R2P3D29- 1.3 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss 1.3 Saturday weight 142.4 Sunday weight 144 Current Weight 142.6 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .9 Food Tracker (pick June 27th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 1 hour walk with hubby and kids   30 Day shred Level 1 Day 1 Complete!  Have a training this morning, and its really hot outside so I don't really want to run,  so once all the kiddies and hubby left for their days, I popped in the DVD, ready to finally finish the 1st level.  Gotta admit that 1st set of exercises kicked my butt (jump rope, pushups), but the second two sets were pretty easy.  Once I get the 1st set down pat, I think Ill push on and see how tough the second level is.  What a difference not running before the video makes ;). Anyone know how many cals that 20 minutes is supposed to burn?  Im trying to put it in SparkPeople, but only found one of their videos comparable so Im guessing 130 calories?   This weekend was HOT!  We had a good time though.  Took my biggest with his friend to see Toy Story 3 on Sat, and we all loved it.  Then Hubby and I went for out for our usual Saturday day night to our favorite restaurant (1st time Ive been back since R1P4 in March), and dined on delicious food, and then ice cream for dessert.  Yesterday, since I was up 1.5 I decided to do a steak day, that morphed into a nut day, and then three hamburgers at a birthday party with tomatoes on the side and a piece of sausage day.  A little weird, and not as much loss as a traditional steak day, but it worked ok.  Im still shooting for the holy grail of below 140, and ultimately 130 or below, but for now, I look and feel good, and thats the important thing.    I just wish this heat wave would go away.  That reminds me, need to go water the plants before my meeting.    Have a great day!

Pic at 143 lbs

Just after yoga this past Sat morning...

R2P3D26- .6 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss .6 Current Weight 143.1 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .4 Food Tracker (choose June 24th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 40 minutes swimming (1300 m)   Working summer hours today so leaving in 7 minutes to run lots of errands before the start of the weekend, one of which is picking up doggie prozac for my Samantha.  Too much anxiety, poor girl.  More on that later.   Had a piece of ice cream cake again yesterday (stand alone, not at a meal) and still lost today.  I think food combining may be an issue for gain with me.  Ill have to test that theory.  Either way, Im back under LIW, and hopefully still on the downward slope.  I want to see that 140 again soon, and then even lower.    What about you...what are your short term goals for your weight and health?  Would love to hear an update.

R2P3D25- .7 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss .7 Current Weight 143.7 LIW 143.5 Over LIW .2 Food Tracker (pick June 23rd) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 3 mile walk/run, 13min/ml pace (it was hot!)   So I ate a piece of the mint chocolate chip cake that a friend brought over for Hubby's party yesterday.  It was vanilla and mint chocolate ice cream loviness with chocolate syrup and a graham cracker crust.  Heaven on a fork (since it was pretty frozen).  I ate pretty well the rest of the day, and I really wanted a piece, so I had it, and two other sweets for the day, and really enjoyed every bite.      And today Im not craving it, even though its just sitting there minding its own business in the freezer.  Well, lets not think about that.  Today for lunch I have a cheese and bean burrito from Whole Foods, and for breakfast I had an apple with almond butter.  Yummy.  I also have some pulled pork in the frig, some more brussel sprouts, a salad with lots of veggies and goat cheese,  and some hummus.  Lots of good choices to eat today.  And I want to fit in a swim sometime, despite the thunderstorms that are supposed to creep up this afternoon/evening (and for which our Y pool closes at the first hint of thunder or lightning).  Im going to give my legs a break from running today, I think...   Today is Hubby's actual birthday, and he doesnt want to do anything.  I got him a few kitchen must haves for a present (things he wants that I wont mention til tomorrow in case he is reading).  I bought myself a present as well: a Ken Onion Shun knife set from woot.com that is gorgeous and I cant wait to try today.  The knives are supposed to be world class, extremely sharp, lifetime warranty...they are sold at William's Sonoma and other high end kitchen stores.  I have wanted one of those knives for a while now, but each one is between $100 and $300, and I couldnt really justify the purchase.  But now that Im seeing clients again this year, and can write the purchase off as a business expense under the guise of needing them for cooking classes, and because they were almost 1/2 price, I decided to get them.  And now hubby and I can both enjoy them.  I will actually be able to cut a tomato or a pepper without having to slice each section a million times.   Yay!  Small pleasures...so wonderful.   Off to the vet for a routine doggy check...have an amazing joy filled day.

R2P3D24- .2 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss .2 Current Weight 144.4 LIW 143.5 Over LIW .9 Food Tracker (pick June 22nd, though not completely filled in) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 3.3 miles running at 12:30pace Still so exhausted, another bedtime before 8pm last night.  This morning I felt refreshed, though, so I think Im finally catching up.  Ran in the heat again yesterday, but my legs were tired, so I walked a few blocks more than the day before.  Tried to donate blood, but 1) my HGB was too low (12.3 and rechecked 11.9-have to be 12.5 to donate), and I don't qualify to donate double red cells anymore since Im under 150lbs.  That was so funny!  The last time I donated was in October before my HCG journey, and it obviously wasnt an issue then, so they probably didnt even mention it to me.    All that extra water consumption for naught...   Today Im hoping it wont be too hot to exercise at lunch.   Its supposed to be in the mid 90's and that might be a little much for me, though at least my muscles would be easily warmed up.  Yesterday I finally broke out the Jillian 30 Day Shred video, but quit after 15 minutes because the intro was so long and I had to leave for an appointment.    Im going to try again tomorrow (since Im in the office today)....are any of you guys doing it?  Do you like it?  I couldnt do it all (the 15 minutes, I mean) since I had just come back from my run and was really tired.    Enjoy yourself today, ladies!  Its going to be a beautiful day...

R2P3D23- 1.1 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss 1.1 Current Weight 144.7 LIW 143.5 Over LIW 1.2 Exercise Tracker:  4.16 miles jogging at 11:16 min/mil pace   Still totally exhausted from the weekend.  Planned on going to Masters Swim last night but fell asleep before 8pm and woke up at 6am. Today I am busying doing training for my new position, and I also plan to run at lunch, if my belly starts feeling a little better, that is...it seems to be annoyed at me for consuming 2oz of nuts and succumbing to the 16oz monster Diet Mountain Dew this morning.  I dont do well with aspartame, but I seem to fall privy to its charms every so often (hubby is going to have to start hiding it again).    Later I will have a lovely massage and donate lots of double red cells-it is much better to donate those since they can use everything in its donated state, even though the donation takes an hour instead of the normal 20 minutes and you cant donate again for 3 months.  I urge you to donate if you can, esp O neg peeps.    Little disappointed about only losing 1.1 from my steak day (since I lost 3 the last time), but I guess the protocol is right...you have to do it exactly the day after, or the affect is greatly minimized.  I just hope this extra 4.7lbs come off this week...Im going to refer to my correction days ebook to see if there is anything in there I can try.  Originally I thought a nut day would work today, but not if my belly isnt going to cooperate.  So maybe Ill do that tomorrow...   And just to let you know, no dishes or the dishwasher was harmed in my mad dash to clean for the party.  All of the dishes are now residing in their proper place (yes, the drying rack), and the box in the basement has been inventoried and emptied.  MGM, I definitely would have used the dishwasher as a store all, but it didnt have enough room ;)!  I did find a few pens in there though !?!>!?!>!>!?!?!?    Heres hoping your day contains lots of good and interesting surprises...like maybe Ill finally get a chance to read your post today! Love to you all...

