Atrial Fibrillation

I had an unmistakable case of atrial fibrillation on Saturday, May 20. I used deep breathing and rest--and magnesium supplements--to bring my heart rhythm back to normal.

My atrial fibrillation first manifested itself in March 2016, as I was participating in what would be a 1-year diet. I talked to an ER doctor, a hospitalist, my PCP, a cardiologist and a sleep specialist. I would eventually be put on a CPAP machine as sleep apnea was the suspected root cause of my a-fib.

On Saturday, I did several web searches on discontinuing HCG. Should it be tapered? Could discontinuing hoodia, berberine, garcinia cambogia, caralluma fimbriata suddenly cause heart arrhythmia. I found nothing to suggest any of it.

Then I found this video.



Dr. Youtube, er, Dr. Berg, explained a-fib better than it had been explained before. The right potassium and the right magnesium from the right jar, as well as restricting calcium, just might be the solution to the problem.

I immediately put calcium ascorbate on hold, even though I had been consuming it religiously for over thirty years. I believe in the health benefits of vitamin C but I also believe that ascorbic acid will rot your teeth and cause upper GI problems. Better to buffer the harsh acid with a benign calcium. And I could use the extra calcium, no? Who knew calcium might be a culprit?

I then rushed out to my post office box to see if the new calcium had arrived. Backup: I had been taking magnesium twice a day but I was still getting muscle cramps. Vitamin/mineral deficiency is sometimes a problem when one is on a strict diet. So I watched another video a couple of weeks ago. I am a bit leery of taking advice from an anonymous Youtuber who uses the handle, Jimmy Moonshine, so I decided to test his results against my own. I ordered a bottle of Cardiovascular Research Limited's Magnesium Taurate.



My afib ceased minutes after my first dose. In fairness, it seemed to be stabilizing after prolonged rest but my pulse was still 90-100 bpm. It is hard to assess flutter with amateur equipment and amateur observers so one does have to trust one's subjective analysis. How do you feel? I felt better almost immediately after dosing.

On Sunday, I was active, Ran errands, cooked, went to church and lifted weights. All hail Mg.

Day 31: The Final Weigh-in

212 lb.

24 lb. in 30 days.

Food Log: Day 30

AM Weight: 214 lb.

8 :50 AM: HCG drops.

Cold, black coffee in AM

12:34 PM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine, magnesium, potassium, aspirin.

1:00 PM: 10 oz. turkey with 1 tablespoon wasabi, a serving of kimchi.
                 Tablespoon cocoa,tablespoon cinnamon
                  Berberine, hoodia, mutivitamins, approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid.
                  Note; On this last day of the 30 diet, I ran out of garcinia cambogia. I might test that item separately in the future. For now, I don't think it helps all that much.

Diet cola throughout PM for caffeine.

8:00 PM:  4 oz. chunk lite tuna, 5 oz. Bumble Bee Thai tuna, 1 oz. pretzels,
                 Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon
                  berberine, carraluma fimbriata.

What I intend to eat immediately after my final weigh-in in about 12 hours. Beef steak, spaghetti salad, corn on the cob smothered in butter, two hot dogs on buns with relish.

Day 30 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)
Day 24...May 12, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 23 days.)
Day 25...May 13, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 24 days.)
Day 26...May 14, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 25 days.)
Day 27...May 15, 2017...216 lb. (20 lb. in 26 days.)
Day 28...May 16, 2017...215.5 lb. (20.5 lb. in 27 days.) Comfortably wearing size 38 jeans as this is typed.
Day 29...May 17, 2017...215 lb. (21 lb. in 28 days.) 215 ties my lowest weigh since the early 90's.
Day 30...May 18, 2017...214 lb. (22 lb. in 29 days.) My lowest weight since 1991 or 1992.

Food Log: Day 29

AM Weight: 215

8:10 AM: HCG drops.

Cold, black coffee in AM.

AM ketosis: 1.25 to 1.50.

10:30 AM: Bana, tablespoon phenylalanine, magnesium, potassium, aspirin.

12:45 PM: 1 lb. shrimp, 1/4 cup McCormick's extra hot cocktail sauce, 3 oz. celery
                  tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
                  garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia, multivitamins, approximately 4 grams calcium                           ascorbate.

7:25 PM: Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon. A deviation from the plan but I was getting hungry.

Diet cola in PM for caffeine.



9:45 PM: 10 oz. turkey breast with mustard, .92 oz. pretzels.
                   Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata.

10:45 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine.

12;30 PM: Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.

Around 1:00 AM:  Magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine, approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamin.

