Monday, December 31, 2007

Normal Day 19 -- 142

I ran across another article on Alternate Day Fasting, this one was in the Chicago Tribune.

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors spent hours each day searching for food that was only intermittently available. They'd fast, and then they'd feast. These ancient humans developed a "thrifty" genotype that helped them adapt to these cycles of want and plenty.Today, we carry this same genetic makeup with us, and several animal studies and few small human trials indicate that there may be, for us too, health benefits to alternate-day fasting, a regimen that somewhat mimics the irregular and unpredictable food intake pattern on which our ancestors evolved.
....
From a practical standpoint, it's unclear whether people could stick to an alternate-day fasting regimen for any length of time. Researchers have suggested that the regimen is easier than daily calorie restriction, but is it easy enough? Many subjects in the Pennington study reported feeling hungry and irritable on the days they fasted, and that probably would limit the number of people who could sustain this pattern of eating for very long.



I for one have found this regime much easier than daily calorie restriction. Being short, in my forties and not all that active, my daily calorie requirements to maintain my bodyweight are already quite low. This makes it difficult to cut out enough calories to lose any weight -- indeed I have found it impossible to lose weight that way. I've been able to lose weight via total fasting, but found that difficult to maintain. This "regime" works for me. Again, I just wish that I had found it years ago when my weight first started ballooning out of control.

Worked out on the Nordic Track for 20 minutes while watching TV. My favorite program, The L Word, is coming back this Sunday. Yay! I love that show.

Breakfast: 1 pear
Lunch: slice of spinach, zucchini, tofu lasagna
Dinner: steamed brussels sprouts
Snack: air popped popcorn with nutritional yeast, a tiny bite off one of those white chocolate macadamia nut cookies
Shared a bottle of champagne with my boyfriend for New Years Eve

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Fasting Day 19 -- 144

My boyfriend vomited all last night and all today. Apparently, he has the flu or something. I walked to the market (about 30 minutes away) and got him some airborne and ginger ale. He's just been sleeping all day.

I used ketostix to see when ketone bodies could be detected in my urine. Nothing is detected until about 21 hours into my fast. And that was after brisk walking an hour and half during the day. Maybe, I have a grossly oversimplified idea of how this process works. My thinking is that exercising would burn up the reserve glycogen in the muscles and speed up the time it takes to go into ketosis. Its my understanding that the body burns fat faster during ketosis. I'm probably just a totally ignorant twit -- but if it makes me more confident that I'm losing weight than so be it.

My weight is just hovering around here and it is SO frustrating. How is it possible to not eat 3-4 days a week and hardly lose weight at all? I don't eat outrageously. I exercise. Patience I guess -- the time is going to pass regardless of what I do -- so I might as well keep fasting every other day. At least I'm not getting fatter!

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Normal Day 18 -- 142.2

Our dog has been constantly biting at his paws and scratching himself all over. I read that this can be caused by a nutritional deficiency -- especially in essential fatty acids. We went to Petco and picked up some doggy vitamins for him. So far it hasn't had made any noticeable difference to his scratching, but it has had an amazing effect on his personality. He is ordinarily extremely aggressive and will bite from the slightest provocation. Suddenly he is docile and friendly and oh so calm. It's bizarre. We have a nice, sweet dog now.

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs in a whole wheat tortilla with hot sauce, lettuce, celery, onions, carrots and almonds

Snack: handful of peanuts in shell

Dinner: spinach, zucchini and tofu lasagna

Snack: handful of peanuts in shell

2 Tablespoons Bailey's mixed with 4 oz milk over ice

Friday, December 28, 2007

Fasting Day 18 -- 145

There was an article in the New York Times entitled "The Risks and Rewards of Skipping Meals".

The study was notable because it followed another study earlier this year that found that skipping meals every other day could actually improve a patient’s health. In that study, published in March in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, overweight adults with mild asthma ate normal meals one day. This was followed by a day of severely restricted eating, when they ate less than 20 percent of their normal caloric intake, or about 400 or 500 calories a day — the equivalent of about one meal. Nine out of 10 study participants were able to stick to the eating plan.

