Debbie Cousins's Journal, 29 August 2022

Well, week #9 completed. Lost 1.4 pounds this week, for which I'm thankful. But, my greedy little self would have liked it to be more. Not bad, though, considering I had a half of a serving of creme brulee every day for four of those days! My goal for last week was to keep my calories under 1,500/day, which I did every day until yesterday. I indulged in 9 almonds in the afternoon, bringing my daily total from 1,545 to 1,600. It was a decision I wrestled back and forth before making. I decided that, since it didn't adversely affect my weekly average goal, it was okay.

My daily calorie average for the week ended up being 1,517, the lowest I have had in the nine weeks. I'm noticing a direct correlation between my daily caloric intake and the number of pounds I'm losing on the scale:

Week #1 - didn't track calories - lost 2.8#
Week #2 - 1,716 lost 4.4#
Week #3 - 1,791 lost 0.8#
Week #4 - 1,667 lost 1.6#
Week #5 - 1,741 lost 0.2#
Week #6 - 1,592 lost 1.8#
Week #7 - 1,533 lost 1.6#
Week #8 - 1,681 lost 1.8#
Week #9 - 1,517 lost 1.4#

Except for the first and second weeks, where my weight loss was much higher because of cutting back on Diet Coke and beginning drinking water, when I average in the 1,700's, I only lost (0.8 pounds and 0.2 pounds). My sweet spot seems to be in the 1,500-1,600's, where I have lost 1.4 pounds to 1.8 pounds each of those five weeks.

This week, I'm going to increase my caloric intake to the mid to high 1,600's to keep my metabolism guessing, and not let it reach a set point that is too low for me to be able to maintain.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged me along the way this week. I appreciate your support and kind comments.

This week's menu will be homemade BBQ and coleslaw on hamburger buns (which I pinch the bread out of the center to reduce calories). We'll have that today and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday we will have Chinese Casserole. Friday will be leftover spaghetti that I have frozen. Saturday and Sunday will be T.G.I Friday's Chicken (chicken smothered with mushrooms, Monterey Jack cheese and French fried onion rings). Veggies this week will be cooked carrots, squash with Vidalia onions, butter beans and a generous amount of onions, colored sweet peppers and celery in the Chinese casserole. Fruits will be watermelon, cantaloupe and cherries.

Planning ahead seems to really help me stay on track!

242.2 lb Lost so far: 16.8 lb.    Still to go: 92.2 lb.    Diet followed 100%.

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1601 kcal

Fat: 76.98g | Prot: 48.98g | Carb: 195.42g.   Breakfast: Dave's Killer Bread Good Seed Bread, Butter. Lunch: Lay's Classic Potato Chips (1 chip), Hamburger Bun (center picked out), Farm Rich Pork BBQ (1/3 cup), Chick-Fil-A Coleslaw (1/3 cup). Dinner: Butter (Salted), Dave's Killer Bread Good Seed Bread, Cooked Immature Lima Beans (from Fresh, Fat Added in Cooking). Snacks/Other: Dark Sweet Cherries (14), Cooked Summer Squash (Fat Added in Cooking), Trader Joe's Cantaloupe Slices, Watermelon. more...