1:12 AM: HCG drops.

A food I will enjoy on Day 31, the day the diet is terminated: A Reuben Sandwich made by Ms. Kristen.

Day 29 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)
Day 24...May 12, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 23 days.)
Day 25...May 13, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 24 days.)
Day 26...May 14, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 25 days.)
Day 27...May 15, 2017...216 lb. (20 lb. in 26 days.)
Day 28...May 16, 2017...215.5 lb. (20.5 lb. in 27 days.) Comfortably wearing size 38 jeans as this is typed.
Day 29...May 17, 2017...215 lb. (21 lb. in 28 days.) 215 ties my lowest weigh since the early 90's.

The 30 Day Diet Will Conclude Friday May 19 At 10 AM

That will be Day 31. If one is conducting a 1 day diet, the conclusion would be on Day 2. Likewise, a 30 day diet concludes on Day 31.

60 hours, 39 minutes to go!

Food Log: Day 28

AM Weight: 215.5 lb.

4:00 AM: Ketosis reading: Negative.

8:41 AM: HCG drops.

9:30 AM: Ketosis reading: About .75

Cold, black coffee in AM and early PM.

11:45 AM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine. Honey crisp apple. Magnesium, potassium, aspirin.

1:00 PM: 10 oz. turkey breast, 6 oz. celery, 1/4 cup whole sunflower seeds ( probably counterproductive for a low-fat diet but I need some serious non-digestible fiber) tablespoon wasabi,
tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia, multivitamins, approximately 4 grams calcium ascorbate.

Black coffee and diet soda in PM.

8:45 PM: 4 oz. chunk lite tuna, 5 oz. Bumble Bee Thai tuna, .92 oz. pretzels,
                 Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon
                Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata.

11:40 PM: HCG drops.

12: 00 AM to 1;15 AM: I nibbled on tomato, baby cucumber slices and a few "Broccoli tots" (probably too much fat for diet). Being that I was still hungry I ate some Green Giant "Riced Veggies" which is chopped broccoli and cauliflower (disappointing.) As is sometimes the case when one does not consume sufficient protein, one keeps eating and eating. I concluded with a banana.
Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium consumed during period of prolonged grazing. Melatonin, diphenhydramine, approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamin consumed at completion of endeavor.

1:30 AM: Ketosis negative.

           

Day 28: Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)
Day 24...May 12, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 23 days.)
Day 25...May 13, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 24 days.)
Day 26...May 14, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 25 days.)
Day 27...May 15, 2017...216 lb. (20 lb. in 26 days.)
Day 28...May 16, 2017...215.5 lb. (20.5 lb. in 27 days.) Comfortably wearing size 38 jeans as this is typed.

Food Log: Day 27

AM Weight: 216 lb.

9:20 AM: HCG drops.

AM ketosis:  .5 to .75

Cold, black coffee in AM.

12:30 PM: 1 lb.shrimp with about 1/4 cup cocktail sauce, a serving of kimchi, 1/4 cup whole sunflower seeds. Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon. Took AM supplements at this time: Magnesium, potassium, aspirin.
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia, multivitamins, approximately 4 grams calcium ascorbate.

1 PM: 1 teaspoon phenylalanine that I forgot to take in AM.

Hot black coffee in PM.

Around 7 PM: 1 honey crisp apple.

Around 8:30 PM: 4 oz. chunk lite tuna, 5 oz. Bumble Bee Thai tuna.

9:50 PM: Tablespoon cinnamon, tablespoon cocoa. Note: These appetite suppressants probably work better between meals than with meals but I wanted to keep the diet as simple as possible. I sometimes have a hard time scheduling meals, much less consumption between meals.
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata.
Note: Garcinia cambogia is ideally consumed a half hour before meals. Berberine is supposed to be taken with meals. Carraluma fimbriata is probably best taken between meals to extend the length of non-consumption periods. Again, I wanted to keep the diet simple when I designed it.

!0:30 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine mix.

12:30 AM: 1 lb. tofu noodles, 1/4 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup salsa, 1 tablespoon cocoa, 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
               Garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine. Approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamin.

12:50 AM: HCG drops.

1:15 AM: 1 cup plain, non-fat yogurt.

Day 27: Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)
Day 24...May 12, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 23 days.)
Day 25...May 13, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 24 days.)
Day 26...May 14, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 25 days.)
Day 27...May 15, 2017...216 lb. (20 lb. in 26 days.)

Food Log: Day 26

AM Weight: 217 lb.

8:12 AM: HCG drops.

AM ketosis: negative.

Cold, black coffee in AM.

