Food Journal: Week 1

Friday November 29: Day 1. Weight 245 lb.

Approximately 5.2 foil pouch tuna, celery.


Orange


Approximately 7 oz. shrimp, radishes.


Apple


Approximately 1 cup plain non-fat yogurt

Black coffee throughout the day

Saturday November 30:


Approximately 5 oz. shrimp, celery


Apple


5.2 oz. tuna, tomato


Orange


8 oz. ground bison, cabbage with malt vinegar

Apple

Black coffee throughout the day

Sunday December 1

Apple

Approximately 6 oz. chicken breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, celery

Orange

Approximately 3/4 cup plain non-fat yogurt, tomato

5-8 oz. chicken breast, smidgens of potato, mushroom, roasted celery, boiled spinach with malt vinegar.

(Note: I will no longer record black coffee...that is a given.)

Monday December 2

Approximately 5 oz. chicken marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, celery.

Apple (golden delicious)

Tablespoon cinnamon

Approximately 5 oz. shrimp, 1 lb. radishes.

Apple

Orange

Approximately 1.5 cup plain non-fat yogurt, celery

Apple

Tuesday December 3

Approximately 5 oz. chicken marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, one tomato, smidgen of cabbage.

Clementine

Sliver of broccoli, sliver of chicken (had to at least taste a great cook's work. Mmmm)

Approximately 5 oz. shrimp, 1 lb. radishes.

Approximately 1 cup plain non-fat yogurt

Apple

Wednesday December 4

Orange

Approximately 5 oz. chicken marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash and soy sauce, spinach with malt vinegar.

Approximately 3 oz. salted, unshelled sunflower seeds (I eat the shell. Note: these babies never tasted so good. I must be salt-deprived.)

Approximately 5 oz. shrimp, 1 lb. radishes.

Approximately 1 cup plain non-fat yogurt

Thursday December 5

Orange

Approximately 5 oz. chicken marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash and soy sauce

Clementine

Approximately 5 oz. turkey

(I think I ate a cup of yogurt before bedtime.)

Friday December 6

5.2 oz. tuna, one tomato, one lb. radishes.

Orange

Approximately 5 oz. shrimp

Approximately 1.5 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt.

Saturday December 7

Orange

Approximately 5 oz. chicken marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash and soy sauce, cabbage with malt vinegar

Apple (Golden delicious)

Another Apple (Red Apple) I picked out some good apples.

Approximately 2 tbsp. plain non-fat yogurt, 4&1/3 oz. sardine in olive oil, celery

Approximately 5 oz. chicken marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash and soy sauce, cabbage with malt vinegar

Orange

The Negative Side Effects Of Weight Loss

This is day 7 of The X Diet. I suspected it was working right away because I started experiencing the sensation of cold. Sensitivity to cold is a negative side effect of weight loss. If you lose fat, you will lose insulation. The faster the weight loss, the more sensitive your body becomes to negative thermal alterations.

In addition to the thermal sensitivity--and I should add that I am someone who is usually resistant to cold temperatures. It does not bother me as much as it does most people--I also experience increased urination and muscle cramps. So I have not slept well for about a week, last night being the exception.

So I was warm last night but I don't seem to have lost any weight. I might have even regained a pound. No pain, no loss.

BTW, the muscle cramps were curtailed with Vitamin C, a multi-vite with potassium and a rededication to sodium intake. Got salt?

This missive should remind us that losing weight is discomforting. Your body wants you to gain weight. It really does. You might feel better after you lose weight, but while you are shedding fat? Probably not.

Progress At Last, Post High Protein

I weigh 238 lb. Down 24 lb. since last January.

Same old story for roughly 15 years, until last week.

I lost seven lb. in the past seven days. That is 7 lb. in 7 days. Numerals work better for blogs.

