Granny – From what I’ve seen it looks to be pretty common for many people, including myself, to gain back 2 or 3 pounds on the cheat days. But if you start another cycle right after that you usually drop those pounds in the first few days.

I just completed my first 11 days and lost 11.2 lbs. I’m worried that over the next 3 days I will gain some or all of it back.. what has been others experience with the “3 chat days”?
thank you for your input
Granny

– Had not been dieting for a while. On Friday, Oct 30 weight was 141.(?)
– Pigged out over the weekend
– Tues, Nov 3, Weight 144.4, started diet: MEAL 1, 9AM 1 egg, 1 strip turkey bacon
MEAL 2, 12:30PM, 2 slices cantalop, bunch grapes, 6 strawberries, 4 Tbls lite whip creme
MEAL 3, 5:30PM, 3 slices lunch meat roast beef slices (on 1 slice lite pumpernike, that was not on the diet), small green salad with lite balsamic vinigar dressing.
MEAL 4, 8PM, 1 oz cheese; 9 oz red wine

– Wed, Nov 4, Weight 141.2: MEAL 1, 8AM Strawberries, apple, cantalope & grapes
MEAL 2, 11:30am SAME
MEAL 3, 3pm SAME
MEAL 4, 7PM 1/2 plain bagel w/4 slices ham,
10PM 8 oz red wind.

– Thurs, Nov 5, Weight 140: MEAL 1, 8:45AM, 1 oz cheese, 1/2 cup cottage cheese
MEAL 2, 12noon, 7 shrimp w/cocktail sauce, 7 cashew, can green beans
MEAL 3, 4:30PM, 1 cup frozen yogurt;
MEAL 4 7PM, 1 filet of chicken cooked in crock pot with spices.

– Fri, Nov 6, Weight 141.4: MEAL 1, 9:30AM, 2 scrambled eggs
MEAL 2, 12:30PM, 1 kiwi, 2 bowls pinto beans with barbeque sauce & garlic salt
Skipped a meal, did not have time
MEAL 3, 6pm 1 filet tilapia (in place of tuna salad)
7pm/10:30pm total of 10 oz red wine

– Saturday, Nov 7, Weight 140.4: MEAL 1, 9:30AM, ¾ cup cottage cheese, 5 macadamia nuts
MEAL 2, 1:30pm, 2 strips turkey bacon, 2 scrambled eggs (pan sprayed w/ PAM, Molly McButter for flavor)
MEAL 3, 4:30PM, 5 slices peach, large bunch grapes
MEAL 4, 7PM cashews (unrecorded amount), 3 oz cheese, 2 olives, 1 tortilla chip (we were watching the football game, I ate a chip and didn’t keep up with the cashew amount)
15 oz red wine

– Sunday, Nov 7, Weight 142.2!!!! — Why does this happen? This happens all the time. It goes up and down, and today I actually weight 1 lb more than I did Oct. 30th.

I’m always surprised now at just how fast I get to satisfied. I had half a chicken breast and some cottage cheese with a handful of peanuts for supper and had to stop before I finished because I was getting uncomfortable. Too big portion sizes has always been a problem for me and really having to notice your satisfaction level is helping me so much. Knowing that you only have to wait 2.5 hours to eat again if you get hungry also helps a lot.

I haven’t tried sausage since starting this. Although I love fatty foods (as shown by the fact I need to lose so much weight) but it always seems so fatty that I just hate the feeling of eating it. So, that turkey kalbasa sounds like a good alternative to me. I might just try it. Although, I do think that bacon is my happy place and what keeps me sane throughout this process. Bacon and cheese. Oh, and frozen yogurt.

Diane – as far as I know, isn’t a glass of red wine a day suppose to be a fairly good thing?

I eat the Turkey bacon because frankly I like it more than regular. I’ve heard nutricianists say, however, its really bad for you because the sodium content is so high. Again, since I don’t eat more than 1 (and rarely 2) slices at a setting, I don’t worry about that too much.

Okay, my down-fall, true confession here, although I do follow the menus very closely and do not over-indulge, I am a big fan of good red wine. I lived in Italy for some years and became very close friends with a small, family run, award winning vintner. So, while I consider a “glass” of wine to be 5 oz–I usually have 2 to 2 -1/2 glasses in the evening (about 10 – 12 oz). The one vice I have a very difficult time giving up.