4:00 PM: 16 oz. tofu macaroni noodles, 2 cups salsa, a serving of kimchi
                Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon
                Took AM supplements at this time:  Magnesium, potassium, aspirin.
                Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia, multivitamins ( the Life Enhancement package                          arrived on Friday) 1 teaspoon (approximately 4 grams) calcium ascorbate.
           
PM ketosis: negative.

6:30 PM: 1 honeycrisp apple.

6:50 PM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine.

8:30 PM: 2 cup plain, no fat yogurt, a large serving of papaya, approximately 1 oz. petite carrots, 5 Snyder's mini pretzels,
tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon,
 garcinia cambogia, berberine, caralluma fimbriata, Life Enhancement multivitamins, 1 teaspoon (approximately 4 grams) calcium ascorbate.

11:50 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine, 5 Snyder's mini pretzels/

1:20 AM: HCG Drops.

1:31 AM:  magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine, approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamins, honey crisp apple.

A food I will greatly enjoy at the conclusion of The 30 Day Diet: Mayonnaise, in all of its luster and splendor. I cannot think of a food that is not improved with the addition of mayonaisse. 

Day 26 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)
Day 24...May 12, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 23 days.)
Day 25...May 13, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 24 days.)
Day 26...May 14, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 25 days.)

Food Log: Day 25

AM Weight: 218 lb.

AM Ketosis: Negative.

9:32 AM: HCG drops.

Cold, black coffee in AM.

Around 11:30 AM: Tablespoon of phenylalanine. Magnesium, potassium, aspirin.

12:47 PM: 1 pear.

1 to 2 PM: 2 zinc lozenges because I suspect a cold is coming on (they contain sugar which could interfere with ketosis. I can still lose via fat restriction though.)

Around 4 PM: 1 pear.

Around 8 PM: 1 lb. tofu macaroni noodles with approximately 1 cup salsa, a serving of kimchi. I was in a hurry and missed the cocoa and cinnamon. Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia, multivitamins ( the Life Enhancement package arrived on Friday) 1 teaspoon (approximately 4 grams) calcium ascorbate.

Around 12 AM: 10 oz. shrimp, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
                           garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine.                              Approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamins.

                         
A food I might enjoy at the conclusion of The 30 Day Diet: Tuna casserole made with tuna packed in oil, possibly Bumble Bee Jalapeno In Olive Oil Tuna.

Day 25: Weight Log:

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)
Day 24...May 12, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 23 days.)
Day 25...May 13, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 24 days.)

Food Log: Day 24

AM Weight: 218 Lb.

8:30 AM: HCG drops. Magnesium taken due to muscle cramps.

Ketosis reading not taken.

Note: I woke up feeling not well. More details later.

Skipped phenyalanine.

11:30 AM: Magnesium, potassium, aspirin

1:15 PM: 1 cup plain, no fat yogurt, a large serving of papaya, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon, garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia.

4:00 PM: Honey Crisp Apple.

5:45 PM: Small serving of lean ground beef.small serving of sweet potato, small serving of broccoli.
                 Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
                  Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata

Diet cola throughout evening for caffeine.

10:00 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine, 1 honey crisp apple, .92 oz. pretzels (I am going more for low fat than low-carb in restarting my diet.)

Around midnight: HCG drops.

2:30 AM: 5 oz. Bumble Bee, 12 oz. Birdseye mashed cauliflower, half served with red pepper, half with curry. Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon, garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine. Approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamin.

Total steps for May 12: 6,476. 2.2 miles.

A food I would like to enjoy once more at the conclusion of The 30 Day Diet: Whole sunflower seeds. In moderation, of course.  Over-indulgence of this food item coupled with a general low food intake caused a serious and humiliating and misery-inducing intestinal blockage a couple of years ago. All things in moderation.

Day 24: Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)
Day 24...May 12, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 23 days.)

Food Log: Day 23

AM Weight: 217 lb.

8:00 AM: HCG drops.

Cold, black coffee in AM.

9:30 AM: Aspirin, magnesium, potassium, hoodia.

Inadvertently forgot the phenylalanine.

Temporarily Off-Diet.
My consolation was that it was not lack of will power that did me in. Once more, work did me in.

The astute observer will notice that I only ate two meals yesterday. Not a big deal, but it necessitated me eating around 2:30 today. I won't go into the work snafu but there was some uncertainty as to time and place for a meeting that did not actually materialize. I had some dietary contingency plans but around 1:30 I got really lightheaded. I was on the road and I did not want to eat in my car. It might have been several hours before I could assemble diet food and find a place to eat it. So I went to Wendy's.