After following the alternate-day dieting pattern for two months, the dieters lost an average of 8 percent of their body weight, and their asthma-related symptoms also improved. They had lower cholesterol and triglycerides, “striking” reductions in markers of oxidative stress and increased levels of the antioxidant uric acid. Markers of inflammation were also significantly lower.

The conclusion, say the authors of the more recent meal-skipping study, is that skipping meals as part of a controlled eating plan that results in lower calorie intake can result in better health. However, skipping meals during the day and then overeating at the evening meal results in harmful metabolic changes in the body.


More affirmation that Alternate Day Fasting is not only a good diet plan, but it also appears to be a healthy lifestyle choice.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Normal Day 17 -- 143

According to this study, fasting 36 hours did not induce people to overeat on the subsequent day in order to compensate. Their motivation to eat was higher after fasting but it returned to baseline levels after eating breakfast. That's kind of what I was saying yesterday or trying to say yesterday. When I measure how much I want to eat and the change I feel after finally breaking the fast ... it isn't really that great of a difference. When you look at it that way the compulsion to eat isn't overwhelming while fasting. It's not that unbearable.

Breakfast: lentil minestrone soup -- again

Lunch: whole wheat couscous with dried cherries and sliced almonds, boca sausage

Snack: air popped popcorn with nutritional yeast

Dinner: 1 recipe crumbles taco with cheese, hot sauce, whole wheat tortilla, black olive, lettuce and jalapeno

We went for a short 20 minute walk this evening. It's cold outside again. We got my son the game Rock Band for Christmas. It's a lot of fun. My son played the guitar and I sang like a dying cat. Now if we can just get my boyfriend to play the drums.

Which reminds me, today is the one year anniversary of my darling Smokey's passing from gum cancer. He was 14 years old and the love of my life. I never would have believed that anyone could be so attached to a cat. I still cry -- this morning even -- because I miss him dearly. He followed me everywhere and loved to sit on top of my old monitor. At night he climbed under the covers and slept beside me. He sat on the back of the sofa when we watched the telly. He loved to climb up on my shoulder and dance with me when I listened to music. When he was hungry he would go to the cupboard, open the door and let it bang shut to get my attention. When I was afraid he sensed it and would come running from wherever he was and comfort me. Now that spot next to me is empty, when I cry no one comes running, no gentle purring beside me. I bought a flat panel monitor after he died and put the old monitor away. I had him cremated and keep his ashes beside my bed. But how can I know that they are truly his ashes and not something they scraped out of an ashtray? He lives in my heart and in my dreams. Last night I dreampt he was playing with Precious -- a stray cat that I had when Smokey first came home to live with me. I love you Smokey -- I miss you deeply. I wish we had more time together.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Fasting Day 17 -- 145.2

I get so sick of reading things that say all you have to do is eat healthy and exercise and your body will be perfect, thin and healthy. That's such B.S. It's probably true for some people, the people who would be healthy no matter what, the lucky ones. For many us, especially us shorties with slow metabolisms, eating healthy and exercising isn't enough to stop the bulge. I do eat healthy and I've been through many periods in my life when I was exercising strenuously 3 to 5 hours every day. At best, that has only maintained my weight for awhile. In order to lose weight, I've had to do an extended juice or water fast -- I'm talking 2-3 weeks of straight fasting to lose 10-15 pounds. It makes me want to smack them in their self-righteous mouths when people say, "Just cut out the junk and eat healthy." Excuse me?! I haven't been to a fast food restaurant (i.e. McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, etc. ) in over 10 years! I'm mostly a vegetarian and I eat very healthy foods -- still fat though.

