Normal Day 132 - 113.6

I went and bought some new jeans the other day and was really surprised to see myself in the mirror. There isn't a full length mirror in our new house, so I haven't really SEEN myself in a mirror in months. At first, I thought that there was something wrong with the mirror -- it looked like a distorted funhouse mirror that makes you look skinny. I didn't recognize my body, it was thinner than I recalled. It was a bit of a shock -- a very nice one.

The more I hear about people suffering from obesity in places where it didn't previously exist, the more I am convinced that this 'obesity epidemic' is being created by predominately outside forces. Something environmental, like a foreign toxin or substance in our food or water or air is messing up the human metabolism. I think it is absurd to keep saying that people around the world have just become a bunch of lazy, gluttonous slobs.

When our body cannot excrete a toxin and doesn't know what to do with it, the toxic substance tends to get walled up inside of fat cells in order to protect us. I've been reading research papers related to lipophilic toxins and it seems that every paper I read leads me to more and more questions about the subject. The more I learn, the more these lipophilic toxins appear to be a significant factor in the obesity problem. I will definitely be writing more about this topic in the future.

I've been wondering, where do these lipophilic toxins go when we lose weight? For instance, what would happen if you starved yourself into an anorexic body weight? Surely, they would have to leave then, wouldn't they? Apparently not -- they do not leave that easily. Small quantities are excreted through feces. However, when we lose weight these toxins just become more concentrated within our fat cells. Or even worse, they leave the fat cell only to be deposited within the brain! Some scientists have hypothesized that this could explain why it is so easy to regain weight, perhaps our bodies are trying to dilute these overly concentrated toxins.

These lipophilic toxins have a long halflife inside the human body. For example, TCDD (Dioxin) has a half life of 5.8 to 11.3 years. Even if you were able to eliminate absorbing any more of these chemicals (which we can't), who wants to wait that long for these substances to break down to an acceptable level? Especially, if they turn out to be responsible for creating metabolic disturbances leading to obesity ... and oh-so-many other problems and diseases.

So how can we help our bodies excrete these lipophilic toxins? As we saw when Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with Dioxin, we do not currently possess the medical knowledge for adequately removing this poison from our bodies. I read that they used successive liposuction treatments to help bring down the Dioxin stores within his body. There are also some cases of Dioxin poisoning where the non-absorbable fat, Olestra, has been used to help the body excrete the toxin faster. And another study that showed that mice had a 30 fold increase in the rate of excretion of 14C-hexachlorobenzene when their diets were supplemented with Olestra. Danish scientists have been able to reduce dioxin concentrations by 70% by exposing fishmeal to UV-B light for five days. (Would exposure to sunlight have any effect on the lipophilic toxins within the fat cells in our body? Because that would be an awesome diet -- we could all lay out on the beach munching on Pringle light potato chips fried with Olestra -- and fighting for our place in line at the toilet. ha!)

I have so many questions and so many things that I would love to see studied.

Normal Day 125 -- 114.0

I began alternate day fasting on November 24, 2007. On my 4th fasting day I wrote,

"I wonder if this diet will enable me to return to what I weighed most of my life before I got fat (between 105-110 pounds)? I hope so! I would be ecstatic just to reach 114 pounds."

Well today, here I am, 114 pounds exactly. It took longer to reach than I expected, but it was also way easier than I thought possible. Was I ecstatic? Yes, I would say so. I stepped off the scale and danced a little gig on the bathroom floor. Then I abruptly got back on the scale and double checked ... got off the scale ... got back on the scale again and then raised my arms over my head like Sylvester Stallone's character in the movie Rocky.

Yes, I realize this is only my weight after fasting yesterday and my weight will go back up again after eating today. Even so ... I am happy.

Normal Day 121 - 116.6 Pounds

Many people are afraid that eating this way will mess up their metabolism. That was also my biggest concern when I began alternate day fasting. However, in my experience eating this way actually REPAIRS a messed up metabolism. My metabolism is working better than it did before I started alternate day fasting. Sometimes, I am shocked by the amount of calories I can consume on my eating day without gaining weight. These days, my weight is fluctuating between 115 - 120 pounds. My heaviest days are typically after consuming sodium rich foods.

