Day 7 - kinda

Today I don't have any statistics because once again I was not home. I've been quite busy these last few days and have not been able to update.

I had another non-CRON day, which was unfortunate. However, my weight thankfully remained constant despite the large increase in calories for that one day (and it was a HUGE increase I'm sure). I was probably on the verge of losing a pound or so but oh well. Remaining constant is much better than an increase.

I've reformulated my plan. I think the plan I was following before was a little over restrictive, so I've become a little lax. I think things will be easier from now on...

I weighed myself today just to see if I gained and after eating and such today I came in at 149 or so. That's good. I could assume that after eating food and such I would weight slightly more, so perhaps I am really 148 or even 147. Maybe. Eventually I'll get there. Things are clipping along at a fast pace so I'm not worried. I am sure I'll level off eventually.

Its amazing how much weight one can lose when they simply cut out snacking and sugar snacks. I've cut out HFCs as well as anything "diet" (ie those items containing aspertame and the like) and it seems that by simply doing that I am metabolizing fat at a quick rate. That's good. :)

We'll see where else this all takes me. I am looking forward to it. It is getting easier, it seems. That makes me happy. I feel rewarded for my hard work, so I really feel more motivated to continue... :)

Day 5

Wow! Things are coming along quite, quite well! I am surprised.

I took my blood pressure twice this morning, once while deciding to feel stressed out and the other while deciding to feel relaxed and the difference was stark! When I felt pressured it was 130/70, when relaxed it was 105/71. What a difference! Therefore, its true that when I feel stressed out my heart really does feel the pressure and its not all just psychological - it is an actual physical response! Quite interesting. :)

So I sort of "over-ate" yesterday, but only if I factor in my overage from a few days ago. If I don't factor it in, I was under, so I guess I was just right. I'll pass a bit of yesterday's overage to tomorrow, and that overage will propagate until that little over-eating session is over.

I am pleased to see that many of my statistics are decreasing, just as I suspected. I am, however, quite surprised that it is happening so soon. I mean, its only day 5! Or, if I consider that I overate just a few days ago, perhaps its really only "day 3". Hmmm....

I don't really know what to expect. My body is responding quite well to everything, and I am satisfied. I still feel great and feel like I have a lot of energy, etc.

I find it extremely interesting that by eating LESS I actually have MORE energy. How peculiar!

But I am happy. :)

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Today's Statistics
weight: 147.6lbs
bf%: 32.2
body temp: 96.7 F
blood pressure: 105/71
Resting heart rate: 55
blood glucose: 87
sleep: 7 hours

Day 4

Things are going well, for the most part. I really have nothing to report. I wonder if I underestimated my caloric intake today. I'll be more accurate in my measurements tomorrow.

I was able to exercise today, which was good. I don't know but things are fine. I am really enjoying CRON right now so there are no cravings to deal with. It could also just be that I am further along, so things are getting easier. :)

I really did not get to take statistics today since I didn't sleep at my apartment last night. We'll see how things look tomorrow. :)

Day 3

My over-eating feast of yesterday was reflected in my weight this morning. However, I understand that this apparent setback is only temporary as long as I don't continue it as a habit. I am a little troubled by the notion that I have always been this way, just that when not forced to count calories I never actually realized it. Wow - its quite enlightening!

Today was a terrible day for work, but I am making progress. I am sticking to drinking tea whenever I have a stress-craving for food. This behavioral modification is tough stuff! However I am totally sticking to it. I can only eat during meal times. I know it is hard NOW but I assume that with practice (as with anything) it will become easier.

So the scale says I gained weight, and that makes sense considering all I ate yesterday. I am not too sure of the body fat indicator on my scale so I am going to assume a large error. I hope tomorrow it all looks better, though I may not be able to take all measurements considering I will not be home tomorrow morning.

I still can't believe that for the next 7 to 8 days I have to shave about 5% of my projected calories off of my allowed total every day. Oh well - in a way its good I am accountable for my behavioral error. It is good feedback I may utilize for learning.

I would like to eventually give up coffee, but I love it too much right now. With the lactose-free creamer I consume with it, each mug's worth I consume costs me about 25 calories (I consume about 2-4 mugs - which I do understand is a lot of caffeine). That is a fine snack, I'd say. A warm cup of coffee is perfect on fall days. :)

I'm thankful I got a lot of sleep last night, BUT it does not coincide with my new, busy schedule. I must change and make a new schedule and stick to that schedule. I need to plan and work smarter.

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Today's Statistics
weight: 151.8lbs
bf%: 33.6
body temp: 97.0 F
blood pressure: 109/74
Resting heart rate: 57
blood glucose: 89
sleep: 9 hours

adaptation

Today was a depressing day for me. I was absolutely unmotivated and stressed, and feeling a little depressed by the weather (it was rainy, cold, and cloudy). I also took a nap today as I was feeling a bit chilled and tired and cold. I realized I was eating out of boredom (snacking here and there) and thus I overate today.

