Tea's Journal

the support on this forum is incredible. thanks guys!

3jays and lisa- just stick with the diet, it sucks and its annoying, but its only for a short while, and then its done and all u have to do is maintain it- and thats the easy part compared to this.

today i had just a little spiced paneer (home made indian cheese) for lunch- excellent source of protein and near to no carbs!!! Tonite ill have a teeny plate of stir fried veggies (about 5 bites) and call it a night. im so motivated right now to keep this going while i have momentum. its sooo much easier to continually lose lbs, rather than get a little bit on from a cheat and then work to get it off with a little good behavior.

keep tough.

didnt weigh in today- ill check up on that tomorrow..

man im tired today, like not sleepy but just low energy. i havent felt low on energy like this since i started this diet around day 4-5.... soo hmm i dont know if its a good thing, but meh. to go with the tired tho- i nevertheless still dont feel like eating, so even if i think hmm i should eat something to get some energy, im like but im not hungry and i dont wanna, and i cant think of anything that i want to eat that would give me energy anyway- since ive got 5 bites, im trying to make them most efficient, i guess it changes the way that u think about food a little bit.

i think that our standard thinking is- im cold or tired-- lets eat something and perk up. but more often than not when i do that i feel like a complex carb load will make me nap, a protein load will just stick like a weight in my stomach, and a straight sugar spike is going to make me crazy and THEN make me nap. All things im trying to avoid!

I think its important to note here- its a separation between an emotional want to satisfy an obvious lack of energy and the benefit that u actually get from eating. Our culture of eating for emotional reasons is so deeply rooted in human beings that we dont even think about it. But i dont know how often ive been tired, and then ate like a big bowl or pasta or something and was like WOW I FEEL AWESOME NOW!!! most of the time ill just be like k i ate some stuff with cheese on it, that was yummy, annnnnnnd nap time.... if nothing else eating on an empty stomach physiologically asks the body to put more energy into the digestive system rather than ur other systems so that it can deal with the food that u just put there (increase blood flow/ digestive juices)... so immediately no u wont get more energy, maybe a few hours down the road, but thats not the reason that u ate.

I mean its most likely the shrunken stomach talking... food after all is meant to sustain u, and benefit you. Your not meant to be a perpetual motion machine with no energy input either, esp since while on this diet we're actually all in the negative and are therefore eating our own bodies to provide energy- ew- but you get my point.

--- in conclusion i think i will walk later for a bit, or do some strength training as my perk up ratheer than cheat on 5bite.

wow that was a long winded rant. sorry guys!!!!

so since my little weight drop- no changes. and i havent cheated either (minus the slice of pizza i had last night- but i had absolutely nothing else to eat all day on purpose so i could have it)! im actually about a few tenths of a lb heavier... so yeah. confused.
maybe im retaining some water, i have been kinda neglecting to re-fill my water bottle when i should..

still hanging in there. i had about 5 bites of a scrambled egg for breakfast today, maybe that will break the rhythm my body is in... im skipping lunch today and ill have a light dinner again tonite. - so still sticking to about 10-11 bites today.

the weight is definitely coming off slower now than it did at the start. only lost like 2.5 lbs this week... and i was trying to be as strict as possible. hmm maybe i need to do a little cardio?? still about 10 lbs to go....

any ideas???

Hey,

if you are following the rules, then i guess it's most likely just water weight. Apparently, nettle tea or rice (without salt) is supposed to help (natural diuretic) (somehow, it never works for me). Also aspargus (that stuff does work ... hihi).

I don't know if it was this forum or the old one, but I read somewhere that people were quite successful in overcoming plateaus by shifting calories (or bites). Someone i think had 5x2bites strictly for one or 2 days and then 2x10 (or sth) for one day etc. Or maybe you can shift just during the day (breakfast instead of lunch, or 3 for lunch, 7 for dinner etc.) - but i have no idea and no experience if this might help.

Good luck! Just keep going - 10lbs is nothing. A few more weeks (or days?!) and you will reach your goal

hmmm nettle tea... ive never heard of that one! ill give that a try next time im in the health food store.
I think Phil had mentioned the calorie shifting aswell- and its not a bad idea.... doesnt hurt to give it a shot!

i'll let u know how it goes.

so rather than do 5 bites lunch and dinner i did 5 bites breakfast and dinner, and it wasnt too bad during the day with hunger, BUT
one more lb lost
114 this morning. yayyyy dont know if it had anything at all to do with the calorie shifting, but im going to do breakfast and dinner again today, and then shift to lunch and dinner tomorrow and see if that shakes some weight off.

i know i said i was going to add in some weights and cardio at 115lbs, but my wrist is not 100% yet and i dont want to mess it up more. so i figure by the time its all healed up i should be 110, and then i will add in some free weights... cuz ive lost some of my muscle tone since starting this diet, and i know ill look much thinner once i start again.

