Primal Journal - Siobhan page 130

[DCarr10760]

I'm feeling not so good too. Not bloated but lacking energy. I'm also back up in weight? My total loss for the three days is half a pound.

I'm also cold, unusual for me. Of course it is cold this AM, but I feel cold inside, not just on the surface. I never feel like this.

I was reading in the tater thread about taking temperatures to determine if down regulation of metabolism has occurred in response to caloric restriction. I think this might be happening to me. I started the tater test right after a fast cycle so calories have certainly been restricted.

I took my rising temp and it was 97*F (rising temp is lowest, I've heard, so I'll take it later to see). I don't really have a basis for comparison, but I might as well start one now.

I planned to end the tater trial today anyway, so had two eggs and Applegate franks and some coffee and am beginning to thaw.

I hope your experience is better!

[Siobhan]

Last night I had decided to end my tater experiment, but this morning I have the will to continue. After one day, the scale is the same. I should have taken my temp this morning, I was thinking about it, but didn't dig out the thermometer last night. And I have enough potatoes for two days, so I might as well consume them, as I certainly won't after I end this MOAR TATER thing.

This has been very valuable for me though, in terms of getting me to think about what I have been eating, face the fact that I have let carbs creep up and that is what has stalled my weight loss. Also I maybe-not-so-subconsciously sabotaged myself for a somewhat silly reason - I won't have any clothes that fit if I lose more weight. I need to get rid of a lot of stuff - I have a huge pile of scrubs that are way too baggy to wear, no matter how much I pull that drawstring. Even the tops are way, way too big. Anyway, I'm at a weird place with clothes and I don't want to buy new ones right now. Okay, this sounds bizarre even to me.

I need to return to meat, eggs, and green veg. Pull way back on the fruit, chocolate, and wine. Also need to plan my meals better. I have really gotten away from that, and have been doing much more grazing in the refrigerator, throwing stuff together. That will be okay for maintenance, but not for losing the last ten pounds. Looking back at my food journal, I see I was having a protein smoothie virtually every day during the bulk of my weight loss, but I haven't been having them lately. Hmmmm. There is a lesson there.

Well, I have a batch of taters boiling away, they must be done by now.

[Sabine]

Siobhan, do you sew at all? If the scrubs are that big, perhaps you can cut whole new pattern pieces from them (not just taking them in). And they are pretty simple sewing.

[Pedidoc]

What do you put in your smoothie? I'm committing to the 21 day challenge starting tomorrow (I'm home 21 days exactly until my next trip - so seemed like a sign).

[Siobhan]

I don't sew, don't have a machine. Can't imagine doing that by hand. I looked into having them altered, but it is more than purchasing new ones! There is definitely enough material to cut new ones from, they are huge. I'm going to try to give them away at work.

I always have trouble making a smoothie the same way twice, but the general ingredients: Some type of dairy - milk, yogurt OR coconut milk OR almond milk. Anywhere from 1/2 to 1 cup. One teaspoon of coconut oil. Warning - this will become solid, so you will have little bits of coconut oil in your smoothie. I like this, but you might not. Berries, blueberries and strawberries are the most common for me. Good if they are frozen. Also a frozen banana, either 1/2 or a whole one. (Lotsa carbs) If the banana isn't frozen, you will get a nice drink but not a smoothie. I used to put stevia in it, but I got so it was too sweet. And my protein powder is called Designer Whey. I spent a lot of time reading labels, and it seems the best choice among the ones available locally. (Rite-Aid) I have vanilla and chocolate. It has 100 calories per scoop, 18g protein. I wish I could get Mark's, but it is too expensive for me. One nice thing about Mark's is that it contains fat, so you don't have to add any. Egg yolks would be good, but I never tried that. Also I have heard that avocados are a great addition, very smooth. Also almond butter adds a really nice taste.

So:

Frozen banana
Berries, preferably also frozen
Protein powder
Milk OR coconut milk OR almond milk
Almond butter
Coconut oil or other fat
Stevia if you like

Just whirl it all up.

You can also put in nuts or coconut bits - if you like having something chewy in the smoothie. That can be a nice change sometimes. Like a blizzard at Dairy Queen. (Do they still have those?)