R2P3D22-1.8 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain 1.8 Sunday Gain 4.0 Saturday loss 2.0 Current Weight 145.8 LIW 143.5 Over LIW 2.3 Exercise Tracker: Friday: working out in garden 2 hours, lots of housework Saturday: running around getting everything ready for Hubby's surpise birthday party Sunday: cleaning up after said party   So I threw my husband a surprise birthday party on Saturday night, and somehow I actually pulled it off.  It was so hard not to post all of the trials I had while planning it and keeping it a secret (hiding the party food, making up a visit from a distant friend, not telling my oldest,  getting the help of friends to store beer, pick up ice and food trays, etc).  It was exhausting.  But he was so surprised, and every one seemed to have a great time.    Friday was spent trying to attend to the last minute details and making sure the landscaping out front and back was done.  I had a beautiful rock garden done in the front, and we ran out of rocks, so I had to climb under bushes in the side yard to get more out of hiding (why put rocks under bushed where they cant be seen, I wonder of the old house owners?).  I was so busy, I forgot to eat, and ended up only consuming about 5oz of mixed nuts throughout the day followed by ham steak covered in horseradish cheddar dip for dinner.  And I lost 2 lbs!  I got down to 140 on Sat (unchartered territory).  Wow.   Saturday was crazy...I had my in laws pick up the kids 5 minutes after Hubby left for work (8am), and went crazy getting all the furniture, food, etc out.  At 2pm, when everyone starting arriving, I had NO food made, had just finished throwing all the dishes in the dishwasher-on top of clean dishes already in there-and I took a box and threw everything still on the coffee table and on the counter in it, with no regards to what is was (mixed nuts, gift cards, a shoe, books, and paints were some of the contents).  Some of my friends volunteered to help, and I readily accepted.  By 2:25, some of the food was cooked, the tent was up, the lights outside had batteries, Mark was on his way, and I was happily enjoying my first drink.  Gotta love it.    The best part of the whole weekend was that I didn't throw any tantrums, didn't get completely mentally overwhelmed like I normally do before parties, and I didn't dwell (much) on the things I forgot to do, or didn't have time to do, such as putting up the happy birthday banner I made (for all the guests to sign and give to Hubby as a gift)-AND the second best thing was  that my hubby knows how much he is loved.    Now I have to figure out what to do with myself.  This whole party has so consumed me that I feel a little lost not having to plan or pick up anything up.  Though I guess I still have a lot of stuff to return still, and the basement shelving needs to be put back in order, and I still have to see what, if anything, lays broken shoved at the bottom of the dishwasher.  And I start my new position today and have lots of training to do, and information to absorb...in addition to losing that 5.8lbs I gained over the weekend.   I'm up 2.3 over LIW, the highest Ive been in all of P3 (which is why I doing extra P3 days this round).  I really should've have done a steak day yesterday with that 4lb gain, but darn those leftovers were SO tempting (and I was still only .5 over LIW-dont you love my excuses?).   I know Im going to be tempted once Im off protocol (I guess that will be starting this week) and going into lifetime maintenence, so Im grateful I have the tools to get me down quickly.  And I know too that my plan is to weigh only weekly, and have one day a week when I can let loose...so this is ok.  This gain is only temporary.  I'm going to run and swim today in addition to eating lots of steak.  And tomorrow I have a massage scheduled and will do high protein, high fat, and no carbs...in addition to donating blood (that should get me down, right?).  So Im not worried.  I want this great new body to stay that way, and Ill work hard to achieve it, while not driving myself too crazy.    Now that Im down, the mental work I will start doing will keep me here.  And get me that 15-2o more lbs down that I want to be.   How about you....any big plans for the week?

R2P3D19-.6 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss .6 Yesterday's Loss .7 Current Weight 142 LIW 143.5 Under LIW 1.5 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 47 Exercise Tracker: 40 minutes swimming   Sorry for the missed post yesterday, catching up on some much needed sleep.  Been pretty stressful at work since Wednesday- I found out that the position I accepted (doing only data review which is so boring for the next 1.5 yrs), the one that was going to allow me to work at home 5 days instead of my current 3 days- is not going to allow it for the forseeable future (they said at least 3 months).  So my disappointment and frustration are palpable (fun word, huh?).   For the first time in a long time, I was so upset I literally didnt know what to do.  It was raining out, I was in the office, and I didnt want to go shopping or go stress eat.  I thought I couldnt go workout due to the rain, and then a friend reminded me of the covered parking garage.  So I ran there.  The scenery was pretty horrendous, as was the cigarette smoke plume every time I ran a lap, but it was so needed. During that time, I reminded myself of my prosperity, I have a job, it allows me to work from home 3 days, allows me to have the family time I need, allows me the income to pursue my other interests.  And I felt better.  And I gave myself credit, for sticking up for myself in a meeting and saying exactly how I felt (despite the fact that the woman I spoke with now looks at me funny and avoids me in the hall), and knowing that in the long run, my saying how I felt wouldn't change things for the better, and might in fact hinder my creditability and perception of my work ethic.   So I need to keep looking at the jobs as a means to an end, and if it becomes unbearable, then I'll leave.  At least, after I finished paying for the bathroom remodel that I have planned ;).    Yesterday was a much better day, especially since I was not in the office.  I got all my work done, tidied up the house, and got ready for the weekend.  Today, I woke up early, and my biggest and I did a loop around the park-him in the jogging stroller-for a 4 mile walk.  Felt good, and Im glad to have it out of the way, especially since its supposed to be so hot out starting today.  I start my new position on Monday, so today Ill spend tying up all the loose ends on my current studies.   And the landscaper is on the way to put in some hydrangeas...yay, curb appeal!  I did decide to wait on the front walkway...too many options and I cant decide what exactly I want.  Once my life is a little less stressful Ill start planning again.  And reading the Beck Diet Solution, and the rest of the 4 day win, and ...on and on...   Ladies (and my gent), I hope this Fathers Day weekend is a wonderful weekend for you.  And I promise to start looking back into the blogroll again soon...darn blocking on my computer!