I guess that's why I'm so thrilled to have finally found a method that works. Yes, it's hard to go without food every other day. But when I get hungry I realize that I can make it through this and I'm not starving. If I internally measure my hunger, it really isn't that big of a difference from the way I feel after eating. It's not that big of a difference at all. If I ever was about to faint from hunger, then I would probably do a day of intermittent fasting or I would just plain eat that day. So far, it hasn't been a problem and I haven't been too tempted at all. If this is what I need to do to lose weight -- then so be it. I only wish that I would have found out this form of dieting before my weight escalated so out of control. It would have been much easier to only need to lose 10-20 pounds. Oh well, what's done is done and I'll do what I can do. The weight will eventually come back off.

Patience. Patience. Patience.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Normal Day 16 -- 142.8

Merry Christmas

Ah, Christmas that glorious time of year that blows our diets, wallets and credit cards.

Breakfast: bowl of lentil minestrone ( I made enough the other day to feed a dozen people.)

Snack: popcorn

Christmas Feast:
3 oz baked chilean sea bass
3 crab legs (yes! with melted butter)
organic baby greens with carrots, celery, green onions
1/2 tablespoon of ranch dressing
1 bread stick
1/2 cup whole wheat fettuccine with alfredo sauce
piece of milk chocolate
slice of chocolate/vanilla mousse pie
1/2 bottle of champagne

Snack: cheese & crackers

Phew! Thank goodness it only comes once a year!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Fasting Day 16 -- 144.2, 31.5" Waist

I began this fast on the 24th of November, this means I've officially completed one calendar month. I've lost over 10 pounds and 2 1/2 inches off my waistline. Finally got the nerve to take measurements on other areas of my body -- which I won't be sharing with anyone. (Yikes!) However, I will share how many inches I lose.

We let my son open one of his Christmas presents this evening -- a telescope. He'll have to wait until the morning to open the rest. We have a delicious feast lined up for tomorrow -- a very untraditional Christmas dinner -- crab, fettuccine alfredo, breadsticks, salad and champagne.

The Doctor Who Christmas special airs tomorrow night. Who knows when they will get around to airing it here in America. When it does, I'll certainly be watching and recording it. In the meantime, I'll be downloading it -- thank heavens for bit torrent! David Tennant is certainly one of the sexiest actors I've ever seen!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Normal Day 15 - 143 (Day 30)

Breakfast: bowl of organic lentil minestrone and a lowfat cornbread muffin

Lunch: another bowl of organic lentil minestrone and a lowfat cornbread muffin

Dinner: macaroni & cheese

Even though I'm at least 10 pounds heavier than I was 6 months ago I feel really good. For the first time in years, I'm beginning to feel beautiful again. I feel beautiful on the inside, like its only a matter of time before it shines on the outside too. I feel like I'm finally in control of my weight instead of it being in control of me.

We went for a walk today and it was glorious and sunny and warm outside. I'm sure it is miserable back in Oregon right now, I'm so glad to be in S. California. I love the blue sky.

** finished eating by 6pm

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Fasting Day 15 -- 144.2

I've been on this alternate day diet for 4 weeks now and it will be one calendar month on the 24th. I've lost a little over 10 pounds. This is the perfect diet for us short people. Its very difficult for a short person to cut out enough calories to lose any weight. Really, the only way I have been able to lose weight in the past was by total fasting. This is MUCH easier. Yes, it is difficult to get through each fasting day, but knowing that I can eat tomorrow makes it bearable.

I'm planning on making lentils and cornbread tomorrow. That was one of the first "on purpose" vegetarian dishes that I ever made. I was about 17 years old and had checked Francis Moore-Lappe's book "Diet for a Small Planet" out of the library. It was the first time I had ever tasted a lentil in my life. I'm looking forward to something nutritious!

