Exercise

The following was posted by Brooke Castillo today. It speaks truths to me about my relationship with exercise.

How are you treating your exercise?

For some reason, I don't like to talk about exercise to my clients or in seminars. Maybe it is the revulsion in their faces, maybe it is the eye rolls, or maybe it is because I know they don't want to do it and I have my sales job cut out for me. Bottom line is that exercise is required and exercise is distasteful to many many people.

I think maybe the reason is that we mis-use exercise. Some of us use exercise the way others use people. We use it to get what we want. We use it to lose weight fast. We use it to punish ourselves. We use as proof that we are incapable of losing weight. If exercise were a friend of ours, or a person we knew, we could describe the way we treat it as downright rude.

We rarely ever spend time with it and when we do we complain the whole time. We get angry at it for not giving us what we want-namely pounds lost the minute we are finished. We say we are going to show up to see it and we don't. We make excuses as to why we can't spend time with it. We tell it that it is important and valuable and that we are committed and then we let it down time after time.

Think of exercise as the person in your life that is only there to help you. Exercise wants to give you health and vigor. Exercise is the person that wants to tell you the truth about where you are physically. Exercise is honorable, consistent, and true. Exercise is the loyal friend who is worth your time. It may not be exciting each time you spend time with it, but each time you do-you feel yourself getting stronger and stronger.

Sometimes I consider keeping people in my life by who I am when I am with them. If exercise were a person that I hung out with, I would know this is a person I want to keep in my life. Whenever I spend time with it I feel proud, capable, strong, and committed. I give myself the gift of exercise-not because of what I can take from it-but because I am a better person with it in my life. Weight loss or not.

Give yourself the gift of exercise. It is a relationship worth nurturing.

For more great motivational posts - see Why Can't I Lose Weight?

Kimkins Inspiration

I found the following post on a blog somewhere out there in low carb land and I'd saved it. It was inspiring, and since I came across it today again and was further inspired I thought I'd share it - and inspire all of us!

After my last entry, I took a hard look at myself, my diet, and my goals to see if I could find the secret of why I was sabotaging myself. While I could not find just one reason to report here, apparently my soul searching paid off. I have now been almost 20 days without cheating on my Kimkins eating plan!

And it's working! I've lost almost 30 pounds!

Of course I knew that it would work, for it was not Kim or her plan that fell short.

On her site, Kimmer says that the diet is simple and easy. She's right -- the diet is very simple, and it is easy as far as buying, cooking, and following the plan are concerned. But it's not "easy" -- at least not for people like me. We have not only the weight to lose, but also our fears, our excuses, our preconceptions, and our need for instant gratification.

Let me be brutally honest: Kimkins is one of the strictest diets that I have tried. There is no cheating on this diet! The minute I cheat the weight loss comes to halt, the cravings return. But the good news is that the Kimkins approach is amazingly successful when one abstains from cheating. And I believe that Kimkins provides the best environment for making a journey toward total commitment to getting a handle of your weight, by providing support for your physical, spiritual and psychological journey. I believe that anyone who honestly takes that journey will eventually find themselves happily eating to the Kimkins plan and losing weight.

For people like me, carbs are an addictive substance, and a mind-altering one. Carbs rob me of my self-discipline and self-respect and keep me self-medicating with food. In this I liken myself to an alcoholic or drug addict. Kimkins has provided a safe place for me to clear my body of mind-fogging carbs so that I CAN look at the psychological, physical, and spiritual reasons for overeating/staying fat. There is no venting you can do on Kimkins that others have not felt or heard about before. The other members graciously share their wisdom, empathy, and encouragement. Kim herself is ever-present. There is no shame in falling short or falling down; you're simply encouraged to get back to your feet and get back on the path.

I stumbled and fell off the diet and scrapped my way back to being what I call "Kimkins Clean" a number of times since October. Each time, I learned something about myself, my body, or my addiction to carbs. Now, when I fall, I'm back on the path in a day instead of wallowing in carbs for three weeks. For the first time, I look ahead and have the courage to make the following commitment: "When 2007 ends, I'm going to be 120 pounds lighter!" For the first time, I really feel that I have a chance of attaining that goal.

