Week 28 - Down .4 Pounds

Weigh in: 212.8 pounds
Total loss: 32.5 pounds

One of my comments asked what plan I am following. As usual, my answer isn't simple. Most days I'm drinking a double shake in the morning. Another in the afternoon. I have a snack of low-fat popcorn and a light dinner at home. Sometimes the dinner is just an HMR Entree or a bowl of HMR Cereal. When I'm hungry and want to eat something, I will have vegetables. Usually a bag of the Steamfresh kind that you can make in the microwave. If I have a party or a dinner out, I will eat like normal. Where "normal" = "way too much".

Since I have been on maintenance, I have not managed to lose much weight. But I have maintained. And as long as I keep up what I am doing, I will gradually lose the rest. A little at a time. I think I'm OK with that. Sometimes I get impatient and think I will try to go back on all shakes. It hasn't worked out for me so far. With the holiday season coming, I doubt I will have that kind of willpower. As long as I can keep losing a little bit each week through the holidays, I'll be fine.

I found some pants that fit right and bought a black pair and a khaki pair. I have yet to see how they come out of the dryer, but otherwise they have passed my tests. I did have to spend $32.50 instead of under $30. Close enough. It is kind of cool how good it feels to wear pants that fit. Everything I've been wearing has been either too baggy or too tight. I still hope they don't fit by the end of the year!

Week 27 - Down 1.4 pounds

Weigh in: 213.2 pounds
Total loss: 32.1 pounds

I need a new pair of black pants. My current pants are so baggy in the butt that I am starting to look clownlike. Unfortunately, I haven't lost the same proportion of weight in my waist. So while the waist fits, the butt sags. I can't go shopping and try on pants because very few stores carry a large selection of talls. So I internet shop. I like a low waistband and a 34" inseam. I would like them to come out of the dryer fairly nice without needing an iron. I don't want elastic on the waistband. Is this too much to ask? Oh, and I'm cheap. I don't like to spend over $30 since they aren't going to fit two months from now.

Did you hear that people? They are NOT going to fit two months from now. I AM going to keep losing weight. Wish me luck with the shopping.

Week 26 - Down .6 pounds

Weigh in: 214.6 pounds
Total loss: 30.7 pounds

OK. Recovering from vacation may take a little longer than expected.

I tried to just go on all shakes again, but that isn't really working for me. Once you get used to eating again, it is almost impossible to make it an entire day without solid food. I talked to my class about it today. All except one said the same thing. They have tried to do all shakes and failed. One guy has been able to do it. He lives alone and gets rid of all the other food in his house. Wow.

I'll keep trying. Even half a pound is still a loss.

Week 25 - Up 6.7 pounds

Weigh in: 215.2 pounds
Total loss: 30.1 pounds

Vacation weight is bad, but not as bad as it could have been. I'm starting over. Since Monday, I have been back on the shakes.

There is a weird sense of relief going back on the restricted diet. No decisions to make. No shopping to do. Just drink the shakes.

I feel less bloated already.

In other news, I'm going through physical therapy for my back problems. I have had to stop all exercise except for the PT exercises. This is forcing me to be less than perfect on the program. I can't burn my 2000 calories a week in exercise. I'm hoping to be able to start back up in November.

I'm going to make a big push to get under 200 pounds by my birthday. There is only Halloween candy and Thanksgiving dinner standing in my way.

Self. Control. Now.