140.8 and counting...

So I haven't exactly been great about the whole dieting process lately, but it is amazing how stress and depression can impact weight. If this trend continues, I will be at my goal weight in another week or two. I am really trying NOT to return to my old eating habits from high school and college though and I am trying very hard to eat at least something even when I don't feel like it. On some level though, I am enjoying the effects of my depression in regards to my weight loss. On the 21st I actually weighed 145.8 (had gained two pounds before the move), so I have basically lost 5 pounds in one week's time. I don't do well with food when I am upset and the hardest emotion for me to process is when I let people down. So this week has been a rough one in terms of food, but like I said, I am trying not to return to my old habits as much as I would desperately love to drop a few more pounds.

144.0-- The Final Countdown has begun!!!

And of course, now I have that annoying 80s song stuck in my head because of it, but at least I am on the final 9.

145.2

Woo hoo! I have lost almost 18 pounds and can finally see a difference in my clothes and my face. I even wore a pair of skinny pants today.

148???

I can't even believe it-- I ate pretty well this weekend in Redding, but was unable to stick to the South Beach diet the entire time. This morning the scale said 147.8 and I was in shock. I am going to get back on track with South Beach though so that hopefully the pounds will continue to drop.

South Beach Update...

I am on day 3 and still loving the South Beach diet. I haven't been overly hungry and haven't found it difficult to find foods to eat, even when I am eating out-- which is awesome. Plus, I couldn't resist and I weighed myself-- I already lost 1 pound after only two completed days of dieting (150.4)!!! I haven't cheated once, even though I was really tempted at work when someone brought in a chocolate cake with a whipped cream frosting under a chocolate ganashy type of frosting. But my vigilance seems to be paying off. Hope it stays this easy to stick to!

Diet Update--

OK, so I still weigh 151.4-- which is OK. I may not be losing, but I haven't gained any back either. Sometimes I feel bummed out because I have lost 13 pounds, but am still wearing the same size as before-- so yesterday I decided that I need an attitude adjustment to get back on track. I have lost 13 pounds and I should be proud of that-- I basically only have 15 (and a little extra) to lose. I am almost halfway to my goal weight and I should be proud-- not disappointed.

My office manager started the South Beach diet last week and has been loving it. The first two weeks are the most difficult because you have to give up carbs and even fruits-- pretty much are allowed protein and veggies and dairy. Not horrible. Plus even at the strictest phase (phase 1) you are allowed No Sugar Added Fudgsicles, which are my favorite. Phase 1 is designed to help jump start your diet (on average, people lose between 8 and 14 pounds) and also curb the carb cravings. Since I live and die by my carb cravings, I think this is the plan for me. I live on carbs and the highs immediately following eating them, but am always starving a little later, which adds to increased weight gain and miserable dieting because I am hungry all day long. Hopefully, Phase 1 will conquer my cravings so that I can be successful in the later stages. Then, you slowly reintroduce carbs and fruits during Phase II and Phase III is basically just a healthy lifestyle. And it also incorporates exercise as well, but aims at 20 minutes a day which is realistic even for me.

Because I don't have a lot of weight left to lose (I am sure the people that lost 14 pounds probably weighed a lot more than 151), I don't expect to lose a ton during Phase 1, but I am hoping that it will curb my cravings and allow me to lose weight in Phase 2 at a more gradual and steady pace.

And although I am only a few hours into my South Beach diet, I actually am not that hungry and I feel like I have had good meals and snacks today.

So, once again, I am back on track and looking forward to catching up with Tricia again (Way to go, Tricia!). I will post again in a few days to tell you how the South Beach diet is working a few days in... Thank you for keeping me accountable.

Update...

So my current weight is 151.4, so I am still losing. I feel a little frustrated though because I thought if I lost over 10 pounds, it would show more. People are noticing that I am losing weight, but I still fit into my fat clothes. (I can wear my old size 9s though from before Devon was born, which is something positive.) I was just hoping that the weight loss would be a little more dramatic, but I have still got 18.5 pounds to go. Maybe that will add a dramatic flourish...

Health update: I went to the doctor, and I was having panic attacks... which is good to know. Now I am on a low dose of Selexa and meeting with a counselor a few times to try to find better ways to manage stress. A surprising side effect of the Selexa (besides the drowsiness) is that it totally curbs my appetite, or maybe the stress and depression were causing me to eat emotionally, but now I am back to my old appetite-- small meals and small snacks-- without feeling like I am starving to death in between. I was a little nervous about the med because it could have gone the other way and caused me to gain weight, but the return of my old appetite is nice. So, Operation Starvin Marvin should stay on track.