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 15 September 2008 11:14 pm |
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Still stress eating a bit. But mostly because I HAVE NO WILLPOWER.
Ugh. I promise to track what I eat tomorrow and report the damage honestly.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 16 September 2008 11:48 pm |
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As promised! Here's what I ate today...
coffeecake and decaf coffee (300)
part of a banana (50)
bean burrito with cooked egg on top, authentico! (400)
tortilla chips (150)
crackers (150)
skinny ice cream bar (150)
hummus with celery and carrots (150)
part of a boiled sweet potato (100)
TOTAL 1450.
Will probably get hungry again before retiring... plan is to have egg white on toast. Won't add much more that 100 cals.
Gym is still going great - about 4x per week. Cardio for 20-30 minutes, then weights and stretching. I'm starting to enjoy the weights more. I've been doing relatively high weights with not as many reps... like maybe 10-15. Only 1 set. Trying to stave off the boredom that I feel when I'm doing more sets/reps than that. Any opinions on this approach welcome!
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 17 September 2008 01:41 am |
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Hey Trimb. It's been a while. Sorry to hear about the unplanned expenses, sometimes when it rains it pours. What type of freelancing work are you doing? Is it baking related or something altogether completely different?
I need to get back to some regularity of workouts, good on you for getting to the gym 4x per week. I remember not all that long ago that you were hardly getting in any workouts due to working so much. So at least you are taking advantage of the time off to work on your fitness - good job!!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 18 September 2008 12:17 am |
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You're right, molly. I'm doing much better with consistent exercise. It occured to me today that I could even squeeze in another mini-workout in the evenings... has to be quiet and at home... maybe one of my pilates or yoga DVDs? More on that in a second.
Calories today not so good. I think I even went over maintenance by 50 calories or so. But I promised myself I'd report, so here goes...
coffeecake and decaf coffee (300)
little bowl of oatmeal and half of a breakfast bar (150)
sandwich crusts and a few tortilla chips (200)
sorta big bowl of cereal (250)
soup with cornbread (350)
pasta and steamed carrots and sweet potatoes (300)
more cornbread (200!!!)
TOTAL 1750.
So I was reading back over my diary from around June 2006 or so. I had something that seemed to be working then, and I'd like to give it a try again. Involves little weekly goals, so I think I'll just make goals for Thurs-Sun this week... then start over again on Monday.
For the remainder of this week!
-- Goal is a total decifit of 1200 calories.
-- 600 cal deficit via diet. -200 calories for Thurs, Fri, Sat - then maintenance on Sunday.
-- Track carbs/protein/fat. Aim for 60/20/20 split.
-- 600 cal deficit via exercise. Workouts burning an extra 200 calories on 3 days. Probably Thurs, Fri, Sun.
-- Try "bonus" mini workouts this evening and 1 other evening.
-- Official weigh and measure some time before Monday.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 18 September 2008 11:45 pm |
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Did the bonus yoga DVD yesterday evening - about 30 minutes. Felt it in my back this morning, yay! My DVD player is kinda broken though, so I can't use the menu to choose different programs of the same DVD. That means TJ Ab Jam and TJ Turbo Sculpt are out. BUMMER!
Good workout again this morning, and I feel like keeping the vibe going with a mini workout this evening and another trip to the gym tomorrow. Might postpone that "official" weigh and measure though since I started my period today. Can I just say a gigantic WHEW because it was quite late? Never been so happy to have cramps haha!
Food for today:
toast with jam, egg whites, small bit of potatoes (350)
banana (100)
half of theo's pbj (200)
trader joe's veggie egg rolls (250)
crackers (300)
tacos made with TVP (300) 
green beans and carrots (100)
TOTAL 1600.
Summary for Thursday
-200 cals via exercise
-100 cals via diet
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 23 September 2008 01:12 am |
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So my computer was kaput for the past several days. No accountability, boo hoo! Going to keep the same type of plan for this week... trying to accumulate a 1800 calorie deficit by the end of Sunday. Sadly this post will have to be very brief, many things to do. 