I ordered the triple decker combo sans ketchup. It was as good as I remember it being but I had a hard time finishing the culinary diet. My stomach is out of shape from all that calorie restriction.

What a difference real food makes. I felt elated for hours. Despite the good cheer, I hope to get back on diet tomorrow.

4:00  PM: to 6:00 PM: 3 cheese danishes

Diet cola in PM for caffeine.

9:45 PM: Pork chop with homemade stuffing, potatoes, spinach...I plan to stay off diet until I awake tomorrow.

10:30 PM: Cheese danish.

Around 12:10 AM: HCG drops.

Skipped arginine mix.

Around 12:10 AM: HCG drops.

Around 12:30 AM: Large serving of homemade casserole that was way off-diet, 2 oz. Ron Barcelo rum. Approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamin, garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine.


Total steps for May 11: 6,664. 2.3 miles.

I will restart the diet in the morning when I awaken.

Day 23: Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.
Day 23...May 11, 2017...217 lb, (19 lb. in 22 days.)

Food Log: Day 22

AM Weight: 218 lb.

8:22 AM:  HCG drops.

AM Ketosis: Circa 11 AM. About 1.0

Inadvertently missed my phenylalanine.

Cold,black coffee in AM.

1:15 PM: 4 oz.chunk lite tuna, 5 oz. Bumble Bee Thai tuna,, 5 oz. celery, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon,
Took AM supplements at this time. Magnesium, potassium, aspirin. Also took multivitamin and 4 grams calcium ascorbate.
Also, garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia.

Diet cola in PM for caffeine.

9:00 PM: 1 orange.

10: 00 PM: 10 oz. Black Forest turkey breast, 1 oz. pretzels.
                    Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata
                      Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.

12:42 AM: HCG drops.

12: 53 AM: 3 tablespoons arginine. Garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine. Approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamin.

Around 1:15 AM: Ketosis about .75. I wonder is the combination on an orange and an oz. of pretzels has slowed ketosis.

Total recorded steps for May 10: 4,121. 1.3 miles.

A food I might enjoy at the conclusion of The 30 Day Diet: Baked brownies from Market Basket mix.

Day 22 Weight Log:

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)
Day 22...May 10, 2017..218 lb. (18 lb.in 21 days.) Ugh. The first backslide.

Nurse Hatty's Ketone Strips:An Informal Review

At $7.95 per 125 ct., the price blows Rite Aid and Walgreen's right out of the water. I think Walgreens was $19 and change for 50 ct. last time I was there, right before I started The 30 Day Diet. I started buying them at Walgreen's because they were cheaper than Rite Aid's. Score another for Amazon and don't shed a tear for the retail price gougers. 

I record the ketone levels from time to time but I do so unprofessionally. Using the guide on the side of the box, it is hard for me to determine the level. It sometimes looks like the sample is slightly off-spectrum and as such, does not line up with any of the levels.

I do not require hyper-accuracy. Low, medium, high might be good enough categories for my purposes. I like to stay in a state of ketosis but I cannot correlate my degree of ketosis with greater weight loss. Not in my skill set. 

If I am imprecise on ketone levels, it is no big deal.

Food Log: Day 21

AM Weight: 217 lb.

6:22 AM: Awakened by leg cramps. Immediately took extra magnesium and potassium.

6:48 AM: HCG drops.

AM: Ketosis: Around .25.

Cold, black coffee in AM.

11:30 AM: 1 Braeburn apple.
                   1 tablespoon phenylalanine,  magnesium, potassium, aspirin.

1:10 PM: 10 oz.turkey breast with wasabi, 7 oz. celery, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
                Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia. 1 teaspoon (4 grams) calcium ascorbate,            multivitamin.

3:30 PM: Cup of coffee with a small amount of Half-N-Half.

Diet cola throughout evening for caffeine.

7:30 PM: .92 oz. pretzels.

9:15 PM: 10 oz. boiled ham with approximately 1 oz. wasabi, .92 oz. pretzels.
                Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon
                Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata.

10:10 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine.

12:52 AM: HCG drops.

1:05 AM:  Garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium, melatonin, diphenhydramine

1:45 AM Ketosis: around .75 (low, possibly due to the two ounces of pretzels earlier in evening.)

2:00 AM:  8 oz. tofu spaghetti with approximately 1/2 cup salsa
                1 tablespoon cocoa, 1 tablespoon cinnamon
                Approximately 4 grams ascorbic acid, multivitamin
                4 Snyder's mini pretzels.

