So I wimped out and didn’t lift this afternoon. Partly because I was kind of late home and the weather was nice enough that I decided a swim was a bigger priority. We’ll close it in a couple of weeks, so every last swim counts. I’m a little concerned that I’m not antsy about it. I think I’m going to plan on doing a workout (even an abbreviated one) on Thursday before school. If I can work in a little cardio tomorrow morning that would be a plus. I finished off my homework tonight so my entire day is free for chores.

So tonight I cut two blade roasts into pieces and have a roasting pan’s worth of beef with mushrooms and onions stewing away in the oven. I’m hoping that it will be done in about an hour or so and I can get a decent night’s sleep. I’ve also got the bones and scraps simmering away on the stove as well, making more stock for the freezer.

Tomorrow’s chores… cranberry sauce (canned), blueberry squares (these are the muffins I made in the past, but trying them in a 9×13 pan), laundry, colour hair, and maybe some gardening. Oh yes, and divide up the stew and freeze it, and deal with the stock. That sounds like a good day’s work, doesn’t it?

Food for the day:

Total: 2002 (24% fat, 35% carbs, 39% protein)

Breakfast: protein shake with oatmeal and frozen berries (361)
AM Snack: chocolate zucchini cake (156)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, roast turkey, nectarine (392)
Snacks: honey oat scones, jam (256) <– my mother made them, they were warm…
Dinner: balsamic pork tenderloin, bean carrot/blend, butter, salad w/dressing (514)
Late Snack: protein shake (180)

So, I feel better, but I still have a slightly annoying cough.  It seems to come and go.  So I set tomorrow as a rest day (calorie-wise) and I’ll see how I feel when I get home.  I suspect I’m going to wimp out and just coast a little this week.  I’d like to feel that my energy levels were back to normal (or even a little higher) as that’s what I expected coming off a maintenance week.

Strangely enough I really wasn’t hungry today even though I’ve effectively dropped my calories by over 1000.  Odd, but I suspect that it will be a day or so before my body realises that it’s getting less food. 

Food for the day:

Total: 1998 (25% fat, 38% carbs, 35% protein)

Breakfast: protein shake with oatmeal and frozen berries (361)
AM Snack: none (0)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, roast beef, nectarine (394)
Snacks: carrots, hummus, chocolate zucchini cake (256)
Dinner: chili with cheese, multi-grain tostidos, salad w/dressing (733)
Late Snack: protein shake, nectarine (254)

Well, it’s official, the rest week is over (okay, it was 8 days).  The leftover bacon is in the freezer… darn.  That’s probably the only thing that I might miss.  Although I can probably find a way to work in a piece here and there in the future.  So tomorrow it’s back to a deficit I go.  My first workout will likely be on Wednesday though, just some light cardio.  Unless I’m itching to lift on Tuesday afternoon that it.  :)  That’s probably the biggest difference between this and the last time I did a maintenance/rest week.  I had a ton of energy by the end of it.  Today I just feel… okay.  However, comparing it to feeling like crap last week, I’ll take it!

I considered going back to the Metrology stuff after dinner, but decided not to.  In the end I did clear up what I needed to do (and am even ahead on a few things).  What I’ve decided though is to maybe give up my weekday evenings so I don’t have to give up my weekends to homework.  Anyway, the laundry is done so it’s off to bed I go.

Food for the day:

Total: 3165 (38% fat, 36% carbs, 22% protein)

Breakfast: bacon and eggs, honey oatmeal bread, nectarine (692)
AM Snack: zucchini bread, jam (291)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, cheese, nectarine (732)
Snacks: carrots, hummus, 12-grain crackers, cheese spread, jack daniels & lemonade (501)
Dinner: sirloin steak, corn, butter, salad w/dressing (550)
Late Snack: whole wheat tortillas, cheese, nectarine (400)

The Sunday to Sunday loss this week is 0.2lbs. I’m actually a little surprised by that. For the week I averaged 3139 calories per day (although I had wanted to go slightly higher, I just didn’t get there). I suspect one of the reasons I’m not up a pound or so is that my period fell in the middle of the rest/maintenance week. Sheesh, I seem almost disappointed that I didn’t gain weight. I’m actually going to do another day of these calories levels (today) and then go back to deficit calories on Monday. I may wait a few days before adding in exercise (to make sure I’m over my cold/flu/sinus infection). I’m still not convinced that I’ve shook it. The 9-week loss is 17.4lbs (1.93/week) which is usually the ‘number’ I look at to see how things are going overall. I’ve pretty much decided that the daily weights are going to be out of whack while I’m in school. The other little compulsive number I look at is how many days I’ve been ‘on plan’ primarily with food. I still consider the maintenance week ‘on plan’ since I accomplished what I wanted to. So, since I started keeping track this is day 262 on plan with food.

(For those not following along, or visiting for the first time, please note that this is a maintenance week. The theory is to let the body reset hormonal levels before putting it back into a deficit. The calorie levels are specifically not weight loss ones.)