Let me review. For over 15 years, I have been off and on a high protein diet. I lose weight quickly until I hit 245 lb. Then I creep down to around 240 and yo-yo between 240 and 245 until I try a new diet. The new diet, usually the ad lib diet, makes me gain weight quickly. I tallow up to the 260's and then, out of desperation, restart a high protein diet.

Last January I weighed 262 lb. I started a high protein diet that corresponded with Lent. A little over five weeks and I was down to 245 at Easter. 17 lb. in 36 days (Lent officially concludes on Holy Thursday.)

Impressive but there is another trend. In bygone years, I have lost over 20 lb. in first month of high protein diet, even over 25 lb. in a month. Over the years, even the high protein diet does not work quite as well.

Another trend. When I go OFF the high protein diet, I regain the weight faster than I used to. In just over a month (late March, 2013 to May 1, 2013) I went from 245 to 263. Whoa.

So I restarted the only diet that worked, the high protein diet, in May of this year. Over four months I lost 23 lb. and then, staying on the same diet, I regained 5 lb. and stabilized there.

Then, the day after Thanksgiving I started the X DIET and lost 7 lb. in 7 days.

More details and updates are on the way. Stay tuned.

Almost Two Years Later

I weigh 262 lb.

Same old story. High protein works for me until 240-245. At that point I can stabilize by continuing on high protein but if I try anything else, I put on weight. So once more, I want to shrink back to the lower 240's. Then I hope to take another course.

I weighed 264 on Sunday January 13. I lost four lb. and suddenly gained two back. I have been high protein for 10 days now. I started a food log last Wednesday.

Food Log Wednesday January 16:
Coffee and cream upon awakening. 12:30 PM 2 lb. lamb with small amount of Heinz 57 Sauce. Approximately 3 oz. whole sunflower seeds. Approximately 3 grams DL Phenylalanine Cinnamon and diet cola throughout the day. Approximately 24 grams proprietary Arginine mix at 10:30 PM 1 AM 1 lb. lamb Thursday

 January 17: (Happy Birthday Ben Franklin) Coffee and cream upon awakening. Approximately 1.35 lb ground beef with cheese Approximately 3 oz. whole sunflower seeds. Approximately 3 grams DL Phenylalanine Cinnamon and diet cola throughout the day. Approximately 24 grams proprietary Arginine mix at 10:30 PM 3 pork chops marinated in soy sauce and five spices at about 2:30 AM

Friday January 18: Coffee and cream upon awakening. Approximately 1.2 lb. ground beef with cheese, small serving of green beans, mushrooms, pecans in mid afternoon. Approximately 3 grams DL Phenylalanine. Approximately 16 oz. tuna salad, (tuna, mayo, egg and spring mix) around 11 PM Approximately 24 oz. proprietary arginine mix. Forget what time I ingested it. Whole ginger as antacid.

Saturday January 19: Coffee and Cream upon awakening. 8 egg cheese omelet and approximately 4.2 oz. of link sausage. Approximately 3 grams DL Phenylalanine. Approximately 24 oz. proprietary arginine mix. Forget what time I ingested it. Approximately 12 oz. . tuna salad, (tuna, mayo, egg and spring mix) around 11 PM

Sunday January 20: Coffee and Cream upon awakening. Two chicken thighs with small amount of green beans, pecans, pistachios and mushrooms. Approximately 24 oz. proprietary arginine mix consumed late in the evening. Approximately 2.8 oz. link sausage, approximately 8 oz. tuna salad (tuna, mayo, egg and spring mix) at 3:30 AM.

 Monday January 21: Coffee and Cream upon awakening. Approximately 1.3 lb ground beef with cheese, mayo and mustard. Approximately 3 oz. whole sunflower seeds. Approximately 3 grams DL Phenylalanine. Pork chop, approximately .25 lb ground beef, small serving of green bean, pecan, pistachio nuts and mushrooms at 1 AM.