A food I would like to enjoy at the conclusion of 30 Day Diet: None. I may have turned a page.
             

Day 21 Weight Log:

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)
Day 21...May 9, 2017...217 lb. (19 lb. in 20 days.)

Food Log: Day 20

AM Weight: 218 lb.

6 AM: HCG drops.

Note: It was a restless night without much sleep.

6:15 AM: Cold, black coffee

6:45 AM: 1 teaspoon phenylalanine. Reduced from one tablespoon to one teaspoon due to jittery stomach. Aspirin, magnesium, potassium.

10 AM: 5 oz. turkey with approximately 1 teaspoon wasabi. Approximately 4 grams (1 teaspoon) calcium ascorbate.

I have a nervous stomach due to a family issue that is keeping me on edge. Yesterday and again this morning I have had to force myself to eat. I am not sure if this is due to my anxiety or if I have "entered the zone" or both.


10:36 AM; Took hoodia but I am withholding the other nutrients. I will be away from home most of the day and I want to protect from a sudden wave of hunger. But given my stomach's behavior, I am skipping the other supplements for now.

Around 1 PM: 1 small slice of dried pineapple (20 calorie estimate.)

5 PM: 2 apple slices (8 to calorie estimate) 1 lb. (Shirataka) tofu noodles (faux macaroni), 1 1/3 cup salsa, one tablespoon cocoa, one tablespoon cinnamon, multivitamin, one teaspoon ascorbic acid (4 gram estimate)  Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata

Circa 7 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine mix.

8:42 PM: Half cup of cold, black coffee.

8:52 PM: HCG drops.

Ketosis circa 10:00 PM: About 2.0

10:25 PM: 1 cup of plain, whole milk yogurt. (It was thawed by my sigoth, thinking she was thawing mashed potatoes. She had previously purchased yogurt for me--a food item she loathes--prior to my going on The 30 Day Diet not knowing that whole milk yogurt is off-diet. Being one who will not waste food, I froze the yogurt in one cup units.) A serving of papaya.
I nibbled on miscellaneous veggies--lettuce, bean sprouts, baby cucumber--throughout the evening. Probably insignificant from a caloric or fat intake perspective.

10:45 PM:  5 oz. turkey breast with approximately 1 teaspoon wasabi, 10 Snyder's mini pretzels (55 calories per label) 2 oz. Ron Barcelo rum (should I decide to take up drinking, I have a new favorite drink) Garcinia cambogia, berberine, approximately 4 oz. calcium ascorbate, magnesium, potassium melatonin, diphenhydramine, multivitamin.

Recorded steps for May 8: 698. .19 miles. I did not have my step-recording device with me most of the day.

In bed before midnight. Extremely rare occurrence.

Food items I crave and want to consume at the conclusion of The 30 Day Diet: None.

Day 20 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.
Day 20...May 8, 2017...218 lb. (18 lb. in 19 days.)

Food Log: Day 19

AM Weight: 219 lb.

10:20 AM: HCG drops.

AM Ketosis: Around 2.0 circa 11:00 AM.

Cold, black coffee in AM and early PM.

12 PM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine. aspirin, magnesium, potassium.

1:45 PM: 8 oz. tofu shirataki noodles (faux macaroni) with approximately 7 oz. salsa. I am currently skipping cinnamon and cocoa because I feel slight nausea (1-2 on a scale of 10).
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia. 1 teaspoon (4 grams) calcium ascorbate

6:30 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine, small slice of apple (8 calorie estimate)

7:45 PM: HCG drops.

I seem to have hit some sort of "zone" with hunger. I have consumed about 220 calories today and I am neither hungry nor fatigued. I have been fairly active all day long. Mentally, I am not quite as quick but then again, I don't have to solve Rubik's Cube today. Emotionally too, I seem to have crossed a barrier. I am not obsessing on food for the first time in oh, nineteen days. I always list a food I would like to eat at the end of  The 30 Day Diet. Today, I cannot think of anything I really want to eat.

I will try to force myself to eat before going to bed.

PM Ketosis: Around 2.5 circa 10:00 PM.

10:30 PM: 6 mg. melatonin.

12 AM: 10 oz. ham, 3 oz. radishes.
              Multivitamin, 4 grams ascorbic acid, potassium, magnesium...

Steps recorded for May 9: 2,443. .85 miles. Once more, I leave my step-counting cell phone on the shelf for most of the weekend so I am certain I walked more than that.

Weekend regimen a bit different from workday regimen.

Day 19 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)
Day 19...May 7, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 18 days.) Sigh. My pounds have fallen behind my days.

Food Log: Day 18

AM weight: 219 lb.