Well, I feel pretty good. Had some taters boiled and mashed with chicken broth. Tasted pretty good this morning. All is well otherwise - digestion, etc.

[Pedidoc]

Thanks, Siobhan. Sounds yummy - will let you know how it turns out.

[Siobhan]

Okay, this is going to be one of those weird introspective posts, so don't read it if you aren't interested in that sort of thing.

Went to the thrift shop to see if I could get anything good. I live in an isolated rural area, just a small village. We have One Clothing Store, quite expensive, mainly for the wealthy seasonal people. I went there once and just about fainted from sticker shock. The good thing is that these wealthy seasonal people often leave their clothing behind at the thrift shop.

Lots of great stuff, nothing in my size. Lots and lots of brand new Talbots jeans in all sorts of colors, but in size 10. Too big. Talbots is a brand that seems to fit me well and appears at the thrift shop a lot. Then I stumbled upon a really nice plaid pencil skirt - one of those things that screams 'quality.' I looked at the label - it is from a custom shop in Edinburgh, Scotland. I happen to know of it because a British friend buys clothes there. This is not a cheap garment. Would you believe it fit me perfectly? Perfect length too. It is a very tasteful green and brown tartan. No idea which one. It cost $4. I came home and dug through my sweaters, came up with a chocolate brown cardigan, very simple, a cream-colored plain blouse, brown tights. Dug through some other stuff and found a pair of Bruno Magli shoes - brown loafers with crocodile insets and a brass buckle - from another lifetime when I was married to an investment banker. Can't believe they still fit. Or that I can even wear them. My feet are really, really better now.

Okay, so slim tartan skirt, cream blouse, brown sweater, tights, classy flats. I put my hair in a chignon. Who is that in the mirror? Should I wear this to my friend's gallery opening this afternoon? Will anyone recognize me? Or do I just look so different to myself? Many questions!

On an entirely different note, I got a bathmat that looks like a yellow flower. And I have another pile of potatoes boiling away. I think I like them best boiled. Feel fine, hungry but slightly nauseous.

[Siobhan]

The potatoes got boiled and I mashed them with chicken broth and sriracha. Guess they were good because I downed the entire large bowl. Not really full, just that weird bloated feeling I remember from my SAD days. And I just realized that I have eaten all of the potatoes. I've already eaten the whole amount I had for today. Hmmmmmm. So I can fast until tomorrow morning, or go get some more potatoes, or eat the sweet potato I have sitting on the counter. Or just eat a normal meal tonight. I think I will just have to wait and see. Long morning in church tomorrow - I am going to try to get there early for adult ed, then choir practice, then service. Almost three hours with almost no break. Will just play it by ear.

[Siobhan]

Wrestled mightily with the storm windows for the French doors. I didn't know it would be so difficult or I wouldn't have attempted it alone. I got them in, but they just don't fit at the top corner. I tapped them very gently at the edge to try to make them fit, but of course I don't want to break them. What a disaster that would be! I managed to secure them, and hope that maybe they will settle in over the next few days. I think the doors may have slightly warped. Still, they are better than the screens at keeping out the elements. Now that the screens are gone, I see that all the glass needs a good cleaning. Sigh.

Drank a bottle of kombucha. Hope this didn't ruin my potato feast/fast. I wish I had the will to continue because I feel I am on the verge of something in terms of weight loss, but not quite there. Just don't think I can do it.

[Judg]

Yes, do it! Wear the new clothes! What a find. Personally I think being required to buy new clothes is one of the great things about losing weight. The necessity of it counteracts my congenital cheapness (although I still look for killer deals) and having a wardrobe that is all pretty much current is a rather novel and pleasant experience. But it certainly is weird to look in the mirror and wonder who that person is. A nice weird. After decades of being obese, I intend to fully enjoy this.

I haven't had smoothies in a while either, or very few. I live on them in the summer, but my enthusiasm for cold meals is dropping with the temperature. I throw a whole egg or two into my breakfast smoothies when I do them. I like adding walnuts in with a banana smoothie. I rather like the little chunks of nuts.