We went for a long walk this evening. The walks are much easier now then they were a month ago.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Normal Day 14 -- 143.2

The Christmas party was served buffet style everything had some kind of meat in it. My boyfriend forget to mention to the party planner that we are mostly vegetarian -- we used to be totally vegetarian but have recently begun eating seafood. I went without eating all day so that I could save the calories for the party. oops...we should have eaten before the party . We had to make do with a plate full of tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. I felt like I had a lot of calories but not anything very nutritional -- just a lot of fat. I had a panicky feeling -- like this is my eating day but now its late and I already had too many calories. I desperately wanted to eat something healthy, but then I didn't want to add any more calories. My boyfriend opened up a can of gazpacho and that seemed to work out just fine.

Breakfast: 1 organic granny smith apple

Dinner: nachos, a tiny taste of chocolate cake

Snack: bowl of gazpacho soup, an amazing white chocolate macadamia nut cookie

1 margarita

My boyfriend's sister sent us a couple boxes of Tom's Mom's Cookies for Christmas. I tried a piece of white chocolate macadamia nut and it was amazing. I gave a piece of it to my son and wolfed the rest of the cookie down. I don't know how many calories are in one of those cookies -- but judging by their taste -- I bet it was a lot!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Fasting Day 14 -- 145.2

Went for a long walk this evening over an hour -- even jogged part of the way. I was drenched in sweat by the time I got back. Not bad for an old broad.

Tomorrow is my boyfriend's work Christmas party. Thank goodness it is falling on one of my eating days -- although I would have shifted the days around to accommodate it.
Christmas will also fall on my eating day -- I'm thankful for that as well.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Normal Day 13 -- 143.8

Walked about 30 minutes hour last night and about an hour tonight. Walking seems to make a difference.

Breakfast: 1 slice of leftover veggie pizza
Lunch: 1 banana, 1 carrot & some mashed potatoes (weird I know, we need to get to the market)
Snack: 1 cup of eggnog
Dinner: 1 slice of veggie pizza

** quit eating by 6pm

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Fasting Day 13 -- 146

VickeyK posted a nice article on alternate day fasting. She also had a link to a recent Los Angeles Times article regarding alternate day fasting that was interesting.

I'm really curious why the women's bodies didn't become more efficient at using insulin like the men's bodies did. Perhaps it was simply too small of a test sample. Maybe these particular women didn't have any insulin resistance to begin with. Maybe the experiment didn't last long enough for any changes to occur. Maybe they were taking birth control pills and this disrupted their bodies ability to heal. I would love to see some larger studies -- I would even volunteer to be in one.

The fasting days do get a little easier each time. I've read a lot of comments from people afraid that they would "pig out" on their eating days. I haven't really had any temptation to overeat or pig-out on my normal days -- quite the opposite. This diet seems to have curbed my appetite on normal days. What I found out instead was that I want to eat something "special" -- if I'm going to eat I want it to be something good. I don't want to waste it on junk. Before I might have snacked on chips or something just because they were there even though I don't really care for chips. Now if I'm going to have something unhealthy -- it's a deliberate choice -- like a scrumptious square of chocolate, a glass of champagne, if I'm going to indulge -- it's going to be exquisite. I'm taking a closer look at what I'm eating and asking myself, "How can this meal be made healthier?"

Monday, December 17, 2007

Normal Day 12 -- 145.2

This is the first time that I weighed more than I did on the previous "eat" day. The difference is that I ate much later than normal last time and we haven't been on any of our walks because of the cold. It's only 2/10 of a pound so I shouldn't worry about it. It will be better next time.

Breakfast: Health Valley Rice Crunch-Ems with milk/water and a sliced banana

Lunch/Dinner: 1 cup of black beans, red onion, cilantro, carrot and a whole wheat tortilla

Snack: 1/2 cup of eggnog

Walked 30 minutes

** finished eating by 5pm

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Fasting Day 12 -- 147

Today is the 23rd day that I have been doing an alternate day fast. I've lost 8 pounds so far which is fabulous.

