A very sad day

Our pal, Tally, a pure bred American Shorthair passed away today. He was 15 years old. We are both very upset. He was fine this morning, nothing unusual. About 11:30 he apparently had a blood clot go to his brain. I rushed him to the vet where he passed at Noon today.

We will miss you Bubba.

Calorie Restriction with Winter foods

Wow, I am having trouble with winter foods. (again). Seems I don't do so well without all the local fresh produce and I just can't force myself to buy imported. I have put on a winter coat of about 5 pounds. (again).
I am back to munching on those yummy sweet dried fruits again. Damn, why are they so tempting. I am trying to stay off them and do great for several days then my boss pulls out those fabulous huge dates and raisens he keeps inches away. I give in every single time. He is Persian and knows where to get the best dried fruit I have ever tasted. I told him he is a bad influence on me. Didn't do any good.
Everything else is going great.
I have a shopping and dinner date all planed with the beautiful granddaughters. We are going to San Francisco for the day shopping at the huge Nordstrom mall on Market. We plan a ride on the Cable Car to Tadich Grill on California then up to Nob Hill for dessert at the Top of the Mark. They are all looking forward to it. It will be a long and fun day.
I can sit and relax coming home on Bart, they have a 3 hour drive back to Mendocino county.  Poor things.

Calorie Restriction with Cron O Meter

I managed to use the Cron O Meter again today. I even did a bit better with the fruit. Maybe no so good with carbs.

I am a seasonal eater, I can't imagine going into winter without winter squash. I love it baked then topped with a bit of butter and salt. I can't stand it sweetened or made to taste like a dessert.
I buy the small ones and eat the whole thing. That is what I did today with an Acorn squash. I expect I will be doing this for a few more weeks until I get my fill of them.

I don't eat much through out the day. Normally just the flax and oj in the morning. I start getting hungry around 3 so I have an apple. I cook dinner around 5 when I don't work 7 when I do. I don't like eating anything after 7 so this is a bit hard on me. On work days I don't eat anything after 8 that is for sure. This is a good habit to get into. Once I got used to it I am not hungry or even want anything to eat after 7.

You sure can see by looking at the Cron O meter why I and everybody else should be taking vitamin D. Unless you live in a sunny place and can be outdoors to get it. I don't. So I take 5000 iu. a day. Good for depression and combating the flu.

I also take a B complex because I usually don't get 100% of that either. I guess I need to look into some Vitamin E or look for something I like that will give it to me. I haven't done that yet.
Calories today were around 1100. Not bad but not great either. To lose weight I need to be closer to 900. I need to do that just a few days a week.  Tomorrow, yea I can do it then.

Calorie Restriction

I have decided to get back to using the CronOmeter everyday. It is very easy to do but I quess I got lazy with using it. I sorta know why, I still am eating way to many carbs and don't need a reminder of just how bad I am.
I have had no weight loss since I got back from vacation. I did great while gone but really blew it as soon as I got home. I did gain a few pounds, they are gone now. Whew, now I can get my act together and lose the final 8.

Here is what I mean by blowing it with carbs, just look at how much fruit I had today. Not near enough protein either. I made a Greek dish with stew meat, green beans and tomato sauce. It was just OK. What I did love was the 6 Bell Peppers I roasted. I forgot them in the oven so they were like candy when I finally took them out. Almost like that dried fruit candy. I put them in a bag to let them cool then took off what peel I could, added some balsamic vinegar to them and ate all of them. Wow, what a treat.
Now I need more. I doubt I ate a total of 6 peppers, but I could have. I know I wasn't hungry for dinner but ate a bit of it anyway. Then charged into the blueberries. I gotta get a grip and eat better. I think I left off a few food items. Olive oil for one. So the calories are a bit low. Calorie wise I did OK, food wise crappy.
Oh well, good thing I took my vitamins today.

Calorie Restriction while on Vacation

I was in Colorado for 6 days. It was the best trip in a very long time. I visited with family and enjoyed every second of it.
We ate all our meals out and I did very good with staying on CR and my food plan. I didn't lose because I was eating more than I do at home. I often don't eat breakfast nor lunch at home, if I do it is a fruit. We ate 3 meals a day in Colorado. I did order protein and didn't touch the carbs. I did drink wine and beer. Something I don't do at home either.
It was on the darn airplane ride home that I messed up big time. I bought a big bag of pea-nut M&M's and gobbled them all down. I wanted more. The Greek got them for me. I gained 3 damn pounds.
Now I am craving sweets, what an idiot I am. The worst darn thing I could have done.
I also bought 2 melons, 2 huge bags of huge grapes, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and apples.
Of course I am pigging out on all those tasty treats.
Weird how I am sabatoging myself after losing 100 pounds and making such a deal about it. I will get myself back in line. I have to, I feel bloated, fat and miserable. Something I haven't felt in a long time. Amazing how eating bad can do that and fast.
I wanted some candy again tonight  but made sure the Greek didn't head out to buy it, he was on his way when I finally said NO.
I sure wish I lived in Colorado.  Oh well, I don't,  California will have to do. Darn.