R2P3D17- .2 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain .2 Current Weight 143.3 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .2 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 45.7 Food Tracker (choose June 15th) Exercise Tracker: 45 minute walk run (average 14min mile pace) with my biggest in the jogging stroller   Functioning on 5 hours of sleep today, IM SO TIRED.  Went to bed at 1am after coaching 7 hours and working a full day (8 hrs).  Then my littlest decides to get up at 6am this morning, and my hubby was already out the door to work out so I had to get him.  I will definitely need an early bedtime tonight.    My lunch plan is to run/walk if the weather cooperates...I hope it wakes me up a little.   And I hope you guys have a great day today...

R2P3D16- 1.3 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain 1.3 Current Weight 143.1 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .4 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 45.9 Food Tracker (choose June 14th) Exercise Tracker: 45 minute walk run (average 14min mile pace) with my biggest in the jogging stroller   Gained after I ate one of those skinny cow ice cream cookie sandwiches...though Im not saying thats the only culprit.  My body seems to like this weight.  I just hope when I start trying to lose again in P4 that it doesnt keep staying here...I want to see the 130s sometime REAL soon.    I was SO tired at Masters swim yesterday, not sure why.  Today I felt really good working out, but it seemed way too short.  Looks like Im getting addicted to the heavy workout adrenaline rush.   Roof is fixed, yay! And may get a new stone paver walkway put in starting tomorrow (surprise Honey!).  Just have to pick the pavers color, slale grey (which weathers to a cool blue) or red harvest.  Im going to have to ask Hubby to pick a color, I bet...   Happy Tuesday, everyone.  Here's hoping you get more sleep than I get tonight!

R2P3D15- 2.9 Loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss 2.9 (from Steak Day-wow!) Current Weight 141.8 Saturday gain .4 Sunday gain 2.5 LIW 143.5 Under LIW 1.7 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 47.2 Food Tracker (choose June 13th) Exercise Tracker: Saturday 40 minute walking 4.1 mil/hr pace Sunday: 25 minute walking 4.0 mil/hr pace, 10 minutes biking   So this weekend was busy, but so fun.  Date night with my hubby on Friday was FABULOUS!  We went to a great restaurant, had veggies that were SO good, we actually ordered more of them, enjoyed two delicious bottles of wine between us, saw a great fireworks show, enjoyed a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and met this really cool woman who also does tris and runs a LIFE is GOOD shop in town.  Best thing was actually only gaining .4 on Saturday even though I had ice cream and wine (and a huge workout).   Saturday I hit some garage sales, and ended up getting a ton of great clothes really cheap.    The pig roast that we went to Saturday afternoon was AMAZING.  There was a full pig and all the trimmings, a full bar, two kegs, tons of alcohol, tons of desserts, veggies, a moon bounce with slide, trampoline and playset for the kids, and such great people.  I had so much fun that I kept my littlest up 2 hrs past his bedtime.  And hubby didnt get back with my biggest (who normally goes to bed at 8pm) until Midnight!  I ate a ton that day, and enjoyed almost every bite (except when I was around this old guy that kept commenting on how much I was eating...I didnt like him :)-.  I ate so much that I felt sick to my stomach (I think it was the alcohol I mixed actually-wine then strawberry daqauri-then wine, not a good combo), but I kept everything down.   And I drank water the rest of the night.    Today was my son's last day at school.  He starts camp next Monday, so my inlaws are going to help with him this week so I can get tons of things done for work.  I start my new position next Monday, and Im really looking forward to it.  Havent had time to review any of the Beck Diet Solution, so Ill comment more on that next week.   Im off to Masters in a few minutes (that is if my stomach starts feeling better, I had some strawberries just now, and they are not sitting really well in my stomach.   Hope everyone had a great weekend, and see you tomorrow!

R2P3D12- .7 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss .7 Current Weight 142.6 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .9 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 46.6 Food Tracker (choose June 10th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 45 minutes running, 11 min/mile pace, 15 minutes walking (YES, I RAN 4 MILES!!!!)   Boy was yesterday busy.  Worked in the office, ran at lunch, left work, stopped at Target to pick up a few things, picked up my biggest from the inlaws on the way home, got home, wrapped biggest's teachers presents for his graduation today, made dinner for hubby, ran out the door to drop biggest at the gym with hubby, off to the food distribution volunteer gig, left that at 7:45, off to the produce mart to get fruit for the tray I need to make for the graduation, and then off to book club immediately after.  By 10:45pm, when I got home, I was exhausted!!!!!  And still am, for that matter.    But the fruit tray is made, all men and boys have left the building, and Im breathing a little easier, despite the fact that today's schedule looks much like yesterday's.  And can you believe that I ran so far yesterday?  I couldn't.  I just told myself a little longer, a little longer, to that street light, etc...its funny, but I need a good 5 minutes of walking to stretch out before my legs will even think of running, and then after that they seem to cooperate and do what my mind tells them.  When I was finished, I was bright red for the next 1/2 hour, but I felt really great.  I wonder if Im going to keep this up?   Last night at Book Club, I had two small glasses of wine and some strawberries, and I was so full.  That running made me full all day (ok, maybe the guac did it too, that really feels me up!).  I think I came in under 1300 calories for the day.  I know, however, that I will probably have lots more than that tomorrow night and Saturday (pig roast party at a neighbors house).   Theres lots of steak in the house for Sunday, if needed.   Had lots of grapes, blueberries and cherries this morning with some almond butter while making the fruit tray.  I know, no sugar, but they were yummy, and its all heathy stuff....and thats how Im going to be eating all the time starting in 10 days, so I feel good about it.  Tonight Hubby and I are going to try a new restaurant in New Hope, and then watch some fireworks.  Im really excited about it, its going to be a great night.  Hope you guys have a great day today!  And maybe this weekend do something that exceeds your expectations, or try something you think you can't do if the mood strikes you...you never know what might happen.

