Oh yeah, I've heard those are potassium-related, because your body is somehow using up its stores as part of the energy exertion... calcium leg cramps are always the kind you get in the middle of the night, from what I understand. The OB said the problem often starts during your first pregnancy, but then never seems to go away because it can take years to build back up enough of a store after the baby went and sapped the life out of you.

Haha... yep... I never had a cavity in my life till I got pregnant.

Ohhh... wanted to let you guys know that I went through my closet again yesterday and pulled out a box and a bag worth of clothing that is too big!! The size 14s are now too big... well except for a few pairs of pants... my ass, hips and thighs are big what can I say.

win

Oh and I am officially 30 lbs lighter!

Ducks... make sure she prints out a copy of Pounds and inches and really studies it... if she sticks to the protocol and follows it to a tee... she will do great. There are sites out there that say you can eat other things and use regular skin products, but you will not see the results that you will get if you stick to Dr. Simeons plan. It is simple if you do that. There isn't a huge variety of food to chose from... if it is on the list you can eat it. If it isn't don't. She will aslo need a digital bathroom scale as well as a kitchen scale. If she is preparing food for you that involves oil in any form... she needs gloves. Pay careful attention to spice lables... no sugars in any form or oil... etc.

Good luck to her!!

I should point out that the end result is not to walk out of it and begin eating normal, but rather have learned to enjoy better choice, smaller portions and that I don't have to deny myself... but I don't have to eat the entire cheesecake... a few bites are probably sufficient. I want to come out of this ok with that... satisfied with just a little taste and not wanting 12 more... etc.

The point is, you can't cheat (at ALL) and get results like Pooka is getting. This is serious, very specific, business.

I'm finding that when I'm empty, and I eat, I can feel the effect the food has on me. If I eat bread, I get sleepy... if I eat a bunch of salad, I feel much cleaner and alert. Also, tasty food is less tasty after about 5 bites.... and it fades from there.

I'm hoping to be able to eat that conscientiously when I'm done. Historically, when I ate something tasty I just gorged myself on it... I felt out of control... even sushi ... I'd leave the table feeling ill and needing a nap... its terrible. I just downloaded a free app for my blackberry called calorie counter... I realize I'm probably going to have to count calories for the rest of my life.

myfitnesspal.com

coming soon to blackberry, and very easy to use.

you can create and save meals or search the huge database for what and how much you ate. plus you can log exercise, set goals, link to facebook,... all that shit.

ohhh excellent! I will be on the lookout for that one!

I also have to say... I've smoked my last cigrette... blech... a party this weekend has made them pretty much intollerable... I'm sure Flint will be thrilled... it was my last vice... done...

The Big Mac effect. I've been saying this about McDonalds burgers for years. Especially the Big Mac. The first bite is really delicious. The second bite is good. The third bite is OK. The fourth bite really isn't that good, but you keep eating it because of momentum. Then you finish the thing because you paid for it and feel like you should finish what you started. I've learned to just stay away.

Yeah... I'm not much of a MCDonalds eater, but I get your point. I generally would clean the kids plates after eating my own oversized helping of whatever because I didn't want to throw their food away... I hate waste... and I was brought up to eat what ws on your plate... I actually was forced to sit at the table for 8 hrs once because I wouldn't finish eating my food... so learning to be satisfied with some and not all is a big hurdle for me... There are days that I purposely do not eat everything I am alloted on this diet for just that very reason. It is counter intuitive for me to not eat everything. I try to leave at least one thing out a day and at least a bite on my plate at each meal.

Strange new development... I've always liked my food salty... but I'm liking salt less and less...

Today was the first time I went out to eat and actually ate anything since I started this diet. I ordered a grilled chicken salad with pico de gallo instead of dressing... since I didn't prepare the chicken I am certian it had more fat than I should have... I could actually taste it... where as before the diet I had only noticed such when dealing with something fried.

I've also realized that I haven't been counting the calories as I should be... kinda irritating because I could proabably be further down on the scale than I am if I had been counting correctly from the begining... I'm using an app on my phone now.

hmmm. I'm getting into more and more salty food -I used to hate salty

Do you take potassium? I'm kinda wondering if there is a relation between me beginning to take potassium and my loss of interest in salt.... just a thought.

Nope. Although i ate a banana every day this week which i don't normally.

You're still smokin' all kinds of cigarettes! lol

Is it correct that this diet needs to be supervised by a doctor?

All diets say you should be supervised by a doctor... I am not... nor is anyone I know who is doing it. If you have health issues... its a good idea regardless of what diet route you take... but otherwise I tend to avoid doctors unless I truely cannot manage it myself.

Only because Lori brought them... I was done until then... and I'm not planning on buying more... they aren't disgusting me any more, but I don't need to spend the money on them.