Well, I did the first four things on my list.  And half of the Engineering Drawing work.  I did fire up the CAD software, and did the first example drawing, but that was it. I think tomorrow I’ll start with the review questions for Mfg Materials and the work on the CAD stuff. Metrology can wait until Wednesday or even next weekend. I really don’t need much of a review for it at the moment. Just doing a little tidying up on that stuff.  I likely didn’t mention it but I also put a pot of lamb stock on during the day (using the bones from last night and some scrap pieces I had in the freezer).

So, it was really just a homework kind of a day. I think I will be able to find time tomorrow to make the cranberry sauce, but I’m not committing to it at the moment. Since the lamb stock is made I will have to find some time to pick out the meat and get it in the freezer.

Food for the day:

Total: 3242 (39% fat, 38% carbs, 21% protein)

Breakfast: bacon and eggs, honey oatmeal bread, nectarine (637)
AM Snack: chocolate zucchini cake, almonds (320)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, cheese, lentil soup, nectarine (705)
Snacks: carrots, hummus, 12-grain crackers, cheese spread (415)
Dinner: roasted tomatoes/onion/cauliflower, whole wheat pasta, parmesan cheese, smoked turkey & chicken sausage, salad w/dressing (752)
Late Snack: whole wheat tortillas, cheese, nectarine (412)

(For those not following along, or visiting for the first time, please note that this is a maintenance week. The theory is to let the body reset hormonal levels before putting it back into a deficit. The calorie levels are specifically not weight loss ones.)

Okay, so for the moment I’m going to continue the maintenance/rest stuff until Sunday. Hopefully on Monday I’ll go back to rest day calories and see how I’m feeling Tuesday (ie. back to lifting). Even if I have to drop the weights a bit I think I’ll just feel better doing a workout.

I have a huge amount of homework this weekend. So, here’s the plan:

- minor rewrite on Communications assignment (as I was explaining it to someone today I realised I hadn’t added something he wanted us to do).

- finish Math homework (bad student, but I’ve stopped listening to the teacher in class - it’s a long story - so I’ve got the first assignment done and almost half the homework) - test on Tuesday - scary for some as she hasn’t finished teaching what’s on the test yet (although I will do the homework for it and cover it myself this weekend).

- consider finishing two missing segments on math assessment website. I technically don’t need to do them, but might give them a shot (Oct 5th is the deadline if I’m going to do them).

- type up notes from Manufacturing Management (as a review of sorts) as we have a test a week from this Tuesday.

- do assignment for Engineering Drawing (1st priority) and try and do at least a few example drawings (although stuck where I stopped in class on Monday).

- do review questions for Manufacturing Materials (started, but not complete) - test date not set, but probably only a week or so away.

- summarize Metrology notes if time (this is a would like, not a must) as I’m pretty sure this class is a no brainer for me.

See, that should keep me busy this weekend! Yikes!

Food for the day:

Total: 3162 (38% fat, 29% carbs, 29% protein)

Breakfast: bacon and eggs, zucchini bread, jam, nectarine, peach (748)
AM Snack: chocolate zucchini cake, almonds (345)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, smoked ham, nectarine, zucchini snack cake (457)
Snacks: almonds, soy nuts, jack daniels & lemonade, carrots, hummus (562)
Dinner: bbq lamb loin chops, roasted brussels sprouts/onion/cauliflower, salad w/dressing (776)
Late Snack: protein shake, peach (275)

So, a couple of things floating around my head today…

1) I’m still not sure that I’m well. I feel better, but I’m still congested and have a touch of a nagging cough. It’s not chest congestion, but post-nasal drip collecting and irritating. It leaves me unsure of what my plans are for the coming week. I had planned to go back to usual on Sunday or Monday, but I think I want to see what two days of rest and (ick) homework brings. I also can’t get a feel for how my weight has been affected by the maintenance week as I really feel that only my Sat/Sun weights have been valid since going back to school.

2) People are idiots in general. Someone I know from the boards is working towards a new career in personal training. I don’t know enough about what classes she’s taking, but here’s a comment about her teacher.

The teacher said, “If you have a fat person come in and you overwork them their first workout they will go home and say forget that was too hard. I’m just gonna go back to sitting on my sofa eating bon bons like I always do”.

The woman taking the class is about 5′10″ and currently about 240 pounds. She was 510 pounds and I’m so impressed with how far she’s come. And here’s some idiot throwing out generalizations about fat people. She thought perhaps quietly filling the teacher in on her background might stop the ‘fat people’ generalizations… not!

3) Eating more this week has made me hungry. It may be the fact that these last few days I’ve let my protein levels go down a bit, but I’m 30-40 mins away from dinner, and I’m freakin’ hungry.

4) I think I finally see some changes when I look in the mirror. Not subtle changes, but finally kind of recognizing that I’ve lost weight. I know that sounds stupid really. However, I put away the too big pants and have been wearing the probably slightly too tight ‘loose fit leggings’ and tossed an oversized top on the other day… and actually thought it didn’t look too bad in the mirror. This is a definite improvement. 