R2P3D11- 1.3 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain 1.3 Current Weight 143.3 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .2 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 45.9 Food Tracker (choose June 9th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 35 minutes running, 11 min/mile pace I did a 5K yesterday, Yay!, without stopping, Yay!, just because I said why not.  I went out for a quick run before lunch because it looked like it was going to rain and I wanted to get outside.  But I needed to get back within 40 minutes, so I said to myself, lets just start jogging in the neighborhood and see how it goes.  So I looped around my neighborhood (2.2 miles) and then said what the heck, Im feeling ok, and went out into another neighborhood, one with a HUGE hill that I forgot about, and I ran the whole thing.  I was so tired afterwards, but I felt like I accomplished so much.   Up today thanks to way too many figs, eating potentially sugar ridden chicken and homeade balsamic vinegar dressing (no packaging left to review), two small glasses of Pinot Grigio,  the run, and most likely consuming too many calories too late (1700 for the day, not bad for my BMR (1684), but as I noticed last round that anything over 1500 despite exercise causes a gain).  I can't wait until Im weighing just once a week so these daily fluctations dont have me constantly trying to explain them.    Book club was fun as always, and the food was delicious.  Thanks Lindsay!!!  Today will be highly protein and fat based...roasted chicken, steak, almond butter (2 tbl only), guacamole, and lots of veggies.   And tomorrow if Im up again Ill do a steak day.  Technically it is not called for since I am under my LIW, but I wanted to see 130 again as soon as P3 is over (next Sunday, the 20th), so Im going to see how I do 2lbs under LIW until then.  Got to it a few days ago and that was fun.    Exercise today will be another run at lunchtime (until I get tired...dont need to do that 5K again today), and tonight will be my other bookclub (Still Alice by Lisa Genova- really good) after volunteering at my food club's distribution night.  Lots of stuff to do!  Tomorrow is my oldest's PreK graduation...can't believe he starts kindergarten in the fall, where does the time go?    Mine is running low now, so off I go...have a wonderful day.   And yes, for BDS, I will sit and eat in my chair today for lunch and dinner after failing to do it for breakfast (1 tbsp almond butter sucked right out of the measuring spoon) and lots of Teavana Chai flavored with Chocolate Stevia (yum!)-just water with the tea, in case you're wondering.  And I will finally look into that Day 3 giving myself credit.

Some fun things

this is a GREAT proposal video...   and a great article about looking great in a bikini (because you do even if you think you dont!).

R2P3D10- .5 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3

Daily Gain .5
Current Weight 142
LIW 143.5
Under LIW 1.5
Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 47.2
Food Tracker
Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 2.5hr yoga class; Swim lesson (swam 15 minutes or so)

I ate less than 1000 calories yesterday, and a gain today...wonder if the dried figs have a lot more calories than I think they do?  I ended up buying dried turkish figs yesterday instead of the dried california ones (that only have sulfur added) I got the last time since the woman wasn't at the market...and they might? have added sugar...not sure.

Surprisingly not too sore from yesterday's exertions.  Today Im going to try to get some exercise outside, even though it is supposed to be cold and rainy the whole day, and then tonight is Book Club.  We read the Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck and I really enjoyed it.  Good food, good wine, good company, great night!

Eat slowly and mindfully from BDS is on the agenda today, though I scarfed down breakfast and didnt pay any attention.  I will intend now to be mindful for the rest of the day. 

Got any good plans for Hump Day?

R2P3D9- 1.4 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3
Daily Loss 1.4
Current Weight 141.5
LIW 143.5
Under LIW 2
Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 47.7
Food Tracker
Exercise Tracker (yesterday): Run/walk 3.31 miles at 12.18mile pace; 1600m swim (50 minutes)

Down a whopping 1.4, that works for me.  And I got the new position-YIPPEE...which will allow me to work from home 100% until December 2011.  Another YIPEE!!!  Im really excited.  Though the work sounds dull, the woman I will be reporting too sounds wonderful, and it will be great to work for sane and nice managers this time around. 

Yoga today was resplendant, wonderful, lovely.  I had such a wonderful session.  And I'm full on both fresh and dried figs.  Now all I have left for the day besides work is a swim lesson, picking up my biggest, and a playdate for him this afternoon. 
Today's BDS task is to eat slowly and mindfully (and Im going to focus on this one for the next few days I think, so I still need to finish Day 4's giving credit task).  Now, I gotta admit, I didnt eat anything but a tablespoon of almond butter before yoga, since it is not good to be digesting in class, so I was a little hungry when I picked up the figs.  6 of the dried ones were in my belly before I knew it.  But I was mindful of them going down, they were delicious and gorgeous and also I really enjoyed the fresh figs...it was my first time having one.  And now Im full, even though Ive eaten so little up to this point in the day.  Ill have lunch a little later when I feel hungry.

Have a wonderful day, my friends!

R2P3D8- 1.1 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain 1.1 Current Weight 142.9 (was 141.8 yesterday) LIW 143.5 Under LIW .6 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 46.3 Food Tracker Exercise Tracker (yesterday): Walk 3 miles with both kids in the jogging stroller Had an oatmeal raisin cookie and some sugar free chocolate yesterday.  Yummy, but gained.  Hopefully I wont keep going up tomorrow if I go running today. Really busy week...swimming tonight, swim lesson and long yoga class tomorrow night, book clubs Wed and Thur night, son's pre-k grad Friday, party sat...all definitely fun stuff, all dangerous territory (gain from working out or cheating).  I have to make sure I have a plan for everything to keep on track. Re the BDS, eat sitting down task...thats definitely a hard one when I am on the go.  I was able to do it for about 1/2 of the weekend.  How about you?  Day 4 task's is to give yourself credit.  Yay, Kelly, you did the sitting down eating thing 1/2 the time...when I have a little more time to write I will post the rest of this task...but definitely make sure you uys pat yourself on the back, you are doing GREAT!!!! Interviewing for my new position today (my company contracts my services out, and my current project is ending).  Wish me luck!

R2P3D7- .2 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3
Daily Loss .2Current Weight 142
LIW 143.5
Under LIW 1.7
Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 47.2
Exercise Tracker (yesterday): Non
Still lots of good fats yesterday...more almond butter, guacamole, cashews and pistacios (nut mix), and goat cheese.   And I havent been adding in one thing at a time...just going with what worked for me last P3 and it still seems to be working.  High on the fats, definitely.  Helped run a garage sale yesterday after I did the rounds of my neighborhood, and actually made more than I spent.  Was also happy that I did not gain or lose anything after my lunch at Cheesecake Factory and dinner out with some friends at the Freight House.  I definitely ate P3 style, oils, nuts, lots of non startchy veggies and proteins, big salads, and it seems like my body is stabilizing well.  I did not work out on Friday or Saturday, but this morning I walked for 3 miles with both kids in the stroller.

Last night I had the most delicious food and wine on my date night.  A huge mixed greens salad with goat cheese, salami, aged balsamic vinegar, almonds, grilled onions-heavenly!  And three glasses of amazing sangria.  I was WASTED!  But it was fun.  Met some friends after dinner and got home at the reasonable hour of 11pm...I was a little hung over this morning, thats for sure.  Its the first time Ive drank since my last round. 

Today off to brunch with the inlaws.  Have a great Sunday!