Lost another pound

I have been stressed out about work lately. Seems I can't handle working for someone else to well. I owned my own business for 25 years, that might explain my stress.
I think I am doing OK with it while I am actually working, it is when I get home and start worrying about losing the darn job that it gets to me. The end result is that I find I am eating while I am not the least bit hungry and wanting stuff I would never even consider eating, like P-nuts of all things.
I wanted the salty taste and knew Potato chips were out of the question. I had about 800 calories of the nasty things.
Since I refuse to have my food addiction foods in the house there isn't any of them too binge on so I grab fruit. Lots of it. One day it was an apple, 2 nectarines,  4 cups of blue berries, and one cup of raspberries. Wowza. I normally have just 2.5 servings of those high carb goodies a day. I could have had more that day but stopped with the last huge bowl of frozen blueberries and raspberries. My stomach was hurting.
I am still all stressed out but since I realized what was causing the over eating I got better control of it. Well almost.
I actually have a 2 pound loss. Yea for sure. I now have 5 or  7 pounds left. It is amazing how those 2 pounds have made me feel. I mean in the body shape not in the stress deal. My body seems actually a bit skinny, I have never felt that before. I love it.
I sure don't want to go down any clothes sizes right now. I have so darn many new clothes to wear and I love all of them.  I want to wear them and have them look good not all baggy. The size 2 jeans are a tad loose but they feel comfy, I doubt I will go any smaller in size.
I will be in Colorado all next week. Really looking forward to it. It will be a big test for me on how disciplined I can be with Calorie Restriction while eating out everyday and visiting relatives. I think I will be fine. I have no problems with it here but of course I don't eat out on back to back days here either.
Oh crap, will I ever be stressed out about the dang job while I am gone. I feel the knot in the stomach already. I gotta get over this. The lab owner needs me as much as I need him. At least that is what I want it to be.  Take a deep breath Marjie.  ok

From a 2x to a 2 in 2 years 100 pounds lost

I finally put together my victory video for youTube. I did it. I am 100 pounds thinner and tons happier.
Since I do calorie restriction once I am at the so called normal weight I need to lose 10% for optimal health. Calorie restriction is part of my life so I know I can do it. I will continue eating the same foods and same calories everyday just like I have been doing for 2 years. Life continues.
I lost 10 pounds this year so I expect to be at optimal weight in another 8 months. That is perfect. Slow and very steady.

Calorie Restriction, wine and more wine

Yep, I drank to darn much wine at the Moondance. Had a nice case of the vintners flu the next day. I had a great visit with my daughter over the week end. She is such fun to be with.
I didn't count my calories but I did make sure I ate foods that were on my plan. No grains, milk products, sugars and starches. That was the easy part.
The wine is all carbs and calories, so of course I messed up there. But, hey it was fun and I won't be doing that for a long time. I do love wine.
So how did I do with the weight? I was thrilled to find that I came home weighing what I did when I left. 131. No loss, no gain. Way to go. A pat on my back from me.
So we can drink the wine, in this case several glasses, eat right and not gain weight.
Only 4 pounds to my 100 pound loss celebration, no wine will be involved.

Calorie Restriction with loss

I used Tony's calculator to check my body fat. It says my body fat is 23. Guess that isn't bad if it is right. I can still feel and see fat right under my skin in what used to be the fattest parts of me. Arms and tummy.
Thanks Tony for the link. I have been all over your web site. I sure agree with what I read there.
Wish others would read and learn.

This morning I was 132.4. But, it is the weekend and I am going to Hopland to a solar energy bash. Lots of food, wine, music and fun. Long after there will be no sol. If I can just maintain my 132 I will be thrilled.
My goal is still to lose this final 5 pounds before I go to Colorado in September. I am certain I can do it.
Thanks every one for the great comments, they mean a lot and keep me going.