WOW! 114! Keep up the good work!

hey guys,

so the diet is basically the norm now for me, its not really much effort to not eat thru the day, and when i do have lunch its not hard to stick to 5 bites, and really after about 3 im pretty full and could probably stop. i think im going to try having just 3 bites of ricotta cheese for lunch today along with some tea and see how i hold up.

breakfast and dinner 5 bites is tough, i was antsy thru the day and i was tempted to snack ALOT, but i was able to make it thru the weekend and not mess it up. on the flip side tho- i think the little hungry crisis that it puts my body in was good for the diet- stimulates the body to drop some weight

i did not weigh in today, from now on im going to report in every other day with the weights, keeps me less chained to the scale.

about the scale-- what kinda scales are u guys using? cuz i have both a digital (relatively new) and an analog (which ive been using for years), and i find that the analog is a little more accurate. I put a 3 lbs box of granola bars on both and the analog read it as 3 lbs and the digital read it as 4.5. I've been recording numbers on this blog with the analog scale, but i jumped on the digital the other day and i was like AHH NO! which was a bummer. BUT i was like u know what, if i were to have jumped on this scale to start it prob would have given me a higher starting weight too--- so as long as the lbs are reduced regardless, lbs lost are lbs lost.

Hi tea (i hope this nickname is OK ),

I am using a digital scale. Don't have an analogue one, but I think you are right: loss is loss. And if the analog scale "makes you thinner", then you should use it. In the end it's all about feeling happy and comfi in your body and I hope some day, the number won't be that important to us anymore...

Congratulations, that the 5 bites are going so well for you. I am on day 4 and today is really really tough for me. Motivates me to keep going and hope for it to become easier. I don't want to mess up.

hey kitty-
u wont mess up as long as in ur mind u still say that ur on the diet and ur not like "whatever im thru with this". Stick to it! Yesterday was kinda bad for me--- its the fridge was full, just got groceries, and i had a little struggle.. sigh... What was wierd is that i havent had a little binge like that since i started the diet- and the only thing that i did different was take a bunch of supplements right before i ate. I had ginsing, vit C, multivitamin, Ginko, Flax seed oil, cod liver oil. I usually dont eat that many, but i was like- hey i havent had em in a while, and ive been on this diet- maybe ill refill my nutrition tank a little.... i dont know if that has anything to do with appetite???? BUT i skipped dinner last night and i think im going to skip lunch to erase my damage (tho calorie wise there is no way skipping a 5 bite lunch is going to erase yesterdays mess...)

But its okay, i had my afternoon of mischief, i tasted what i wanted to taste and now its over. back on the diet as if it didn't happen. I refuse to let one day mess up all this progress ive made- and im only half way to my goal. So today is going to be a "back on the horse" day. My little brother is coming home from college today, and i know my mom is going to make a huge dinner cuz she always gets so excited- so ill figure something out for that too.

wish me luck!!

just had a REALLY small dinner last night- a few bites of rice with spinach curry and yogurt. not much in calories. i had nothing else all day except for some tea with agave, and im still working out the binge from the other day. i dont feel like im back to point 0 yet before my "food crisis" so im going to do the same today and let lunch go with just a cup of tea, and then have a very small dinner, hopefully by tomorrow i will have reset the system and can have my 5 bites twice a day again and get back on my weight loss streak like before.

ugh im never eating like that again, there is way to much to have to make up for afterwords. If i had not binged on all that stuff i would prob be down a lb these past 2 days.. motivation indeed.

I'm feelin' with you. Despite your motivational words yesterday, I had a major pig-out. But I am back to business again today. I also thought "ARGH, if i hadn't eaten sooo much yesterday, i could have lost XX lbs...", but it's too late. All I can do, is learn from it, not do it again and give me best from now on!

