10 pound Check-in

I decided I wasn't going to do another check-in until I had lost 10 pounds.  I was beginning to wonder if I ever would.  Thank goodness, I finally hit it this morning.

 

I must admit that I am finding it harder to stay focused this time around. For one thing, the ap that I have been using for years has changed and not for the good as far as I am concerned.  But the good news is that it has forced me to look for a new one and I found a Keto ap!  I think I am going to love it, once I get everything figured out.

 

Of course, none of our recipes are in it yet, so I am having to plug them in as we make them.  I do not always have the time to do that, so I'm not tracking everything like I should.   But eventually I will get everything plugged in and it will get easier again.

 

I won't bore you with a complete list of the meals we have eaten since I last checked in.  We tend to eat a lot of the same things, anyway.  But, for the most part, I have been keeping it Keto.  There was one day that we went out for dinner - an OMAD day and I cheated.  I didn't think it would matter since I was only eating the one meal anyway.  Well, the scales were up the next day.  Not just mine, Ed's weight was also up.  We both had the same thing, so I am willing to bet the meal was super high in salt and it was a water gain.  Especially since it fell right back off once I got back on track the next day.

 

I try to do OMAD on my days off work.  I get up and have my coffee and just push off eating as late as I can.   But on workdays, I usually eat 3 meals a day.  For breakfast, I have an egg, sometimes with bacon or sausage.  Sometimes just the egg.  And occasionally we will throw some strawberries in just to get some fruit into my diet.  Lunch is often soup. and our evening meal is usually a meat & a vegetable.  We have just been keeping it simple.

 

I have also been taking Keto Cheese-it's to work for an afternoon snack.  I know I have shared that recipe before, but basically you just cut cheese into squares and bake them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  They are crispy just like a cracker.  I even made a dill pickle dip to eat with them last week.

 

I am still drinking my coffee black.  Still trying to not drink my diet Mt. Dew.  Although I must admit, I am not 100% there, yet.  I had a couple of nights where I just did not sleep well, and I decided I needed the caffeine so I did drink dew instead of water those days.  Baby steps.  

 

I took my under-the-desk bike to work and am trying to ride it during my breaks.  That really is quite a challenge because my chair is on wheels - so it's like a double workout.  My legs get a workout pushing the pedals and my arms get a workout hanging onto the desk to try to keep my chair from moving.  Next week I think I am going to try to use the stand-up desk more, too.  I believe I will be able to get more steps in if I can get myself to do that.

We took advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday and got outside for another hike with some friends.  We walked a little over 3 1/2 miles.  Hilly miles, I might add.  I'm looking forward to our next chance to get out and hike.  I am off work every other weekend, so hopefully in 2 weeks we have another warm spell and will get to do it again.

 

I am also still riding my indoor bike.  I ride it of an evening while watching TV with Ed.  We have not gotten any outdoor rides in yet.  Come on spring!  I am so ready. 

Anyway,  I guess that's all for now.  I will check in again after I have lost another 5 pounds.  Hopefully I see you soon!

Checking in

Okay, so I have been back on Keto for about a week now and I keep asking myself why I didn’t just do this sooner.  I feel better even though I don't look any different, yet.

I am really having trouble getting my macros where they need to be.   I need to remember to plug my food in before I eat it and then stick to it.  

In addition to eating Keto, here are some things I am doing: 

1.   I am pushing at least 50 oz of water each day.  
      I drink more if I can but make myself drink at least 50.  

2.   I am drinking my coffee black again.

3.   I am trying to omit the diet soda. 

4.   I have been pushing the exercise.   
      I cannot wait until warmer weather, as it is much more fun to exercise outside!

Before I give my totals for the week, I want to mention that yes, I do realize that it’s mostly just water weight.   I know I was retaining a lot of water.  However, now that I have eliminated that excess water and have gotten back into Ketosis, it’s time to start burning this fat.  

So, what did we eat this week?  Well, we did not end up just repeating the food we ate that week in 2019, like I had planned.  We did eat a lot of the same things we did that week, but it did get switched up quite a bit.  Plus, we went out for Mexican one day and I couldn't stay out of the chips and salsa.  (I basically ate OMAD that day though, to try and make up for it)   I also did not log any adult beverages but I did limit them.  

 

Here are my total exercise miles:

We actually got in three hikes.  Granted, they were just three miles each, but hopefully we increase that with time.  The speed should also improve with time.  

The biggest chunk of my miles came from the stationary bike.  I have been riding it almost every day.  I have been trying to ride at least 10 miles on work days and pushing for 30 (or more) on my days off work.   My new Mini Exercise Bike (under the desk pedals) came in on Monday, but we have not gotten it assembled, yet.   I look forward to seeing just how many miles I will be able to push during my work day once I get it over there.  If nothing else, I will try to use it during my breaks.   

And now for the weight loss totals:

I have to say, I do love that Kale Soup, but I have to wonder if it may be what caused me to stall on the weekend.  Of course, it could also be because I worked the weekend and wasn't getting as much exercise. 

Anyway, so I am down 7 pounds.   I was hoping for more, but I'll take it.

Now my goal for next week is to keep my carbs closer to target.  

Keto works! "Cheat-o" does not.

Hey friends!  

Today I am here to say that Yes, Keto works!  But you have got to be committed. 

You cannot eat Keto 90% of the time and cheat the other 10%.  

I am living proof of that.

Yes, I did change jobs.  

I went from a very physically demanding job (30,000 plus steps a day) to a desk job where I SIT for 90% of my 12-hour shift (and get maybe 5000 steps a day).   

But I also went from eating Keto to eating Keto "most of the time” but cheating almost daily.  

Yes.  Those pounds have crept back on.

What have I learned?

You cannot eat Keto (high fat) all day and then cheat in the evening.  

If you eat High Fat all day and then over consume on the carbs in the evening you are going to gain weight - and then some!

So here we are, starting 2023 and I am starting my Keto Journey all over again.  

I have managed to gain my weight back, gradually.  The weight gain started with the pandemic, and it has been a gradual increase since then.

Today when I stepped on the scales, I weighed exactly what I weighed in 2019 when I started Keto.  My goal for 2023 is to get back down to 118 by July, like I did in 2019.

So, join me, if you will, and together we can get our weight back in control.

I sat down and came up with a food plan for the next week.  I went back into MyFitnessPal (Where I logged my daily food intake) and found a week where I lost 8 pounds, and we are just repeating the food we ate that week.

So, tune in next week to see if it worked again! 

I will report my weekly weight loss (or weight gain) and then I will also share with you my food diary for each day of  the week last week.

For me, it is not just what I eat though.  Since I now have a sedentary job, I have also made it a goal to increase my exercise.  I hope to get at least 10 miles on the bike on my workdays, and 30 miles a day on my days off work. (Inside or outside) I must admit, I look more forward to those outside miles.  

Ed and I have also agreed to try to do some walking/hiking - when the weather permits on my days off work.  Let's face it - when there is no overtime, I am only working 3 days one week and 4 days the next (or in other words, I am OFF work 4 days one week and 3 days the next) So we do, potentially, have the days off work to increase our steps to make up for the lack of steps on my workdays. 

I also asked for permission to bring in an under-the-desk pedal exerciser, so I can try to get some exercise as time allows while I am in the office.  I do not expect to sit there and pedal straight through my entire 12-hour shift.  In fact, I really do not know how often I will get the opportunity to push those pedals.  But I figure ANY amount I get is better than the amount I will be getting if I don’t have them there. And who knows?  Maybe someone else will also benefit by using them during the hours I am not at work.

Anyway, Cheers to 2023!  

Check back next week and let's see how this new journey is going.