Monday: -200 cals
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 24 September 2008 12:38 am |
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Monday: -200 calories
Tuesday: -300 calories.
Although it wasn't pretty. I sent most of the test cookies I made to work with hubby. But of course the few I left here in case I needed to take more photos (for my website) were mostly eaten by 3pm.
I walked 30 minutes each way to return a DVD in order to save the $1.25 bus fare. Then I stopped at Whole Foods to pick up a few things since it was on the way. There goes that $1.25 saved, along with 5 or so of his friends, haha! Everything there is just a little more expensive, but it adds up!
I don't know how everyone else is doing, but we are SERIOUSLY pinching pennies over here. I know I've only been looking for a job for a couple of weeks, but things just keeping getting harder and harder. We skipped the last home baseball game this past weekend, and haven't eaten one meal out in about a month. Not even a coffee or a soda. Renting the DVD was a giant splurge about which I still feel guilty.
Enough rambling!...
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 25 September 2008 12:19 am |
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trimB wrote: Monday: -200 calories
Tuesday: -300 calories.
Wednesday: -300 calories
Made it to the gym for a nice long-ish workout. Tuesday's visit was cut shorter than normal, so it felt good.
I had some thick glossy flyers printed so that I can start to drum up wholesale business, and they just arrived today. Wouldn't you know the EXACT day that I finally got an interview for my back-up plan (which is a standard office job). Well, I'm going to the interview tomorrow, but I'll only accept if it fits my needs well. SO trying not to be desperate!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 26 September 2008 12:13 am |
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trimB wrote: Monday: -200 calories
Tuesday: -300 calories.
Wednesday: -300 calories
Thursday: 0 net calories.
No gym today. Job interview took up all of my free time. I got the job, and it pays quite a bit more than I was expecting. But should I take it?? I'd be doing it for the money almost completely. And I'll have to find day care for Theo. Kinda sad.
I have another interview on Monday, so I'm postponing any decision until then. But I always overeat when feeling stressed.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 27 September 2008 12:47 am |
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trimB wrote: Monday: -200 calories
Tuesday: -300 calories.
Wednesday: -300 calories
Thursday: 0 net calories.
Friday: -100 calories.
Had a good workout today, so that helped my calorie deficit. But I plan on having a beer when hubby gets home (it's his birthday), so there goes a chunk of that deficit.
I find it hard to stay focused on my goals and control my eating when my life is in a state of transition. I will know in a week or less if I am going to be starting a full-time job, a part-time job, or neither. I really like what I am doing now (we only have 1 car, I cook all the meals, and make a little bit of money freelance on the side).... but we are one more car repair or other unexpected expense away from having to cancel our health insurance or something like that. Very sad. I feel like a sell-out, but I guess it's not all about me anymore.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 30 September 2008 12:32 am |
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I'm down roughly a pound from about a month ago. Yeah. That slow.
Well, the last few are SO stubborn! Really need to do measurements and fat % too, so I can see if I'm losing fat or not.
Workouts still going great, eating is inconsistent. Like today... roughly 100 calorie deficit overall. This rate is hardly enough to offset my seemingly inevitable weekend mini-splurges. 
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 5 October 2008 12:35 am |
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Wow it's really been a rough couple of weeks. We were in a car accident (not my fault) a week ago, and it's just been downhill from there.
I'm coming down with the cold that Theo's had for the past few days. I can deal, but it's his first one so that kinda stinks for him. I went to the gym anyway today, but took it a little easy.
As far as eating, I've still been maintaining... somewhere slightly under 130. I'd really like to shed a few more pounds of fat though. I'm planning to research some healthy and CHEAP and quick menu ideas...
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 5 October 2008 12:49 am |
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wow- i'm sorry to hear that. and you were just talking about unexpected expenses. i'm assuming everyone is alright? so what happened with the job? did you get something? i'm sorry things are so rough for you right now. i hope you are doing alright, aside from the nasty bug. take care, trimb. keep going and holding strong. things are bound to get better.