My son and I went to Comic Con on Thursday. We went to the Doctor Who/Torchwood seminar. It overlapped another seminar with Keanu Reeves and we had to choose which one to attend. Keanu Reeves is really sexy, but both my son and I were more interested in listening to writers Steven Moffat and Russell T. Davies (sadly, Russell could not make it to Comic Con). Steven Moffat was hilarious and had the auditorium bubbling with laughter. In response to a request from an attendee, John Barrowman and Naoko Mori (who play Captain Jack and Toshiko in Torchwood) sang part of a duet from the musical Miss Saigon. I was caught off guard by the intensity and beauty of their voices and was quite literally brought to tears.

By the way, Keanu, if you are out there, I really do adore you and would have loved to have seen you at Comic Con; or better yet, to have attended the Doctor Who/Torchwood talk with you as a date! Maybe next time, yes? ...

Normal Day 74 - 121

There has been a noticable improvement in my mood and ovarian pain by completely eliminating the protein/water shakes on my fasting days. It is much easier to fast when I use supplemental protein, but it isn't worth it if I'm depressed and in pain. Therefore, I will stick with water or unsweetened tea on my fasting days for now.

I am still finding it very easy to maintain my weight using alternate day fasting. Actually, I have a lost a couple of pounds without even trying. The foods that I eat are nutritious: whole grains, beans, raw nuts, seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits, some soy products, some dairy products. I've usually eaten healthier foods than most of the people I hang around, but I was still sick and unhealthy. Before I started fasting I was bloated and pasty and had very little energy. It would irk me when people would try to tell me how to get better... take more vitamins, take less vitamins, sleep more, sleep less, exercise more, exercise less, eat meat, eat vegan, eat raw, eat only fruit, eat only foods that grow above the ground, practice celibacy, drink a couple glasses of wine, don't drink alcohol, don't drink coffee, have all your dental fillings removed, move your alarm clock across the room, don't use deoderant, use fluoride, don't use fluoride, wear magnets ... so much confusion that I was ready to don a tin foil hat and mumble to myself in the corner ...

I choose to do my own research and then pay attention to my own body and my own health. I know what I am doing is working for me. I feel great and people ask me what I am doing because I look so vibrant and healthy. This works for me and I love it. Before, I felt like my life was over and I was just waiting to die -- sometimes I even wished that I would die because I felt so awful. Now, I wish I could have those 10 years back! I wish that I would have found this when I first got sick. Alternate day fasting has turned my life around and given me new hope.

But ... I'm starting to sound like an info-mercial. That's enough for now. I guess it is all about finding your balance. For me, this is my balancing point, it is right here between eating healthy foods one day and fasting the next. For me, where I am right now, right here, this is perfect. This is it.

April 18 - Fasting Day 71 - 124.8 Pounds
April 19 - Normal Day 71 - 122.2 Pounds
April 20 - Fasting Day 72 - 125.6 Pounds
April 21 - Normal Day 72 - 122.6 Pounds
April 22 - Fasting Day 73 - 125.0 Pounds
April 23 - Normal Day 73 - 121.6 Pounds
April 24 - Fasting Day 74 - 123.0 Pounds
April 25 - Normal Day 74 - 121.0 Pounds

Normal Day 70 - 122

Lately, I've switched from drinking coffee to drinking green tea either plain or sweetened with a little stevia powder. I find stevia's aftertaste a little too bitter to be used as a sweetener in many dishes. In hot tea however, the bitterness of stevia is unnoticable.

If you're going to have tea, naturally you'll need a little treat to go with it. But -- I wanted something that is also healthy. I made these cookies this morning, they aren't overly sweet and they are great with tea.

Tennant Oatcakes

These scone-like cookies remind me of Scottish Oatcakes, so I've named these after my favorite Scotsman, David Tennant, in honor of his birthday tomorrow. These scrumptious little treats are more nutritious , sweeter and spicier than their contemporary cousins. They are especially delicious topped with cream and drizzled with a puree of fresh berries. Serve with hot tea.