Good luck. Soon it will be, as if your binge never happened!!! Don't punish yourself. you are doing great!

ur absolutely right! nothing to do now but just soldier on and focus on my goal. its so great to see that others feel the same as u do sometimes, especially when those people are trying to be on the same diet and have the same struggles that you do!

thanks!

done and done, today i ate nothing but a very light 6-7 bit dinner of grilled veggies at around 8pm, and a few cups of tea with agave during the day (at 10 and 4). having my discipline back is a little empowering really. i will weigh in tomorrow and hopefullyyyy i wont see a gain (maybe a little loss?) wish me luck!

nite!

That's great! Good luck!

okay weighed in at 114 still this morning, guess i had a gain and then a loss so over time it came back to the starting point. Which atleast means that ive undone the damage. Weird that i gained that much from a one time binge... but it took 2 days to delete, so thats not EVER happening again

actually the experience has kinda put me off eating all together. I dont know, kinda weird really actually, everytime i eat the slightest thing (i just had 2 bites of ricotta cheese, and a strawberry= 3 bites total for lunch at around 4:00pm) and it just puts me in the worst emotional state. I know its not much to have eaten to begin with- i mean since when was lunch a few bites of liquefied cheese?- but i feel like "crap, now i wont lose weight today cuz i ate those 3 bites.. " I feel immediately full after putting one bite in my mouth, and i feel like the weight is back on me instantaneously... i COMPLETELY know its irrational, guess its the small meal habits that are doing it- probably more behavioral than physical. Maybe ill feel better once the numbers start going down again. Im probably just holding some residual resentment.

I remember some other post a while back said that Dr. Lewis's book said that people start the diet on "whatever food they want" snickers etc, and then they can transition to healthier foods for their 5 bites later on- cutting more calories and switching their eating another time. Maybe i will start doing that. I would have so few calories tho.. like 5 bites of a carrot stick? something needs to change tho.. I really dont believe that 300 calories a day is all a 114lb body needs to sustain itself at, i cant be plateau-ing here.

phew 113 today. Finally on the way down again after a stagnant what like 4 days or something at 114. ugh this diet is getting tiring- i only lost 2 lbs this week again, really not that much. I think its time to add in the cardio kids. this weight has to fall off faster than this, and i have to lose more fat. Starting tomorrow, I will walk on my treadmill for 30 minutes at a high incline. honestly i dont think i have the energy to RUN like i used to, but its okay- i mean its with good reason right? ha

My wrist is 99% healed up thank goodness, and in a few days i will start lifting as well- hopefully by this time next week ill be around 111/110 (no cheats this week i PROMISE), with 5 lbs to my goal and in a good mood---i love perfect worlds...

nonetheless- ive been reading other blogs and its seems like we all struggle after a point, we lose a little and then we lose control. I have to remember that this diet is not simple, and it takes alot of strength, and that all the weight didnt end up on my body over night- and its not going to come off that fast either.

I think from now on, if i feel the absolute need to binge and have a tummy that is unhappy with its overload like a loser- i will eat only veggies. Cuz the first binge i had on this diet was all carbs (muffins, bread, butter etc)- and that made me miserable and started the headaches again, and the second binge i had was mostly cheese- trying to stay away from carbs- but that wasnt better and took forever to lose that weight, i think that if i PLAN for a binge, then it will go better- at least i seem to have the control over WHAT i eat, even if the amt is a little iffy. If its only veggies then i will eat a fraction of the calories and it will not be so damaging.

People who are reading- give this a try. Try to plan what u are going to screw up with. I think admitting that its going to happen, will in the end work out more efficient that having it sneak up on u and be like BREAD! COOKIES! NOM NOM!! Hopefully i can control myself and wont binge, but i will keep it in the back of my mind- if i really start losing control- then eat ur weight in veggies.

andddd... i forgot its friday.. pizza night, will DEF make it thru tonite.

I swear Tea... I LOVE READING YOUR POSTS!

They are always so motivational, insightful and down right enjoyable to read... and your success has been brilliant...

Even though i don't know you personally... I AM SOOOO PROUD OF YOU!! - Hope to be in your frame of mind and have the same sucess as you one day!

you guys are the best! thank you so much for the encouragement!! im telling u writing this post every morning and being a part of this group, giving and getting support just makes me want to do better. I want to know how to get thru rough spots and when i see the SAME thing happen to people a day later i just want get thru it together-- and if u read ANY journal up here, everyone struggles sometime.

I dont personally know any of u, but i feel like this silly diet is really unifying, and im grateful for it. It makes things a little easier, and I know that in the morning, in order to be totally honest with the blog and with my own self-reflection- i would have to face myself when writing this and i have to be unashamed of yesterdays progress. I dont think i've ever felt so much love from people i've never met in my whole life.

