One of those Freaky Things

Yesterday, I had insane hunger and appetite issues. I think it's cause I'm trying to reverse from nite owl to day bird again cause of stuff coming up for which I need to be up in the sunlit hours! The weird strain of switching over, as I call it, does things to my appetite.

So, I woke up at 8:30 pm Sunday, and then didn't go to be at all Monday. IN fact, went to bed this morning at 7:00 am. So, I was up for a day and a half. And I was hungry.

Then I wake up this afternoon and got on the scale, figuring I'd have a bit of setback from the switch-over binge-ies.

No: 270.8

Now, whether it's a delayed reaction thing, or a "awake burns more calories than asleep" thing (although I'm so sedentary I might as well be sleeping), I dunno. Or a dehydrated thing. Or just one of the freaky things of the human body.

C'est la dieting vie.

I'm hoping my appetite is not crazed today/tonight.

~

Easter Challenge: Pretty Much Holding

Last week was 272.0.

Today was 271.2.

Essentially, I'm still in the holding pattern. Yeah, that's .8 lb down, but that's still in fluctuation/maintaining range.

But, better that than up, I say.

So, along with some other bloggers who have stuck around the same numbers for weeks, I'm struggling to recapture momentum.

But I'm not gaining. And that's a plus in my book. Any week of a little down or the same is a minor victory.

This is my birthday month, so I'd really like to get some fire in my belly over weight loss again. I'll be praying on it.

I've been doing a lot more cooking, which is good. It was one of my goals to learn to make stuff both that I liked and hubby would eat. (I'm a pretty crappy cook.) Hubby was very happy with the boneless blackened pork chops I made last night. It was a nearly 100% organic meal--the meat, the potatoes, the apple, the carrots, and the onions and cajun spices were all organic. The extra-virgin olive oil was not. (Although I have purchased an organic one, the one I've used for years is Goya, a Spanish EVOO that has great flavor and terrific low price, not the high-priced gourmet sorts.) My iced tea was from "fair trade" tea. So, hey, a pretty virtuous meal in various ways. I had papaya and blueberries for dessert, with a homemade "specialty" coffee. (I love that sugar-free caramel syrup from Starbucks. I add some quality cocoa powder with the caramel syrup in the coffee, and some milk, and it's just yummy.)

Obviously, I have not been going hungry!!!

I have some organic spinach soaking for degritting. I'm in the mood for a spinach-strawberry salad for lunch. What protein, not sure. Maybe I'll add some sort of cheese. I have an organic Vegan bento box meal in today's grocery delivery that I can have for my supper.

I may make a pizza for Tuesday, when hubby and I watch American Idol (he's hooked on it, I could take it or leave it.) I have an organic crust, organic mozzarella, and organic tomato sauce and veggies. So, yeah, that's an option.

With the economy being really shaky, and hubby's employer being VERY VERY shaky, I figure I had better start learning to make things we enjoy and that can be easy on the budget. So, more "home economics" sort of thinking will be going on round here.

I suppose eating LESS is economical and would please the scale, too. :)

Happy week and FEBRUARY to all. And for those of you who follow the Christian tradition, enjoy your feasting tomorrow, since Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and the start of Lent. Easter is getting close!

Onward and (one hopes) DOWNward!

Ever Eaten a Raw Fruit Pie? Ever Eaten Mamey Sapote?

If you answered no to one or both of the above questions, you're in for a treat.

If you can get hold of one at a Whole Foods near you, try the Glaser Organics raw fruit pies. I bought one because the colors were so fresh and beautiful--the intense deep pinkish orange of the mamey, the gold of the pineapple, the green of the kiwi. It was just a gorgeous looking pie.

And reading the ingredients was uplifting: all raw, all organic, all fruit and fruit juice and nuts. No white flour. No preservatives. No crap.

The one I bought was a Mamey Raw Fruit Pie. It has mamey, mango, pineapple, kiwi, dates, orange juice, bananas as well as almonds, pecans, walnuts and coconut (making up the really surprisingly delectable crust). Spices, too.

If eating raw tastes like this, sign me up for more raw gourmet food.

I'm gonna try their other flavors. I've already bought their spinach pesto raw sauce for pasta. (I'm so digging the Dreamfields lower-carb impact pasta. Hubby loves it, too.)

I try eating something raw at every meal and, ideally, at every snack. I figure that way I get the nutrients and enzymes undamaged. But I liked cooked food too much to be an all-raw enthusiast. (And I ain't eating raw meats of any kind ever!)