Diane – Terrible day. So why don’t you change it? If you look at the plan closely, the outline of how it works that is, you’ll notice that it just says “protein meal,” “carbs / protein meal,” etc… That means that you can substitute here. Nuts are protein so if you don’t want cashews and cheese slices, then make that meal bacon and cheese slices, or turkey and cheese slices. It’s a lot more satisfying and you still lose the weight. Just remember to stop at satisfaction.

I’ve found three meal plans that I like and I just rotate them. You can’t always trust that a lottery chance generator is going to give you a meal plan that will work for you. Make it work for you!

Hope that helps.

Janice – Good job. Sounds like you are right on track this cycle.

Question: For those of you that choose Bacon & Sausage for your plans. Are you eating like your normal bacon & sausage? I am eating Turkey Bacon and for sausage I eat cut up pieces of Turkey Kielbasa. Normal bacon & sausage just seemed so fatty to me.

As far as my Chili goes. I’m going to make it tomorrow and this will be my first time. Veggie day is quite tough for me so if I have items in my chili that are not on our list oh well. I like spicy food so I’m going to make mine with: Jalapeno peppers, Red & Green peppers, Celery, Pinto Beans, Can of Diced Tomatoes, 6 ounces spicy vegetable juice, couple of garlic cloves, chili powder, cumin. Hopefully it will taste good.

Today is going to be the WORST day. I just looked at my menu plan, and this is the worst plan I’ve ever been given. Wishe me luck: MEAL 1 – Cashews, Cheese slices; MEAL 2 – Cottage Cheese, Macadamia nuts; MEAL 3 – Peaches, Grapes; MEAL 4 – Bacon, Hard Boiled Eggs.

Diane – the recipe for the chili is pretty simple. We didn’t discuss it in detail but basically you take whatever veggies you can from the list and simmer them in fresh tomatoes with herbs and some hot peppers then add pinto beans. Since onions aren’t on the list I used onion powder. I also used chili powder and celery powder, which made it delicious! The pinto beans are a little different to eat than the kidney beans, different consistancy, but just knowing that you’re on plan helps with the difference.

Sitting in the bed catching up on the news this Saturday morning before heading into chores. Hubby is sitting beside me eating a cinnamon roll–I hate him and his tall, lean body!!!!

Mike, I still want detailed instructions on your chili. I’m excited to make it, but will totally screw it up w/o explanation, I think.

Big Sexy – Crazy numbers! 11 lbs is simply amazing! Cycle #1 is usually where you bust out the big numbers. Remember not to indulge too much over your cheat days because its very easy to slip back on 3-4 of those hard lost pounds. Keep posting on your next cycle. You’ll be tired of the food so talking to us will definitely help you stay on track.

Mee – 5 lbs in 5 days? That’s right on track!

Mike – That chili will make your day so much easier. Just remember to use all fresh veggies and no canned stuff. That was my mistake. I was also thinking about trying a little pinto bean wrap this time around. Follow me here… large lettuce leafs that you can use like a tortilla, mushed and fried pinto beans used like refried beans, salsa, peppers, spices, and some cheese to top it off. It might just work! I know I’m doing it for one meal on veggie day. I’m thinking one salad meal, one wrap meal, and two chili meals. Wayyyy better than just munching veggies all day.

Diane – I’ve had a problem with eating disorders in the past so I get where you’re coming from. I’ve yo-yoed all my life and I finally reached 276 lbs and just felt like my life had slipped away from me. The doctors told me that I would have a hard time losing weight for the rest of my life because of hypothyroidism but since finding this diet I have lost weight quickly and efficiently. I finally feel like I’m getting back to being me even though I’ve only lost 13 lbs. It just feels like I’m working towards something now rather than sitting stagnant.

Ok… enough chatter. Time to do the evil dishes.

Mee – I agree. 5 lbs in 5 days is pretty awesome. Remember most diets you are doing great if you are loosing 1-2 pounds every 7 days.

Big Sexy – Very awesome numbers. Proud of you !!

Salena – sounds like you and your daughter are off to a great start. You guys must have fast metabolisms. I don’t think I could achieve very good weight loss numbers if I did not do my daily walking.

Janice – .4 is a loss. Good job. Keep it going. Some days will be better than others.

Myself – Starting day 5. So far I’m down 4 lbs this cycle. Was dreading the upcoming veggie day. But I went out and bought a bunch of stuff to make veggie chili. So now I’m kind of anxious to try it.

Good luck to all and keep it going. You all are doing a great job !!!