As expected, antibiotic put me in a holding pattern!

I’ve been too embarrassed to post anything because of gaining each of the last 2 weeks,  while on this horrid antibiotic, I'm finally off of it plus today was my WI and I lost 1.6 lbs this week!!!  That antibiotic made me really hungry, but I just ate more bars or allowed L&G foods, didn't get off the program and it paid off!!!  Expecting to get back in the groove of larger losses this week.  I'm hoping to reach my goal in February.

Went to a big family get together/party Christmas Day and passed on oodles of Hors d'oeuvres and then lots of luscious looking dishes to settle for a turkey leg and salad! Great feeling staying OP!  Oh, and I took the salad.  Good thing I did because there wasn’t any other allowable veggies.

Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs........ Week 21 = 1.6 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Chg
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs....... Week 17 = 7.2 lbs!!!
Week 8 = .9 lbs......... Week 18 = 1.4 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs.......... Week 19 = + 1 lb
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs......... Week 20 = + 1 lb

This is a Marathon...not a Sprint!

I can't expect large losses like last week to occur every week, so 1.4 lbs is quite acceptable for this week!  It is going to be interesting to see how I do the next 3 weeks, because my Allergist has put me on Augmentin for a significant sinus infection that was revealed on a Sinus CAT scan this week.  Generally being on antibiotics hinders weight loss.
I am starting to feel hunger as I get into these weights that I haven't seen for decades.  I am going to start eating celery dipped in salsa, instead of peanut butter.

I also have to keep reminding myself that in addition to the loss from MF, I lost 20 lbs prior to starting this program.  So, since last February I have lost 88 1/2 lbs!!!

This week I grilled steaks on our grill outdoors when the temps were in the 70's.  This is my recipe for Don's Low Calorie Rub:

 2 TBL Splenda
2 TBL Sweet 'n Low Brown Sugar
2 TBL Mrs Dash Steak



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Change
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs....... Week 17 = 7.2 lbs!!!
Week 8 = .9 lbs......... Week 18 = 1.4 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs 

1 WEEK MINUS PEANUT BUTTER = BIG LOSS!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!

Obviously I've been sabotaging possible bigger weekly losses by eating so much Peanut Butter each week!  No more Peanut Butter until I reach goal!  Not to mention, this loss was accomplished while taking 20 mg per day of Prednisone for an Allergy Test on Friday!



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Change
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs....... Week 17 = 7.2 lbs!!!
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs 

Cheating, Challenges & Changes!

I've been really struggling this month, in fact I've only lost 1 lb in 3 weeks!  But, I'm pretty sure I KNOW why....I've been eating too much Peanut Butter.  I'm allowed 1 TBL per day, but I've been eating up to 1/4 cup or more per day.  I'm sure this has taken me out of ketosis because of the amount of sugar in PB.

I got through Thanksgiving ok.  We went to Joe & Donita's house and Joe fixed a turkey without basting with butter, so I had a turkey leg and some green beans.  I skipped all the trimmings for the first time in decades.  Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because I am addicted to food and it was the one day I felt empowered to give in to gluttony all day!  I even loved the turkey & mayo sandwiches for days afterwards.  Anyway, I feel great being able to stay On Program! 2 of our 5 grandkids ate with us, so it was really great! It was the older ones that are living away from home now, so it was extra special that they took time to be with us.  My granddaughter told me I looked like a new person!  What a great NSV!

I had quite a challenge tonight....attended the Christmas Show & Dinner of our Son-in-law's Magic Club. Tickets were $16 each, so I paid for the meal that consisted of Black Beans and Yellow Rice, Roasted Chicken, Roasted Pork, Platanos & Cuban Bread, along with various deserts. As we FF's (Former Fatties) know, turning down food we paid for is the hardest, but with the Lord's help, I only ate what I felt safe with, the Roasted Chicken. I waited until I got home to eat a salad.

Also, I need to come clean and admit that at my last weigh-in on Thursday I actually gained .1 lb! I've decided to re-start as if I'm just starting....no extras, no exercising for 3 weeks, just like I started out. (I began this on Friday!)

Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs....... Week 14 = No Change
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs....... Week 15 = 1.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs....... Week 16 = + .1 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs

Some Adjustments

We are settling into our winter home and adjusting quite well to being able to walk every day it doesn't rain, without having to put on a jacket or coat!  Temps in the 70's and 80's are just great.

I've been working on getting up and running as a Health Coach with Take Shape For Life, so I can help others achieve the great results I am experiencing.

Weigh-in was today and I lost another 3.2 lbs!!!  With just a little over 8 lbs left on my original goal, I have decided it is time to make an adjustment on my goal to my ultimate goal of 250 lbs.  Originally I had planned to get to 280, go through Transition and stay at that goal on Maintenance for 2 years, then come back to the 5 & 1 to lose the additional 30 lbs.  But, talking to many experts and those more experienced with Medifast, I have decided to go for it all this time, especially since the losses are continuing at this rate.

In addition to the weight loss, I have dropped from size 54 pants to size 42!!!!  I went through my closet here in Florida and am taking 2 large leaf bags full of clothes that no longer fit, to the Hospice Store.  I have even more than this back home in the basement in Des Moines to take to Goodwill!



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs....... Week 13 = 3.2 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs

We flew to Florida with a MAJOR NSV and continued loss....

For the first time flying on a plane that I can remember I was able to snap the seatbelt without having to ask for an extender!!!!  MAJOR NSV (Non Scale Victory!)

Well, Thursday is my regular weigh-in and the Scale didn't disappoint....down another 3.9 lbs!  Whoo Hoo!  I'm probably about to readjust my goal from 280 to 250!


Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs....... Week 12 = 3.9 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs

Slowing down but plugging along.....

I got in 2 long walks this week, while having the car worked on downtown, I walked 2 & 3 miles downtown and in the Skywalk.  We are busy getting ready to move to our winter home in Zephyrhills, Florida.  Will be so nice not to have to wear coats when we go out and we can walk in warm weather!  The weather service just issued a freeze warning until Friday morning at 9am.  Right now in Des Moines it is 32* with wind chill of 24*!

On a happier note, today being my weigh-in day, this is the results for the past week:



Week 1 = 12 lbs........ Week 11 = 2.9 lbs
Week 2 = 5.7 lbs
Week 3 = 3.3 lbs
Week 4 = 7.3 lbs
Week 5 = 4.1 lbs
Week 6 = 1.9 lbs
Week 7 = 5.4 lbs
Week 8 = .9 lbs
Week 9 = 4.5 lbs
Week 10 = 2.8 lbs