Calorie Restriction weight loss

I one one pretty happy gal right now. I was 133 this morning. I finally am down one more pound, 6 left for my 100 pound loss goal. I say goal because I wanted to lose 100 pounds 2 years ago. Since then I have learned that for optimal health I should be 10% less. I am in no hurry to lose the final 10% but will sure give it a try.
My new goal for new is to lose body fat. I seem to be carrying around too much of it. I also need to get something that will measure it. I can feel the fat under my skin in my arms and stomach and I seem to have some back fat. The arms look disgusting, like cottage cheese. I would rather have saggy skin. Yuk to both of them.

I have been on some shopping spree. This has got to end. But trying on clothes has become sorta fun. I was at Nordstrom's Sat. and spent hours hunting for the perfect black slacks. Seems I have developed a weird shape or I was in the wrong department. I was in the Ms. section. I tried on several size 4 slacks and none of them fit. Way to big in the tummy, remember they don't go to the waist anymore. Slightly loose in the hips too. So I tried on a Hugo Boss size 2, the saleslady told me they run small and that was before I tried them on. They fit but a tad too snug in the ass. I finally got another designer pair that did fit better, not perfect, just better. They are now being altered.
Yesterday and today I hit the crappy stores in my area. I found a few things that fit and liked enough to buy. I had to get a Jr.s skinny jeans so they fit in the tummy and legs. I bought 2 size 2 skinny jeans. I am going to make a video and name it
From a 2X to a 2 in two years.
That should be fun to make.
Yea for Calorie Restriction.

Calorie Restriction to live longer

I have been reading several articles about CR and longevity. The recurring theme throughout these articles is that CR is best started young, in the 20's, and practiced throughout life. The theory is that it will increase your life. All is good, I don't disagree with this, the problem I have it that these same articles say that is will NOT increase your life if you start CR in your 60's or later.
Now stop and think about this, somebody that is overweight, unhealthy, bad eating habits, wrong food choices, eats far to many calories, decides to practice CR. Immediately that person is going to be healthier and live longer, plus that person will not need as much health care as somebody that continues eating and abusing their body with junk foods.
This is just plain common sense. There is no proof that CR will increase life for the 20 something but I can say for certain it will make you a much healthier person at any age, even 60 and above.
Calorie Restriction is easy to do, the food tastes wonderful, it is very satisfying and it will make you very healthy, even younger looking. Such a deal!!
CR with lo carb is a better way to go. CR with no processed foods is even better. CR is just plain wonderful. It is me, it is who I am.

Calorie Restriction and carbs

I am back from the camping trip. It was great having the entire family together again. The weather was a bit scary Friday, seeing the fog rolling across the hills and knowing how cold that is. We could see it for miles before we got into it. Friday was very cold. Sat. and Sun. was perfect.
That's California for you.
I didn't eat much on the trip but I was wanting to. I did eat crap Sat. Things I would never even consider at home. Sunflower seeds and baked tortillas. Yuk. Crap and I know it. I had 4 glasses of wine, and one beer. Carbs I didn't need. But for the most part I did OK. I feel pretty round so I am scared to step on the scale tomorrow but I will.
I know I can get it off pretty fast. The good thing is I sure don't miss all the crap that others eat. I brought blueberries, cheeries and raspberries. They went very fast. Seems I am not the only one that likes fruit. I did enjoy the tri-tip and a great hamburger pattie. Oh, forgot the two very small Hersey bars. I am so bad.

Calorie Restriction and camping

I am not a camper type. Never have been. But, all my kids are and they have planned a weekend together on the Russian River in Sonoma Co. I sure am not going to be left out so I am going. I should be getting ready right now. Not.
My concerns about this camping deal is food of course. I was 134 this morning and want to come back very close to that. I am going to have to take my favorite stuff and try to stay away from theirs. I know the only thing I will want is wine. I intend to take some merlot and enjoy myself.
The Russian River has such great weather and cool evenings. I am looking forward to that part. Not so much the sun and sitting on the beach. My skin can't handle it. So I am wearing long sleeve light weight tops and gloves. Ha, what a site.
I hope we can rent a canoe and go up River. I will sit in the middle and be paddled. I hope.
Lo Carb
I am trying to reduce my carbs. I found out that I should have about 84g of carb a day, I am well over that. So a plan is to have my flax with cottage cheese instead of orange juice. Since it is a protein it might keep me fuller longer too. I am going to have to stop eating an apple for a snack so I can still have my 2 cups of blueberries as a TV snack. 84g. of carbs is about 2 cups or 2 fruits. I will do this until I lose my last 6 pounds. Then I will go back to eating 3 or 4 fruits a day. They are so darn good and I am not going to restrict my favorite foods.
Now that I know how few carbs I should have been eating I am amazed at having lost the weight I did. I hope the final few pounds come off fast. It has been since Jan 09 without a loss and I am finally anxious to get them gone.
Exercise
I wasn't able to exercise this week. The first time this has happened since I started in Jan. 09.
My work was very busy and disorganized. It really got in the way. I will start back Monday as if this week didn't happen. I hated doing that but I won't stop exercising, ever. I don't enjoy it all that much but I do like the way it is making my body look and feel so I will continue it. We all should, that is after we learn to eat right and lose weight so we are comfortable at the gym.

