FluffyChix

*drool

So protein need is calculated 1 of 2 ways and they are both very similar (within grams). Due weight is made up of "ideal weight" from the archaic insurance charts that calculates it as a formula (for women): 100lbs for the first 5 feet; 5lbs for every inch over 5 feet. So for you being 5'6" then your due weight = 130lbs. It can also be figured on LBM (lean body mass=no fat, only lean mass which includes bones, vessels, arteries, etc). You can go calculate that. There are several sites that offer calculators. But your LBM is probably close to 105lbs-ish at ideal weight. To calculate protein needs you can use 0.6-1.2g/kg of body weight. For you, it would likely be around 0.8g/kg. So take your due weight 136lbs divided by 2.2lbs/kg to get your weight in kg = 59kg Your protein need is: 59kg X 0.8g/kg = 47g per day minimum up to 70g per day on the upper limit. People who need that upper limit are: People who are old (over 75) People who are sick People who are malnourished If your nutrition panel shows your albumin and pre-albumin are low People who are recovering from injury or surgery Any protein over your needs is stored as energy. About 50% of protein is converted to glucose. So it isn't just about carbs, but it's about the total picture. Are you overnourished?

Congrats. No excuses. Take no prisoners. Get off your bum, and walk every hour for at least 5 minutes. Your ass and the blood clots you won't get will thank you for it. Trust me, you're eating sooo few calories that you are in ketosis and your body has an unlimited smorgasborg of fat strapped to your body to use for fuel for living and your walk. I was walking about 30-60 minutes per day right after surgery in 5 minute snippets!

No Satan @GreenTealael, I would not. Now get thee behind me! Only the scale will tell tomorrow morning.

Yes. What they said. ((hugs)). Welcome to the world of menopausal women (especially). I truly believe most of us are more prone to IR and to less metabolic flexibility. Also, the KIND of carbs count. If you took an equal number of carbs composed from leafy greens, maybe some broccoli and avocado? Chances are you wouldn't have had a weight spike. But the taco shell, crackers, chippy stuff are all highly available and calorie dense sources that enter the blood stream very quickly. It causes an insulin and bg spike and boomshackalaka - instant glycogen/water glomming occurs. (I also think your protein is a little high for your activity level and size. I think it should be closer to around 60ish (if it were me--and it is... )

Holy cow! I heart that pic! Did you shuck em? They are the perfect size too! Oh hold me. I don't eat raw oysters anymore (Gulf Coast) and all the other ones are so damn expensive per dozen...

Stop it! So you're making it now? I swear, just go make the mocha and coffee version. Add any flavor of Premier Protein. I just had the caramel open, but would have used chocolate otherwise. And tell me what you think? I loved adding the cinnamon, cayenne, and turmeric to the hot coffee and cocoa mix! I can't believe you've been able to break up with clearlax. Be still my heart! I'm hoping chia isn't the reason for my uptick in weight at the beginning of the week. I'd been flatlined between 136 and 138. Then suddenly went up to 141! But now I'm back to 138...le sigh.

I'm double posting this cuz it's that good! The yogurt, blueberries and walnuts are optional. But they sure are delish! Mocha Caramel Chia Pudding with Blueberries and Walnuts. So rich and creamy! Using the hot coffee to swell the chia seeds makes them puff almost instantly! Just add coffee and keep stirring! TY @GreenTealael for sharing the secret to chia success!!! Woot!

The corruption continues from @GreenTealael: I give you Mocha Caramel Chia Pudding with all sorts of healthy crap inside it, AND then I had to top it with more healthy stuff (blueberries and walnuts). LOL. Tea you were right. Hot liquid is the bomb-diggity dog! Instant chia bloom! (Yogurt is optional--it's sweeter without it, but it gave it more protein). I'll take a pic later when the sun comes up. (Ok, I couldn't wait--clearly no fasting this morning. So. Dang. Good!)

No. But apparently I'm very happy hugging you...

Why does this little guy have to look so pervy?

Stylin!!! Love that you are so coordinated!!!

Dang, I gotta post. This was SOOOO filling! I have lunch for days. The before is gonna be 2 meals, then I still have 2 meals of tuna left, and 5 meals of the cucumber salad left and can just add the leafy greens to each salad. It's not often I have leftovers. I call this Spicy Tuna on Cucumber Salad with Arugula, Baby Spinach and Lime! Ole! Ha. Can you tell I loved it from all the angles? And I had AFTERS! LOL! And drumroll please...what was left as an AFTER?