(For those not following along, or visiting for the first time, please note that this is a maintenance week. The theory is to let the body reset hormonal levels before putting it back into a deficit. The calorie levels are specifically not weight loss ones.)

Today was a beautiful one, weather-wise. I went out to the park I went to last week, without my running shoes though. Just sat at a picnic table and enjoyed the warm weather during my break between classes. I think I’m feeling much better, just not 100% though. The congestion is breaking up so, which I’m happy about. Nothing much to add today so I’ll just add in my food for the day.

Oh, I’ve discovered something this week. Although I could still probably eat lots of sour gummy candy, I seem to have no real desire for chocolate or chips or stuff like that. I’ve had days where I’m literally just filling in food because I’m too low in cals. I could easily have worked in a fast food burger, or chips, or ice cream. In the end I really couldn’t be bothered. I did add a few chips to last night’s dinner (because they were handy) but just wasn’t that enthusiastic about it.

Food for the day:

Total: 3164 (41% fat, 34% carbs, 23% protein)

Breakfast: bacon and eggs, zucchini bread, jam, nectarine, peach (815)
AM Snack: zucchini snack cake, almonds (348)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, smoked turkey, cheese, nectarine, zucchini snack cake (587)
Snacks: almonds, soy nuts, 100-cal chocolate/almond bar (397)
Dinner: boneless chicken thighs, curry sauce, rice, mixed veg, salad w/dressing (577)
Late Snack: whole wheat tortillas, cheese, nectarine, peach (439)

(For those not following along, or visiting for the first time, please note that this is a maintenance week.  The theory is to let the body reset hormonal levels before putting it back into a deficit.  The calorie levels are specifically not weight loss ones.)

So today was a great day. I was going to sleep in but I figured it would just screw up my schedule too much so I got up at 8am. Had my breakfast, fiddled around a bit, then took my books outside to the patio. I spent most of the day doing my math homework and working on my manufacturing processes review. Although I need to spend more time on that. The first module is basic metallurgy, mainly iron/carbon blends and I don’t think anyone in the class can get a handle on how easy/hard the tests will be.

The funny thing is that I’ve really having a problem making up the food levels this week. Well, not today, but days when I’ve picked a lower calorie dinner (as I have tomorrow). I didn’t pick it for calories, but convenience since I have classes until 5:30. I think part of it is not feeling great (ie. I don’t want to buy something snacky as I’m afraid of getting sucked into that hole again). I looked back to see how I did it the last time… and I gave in about Thursday and added another protein shake. I still take the one at night as it’s nice and light, yet keeps the night hunger at bay. Tomorrow (at the moment) doesn’t have an extra one, but we’ll see how it goes. It was also cherry season and I never have any problem eating a whole lot of them either.

Food for the day:

Total: 3256 (35% fat, 37% carbs, 23% protein)

Breakfast: bacon and eggs, honey oatmeal bread, nectarine, peach (676)
AM Snack: zucchini bread, almonds (348)
Lunch: onion soup with whole wheat baguette & cheese, whole wheat tortilla, mustard, smoked turkey, nectarine (598)
Snacks: hummus, carrots, flatbread, cheese spread, jack daniels & lemonade (512)
Dinner: turkey/beef burgers(2), whole wheat roll(1), condiments, potato chips (21g, weighed after I put them on my plate), salad w/dressing (895)
Late Snack: protein shake, peach (227)

(For those not following along, or visiting for the first time, please note that this is a maintenance week. The theory is to let the body reset hormonal levels before putting it back into a deficit. The calorie levels are specifically not weight loss ones.)

Well, the universe conspired against me tonight. I kept trying to read logs, but was having problems with my always on internet. I really can’t complain as it’s really up and fast 99.99% of the time, but still feel like complaining.

Since I didn’t get a ton of sleep last night I’m off to bed in a few minutes. Tomorrow has been designated as a homework day, so little to no playing on the computer until it’s done… really!

I think I’m feeling better, so if I take it easy tomorrow perhaps I’ll be good as new by Thursday. Hell, I’d settle for being well by the weekend. Oh, I had a shot at comfort food tonight and made mac n’ cheese… well, fusilli and cheese, but same concept. I was really looking at something I could add as an occasional side dish and ended up making too big a portion. We decided that when I make it again I’ll do half the amount and add some kind of veggie on the side.

Food for the day:

Total: 3017 (26% fat, 39% carbs, 29% protein)
(plus a handful of jelly beans - not measured, no idea of calorie count - not as good as I thought they would be)

Breakfast: protein shake with oatmeal, peaches (362)
AM Snack: zucchini bread, almonds, maynard sours (538)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, smoked turkey, nectarine (375)
Snacks: hummus, carrots, 12-grain crackers, cheese spread, jack daniels & lemonade (544)
Dinner: fusilli with cheese, smoked chicken & turkey sausage, salad w/dressing (745)
Late Snack: protein shake, nectarine, zucchini snack cake (453)