Today I’ll share an update on the latest with my own Wellness Adventure, including my frustrations and my cheats, and I hope you’ll do the same in the comments!
My update:
I’ve only lost TWO stinkin’ pounds so far. I didn’t have that much to lose, but geesh, it would’ve been nice to drop five or ten. I know it’s because I’ve been more grain-free than low-carb (and I already had been fairly low-grain even before starting), but I also know I won’t give up fruit or veggies long term and don’t want to lose those nutrients anyway, so I’ll just stick with this and take it slow.
I’ve only lost TWO stinkin’ pounds so far. I didn’t have that much to lose, but geesh, it would’ve been nice to drop five or ten. I know it’s because I’ve been more grain-free than low-carb (and I already had been fairly low-grain even before starting), but I also know I won’t give up fruit or veggies long term and don’t want to lose those nutrients anyway, so I’ll just stick with this and take it slow.- My other theory, and I actually think this is a big one… I haven’t been great about sleep these last couple weeks, but in December I did much better, and before all the sweets showed up at our door non-stop, I had lost five pounds without doing anything else different than that. Interesting, huh?
- Let’s talk about our cheats, ya wanna? I made Sarah’s grain-free ginger snaps last week and they have very little sugar, so I had a couple of those. Oh fine, I had three. But before I wouldn’t have stopped ‘til way after three, so if I keep telling myself NO grains or sugar, then when I have only a little, I’m much better off than before. It’s all a dumb mind game, but it works. Same thing with bread – I had a piece last week with loads of butter because it sounded good, besides that I haven’t missed grains at all.
Guess what? Zumba was better last week, still not awesome or anything, but I felt less like an idiot and she used the same songs, so I at least felt like I was learning them a bit.
Guess what? Zumba was better last week, still not awesome or anything, but I felt less like an idiot and she used the same songs, so I at least felt like I was learning them a bit.- By the way, I posted a little update about the dumb rash under my nose on my Facebook page if you're interested. (Scroll down to the thread that began on 12/28.)
Your turn, let us know how things are going with your 2011 goals?
Go to the main post on the 2011 Weight Loss & Wellness Adventure to catch any posts you’ve missed!
robin says
I’m doing good although I’ve just started this week – after my son went back to school I gave myself one week to plan meals and mentally prepare. Husband needs to lose weight so we are doing no carbs/beer/wine for at least two weeks to start. I have lost weight simply eliminating processed food, white flour, sugar, and rice. I’ve also stopped the coffee but have 2 cups of mate in the morning with lots of herb teas during the day. Now I need to add more low carb snacks besides nuts and need to sleep better! Hoping to add more fermented foods – need to learn that next!
Angie says
Didn’t do too bad…except for that sinful piece of chocolate lava cake when we went out for my mom’s birthday. I felt awful, swelled up 3 1/2 pounds overnight and it took 4 days to go away. I’ve instructed my family members to just stab me with a fork from across the table if I ever have a week moment like that again. I guess being gluten & lactose intolerant keeps me in check for the most part since there’s no quick junk food without that stuff in it…and if there is, just let me stay oblivious to it.
Lorna Learning is Addictive says
Haven’t done very well this weekend. Lots of company and I was the chef so made desserts and bread. Although I ate smaller portions. No weight change.
Are Larabars good to eat on this diet?
susan says
i failed this weekend too. was upset with my dr and some lab work. so i ate everything i could find. including pound cake and brownie cookies. but hit the scale today at work and didn’t gain, it will show tomorrow or wed. lol anyway back to salad, water, ham rollups.
Debbie Thompson says
Doing the no grain no sugar thing and failed massively this weekend. My daughter’s birthday yesterday brought with it a tempting snickers cake with ice cream, and I succumbed!
