Well here I go!

Wow, I disappear for only four days, and in that time you bare your soul and raise questions and thoroughly inspire us. And I wasn't here to encourage you and cheer you on. I'm so Sorry.

But WOW, again. What you've pulled through and made of yourself is glorious!!

By the Bye, I am right about "Men" but we're always working on something (as are ladies), and thus we're distracted. We need "gentle" reminders that we're part of this species, and that we only do our very best when we put relationships and the hearts of others (and ourselves) at the uppermost. I'm sorry that "gentle" Almost Always means never saying it outright. Men can be seduced into ANYTHING -- and I'm NOT talking about bed -- and that includes "maturity" and "nurturing." We definitely do better when we realize (as though we thought of it ourselves) that it's in our own best interest.

Now, along the lines of Snow's & Mommie's recommendations, I agree you should approach whatever you can plan as "PORTION CONTROL." Okay, so you're at 3 Meals. Good. Now, pick a NUMBER of "Bites" that will be CONSTANT for every meal. You are doing This Diet when you do that.

The "plate theory" of the "No S Diet" seems fine, but I know how TALL I can Stack a plate. I could make a burger with Three Patties and Four slices of Cheese and Bacon and Tomato and Mild Green Chilies and a Slice of Avocado and complete it on a gluten-free Bun,... and make it ALL SIT Comfortably on a small dessert plate. The fact that I couldn't open my mouth wide enough for a Full Bite (and I have a BIG MOUTH), would mean nothing as long as I permitted myself to simply empty the plate -- let's say it takes me 28 Bites -- If I only allow myself 12 Bites I wouldn't get through HALF of the Burger. And at "5 Bites," less than a quarter of it.

So, in keeping with "the Spirit" of 5 Bites, let's say you choose 15 Bites per meal, Three times a day. Work with That EXACT amount for Three Days and your Hungerstat is SET. No Hunger. Continue with that Number of Bites for One Week and then Weigh-In. Did you Lose a pound or two? Great. Stayed the same? Shift to 13 Bites for one week and Weigh-In again.

See, we're in this for the long haul. There's no need to re-invent the wheel. When you find YOUR NUMBER, stick with that Number, Like the whole book was written for you. The "15 Bite Diet" or the "13 Bite Diet". [NOTE: I know from experience that I can eat an ENTIRE "Baja Fresh" Burrito in TEN "comfortable" BITES ("big mouth"), and I know from television that that kid, Jared, ate the "Same Sized" Sub Sandwich at "Subway" for every meal (Lunch & Dinner --Sound Familiar?!?), losing 245 pounds in the process. THAT is the Magic of PORTION CONTROL.

You KNOW the process. You KNOW it's Effective. Now, just enjoy.

I'll come back to discuss "Skin" later today, but I must be off.

Blessings,

Marc

Okay. Skin. A body ORGAN (like your internal ones -- only this one's partly "external") made up of cells.

Our bodies, being Brilliant Beyond our capacity to do this stuff consciously, read the environment and re-make themselves in whole and in part over different periods of time.

They (who's "They"?) say the outer layer of skin remains with us only 24 to 48 hours as it sloughs off continuously to be replaced with the cells rising from below.

As we gain bulk (in fat pads AND/OR enormous muscle), the body "reads" a DEMAND for more Skin Cells. The dividing of Skin-Organ Cells (to create enough to keep us covered) goes into temporary Overdrive until we plateau in weight, when the speed slows -- though we're Then responsible to keep making enough at the Higher level of our new girth.

When we LOSE WEIGHT the body is "reading" just as hard and as well. It KNOWS what it has to cover but now it's got all these EXTRA skin cells which are healthy enough to continue to divide, so as to reproduce. By whatever means it can, it begins to "cut-off" the nutrient supply to cells that it is getting rid of. Fewer cells divide, as they rise to the outer layer.

And yes, this takes time. But it's Always happening. Someone who loses 100 pounds of fat in two months will have what appears to be extra skin. Can't help that. But at the end of those same two months of weight loss, the Human Skin of that person has reduced as well. If we could magically inject All the Fat back into their pre-weightloss tissues, there would be 15 to 20 pounds of Fat that just Couldn't be crammed in anywhere, because there is NOW not enough SKIN to contain it.

I hope I'm being clear.

It might take up to a year for the skin to reformulate into a semblance of tight -- but it will happen!!

BUT THERE IS ALSO HOPE for a better (quicker) outcome. There are things that may speed (or streamline) the process. Now, there are folks out there who'll try to sell creams and ointments -- I don't really know about them but I don't trust them. But here are a couple things that will DEFINITELY help.

1) STAY Hydrated. Just the old-saw standard of Eight 8 oz glasses of liquid a day (if it's a diuretic fluid, like coffee or tea, add some Extra water). Water is what carries nutrients to all cells and is the basis of all our internal liquids. Maybe add a no calorie sports drink now and then to maintain electrolytes.