30+ Pounds lost in less than Two Months

Yesterday my gf who sees me every week pointed out that I looked like I was losing weight. (!!!!!!!!) I am having a hard time talking to her about it because she is desperate to lose weight herself, but has kidney stones and so cannot low carb. I wish I knew an alternative for her. Then today at the nail salon, another gf who hasn't seen me for a month, pointed out that I'd lost weight too. She loved the idea of Kimkins since she is already eating fairly low carb as she is gluten intolerant. We laughed together over my DH not noticing yet. But she did point out that wearing baggy clothes (as I guess we are all apt to do as we lose) means that it is harder to see our loss. I did get a gasp though because she said - "how much have you lost?" and I said "just over 30 lbs...." and she was like, "in one month???" I said "no, in two months". She was amazed!

Another 1 pound gone!

It feels so amazing to lose weight so fast. I have to admit though that I have this little fear that one day I'll step onto the scale and blink and all the weight will be back. But every time I weigh and the number gets smaller it reinforces the reality of it all. SIMPLY AMAZING!

Another 2 lbs !!

I started Kimkins 37 days ago, and I've been amazed at my lack of hunger, my energy levels and most importantly, my weightloss! I am only 5'1" tall, so carrying 100+ pounds extra on my frame looked more like way more weight than that. In just 37 days I've lost 28 pounds.

DH still hasn't said anything about my weight loss (if he's noticed). Neither has a close girlfriend who sees me 3 or 4 times each week. I know that it must be at least a little noticeable now, with almost 30 lbs gone. I am wearing a L (12/14) instead of the XL (16/18) I was wearing 37 days ago. I am also wearing a much smaller bra (38D instead of 42D) and I know that I need to treat myself to a proper bra fitting to see where I really am size-wise.

I think the biggest difference is within myself. I feel so much more in control. Not a slave to night time nibbling. Although I have to admit that last night I was getting stuck into diet dr. pepper floats made with a little bit of protein powder mixed with the soda. It was a very nice Saturday night treat - and I'm not beating myself up about it. It was legal & on plan!

At the end of the day, Kimkins is working. Seriously working. And I'm not going to let anyone plant any seeds of doubt in my head. I am proud of the weight I've lost so far. I am excited that I am not feeling controlled by my constant carb cravings. I think that I might be a person who really needs to limit carbs for the rest of her life. And I am going to have to accept that now. Because I am going to like being goal, but the reality is, in order to stay at goal, I suspect that I am going to have to really start seeing Kimkins (or at least a modified Kimkins diet) as a permanent eating plan.

Fears & Doubts

Yesterday Jimmy Moore (from "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb") posted on his Kimkins journal thread about the flak he is getting from people about his involvement with Kimmer & Kimkins:

It seems my enthusiastic support for Kimkins has enraged some people I consider friends to the point that they are cutting off ties to me and my blog.

Their "concerns" over Kimmer and Kimkins have caused them to think I've "sold out" (what the heck does that mean anyway...what have I "sold"?) and lost my mind for supporting Kimkins. They think I should distance myself from Kimkins because it is based on a "fraud" (describing Kimmer) and an "unhealthy diet" (always calling Kimkins an ultra-low-carb, ultra-low-fat, ultra-low-calorie diet).

My response to these charges are that the plan I am following on Kimkins is K/E which is NOT calorie-restricted in any way. If it was, I wouldn't be doing it. But it ain't! Furthermore, while I am eating less fat now than I did on Atkins, it's only for the purpose of controlling calories. I eat a little more fat than Kimmer calls for, but not much.

Furthermore, I've been eating yogurt, sweet pickles, seeds, a little mayo for my salmon, a protein bar or shake here and there, an occasional low-carb wrap or bread, and coconut oil. Since I've been low-carbing a while, I KNOW what I can eat and still lose weight and have made appropriate modifications for ME.

The critics claim what I am doing is not Kimkins, but I disagree. The basics of my diet are indeed K/E and is the foundation of my diet. Even the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins wanted people to customize his diet to their own needs by finding the appropriate carbohydrate balance to manage your weight. Anyone who says there is one way to lose weight is LYING to you! Do what's right for you and remain undetermined in your resolve.