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup buckwheat flour
1 cup shredded fresh coconut
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup dried tart cherries

1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger chopped
1 cored apple with skin
1 banana
1/8 cup blackberries
2.5 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp stevia powder
2 T Splenda
2 T coconut oil

Mix the oats, buckwheat, coconut, almonds and cherries in a bowl.

In food processor, puree the ginger and apple, then puree in the banana and blackberries (the idea is to use whatever ripe fruit you have on hand). Next, puree in the spices (use freshly ground spices if you can), salt, leavening powders, and sweeteners. (The sweeteners can be omitted if you don't want them or if the ripe fruit has already provided enough sweetening oomph.) Finally puree in the coconut oil until it is incorporated throughout the mixture.

Add this wet mixture to the dry ingredients in the bowl. Stir until all the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened.

Wet your hands with water, scoop out a tablespoonful and use your wet hands to form a small flat oatcake. Place oatcakes on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in a 400 degree F oven until done. About 12-20 minutes (or when they start to brown on the bottom). If you prefer them softer cook them less; if you prefer them crunchier cook them more.

Recipe makes about 1 1/2 dozen.

Normal Day 65 - 123.0

Yes, I'm still here and I am still alternate day fasting. Right now, I am taking a break from trying to lose weight and instead working on maintaining my weight around 125 pounds. Maintaining weight loss is really easy to do on this lifestyle. It is can be tempting to eat on my fasting day, but the health benefits of alternate day fasting are too good to pass up. My skin is clear, my head is clear, I have energy to actually get out and enjoy doing things again. Although, I am not currently losing weight, I am still losing inches. It's time to go buy smaller jeans AGAIN.

Tue April 1 Fasting Day 63 - 123.8
Wed April 2 Normal Day 63 - 122.0
Thu April 3 Fasting Day 64 - 126.0
Fri April 4 Low Cal Day 06 - 124.6
Sat April 5 Normal Day 64 - 122.6
Sun April 6 Fasting Day 65 - 125.4
Mon Apr 7 Normal Day 65 - 123.0

Normal Day 62 - 122.8

Mar 28; Normal Day 61 - 124.6
Mar 29; Fasting Day 62 - 125.8
Mar 30; Low Cal Day 5 - 124.4

Yesterday was supposed to be a normal eating day for me, however my boyfriend volunteered to do a fasting day with me. I cherish the opportunity to have a partner in misery, so I made yesterday a low calorie protein shake day instead.

We have been walking every day and we even went on a bike ride on Saturday. That was the first time I had been on a bike in about 10 years! I'm usually the person taking the photographs, but my boyfriend managed to sneak a shot of me from behind ... or "OF" my behind ... depending on your perspective (or his).

Normal Day 60 - 123.6

Food:
2 cups oatmeal
(with DHA soymilk, shredded unsweetened coconut, chopped raw almonds, splenda)
3 cups airpopped popcorn sprinkled with coconut oil & nutritional yeast
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 banana
1/3 pound lightly cooked asparagus
2 vegetarian tacos
(whole wheat tortillas, tvp, hot sauce, lettuce, sprouts, onion, black olives, avocado)
1 cup homemade tapioca pudding
(milk, splenda, tapioca, shredded unsweetened coconut, eggs)

Exercise:
Walk 45 minutes

Normal Day 59 - 125.4

I went through the freezer and threw away the leftover birthday cakes, and the leftover mousse pie still sitting in there from Christmas (the dog wouldn't even touch it). Having had too many times in my life when there wasn't enough food to eat, it is now difficult for me to throw away food. It takes self control for me to make a dish that feeds 3 people rather than 10 people. I'm learning that purchasing the individual brownie from the bakery department might be more expensive than buying a whole 'costco' type flat of them, however the individual brownie is fresher, more delicious, and it can be cut in half to be shared with a friend. There also won't be any leftover tempting you to have "just one more".