10:30 AM: HCG drops.

Cold, black coffee in AM and PM

Around 12:00 PM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine, aspirin, magnesium, potassium.

Ketosis at 3:25 PM: About 2.0.

3:45 PM: 16 oz. tofu shirataki noodles (8 oz. faux macaroni, 8 oz. faux fettucini) with approximately 8 oz. salsa, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia. 1 teaspoon (4 grams) calcium ascorbate


Cold, black coffee in PM for caffeine.

8;45 PM: 1 Braeburn apple.

9:45 PM: 1/2 banana. Incidentally, I have been avoiding bananas in the mistaken belief that they were high in fat. I am not sure how or when I formulated that belief. .4 grams per unit.

Note: I skipped evening supplements because I did not have time to eat supper.

1:15 AM:  6 mg. melatonin, diphenhydramine, potassium, magnesium, Garcinia cambogia, berberine

1:25 AM: HCG drops.

1:45 AM: 13 oz. shrimp, 2 oz. banana, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.

Steps for May 6: 3,063. .9 miles. Once more, I leave step-counting cell phone off my person when I am at home on weekends.

A food I would like to eat at the conclusion of the 30 Day Diet: An egg noodle, tomato and cheese casserole I prepared a few times last year.

Day 18 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)
Day 18...May 6, 2017...219 lb. (17 lb. in 17 days.)

Contemplating A Cheat Day

As of 2:10 PM today I have not eaten anything other than phenylalanine, aspirin, magnesium, potassium, coffee.

Yesterday's indigestion was accompanied by intermittent dizziness. Not sure exactly what the root cause might be. The indigestion might be harder to explain than the dizziness. I am not 100 % certain but I cannot rule out that I have been losing too much too fast.

Not exactly the same thing as too much too fast, the reduced caloric intake might be catching up with me. I could have felt dizzy because I was needing food and the dizziness caused indigestion. The appetite suppressants work really well (we do have redundant signals and I will discuss those redundancies elsewhere) but they might be working too well. I might need to hear the cries for calories and more specifically, fat.

In addition to craving fat, calories and to a lesser degree, carbohydrates, I crave warm food. The astute observer will notice an absence of cooked food in my regimen. This has been an unusually cold spring and damp and windy as well. One will feel cold in weight loss mode, especially if one takes the low fat route to get there. Hot foods are limited on this food regimen.

See food log for what is decided.

Food Log: Day 17

AM Weight: 220 lb.

10:45 AM: HCG drops.

AM ketosis: About 1.0

Cold, black coffee in AM.

12 PM: Tablespoon phenylalanine.

12:30: 1 lb. shrimp,1/3 cup cocktail sauce, 3 oz. kimchi, 3 oz. radishes (forgot cinnamon and cocoa)
           Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia. 1 teaspoon (4 grams) calcium ascorbate
           aspirin, magnesium, potassium

Note: major indigestion starting around 3:30 PM. As of this writing (5:18 PM) I have consumed a tablespoon of dried ginger, 2 oz. pretzels, a half teaspoon of cayenne pepper, three aspirin and three antacids.
I lost my gall bladder in 2012 and have had increased indigestion ever since then. It is still hard for me to predict what might cause upper GI problems. Some things are predictable, like too much fat. But oddly enough, I sometimes have acid reflux and belching when I do not consume enough fat. Raw veggies have caused problems in the past.

Related note: Food producers are allowed to say that a serving contains zero fat if has less than 1 gram per serving. So the shrimp I ate today was listed as 0 grams per 5 oz. serving. Of course, I ate a pound of shrimp. I know enough biology to understand that animal flesh almost always contains some fat. So with the 1/3 cup of cocktail sauce I might have consumed 3 or so grams of the oily stuff.

A hamburger contains 17 or so grams of fat, so I don't think the GI problems are caused by the grease. Getting desperate, I consumed another oz. pretzels and--this will suspend my diet for the day--an oz. of potato chips.

In total: 3 oz. pretzels, 1 oz. potato chips.

Diet Cola throughout evening for caffeine.

9:40 PM: Banana. Still not much appetite. Need something. An off-diet item but I already had an oz. of potato chips.

9:55 PM: Tablespoon cocoa. Tablespoon cinnamon. Skipping the regimen of supplements and appetite suppressants.

10:30 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine mix.

12:00 AM: HCG drops.

Around 2:30 AM: 6 mg. melatonin, diphenhydramine, potassium, magnesium, 1 teaspoon (approximately 4 grams) ascorbic acid. Lack of hunger verging on food revulsion.