I thought I'd pass along Jason's clever way of handling a party at his work that fell on his "No Eat Day"
It seemed crazy not to take advantage of all this free food. So instead of caving in, I made myself up a big plate of everything that looked good and put it in the fridge for tomorrow. This way I'm not missing out, I'm just partaking later.
You gotta love it!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Normal Day 11 - 145

Breakfast: whole wheat rum waffle with 1/2 tsp butter and 1 tsp maple syrup and fresh blackberries

Lunch: celery with mock chicken salad

Dinner: clam chowder, whole grain bread and gouda cheese, 4 coconut shrimp

2 glasses of champagne
bite of chocolate from my son's advent calendar -- he insisted

We went Christmas shopping this evening for my son. The checkout clerk asked if he could come home with us and be our son.

My kid really wanted a Wii this year but Nintendo seems to have screwed up. They claim they didn't do it on purpose -- but it sure looks like this was deliberate. It's been out for over a year now -- there should be enough to go around. LAME. We're becoming convinced to just not buy one EVER. We'll wait for the next incarnation.

** don't know what time we had dinner but it was late 8-9 PM or so

Friday, December 14, 2007

Fasting Day 11 -- 146

Went for about a 45 minute walk this evening. My son had already finished his golf lesson by the time I returned and was waiting for me asleep (or pretending to be) on the roof of my car. I'll have to either walk faster or not as far next time.

I'm trying to think of some tips to make the fasting day easier to get through.

- Get up and go to bed earlier than normal on the fasting day. The mornings are easier to get through than the evenings.

- Drink warm diluted coffee or tea throughout the day. The warmth takes the edge off of hunger.

- Take a hot bath if you get chilled.

- Go online and read information about fasting.

- Record television programs and watch them later. This way you can fast forward through all the food commercials without being tempted.

- Go for a walk.

- Start a blog

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Normal Day 10 - 146 (Day 20)

Walked for about 1/2 an hour last night and about 45 minutes this evening. It's still really cold outside for S. Cal.

Breakfast: Health Valley Rice Crunch-Ems with milk/water and dried cherries

Lunch: Steamed Broccoli with melted cheese and whole wheat bulgur with onion and celery

Snack: a piece of Belgium milk chocolate (It's the holiday season after all!)

Dinner: another bowl of cereal with milk/water and dried cherries

What is milk/water? I frequently use a small splash of milk and then fill the rest of the glass or bowl with water. Sometimes I add water to the milk carton itself, but that annoys my boyfriend and son. I think of milk as being more of a flavoring than a beverage. The only time I ever want a glass of milk is when I have a cookie to dunk into it.

** stopped eating by 6pm

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Fasting Day 10 -- 147.4

I received an email today from a dear friend that I lost touch with about 12 years ago. It was wonderful to read about all the changes in his life. He's like a beacon in the darkness to me -- as long as his light is shining somewhere I know there is still hope for this world. I said in an earlier post that the ignorant are among us, he reminds me that angels walk among us too.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Normal Day 9 -- 147.8

I used the nordic track for a few minutes last night, but I was feeling really weak and hungry. Just trying to exercise to warm up a little bit. I get cold very easily on normal days and its compounded on the fasting days. I hate the cold. I thought S. California was supposed to be warm? My joints ache and my toes and fingers are turning blue.

My weight doesn't seem to want to drop below this point -- how frustrating. Went for an hour long walk. Tomorrow will be better.

Breakfast: 2 whole grain pancakes, plain

Lunch: mock chicken salad on a bed of organic lettuce

Dinner: skipped it tonight -- wasn't hungry (I had a late lunch)

Monday, December 10, 2007

Fasting Day 9 -- 149.4

Strange anomalies in weight are to be expected on fasting days. I will be strong and have faith. I can do this. I am doing this.

Interesting news for any Doctor Who fans, it has been confirmed that Billie Piper will be returning as Rose Tyler in the fourth season. Yay!

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Normal Day 8 -- 147.8

My boyfriend and I went for an hour long walk this evening. Nothing much to say today, except its really nippy outside!

