Results of the One Week Challenge

Weigh in: 200.8lb; total pounds lost this week: 3.0
Waist measurement, the Jorge Cruise way: 41 inches, so minus one inch.

I did not quite get under 200 lb, but that will be soon.  At one point this week I was at 200.4lb, and was hoping....:-)  Alas, that is the pitfall of weighing more often than once each week, is seeing the natural weight fluctuations.


Despite the weight loss and inch lost, I cannot see the extreme of this diet being practical for brain usage and overall energy.  Not once this past week did I feel a huge energy burst, or a day where my muscles didn't feel fatigued.  Some days were better than others, but no day was super-charged.  Plus we were sleeping 9-10 hours each night.  Richard is ecstatic to be able to have carbs and "free" vegetables and Zevias.  In fact he just strutted in, with a big grin on his face, holding a Zevia, and announced, "Look what's FREE!"  Now he's sucking it down.  Happy boy!


We are planning to keep our sugar grams under 20, which will naturally reduce carbs for me, and our fat grams under 60 for me, and 85 for him.  We are also tracking our protein to make sure we get enough.  I have to keep it simple, as my time is going to be very limited for focus on this as classes begin this week.  We also decided, and I'm not sure if I mentioned this yesterday, that we are planning to have one meal each week where we don't have to track anything.  We are going to continue the "Cruise Moves" (the 8 minute workout each morning that is for toning and strength training), and continue our walking and my elliptical-ling. 


I fully expect to be under 200 pounds next Monday morning.  It's time, and on this plan, I'm sure it is more than possible. 

So, now,

1-29-2011 Still in the Right Direction, Possibly Allergies?

Stats for the week and month:

Weight: 206.6 lb

Weight Lost This Week: 0.8 lb

Weight Lost Since 1/1/11: 4.6 lb

% Fat: 45.5% (total loss since 1/1/11 =1%)

Hips: 45 in. (loss of 1 in.)

Waist: 42.5 in. (loss of 1.5 in.)

Chest: 44.8 in. (loss of 2.2 in.)

Thigh:  24.5 (no change)

Calf: 16 in (loss of 0.5in.)

Upper Arm: 12.5 in. (no change)

Current BMI: 32.5  (still in the early obese level.  At 190 lb, I merely become "overweight" (BMI of 29), a nice stepping stone goal - only 16.6 lb).

Total Measured (on one side) Inches Lost since 1/1/11: 5.3 inches

This week was great in terms of getting lots of exercise, drinking more water, keeping up with the Five Tibetans, meditation, and alternate nostril breathing.  I also was more diligent in planning and recording everything I ate and staying within the guidelines set out by My Food Diary.  This week was easier in this regard than last with, except for the news of another family member suddenly passing on to the greater dimensions.  While I send great love and healing to my uncle Gary and his son, Matt, I seemed to need to process it in my own way.  One of my elliptical workouts was very emotional for me, with tears, and grief escaping, not only for this family member, but also for my cousin, Jenni, my grandfather (who died in 2006), my Uncle Sam, my friend, Theresa, and whoever else popped into my head during the workout.  I also had the distinct feeling that what seems to be a lot of loss of life, lately, may just be the start, so this added the element of worry to my mind, but also the understanding that amazing energetic things are happening on the planet and through the people who inhabit the planet.  So, to balance what could be despair, I felt an odd sense of hope.  I let it all happen, and felt clear afterward.  I don't know how many of us really take the time to allow the expression of the grief, I know that my tendency is to try to sail above it, rather than dive into it.  Sailing above it does not process it out of the body.  It feels as though it was a big clearing for me, as for the rest of the day my heart felt lighter than it has in a long time (and I thought that I HAD already been feeling light.)  It was a good reminder to continue to be emotionally aware, and clear what needs to and can be cleared, to move forward in a heart-centered, emotionally clear, way. 

There are so many techniques for emotional healing, EFT is just one tool.  Acupuncture is another, Colorpuncture is another.  I have techniques that I've used successfully personally and recommend to my acupuncture patients as needed.  They are very powerful.  Some of my favorites have to do with Inner Child work.  Exercising, too, is very useful.  They are all topics and techniques fully worthy of exploration and training. 

