Sunday, April 26, 2009

APRIL 26, 2009 - WEEK 6 RESULTS

Beginning weight - 150 / BMI 26.57 / Body Fat 42%
Current weight - 147 / BMI 26.04 / Body Fat ?
Goal weight - 125
Goal date - September 20, 2009

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1788 Calories
150.3g Fat (75.6%)
41.7g Protein
27.2g Carbs
18.4g Fiber
8.8g net carbs, of which 0g came from veggies
I have lost 2% of my total body weight. I need to lose another 14.6%.

I have lost 12% of the 25 pounds I need to lose. At this rate of 0.6 pounds per week, I will reach my goal on December 27, 2009. Of course, I am hoping the weight loss will speed up a little bit as I get healthier! If I lose a pound per week from here on out, I will reach my goal on September 20, 2009.

The weight loss is minimal, but I've also been keeping track of my measurements on fitday, where my loss is a little more apparent. I measure every Sunday.

Neck 13.75 - 13.00 = 3/4 inch down
Bicep 11.75 - 11.75 = same
Forearm 9.00 + 9.00 = same
Chest 38.25 - 37.50 = 3/4 inch down
Midriff 33.00 - 31.50 = 1-1/2 inches down
Waist 31.50 - 30.25 = 1-1/4 inches down
Navel 39.25 - 36.5 = 2-3/4 inches down (the heart health zone, so this is great!)
Hips 42.00 - 41.00 = 1 inch down
Thigh 24.50 - 23.50 = 1 inch down
Calf 14.50 - 14.00 = 1/2 inch down

Total inches lost this week - 1/2
Total inches lost since starting - 9-1/2

Not a great losing week, but I am getting healthier, and that's the main thing, right everybody?

I am taking my supplements, drinking 75 oz. or more of water each day, and walking 2 miles on a treadmill at 3 mph 3 or 4 times per week. I do a Pilates class 2 times per week, and a Hatha Yoga class once per week. Next week or the week after, I plan to start weight resistance training on the circuit at the gym.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

APRIL 19, 2009 - WEEK 5 RESULTS

Beginning weight - 150 / BMI 26.57 / Body Fat 42%
Current weight - 147 / BMI 26.04 / Body Fat ?
Goal weight - 125
Goal date - September 20, 2009

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1514 Calories
140.7g Fat (83.6%)
47.1g Protein
14.8g Carbs
4.3g Fiber
10.5g net carbs, of which 5.9g came from veggies
I have lost 2% of my total body weight. I need to lose another 14.6%.

I have lost 12% of the 25 pounds I need to lose. At this rate of 0.6 pounds per week, I will reach my goal on December 27, 2009. Of course, I am hoping the weight loss will speed up a little bit as I get healthier! If I lose a pound per week from here on out, I will reach my goal on September 20, 2009.

The weight loss is minimal, but I've also been keeping track of my measurements on fitday, where my loss is a little more apparent. I measure every Sunday.

Neck 13.75 - 13.25 = 1/2 inch down
Bicep 11.75 - 11.75 = same
Forearm 9.00 + 9.00 = same
Chest 38.25 - 37.50 = 3/4 inch down
Midriff 33.00 - 31.50 = 1-1/2 inches down
Waist 31.50 - 30.25 = 1-1/4 inches down
Navel 39.25 - 36.75 = 2-1/2 inches down (the heart health zone, so this is great!)
Hips 42.00 - 41.00 = 1 inch down
Thigh 24.50 - 23.50 = 1 inch down
Calf 14.50 - 14.00 = 1/2 inch down

Total inches lost this week - 3-1/2
Total inches lost since starting - 9

I am taking my supplements, drinking 75 oz. or more of water each day, and walking 2 miles on a treadmill at 3.5 mph 3 or 4 times per week. I do a Pilates class 2 times per week. Next week or the week after, I plan to start weight resistance training on the circuit at the gym.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

APRIL 12, 2009 - WEEK 4 RESULTS

Beginning weight - 150
Current weight - 149
Goal weight - 125
Goal date - September 6, 2009

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1959 Calories
144.7g Fat (66.5%)
122g Protein
42.2g Carbs
16.7g Fiber
25.4g net carbs, of which 20g came from veggies

The weight loss is non-existent, but I've also been keeping track of my measurements on fitday, where my loss is a little more apparent. I measure every Sunday.

Neck 13.75 - 0.50 = 13.25
Bicep 11.75 - 0.0 = 11.75
Forearm 9.00 + 0.50 = 9.50
Chest 38.25 - 0.25 = 38.00
Midriff 33.00 - 0.75 = 32.25
Waist 31.50 - 0.50 = 31.00
Hips 42.00 - 1.00 = 41.00
Thigh 24.50 - 1.00 = 23.50
Calf 14.50 - 0.25 = 14.25

Total inches lost this week - 1.5
Total inches lost since starting - 3.75

I am taking my supplements, drinking 75 oz. or more of water each day, and walking at a free, indoor track 5-7 days per week. I have worked up to walking 1.75 miles at 4 mph, so that's 26 minutes of very brisk walking. My plan is to add a minute each day, until I get it up higher.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

APRIL 5, 2009 - WEEK 3 INDUCTION RESULTS

Today is my first day in Atkins Ongoing Weight Maintenance! I stayed on Induction for three weeks. I finally have a little "2" by my name! All of you that were strongly urging me to proceed to OWL, you win! Your arguments were very persuasive, and I bow to your experience!