R2P3D5- 1.1 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss 1.1 Current Weight 142 LIW 143.5 Under LIW 1.5 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 47 Food Tracker (click here)  and choose 6/3/2010 as the date Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 1450m swim (40 minutes)   Lots of good fats yesterday...I added in almond butter (no ingredients other than the almonds), guacamole, cashews and pistacios (nut mix), and salmon in addition to my proteins and strawberries.  Yesterday was a stressful day, but at least I made good choices (though I had cravings, let me tell you).  PMS seems to be rearing its ugly head for the second time in the past two weeks, so Ive been getting set off so easily.  I think too that I tend to get a little depression after the HCG is out of my system, at least thats what happened last time and with both of my pregnancies, so my kids and hubby know to stay a little clear, just in case.   Lunch today will be at the Cheesecake Factory, and Im a little nervous.  Im going to go online and plan my meal prior to going so I wont be tempted to stray.  Im not worried about going full hog for cheesecake, I could take it or leave it, but those darn Buffalo Blasts are addictive and delicious fried goodness.  Hubby jokingly (I think?) asked me to bring him home something (ie Buffalo Blasts) and I told him it might be a little too much for me to have them in the house, or on the table at the restaurant, or in the car on the seat next to me... at this time.    For breakfast today I tried a Fage 2% plain yogurt, and wasn't impressed.  I added strawberries to it to make it a little more palatable, but maybe its an aquired taste.  Also had a fig (and brought more to work to snack on), and a tbl of almond butter on celery (and my finger, yum!).  Feeling content and satisfied, and only 177 calories total.  Pretty good.    This weekend is going to be fun: our community is hosting a garage sale, and I always get such good deals, and my inlaws are coming over to sell and help my biggest with his lemonade stand (and I think my MIL is just finding this out as she reads this-dont worry, Mom, itll be fun!).  Then date night tomorrow night, (I can eat now!!!  No more dry steak and romaine for me)!  Sunday there is a festival locally, though I cant remember what it is right now, and probably bunch with the family.    Today's task for BDS is to pick two diets to follow.  Two in case the first doesnt work.  We all know my first one: HCG, and that it works.  And my second, that I will follow this summer, is the one my friend is doing and having great results with.  I dont know all the details, but it is basically a counting and changing up a calorie system, and she can eat what she likes in moderation, and exercise.  And that was my plan for the summer anyway, so it will be nice to have a regimen to fall back on just in case.  Im feeling a little limited right now about having to stabilize and not lose anymore for the next three weeks, but I know I need to do it.  I have to let go of that 130, or even 125, number right now, and know that my body will get there when its ready after I do a lot more hard work...and I know all the reasons why I want to get there too, thanks to my handy dandy notebook, I mean advantages response card :)...   And I think since I know Day 2's task already, I'll do Day 3 as well, which is eat sitting down (to be more conscious of the food that you are eating).  And Im not going to think about the fact that I did not have breakfast sitting down this morning, since I was busy packing my snacks and watching the kids run around...Ill start from right now.    What are your big plans for the weekend?  Want to follow the BDS along with me?

R2P3D4- 1.1 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain 1.1 Current Weight 143.1 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .4 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 45.9 Food Tracker (click here)  Exercise Tracker (yesterday): Run 2 miles (slow pace), walk .9 miles.   Think all the lactic acid buildup in my legs from running two days in a row may have caused the gain, cause I ate clean and under 1500 calories (my BMR is 1684)...my legs were sore today.  And I think that contributed to my crappy showing at Masters Swim tonight.  I used my pull buoy (which buoys the legs to get more of an arm and back workout) for most of the 1450m I swam.    I also had a ton of gas...all the cheese and oil and fat building up, I guess.  TMI for some, huh?  Hoping to see a loss tomorrow...would love to be consistently 2 under LIW so when I start the serious workouts I wont go too above LIW.    Stressful day today...too much heat and lots of annoying things happened...like the vitacost order I placed which was to arrive today was damaged in shipping and wont arrive now til Monday...I ordered a ton of stuff for P3, and now I have to wait an extra 4 days to get it.  And it took me over 2 hours to get the order rebooked...and the roof is leaking, and the basement has moisture, the vertigo is rearing its ugly head when I work on the computer (and thats a lot) and Im trying to book a vacation to the beach for the family and no one from the rentals are calling me back...oh well, I definitely think TOM is going to make his appearance very soon.     See you all in the morning...lunch with a friend I havent seen in a long time is on the agenda tomorrow , so Im really looking forward to that.   Good night, dearies...

R2P3D3-.9 loss

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R2P3D2-What a weekend!