On to results for the week and four weeks since I've been working on this plan.  4.6 lb in a month does not seem like a lot to me, for the apparent work I've been putting into it.  Granted, it IS in the right direction, albeit seemingly slow.  Alas, 4.6 lb average per month, lost consistently would mean 55.2 lb lost in a year, which would be wonderful, and seems healthy.  According to My Food Diary, a loss of 1.7 lb per week is the maximum that they consider to be healthy, so I'm within their range of healthy weight loss.   Also, I've lost inches and a fat percentage, all in the right direction.  

It does make me pause, though, and contemplate my diet.  I am still puffy and swollen, and I do not know if that is due to too much salt, or if I am having a sensitivity reaction to food items I've kept in my diet, possibly gluten.   Food allergies can be a contributor for many health issues I've had in my life, including the severe arthritis and chronic heel pain.  

Several years back I read and followed the False Fat Diet by Elson Haas.  I felt great!  Less stiff, less puffy, less everything.  The basic premise was that the foods that we are sensitive to are causing water retention and a "false fat" look.  Essentially the diet is an elimination diet, eliminating the highly suspicious culprit foods from your diet, and then after a period adding them back in one at a time and noting your body's reactions to the foods.   Dr. Haas recommends doing this elimination diet in phases.  I am tempted to go for it, and see if allergies might be contributing to my ongoing issues.  So far I've been pretty good at greatly reducing my dairy, saturated fat, and sugar intake, but perhaps there is more contributing.  I will contemplate it more, as I have time (I have a major exam for which to study this weekend), but may just jump right in.  I imagine by jumping into a more restricted eating plan, especially one that eliminates my reactive foods, and sticking to the increased exercise, I will likely see more dramatic results.

That, or I may switch to a gluten-free diet and see if that helps with the puffiness and achiness, without the extremes of the Elimination Diet.  For now, I must study.

Again, thanks for following and for your support and interest and Great Blessings to You All!

I will keep you posted on what I decide to do in terms of shifting my diet.

An EFT Exercise: Some "Before" Pictures 1-3-11

Christmas 2010, getting ready for Jambalaya Christmas dinner

These first two picture were taken on Christmas Day, 2010, by my son, Alan, with his new camera.  I really like these pictures, as they show how happy I feel, even if I don't like my picture being taken.  They don't show the full body "me", which is okay, because there is enough fodder for EFT coming right up with pictures from last summer's grand events when I seemed to be in the camera spotlight.

Christmas 2010

June 24, 2010, Our Esoteric wedding in Montana

July 2, 2010 Our Friends and Family Wedding

July 2010, Olympic Peninsula

Even though this is the fattest I've ever been...I deeply and completely love and accept myself

Even though it's hard to get around....I deeply and completely love and accept myself

Even though people see me this way...I deeply and completely love and accept myself

Even though I regret being so heavy for our wedding...I deeply and completely love and accept myself

Even though I lost no weight before our wedding....I deeply and completely love and accept myself

Even though Richard loves me anyway...I deeply and completely love and accept myself

This last statement actually got a huge emotional response, obviously triggering my lack of feeling I deserve to be loved by someone so wonderful (or maybe by anyone) because of my appearance.  Thankfully I "tapped" it out, and now am feeling very appreciative of myself for allowing such a wonderful person into my life to love me and for me to love.  I will see if any further "unlovable" thoughts/beliefs reveal themselves.

July 2010: Small Lake on the far side of Red Fish Lake, ID:  Honeymoon

Even though I haven't seen a slim waistline in years...I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

Even though I experience severe pain at times due to my weight...I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

Even though my tummy bulges out over my pants...I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

Even though I outweigh my sweet slim new hubby by many pounds....I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

(For the complete EFT process check out the EFT manual:  Click here for a link to the EFT Manual.)

It may appear that I am beating myself up, but I'm not, quite the contrary.  If these are the thoughts that are abundant in my psyche and aren't freed, then they will always hold me in the belief pattern and will continually subconsciously "beat me up".  By honestly bringing to the surface and acknowledging these thoughts and beliefs, and then using EFT to tap them out of my meridian and energetic system, I am clearing the way for new and improved body image thoughts to take their place.  This will better help serve my purpose of living with healthier habits.  The Universe never likes a void.  Once the non-serving thoughts are cleared it's important to replace them with loving thoughts, and the new way of seeing myself.

So, as I am tapping (after each clearing), I do a round of:

"I am beautiful"

"I am energized"

"I am very healthy"

"I love to move my body"

"I radiantly glow with love for my life"

"I love taking great care of myself."

"I am lovable no matter what"

Click here for a link to the EFT Manual.

More soon! I am off to the grocery store for another adventure.