<p>don’t forget NMINN’s hubby and ice skating. I bet he’s the one feelin’ it the most!</p>
<p>24 degrees is too cold for me. I wouldn’t even go for a 5K walk/jog, let alone running for over 2 hours! MOWC and her daughter are animals! :)</p>
<p>yes, ice skating, blankminds running training, and BC’s tennis, along with everyone else’s great efforts!</p>
<p>I have plateaued on my weight loss, despite really, really disciplined eating, weighing, measuring and logging. I have been way under 100g of net carbs a day for weeks now, usually somewhere between 40 and 60. I am pretty frustrated, although at this point given my bloodwork etc. it is mainly a cosmetic/vanity thing. </p>
<p>Anyway, I went back to the Taubes book to look for some insights. As a result, I am trying to radically low carb it for a while to see if I can get some results with that. Also eliminating cream and nuts, and keeping cheese to no more than 2 oz. a day. No alcohol, no caffeine except for minimal amounts in tea. No fruit, 2 cups greens, no more than 1 cup of other non-starchy vegetables a day.</p>
<p>Even with this, the stray carbs add up. Protein shakes have a few, as do my milk substitutes, almond and coconut milk. I am perplexed on how people are able to do under 20g a day. It seems almost impossible.</p>
<p>Today’s food:</p>
<p>Protein shake</p>
<p>3 egg omelette with small amout (less than 1 ounce) goat cheese </p>
<p>2 cups kale sauteed in bacon
.5 lb cooked shrimp in curried coconut milk sauce</p>
<p>smoked salmon (quarter pound)</p>
<p>^^^^ With that diet, I’d be starving to death. And I only weigh 103 to begin with.</p>
<p>I’d also be quite constipated, but that might be TMI.</p>
<p>CJANE:</p>
<p>If I recall, aren’t you very near your target weight? My attitude is that, if I’m eating well and exercising well and I’m in the ballpark and fitting in my pants, then it is what it is. I’m not going to stave myself to lose five more pounds just to hit some arbitrary number. At a certain point, continuing to cut calories and exercise hard becomes a negative – although it looks like you are probably getting enough calories and certainly enough protein! </p>
<p>I need more veggies than that, which is why I would never be able to get down to those crazy low carb numbers.</p>
I am not attempting to cut calories, per se. Just carbs.
I really hope to be able to reintroduce the veggies, as well as some fruit.
I am not hung up on a number, since I do have a tendency to be able to put on muscle, so I am not going to be ruled by the scale, but I am really frustrated at not being able to shed these last 10-15 lbs. whatever the exact number might be.
I have been really pleased at my ability to stick to the “paleo lower carb” thing and like the fact that I am never hungry, but I don’t appreciate not looking as “fit” as I am.
I can’t think of anything else to do but cut the carbs way low and see if I experience weight loss. Then if I do reach my “goal weight” start reintroducing carbs and see what I can maintain. If staying at a certain weight requires Herculean effort, then it is not meant to be.
That is a bridge to be crossed later, the question now is can I lose some more or am I (for whatever reason) destined to be stuck at this place?
<p>That is your food for the day?</p>
Assuming one slice of bacon for the kale, and a half-cup of coconut milk for the curry sauce and 1 scoop of protein powder in water, I’m getting in the range of 1250 to 1300 calories, plugging it into MyPlate. Very low carb (30g or so).
That’s probably lower than sustainable for CJANE based on her pretty intensive exercise, but probably not crazy low on a short term trial to see if she can lose weight. I would never be able to last at those calorie levels or at 30 g of carbs!
<hr>
Speaking of calories: I’m making Marcela Hazan’s Italian red wine pot roast again today. It’s 21 degrees here and a damn good day for pot roast! Plus, the last time I made it, all the leftover sauce made killer beef veggie soup!
I’m serving it with my bacon sauteed brussels sprouts in Marsala wine in place of the more conventional boiled potatoes…
Weekly trip to Marshalls found a Nike 3 inch inseam running short at a very attractive price. The problem was pockets - there was only an interior pocket that would fit a latest generation iPod but not my older iPod Nano. I thought about upgrading my iPod but then I wondered about the headphone cord on the inside - that’s why I prefer exterior pockets.
Maybe most people use arm-bands for their iPods today. I tried one of them out but it was soaked after one run and took quite a while to dry out. So I’ll just stick with theRoadRunnerSports model that has the back exterior pocket for now.
I wound up doing nothing yesterday except getting a lot of extra sleep. Didn’t feel like stretching or doing weights. I have tennis later this afternoon and do feel like doing weights today. It was a long week and maybe yesterday was a bit of coffee withdrawal.