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Current Weight 142.9 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .6 Total R2P2 Loss (from loading) 21.8   Sat weight 142.2 (-1.3) Sun weight 141.3 (-.9) R2P3D1 Mon weight 141.8 (+.5)   Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 46.1 Food Tracker:  What didnt I eat this weekend is a better question!  Lots of no-nos that were wonderful...little binging going on, but aware of it, and ok with it.   Exercise Tracker: Only one walk all weekend on Sunday due to the busy weekend, and a lingering vertigo episode.   My last injection of P2 was Friday.  It was a difficult decision, since my plan was to wait until after TOM arrived, and perhaps lose another 3 or 4 lbs before the end of the round, but I was fed up with my slow losses, and know that I made the right decision.  And the funny thing is that TOM has still not arrived!  No, Im not worried, this happened at the end of R1P2 as well.  Friday I ate my normal 500 calories.   Saturday I made a modified steak day, since I knew I would be doing my garage sales all day and probably wouldnt be around until 2 or 3.  I did have a mini soft pretzel in the morning, and apple for lunch, and then for date night my standard eight ounce steak with a tomato.  I also had a piece of flatbread pizza and a bite of hummus off my hubby's plate.  Very delicious.  That was after hubby took me to see Sex and the City 2, which I LOVED.  It was fabulous.  After dinner, we parted ways, him to watch hockey with the boys, and me to have a bath and a cup of tea before bed.  It was a great night (and about 750 calories for the day).   Sunday we went out for lunch with my in-laws to Lambertville, NJ (about 20 minutes from our house, an arty/antique town right on the deleware river), after I cooked all the greens that I got from my local food buying club:   I made collard greens with carmelized onions and bacon (delicious!!!!), as well as a mix of tat soi (chinese green), collards, kale, and swiss chard with almond flakes, carmelized onions and minced garlic.  I ate a ton of the collards with bacon for breakfast on Sunday, (even though I knew the bacon had a little sugar), so I wasn't too hungry at lunchtime and only ate a little of my chicken with romaine at lunchtime.  Plus a few sips of my hubby's margarita, and a few kettle cooked chips.  After lunch we walked over to the ice cream shop and I shared a cup of rainbow sherbet and chocolate ice cream with my biggest-always room for ice cream.  And yes, I know you're thinking, Kelly, no sugar no starch for three weeks, remember.  But Sunday and Monday I treated like I was not on any diet, ate what I wanted, and then planned to do a steak day today to make up for it.  I was so full after all that food, that I only had a few bites of leftover steak for dinner-no more than an ounce-and a few cups of tea at the end of the night (total for day, about 900 calories).    Yesterday, we BBQd for lunch-Hot Italian Bison Sausage with Corn on the Cob, Chicken marinated in Braggs and Sea Salt, and a huge salad filled with four types of sweet peppers, cucumbers, hothouse tomatoes, and garden fresh romaine with baby greens.  And I tried the WF Thousand Island Dressing with it.  I really liked it.  I also had lots of fresh strawberries, yum!  Later in the afternoon we went to a friends house, and I feasted on grilled sweet potatoes marinated in olive oil and scallions, and another big salad of mixed greens, grape tomatoes and softened goat cheese!  For dessert (get ready to be shocked and appalled), I had one chocolate chip cookies, a piece of eclair pie, two big pieces of yellow cake with whipped cream and strawberries, two oatmeal raisin cookies, and two decorated shortbread cookies.  A little much, but I couldnt stop eating them (probably about 2000 calories for the day, though it was day 1 of P3).  It was a well deserved 1.5 lbs gained this morning (I weighed myself again after my trip to the bathroom, so it only says 1.1 lbs above).  And today, Im back on track, and feeling satisfied and happy.  And I had such a great time with my family all weekend.  What a way to start the summer, and the rest of my weight release journey.  Though I want to lose another 18lbs, Im not planning on doing another round this yr unless I cant lose those eighteen by September through my working out and eating well.   If not, Ill do one final round in October, after all my tri training is finished, and in time to finish so I can enjoy Thanksgiving...and no more long rounds for me.  Short and sweet the rest of the way...   How was your Memorial Day weekend?   ps...Today, Im starting my exercise regime that will carry me through the three triathlons I plan to do (first one is August 1st!).  I may try to start the Cto5K depending on how hot it is, and I plan to try Day 1 of the 30 Day Shred that I have read so many of you have tried and hated, but got great results.  So wish me luck!   pss...Im going to take my remaining HCG and fill my syringes with it (about two weeks worth).  Then Ill wrap them in aluminum foil and freeze them for use during an upcoming round.    psss.. Helederheid, 30 inches is perfect.  Im 5'5" so that would be great, if you were serious that is....contact me via email and we can discuss the logistics-THANKS!     Kelly Scotti Certified Holistic Health Counselor, AADP   Founder and Director, Flying Dragon Wellness www.flyingdragonwellness.com www.mymomtris.com   Inspiring people to deliciously nourish their bodies and minds.

R2P2D43-VLCD D41-0 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss +/_0 Current Weight 143.5 R2P2 Loss to Date 21.8 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 15.9 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 45.5 Food Tracker:  Sirloin Steak with WF BBQ sauce, 1 oz burger, 2 plum tomatoes,  Fried Chicken breast with asparagus, strawberries with WF chocolate sauce, 3 melba toasts, 3 pieces SPRY gum, 2 cups Everyday Detox Tea, 3 mac nuts   Exercise Tracker:  None, thanks to thunderstorms (masters swim was supposed to be last night)   No loss this morning.  Ate about 630 calories today yesterday, since I added in some healthy fats and extra protein to see if I can jumpstart my overall stall.  I fried my chicken breast up with a tbsp of coconut oil (covered in crushed melba toast-yummy!), and had 3 mac nuts for a snack, in addition to 1 oz of extra beef during lunch.  Since I didn't have a reaction one way or another, not sure what to make of that.  Will eat intuitively again today and see what happens.  TOM is due today, but no symptoms, so not sure if he will be making his appearance.  Since Im stopping this round immediately after TOM is gone, Im hoping he will show up soon...   Happy 3 day weekend everyone...I hope you have a great time!

R2P2D42- VLCD D40

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss .9 Current Weight 143.5 R2P2 Loss to Date 21.8 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 15.9 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 45.5 Food Tracker:  Apple, 8oz Sirloin Steak, 2 plum tomatoes, 6 chocolate chip cookies, slice of oreo cake, 1 chicken nugget, 1 slice cheese pizza, 5 tb cheddar cheese chicken dip and 5 tortilla chips, cup of pink lemonade (approx 1600 calories total) Exercise Tracker:  46 minute walking 14.62 min/ml pace   I did everything wrong yesterday (well, not everything), and lost today.  I walked in the 85 degree weather, which normally causes me to gain.  I did a perfect steak day until 5pm rolled around, and I went to my littlest's school potluck picnic.  I ate beforehand, since I was starving all day, and was all set to forgo all the food.  I thought I was in the clear, since the sign up sheet showed nothing that would tempt me.   But then the binge happened.  It only lasted 20 minutes, but boy, was it good, and boy was it bad.  I saw those home baked chocolate chip cookies on the table, and thought, Ill just have a bite of my son's.  And it was ok, but I thought I got a burnt one, so I had to try another, and then one more.  And then someone else brought in ones that I LOVE, with the big chocolate chunks, so I had two more (and brought one home for my husband, which I ate too before bed).  And there was pizza, and dip, and oh so many yummy foods.  And I decided to eat them.  Eat them and NOT feel guilty, NOT purge, and enjoy every bite.  Well, I enjoyed most of it.  I was a little distracted trying to chase my two guys around, but when I sat down, I loved it, even though I felt really weird.  I was binging in front of all these people I didnt know, and letting my boys run and bother others so I could eat all that food, and I was a little worried they would judge me.  But not enough to stop, obviously.      It was something I needed to do, and Im glad I did.  Not because I lost, but because it freed my head up from being so tied to being good and eating clean, and feeling deprived.   I was ready for the scale this morning, not matter what it said.  I am refreshed and ready to keep going, and ready to make Eating well, and sometimes eating crap my life.  Feeling good about everything I eat.  Combatting the negative thinking with good thinking in return.    I definitely think my weight is so infinitely tied to my need for perfection in myself, and being in control, and not as much to do with the food itself.  And that is why the next phase of my weight release journey is going to be about mental purging and renewal, something that will free me from constant thoughts of food: when will I eat next, where will I eat next, what do I want to eat, how much should I eat, etc.  I need to stop thinking about food constantly, and start living.  I love my newly thinner body, but no matter what size or shape it is, no matter how many fat rolls or cellulite, it is MY body, and I need to cherish it.  I need to treat it with respect and support it so it functions optimally.  And I need to get to the point that I do that without having to think about it.  So that it is so ingrained it is not a choice, its just something I instinctively do.  I have a ton of books waiting to be read to support me through this, wonderful family and friends, and you, as well, my bloggy peeps.  Will you take this next journey with me?   ps-two things I did try last night as well, to support myself at the end of this round into P3:   Drank Everyday Detox tea from Traditional Medicinals (with Dandelion Root, thanks for the suggestion MGM!)   Took my first dose of Multiple Glandular Support (homeopathic) that Less of Me (on my blogroll) recommended from Elixirs.com.  She and her testing team have been using it and found it makes stabilizing in P3 so much easier.  She recommends starting it 10 days before your transition to P3, and provided the coupon: "15% professional discount" to be put in the comment field for us to use.  All total, 225 doses (once a day) cost $22 with shipping.  Anything to help stabilize, right?   What a wild ride this is...