Breakfast: organic tofu scramble in a whole wheat tortilla with cilantro, green onion, lettuce and salsa

Lunch: another organic tofu scramble burrito (My son hates tofu but he loved this recipe.)

Dinner: sushi

Tofu Scramble Recipe

1 block tofu
2 T nutritional yeast
1 t Better Than Bouillon mushroom base
1 stalk celery
1/2 red onion
3 cloves garlic

1 cup water
1/4 tsp Better Than Bouillon mushroom base

tortillas
cilantro
green onions
lettuce
salsa

Crumble the tofu & mix in the nutritional yeast and mushroom buillion

Saute the red onion and celery in a little olive oil until soft. Toss in the tofu and gently brown it while stirring.

Mix together the water and 1/4 tsp mushroom bouillon until dissolved. Pour over the tofu mixture. When most of the liquid is gone, remove from heat.

Serve in a warm tortilla topped with fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, lettuce, and salsa.
** stopped eating by 6pm

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Fasting Day 8 -- 149.2

Today I'm surprisingly not hungry and I'm happy to report that I've lost over 5 pounds in the past two weeks. This diet really works!

My boyfriend and I walked for about 30 minutes today. Later we took the dog for an additional walk. It is friggin' freezing outside -- we had to break out our winter coats. This is our first winter in San Diego, we moved here last spring from the Pacific Northwest.

Here is a meditation that is wonderful to do while relaxing in a hot bath:

Relax and bring your hands together pressed into a prayerlike position with your fingertips pointing upwards away from your body. Imagine a thin glasslike wall or window running along the mid line of your body and that each hand is pressing into this window on opposite sides. Visualize the area of your body beneath your hands and imagine it becoming thinner and narrower as each side of your body shrinks closer to the glass. Slowly move your hands over a different area of the body and repeat the visualization until you see your entire body looking beautiful, healthy and thin in your mind's eye.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Normal Day 7 -- 147.8

My son and I went to see "The Golden Compass" today. He really enjoyed reading the trilogy and was looking forward to seeing the movie. It was entertaining and touching. I like the idea of an alternate world where people wear their souls on the outside. Something like that could quite possibly make our world a better place. I imagine all these fanatics who are complaining about a movie that they haven't seen probably have souls that look like those hairy, monkey bat creatures on the "Tin Man" mini-series. This uproar reminds me of the angry Sudanese demanding the death of the British schoolteacher who allowed her student's to name the teddy bear Muhammad. The ignorant will always walk among us.

Breakfast: corn tortilla with a scrambled egg and hot sauce; 1/2 cup steel cut oats with tsp raw organic sugar

Lunch: 1 slice of leftover mushroom, bell pepper and onion pizza

Snack: 1 handful of non-butter movie popcorn and a sip of my son's soda pop

Dinner: 1 cup roasted garbanzo beans, 1 trader joe's breaded prawn

1 cup of half egg nog half milk

1 glass chianti

** stopped eating by 9 PM

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Fasting Day 7 -- 150.6

Today I was more hungry than usual and it was difficult to fast. I am okay with the idea of altering this program if needed (like doing an intermittent fast or even skipping a day). However, I CAN make it through today just fine -- I AM SURE.

Max, our Yorkshire Terrier, and I walked about 30 minutes again while my son had golf practice.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Normal Day 6 -- 148.8

My son has been begging for pizza, today I gave in and ordered some from Pizza Hut. A meat pizza for him and a vegetarian for my boyfriend and me. Their website says that Veggie Lovers Hand Tossed is 310 calories a slice. I'm guessing the mushroom, onion, and bell pepper one that I ordered has approximately the same amount of calories. Next time I'll order the thin and crispy crust because I see that it has fewer calories per slice 260 vs 310.

Breakfast: 1 cup brown rice with 1 scrambled egg and soy sauce

Lunch: corn tortilla with 1 scrambled egg and salsa

Dinner: 3 slices of mushroom, bell pepper and onion pizza. Added some freshly chopped basil and garlic.