Ahhh...okay. I'll read the link you gave more thoroughly then. Will be back with more questions. :D

Hey Pooka, my gf is saying she's finding herself hungry...did you find that?

... in the begining... the first week... a little, but it wasn't intollerable. I understand hunger happens if you don't "load" enough high quality fatty foods prior to starting. You gorge as much as possible to "prime the pump" if you will for a minimum of 2 days... some people do it for as long as a week. I probably should have gone longer than 2 days.

She might try breaking up the meals. For example: have the bread stick and fruit in the morning, the protien and veggie for lunch, same for dinner and her second bread stick and fruit before bed. That seemed to help. And make sure she is drinking enough water.

The first week is the hardest. Its much easier after that.

Ohhh, when we were doing the reading, I thought you could only do it for 2 days.....duh.

Shes down 3.5lbs and hasnt had a chance to do any exercise....she blames her working hours of "dark to dark"...which is her main issue with food too...easier to grab chinese or maccas on the way home...she lives by herself.

Youre awesome, Pooka. Thanks for your input.

Thats awesome! She is off to a good start. She will get through the hungry period.

The nices thing about this is you don't have to work out... its better to, but this is still effective if you don't...

Is she reading Pounds and Inches?

Yeah she has been, Pooka.

She kinda fell of the wagon a bit (ok, we went out on the piss and then had dirty kebabs at 5am :)) but she still had a loss...so far so good.

Finally down 35lbs. Another 8lbs and I'll be half way to my goal. It is taking longer now and I'm thinking about doing a flush simultaneously... we'll see how it goes.

yay!

go pooka!

I'm impressed. Dedication, baby, dedication!

Thank you! I should have new pics up real soon showing me after 40lbs lost.

40lb is like 5 babies!

confession: I cheated for the first time last night... we went out with the grandparents and I had a margarita and mexican food... I then proceeded to throw it up... pretty much undigested. I'm sure a result of alcohol slowing down digestion and the decrease in stomach acid resulting from my diet.... my body totally doesn't know what to do with crap any more... I'm only up half a pound... probably because I absorbed so very little. Won't be doing that again...

I am considering going into the maintaince phase for the next 6- 8 weeks and then doing another round simply because my progress has slowed so much lately... I'm thinking it might be a good time to ease back into a regular diet and do the P90X fitness regime. I probably need to work on building some muscle for a bit then go for another round... I'm almost half way to my goal... switching to a workout program that intense is sure to shock my body... then when I go back to the diet I'll be able to combine the two.... that should get me to my goal faster and in better shape...

Thoughts?

Sounds like a good plan to me! :thumb: Exercising is always a good plan. I was thinking of going on this diet but my lazy self has not read enough to know what the plan is to even start with. :blush: But recently, I ate some bad fruit and had a bout of vomiting and stomach pain that it scares to go on such a strict regimen. My best bet right now is exercising alot. Am thinking of doing P90X too. :D What I really need now, other than good self-discipline, is a good wake-up call person in the morning to help haul my lazy behind out of bed. :p:

Keep up the good job, Pooka! You've done wonderfully so far....40lbs...wow!

Down 40lbs

kick ass!

You look fantastic, Pooka!!! You should be sooooo proud of yourself

Outstanding! Congrats.

Thank You!! I am very proud! I'll keep you updated on the progress as I'll be starting P90X next week and should see some changes with that as well!

Congrats! You look great, Pooka!

That is really awesome Pooka. 40 pounds is a great big jump.

Pooka, have you started working out with P90X yet? How is it going for you?

Perhaps she's passed out....

POOKA!

Yes, she is doing P90x, and she is enrolled in college (online) this semester, so she probably won't be logging in here much.

Good luck with your classes pooka! I start my classes this term online, as well. This will be my third term. I made honor roll spring term. Hated summer term with a passion.

fuuu I would rather be working.

Hey guys... sorry... I've been in statistics hell... taking the night off... it is the anniversary of our first date so I decide to do it stree free... that means putting the statistic book asside and trying not to think about the ungodly test coming up... at lease for the next 12 hours or so.

Update: I am down 55 lbs! I need to post some updated pictures. I'm down to 141lbs... my wii no longer calls me obese... yay!

I just bought a Vitamix and plan on incorporating more raw/ live foods into my food agenda. My current goal is to make it out of the Holiday season without gaining a pound...

I have been interested in P90x.

I have lost 15 pounds since a recent hospitalization and have not gained it back in 2 months.

That's awesome, pooka, you totally rock. Are you still taking the HCG? When does that stop?

Great exercise running them down and ripping their throats out. :haha:

That there is an investment. But I hear it's worth every penny.

Good luck with the holidays, Pooka!

Mercenary: While losing weight is great, I'm sorry to hear you were sick.