 
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 5 October 2008 01:11 am |
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Thanks Zen. That felt like a virtual hug!
Yeah, I have a second interview for a job on Monday. It will make my life a whole lot more complicated, little time to exercise, only one day a week with hubby, etc. But we can pay the bills AND maybe even buy a house in 5 years. The poor kid doesn't know what grass is!
It will all sort itself out eventually. My current mantra is "Trust the Universe". I love it!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 8 October 2008 01:05 am |
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Still feel non-committal towards a fat-loss plan because other parts of my life are in LIMBO. I keep postponing it until other things feel more settled, but that just seems to be so slow!
Hubby joined my gym as of about a month ago. He's naturally slim and hasn't regularly worked out in many years. I finally convince him to test his body fat. He's 8%. That SO did not feel fair!!!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 9 October 2008 12:06 am |
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Today I tried to REALLY focus on keeping most fats out of my diet. That alone should get the calories down a bit, right? It also helped that I'm over my cold enough to workout again. Mood and appetite control is always better on exercise days.
But cutting down the fat always gives me these CRAZY STRONG CRAVINGS. If I even so much as mention them to my hubby, he is off to buy me ice cream and nachos at the store. He means to be sweet and indulgent... but ultimately NOT helpful. So I have to keep my mouth shut about the cravings at home.
TODAY 1600 calories, 20% protein, 16% fat, 64% carbs.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 10 October 2008 12:24 am |
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TODAY 1700 calories, 18% protein, 18% fat, 63% carbs.
Still focusing on keeping fat low. Might be interesting to see how my body fat responds with keeping fat low, but overall intake is close to maintenance.
My skinfold calipers read something like 23% body fat, but the scale at the gym reads 25-26% body fat. Anybody ever compared the two methods to see which is closer to reality? Hasn't bothered me much before since I was mostly interested in seeing the numbers trend down... but now I'm really wondering.
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 10 October 2008 12:30 pm |
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hey trimb! yay! you decided to put the pic up! you are very pretty! like i said before, i love putting faces to names here!
yeah, i know that limbo feeling all too well.
did you have the second interview? how did it go?
that mantra is great- i love that you have that attitude while having all the that's going on. 
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CrimsonAnimus
Moderator
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Posted: 10 October 2008 03:01 pm |
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I second that! Very nice new pic! It is nice to put a face with a name.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 10 October 2008 05:37 pm |
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Thanks guys! I was inspired by so many others posting their pics lately... it IS nice to see a face with the name. So I thought I'd contribute to the trend! My pic looks like I have a mullet, haha! It's a good memory though... the last time we went to a baseball game a couple of months ago.
Anyway, I'm enjoying this focus on reducing the fat and not worrying about total calories so much. Weight holding steady at 128#. I would love to lose 3 more pounds of fat, but with my current strategy I will have to be very patient. Maybe a full week and I will feel brave enough to re-check body fat.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 11 October 2008 04:19 pm |
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Yesterday 1650 calories, 24% protein, 23% fat, 52% carbs.
Aiming for under 20% fat, but I am happy that my protein was that high.
The grocery store had day-old doughnuts for 10 cents each yesterday. It was SOOO tempting, because that would constitute a very cheap breakfast (donuts + coffee). But I didn't get them. It would probably be better to skip breakfast (free!) than to eat junk.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 15 October 2008 12:14 am |
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Had a fun weekend, but REALLY ate too much on Sunday. We had a gift certificate to eat out for the first time in a couple of months. Reminded me of how easy it is to stuff yourself in a restaurant.
I'm fully over the cold now, so I should be able to get back to the gym regularly. I'm starting a new FT job on Monday. So this week is busy getting day care lined up and all that. Believe me I would really rather NOT go this route for MANY reasons, but we are one month away from cancelling health insurance and eating only 2 meals a day. I know I will miss seeing hubby more than 1 day per week, and I don't particularly want to leave Theo with someone else for a good chunk of the day.
