Yeah, I know...it's probably water weight. I'll take it! I am now down to my previous high weight (after having my second DS in 2003)...so I'm right back to basically early pregnancy weight with my third DS. FOR ME, THIS IS HUGE. I am very excited.

The loss has got to slow down at some point, but it is good to feel like I'm getting smaller...whether water volume or fat volume...it's still volume and I feel it. I mean if I was holding on to five pounds of water before, that couldn't have been good.

I feel very healthy. I do get very hungry (I'm breastfeeding). I often sneak in a third snack at night. Last night it was a big salad.

Dilemma: I know part of this is water, but part also is that I am almost certainly eating far fewer calories now. It's almost impossible not to, considering the amount of veggies and the limited portions of fattening stuff. Calories just naturally go down. But...today I'm out of chicken and fish. I only have dark meat chicken in my freezer. So tonight I'm going to have cubed lean steak stir-fried with veggies. This will bring my calories up...I know it. I mean compare a cup of beef to a cup of Red Snapper...you know? So now I'm terrified I won't see a loss tomorrow...or perhaps will even see a gain. I'm scared to eat this meat. But I can't just eat eggs all day long. I'm already including eggs for breakfast and for lunch (again, b/c we're out of chick/fish and I'm not shopping until tomorrow).

I know it's unrealistic to expect continued loss...and especially Phase 1 loss. Yet...I'm scared. I'm just scared.

It's been such a long time since I've been anywhere near a reasonable weight and I am so scared to see it slip away.

Glendora, you are doing a terrific job. Just keep at it and follow the diet and you will continue to lose. The big weekly losses will slow down, but that will be the indicator that you are losing body fat. That is the goal, to lose the fat, exercise and continue to follow the healthy diet.

I was scared also. Especially when I went from phase 1 to phase 2. I was so scared to add in new foods because I knew I was doing so well with this WOE. Add them in gradually. Follow the rules and keep good journals of the new foods introduced into your diet. This way, if you see a small gain then you will be able to look back over your daily menus to see which food could be at fault.

If you have been following the threads then you know that I have been in a stall forever!! Charran has been also. It gets depressing but the support from this site is so encouraging. That keeps me going.

Also, REMEMBER THIS.... weighing yourself daily is not an indicator of your actual weight loss. There are several factors to consider; ie: salt intake, waste, TOM, etc. Our weight changes daily even hourly!! So do not let this affect you. I know it is hard not to step on the scales daily, sometimes several times a day, but do not let the scales rule your life.

Good luck!!!! I know you can do this.

Cindi

Yeah, I have to second what Cindi said. I find that weighing myself daily only feeds my little food neuroses. Weighing weekly is a much better indicator of the downward trend your weight is taking, and you avoid the irritating little emotional reactions as your weight (very naturally) fluctuates from day to day.

Cube steak and veggies is a great South Beach dinner. Enjoy it! Part of making this a way of life that you can follow not just to lose weight but to maintain that loss is letting go of counting calories and eating for the health and satisfaction of your body.

Congrats on the great Phase One results!

Thanks for being the voices of reason, girls. It helps tremendously.

Cindi, I will hold your words in mind when I reach my own plateau. It's pretty much inevitable...usually happens at some point no matter what eating plan I'm on.

But I like this one because it feels so HEALTHY...I mean really really healthy...and it feels like such a "normal" way to eat.

Thanks again. I'm gonna enjoy my steak and veggies.

It's because it absolutely IS healthy and normal

Well done on the weight loss so far - keep up the great work

PS, just read a very little bit of your blog....it's now half 12 (midnight) my time, and I've just been doing my accounting for the last 4 hours or somesuch crud like that, I am soooooo tired, but I will go back and continue reading, you write with such a passion, very funny indeed, and sad and exciting, and everything, all at the same time. I like people who know how to write in an off the cuff way, it's really very interesting to read.

And did you notice, not once did I finish that sentance, but I'm so tired that I can't be bothered with full stops!

Anyway, I'll stop rambing in your 'boast post' now.....(and you should be boasting because you're brilliant BTW!)
TTFN

Oh, ((foxgluvs))...thank you! Woo hoo!

I gave your worry a bit of thought over night. You know you sad you were worried about eating red meat? Well, I have come to the conclusion, that in order to lose weight I have to eat proportionately more white meat and fish than red meat. However, that doesn't mean I never eat it. I do eat red meat at least once per week.
You need 'some' red meat in your diet, in my opinion.

Sooooooo, my conclusion is, if (like now) you have to eat it, don't get hung up on it - as long as it's lean and you have cut all fat off then you will be fine. It would only be an issue if you ate, lets say brisket beef and had it too often.

Thanks...that sounds sensible. "Moderation" is something I think I need to incorporate a little here. I've never been all that good at it. I'm black or white; all or nothing. Skinny or fat! Well, mostly fat. Kidding...kidding...

Congratulations Glendora. Keep up the good work. I am on the 7th day on phase 1. I can already see the difference. My clothes fit me better now