R2P2D41- VLCD D39

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain .7 Current Weight 144.4 R2P2 Loss to Date 20.9 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 15 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 44.6 Food Tracker:  Chicken with Romaine, Strawberries and Chocolate Sauce, Orange, Ground Bison with Onions and Melba Toast Exercise Tracker:  None   Boy is this diet frustrating when doing a longer round.  This morning I was all ready to bag it all due to my undeserved gain and start my 3 day no injections, and then be ready for P3 this weekend, but my husband said to keep going.  Though Im not losing anything, maybe Im still losing inches (though belly bloat today tells me otherwise).  TOM is due in two days, so that MIGHT be it, but I have no symptoms other than the bloat, so not really sure...and it was so overdue last time at the end of P2, Im not sure what to expect.   So i'll keep going til right after TOM, and then on to P3.  I really want to see the 130s this P2, any ideas to help this along?  Im going to do a mini steak day today, so that might help, but Im not too sure after gaining everything back on Monday after my steak day loss on Sunday.  How do you keep yourself going in the face of extra poundage?

R2P2D40- VLCD D38

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss .5 Current Weight 143.7 R2P2 Loss to Date 21.6 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 15.7 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 45.3 Food Tracker:  Chicken with Romaine, Apple covered in WF Chocolate Sauce, 3 Mac Nuts, 2.5 pieces turkey bacon (the one with Sugar, yes!), Steak with Bok Choy, Strawberries and Chocolate Sauce Exercise Tracker:  2 hours ripping out bushes and trimming trees, 1/2 hr swimming   So the sun did come out yesterday, and I worked my a** off in the front of the house, ripping out two huge azalea bushes, and I cheated and had some turkey bacon, swam for 1/2 hour, and lost 1/2 a lb.  Im sure Im never going to figure this out, so Ill stop trying.    And did I tell you, this past weekend, I fit into a size 4 stretch capri jean...yes, a little muffin top, but I worked it anyway!  And yes, I still fit into 10's too.  Another mystery of the universe.  Maybe you could all post your favorite brands here that let us wear skinny sizes to make us feel good about ourselves.  I know Ann Taylor Loft is one that is really generous...   Happy Tuesday!

R2P2D39- VLCD 37

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain 1.8 Current Weight 144.2 R2P2 Loss to Date 21.1 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 15.2 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 44.8 Food Tracker:  Chicken with Romaine and Strawberries, P2 Chili with strawberries Exercise Tracker:  1hr walk 18min/ml Gained the 1.8 I lost over the weekend without cheating (I was at about 480 calories yesterday).  My body really seems to like 144.2, and I've never even been at the weight for long, so far as I can remember.  How frustrating!  But Im sore from yoga and walking, so Im sure its just water.  Whatever...not much more to say.   Biggest told his teacher his belly hurt this morning, so they made me pick him up 1/2 hour after he got there.  He has made a mess of the house so far (taking out every game from the sideboard that took me an hour to figure out how to fit everything in there originally), and there is no belly ache/puking in site.  I guess I should have kept him home today since he did puke his plum up around 5:30am.  But then when he woke up later went on to eat a pop tart (he snuck it past me, I'm not that bad a mom!), and was jumping around, I figured he must have just ate something that didnt agree with him.  I'm about to put him to bed with no TV so he can see how much fun it is to be sick at home instead of at school.    Hope your day is better than mine...I just cheated with a Wheat Thin Multigrain Cracker and 3 Mac Nut Kernals (though some people use those to help with their weight loss)...fun stuff.  And its so grey outside...maybe the sun could come out and keep my company at least?

Blog Hop, if it works...

R2P2D38-VLCD 36

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3
Daily Loss 1.1
Saturday Loss .7
Current Weight 142.4
R2P2 Loss to Date 22.9
LIW R1P2 159.4
Under LIW 17
Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 46.6
Food Tracker:  Friday: Chicken and Romaine, Apple, Strawberries, Steak with bok choy and garlic
Saturday: 8oz steak, apple, tomato, one bite chorizo
Exercise Tracker: 70 min yoga Saturday, 1hr walk 18min/ml Sunday

Another steak day yesterday, unplanned until 2pm when I got back from garage sales, and only had an apple to that point. Went out to one of my fave restaurants with my hubby and had a great ribeye and a tomato while his parents watched the kids.  It was YUM!  And though I didnt have my normal 2lb loss from a steak day, 1.1 is nothing to cry about :).  After dinner we walked around our town for a while and ended up stopping in at our favorite wine bar, where we lounged on the couch and I drank my water, and dreamed of all the things Im going to eat after this round (in moderation, of course).  Im so looking forward to taking the summer off of HCG.  Im hoping to eat really clean this summer, but with all my favorite foods thrown in once a week or so, so I dont feel like Im missing anything.  I also plan to keep up with my 4 day wins (Martha Beck, baby!), just got my own copy from Amazon yesterday.  I will also be reading all of the wonderful diet/lifestyle books that I have been collecting for my client lending library this summer and posting my reviews/great ideas/crap rubbish points.  And that Jillian Micheals video 30 day shred will finally be opened and used! (in addition to my triathlon training).  It should be a fun summer...

On my list of things to eat this summer..sorry, let me wipe the saliva off the screen:

Primos Meatball Sub
Honey Restaurant Faves with glasses of Pacific Rim Chenin Blanc
Cross Culture Indian Restaurant
Domani Star Italian Restaurant
Blue Sage Goat Cheese Nachos
Andre's Sangria with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and Meat Platter (or sandwich)
86 West Chorizo in Blanket and Prosuitto Carmelized Onion Flatbread, Brussels, and tons more (and dont forget the martinis!)
Chocolate Chunk Cookies (home baked)
Melanie's Pulled Pork
Brussels!
And so much more.  And by the end of the summer, I hope to weigh less than I do at LIW R2!  Lofty goals, especially with that impressive food list.  Thank goodness the summer last three months!

Though today was filled with kids and stressful screaming and tantrums, I had a great day.  Saw Shrek 3 with both kids, and littlest was actually ok almost the whole time (a feat at 18mo), and got to spend half the day with one of my best friends and her two little ones.  Then a long walk, a visit to the inlaws to pick up a ladder, and some time spent with my biggest getting a barn star ready for painting (to be hung this week on the front of the garage). 

