As announced in my post two days ago, Weight/Fitness Journey Restarts, I finally restarted my journey towards better health. Though it’s only been four days since I started tracking my food intake, and staying within a designated allowance, I have already seen a most pleasant reduction in my weight. Normally my weigh-ins will be every seven days, on Fridays, but look what’s happened already after four:
Weight Change (Week 1 – partial week): – 2.6 lbs ( – 1.18 kg)
Exercise: My Hubby and I agreed to do some deliberate exercise EVERY DAY of the week, even if it’s just a brief walk or bit of calisthenics. We’ve kept to that word these past four days, even walking in the rain.
Water Weight Loss: I am proud of my large weight loss in JUST 4 DAYS, but I realize that some of that loss is water weight. According to a Health.com article (click here), it’s highly possible that some is a result of the time of the month of my menstrual cycle (I’m a woman), but also my sudden significant reduction of carbohydrates. Note that I am not following an especially low carbohydrate diet, but clearly my former carbohydrate intake was quite excessive. My high triglycerides attest to that, as well.
I have not reduced my water intake. In fact, I have increased it slightly and aim for at least 65 fl oz (about 2 liters) or more per day. The article How Drinking More Water Can Help You Lose Weight states that drinking lots of water can increase your metabolism, act as an appetite suppressant, cleanse your body of certain wastes, and even help your body STOP retaining water. It’s necessary to drink a lot of liquids on these hot days and when I exercise a lot. Also, it’s crucial for keeping my kidneys healthy, as I have mild kidney damage from past Lithium medication use. I actually feel and look a little less bloated.
Interim goals: I’m aiming to get down to the next 10 lb weight bracket. Given this week’s loss, that will require an additional 3.5 lb (1.59 kg) weight loss. Upon reaching that, I will set a new interim goal. I also intend to continue the daily exercise.
Recipe Share
Flounder Piccata – From skinnytaste.com website – click here for recipe and photo. Low calorie and highly recommended as listed. This is how I made it yesterday. If you wish, make it even lower calorie and carb by eliminating the breadcrumbs, and instead of cooking in a skillet, bake at 350 F for about 10 to 15 mins, while making the piccata sauce in skillet or even sauce pan, if baking separately.
Lentils “Hash” with Herbs and Egg on Top – My recipe that can be found by clicking here. It can be made with chopped ham in it, or as a vegetarian dish with a variety of pre-sautéed vegetables and mushrooms. This is very filling “comfort food” and is based on a traditional dish served on New Year’s Day in Czech Republic. The lentils represent wealth or luck in the New Year. I’ve made it with ham many times. Two days ago, I made it vegetarian with pre-sauteed chopped onion, parsnip, carrot, celeriac, and mushrooms. Hubby and I love it!
Sugar Free Naturally Fat Free Angel Food Cake– I have made two versions of this in the past, both with success. One made with powdered sucralose (i.e. Splenda) OR Swerve granular, and regular all-purpose flour (pictured with sugar free strawberry glaze) – click here for livingsweetmoments.com recipe. Another made with Swerve Confectioners and whole wheat pastry flour – click here for swervesweet.com recipe. The latter does have a slight “whole grain” sort of taste and color, but provides a bit of fiber, that the other recipe lacks. Taste-wise, the one with all-purpose flour is slightly preferred, but the whole wheat pastry flour version is still a treat. I use almond extract, but vanilla is always an option.
Approach: Beyond exercise, my weight loss approach is based on a Mediterranean style diet and a former Weight Watchers diet approach called the “Core Plan”, which includes lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and pulses, lean proteins, low fat or fat free dairy products, small amount of healthy fats (i.e. olive, canola, avocado), and extremely limited amounts of refined sugars and non-whole grain carbs. I am also using MyFitnessPal (MFP) to track my foods consumed, and provide guidance on daily calorie, carbohydrate, fat, protein, and salt intake.
See you next Friday!
