Weigh in #3

Weight: 262 from 265: 3 lbs lost this week, 15 lbs since groundhog day.

Chest: 44.5 from 45: .5 inches lost this week, 3.5 inches since groundhog day.

Navel: 49 from 50.25  1.25 inches lost this week, 5 inches since groundhog day.

Hips:  40 from 41: 1 inches lost this week, 2 inches since groundhog day.

Another 2.75 inches and 3 lbs lost.  That brings my total loss since thanksgiving to 44 lbs. it also makes my total inches since Jan 21st when I took my first measurements 15 inches.  

I am a little more comfortable with this rate of loss than the huge losses that started things off, because this feels sustainable.

This week has been good, no really bad cravings. I did eat a little more this week. It was Heidi and I's anniversary on Saturday so we went to Logan and I ate salami.  I felt so sick on Sunday and Monday. I also gained 3 lbs that weekend, mostly water weight from the salt intake, although I am sure that I was a little "full of it" since it took me until Wed to have a good BM.  I won't be doing that again any time soon.  I did have a soft taco last night (beans, onions, cabbage, green peppers, Guacamole, and a little chicken I couldn't pull out wrapped in a tortilla) because Emily made us a yummy dinner.  I am sure I would have been lower if it weren't for that also.

I have gotten very liberal with my eating over the last few weeks. I need to tighten things down again for my last week of the month.  Just juice and smoothies this week.  Then I will be back on food normally the next week.

on the workout front things are going very well. I have started doing pushups with Matt 4 times a week. He still schools me but fortunately for me he quits before he gets to failure point, so I can usually do the same number...it is just way harder for me to get there.  I did not realize how much core work goes into a good pushup, and hopefully I can tighten up my moobs a little! I have increased the intensity of my running in order to not spend too much time out training and it has been a good thing. Yesterday I ran on the treadmill and did a 5k hill interval at 6mph (10 minute miles) which was the pace I was targeting for RAGNAR in June.  If it had not been a hill interval I know I could have done 8-10K which is right where I wanted to be then.  I now have hopes of surpassing my previous goals. I will reset my goals after my 10k the end of March.

Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement.

Izkiate revisited

I finally got my Bob's Red Mill Chia seeds and there is a reason that they are cheaper than the rest :-(

I mixed up some more traditional izkiate today and it was pretty good, but not as good as last week.

Recipe:

1 T Chia seeds

1 T agave nectar

1 T Lemon or preferably Lime

12 - 18 oz water.

Mix it up. wait 15 min or so for the chia to gel. Enjoy!

Bob's Chia seeds did not gel like the Good Earth ones. I was able to make them gel up some, but even in just 1 T of water, they never got to the point of Frogs eggs like the other did.  Just not quite as much soluble fiber in the shell, I presume that is because either they are grown in less nutrient rich soil or conditions, or more likely they have been "washed."

I must say, although I was a bit disapointed with the seeds, the izkiate was awesome. I had one of my best training runs to date as far as pace and energy tonight.  I definitely can see that there may be something to the energy of these little babies.  More than that I find it super refreshing!  The acidity makes it hugely thirst quenching, yet it is sweet. The chewable texture also makes it very satisfying. I know that does not sound too appealing but that is the best way I can describe it. It is kind of like when you get poppy seeds in your teeth after eating a poppy seed muffin and then you can chew them for a few min, only you get that with a drink.

Izkiate has found a regular place in my diet and training.

After the feast update

Weight: 277.4

For a couple of days I did not see the weight loss as I re introduced solid food, but it has resumed again at a similar rate to the last few days of the feast.  I have remained almost meat and dairy free (I did have a small piece of lasagna Sunday with a bit of meat and cheese). For example last night we had home made spanish rice and home made refried beans with no added fat (they were awesome!) on burritos with fresh guacamole, onions, cilantro and cabbage. There might have been animal products in the tortilla, but we still have a giant stack of them for the kids quesadillas and I wasn't going to make my own just to be anal about it. I juiced the rest of the day. So, I still have a very low carb intake although it is no where near Atkins worthy. I also would not call myself vegan, but I am eating basically a whole foods plant based diet.  All of these things together are working for me. Time will be the biggest factor.

Actually the past few days as I added food again, I feel more sluggish and a little tired, but that may have to do with having a few early mornings in order to deal with a couple of east coast customers and non business hours launches, so it may not be totally related to diet.  If I am not back to 100% by Saturday I will consider juice feasting again starting on Sunday.

That being said I have had almost no cravings. We have had brownies and eclairs (thanks Holly), doughnuts, even ice cream in the house and I have not wanted any (oh wait I did have a couple of 100 calorie fruit sorbets this week...I guess I am not too strict).  I do not generally feel hungry durring the day, but when I do, I have a handfull of nuts or break out another juice.

All in all I feel like the juice feast gave my weight loss some legs and has killed my cravings for things that I should not have.  I would do it again in a heart beat. And I expect that my breakfast for many moons to come will no longer be an egg McMuffin, but a yummy juice or smoothie.

Today's workout is Tabata sprints, I am looking forward to not being able to breathe! Onward and upward (or downward in the case of my pant size).