That's where I am at the moment. Kimkins is working very well for me and I'm reaching my goal. But I'm being abandoned by some people I love and respect merely because I would dare say ANYTHING positive about Kimkins. It makes no sense to me and I'm just flabbergasted by how petty this issue has become. What is happening to the low-carb community?!

Okay, I'm done dumping today. I've got my interview with Kimmer coming up at my podcast show soon and I'll be recording that very soon. People want me to "get" Kimmer, but what's there to get? She's a remarkable woman who lost a bunch of weight and now is helping others do the same. What's so evil and vile about doing that? Still scratching my head on that one!

THANK YOU to all of you for supporting me in my Kimkins weight loss. You are a fabulous representation of what's GOOD about this diet and I won't have anyone ever tell me otherwise. If somebody doesn't like Kimkins, then they shouldn't do it. But I for one am glad it is an option for people who were "stuck" like me.

This post and the subsequent responses he got from people that write on his Kimkins journal thread really got me thinking. I am going to be getting together next week with a couple of parapros that worked in my sons class at school last year. They may or may not notice my weightloss. If they do, am I going to be able to tell them about Kimkins. See I'm not ashamed about this diet. I am excited and loving the losses! They are tremendous. But what I am concerned about is someone getting in my head right now and trying to talk me out of doing this program, with all the negative things they can say. Do you know what I mean?

Anyway I got to wonder, if this feeling, this fear that friends and familiy could possibly talk me out of this, or at least make me feel badly about Kimkins, IS THIS WHY I AM NOT TELLING ANYONE WHAT I AM DOING?

Friday the 13th

OK DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

Tink is now 179 lbs!!!!! Doing such a happy dance this morning. That's down another 1.5 lbs! 26 lbs total. Not only did I make mini goal of 25, but I over achieved by a pound! The bathroom scale is definitely being nice to me this week! This definitely deserves a reward. Also my PJs are starting to be loose. DH yet to say anything. But that's ok. I am in the 70s at last!!!! Today is day 35 since I started Kimkins. I have never had such fast weightloss before! 26 lbs gone. I am now wearing size L (12/14) instead of XL (16/18) and this morning I tried on an old bra (38D) and it fits!!! So I've lost two bra sizes in 35 days also!!!

Tink is really shrinking!

The Best Birthday Present Ever!

Yesterday I was walking past a store window and I caught my reflection. Yes, I'm getting slightly smaller (and I wish it was more visible), but that wasn't what really caught my eye. It was my pants. They were looking loose and stretched out. And hardly flattering. Today I went to WalMart to get some interim pants to replace my saggy baggy size XL (16/18) ones. I knew the next size down was L (12/14). Since it's been years since I've worn a size 12 anything there was a part of me that thought I was crazy even looking for a smaller size yet. After a bit of a search I was delighted to find 3 pairs of Athletic Works Black Capri pants with two white stripes down each side in Size L. I didn't try them on in the store. I decided to be confident and bring them home anyway. Because even if I couldn't get into them today, I knew that it wouldn't be long before I would be proudly wearing them.

Well I am delighted to say that I am sitting here wearing a pair of size L Athletic Works Black Capri pants with two white stripes down each side!!! And also I'm wearing a size L (12/14) TShirt!

So even though the bathroom scale is being a little stubborn and I'm still in the 180's, I am obviously losing inches. Talk about the best birthday present ever!

2 Pounds More Gone Forever!

OK drum roll please! I am proud to announce that as of this morning - I too have lost not 1, but another 2 pounds! The scale now very proudly says 182!!!!! I cannot wait for it to get me into the 170s and below, but for today I am doing my little happy dance.

Ok everyone - Stand up!

Arms up and out, half bent, hands just above head level, facing your peeps waving in a circular fashion. Subtly sway to the left, then to the right. Keep with it, back and forth. Don't stop waving. Now mix in a gentle bob, up and down... That's right, good...

Now add a little, "Whoo-hooooo, Whoo-hoooo....." as you sway.

Perfect.