Susie says
No grain, hardly any carbs, mostly broth, chicken liver pate, meat, veggies and about 75% less total food and losing oh so slowly. And what about those days where I go up for no reason? Something to do with a change in metabolism at 54 years old. Though I am doing Super Slow, interval training and Pilates that oughta be upping my metabolic rate! I’ve only had a weight problem once in my life and that was when I went to college and ate all that dorm food and I puffed up and out! I was really expecting for it all to fall off. Wondering if I’m eating too little and that’s working against me though I don’t feel hungry or like I’m depriving myself…
Debbie Hammel says
I’ve lost 4.2 lbs. in the last two weeks. I’ve been really good about avoiding gluten and sugars, even when those around me were eating fresh hot rolls that smelled like heaven on earth at a restaurant this weekend. I have indulged in two glasses of red wine: one last weekend at my husband’s best friend’s 60th birthday party, and one last night at dinner at the aforementioned restaurant. So, I feel like I’ve done really well. I’ve exercised regularly, too. The only sweet thing I’ve eaten is the Larabar I had this afternoon. Ingredients: dates, peanuts, unsweetened cherries, salt. So far, so good. Now, if I can keep this up long enough to lose 6 more pounds, I’ll be satisfied!
Barbara Grant says
So far I have lost 2-3 pounds. I am happy with that since it is off and not on. I am just cutting out sugar and grains. I guess I haven’t had white potatoes either. An interesting thing I noticed is that after about a week on being sugar/grain free, I am not getting up in the night to go to the bathroom. Isn’t that wierd? Not complaining, though. I have had 2 cheats. One last Sunday at a church dinner in honor of my hubby’s retirement ( my own homemade banana pudding) and a cup of instant hot chocolate yesterday when we visited a neighbor who was in for the weekend. She made it and sat it in front of me, so I said thank you and drank it. Last night I did not sleep as well as I had been. Interesting. I think I will keep on sugar/grain free for a while longer. I feel better.
Sarah says
Oh, I wanted to share a success story that I have found very encouraging.
You always here or see people on TV that have lost a lot of weight, but how many people do you actually know? Truth is, I don’t know any ladies(who weren’t having health problems) who have lost more than 10 lbs. But just within the past six weeks, that changed.
I shop regularly at Publix (love those coupons and B1G1 sales!!) and I know several of the cashiers. Just recently while I was checking out, I noticed that “Sally” had lost a *lot* of weight. I complimented her on it and asked how she did it.
She told me that didn’t follow any particular diet. She just drank lots and lots of water, limited her portion sizes and exercised. And kept at it, and the weight came off.
Just that very small conversation really inspired me. I had finally witnessed an IRL person who had managed to bring her weight down. If the cashier I see every week aa Publix could do it, then I should be able to do it, too.
So for those of you that have had a rough time, don’t give up. Just keep at it.
(And if you’re not already, you might want to add in lots of water.)
KitchenKop says
Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
Sarah says
Overall, I think I’ve done okay. I’ve managed to lose a total of 4.8 pounds so far. That doesn’t meet the 3 lb/week goal that I set for myself, but at least it’s coming off.
In addition to going somewhat low carb (no grains, legumes, or root veggies and limited fruits–otherwise, I eat whatever and however much real food I want) I think the biggest thing that’s helped me is the water. I drink 1/2 gallon of water w/ lemon every day, and I’ve done very good with that. Before, I would drink sweet herbal tea or juice or Coke, so that would add a lot of empty calories into my diet. Except for a couple of allowed exceptions with hot tea, I’ve stuck with just water. Except for a few cheats.
Within the past two weeks, I’ve had two slices of pizza, chips, and a small amount of ice cream at my niece’s birthday party, some hot chocolate here and there, and a few sweets that I couldn’t resist at another family gathering. I think if I’d have avoided those things, I might have hit my goal.
KitchenKop says
Wow, and you still lost, cool!
Carla says
Having a hard time. I have given in to the kettle chips we have hanging around. Ugh. I am doing a big low carb bake today so I will have lots of quick meals. It is hard since I am the only one but I want to get my family more on board with eating like this too.
susan v. says
i’m still struggling with cutting back on portions and restricting grains, tho i am remaining gluten free. my bf has been making various GF cookies (he’s unemployed while i work F/T), which have been hard for me to restrict. i seem to suffer from SAD in the winter and crave carbs more. i have begun exercising regularly again, tho had a week off due to catching a nasty bug. i weighed myself last week and was shocked by how high it was. it’s so hard as a “middle-aged” woman to lose weight! and to be diligent all the time which i guess is what it takes for me now! i’ve been trying to think in terms of what i’m “adding in” rather than what i’m restricting. like adding in more exercise and (hopefully) more winter greens!