Tuesday January 22: 2 Lb shrimp with a stick of melted butter, coffee and cream at 1 PM. Approximately 3 oz. whole sunflower seeds. Approximately 3 grams DL Phenylalanine.
Chicken salad (approximately 5 oz. plus lettuce, shredded cheese, ranch dressing) at 6:15 PM. Big coffee and cream @ 4-7 PM.

Weighs 242 Pounds.

Since last fall when I hit my plateau I have been betwwen 240 and 248.

242 pounds

Yes, I once more hit that dreaded plateau. I have fluctuated between 238 and 242 for about six weeks. I have taken a couple of mini-vacations and have eaten high-calorie diets on those excursions.

Not much of a weight loss guru am I.

On August 3 I added two nutrients to my regime. Yes, one should only add one nutrient at a time and I violated my own policy but here goes.

1. I added CoEnzyme Q-10 b.i.d, morning and night. Because I purchased the powder that comes with a scoop, the amounts are not real precise. On the side of the bottle it says that the enclosed scoop provides 100-300 mg of active ingredient. Beyond A Century is usually a little more accurate about this stuff. One has to be careful not to consume too much Q-10. No side effects noted.

2. I added 500 mg. L-Carnosine, b.i.d. No observable effects.

To summarize, my weight has stabilized around 240. I perceive zero results from Q-10 and carnosine.

239 lb. and the Miracle of Cinnamon

I fell under 240! Yea! For only the fourth or fifth time since the early 90's I have fallen below 240 lb. The lowest was 228 in late 2003, early 2004.

To review: On June 23 of this year I weighed 252 lb. Shortly thereafter, I restarted the Atkins diet. Of course I am usually sloppy in its implementation which is why I am reluctant to call it Atkins. I call it a high protein diet.

Usually I eat a tomato/day. I eat a few salads and a few store-bought crispy stringbeans and a few ounces of unshelled sunflower seeds.

One reason for my success (roughly 2 lb. per week) is that I have attended fewer weddings, cook-outs, social events this summer. Not through a policy of social isolation but probably coincidence and/or the dismal economy. At any rate, social isolation has certainly improved my dietary success.

Reason number two: Cinnamon.

Just a teaspoon of cinnamon makes the tonnage go down
The tonnage go down
The tonnage go down
In the most delightful way

Through the use of cinnamon and arginine supplements I have cut down to two meals/day. Of course, I have been taking arginine for over 20 years. So the improved results have to be credited to cinnamon.

I work M-F 3-11PM. I usually eat a large protein meal at 1PM. I nibble unshelled sunflower seeds (I swallow the shells. Fiber nonpareil) on my grueling hour or so commute. From 3 to 11 has been problematic before. For better or worse, I have access to free food. And it's gooood! Pharmacy reps shower my bosses with manna from heaven. Upscale manna. Gourmet manna. Manna divine.

And if the pillboys did not provide enough temptation, my kindly co-workers are forever offering to share their lunches, their dinners, their snacks. They even cook for me and offer to buy me sandwiches and pizza and Chinese food. Gluttony is always but a syllable away.

In the past, I would get so hungry that I would yield to temptation. But now I am able to curb my appetite with a teaspoon of McCormick cinnamon every three or so hours. I also take arginine 1x per shift. Both arginine and cinamon elevate blood sugar. There are redundant hunger signals but the ones associated with low blood sugar are probably the worst--fatigue, irritability, loss of mental focus, headache to name but a few. I cannot perform my work duties when I am extremely hungry and the cinnamon and arginine help me to do so.

Once or twice/week the supplements will underperform and I will be HUNGRY! I carry packaged salami with me. 4-8 oz. of processed meat and it's back to work I go. Yes, I would rather taste the piece of heaven that only a pharmacy rep can provide (referring to their food, not their product) but I also want to lose weight. I want to have one wardrobe, not three. I want to give some baggy clothes away.

I sometimes eat a small amount of salami before commuting home. Around 12:30 AM I eat my second and final meal of the day. If I cheat on carbs, this is when I do so. I love killer carbs as much as anyone. :(

The 240 lb. mark is big. I am back in the game.