Food:
2 cups oatmeal with 1 diced apple, cinnamon & splenda
8 oz milk
1 cup cottage cheese
4 oz red snapper
1 banana
2 cups homemade vegetarian chili
2 cups spring salad greens with onion & bell pepper
2 T ranch dressing
2 glasses champagne
1 Almond Joy chocolate coconut almond 'egg'

Exercise:
Walk 1 hour
Run 20 minutes

Normal Day 58 - 123.4 (Day 120)

Today, we went on our first hike with one of the local hiking groups that I joined. We went up to some trails in the Julian Mountains and hiked for 3 hours. I miss the gorgeous trails in the Columbian Gorge in Oregon, but this was beautiful nonetheless. I was worried at first, because the trail was paved with asphalt. "Is this what they call 'hiking' in California?" I wondered. But we eventually left the pavement and started climbing, I had to stop and catch my breath quite a few times. It felt great and it was a wonderful workout. The group all went out to a local restaurant for pie afterwards. I declined the offer and went home. "Too Shy For Pie!" I was thinking. Maybe next time.

Okay, everyone seems to be in agreement that you need to eat more to lose weight. Well then, today and the past few eating days, I've certainly eaten enough to see if this holds true. After hiking, we were famished. We went to the store and got some fresh fish which my boyfriend grilled. I made a brown rice pilaf. We also bought some brownies from the bakery department and a box of ice-cream cones. We also have Easter candy in the house and I have PMS. uh oh...

Food:
1 cup Kashi Go Lean cereal
6 oz milk

Sandwich
(made with 2 slices whole wheat & flax seed bread, fake salami, meunster cheese, lettuce, mayo)

handful of raw almonds
1 brownie
8 oz milk
4 oz red snapper
2 oz cheddar cheese
1/2 cup brown rice pilaf
(made with brown rice, broccoli, bell pepper, celery, mushroom, onions, wine, butter, bouillon)

1 ice-cream cone
the tail of a white chocolate bunny
handful of peanut m&m's

1/2 lemon drenched in sea-salt

Exercise:
hike 3 hours

Normal Day 57 - 124.2

My boyfriend and I went jogging again this evening. My sweatpants & panties kept falling down because they don't fit me any more. I held the leash in one hand and did a little hop step every few feet so that I could pull my pants back up with the other. It's a good thing it was dark outside.

(It's the little things that nobody warns you about when you begin a diet.)


Food:
french toast
(made with 2 pieces whole wheat & flax seed bread, 2 eggs, butter, cinnamon, splenda)

4 oz red snapper
1/2 artichoke

2 cups of homemade tapioca pudding
(made with coconut milk, milk, splenda, eggs, tapioca & a splash of rum)

a raid on my son's easter candy - until he chased me from his room
4 hershey kisses
5 pastel coated peanut m&m's
1 mound's candy egg

** There's a candy-coated-sugar-binge-ogre standing on the sidelines and waving a big sign with my name on it. I'm trying to pretend I don't see him. Maybe he'll just go away.

Exercise:
Walk/Jog 45 minutes

Normal Day 56 - 124.8

Tonight my boyfriend and I went jogging. We walked whenever we got tired. He was surprised that I could keep up with him. Is that a compliment or a slight? Haven't yet decided. Anyway, it was fun and I would like to do that more often.

We bought the 2-disc edition of the movie, "I Am Legend". I liked the alternate ending much better than the theatrical version. Sometimes in my mind, I rewrite the ending of movies when I don't like how they end. This was one such movie that I rewrote in my mind. I was glad to see a more uplifting ending. The message was better too -- confront the monsters and you will see they aren't so evil after all. In the theatrical ending the evil monsters were too powerful and the solution was to run away from the problem.

Food:
2 eggs cooked in coconut oil
1 T grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp each chopped fresh tarragon, oregano & cilantro
1 green onion
1 T salsa
1 apple
1 T peanut butter
1 cup vanilla yogurt
20 raw almonds
4 oz Red Snapper marinated in Teriyaki Sauce
1/2 artichoke
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 cup whole wheat couscous pilaf
(mushrooms, green onions, celery, garlic, red wine, bouillon & butter)
handful of easter candy

Exercise:
walk 1 hour
walk/run 30 minutes

Normal Day 55 - 124

Phew, we had quite a feast for dinner this evening. It was delicious. Is anyone else experiencing specific food cravings after alternate day or intermittent fasting? Maybe I always did, but I'm more aware of them now? I had been specifically craving lobster for many weeks now -- not seafood, but rather LOBSTER specifically. I cannot recall ever 'craving' lobster in my life. After dinner I wanted lemon liberally sprinkled with salt. Lemon and salt is something I've craved sporadically since I was a child. Hey, some kids eat dirt, others eat chipped paint -- for me it was lemons and salt. Not limes, not oranges, not tomatoes ... it had to be lemons.