I wanted to get some fresh air and so I went for my usual jog. I went for about an hour and a half, although I wasn't keeping track at the time - I just went out and came back when I felt better. Unfortunately the result of all that jogging made me super hungry, yet already being over my projected calories for the day I was again feeling a bit stressed.

I was able to stave it off for about an hour until my hunger got the best of me. Although I ate well, I added to my already full number of calories. I ate an additional 1100 calories, which according to the CRON lifestyle is not optimal, but I guess with the roughly 1100 calories burned in the 90 minutes of jogging I did, it all "balances" out. However, I do understand that optimal CRON focuses on the actual number of calories consumed, not necessarily deficit.

I was doing some research searching for the best solution to this problem of mine and I've decided that over the next week or so I will just shave off a few calories here and there. I've already planned my meals and I am getting adequate nutrition, its just there really is no freedom for eating out (unless I eat minuscule portions!). I must weigh everything this week and stick to staying under my calorie goal. It is only for a week. One week from today I can go back to my originally projected target.

Of course I could also just say "restart tomorrow and forget about today" but then I would only be doing myself a disservice. Its always "tomorrow" and if I keep that mentality I'll never make any progress. Before I know it I'll already be too old... haha.

At least I learned from my mistakes. Its interesting to see how much food I consume after exercise. It almost makes me want to eat more than I burned. Quite interesting. I should have tested my blood sugar when I got the craving to eat. I think I'll do that next time.

I think I also have to just practice resisting the urge to eat at non-meal times. I also have that problem and I think it just adds to my current difficulties.

I've also learned that I *must* eat at every meal or else I have the urge to over-eat. I've read a few blogs of others doing a one-meal-a-day diet and a while back I gave it a go, but I didn't last very long on it. I remember always being hungry and thus I always thought about food. It was not ideal. I also think its a bit socially awkward.

Overall though, I like how I am learning. Its interesting to watch myself as I've never really been fully aware of my own eating behaviors. Too bad eating past 8 or 9 keeps me awake, and I bet it is going to adversely influence my blood sugar in the morning.

Day 2

Things are going well, but I must wait until the third day. The third day is always, always the most difficult for me to stick to any change. It might help that I am not going to be eating at home, but nonetheless it will be a bit stressful. I typically *think* I have acquired some new habit and suddenly then things get difficult.

I haven't been hungry, but then again it is only the second day of these changed eating habits.

We'll see how things go...

Well, later I ate a little over I should have today (though I did under-eat yesterday so it did all balane out). I am done for the day (unfortunately). I also ate a few non-nutritional things like cookies. But, I'm learning, and adapting, and optimizing. :)

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Today's Statistics
weight: 150lbs
bf%: 32.4
body temp: 97.2 F
blood pressure: 108/73
Resting heart rate: 57
blood glucose: 94
sleep: 8 hours

Day 1

I woke up this morning with high blood sugar (a result of eating poorly last night and late I assume). I don't think I even digested everything yet. It always affects my sleep and usually affects my morning dietary choices. I was extremely tempted to say "screw CRON" today but the creation of this blog kept me going. :)

Although I haven't really been tracking it (I should from now on no matter what), I've been losing about .5% bf weekly and/or about 2 lbs each week. I guess that's good, but still I feel disappointed. I know I can do better.

I am aware that 104 is quite high, but it was not quite a "fasting" glucose anyway. I'll check again later and see how it is. Maybe I am pre-diabetic? If so, then this is a perfect time to fix things. :)

Anyway, I am editing this a little later and my blood sugar went down to 97. Good. I was rushing about this morning trying to get this project done and I wasn't able to go exercising (it was raining anyway) AND I had a paltry lunch. I mean, well, it was OK but meh. It was simply boiled potatoes (plain) and a banana. WOW SUCH GREATNESS. Ha. Oh well. It satisfied my hunger.

In fact, I was so busy this morning I almost forgot to eat, however I know that if I don't I tend to overeat later.

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Today's Statistics
weight: 153lbs
bf%: 32.6
body temp: 97.4 F
blood pressure: 115/75
Resting heart rate: 61
blood glucose: 104
sleep: 5 hours

learning

So, these past couple of days I've been trying to be more cognizant of my eating since I tend to snack and/or over-eat when under stress. I've been extremely stressed lately and thus I've had the desire to eat with abandon.

However, I am quite happy to say that at the end of a stressful night -> morning, I did not give into the stress. I was more cognitive with myself and modulated my behavior accordingly. I told myself that undue calories would only take me further from my goal and that I'd have to work extra hard to get rid of them (and I definitely don't want that). Instead I grabbed a home-brewed tea and just went back to my computer station. Sometimes I just want to eat because its a distraction.

I am quite proud of myself and I must give myself kudos. I feel empowered in that I think I can do it. I think that's what it is all about - whether you *think* you can do something.

I am both dreading and looking forward to tomorrow. ^.^