Just 5 seconds of this happy dance, just 5 seconds, even when feeling blue, will always make you smile. Your smile will lift your spirits. Your spirits will summon ancient friends. And your friends will raise you higher into the light.

Works every time.

This has been a public service announcement brought to you by.... The Universe

That makes my total 23 lbs lost so far. Today I guess is day 29, because I started Kimkins on June 9th.



If you are reading this blog and you've not checked out Kimmers website - you really ought to. www.kimkins.com

The Bathroom Scale

When you "cheat" while you are following a low carb plan, there is often considerable rebound weight gain. The gain is obviously "water" and unfortunately we get too hung up on the figure on the scale. Any excuse to beat ourselves up!

When you believe a piece of metal (a scale) has the power to make you feel happy or sad, you are confused.
It is your story about what that number means causing the emotion.

~ from "If I Am So Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight" (Brooke Castillo)

My bathroom scale is a personal reference point. It does not dictate how I feel today. I started at XXX lbs and my goal is x lbs. Whether I lose this weight faster than or slower than anyone else doing Kimkins is irrelevant. I need to stop comparing myself to others. I need to remember that on any other "diet" I'd be lucky to lose 20 lbs in 6 months. This is super fast weight loss. I've lost 20+ lbs in less that 1 month.

Looking through threads on the Kimkins forum I am constantly reading "I've cheated", "I've been bad" or "I ate off plan" and then all the self loathing and personal butt-kicking follows in the post.

Aren't we forgetting that we are human? Aren't we forgetting that (for most of us on this thread) we are within the 6 weeks that it's said takes to create a new habit? Aren't we forgetting that sometimes Sh!t happens, and we do the best we can?

I think we need to take a step back and give ourselves a hug. If you ate something that perhaps in hindsight wasn't 'on plan' why not be kinder to yourself. Why purposefully get onto the scale just to punish yourself further??? I'm not talking about total denial, but ease off on yourself for a day or two. Figure out why it happened. If it was under your control, figure out how to not let it happen again. If it was not under your control, take a deep breath and move forwards. Don't weigh yourself for a day or two. Get your focus back onto eating high protein, low carb.

Every journal I've read on Kimkins shows decreases on the scale but there are often increases along the way. The successful ones (meaning those who have met goal) have found a way to handle these setbacks gracefully, without letting themselves quit. Each one has stepped back, regrouped and rebooted!

20 Pounds Gone!

I was very excited to get on the scale today - day 25 - and see 185 lbs. This means I've lost 20 lbs since I started Kimkins!

Starting Afresh

Melodie, an amazing lady on one forum I'm active on, had an interesting post this morning which got me thinking. Like me, she is heading into her 4th week on Kimkins and she is "dreading the week that will inevitably appear with no progress." She has challenged us all to start afresh with Kimkins, pretend that we are newbies again all full of excitement and sticking tightly to the rules.

She wrote, "On Monday (best day of the week to start new things) I'm going to pretend that I've just heard of Kimkins. I'm going to reread some of the success stories as if I've just read them for the first time. I'm going to go to the grocery store as if I'm preparing for this new diet. I'm going to forget that I've lost nearly 10 lbs. and think about my new weight as if it is my starting weight. I'm going to follow the rules in the same way I did the first week, and I'm going to try to forget the little things I've done off program that so far I've been able to get away with. I'm going to repeat the exact behavior that got me my first 5 lbs, and I'm going to fill myself up with hope once again. So Short Girls if you're stuggling, and even if you're not, make this Monday a whole new beginning with a renewed mindset about what you can do."

What a wonderful idea! I agree with the feelings of slacking that have started to set in especially this past week. I did a quick refresher with the Kimkins Diet Food List.

My thoughts:

Keep It Lean & Mean on Plan (KLMOP)
Eggs - limit yolks
Chicken & Turkey - white meat only, eat this more often
Fish - eat this more often
Beef, Lamb, Pork - special occasions only
Ham, Canadian Bacon, Bacon, Sausages etc - special occasions only 'cos these all contain beef & pork

Vegetables
I'm not a vegetable eater, but if I do eat some I think I'm more likely to eat broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, pepper & tomato rather than the rabbit food list (1) so I will have these sparingly, like every second day or as garnishes.