So, that's my food discovery for this week. Visit Glaser Organics site and see what other lovelies they have that you can order if your Whole Foods or organic gourmet shop doesn't carry this brand.

Try making one for yourself. Here's a beautiful array of raw food photos and recipes.

Happy healthful eating!
~~

Going Red For Women...and their Hearts

My hubby wore red to work today. Why? Cause he's married to a woman at high risk for heart disease (ie morbidly obese with Metabolic Syndrome). Today is Go Red For Women Day, and my man went red. And looks hot in it, too.

I haven't showered or dressed yet, but I have red lipstick and a red tee ready to go. And red shoes.

I love wearing red--on lips, on toes, in jewelry. RED ROCKS! And I recently bought the most comfortable loafers..and they come in red. Heh. Red cheers me up. (The image is of a tunic I bought last year that I wore for Christmas. And it's great for a Ren Faire.)

Why is awareness-raising necessary? Behold:

Statistics indicate women's risk of breast cancer is trivial compared to their risk of heart disease. Forty-three percent of deaths in American women are due to cardiovascular disease, leaving women six times more likely to die of a heart attack than breast cancer. And a 2003 study by the American Heart Association found only 13 percent of women felt heart disease was their biggest health threat.

If you plan to go shopping today--hurry, time's running out--wear red and you get 15% off at MACY'S. But before you head out, take the Go Red Heart Check-Up.

Here's some heart-healthy reading:



And for the very young woman-to-be in your family (or for the collector, or just for plain fun):



(She also comes in a blond version.)

And if you want to read an interesting book that is contrarian to the common guidelines, get a copy of this dense tome. I found it really intriguing, and if nothing else, it points to the need for a helluva lot more research on what is ultimately the best, heart-healthiest way of eating:

Easter Challenge: Feeling Really Good, Minor Change on the Scale

I've been feeling great for a couple days! I woke up feeling completely myself yesterday. No residual blue cloud. No flat affect. I've been singing for days, but I was really singing yesterday. And instead of sleeping 14-17 hours a day, I'm sleeping between 6-8. That's a great sign all by itself. I'm back!

I went out for the first time in...er...a while, too. And I laughed and felt normal.

It really was like a resurrection--going from the blues to the light. Out of the fricken cave of depression.

Anyway, hubby and I picked up my middle sis (who was in the neighborhood shopping) and went for a scenic drive down Miami Beach, all the way to South Beach, then came back Northward and had lunch at a nice Peruvian restaurant called ADRIANA'S(very pleasant ambiance and cool tableware--all slanty and white) in the small, retro town of Surfside. The weather was impeccable, cool even, with nice breezes. While I had a less than great choice for appetizer (fried cassava croquettes with cheese inside and a Peruvian cheese sauce drizzled, served in the cutest possible green glass tray with small circular depressions for each mini-ball). They were fabulous. I had a healthy organic salad with greens, cukes, tomatoes, and shredded white meat chicken and balsamic vinaigrette for my entree. I did sample my sister's pumpkin ravioli. Mmm. No dessert. Two skim milk lattes with Splenda and a glass of Pinot Grigio.

I enjoyed it very much and without a dang ounce of guilt.

And in the NSV department: I fit into my Tamotsu tunic. I had bought this really elegant long-sleeved black textured tunic by the designer Tamotsu. The tag was $285, but I got it for 1/5th the retail price. That was a few years back. I didn't fit. I bought it as an incentive tunic: I'll wear it when I lose weight. Only I didn't lose weight and it didn't fit, refused to go below my hips.

Yesterday, on a whim, I tried it on (due to the cooler weather), and it fit! So, I wore it out. And I was a bit too energetic later in the day in the ladies room and yanked it too hard--tearing the seam. It's at the seamstress getting reseamed. But dang. It fit. I was so happy!!!

I tried some other "when I lose weight" Tamotsu pieces I splurged on (three jackets, one dress, one panstsuit), and some are on their way to fitting. Almost there. :)

So, back to the outing: After we went to the west part of town to take sis home, we came back to the east part and I did some shopping at Whole Foods for items that my organic grocer who delivers either didn't have or I forgot to order. I wish they had a nice flavored sugar-free organic yogurt (I enjoy the flavors of Stonyfield's low-fat version, but I'd prefer not having the sugar).

Today, I got my organic produce delivery.