3:13 AM: 1 banana, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.

Steps for May 5:  3,353. 1.1 miles.

A food I would like to enjoy at the conclusion of The 30 Day Diet: Bacon ice cream. I have yet to taste that heavenly-sounding concoction.

Day 17: Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.
Day 17...May 5, 2017....220 lb. (16 lb. in 16 days.)

Food Log: Day 16

AM Weight: 221 Lb.

HCG drops:  10 AM.

AM ketosis: About .75

Cold, black coffee in AM.

11:58 AM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine.

1 PM: 10 oz. ham with approximately 1 teaspoon wasabi, 3 oz. radishes, serving of spring mix with 3 oz. kimchi, Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia. 1 teaspoon (4 grams) calcium ascorbate.
Forgot to take AM supplements (they are not weight loss related anyway.)

4:35 PM: Herbal cough drop.

Diet cola throughout PM for caffeine.

6:45 PM: 4 oz.chunk lite tuna, 5 oz. Bumble Bee Thai tuna, 1.84 oz. pretzels. (Missed Tablespoon cinnamon, tablespoon cocoa.)
 Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata. Also took AM supplements that I had forgotten earlier (aspirin, magnesium, potassium.)

10:30 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine.

11:40  PM: HCG drops.

12: 30 AM: A serving of steamed vegetables (bean sprouts, red peppers, asparagus, mushrooms)

1 AM: 4 oz. chunk lite tuna in water, 2.5 oz. Bumble Bee Thai tuna, tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
         

           Garcinia cambogia, berberine, approximately 4 oz. calcium ascorbate, magnesium, potassium melatonin, diphenhydramine (ran out of multivitamins and awaiting delivery for much longer than I should in the Amazon era.)
             

A dinner I would like to enjoy at the end of The 30 Day Diet: Bacon and eggs with a loaf of toast, a stick of butter and strawberry preserves.

Day 16 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)
Day 16...May 4, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 15 days.)
The days have caught up with the pounds. Oy vey! My one consolation is that I can once more fit into size 38 jeans. I take my victories where I find them.

Food Log: Day 15

AM Weight: 221 lb.

AM Ketosis: Approximately .75.

Cold, black coffee in AM.

11:50 AM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine.

12:30 PM:  8 oz. boiled ham with approximately 2 teaspoons wasabi, 3.5 oz. celery, 2.4 oz. kimchi.
                  Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia. 1 teaspoon (4 grams) calcium ascorbate.
                  Took AM supplements at this time: Aspirin, magnesium, potassium.

Diet cola throughout PM for caffeine.

5 PM:  Lettuce and tomato salad sans dressing.

5:45 PM: 1 pear.

8 PM: 10 oz. turkey breast with approximately 1 teaspoon wasabi, .92 oz. pretzels. (Too harried to           consume cinnamon and cocoa.)
            Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata.

10:30 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine mix.

11:42 PM: HCG drops.

11:55 PM: Melatonin (standard 6 mg.)

1 AM: 5 oz. chunk lite tuna packed in water, 6 Snyder's mini pretzels, 1 tablespoon cocoa, 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
           Garcinia cambogia, berberine, approximately 4 oz. calcium ascorbate, magnesium, potassium (ran out of multivitamins and awaiting delivery for much longer than I should in the Amazon era.)
               



A dining experience I would like to enjoy at the conclusion of the 30 day diet: Dinner at T-Bones as we already have a gift card.

Day 15 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 13 days.)
Day 15...May 3, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb. in 14 days.)

The Brain Needs Sugar

Physically, I am doing OK on this diet. Mentally, let me think about it.

I sometimes test my mental clarity by playing computer games. On Microsoft Chess Titans, I win 82% of the time playing black on level 5. Recently, I have been struggling. I lost three games in a row over the weekend, something that rarely happens.

It's not just chess. A submission at another blog that would have ordinarily taken me a half hour at most, took me over three hours to complete. Fuzziness abounds.

Physically, I am doing OK. I added more protein on this go HCG go around and feel much better for it. Mentally...Have you ever been in a room or a work site where a lot of mental energy was being performed? If yes, you probably saw a lot of cans of cola and Snickers bars and all things glycemic.

Never being a smoker, I cannot grasp what it is like to crave a cigarette. I knew a few people who stopped smoking but then relapsed when faced with a situation that required enhanced concentration. Usually, it was a mechanical or construction-related matter that knocked them off the wagon.

Concentration is almost a synonym for happiness. The happiest people on Earth are those who find something they enjoy so much that they can focus their attention on that subject for long periods of time with little or no effort. Engagement makes us feel alive. It is life.