Extras
Low carb protein shakes - I will limit to one per day
Part skim string cheese (limit 1 per day) - I do not like string cheese. I will add Light Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese Bites (1 serving = 5 pieces 35 calories, 2g fat, 1g carb, 3g protein) or use a little grated parmesan cheese (1T has 21 calories, 1g fat, 0g carb, 2g protein) if needed to perk up eggs
Dannon Carb & Sugar Control yogurt (3 carb brand, limit 1 per day) & Sugar free gelatin (limit 4 oz per day, no whipped topping) & Homemade or purchased sugar free popsicle - since I really could care less about these things (right now) I will save these for extra special occasions.


Also - here's a thought on the Daily weighing issue. Firstly I think we are all agreed that food needs to be weighed. According to a Duke University pro quoted in WW magazine 7/10/2007 issue - "We've found that when you stop weighing yourself, it's an early indicator that you're starting to slip." So maybe daily or regular weighing oneself is good - if it keeps us on track! As long as we accept that our weight might fluctuate by a few pounds every so often. If all of a sudden the scales just up more than 3 lbs - then that should set off the alarm bells. I'm still against weighing more than once each day. But if you really have to do it more often, don't beat yourself up over the fluctuations. I'm sure the scale finds it all very amusing, and probably jumps up a pound or two just to see your reaction!

Exercise - I am thinking that I need to do something NOW so that I can start firming up the lose skin. I think I've read somewhere that every cell in my body replaces itself in three months. That means skin cells too. So in my opinion, I should not get stretched loose skin if I firm up my muscles while I am losing fat.


Focus + Planning = Control --> SUCCESS
Weight control is not about willpower.
It is the decision and commitment to manage calories and carbohydrates.
It can be as simple as mind over matter.
Just do it, for life, and enjoy health, happiness and THIN!

19.5 lbs gone in 22 days!

Today is the beginning of a new month. I had to sneak into the bathroom and weigh myself, despite DH being home. I was so happy that I did because the scale proudly read 185.5 lbs! I am 1/2 a pound away from losing my first 20 lbs!

Things to Watch in Week 3

I found a post today on the forum by curlygirl Amy that really came at the right time. I know that I've been guilty of relaxing a little too much, and not measuring accurately. I also eat red meat and have been drinking far too many shakes of late. But by far the worst thing, I think for me at least, has been the artificial sugars in such things as Da Vinci SF syrup. I really think they are keeping me out of ketosis, and increasing my hunger even if just a little.

1. Keep a food journal e.g fitday and make it public!
2. Are you adding extras like low carb tortillas, calorie countdown milk, etc. that are not on the list! KISS
3. Eating too much cheese? (for best loss - skip the cheese!)
4. Have you eaten beef recently? (it tends to hang around in your gut longer) Stick with fish & chicken.
5. Have you eaten ham recently? (can be salty - may cause water retention)
6. Are you using shakes as snacks instead of as meal replacements?
7. Do you have carb creep? (people tend to be stricter in the beginning and then get more lax so tighten up your menu)
8. Are you eating lots of processed foods? (they are saltier than food you make yourself - keep it real!)
9. Are you eating too many little extras (SF Jellos, yogurts, etc.)? They are on the list but if you eat ALL of them every day, your weight loss probably will slow down!
10. How are your portion sizes? Are you eating big portions because you truly are that hungry or just because that's what you are used to eating? Start weighing your food.
    
    You've made it this far so the plan is probably working well for you. Now is the time to be tightening up your menu and cutting out all the little extras.
    
    

Another pound gone!!!

Just a quick post to say I stepped on the scale this morning and was delighted to see 186.5 lbs! That's another pound gone. I was a little hesitant to weigh myself because I knew I was still bloated from TOM. But whoo hooo!!!