My hubby was a big help now that his vertigo has gone away.  He watched the kids most of the day yesterday, fixed the garage door spring, and tried to help me put the screw in the stucco for the star, though the ladder we got from his dad was markedly too short.  And of course, on Friday, like I predicted, he did the lawn and three loads of laundry..good man, but he did not rest like he should have, and he is still trying to catch up today. 

Hope you guys had a great weekend too...here comes Monday, and fingers crossed for another big loss for all of us!

R2P2P36- VLCD D34

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss 2.0 Current Weight 144.2 R2P2 Loss to Date 20.8 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 15.3 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 44.9 Food Tracker: Apple, 8 oz sirloin steak, 2 plum tomatoes Exercise Tracker: 30 minutes swimming   Thank god for steak days, though I feel like crap this morning.  My head is pounding!  Probably not enough water in my system.  Back down to the weight I was four days ago.  This is such a such a drag-only losing when I do a steak or apple day.  Though, as always, the swimming doesnt affect the loss.  Guess Ill just be swimming from now until Memorial Day for exercise (though I do plan a walk during lunch today, its gorgeous out!, and yoga tomorrow...so scrap that swimming only idea).   Day going relatively smoothly so far, considering I had to take one of my boys to school in the opposite direction of work, I left my cell phone at home, one of the garage doors doesnt work, my garage roof is leaking, and my hubby is home recovering from his vertigo.  I hope he actually rests while he is home, insteading of trying to get a million things done, since Im sure his illness is his body telling him to rest.  But I bet the lawn will be done when I get home...not that Im complaining about that, but its a little dangerous, and a little strenous...   Looking forward to catching up on your lives this weekend, cant wait to see how great everyone is doing!   Have a wonderful weekend...

R2P2D35-VLCD D33

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain .2 (without a cheat, 3rd day in a row!) Current Weight 146.1 R2P2 Loss to Date 18.8 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 13.3 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 42.9 Food Tracker: P2 Chili, Strawberries, Chicken with romaine and braggs aminos, Apple (skipped 1 toast) Exercise Tracker: None   Another gain today, so mixing the new batch didn't seem to make a difference.  No idea why, as TOM isnt due for at least another 10 days, no exercise again, and more sleep than yesterday, though yesterday I was SO tired.  Mini steak day for me today.  Im hoping that these gains are not an indication that I've reached immunity.  This round has been really hard for me, at least in terms of psychological cravings, and emotional upheaval.  I would be really bummed to not be able to continue (now that I decided to move forward and made a new batch), but either way, I will see the 130s sometime this summer.   I am definitely not going to AC (thanks for your support about taking care of me!!!).  Kept getting calls that I just need to make a decision, they didnt care either way, so even though I didnt want to decide until tomorrow, I just told everyone yesterday that Im not going to make it at all.  So Ill be going to garage sales, yoga, and cleaning the garage this Saturday as planned.  And maybe a date night with Hubby tomorrow night if he is feeling better.  During his Budokon class last night he got lightheaded, dizzy, and fell a few times, so he headed home early.  He is going to see the Dr today (Im the designated driver) and see if he is having a bout of vertigo, which he gets every few years.  If so, that means I will have to find a way to get all the kids to school and him to work tomorrow before heading to the office myself.  That will be a fun (and early) morning!   Here's hoping that you all have a wonderful day.

R2P2D34-VLCD 32

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Gain .2 (without a cheat, again!) Current Weight 145.9 R2P2 Loss to Date 19 LIW R1P2 159.4 Under LIW 13.5 Total Loss to date from R1 Start: 43.1 Food Tracker: P2 Chili, Strawberries with Walden Farms Chocoloate Syrup, Chicken with Walden Farms BBQ, romaine with braggs aminos (skipped 1 toasts and one fruit), 3 ACV shooters (8 oz hot water, 1 tbsp ACV, Grape Stevia-very interesting and tasty) Exercise Tracker: None   Another gain today, after a good amount of time on the toliet thanks to the ACV I'm assuming (recommendation from a friend on Spark People), as well as an epsom salt bath, skipping a fruit and melba toast, 8 hours of sleep, and no exercise-besides lots of water.  Fun stuff.  WTF?  Maybe the new batch Im mixing today will help.   At least everything is going well for me health wise.  I just had my first physical of my adult life yesterday, and was found to be in great shape.  BP 110/72, resting heart rate ~65, normal across the board with my labs (except for a low white cell and platelet count, which she said could be due to being exposed to my son's virus the day I had the blood test-or due to the weight loss-she is going to repeat the test in a month), neurological function intact (not always sure about that one ;)), and no red flags that indicate HCG is affecting me negatively in any way.  Which, despite all the hype about it, is what I assumed.    I really do not feel that HCG in the amount it is given in this diet, especially for those that take it homeopathically with the same results, can cause any damage to our systems.  It is a substance that occurs naturally in the body (at least for us women), we take the natural substance itself, and it hasn't caused me any problems during my pregnancies.  Those of us on it know the truth, and for anyone else, they are on a different path.  All good.    All of us on this weight release journey are getting healthy, informed, and in touch with our bodies.  Lets all support each other no matter what way we decide to do that.  I know I would never have gotten gastric bypass or lap banding, but I do not feel negatively for those people that decide to do that.  We are drawn to what works for us intuitively, and I accept and respect whatever decisions others make for themselves.    Re Atlantic City this weekend, I think Ive decided not to go.  With my weight steadily going up instead of the other way around, and only another 12 days on this round, it really stresses me out to think about doing a planned interruption (or just cheating one night) and then trying to get that weight down before my last injection.  I want to be in the 130s this round, and while that might not happen, it definitely WILL NOT if I go and cheat this weekend.  And going away with the girls should be FUN, not stressful!  Though now I am also stressed because I am getting pressure from the girls about going-because if I dont they will get one room split between five, and if I do, two rooms split between 3 (almost doubling the original cost)-and that makes me want to stress eat.  And Im also stressed as well because I feel that if I don't go for a reason related to my diet (or the cost of a room), that will irreparably damage my friendship with these woman.  For something they (and I, for that matter) think is so petty or easily managed (yes they are all skinny!), but so important to me (im so conflicted, can you tell?).  I know I am running away from the situation by not going at all, and I know if I do go, I would probably have a great time despite the food and money stress, and get to know them even better, but at this point, I've stirred up such a frenzy inside myself that it makes me sick (even thinking about them drinking and eating whatever they want while I dont imbibe causes me to be stressed), and I want to just stay home, go to some great garage sales and yoga sat morning, and then clean the garage (which really needs to be done soon!) so I can start getting a lot of clutter out of my house and life.   Help!  What should I do?  Note that losing weight is my foremost priority here...