I am struggling to concentrate hard or long. I am not yet depressed, but I could see where I might hit rock bottom if I continue this diet too long. Say, beyond thirty days. In the meantime, I think a lot about food. This brain needs sugar.

Food Log: Day 14

AM Weight: 221 lb.

9:42 AM: HCG drops.

AM Ketosis (Around 10 AM) About 2.75

Cold, black coffee in AM

11 AM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine.

1 PM: 1 lb. boiled shrimp with 1/4 cup cocktail sauce, 5 oz. kimchi, a large serving of boiled spinach with malt vinegar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon cocoa.
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia. 1 teaspoon (4 grams) calcium ascorbate.
Took AM supplements at this time: Aspirin, magnesium, potassium.

Hot black coffee and deit cola throughout evening for caffeine.

8:30 PM: 10 oz. turkey with teaspoon of wasabi, .92 oz. pretzels.
                Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata.

10:00 PM: 3 tablespoons arginine mix.

12:00 AM: HCG drops.

12: 30 AM: Melatonin (Standard 6 mg.)

1: 00 AM: 5 oz. Bumble Bee Thai tuna (their pouch seems to have shrunk from 2.7 oz. to 2.5 oz.) 5 oz. radishes, 8 Snyder's mini pretzels, 1.5 ox. Ron Barcelo rum (someone poured it and offered it to me. Good!) tablespoon cinnamon, tablespoon cocoa.
Garcinia cambogia, berberine, approximately 4 oz. calcium ascorbate, magnesium, potassium (ran out of multivitamins and awaiting delivery for much longer than I should in the Amazon era.)

Steps for May 2: 7,262. 2.3 miles.

A food I will enjoy at the completion of The 30 Day Diet: KFC 3 Piece Original Recipe Dark Combo with mashed potatoes and cole slaw.

Day 14 Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)
Day 14...May 2, 2017....221 lb. (15 lb.in 13 days.)

Food Log: Day 13

AM Weight: 222 lb.

9:10 AM: HCG drops.

AM Ketosis: At least 4

Cold, black coffee in AM.

11 AM: 1 tablespoon phenylalanine.

1:30 PM: 10 oz. turkey breast with two teaspooons wasabi, 4 oz. kimchi. Tablespoon cocoa, tablespoon cinnamon.
Took AM supplements at this time. Magnesium, potassium, aspirin. Also took multivitamin and 4 grams calcium ascorbate.
Also, garcinia cambogia, berberine, hoodia.

4:45 PM: 7500 mcg. B-12. Truth be known, these are expired and I have had them for a while and I want to get rid of them and I could use a boost of energy and B-12 provides that some of the time.

Black coffee and deit cola throughout PM for caffeine

9 PM: 10 oz. Black Forest ham with 2 teaspoons wasabi, 1 oz. pretzels, 1 tablespooon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon cocoa.
            Garcinia cambogia, berberine, carraluma fimbriata

10:30 PM: 3 tablespoons of arginine mix.

12 AM: HCG drops.

12:30 AM: Melatonin (standard 6 mg.)

1:30 AM: 8.1 oz. Bumble Bee Thai Chili tuna, 12 pretzels (Snyder's Minis)
                Garcinia cambogia, berberine, magnesium, potassium calcium ascorbate, diphenhydramine (I have temporarily run out of multivitamins.)

Steps for May 1: 5,825. 1.9 miles.

A food item I would like to enjoy at the end of The 30 Day Diet. A ripe avocado.

Day 13: Weight Log

Day 0....April 18, 2017...237 lb.
Day 1....April 19, 2017...236 lb.
Day 2....April 20, 2017...235 lb.
Day 3....April 21, 2017...230 lb. !
Day 4....April 22, 2017...230 lb. Actually, the needle did repeatedly go to the left of 230 but not every single time I restepped onto the scales. Also, I could twist and wiggle and get it below 230 but that's not really sporting.
Day 5....April 23, 2017...229 lb.
Day 6....April 24, 2017...229 lb.
It seems that I lost my Easter weight quickly and am now losing weight at about 1/2 pound/day.
Day 7....April 25, 2017...228 lb.
Day 8....April 26, 2017...225 lb. (11 lb. in 7 days.)
Day 9....April 27, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 8 days.)
Day 10..April 28, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 9 days.)
Day 11..April 29, 2017...224 lb. (12 lb. in 10 days. Dreaded plateau?)
Day 12..April 30, 2017...223 lb. (13 lb. in 11 days.)
Day 13...May 1, 2017....222 lb. (14 lb. in 12 days.)