On the bright side, the last time I had an office job (7 years ago), I found it VERY easy to control my eating habits. I'm planning to start out on the right foot!
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mollymoo24
Senior Member
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Posted: 15 October 2008 03:35 am |
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Hey TrimB, good luck with the new job, yeah it should be easier to watch what you eat. You gotta watch out for those little candy dishes people put on their desks, especially with Halloween coming.
Nice pic! Good to see ya.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 28 October 2008 12:14 am |
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I have about negative 10 minutes to respond to some emails and catch up with CPH, so this will have to be very brief and scatterbrained.
I'm still bouncing around 128-130 pounds or so. My self-discipline is so lacking. I'm planning to give Hisgal's water fast strategy a try for tomorrow... thinking I need to prove to myself that I CAN control myself. I am not compelled to eat junky food and/or too much food. I know this is drastic, but it's only for one day and I think I NEED to do something DRASTIC!
Broth, sugar free jello, coffee, lots of water. Start at 4am when I wake up and end when I go to bed around 10pm. I wanted to write my plan here so that I am accountable for reporting back results.
Okay, time's up! 
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Sassykat
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 28 October 2008 12:37 am |
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You posted your picture! I just noticed yours and OnceUponAThinGirls today. You look great! I love seeing peoples pictures. I feel like I actually get to know them a little better. You look like a sweet heart. I wish I weighed 130 lbs! Good luck with the water fast.
Have some for me too.
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 29 October 2008 06:00 pm |
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WOW look at you Sassy! That's why I posted my pic... because I realized how nice it was to see faces of my fellow forum members, so I wanted to contribute to the trend.
So my fast went well yesterday. I had two smallish glasses of milk, lots of water, broth, and SF jello. But the psychology of it was VERY VERY interesting. I wish I had more time to write about it properly.
Suffice it to say that the physical aspect of the fast was WAY easier than I expected. Sure I felt a bit of hunger occasionally, but nothing I couldn't ignore (especially since I knew this was very temporary). And broth and a little glass of milk was surprisingly satisfying. But emotionally this was MUCH harder than I thought. I wanted to eat for MANY other reasons other than hunger or need. Restlessness, frustration, impulse, and just for the sheer enjoyment of it.
I'm not even sure what to conclude from all of these feelings. I am thinking of giving it another try tomorrow. Today I am eating more or less normally. I guess for now my conclusion is that I need to really try to "FIX" my broken relationship with food instead of worrying about my body fat or weight. I knew this on the surface but I didn't really KNOW it until yesterday.
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 29 October 2008 06:29 pm |
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| Hey Trim! How's the new job? I gather it's more administrative rather than baking? Or did I read that wrong? Interesting to read about your fast when I've just (3rd day of "recovery" ) come off a two week (more or less) throw-caution-to-the-wind-eat-drink-and-be-merry session! I have to totally agree that there really is a kinda "sheer enjoyment" in just eating (especially in the not thinking about it part....but dang, it's waaaay less fun to have to lay down on the bed and suck in the gut to zip up the pants LOL (seriously, had to do that Monday morning!)
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 29 October 2008 11:11 pm |
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Hey Trim...........
My Water Fast/Liquids only days are really pretty easy. Especially after you've done a couple of them. I found it easiest after I got the mindset...........for me, dieting has as much to do with the mind, as with the mouth!
I feel more "in control" during/after a WF day..............and it seems easier to control my eating on the subsequent days. However, speaking of mindset..........I allow myself to eat what I want on the weekends, and that can present it's own set of problems. Sometimes I find myself eating when I'm really not hungry.........just because my mind is telling me it's a day I can eat what I want! The mind is a powerful tool!
The weird thing............even with Water Fasts and  400 calories DD's.........I question whether I've truly been hungry? How much of my eating is habit or emotional? vs. true hunger?
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 30 October 2008 12:45 am |
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Thanks for posting guys! This is a VERY interesting subject to me at the moment. Even today, as a "normal" eating day was interesting... because I was so aware of the various reasons I was eating. Only twice from actual hunger.