KitchenKop says
Do you take extra Fermented Cod Liver Oil during the winter?? Sounds like that might really help you.
Connie says
I have had a few huge emotional stressors in my life right now, so I’m just focusing on doing the best I can. The other day I wanted “something yummy” while I was at the store, and I can’t tell you the number of things I put down simply because they weren’t “real food”
sadly I ended up with something that wasn’t real food – but I am enjoying it and doing my best not to feel guilty – which I think just leads me to more distructive eating.
I just finished up an hour of exercise, and drinking my lemon water.
I’m thinking I’ll probably be able to buckle down next week. But right now I’m working on just being kind to myself.
KitchenKop says
Sometimes that’s just what our bodies need and getting through the stressful time is all we can do. Just eat more healthy fats, that will help your mood.
shannon says
Yeah, I’m down 5 pounds in 6 weeks, a little disappointed. But, we too have cut grains but not carbs. Still having milk, fruit and some starchy veggies. But, no bread or pasta. I’ve been working out 5 days a week too. We just got a whole bushel of honeybell oranges from Florida which taste like heaven!
I too though know we wouldn’t reduce these other foods long term so I’m kinda at a loss here because I want to lose at least 10 more pounds and my husband needs to lose some, but it seems silly to make too big of changes, especially when I know that’s not sustainable long term.
Kelly, I had commented on another post as I was curious your impression of “Eat Fat, Lose Fat”. have you read it? I read most of it but eating around a tablespoon of coconut oil before EACH meal seems like a waste of nutrients to me. And, it starts to taste gross very quickly. I’ve tried it here and there in the past few weeks.
KitchenKop says
That’s how I feel about cutting those good carbs, knowing it’s not something I want to continue anyway. If I had a lot to lose I surely would be cutting more though.
I thought I replied somewhere about your EFLF question. Kent eats a Tablespoon a day, and much more than that doesn’t seem necessary to me unless there’s a health reason for doing so, you know?
shannon says
I’ll look for your reply. Thanks so much!
Shannon
Kristi says
I don’t have a scale. (Threw it away years ago. Weighing become almost an obsession.) But I feel less bloated and my jeans fit just a little better. I don’t think I’ve lost much if any.
Going low carb/no sugar is going pretty well. Some days are harder than other but I haven’t caved and eaten any grains. It was really hard one day last week when I made a loaf of bread for my family. I also made butter from cream from a dairy. I SOOOOOO wanted a slice with the butter on it. But I didn’t do it.
I wonder if I should cut down on the dairy some. I’m having lots of milk and cheese and maybe these calories are just replacing what I’ve cut out. I’m also nursing and don’t want to cut out much more. And I’m thinking of adding some fruit back in. I was never real big on fruits, but I’ve been craving them. I was planning on doing this next week anyway, but maybe sooner. I don’t know.
You’re doing great, Kelly! Maybe more sleep will help. Hopefully you start getting more soon.
KitchenKop says
I wrote this post Friday and slept a LOT over the weekend! Didn’t weight myself again yet though.
If you’re nursing I’d focus on eating real foods and not really worry about losing much. If you’re eating real food that might happen naturally, but I noticed with my babies that I always lost a few pounds once they weaned. I really think (and it makes sense) that our bodies store an extra few pounds when we’re nursing for a reason, that it’s beneficial to us and the babies.
I also haven’t cut out dairy, but don’t eat a ton normally anyway. I know how nutrient-dense raw milk is and just don’t want to lose those nutrients either!
Michelle says
I weighed myself for the first time, since waaay before Christmas, this week. I am up almost 8 pounds since then. I have been doing pretty good with the no grains thing, but I am not doing very well on sticking to eating at home and not eating out. Weekends are hard for me because my husband is used to just picking something up while we are out running errands on Saturday or after church on Sunday. This weekend was especially bad because my brother in law and his girlfriend were in town and we went out to eat with them a couple of times. I avoided the grains, for the most part, but the industrial oils I think are what is really causing me problems. Now that we are finally home I am hoping to be able to stick to eating at home and cut out all that nasty stuff.