Food:
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
8 oz DHA soymilk
20 raw almonds
1 banana
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 nectarine
1/2 lobster tail
2 crab legs
melted butter
1 cup spring greens
1 T ranch dressing
1 cup brown rice pilaf with green onion & mushrooms
1 slice whole grain bread
1 glass chianti
2/3 of a chocolate brownie
8 oz milk
1/4 lemon dredged in sea salt

Exercise:
walk 30 minutes

Normal Day 54 - 124.8

I keep getting more and more convinced that some kind of chemical is creating the obesity epidemic that is spreading across the earth. I know I mentioned this already in an earlier post. I was wondering, if it is a chemical ... say a fertilizer or pesticide or whatever... wouldn't the health problems show up in the people picking the crop? These are people who work 16 hours a day doing hard labor (by my standards) in the fields -- you would think they would be extraordinarily healthy. Yet, from what I have been able to research so far, the rate of Diabetes is quite high in immigrant farm workers. The irony is that American's aren't really hearing about it because of the way illegal immigrants are treated in this country and many of the workers do not have their citizenship. They are hesitant to get health care for fear of being deported.

Another group I wondered about is the people working in the factories that make these chemicals. Do they have insulin resistance problems? Yes, yes, yes they do! Several studies of factory workers exposed to chemicals have linked high dioxin levels in the blood with an increased risk of diabetes and insulin resistance.

Now the question to ask yourself, "Can you recall a time where you might have been exposed to a high concentration of chemicals?" At fist, nothing came to mind. But I wonder.... When we first moved to Oregon, the apt we rented was heavily flea infested. The fleas didn't bother my boyfriend, but me and my son and our cat were getting bit fiercely. I started bombing the apartment and even sprayed down the sheets on my side of the bed every night. I started developing a really weird acne and had to see a dermatologist who prescribed tetracycline and topical solutions and nothing worked to clear it up. I hadn't experienced acne since I was a teenager. This was all just a couple of months before my first sudden gain in weight -- 20 pounds in about 3 weeks! My weight had always been difficult to control, but suddenly it became impossible. My diet was exactly the same as it had always been.

I'm believing more and more that there is some kind of artificial chemical that is interfering with the insulin pathway in humans ... and its slowly spreading around the globe.

Food:
20 raw almonds
6 oz DHA soymilk
1 cup Kashi Go Lean cereal
4 cups air-popped popcorn
2 tsp coconut oil
2 T nutritional yeast
1 whole wheat tortilla
1 T vegetarian taco filling
1 T grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped lettuce
1 T chopped cilantro
1 tsp hot sauce
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 T peanut butter
4 milk chocolate kisses
1/4 cup frozen raspberries
1/4 cup yogurt raisins
1/2 cup tuna salad with mayo, celery & onion

Exercise:
walk 1 hour

Normal Day 53 - 125 (Day 110)

The shop said that my transmission is shot. They are going to see if they can locate a rebuilt one. Otherwise, I'll be shopping for a used car soon.

I picked up a bag of Buffalo Barley a couple of weeks ago at the health food store. It has been sitting on my countertop until I decided what to do with it. Today, I threw a bunch of things together that I had on hand and it was delicious and very filling. My boyfriend and I both ate several bowls of it. My 13 year old even had a bowl and liked it.