2) Exercise to build Muscle Tissue -- NOT to the point of Body-building. Just Resistance. Not necessarily weights; maybe calisthenics. You're just filling the skin organ with some "new" healthy tissue. The fact that you could become strong enough to climb out of a tiger pit is just an added bonus.

3) Sleep. A Lot. 8 to 9 hours Minimum in as dark a room as you can make it.. The Human Growth Hormone that is activated by good foods and exercise is released from the pituitary gland in highest concentration as we produce melatonin (only during sleep) and cascade that into prolactin.

4) Dry brush your body (with a SOFT bristle brush on a long handle) TWICE a day. If yours is a "normal" 48 hour turnaround for skin-cell regeneration, this will speed things up (your body "reads" its environment, remember). Do this LIGHTLY. No irritation should result. Point of fact you shouldn't notice THIS working any more than you realize you're already losing an entire layer of skin every 1 to 2 days (ummm,... you Haven't really noticed this have you?). And clean the brush often.

So know that we're not out to create Saran Wrap out of our skin, but it's Always adjusting to the demands we make of it.

Blessings,

Marc

eye opeing.. lol.. Thank you Marc :

Hi ElleBella,

The Big Guy and I are keeping your liver situation a top-subject in our random chats. Let us know how the physician appt. works out.

So are you a retro '50s nut too? Are you more a fan of the stream-lined "modern" or the "chunky" mid-western of the period?

Glad you had fun.

And your eating sounds "plan-perfect"

Blessings,

Marc

Debbie, sorry to hear about your Gerd's man I wish you could just be magically healed, well you can, but I am praying that for you.

Marc very interesting information about skin. You are very knowledgeable on so many levels. I am a HUGE water drinker and love to exercise so maybe that's why my skin is not sagging. I do need to scrub the dead skin off though.. Anyway great information..

Is she making a mess and not cleaning it up when she gets her snack. This sounds like a problem I would love to have....my 15 and 10 year old go sit at the table and say "Mom, I'm hungry." Maybe that's just them being little men and your daughter is being an independent young woman...it's in her spirit.

Debbie I can't remember if you told us your dd's age but my almost 7yr old is a little mommy who likes to have a smart mouth and tell her little sis what to do and she sounds so mean when telling her. I can't say I'm not one for spanking, just my opinion, I feel like there are times when they need to be taught a little lesson. Now abuse- uncalled for- I can not figure out for the life of me what an infant or toddler can do to someone that deserves a sever beating but a small pop on the bum or hand I believe in. Time out does not work for either of my kids and with my 3yr old popping doesn't seem to bother her either. In all honesty I think my kids act really horrible in public and stuff but I always get told how well behaved they are and sometimes I think yes compared to some they are really well behaved. I wished time out worked as it would save on the long lectures and poppings they get at times.

Good going on your 1lb loss and I'm glad you are working on getting things in your tummy worked out. I love to watch househunters international.. I would love to move to a beach front or even Scotland, it's such a beautiful place.

Good job on the loss!!!! Planning food is a great idea! Have a super 5 bite day!!!!

Debbie I have started with Zaina giving her choices and reminding her of her choices, because once they get older all the early discipline has straighten them out some what. Zaina is pretty well behaved but the 3 yr old is a little terror sometimes. Zaina's just got into this smart mouth mommy stage as I mentioned above.. Anyway it sounds like you had a lovely, yet tiring, day yesterday.

I have struggled with that, too...I can't wait too long either. We have to eat on a schedule or I just can't do it. Don't feel bad about it....it's natural! So happy about your husband's visit. That is awesome and I understand you being stressed and wanting things to be perfect. Have a great 5 bite day! ; )))))))))))))

Hi all.. sorry I will be back tomorrow.. my man just got back in town.. K.. hugs

Hey...

You visited my journal, so I thought I'd stop by and say hello in yours!

Wanted to express my compassion and understanding and support for all of the trials you have gone through, and are going through. I relate so much. I'm also a cancer survivor, and have been dealing with a complicated medical history my whole life. Things aren't settled - at all! Working through some of those issues right now, but I just can't wait any longer to lose all of this weight and move forward! (Or, maybe it's the only thing that gives me a sense of control when everything else is such a mess!)

Anyway, I'm bad at being kind to myself when I am not well. I just push, push, push through. What about you? I'm hoping, with all you're going through, that you can stop for a moment and do something really nice for yourself. You deserve it!!

The fact that you've been dealing with all you're dealing with and not gaining weight... AMAZING.

Great to "meet" you!!

PS - Glad other people were posting within your journal about the saggy skin thing. It's DEFINITELY a worry for me... Thanks to all!