Hisgal, did it take an adjustment period before you felt more in control after your fast days? Because today felt like I was back to my old emotional-eating self - except for the fact that I was AWARE of it all.
Anyone have any thoughts about whether this would damage my metabolism if I did a fast one or two days a week? While eating dinner today, I had this disturbing mental image of my food turning instantly into fat as my body's reaction to yesterday's fast.
I'm now interested in a once or twice a week fast as a tool for me to show myself that I DO have ultimate control over what I eat. I feel a little sad that it's come to this for me, but oh well - it's the truth.
By the way, suenos, I decided to ditch the office job (LONG story) in favor of a front of the house position in a nearby bakery-cafe. I still have my own teeny little business on the side making cakes and small catered events... but I think it will be another year or so before I can afford all of the licenses needed to be legit with that venture. Don't get me started on the nerve of the bureaucracy to squash small business dreamers! 
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 30 October 2008 10:35 pm |
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Trimb,
On ADD/JUDDDD, you start out the first 2 weeks, keeping DD to under 500 calories.
I think that was my adjustment period.............I drank EAS shakes every other day, and I just got in the pattern of doing that.........I didn't have to think about what I was going to eat. I feel like I developed a mindset during that period......and it's continued as I switched over to "real food". I started each DD, with the mindset that I would eat no more than 500 calories. And I didn't let my self have any exceptions.
Then I started adding the occasional WF (water fast), and I had the same mindset. I knew that every Wednesday was a WF, and I didn't have to think about food at all. I had a few extra minutes each morning, because I didn't eat breakfast. I didn't have to plan what to have for lunch and pre-pack it before I left for work, which gave me even more extra time in the morning. And, being our kids are all grown and gone, my hubs soon adjusted to the fact that it wasn't a day for me to eat. I tried to make something on Tuesday evening for dinner, that would be his leftover dinner on Wednesday. Soon, the DD's and WF's became easier than the eating days!
In the book, "The Alternate Day Diet" by Dr. Johnson.........the original discovery was that this SIRT1 gene, that our bodies turn on, when eating this way...........was discovered when doing a total fast every other day. My memory fails me a bit here, and I don't have the book with me, but there was a study, (can't remember the name of the study) where people were living in an enclosed, self-supporting dome, and I think it was to be for 2-3 years. But, they soon discovered that they wouldn't have enough food for that time frame......and didn't want to give up the experiment, so they ate every other day, instead of every day.
Among the many health benefits they found this WOE to have, especially for inflammatory diseases, they also found themselves losing excess weight. Further experiments found that keeping your calories to under 20% of your maintenance calories, also turned on this SIRT1 gene and still produced the same health benefits. Dr. Johnson realized that a WF every other day would not be viable for many people.............but that most people could "diet" for only one day at a time.
trimb wrote:
Anyone have any thoughts about whether this would damage my metabolism if I did a fast one or two days a week?
trimb, I'm going from memory here again, so if anyone knows differently, don't be afraid to correct me...............I think it was in Tom Venuto's e-book BFFM, that I read that as long as you didn't severely restrict calories for more than 3 days in a row, you wouldn't damage or reduce your metabolism. So, that is why I'm feeling OK about restricting on MWF..........averaging 1500-1600 calories on T/TH...........then I eat probably 3000+ on Sat & Sun each. When I figured it out, it came out just above my RMR/BMR for a weekly average. This whole pattern of eating seems to have given me a good control over my eating M-F............and the weekends I eat guilt-free (I figure I need the calories to bring my weekly average up to my RMR)
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 30 October 2008 10:38 pm |
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BTW, Trimb.............I still exercise as usual on the DD's and WF's. I've had no problem with it!
Just make sure you drink plenty of water...........some people say they feel dizzy or very tired............but then admit they don't drink much water on those days either!
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 31 October 2008 04:59 am |
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trimB wrote: Anyone have any thoughts about whether this would damage my metabolism if I did a fast one or two days a week? While eating dinner today, I had this disturbing mental image of my food turning instantly into fat as my body's reaction to yesterday's fast.
