Go Losers!

As of today, our team of 6 was down 56.9 lbs in our first 3 weeks!  That's fantastic! 

I lost 5 lbs this past week for a total of 14.8 so far.  I averaged 851 calories each day this week, and 52.4 grams of protein, 13.2 grams of fiber (oops) and 29 grams of fat. 

I have been extremely careful with my sodium intake lately, and I think it is making a difference.  I'm glad that I was able to lose 5 lbs this week since I haven't been able to exercise, but I did scale back my calories to compensate and it seems to have helped.

I have been able to lose these lbs over and over again this past year, with varying degrees of difficulty.  I think I'm being more strict than I was before and that it helping, but in one more lb, I'll weigh less than I've weighed in the past two months, and in 6 more lbs, I'll be the lowest I've been in 4 months, and in 10 lbs more lost, I'll be the lowest I've been in 6 months.  It seems like a lot of work just to get to where I was 6 months ago, but it is what it is. 

Right now, I've pulled into the lead, and I think the fact that I'm eating an average of 70% of the calories my competitors are eating is working to my advantage.  I have an easier time doing this because I've been surgically altered, so I'm going to suggest this:  why don't we count my weight loss as 70% of the actual weight loss.  For example, I'm down 14.8 lbs, and 70% of that is 10.36 lbs.  My calories per day ranges from 700-1000 and my competitors calorie intakes range from 1200-1500. 

I think that sounds fair to me.  The lap band doesn't affect absorption of calories, it only helps me limit my calorie intake.  Since I'm finally losing again, and at a faster rate than I had been (let's hope I'm not jinxing myself after just 3 weeks - oy), I think an adjustment would be the fair thing to do.

Also, several of my competitors have told me they are frustrated the weight isn't coming off quicker.  I hear you, and I've been there.  The thing for us all to remember is that if we are doing things right, we should have an average weight loss of 1-2 lbs/week, and we are all averaging over 2 so far.  We have all started and stopped so many times, our bodies may be holding out to see if we are actually serious this time.

We are down nearly 60 lbs as a group in just 3 weeks, and that is 60 lbs we probably wouldn't be down if we weren't doing this competition, so it is working.  If we all hang in there and give it our all for 13 weeks, win or lose, we'll all be thinner, healthier and happier.

I promise!