Let me put it this way, between Whole Foods yesterday and the delivery today, I've spent 450 on this week's groceries. I just about died when I stopped to add it all up. But, if this is what it took to get my body healing, so be it. Part of it is trying new stuff and discovering what I like. (Not crazy about grass fed ground beef. Sorry. Organic chicken breasts: yum.). I discovered I much prefer watercress to Romaine, so I've been buying less Romaine as my all-purpose lettuce, and let hubby eat it--unless I've got a Caesar salad craving--and just make myself either an arugula or a watercress salad daily. I have been eating a lot of fruits and veggies (12-14 a day). I've been getting nice amounts of fiber (most days more than 30, some days more than 50. Depends how much legumes I have or high-fiber bread.)

I have not been keeping to calories. In order to feed my body to get out of this current health funk/depression, I just eat when I'm hungry and eat lots of raw or minimally cooked produce. I've been snacking on nuts--I have a severe sensitivity to seafood, so I can't eat fish omega 3, therefore I rely on walnuts and flax-- and have my daily ration of dark chocolate. (The Sunspire chocolate covered almonds are amazing. That's an indulgence worth the calories. MmMmm.)

As I said, feeling good. My creativity is back. My mind is good. I can focus on reading again (hadn't read for WEEKS for any length of time due to a wandering mind and lack of focus). And my eyebrows have filled in again. (They'd gone half-bald.) My hair looks good. I hope my skin follows (I have always had problems with acne.)

Hubby is happy that there's food ready for him and it's not take-out. (He was used to brining dinner home, or going out to pick it up, or we calling in a delivery). I've been making a high-fiber, lower-fat spinach lasagna for him (he loves meat lasagna and normally had it once a week). It's great cause there's always leftovers that make for one lunch for work for him and another meal for us both minimum. He also loves the organic potatoes, so I bake a couple and give him a stuffed one for lunch, save one for another day (or make it as a breakfast potato.)

I need to learn to make some great bean soups. I often crave legumes (I grew up eating them nearly every day). I think one recipe each of black bean, kidney bean, garbanzo, red lentil, white bean (or a pasta fabiole), and one good pea soup will keep me happy for ages and ages. I could literally have a bean soup for a meal EVERY DAY. It's comfort food to me.

Anyway, just to report that going heavy on the produce and raw stuff has helped. I need to learn how to stretch the dollars, choose wisely. The trying stuff phase needs to wind down to the "weekly order system" stage that doesn't break the budget to shards.

As far as the weigh in: Yesterday was 271.4. Today was:

272.0

So, still firmly in the 270's low end. And it will go down more. I feel a sort of optimism that comes from being out of the Blue Funk. :)

I'm not ready to curtail calories too much yet. I'm watching that I don't go into the "eat too much and regain" territory. But until I'm in solid recovery ground for at least a week or two, I'm not gonna chop down to 1800 calories again. I"m at about 2500 to 2700 now, by guesstimating intake.

To those who had losses this week: Congrats. To those who maintained: Good for you. To those who regained some: Happens. Don't fret. Do the strategies.

Happy week, everyone.

Onward and DOWNward!

~

Anti-Kimkins Round-Up: The Fight Against Kimkins Goes On and On

In the ongoing quest to spare the unsuspecting and maybe some of the deceived, more blog entries that should keep people far, far away from the scammer Kimmer and her freakasoid diet Kimkins:


The Journey: Good Morning America - The TRUTH addressed
REGANDY.... the weigh down!: KIMKINS HURT MY METABOLISM
Medusa: WARNING!!! IF YOU'RE DIABETIC & DOING THE KIMKINS DIET, DON'T GO OFF YOUR MEDS !!!
Kimkins–Targeting Teens Diary of a Mad Housewife
Kimorexia: Anorexia Is Not Just a Teenage Battle
mariasol: Kimkins Eating Disorders
Why battle Kimkins 2big4mysize’s Weblog
Kimkins Diet Review: Losing weight the right way......
MrsM Kimkins Survivors
Which Road (or ship) Will YOU Take? MJR’s-Duck Squad
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Pickles: Happy Deposition Day, Heidi!
Kimkins celebrity endorsement!!!!! a fake blog about a real scam

Thanks to Laura of LCF for those linkies.

Friends don't let friends support scam artists or do Kimkins.

Sparkly Factoid: Hang On and Your Chances of Weight Loss Success Go Up

{W}eight loss maintenance may get easier over time; after individuals have successfully maintained their weight loss for 2–5 y, the chance of longer-term success greatly increases. Continued adherence to diet and exercise strategies, low levels of depression and disinhibition, and medical triggers for weight loss are also associated with long-term success.

-- "Long-term weight loss maintenance" by Rena R Wing and Suzanne Phelan

(Although I want to say a really big "well, duh" to their success factors.)

Easter Challenge Weigh-In: YOIKS!