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

For all of us who might not drink the amount of water/liquid that our bodies need - here's something to think about:

Another Reason for a Stall is Not Drinking Enough Water. Adipose tissue, ie. fat, is mobilized through a process called hydrolysis. As the word suggests, hydrolysis requires plenty of water. Insufficient amounts of water in your body will hinder effective breakdown of fat. If you're exercising, or if your environment is warm and/or dry, you need to drink more water. If you are in active ketosis, you need to drink more water to flush the ketones out of your system. How much is enough? A bare minimum recommendation is 64 fluid oz (that's 8 - 8 oz glasses) of water a day. Some experts suggest you should divide your current weight in pounds by 2; this number is how many ounces you should drink each day, but no less than 64 oz.

There is no disagreement on the need to drink sufficient amounts of fluids every day, but there are some arguments that it's not necessary to drink only plain water. If you choose to not drink large volumes of water, you should ensure that you are consuming adequate fluid in the form of calorie and carb-free liquids. Note that coffee is neither calorie nor carb free. Three small 6 oz cups of coffee yield 12 calories and 2.4 carb grams. Add in the cream and packets of sweetener .........hmmm. Teas and herbal teas are generally close to zero carb, as well as diet sodas and mineral waters. Be careful that some diet sodas contain citric acid as a flavouring, as this has been known to stall some folks. It's best to strive to drink as much plain water as possible; at least half of your day's intake, more if possible.

~from http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips008.html

Don't eat if you aren't hungry

Kimmer's most basic advice is very simple: Don't eat if you aren't hungry. She says that the “3 meals a day” that we think is “the normal way to eat” was originally designed for convenience for our hard working ancestors who labored in fields to grow and harvest food. Few of us are toiling in the fields any longer - hence our ever expanding girth. If you're not hungry for breakfast, don't eat it. You don't have to eat 3 meals per day.

But if I don’t eat every 3-4 hours, won’t my body think I am starving it, and go into Starvation Mode? I've heard that if we do not eat enough, our metabolism slows down and we won't lose weight. Will this damage my metabolism?

(The following is taken from a great answer to the above question posted on the Kimkins forum by littlebit)

We hear a lot about 'starvation mode', but it turns out to be more myth than fact. It is one of those things that 'everybody knows' that just isn’t necessarily so! (After all, if the standard weight loss 'wisdom' is so true, why are 2/3's of Americans who believe it overweight, with 1/3 clinically obese? With the risk of debilitating disease and early death from obesity so great, what is so BAD about cutting calories for a while to regain our lives, looks, and good health?)

Anyway, YES, on a standard low-calorie diet, when we cut calories, the body eventually compensates by 'dialing down' the metabolism to use fewer calories. This is because the body greatly prefers to keep things the same, to maintain stasis, to take the easiest possible path. Yet, people do still lose weight on standard low-calorie diets --- just more slowly, and with more effort. However the 'dialing down' of the metabolism is not permanent, because the metabolism is a dynamic thing. It adjusts to circumstances. If it can adjust down, it can adjust back UP, too. In fact, it adjusts down a little every night when we sleep, and adjust back up in the morning again, once we get up and get going with our day. It doesn't 'break' --- it just resets.

Now comes the good part: With Kimkins we do not experience that same 'dialing down' of the metabolism! Why not? It is because we do not really operate on the same type of calorie deficit! Once we enter into deep ketosis, our bodies tap into a huge reservoir of available fuel - our stored body fat! At that point, the easiest thing for our bodies to do to maintain stasis is just to flip the switch from carb fuel to body-fat fuel, and to keep right on humming along at peak efficiency! We aren't EATING all the calories we 'need', but our body has all it wants, continually! It is NOT starving --- it is feasting!!

Think of a typical low-calorie diet as going out and gathering sticks to heat your house. Tiring, slow, and not too hot! Think of a typical low-carb diet as shoveling coal into your furnace. Easier, faster, and more efficient! NOW, think of Kimkins as having an oil well in your own backyard, pumping fuel into your furnace continually. Strong, sure, and steady, as long as you keep that well pumping!

I love it!

It’s just not fair!

Today is my second day where the number on my bathroom scales has remained the same. There’s a part of me very pleased that it has not increased but I am also very disappointed to not see a loss. OK I’ll be honest: I am more than just very disappointed, I am frantic. I am still keeping my carbs low despite noticing that I am hungrier than I was this time last week.