Black Bean & Buffalo Barley Broth

1 cup Buffalo Barley - rinsed
1 tsp coconut oil
inner leafy stalks of celery - chopped
1/2 large onion - diced
1 clove garlic - crushed
1 bay leaf
2 tsp Better Than Bouillon mushroom base
1 T nutritional yeast
2 T textured vegetable protein (TVP) granules
1 15 oz can black beans - drained and rinsed
1 28 oz can tomatoes (whole or chopped is fine)
freshly chopped herbs: tarragon or parsley is good
freshly grated parmesan

Cook the barley per package directions until done or nearly done. In a 2-3 quart pot, saute the chopped celery in coconut oil over medium heat until the celery begins to soften. Add the chopped onions and saute until translucent. Add the crushed garlic and saute for another minute. Toss in the bay leaf. Fill the pan with water about half way. Mix in the bouillon. Add the nutritional yeast, TVP granules, black beans and the cooked barley. When the mixture comes to a boil add the tomatoes and reduce to a slow simmer. Let the soup slowly cook over low heat until its the way you like it. The barley can soak up a lot of water, you can keep adding more water as desired or needed. To serve, top with freshly chopped herbs or grated cheese.

Food:
3 cups air popped popcorn - drizzled with 1 tsp coconut oil and nutritional yeast
4 bowls of Barley Soup (with fresh tarragon)
handful of yogurt candy coated raisins
tortilla chips with cheese sauce, salsa and veggie sausage
1 nectarine

Exercise:
walk 1 hour

Normal Day 52 - 126.4

I was going to make today a low calorie day and only drink shakes. Then I decided, "well if its low calorie -- then maybe I could eat some low calorie vegetables?" Mistake...once I started eating, I didn't stop. Therefore, today turned into a regular eating day. I still would like to do a few low calorie days (protein drinks only) while the weather is nice. It's become routine for me to fast one day, but when I try to go beyond that I start obsessing about food. This defeats the whole purpose, especially if its just going to trigger a binge. It's hard to find the patience when my weight hasn't been budging lately. Maybe I should just relax and trust that the weight will come off eventually? But ... I want results NOW...

Food:
2 protein/water shakes
1 cup cabbage
1 T apple cider vinegar
3 cups air popped popcorn
1 cup miso
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup Kashi Go Lean cereal
6 oz dha soymilk
10 raw almonds
1/4 cup frozen raspberries

Exercise:
Walk - 1 hour

Normal Day 51 - 125

We drove around all day today looking at houses. We would like to find something closer to my boyfriend's work. The closer to his work we get, the higher the rent unfortunately. Why does everything have to be so bloody expensive?! I don't see how people can even afford to do anything anymore -- its crazy.

I went overboard eating this evening. I was great all day (only had a bowl of ceral and a bowl of miso) until we came home from looking at houses and then I tried to eat a little bit of everything in our house. I wasn't really hungry, just feeling anxious. Sometimes it seems like a part of me deliberately sabotages my diet. It's like I have some kind of mental block that I need to work through. I'm accustomed to thinking that nothing works and that I'll get fatter no matter what I do. I miss being able to eat for comfort. What do you replace that with? I guess we all have days like this and instead of berating ourselves we should count our blessings. I've had periods in my life where food was not available and I had no choice but to go hungry. I should be grateful that the food is so plentiful.

Food:
1 cup Kashi Go Lean cereal
6 oz dha soymilk
1 organic banana
20 raw almonds chopped
1 T raw flax seeds
1 cup miso broth with fresh cilantro, onion & ginger
1 cup of chopped green & red organic cabbage
2 T apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 boca italian sausage
1 slice sprouted rye bread
2 oz swiss cheese
handful of yogurt candy coated raisins
1 cup oatmeal
whole bunch of pistachios

Normal Day 50 - 126.8

I had my follow up eye exam today. He said that I could resume wearing eye makeup and exercising. Oh joy...

I think my car's automatic transmission went out on the way home. The car suddenly wouldn't go any faster than about 5 mph, which was scary because I was in the fast lane and had to get across 6 lanes of traffic that were going about 80 mph. I pulled onto the shoulder to collect my wits for a moment. A cop drove by but didn't stop to help. I decided to nurse the car home with the flashers on. By their raised fists and honking horns as they veered around me, I could tell this decision was greatly appreciated by all. Luckily, I was only a few miles from our house.

The pain in my left ovary is gone today. I am relieved that it was most likely just the normal pain associated with ovulation -- mittelschmerz (or however it's spelled).