Bird Flight 
Hey you, it’s Kelly, we haven’t spoken for a while but I always read your blogs as they’re so interesting. Glad to see you and hubby are in the health kick/workout and diet, I’m not much of a cook, but the recipes you shared look simple and delicious, might have to try one. Keep us posted as you will inspire many readers..Wishing you all the best…❤😍.
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Hi Kelly! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind and encouraging words. I do very much hope you are feeling well.
I remember that you have always enjoyed exercise. I especially remember your power walks and snow shoeing. My husband and I are taking lots of walks, but need to add even more power to them 😉
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Heya Kelly. Did you used to be on MDJunction? This is Mark. 🙂
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Yes Mark, nice to hear from you hope life is treating you well! 😉😊
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I’ve fallen down on my walks and eating half unhealthy its either too hot out or i dont feel motivated i went at night for a walk it was still hot. i dont see my diabetes nurse for 6 months so i can make a comeback in the fall
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I dislike the heat and am also looking forward to cooler seasons. Autumn is usually my favorite.
I hope you stay well. I know you work hard at keeping your diabetes in check.
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How have you been updownflight? I wrote a 1000 pg book this year and i finished another one and should be done with my current before the end of 2020. I plan to do a series of books about a couple with social anxiety who become famous actors. my diabetes has got a little worse but not enough to sound the alarms
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Hi Celtics. Nice to hear from you. Wow! A 1,000 page book was a most ambitious endeavor and amazing accomplishment. Good luck with your future book.
I am glad that you’re diabetes is not too out of control. Take care so you stay well.
I actually have some major things coming up in my life. A possible big US road trip, the sale of my house, and a move to Europe, where I will study a sort of new language, intensely.
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Yea that 1000pg book was living a dream ‘Rita And Dan’ Rita is my friend and she was dying to read it I emailed it to her she plays the one true love who vanishes from his life for 20 years and comes back to reunite and be a couple again. Kim is a girl that has a friends with benefits relationship I struggled because I thought maybe he could go with her. Javert was my best friend who she dated but he dies from taking too many speed pills to stay up to work on his papers at Harvard he dies at twenty both Kim and I have no one else to go to so we have a relationship then to comfort each other. He gets rich off writing and she gets into drugs takes her a long time to beat the drugs but she does. Twenty years later I marry a woman i love but she cheats on me and i divorce Kim seeing the pain I am in decides to be friends with benefits but in the end tells me there is no one I could love more than Rita. He also adopts a daughter to start the book.
Sounds like you got a lot going on. Make sure you stay safe, be careful I hope you are enjoying the holiday season.
I could benefit from your blog on losing weight i put on 5 to 10pds i am hard on myself but i know what it takes to turn it around right now i am feeling good. ttys
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Happy for you updownflight! Keep up the good work. 🙂
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Thanks much, Mark! I have done well again this week. I look forward to my Friday weigh in.
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It’s so nice to see some MDJ family members again! 😊
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quarentine 15 right here, Thanks for sharing. Need to get back in action soon.
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I hope life can get back to more of a normal soon. Thanks for reading and following my blog, Lisa. I’m glad many of us are using this opportunity to concentrate on healthier eating.
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Good luck on your journey! I recently committed to eating better and working out regularly myself. I hope we both achieve our goals! 🙂
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Thanks, and all the best on your health journey, too!
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Eating healthy is really doing amazing deeds to the body. Great results soon.
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Thanks so much, drchloethinge! I know how good it feels. I also know how bad it feels when I don’t eat a healthful diet. This fitness/weight loss effort got off to a great start for me, but I confess it’s been on hold for a bit because of many issues in my life. It will be picked up again.
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Water is 100% free of calories, it can help you burn your calories and may even suppress your appetite. Water is an easy way to cut back on sugar and calories. Thanks for your post on your progress. Enjoye it..
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Congrats on discovering this early and good luck with your weight loss journey.
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Thanks so much, enisanodunayo!
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