No worries....'cause honestly you really can't "damage" your metabolism (assuming obviously that you don't have a severe eating disorder) - realistically, you can only slightly raise or slightly lower it based on a fairly prolonged and consistent eating/execise pattern - not in a single meal or one day or even a couple of days. So skipping a meal here and there, or even having a day or two of really low calories (i.e. fasting), provided that the rest of the week includes a more reasonable deficit with a day or two of above maint. cals is not going to affect your metabolism for better or worse.....actually, provded the high cal day(s) is(are) high enough, that kind of calorie shifting is better for consistent weight loss (especially if you're female) than a long period of eating too few cals every day for a prolonged period .... cause after a while, consistently not eating enough will result in your metabolism slowing down just enough to make further weight loss more difficult.....which is easily remedied by just eating more and bump, the metabolism increases again....see - no worries
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 3 November 2008 05:21 pm |
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Thanks Hisgal and Suenos for the very helpful posts. You guys really and truly are the best. Good to know that there is at least ONE advantage to my decidely un-consistent behaviors. Yep my metabolism must surely be wondering what in the world is going on.
And I did actually have some issues on Thursday (queasy and weak) after exercising while trying to fast. Maybe I need to ease into it some more as you described earlier, Hisgal. And focus on water intake more. I bought a couple of EAS shakes to try on my DD this week, in case I exercise that day.
So this past weekend I recorded what I was eating and my mood or circumstances. Very interesting. Not only am I horribly emotional eater, I also tend to WAY WAY overeat if I let myself get too hungry. So many issues to tackle! I think doing my journal in this way is good for me. My plan for this week is to keep that journal and do at least one DD. Target for this is Tuesday... after the weekend's splurges I should have plenty of calories in reserve HAHA
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Sassykat
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 7 November 2008 04:27 pm |
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Hey TrimB, I just stopped by to see how you're doing! How are you doing? You haven't posted in a few days. I thought I would try a water fast today, but I'm being very cautious since I have problems with my blood sugar. I came to see how your water fast day went.
I understand about the finances. My hubs does construction. We have our own business. Sometimes we have money and sometimes we don't. Lately, we don't know from one month to the next whether or not we'll be asking Mc Donald's to employ us.
To me it sounds like you are very responsible about not overspending. I'm envious!
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 7 November 2008 05:43 pm |
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I try to be responsible with money... but every month I still can't figure out how it could all be gone! Anyway, thanks for checking in on me.
I'm not doing so great with fasting days, so I am now trying to get the hang of a regular old Down Day (Hisgal style ). That would be 500 calories or less. Well let's just say I've come close! I did two last week, and today is my second one for this week. I think having the EAS shakes would probably help... less to think about and portions are all set.
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Sassykat
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 7 November 2008 06:07 pm |
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I think you're doing great with the food. You are making progress. You're taking in less calories. It's such a mental thing. Maybe if we tell ourselves we're going to do a water fast and then end up with a down day, it's still an accomplishment right? Or if we tell ourselves we're going to do a DD and we end up at 1,000 calories, that's still way better than the 2,000 calories we probably would have had otherwise. We'll get there!
I would kill for a piece of celery right now. If I were doing a DD I could have some and some pickles too!
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Scoobees
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 7 November 2008 08:06 pm |
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Hey Trim! It's a DD for me today...I really want to chew  ! I was trying to do like the book recommends - the first 2 weeks you consume the shakes only, but I may switch next week to real food for the 500 cal instead. It's probably all in my mind  but I feel like I'm missing something.
The first DD seemed to go fine - but it's probably just because I was excited to be trying a new plan. The second one was pretty dismal as I woke up hungry from the start. Today - so far so good, but it's early.
You're brave to even THINK about doing fasting days. I think I'll save that for a far, far, far distant future.
Anyway, good luck and let me know how you're doing!!
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Hisgal
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 7 November 2008 09:40 pm |
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| You know what else I like about the DD's and WF's..............it's the |