KitchenKop says
Also, when you’re eating out you can ask the restaurant to cook your stuff in healthier fats. I did this over the weekend and they cooked in duck fat for me! MELTED in my mouth. I have a post going up about that soon. 🙂
Kari says
Kelly, at least you lost two! I stayed the same. Ugh! (I’m doing WW) I kept to my points, but I’m not sure I always counted my butter/coc. oil and I’m not sure if I should? Anyhow, I am pressing on. Usually I give up, but I’m pressing on! Trying to watch my grains more this week again. That’s a hard one for me. Starting off the morning right with a kefir smoothie and cheese!
KitchenKop says
I always suggest to people that if they do WW, don’t count the healthy fats like butter/coc. oil with the same points that WW says to. WW doesn’t know how healthy these are and how it lowers the glycemic index in food (similar to how fiber does), so I’d count them much lower if it was me. It’s those grains that get ya.
Amanda says
Kari, I am doing WW too. I have been on and off with whole traditional foods eating for a couple years now and I got sucked into the whole low fat trap for a month. I am losing but feel run down and my skin is so dry it hurts. I have added good fats back in (plenty of butter, coconut oil, olive oil and dairy) and I am counting the points and I am still losing. Maybe you just hit a little stall and you will start losing again soon. I know a lot of people would just say to get out of WW but it is really helping me with portion control, that is my biggest problem! I know what to eat I just never know when to stop 😉 I hope you feel encouraged to keep going!
jenna Food WIth Kid Appeal says
kelly – so glad you are not willing to give up fruits and veggies to cut out even more carbs. if you were eating obscene amounts of potatoes i might say dial down the taters and dial up the leafy greens. restricting the supply of antioxidants and phytochemicals so abundant in fruits and veg would be counter productive.
have you thought about the order/timing of what you eat? are you eating a fruit only breakfast? even though fruit has a lot of nutrients, it’s lacking fat and protein and is not usually the best breakfast food.
KitchenKop says
Nope, fruit is usually just a few bites when the kids are having some for lunch or dinner. My breakfast is almost always bacon, sausage, eggs, etc. Yum!
Linda says
I just read yours Nissa. I’ve gotten good ideas here on real food Wed substituting a veg for pasta. We had spaghetti squash topped with meat and tomato sauce and cheese. I have no problem subbing veg for pasta. It is hard to give up bread but I just tried a pizza crust recipe using almond meal from Sarah the healthy home economist that really is good.I feel a little dumb here but is cheese ok on a low carb diet? I’ve been eating a lot of cheese. That might not be helping my weight.
KitchenKop says
Cheese is low-carb, but I heard the Drs. Eades say the other day that cheese and nuts are the biggest stumbling blocks to losing weight for those who are low-carbers.
Nissa says
I didn’t even think about spaghetti squash..thank you for the suggestion, I will definitely be fitting that into my meal plan. I’ve been eating a lot of both cheese and nuts too so I guess I need to find some other low carb snacks instead!
Linda says
me too.
Viki says
LOL! I don’t have a scale in my house. If I go to my daughters I’ll step on her’s. I tend to go by the way my clothes fit, how my body looks, how I feel. Last week I had a hard time limiting my carbs. Homemade mac n cheese. I had promised my youngest and there were leftovers. I didn’t gorge which was good, and I did eat greens to make up for it.
KitchenKop says
Even better than eating greens to make up for carbs, is eating them with plenty of healthy fats. Sally Fallon has said that it makes a big difference. What a fun rule to follow, eh?!
Viki says
Definately! I used plenty of butter, a bit of coconut oil, some sea salt, nutmeg and red pepper to saute my collard greens.
I know some people would say “why didn’t you use bacon grease? but i haven’t been able to eat pork of any kind since my last child was born 17 years ago. Severe migraine reaction and not just to bacon but to: pork chops, ham, pork loin, pork roast…
So my next question is what caused me to be allergic/sensitive in this way? Factory farmed meats and what they feed the pigs? Or do I truely have a reaction to the protein in pork? Would an allergist even know if what they use to test is from factory farm pork or from field raised pork?
I’d love to be able to eat good pork again.
Linda says
I guess I have lost a couple pounds. I don’t weigh myself everyday so for all I know I might be up again. I am having a hard time keeping up my exercise routine regularly. I had let it go over the summer because of the heat and now I am having a hard time getting all the way through the tape I use. Also, we celebrated my brother’s 60th birthday this weekend. Everyone brought food. I made the cake and there is still some left. It is hard not to eat food you shouldn’t at a party. I am forgiving myself for that.