I'm definitely still in the doldrums. Slept 17 hours (from yesterday 5pm yesterday to 10 am) today. I made a nice spinach and zucchini lasagna for supper and never got to taste it. (Will have it for lunch today, I guess.)

I do feel a slight lightening in my mind (I got two ideas for poems, and I hadn't had a flash of inspiration for many, many weeks) and a plot point got cleared up in my novel-in-progress. That my brain is working again (a bit) is a good sign. The mood may follow.

But while my brain may be "lightening", my body is not. The lack of activity (serious lack) and a persistent craving for salt (cheese, especially) has taken a toll:

272.6

Okay, not a huge upward swing--1.6 pounds--but enough to concern me as I should be much lower to meet my target for month's end (ie 269).

So, a backwards step. Oh, well.


I gotta keep the long haul perspective. And talk a little more forcefully at those cheese cravings. MmmmMmmmm. Cheese.

Enough of that. Back to that long-haul perspective thing...

When seen that way--from something of a distance--I've stuck with food consciousness and weighing in much, much longer than any time in the past. NOrmally, by the three month mark, I was out of there and regaining fast. If what I want is permanent change, then it starts with making it a lifelong effort--constant, persistent--and not sporadic cutbacks with inevitable regains. Honestly, if I end up with net losses every year, it's a win. Setbacks, notwithstanding. I'm not in a superrush. That never helped me.

I guess this is why I'm not unduly upset. Crap happens. All is forgiven. Move on. (Thanks, Our Lady of Weight Loss. That's one of my most favorite sayings now.)

On the plus side: I signed up for an organic foods delivery this week. It's pricey, but it's meant to supplant regular grocery shopping (where I choose some organic, most not). This place only sells organic fruits, veggies, herbs, meats, dairy, canned and frozen products. Even clothing and toys and cosmetics, etc. They have a very good green profile--trying to leave as small an environmental footprint as they can being a company. If I like them, I'll try to fit the higher organic cost into my diet.

This means a lot of produce is coming my way today, as well as low-fat organic cheese and organic chicken breasts and beef and some pork chops (hubby is a pork freakasoid). I want to make Cuban style "old clothes" (ie, Ropa Vieja, a popular dish) with the beef and organic peppers, onions, and tomato sauce. I hope having good stuff stocked up will help next week's weigh-in be a progressive one. :)

To all who are struggling on with the good fatfight, I salute you. Sorry that I haven't been very active. I just am going through a not-so-great phase. It will pass. It always does.

Onward and DOWNward!

ABC NEWS Wants to Hear From You if You're a Kimkins Survivor

Did you do the Kimkins diet? Did you get bad side effects? Did you go down to VLC levels following the plan and had to go to the doctor cause you had bad dizziness, headaches, palpitations, major hair loss, fainting spells, amenorrhea or other symptoms from the diet?

Well, ABC NEWS wants to hear from you:

If this is you and you are willing to have ABC News come to your home this week to speak to you about your Kimkins experience, then please send an e-mail to KimkinsOnABC@gmail.com with your name, telephone number, and a brief description of your story. Time is of the essence on this as they are trying to put this segment together quickly. The deadline for being involved in this unique opportunity is Thursday, January 17, 2008.

They only want to hear from you if you have medical documentation of some side effect from doing this low-fat, low-carb VLC diet.

Do it. Bring the Kimpire down to the dust!

Good Morning America will have something on the Kimkins Diet this coming Saturday. Rumor is that 20/20 is looking into this as well. Let's hope there's lot of adverse coverage of the diet, so people DO NOT GET SUCKED INTO a plan that puts their health at risk and puts money in the pockets of a scam artist she-devil.

Sorry to bring this update so late, but, really, I've not been online much.

~

OOPS! Missed Monday Weigh-In

I've been feeling very lethargic still, and I let the Monday weigh-in pass. However, I did weigh-in and wrote it in my journal:

271.0

No weight loss for this week. Maybe cause I'm sleeping all dang day.

I don't seem to be upset about it. My emotional meter is kinda flat due to the Blue Funk.

On the labs front: My liver function tests were normal (ie, the slow weight loss helped a lot).

I do have very high platelet counts (again, this has been a recurring issue) and my LDL now, and that's a concern. So, a little tweaking to the eating plan is in order. More healthy fats, more garlic, and I will restart vitamin E (all to keep the blood slippery, considering my chronically high platelets). I wonder if the release of liver fat may have something to do with that LDL issue? Ah, well.

Still not exercising. Mostly sleeping 12 hours a day. Depression sucks.

~