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1860 Calories
142.4g Fat (68.9%)
111.1g Protein
33.7g Carbs
13.7g Fiber
20g net carbs, of which 15g came from veggies

Today, I am increasing my veggie net carbs from 15 to 20, for a total of 25 net carbs. In the past, I would not plan ahead and end up with too many at dinner, or lunch, or whatever. So I am going to plan on getting roughly 5 net carbs of veggies at breakfast, 7.5 at lunch and 7.5 at dinner.

Here are the results of my Induction:

Beginning weight - 150
Ending weight - 149
Goal weight - 125
Goal date - September 6, 2009

I've also been keeping track of my measurement of fitday. I measure every Sunday.

Neck 13.75 - 0.00 = 13.75
Bicep 11.75 - 0.25 = 11.50
Forearm 9.00 - 0.00 = 9.00
Chest 38.25 - 0.25 = 38.00
Waist 31.50 - 0.25 = 31.25
Hips 42.00 - 1 = 41.00
Thigh 24.50 - 0.25 = 24.25
Calf 14.50 - 0.25 = 14.25

Total inches lost - 2.25

Slow and steady! I'll take it!

I am taking my supplements, drinking 75 oz. or more of water each day, and walking at a free, indoor track. I am up to walking 1.33 miles at 3.8 mph, so that's 21 minutes of very brisk walking. My plan is to add a minute each day, until I get it up higher.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

APRIL 1, 2009 - HORMONE TEST RESULTS - WEIGHT LOSS WILL COME!

If you are interested in how my doctor visit went this morning, or if you’re interested in how hormone imbalances relate to weight loss, read on. If you find both topics utterly boring, you can skip this post!

As some of you know, our doctor put my husband on Atkins on March 15, 2009, and I decided to join him in the adventure! I have extreme difficulty losing weight, and when I tried Atkins in 2000, I gained weight and stopped after a few weeks.

Since starting again, I have only lost 1.5 pounds in 17 days. Although it’s been frustrating, I’ve been sticking with it. I went back to the doctor today to hear the results of my blood and saliva tests. Here are those results and the consequences of each:

1. My progesterone to estrogen ratio should be 200 to 1. Mine is 33 to 1. Due to that, I will continue to gain weight and have an uncomfortable menopause

2. My testosterone should be 55. Mine is 17. Due to that, I will continue to gain weight and lose muscle mass, and no amount of weight lifting will help me build the muscle I need.

3. My thyroid is low because of the progesterone deficiency. Due to that, I will continue to gain weight and have a basal body temperature of 96-97.

4. My cortisol is high. Due to that, I will continue to gain weight, especially in my abdomen. (I used to be pear shaped, now I’m apple shaped.)

5. My body fat should be 23-25%. In 2007, I had 38% body fat. Two years later, I now have 43% body fat. I am 2 pounds heavier now, so that means I have lost 6 pounds of muscle and gained 8 pounds of fat in the past two years. Not good!

6. Because I was able to bring in my Fitday Nutrition Report, it was recognized that, even eating right and taking supplements, I am deficient in Vitamin D, Calcium, Mangnesium and Potassium.

Here is the treatment prescribed by my doctor:

1. Natural bioidentical progesterone replacement therapy, in the form of pills and topical cream, for the rest of my life.

2. Natural bioidentical testosterone replacement therapy, in the form of a pellet surgically placed in the fat of my butt, once every 4-5 months for the rest of my life. That was done today. Ouch! (Not really that painful - I’m just a big baby!)

3. No treatment for the functionally low thyroid. As progesterone improves, thyroid function will return to normal.

4. No treatment for the high cortisol. As hormone levels improve, so will the cortisol level.

5. Start Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium supplements.

And here’s what my doctor says should be the results of the therapy:

In the next month, I will gain 1.5 to 3 pounds on the scale, but that will be muscle. My measurements will go down even as my weight on the scale goes up. As the months go on, I will gain 10 total pounds of muscle and I will lose 35 pounds of fat. My weight on the scale will decrease by 25 pounds, and I will be a normal weight of 125. Of course, I will continue to eat properly (Atkins, of course!) and exercise. And I’ll have the nice little bonus of little or no menopause symptoms.

My response to all this? I’m ecstatic! I feel like I have been given a whole new lease on life! I feel like I want to go to all the people who didn’t believe that I wasn’t overeating and say, “In your face!”

If you have any reason to believe your inability to lose weight might have to do with an imbalance of your hormones, please see your doctor. I suggest you see one who prescribes natural, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress! And thanks again to all the wonderful people on this Forum who have helped and advised and encouraged me on my path!

Oh, I forgot! The swelling in in face, hands and feet will go away! Yay! Another thing I forgot! My doctor says that Atkins is a perfect companion to my therapy and they will work well together.