My son is going back to college today. That will make it easier for me foodwise. I was baking sweets for him. My compromise. Now all I have to do is finish up the cake and that’s it for dessert. Yes, I have to finish it! (Not all by myself.) We can get back to more seafood, liver…food he doesn’t like.
I got some low carb cookbooks from the library so I can get some ideas for snacks. Lately it seems all I have are nuts. I don’t know about you all, but It will be easier for me when the weather warms up, unless it hits the high 90’s again.
When it comes to weight I’ve been wondering if your body just gets to the weight it’s supposed to be and you just won’t lose anymore. I had gotten down to 110 lb on a lowfat low cholesterol diet (way back when) and holding steady until this past fall. I had stopped with the exercise over the summer because of the extreme high heat. But I always felt 110 was too low for me. I had gotten up to 118 lbs and that freaked me out. That was about the time you announced this low carb diet and exercise that we are all doing. So now I’m 116 lb. If anyone is wondering I used to be over 140 lbs! So maybe this is the weight I should really be at. I know it’s all about good health, not how skinny you can be.
KitchenKop says
I think about that a lot. I definitely have a few #’s to lose based on the roll in my middle, but my size 4 pants fit fine, so sometimes I tell myself to chill out.
Nissa says
I did so well last week, I lost 4 pounds and barely ate any carbs. Then the weekend hit and I cheated. I’m having a hard time getting variety in my diet now that I am trying to give up sugar. Bread and pasta are my weaknesses and those are the two things I’m trying to avoid as much as possible. Does anyone know of something that will help me curb those cravings?
KitchenKop says
Eat more butter, that helps me ALMOST all the time.
Christina says
I am having a good time with the Wii Fit+. Some days I miss, but for the most part I am excercising well. Sometimes I go excercising with my friends at a local Church, which for me turns out to be a good workout. As for diet I am not cutting out grains completely, but I do limit them. I did have one problem on Sunday, where everyone was eating subway sandwiches; I felt physically awful after that, so I know that something is going on with bread. Maybe I am alergic to regurlar bread.
Soli says
Christina, it may not be the grains on their own. Subway puts HFCS in their bread.
KitchenKop says
Probably gluten issues, no?
Only some of Subway’s bread has HFCS, I’ve checked it before. I think it’s the honey oat we get when we go…haven’t been in months though.
Christina says
Are you gaining any muscles? That would be a good thing, and would not show on the scales.
Soli says
I need to post my own update to my blog, but last week wasn’t that great for me. I blame the cold and massive snowstorm for making me lethargic.
At the end of last week my weight was down but this morning it was a little bit up. Guess who had pizza and sampled pastries on Saturday? I’m not too worried overall though. Winter is a horrible time for me to lose weight.
Wendy (The Local Cook) says
I’m down six pounds so far, so excited! I was stuck at 4 forever but instead of giving up I just kept at it and it suddenly dropped another two. For me I just have to remember keep doing my best and the scale will follow.
KitchenKop says
Woohoo! See you tomorrow, Wendy!
Amber J says
I have maybe lost a couple pounds, my sugar addiction is in full swing which is really annoying. I am hoping to get that under control in the near future. It just doesn’t make any sense why it is so strong sometimes and not other times. I have been a little better about grains but not much. As far as exercise I cleaned up the yard and walked a tiny bit, otherwise not much.
Julie says
Maybe you are gaining muscle first. Are your clothes fitting any differently? That may be a better indicator.
KitchenKop says
I’m not exercising enough to be gaining muscle! But thankfully my clothes never didn’t fit, so can’t gauge by that so much. Good thought though! 🙂
Cathy says
I’m still waiting for the weight to come off once I got on the Get Real bus. But I have to admit, my carb addiction hasn’t gone away.. I think I just switched over to healthier options! moderation moderation moderation!
Anna @ DWELLpure says
Sunday I had Papa Murphy’s Pizza… so “real food” was out. Real Food is my number one goal in the health department right now, but I don’t have any meals stocked up (my next food adventure… stockpiling). You are leaps and bounds ahead of me!
Belinda @zomppa says
Don’t worry about the poundage! Once you feel better, the weight will follow!