Women around the world understand exactly what I am dealing with, because each of us suffers from annoying “bloating” on a monthly basis. I remember reading about the underlying hormonal reasoning for this water weight gain somewhere, that the drop in progesterone that naturally occurs the week before menstruation can make your body retain water. It’s just not fair!

British physician Katharina Dalton, who has researched PMS for 45 years, has suggested that the problem is related to the fact that when women have PMS, their blood sugar levels may fluctuate abnormally--which indirectly leads to bloating. (This makes sense to me because even on Kimkins I’ve noticed my appetite has returned and I am hungrier this week!) In her book, Once a Month, Dr. Dalton says that when a person doesn't eat for many hours, blood sugar gets very low. This causes the body to release adrenaline, which signals the body to let go of some of its stored sugar from cells in order to balance out the blood sugar. When sugar is taken from the cells, they fill up with water, and this is what causes the bloating, weight gain and water retention symptoms in those with PMS. In women with PMS, the body reaches the point when it will release adrenaline a lot sooner than it does in other women, Dr. Dalton notes. (So does that mean I should see a “Whoosh” as soon as my period is done?? Now that would make all of this worth it.)

Other experts see a sodium link. When your blood breaks down progesterone--as it does a week before your period--your kidneys are prompted to retain both water and sodium. At the same time, a powerful water-retaining substance called anti-diuretic hormone may also be released, further influencing your body to hold onto fluids. (So basically just before my period starts the delicate balance of sodium & potassium and of course water gets messed up, so my body wants to hold onto as much water as it can, or so it seems! Again, that's just fine and dandy - as long as the minute my period starts I better lose all that excess water, or else!)

Maybe I need to consider using a diuretic to rid myself of this extra water weight? Reading about over-the-counter diuretics I've discovered that while they seem that they might temporarily alleviate the bloat, they could in turn cause more water retention because they may also drain potassium from your system and cause some side effects like weakness, confusion, heart palpitations and increased blood sugar levels. A more natural diuretic is adding a little lemon juice to a glass of water. No side effects from that. Just a few carbs so I think I’ll stick with the lemon juice.

Speaking of weight fluctuations – a topic so widely discussed on our Kimkins forum and many other weightloss forums in general, not just low-carb. Maybe having a daily weigh-in is not always a good idea. Your weight can fluctuate by a few pounds from one day to the next. The adult body is about 60% water, so small changes in water balance can easily alter body weight. What you eat can also influence how much water your body keeps. If you eat a very salty meal, your body will retain extra water for 1 or 2 days to keep your body fluids from being too salty. Afterwards, your body will get rid of both the extra salt and water through your urine. Instead of weighing, you can rely on how you feel and how your clothes fit.

But to be honest we are all going to keep weighing ourselves daily, aren’t we? I know I probably will. I just need to step back and appreciate the intricate processes going on within my body, and allow my body to catch up with my weightloss so far.

Why does being overweight make us wait?

Something that I've been meaning to do for years, but used my weight as an excuse not to do anything at all, is to get certified as a personal trainer. OK yes I'm sure you see my reasoning why. I mean who'd go to a personal trainer who was 100 lbs overwight. Indeed! But I have the books and everything. I am just sitting here making excuses. It's not that I'm not interested. I'm capable of studying. I can find the time if I really try, and I know I'll benefit from what I learn myself ... but ...

Ultimately my dream is to specialize in exercise for special needs teenagers/children because there is nothing for these children to do when they reach this age. They are taught to eat convience foods rather than how to prepare a nutritious meal. And there is little emphasis on getting exercise. I have really been thinking about this more and more this past week. I need to get motivated. And stop making excuses.

Are we all the same, putting off things "until the weight drops off" or "until I look better in a bikini"??? - what are we putting off, and why? I know this post is sounding very Carrie Bradshaw, but "Why does being overweight make us wait?"

My Virtual Model

I was playing around in PaintShop today, and I came up with this great visual from my virtual model. It is really exciting to be able to see the differences between where I was, and where I am now. And of course, better still, where I am going!