Here was my first year. MUCH more spikey than @Cheeseburgh's beautifully smooth graph!!! This was from SD at 222.4 to beyond my first goal of 150lbs that I set. My doc's goal for me was 160lbs. My RDs goal for me was 156lbs. I think I hit that around the 9-10 month? Slow and steady wins the race. This time next year, you won't believe your progress--if you work it! And here's the graph from around 2/14 of this year to now, trying to hit my Goal #3 (which my doc and RD both say is never gonna happen--I think they've jinxed me cuz my body appears to be pretty happy floating between 136-141lbs. Today I'm at 138 and 27% body fat. I will not be defeated. I will figure it out and get to Goal #3 of 130lbs. As God is my witness!!! LOL. #obsessed

God. You're in real people clothes??!!! #notworthy

Well today is actually an improvement over other days. I'm wearing a pair of jersey shorts in a size medium like you wear over a leotard. A ratty grey sweatshirt from a different millenia in a size 3x. A belt to sling my ipod holster on so there's no step left behind. My iphone. A pair of reigndeer slippers (fake). And a smile. There's a new sheriff round these parts. Cuz it looks like I'm wearing a gun slinger belt. LOL. Pics or you're not wearing it!

Guys this was SUCH a hard thing to realize. There are only a few who lose 20lbs the first month, but it feels like literally everybody and their brother were losing that fast except me. Try your hardest not to compare. You're doing great. Stay the course! Try to seek peace and patience...easier said than done.

Great point about going by labs and diet components! Also, have been wondering about the K2 loop. How much would or do you supplement?

My weight loss picked up the moment i was able to get real food (protein + fiber in veg) in me and reduce the protein shake consumption. I still had one or a partial in the morning, but food the rest of the day. Some don't do well with the insulin factor from the protein shakes. Hang in there. It gets better. I get the whole contipation thing and soreness...but you must move. Even 5 minutes of walking in your house. Take baby steps. Forget a C25K. You're not there yet. Live in reality. Small steps daily, consistently...not big grand gestures/movements. Before you know it, you will be walking 10K per day and will be ready to think about a C25K. Swearsies!!!

My vitamins per my RD: 1 bariatric multi or 2 regular multis 1500mg calcium citrate 500mg b12 sublingual 18mg iron The following is not for everyone--just cuz of my bloodwork right now: 2000mg d3 100mg b complex (1-2 per week) 400mg magnesium citrate

We all have such different plans. My RD wanted me closer to 1000-1200cals. But my doc has had no probs with me being in the range of 600-850 during the losing phase.

I had the RNY and take 1500mg of Calcium Citrate daily.

Wow. Sorry you are struggling. Don't know who told you 3-500cals. That might have been true at 3-4 weeks? But I think the biggest majority of us have cals during the losing mode of 600-850cals/day--very loose average. Maintenance for me is around 1000cals. Even at 900cals my loss if painfully slow negligible. But, we are all different and have different TEE (Total Energy Expenditure). It could be so many things: hormones, medications, genetics, nutritional components, calories, sleep, stress, physical activity/exercise, age, alcohol/caloric drink consumption. You've lost 17 pound in about 12 weeks. That's about 1.4lbs/week which is a little on the low side. The average weekly weight loss is 2-4lbs in the early losing phases. Are you maximizing everything YOU can contribute to this journey? (ie everything within your control) What does your doctor say about your progress/situation?

Just saw this in @allwet's update and it needs to be shared here. Why? Cuz, come on...don't we all know? Top 5 Things to Decrease Hunger During IF: 1. More Sleep - ghrelin (hunger hormone) goes up with lack of sleep--makes you want to eat more! Leptin (appetite suppression hormone) goes down. Helps hormonally control appetite=easier IF (7-8hrs of sleep). 2. Eating More Fiber - fiber passes through tum undigested and takes longer to move through it. (beans, avocado, veggies). Feeling full will make it harder to eat/snack=easier IF. Especially eat high fiber in last meal of day! 3. Proteins and fats - eating more proteins/fats help you feel more satiety for a longer time = harder to eat/binge during IF. Highly processed carbs make you hungrier and make you binge. 4. Exercising - helps increase negative energy balance, muscle growth, building cardio health. But also helps hormone increase Peptide YY (PYY) and Glucolike Peptide 1 (GLP-1) and they suppress appetite. Gimme a P! Gimme a Y! Gimme another Y! With a side of G-L-P-1!!! What's that spell? Weight loss and appetite suppression! Yay! And also exercise caused ghrelin (hunger hormone) to decrease! 5. Drinking water (drinking sparkling water--shhhh--there-there...) - 1.5lts of water a day suppressed appetite. But we know that is a bare minimum. Sparkling water adds the fizzle and sends electrical signals that believes cals might be coming in...so tum is fooled and is full. (It's been such a long time...*sniff* *sob*)