MS8: Week 5 Check-In

Mostly a week of really good results. The high protein diet, while very boring, is super filling. So filling that I never got to the total recommended protein grams because I was just too full to eat more -- but was still very low on the calorie count. On each of the 5 high protein days, I lost weight (some days significant). Yesterday, Tuesday, was the first of the high carb days and I gained .6 of a pound. =( I'm not sure if that is supposed to happen or if my estimates of fat, sodium, and calories for lunch at DaVanici's was way off. Probably the latter rather than the former. It's totally possible since I don't know what they put in their spicy red sauce or exactly how much of it I ate. I tried to control the portion size by only eating around 1/3 of the serving, or maybe a little more. Definitely noticeably less than 1/2 of the serving. I brought home a full box of left overs - which I gave to someone at work. Didn't need or want the temptation at home. Today is day two of two high carb days then I'm back to high protein for 5 days in a row.

The high protein thing is very effective but ugh, a person can only eat so much meat, fish, eggs, and cheese. Not something I'd want to do long term, but definitely something I would do to get myself out of a rut (plateau). After today, I have 1-2 weeks of this 5 protein/2 carb thing left. I say 1-2 weeks because I'm not sure. Renee said I needed to do it for three weeks while I was doing the alternate lifting routine. But, technically I started 1 week late because she forgot the sheet with the nutrition information on it for the first week. So, I'm not sure if I'm ending after next week when my 3 sets 50 rep lifting routine is done or if it should go on for three full weeks. I'll ask her tonight. I'm not sure if this nutrition is specifically to go with that lifting routine or if it's just a 3 week alternative to shake things up.

Anyway, I exercised 6 of 7 days this week; three lifting days (3 sets of 40 reps) and did three cardio days at 45 minutes each. I've also been taking the stairs as much as possible at work -- regardless of up or down and the number of flights I need to go. It's 4 flights from the parking ramp to the skyway. I find it to be a pretty tough hike while hauling my purse, lunch, laptop and a cup of decaf coffee. It definitely gets my heart rate going!

I'm down 4.8 pounds this week *wahoo!*; which puts me at -6.4 for this milestone and 62.4 total. Officially in the 60 pounds lost range! About 10 more pounds and I'll be at the lowest weight that I can remember being at. In college and high school, I didn't really weigh myself so I can only go on the pant size I was wearing at the time. I think about 10 more pounds will get me into that size. Thinking high school size, that's 19 years ago!!! A huge milestone. I should be able to, strike that, I WILL be able to get there by the end of Milestone 9 (the next milestone). Ideally, I'd love to be there by the first week of June when I head to Birmingham for work (about a month away). I'll give it my best.

Until later. . .

Think Smart. Eat Well. Move More.