Thanks guys, tho kinda silly to say, this blog is 50% of my motivation, and the rest comes from the "tight" jeans that are now "lose" jeans, and the fact that i can see my hip bones again!!


-- ps. will get thru dinner tonite... and then i will walk for 30 minutes.

I'm new to the board, today is my first day on this diet. I too enjoy tea and am drinking organic decaff green tea right now. Great job on what you've accomplished so far! I am wanting to get down to the 110-115 range. Thanks for the inspiration!

LC

welcome to the forum!! tea is the best! i must drink like 2-3 cups a day. tee hee

i did NOT weigh in today, BUT i skipped the friday dinner (a skip on pizza is a HUGE struggle for me-- i love it tooooo much) so hopefully i will see a loss tomorrow which would be super awesome. Im presently in the library studying so i will be able to avoid the fridge today and my overly-distracting siblings that i love so much --> leads to conversation snacking.. sigh.

omg if i get down past 112- i will FINALLY be where i was about 3 years ago weight wise- before the stress eating/school related munching started. motivation to reach that next goal of 110 sooner rather than later!

anywhoooo- will update on progress tomorrow <-- pirate style? argh!
take care little nibblers.

AHHHH 112.5 --> 2.5 lbs till the next goal!

horrayy!!!!

People have been writing about the emotional detox they are going thru- edgyness, grumpyness, aggravation and dissapointment. i get like that too and im like BE A WINNER! and snap out of it. but its so strange that it happens.

It has a lot to do with serotonin levels in addition to the toxin release. Eating is more than just a physical response to hunger, its an emotional comfort as well (duh). In that transient happy feeling, our bodies release serotonin and we are able to "cope" (kinda). Thats the reason for chocolate eating during that time of the month, or why mac and cheese hits the spot when
ur feeling crummy. When u don't have that comfort hit, esp when ur stressed out, u get a serotonin dip. Your own discipline is whats keeping u from going for a nice yummy meal, and ur body is retaliating cuz it knows it feels nice and wants u to go for the good stuff!

Of course this is in addition to fat loss which is releasing chemicals and toxins into ur body- but probably less so, because those 5 bites that we eat are not pure carrot sticks and goodness with no preservatives, they are usually 5 bites of something normal with all the chemicals that we're used to.

dropped some physiology on u. ha sorry. im such a nerd.

No, I think you are totally right! When my chemicals are needing a boost I go running! I love it. It's like meditating and it boosts seratonin. Unless it's a low because of female troubles then I reach for the chocolate But I think in moderation thats okay too. This last week (even though I did not stick to the diet, and before I caught this cold/ flu stuff) I went running like three different days and did some boxing and I felt so much better. That is something I am deffinately going to keep up this time around on the diet. I didn't do any excercise before an dI think I need it for my sanity even if it doesn't help with the weight loss SOO much.

annnnnnd the hunger monster came out.... today i had a day of semi-bad lunch which i was WELL GUILTY for, followed by a semi good dinner--- which i was accepting of, to snacking after dinner, which now i feel downright CRUMMY about!!! what?! i never DO THAT!!!!! ugh. but there u have it. At least it was just some cheddar cheese, strawberries, and walnuts.. at least it was nutritious stuff and not carbs and crap.

omg so honestly i feel like i gained 10 lbs just now, and my stomach is distended and im freakishly miserable. i would love to say that i dont know why i did it- BUT that would be a lie. I was 112ish this morning and i felt weak and tired, BUT i felt like the weight was off so i felt happy. I ate a few bites for lunch and then i felt physically better, and then one thing led to the other and after an afternoon of hanging out with the fam i ate WAY more than i should have. Social eating. That's what happened. AND IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN

im really disappointing myself and i cant believe that i was so weak. I know that i can do better than this, and im really scared that the weight is going to come back.

tomorrow i will fast on coffee ONLY and hopefully undo this. I will not get on the scale till wednesday, and by wednesday i WILL have lost at least 1 more lb regardless of this little side step.

screw serotonin.... crummmyyyyy

I'm sorry Tea. That sucks. Try not to beat yourself up too much. Maybe this can be something you learn from. Besides you aren't going to just eat five bites forever. Soon you will have to find that happy medium where you are full but don't gain the weight back. If you gain from today you will know that this particular volume is too much. But I don't think you have blown the whole diet after one day. Hang in there.