Iced Coffee with fresh ground cardamom pods, 2 tsps raw organic sugar and a splash of milk -- my favorite coffee.

We watched Pirates of the Caribbean at Worlds End on our home theater system. The pizza delivery guy was quite impressed with the sound quality and wanted to know what we were using. Oh, our neighbors just "love" us.

** Stopped eating by 6pm

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Fasting Day 6 -- 150.6

That seems unusual, I didn't gain any weight after eating yesterday. Normally, a person puts on a few pounds when they resume eating. I would expect my weight to be higher on my fasting day.

Something strange happened yesterday, but I think it's a good thing. I felt a pop in my left pelvic/lower abdominal region yesterday. It was relatively painless and felt like a rubber band snapping inside. Then I felt a strange gurgling, palpitating sensation.

I wonder if I had a cyst that has finally ruptured? Today for the first time in years I am not experiencing tenderness in that region. It went from being painful in the area about the size of a large grapefruit to only being tender in an area about the size of a quarter.

My yorkie and I went for a walk while my son was at golf practice. There is a steep hill behind the golf course and we walked up it and then back down to the car. It took about 30 minutes. I borrowed my son's Ipod and discovered that Spiderbait's version of Black Betty is a great walking song.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Normal Day 5 - 150.6 (Day 10)

I feel great today! The chill finally wore off in the middle of the night and I actually got too hot and slept with one leg out of the covers.

I had a dream where I got really angry and started hitting this creepy man in the chest and screaming at him, "I hate you ... I hate you". I screamed myself awake and realized that I have a great deal of suppressed anger, especially in regards to seeing innocent people suffering because of stupid rules or beliefs. I get infuriated by the injustice of it. I can't stand it when people get the attitude, "I'm just doing my job" or "The bible says so" or whatever. This doesn't condone their actions. It's really bad when you can tell they get a perverse pleasure out of doing it and they get that smirk on their face!

This diet is working for me!!! Its wonderful to know that I will lose weight even if I over indulge on my day off. I literally stuffed myself until I was sick and I still lost weight. Hopefully, I won't be doing that again any time soon. Let's see what happens when I eat normally.


Breakfast: 1 cup brown rice with soy sauce

Snack: 1/2 cup brown rice with a splash of milk, crushed cardamom pods and a pinch of raw organic sugar

Lunch: whole wheat tortilla with a scrambled egg, salsa, onion, black olive and organic lettuce

Dinner: brown rice and Szechuan shrimp 1 fortune cookie

** stopped eating by 8pm

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Fasting Day 5 -- 153.2

Wow, my weight really jumped up from eating yesterday. The real test will be to see if I weigh less tomorrow morning that I did yesterday morning.

I really ate a lot of food yesterday--so much that I still felt sick when I went to bed. I thought I was going to vomit and I couldn't fall asleep because my stomach hurt. Why do I do this to myself? Am I trying to prove that the diet works or that it doesn't?

It stopped raining, so we took a walk to the store today (about a mile each way). I feel really cold today. I was freezing by the time I went to bed. My hip joint hurt and was stiff from the cold. I took a Valerian Root capsule to help me sleep because I have difficulty sleeping while I am fasting. Maybe that slowed my body down so much that it made me especially chilled? Who knows?

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Normal Day 4 -- 151

Might as well weigh myself every day. I'm really curious to see the mini-fluctuations. It will also help me figure out the amount of food that is best for me. My body seems to have forgotten how.

Breakfast: 1 cup brown rice with soy sauce

Lunch: 1/2 cup eggnog & way too much gouda cheese with sun dried tomatoes on white, french baguette slices

Dinner: 3 soft tacos made with a whole wheat tortilla, Recipe Crumbles with taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, avocado, onion, black olives, organic lettuce & salsa

Iced Baileys & milk

** stopped eating by 9pm