Eek! It's Been a Month :)

Hey there,

I am now in my sixth week on the program, and I lost track of blogging. At my last weigh-in I was 274 ibs, and had lost 14 inches. 10 of the inches were around my stomach alone. I had some pics taken on Friday, and have compared them to my original pics. It's amazing! I was not even remotely happy when I started. No smile. I honestly look drunk... but I wasn't. It was just me in the middle of the day. Whereas now I look happy. Well...at least smiling. :) I am so proud of what I have accomplished in 5 weeks.

I must admit, the first month was extremely difficult. I craved lots of chicken tenders and corn chips. I gave in a little too much. Fortunately, things turned around last week when I voluntarily stopped taking the oral B6B12 suppliment. I can't prove it, but I think it was causing the cravings in conjunction with using excessive amounts of Crystal Lite. That's another topic, but the CL made my acne flare as well. There is a link between a fake sugar rise and food cravings. So now I'm not really using CL and I feel fantastic! The reason I say not really is because I'm drinking one liter of parsley tea a day, which is flavored using CL lemon tea. It's so good! Thank goodness my pitcher has markers or I'd drink a gallon a day. It's wonderful.

A few weeks ago I saw Killer at Large: Obesity (don't remember the rest of the title) but it was very insightful. I also recommend everyone look up the McDonald's food experiments on YouTube. McDonald's uses so many preservatives that their food doesn't turn colors or mold! Now I'm no scientist but with the quantities that people in America eat, why are we aging? Aren't we... preserving our bodies *grin*.

On a personal note, I have decided to let my hair grow out. I have tried in the past, but it always made me look sad or just too stringy. I think it was my face shape at the time. The tricky part is that short hair does not grow out lovely. So this should be interesting.

I'm always in need of inspiration so feel free to email me links or just to say hi!

B12 deficiency

Hey there,

Just wanted to touch base. The past few days have been quite difficult. Not because I feel hungry, but that I've been craving chicken tenders/nuggets. This started on Thursday when I went to see Public Enemies (very good) and ended up at Chick-Fil-A getting an 8 piece nugget and small sweet tea. It hit the spot and seemed fantastic. HUGE improvement over a chargrilled salad wrap (no dressing), 12 piece nugget, and large sweet tea I used to get. :) On Friday I had a few tostito chips. No biggie! Sat. I had a 3 piece chicken tender from Mcdonald's with no sauce. I also drank water with it. It was so good! Today after leaving my parent's house I ended up at Arby's for a chicken shaker. With this you get maybe 5 chicken pieces. I did use sauce today and a small diet pepsi. I did however, save it for when I got home. Something I did not do the other two days. After I finished savoring every bite, I asked myself why this was happening to me. The last few diets I've tried I normally crave dairy so ice-cream becomes my enemy. This time I'm not craving dairy or anything really sweet. Just chicken tenders. Something I would never usually get at a fast food place unless it came on a bun, and that was only if I was dieting. So... I googled and found out I more than likely have a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Which is odd considering I'm doing B12/B6 shots, taking two pills a week, and both are contained on my drinks. So... I've gotta call tomorrow and find out what to do. More than likely, I'll increase the pills. But I must say, after those 5 chicken poppers, I had sooo much energy! I cleaned my entire house, changed litter boxes, cleaned out my car, and other stuff. :) So maybe my levels are straight now. I hope so!

Week 2 Day 1

Hey there,

I know it's been a few days. My first weigh-in was on Wednesday, and I lost 3 pounds. Compliments of my splurging. Next week WILL be better! This week I got all box drinks since I find they make me feel fuller longer. It's probably a mental thing, but whatever gets the job done! Today I went to the movies to see Public Enemy to try to get my mind off of food. I only got a small diet coke, which lasted the entire movie! Before going to the movie, I shopped for two hours (exercise ;) ) and then splurged AGAIN but on the wonderful Chick-Fil-A nuggets. No sauce. Small (kid's size small) sweet tea. It was so good, and just enough to hit the spot. I didn't get sick either. I was talking to my mom Wednesday afternoon after my weigh-in, and she was telling me about Valerie B. (Jenny Craig Spokesperson) and how she used to inhale aromas and let her senses take over, instead of eatting the item. I inhaled the aroma of the nuggets but it just smelt too good to toss away. Yes, I splurged. It was definately an improvement though!

I will try to check-in every other day. It seems I am doing better though. :) I'm going to make it. I did the math last night, and my 26 weeks is up December 30, 2009. By then I hope to be 160! :)

Fifth Day - July 7, 2009

Today is Tuesday, July 7, 2009.

I woke up at 8:00 am, because I had a 9:30 am dentist appointment. I arrived early! :) Two items that are definately paying off are 1) thermos carry bag. It's fashionable and useful. I got it from Target last year. I paid maybe $10.00 for it. 2) GNC teal shaker. I love this! I paid less than three dollars for it. It only holds 12 oz. so it's not the really bulky one. Makes me feel like I'm drinking alot. :) Add ice to your shake, and it's MMmmMmm! The powder formula is growing on me, but I still love the shake boxes. The boxes seem to be sweeter.

