Exercise - 90 mins treadmill, 15 mins weights

Water - 18 cups

Food - 2000 calories (18% fat, 59% carbs, 20% protein)

Breakfast - 12-grain toast, 6-fruit jam, 3 clementines (245)

Lunch - lentil soup, apple, fruit salad (338)

Dinner - homemade hamburger, bun, condiments, roasted veggies with balsamic vinegar, salad, salad dressing (821)

Snacks - protein shake(x2), apple, fruit salad, crispy tortillaz (640)

I decided to drop the extra hambuger tonight (the one I take without a bun). I changed it for a big plate of roasted veggies. It was actually pretty good, for about 100 cals less. Friday’s dinner is about the highest I usually eat, so adding the toast and jam was a tough go today. The jam was one I made last year before leaving on my trip. It’s labeled as 6-fruit jam but it could just as easily be called ‘leftover jam’. It was all the fruit left in the freezer. I forgot how much I enjoyed having some toast and jam in the morning. I think it’s a change I definitely plan to keep in.

skinnywanna - patience is not a virtue I possess. I also don’t play well with others. (I think that started back in primary school report cards.) I think what happens is for years you eat so badly and your weight slowly creeps up. The last 30 pounds I put on took me 6 months. And although I ate well some days, others I was completely out of control. You feel that when you’re eating virtuously it should come off faster. I know it’s unrealistic. Actually today is exactly 10 weeks since I bought the new scale. And I’ve lost 24.2 pounds in that time. Overall that’s a very respectable loss. I just want it to drop off faster.

Well, in the light of day I do feel kind of stupid. Partly because I know it’s not a formula, even though I try and deal with it that way. The only decision I made was to change the 1800-2000 to 1900-2100. With the fruit salad being off and not counting the spray I was doing close to 2000 (1994 in Jan, same to date in Feb). I’m going to change my breakfast to include a piece of whole grain bread and jam that I make. I generally give away more than we use ourselves.

I will likely drop the calorie count a little on Sunday, my planned rest day. I’m am mindful of the fact that I usually only use the treadmill, and that’s why I made a point to add 90mins of other exercises in the week. So far, I’ve met that. Outdoor exercise isn’t likely going to happen for a while. In April we’ll open the pool and I’ll enjoy that. Right now there’s too much snow. Even being born and raised here, I really don’t like it.

On the treadmill - I am aware that my body may get used to the exercise it provides, although I usually play with the incline to make sure my heart rate is getting into the right zone. When I started it was all done on a 1% grade. Now I vary that, sometimes with intervals, sometimes with increasing, then decreasing grades. I may, later, play with the speed, although I have to remember that I’m heavier than I was the last time I was into the treadmill and watch my one knee.

So no real changes for the moment, until after my next TOM. Only the small changes already mentioned. That was what I promised myself, so I’m going to stick with that.

Oh - and this was all decided last night before I finally went to sleep. This morning I got a 334.0 on the scale (I’ve been bouncing between 335.4 and 336.4 for about 16 days), so it’s actually nice to see a different number this morning. Even if it changes tomorrow I will stick to my plan. Thanks for the reality check people. I very much needed it.

justdeb - my problem is that I’m not patient, never have been. Maybe if I’d watched how slowly I gained weight (30 lbs took 6 months) I wouldn’t be so bad. Of course if I’d actually been watching I likely wouldn’t have gained it, right?

neverperfect - the rational side of me knows that 16 days does not make a stall, but sometimes the irrational part of me takes control for a while.

brandie - the best advice is to keep doing what I’m doing and hold on for a bit. Someone on the forums suggested that I try calorie cycling (where you pick a number, say 2000, and average it over a period of time, 7-10 days). I might try that eventually, but for now I’m just going to wait for a couple of weeks.

Thanks again for the feedback, even though I know it’s slightly nuts, having people remind me of that is a good thing!