Food:
a few bites of a salad (it was nasty, mall food -- drenched in way too much Italian dressing -- I threw it out and went home to eat)
1 cup Kashi Go Lean cereal
6 oz dha soymilk
1 organic banana
20 raw almonds chopped
1 protein/water shake

Exercise:
walk 1 hour

Normal Day 49 - 125.6

For those of you who are interested in more traditional fasting -- there is a supportive group of people over at the Curezone.com website. They have a couple of forums dedicated to fasting: Water Fasting Support Forum, and the Fasting For Weight Loss Support Forum. You might even be able to find a fasting buddy to help keep you motivated.

My son took his state writing test today. I promised to get him a new video game or a pizza (his choice -- but not both) after finishing his test. We went over to Fry's but he didn't see any games that he wanted -- or maybe he just really wanted pizza. I had a slice but couldn't bring myself to eat the white flour crust after all that I've been reading lately on refined carbohydrates. Like a little kid, I ate the topping and fed the crust to the dog. I don't really like white flour products anyway. I've always preferred heartier whole grains even as a kid. My boyfriend's dentist told him that whole grains wear down the teeth. Ack -- can we get any peace from all this conflicting advice?

It's all I can do to keep from binging on chocolate and candy today. I'm starting to notice a pattern of craving sweets right around the time I'm ovulating and again right at the end of my cycle. Is it possible that the female body might require more carbohydrates during these times? It seems to be typical that most women crave sweets at the end of their cycles. I haven't heard of craving it while ovulating though. I wasn't even aware that I did until tracking my eating habits through this blog. My left ovary is flaring up too -- I'm pretty sure that it is just ovulation and not the cysts returning.


Food:
1 cup Kashi Go Lean cereal
6 oz dha soymilk
1 cup cottage cheese
1 egg
1 slice of bell pepper pizza without the crust
1 T peanut butter
1 stalk celery
10 pieces Junior Mint candy
1/2 cup tuna tofu spread
2 oz swiss cheese

Exercise:
walked/ran - 10 minutes (mostly ran--yay!)

Normal Day 48 - 125.6 (Day 100)

Today is the 100th day that I have been alternate day fasting. As of today, I've lost 29.4 pounds. That means I've lost an average of .294 pounds (or between 1/4 and 1/3 pounds) every day. Plus this lifestyle is really easy to do. I certainly wouldn't be able to fast for 100 days straight. Nor would I have been able to do a regular diet for that long. My metabolism has always been slow, I'm very short and in my 40's -- it's practically impossible for me to cut back on enough calories to lose a pound the old fashioned way. I couldn't imagine finding enough will power to stay on a regular diet for this long. I am still thrilled learning about alternate day fasting. I just wish that I would have discovered it about 10 years ago. Who would have thought the answer could be so simple?

Here is a promising new blog on intermittent fasting written by a certified personal trainer, Mike O'Donnell. He's interested in hearing other people's experiences and successes.

If you have a story to tell, please share it with others. I love reading about other peoples experiences with this lifestyle and have corresponded with a few of you who are trying some form of intermittent fasting or alternate day fasting. It would be wonderful to see this lifestyle blossom more in the mainstream. It is incredibily easy to do and has so many health benefits. Just as I wish that I would have heard about it 10 years ago -- I'm sure there are people who would be so grateful to learn about it. I used to curl up in a ball and cry because I couldn't understand why I couldn't stop gaining weight no matter what I did. I even got down on my knees and begged/pleaded for help. But I just kept putting on more weight, my health problems just kept compounding and I was in so much pain that I had to wear a TENS device all day long. Now, after living this lifestyle the pain is gone and my weight has returned to normal. If you are currently doing ADF or IF please share your experiences with others--get the word out about it. You just might have the solution to end someone's needless suffering.

Food:
1 cup dha soymilk
2 cups oatmeal
2 T raw sliced almonds
1 T raw flax seed
1 organic banana
1 T peanut butter
1/2 cup tuna tofu spread
1 cup cottage cheese
1 slice whole wheat bread
1 cup sliced organic cabbage
2 T lemon juice concentrate
1 tsp frozen buttercream frosting (slices of the birthday cake still exist - too much temptation - sigh)