My chi is back home, and has taken over my bed while I blog. I feel like taking a nap again, but I'm not sure I should even try. Maybe I'll curl up and watch a movie to avoid temptation. I realized this morning that America is one of the fattest countries because we live for food. LITERALLY! Billboards, radio ads, tv ads, and tons of different places to eat. It's all so very annoying when you cannot eat anything. I told my mom I was feeling temptation today so I'm going to stay home, and be good! My first weigh-in is tomorrow, and I do not want to ruin it! :)

Well around 6:00 pm when I could no longer stand it, I picked up a foot long philly cheese sub (closest to Philly I've found in the area!), large order of cheese sticks, and a large sweet tea. I ate the cheese sticks on the way home, but saved the sub to eat while watching a movie. It was sooooo delicious! Unfortunately, about 30 minutes later I was regretting it. I felt sick for the remainder of the night. About 6 am the next morning it ended. :) Unfortunately... after I weighed I still felt sick. I had gained four pounds (retainage I'm sure) So... now when I eat real food I get to remember that. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to splurge right before my weigh-in.

Fourth Day - July 6, 2009

My fourth day was Monday, July 6, 2009. My day started at 7:30 this morning. (lol.) I am not a morning person. Or let me rephrase before going on Optifast I never woke up before 10, and that was like death. So I think I'm definately sleeping better and requiring less sleep.

I dropped my Chi off at the vet's office to be fixed. I will pick her up in the morning. She is a seven month old purebred, but I have opted to have her fixed to lower risks of cancer and early death. She is a doll. Spoiled rotten by everyone.

After dropping Chi off, paying a few bills, dropping off movies, and getting gas I headed over to my mom's for breakfast. Of course I had a chocolate shake, and she had cheerios and toast. At this point, I drink 16 oz. of water to every shake. It helps fill me up, but seems to be going straight thru me. After breakfast, I decided I wanted to take a walk having conquered the notorious third day. We walked for 40 minutes. I felt awesome! I left mom's and came home to clean out my car and tidy house.

I returned to mom's at 5:00 to have dinner with mom, stepfather, and stepbrother. They had leftover hotdogs and fries. I had a chocolate shake and large glass of water with CL lemonade. For dessert, I had two sugar free candies, a 12 oz. diet coke, and a sixth chocolate drink.

About 8:00 pm I started craving a philly sub with cheese sticks dipped in ranch dressing. It was HORRIBLE!!! I was squirming so bad. I could've cried. My parents are well aware I am my weakest at night. It used to be nothing for me to leave my mom's after eatting a great dinner and stop at McDonald's and get two double cheese burgers, two chicken sandwiches, and a large chocolate milkshake. So for the past few days my mom has been trying to get me to spend the night with her to keep me from falling. I should have stayed at her house, but I had an early dentist appointment.

So I left around 8:45. Sub shop is closed already. Second choice was Wendy's. I ended up getting a small grilled chicken sandwich combo with a diet coke. At Wendy's I always used to get a baconator medium combo with a large coke. It took alot for me to get grilled chicken! I ate the fries on the way home (not so hot tasting) and the diet coke was not wonderful. I ate the sandwich at my kitchen table. (SHOCKING! I used to be a car eatter leaving the evidence as well.) I savored every bite, and it was so good! I ended up dumping over half of the diet coke out. It fulfilled my craving. I knew I was sabotaging my weigh-in, but it was worth it. I had not had any fast food, or real food for that matter in almost four days! I am a big piggy who weighs almost 300 pounds, and I'm surviving on 800 calories a day. RIIIGHT! That is a feat for anyone of my size. I have no remorse for cheating, but I did at least get some exercise today. :)

Third Day - July 5, 2009

My third day was Sunday, July 5, 2009. I woke up at 8:30 in the morning. I laid in bed til around 12 with my animals and watched East Bound and Down and Nothing but the Truth. Both were really good.

When I woke up, I was prepared for a horrible day. Prior to starting Optifast, I had read quite a few blogs (thank you very much. I'm now reciprocating for others.) and in forums where the third day was HELL. Headaches, nausea, cravings, and quite frankly feeling like you're dying. Well... I have to say I survived! No headaches, no nausea, but I was fatigued I suppose. However, I could not get myself relaxed enough to take a nap. I have not been able to nap since starting this plan. I have moments where a nap would be great, but cannot go to sleep.

I went over to my parents for Sunday lunch. Hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, and pork and beans were served. This was very difficult for me considering I love hamburgers in the summertime. My family is not cutting me any slack, but then I asked them not to. So of course they listened to me. :) I have to keep reminding myself that eatting meals like that got me in this position. The really cute part was my nephew wanting chocolate milk like Lis. So we both had chocolate milk. (hehe!) I attempted to fix the tomato soup mix, but could not stand the smell. So I'm only allowed shakes.

After lunch I pretty much just laid around the house watching tv with my parents until coming home and calling it a night. Not a lot of extra spunk today.

Second Day - July 4, 2009

Today is July 4,2009. I woke up around 8:30 am. I had to be at my mom's by 10:00 am to leave for Fayetteville. My mom, stepfather, stepsister, nephew, and I saw Ice Age 3 in Real3D and I must say, it was FANTASTIC! We went to Olive Garden afterwards. I loooove Olive Garden. So this was my first dining experience after going on plan. I must say, it went pretty good. Everyone else got soup and salad. I had a large glass of water, glass of Diet Coke (losing taste for it), and a kid's cup of ice which I used for my chocolate shake. I also had the opportunity to explain what I am doing to my stepsister. She seems supportive. She's seen me through so many plans like everyone else. Still too early to decide.

One thing is for sure, the bathroom is becoming my best friend. I have gone so much today. As a matter of fact, I was in line at Olive Garden, and my mom walked in along with another woman, and before I could see her body I was screaming hey! hey! to say get in line. Once I realized it was my mom I started laughing. She did let me go next since she knew my bladder was getting small :) I used to never be this way.