<p>I had a pair of Nike Livestrong 5-inch shorts last summer that just had the inside ipod/key pocket. Pain in the ass, really. I prefer a good old fashioned front pocket for the iPod. Something you can actually reach into and grab the iPod without having to fiddle and futz. Fortunately, I just set my iPod on shuffle and leave it alone, so it’s OK in a pinch, but not my favorite setup. Those were super-nice running shorts, BTW.</p>
<p>I haven’t decided if I’m up for a little Airdyne interval session today or not. I’m sure not gong outside! Brrrrr.</p>
<p>I have headset controls so I don’t need access to the iPod but the RoadRunner Sports shorts have one pocket in the center back and an additional slash pocket. I’m not sure if it’s in the front or one one side of the back but I only really need the one in the back. A front slash pocket would be a bonus as I could use them for tennis.</p>
<p>I was in the supermarket this morning and there was a guy in there in shorts. I wore my down coat over the Columbia fleece which was perfect for a cold, windy day. It’s a very warm 26 degrees out right now. This is more proper weather for New Hampshire at this time of the year. I’m really glad that we didn’t get the 3-6 inches forecast for yesterday. It would have done the hard freeze today.</p>
<p>I use a fanny pack. Rather that then lumps in my pockets. Holds gloves Kleenex and is very light. I also have a nano, cute little thing and it can hook to your shirt. Includes a pedometer fm radio, etc. Its good for the gym.</p>
<p>Fanny pack would work!</p>
<hr>
<p>OK, red wine pot roast has been in the oven for two hours. Just added the second batch of veggies (carrots, celery, red bell pepper, onions, leftover brocoli stalks) that I don’t want to cook to mush. Those go about an hour, I guess.</p>
<p>So, I’ve strapped on the heart rate monitor, changed into workout clothes, got my water bottle on the window sill, iPod fired up on shuffle, sweat towel at the ready, and I’m climbing on that damn Airdyne for some 1/4 mile intervals. Come look for me if I’m not back in half an hour! 
I’m too ol’ and (formerly) fat for this stuff!</p>
<p>Call off the search and rescue dogs. I have staggered off the Airdyne. And, I do mean staggered. I could barely walk. This one wasn’t about super high heart rate (just 88% of my max). Short intervals (35 to 37 seconds to pedal a quarter mile) with plenty of rest in between (78 to 278 seconds to recover my heart rate back to 65% of max), but these are hard sprints, enough to get the legs burning and I never stop breathing hard in between intervals. You can see from [the</a> graph](<a href=“http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Airdyneintervals25mix82-12-2012Cadence.jpg]the”>http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Airdyneintervals25mix82-12-2012Cadence.jpg) that my heart rate continues to climb for 30 seconds after each interval has ended. 8 of these and I’m wiped out. Definitely high intensity intervals.</p>
![http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Airdyneintervals25mix82-12-2012Cadence.jpg]the](http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Airdyneintervals25mix82-12-2012Cadence.jpg%5Dthe){kind=link}
<p>30 minutes, start to finish, including five minutes of warmup and cool down. Oh and I got great song for the cool down:</p>
<p>[Neville</a> Brothers: Sitting Here in Limbo](<a href=“Neville Brothers - Sitting here in Limbo - YouTube”>Neville Brothers - Sitting here in Limbo - YouTube)</p>
Hit in a racquetball court for 20 minutes - we couldn’t get a tennis court. It was a pretty easy workout but it’s nice to get the blood pumping. I was trying out a new racquet and the new racquet feels a lot better on my arm than the old ones. I do play well with the old ones though.
<p>Where’s Bunsen?</p>
<p>^ good question, MOWC, anyone check the shopping threads yet? ;)</p>
<p>Rest Day, I wish, actually housecleaning day including some “fun” projects like total clean out and re-org of large walk-in pantry. Rather be doing kettle bells…</p>
<p>Today’s nutritional numbers:</p>
<p>Cals: 1488
Fat: 96 g
Carbs: 29 g
Fiber: 7 g
Protein: 122 g
Sugars: 4 g</p>
<p>Just got back from the program (fancy spa/health center) my husband wanted to do to jump start his weight loss. When it was time to go–he backed out (too much work, important meetings, etc. etc.) I decided to invite my oldest D and went without H.</p>
<p>It was a great program. I have borderline hypertension (despite consistent exercise and weight loss)–so the folks at the program suggested I get a cardio stress test and another test to measure metabolic rate to come up with a diet/exercise program. I have to say I was nervous. </p>
<p>Tests went well and it seems that the exercise and weight loss has paid off. My fitness level is way above average for my age/weight. Also, metabolic rate is higher too. According to the nutritionist and exercise physiologist, this is all due to the exercise I’ve been doing. Doctor said I should work on losing more weight and continue exercising before trying medications. She felt I could bring the bp down without medication.</p>
<p>I was very relieved. I now have a diet (more protein than I currently do and fewer carbs) and exercise plan that I’m almost certain I can follow. Hardest will be lowering salt intake (I love salt). Also did a bunch of meditation, yoga, and breathing classes while at the center. I would probably have had an IEP if those were around when I was a kid–I can’t sit still. My mind races. I’ll read the labels on the milk cartoons at breakfast if there isn’t anything else going on. So–I was really surprised to find out that I can actually meditate and do deep breathing–both of which are supposed to help lower bp. I’m energized and willing to give it a try.</p>
<p>Now if I can only get my husband to start . . .sigh . . .</p>
<p>thanks for reminding me. I haven’t checked my blood pressure for a few months. Probably time to dig out the BP meter and give it a go for a few days.</p>
<p>Sounds like you got an A+ report card on health and fitness. More fit than the average geezer is doing pretty darn good when you get to be our age! :)</p>
<p>A close friend (57) just had an MI - a nurse practitioner who knew how to care for herself.</p>
<p>For those who do yoga and get up early (she is also online), I love Wai Lana Yoga, done in Hawaii. Today she is doing really interesting poses, supporting herself with a thick blanket in ways I haven’t seen before.</p>
<p>I’ve recently started eating a lot of Quinoa, which is delicious, easy and fast to cook, and very versatile.</p>
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</p>
<p>Ouch. Heart attacks are not good.</p>
<p>I took bromfield’s inspiration and will be checking my blood pressure several times a day for the next few days . It’s been a couple months since I’ve checked it. Like most people, I see pretty significant swings over the course of the day. Highest early in the morning. Lowest after hard exercise. So far, it looks like I’m about where I’ve been – towards the higher end of “normal”.</p>