I will be back Monday, hopefully not sunburned and several pounds heavier.

Losing weight with Calorie Restriction

I am such a happy camper. I am 135 pounds. I did it. I am happier with 135 than I was at any other weight I have been in this long journey. Weird huh, it has to be because that is the weight I maintained for so many years.
I have just 7 more pounds to go to have lost 100 pounds. I am going to make it. My determination is very strong right now. More than it has ever been plus I am feeling better than I have for a darn long time. I know I was putting away to darn many calories all this year. Not enough to gain but not enough to be true Calorie Restriction. I am back using the cronOmeter too. Amazing how well that great piece of software keeps me on plan. Love it.
I have given myself one week to lose one pound. I figured out how many calories I need in 7 days subtracted 3500 from that figure then divided that by 7. Wala. My calories for each day is 1000, as if I didn't already know that. Yes, I did. I have known it for some time. I don't mention how low it is often because I am not prepared to hear anybody tell me it is to low. Remember the amount of calories we need decreases with age. I am not in my 20's anymore, not even 3o's, 40's, or 50's. I am almost 70 years old. It is very difficult to lose weight and even harder when we get older. I am glad I made a life altering decision to give Calorie Restriction a try. A 100 pound loss, I can't belive I am almost there. Wow.

Calorie Restriction is going great

I am doing so darn good with my new eating plan. I have black tea with stevia in the morning along with 2 tablespoons of flax seed that I grind and put in 1/2 cup Orange Juice. I take my supplements at this time too. Most of them anyway. I do take the Acai Berry Extract and Fucoxathin when I think I may need it. Really helps curb the appetite. I am getting so I don't take them everyday. Like today. It is 2:30 and I am not hungry one bit. I did have a banana at 10:30. I planned on an apple at 1:00 but forgot it. I might skip it today and have dinner around 4:00 instead. I can do with less carbs for today. They sure hinder my weight loss. Even the good carbs.
Cooking Out
I did a marathon BBQ yesterday. I grilled shish ka bob, brochettes, steaks, 24 hamburgers, a dozen yakatori, loads of chicken breasts, and about 20 pork chops. This is because I refuse to buy anything premade or packaged. I cook like this every few weeks then freeze it. I think we have enough protein for about a month. It was far more than I have done in the past. I usually do enough for 2 weeks.
What we do with the frozen meat is simple. Usually we eat it over a huge bed of raw spinach. Tonight I will cook some green beans and have the lamb shish ka bob. Can't wait.
It sure is a time saver and we get to eat what we like. What we don't like is all the additives in the processed food and not knowing where the meats came from and how they were treated makes my stomach queasy. I am pretty much the same way with eating out. That is one reason we seldom do. I am pretty picky about where we do eat out.
Weight Loss
I have lost 3 pounds this month. That is all I have lost this year. That is great news really. That means I have been able to maintain my new weight. I was 139 Jan. 1. I went up to 141 a few days, not many so that is good. Being 136 is great. I did want to be 135 today, that is what I weighed most of my life. 135 is what is still on my drivers license. I just couldn't bring myself to put 227.
I have just 9 pounds to go to make it 100 pound loss. I am hoping to do that by Sept. my 2 year anniversary with Calorie Restriction.
Reduced calories
I have reduced my calories to 1100 right now. It is easy and for my age it is in the OK range. I need only 1500 to maintain my weight, with CR we reduce the calories by 10 to 40% so I am still in the proper healthy range. I am losing about a pound every week or so. I am still exercising every other day. I have been doing that without missing one day for 7 months. It is easy to do and gets me out of the house. Only problem is, it gets me close to shopping.
I am loving shopping again. Bad, bad me.

Calorie Restriction is healthy

Calorie Restriction lifestyle does not eliminate any food or food groups from its eating style. To practice CR all that is needed is a way to track your food choices and nutrients. You find how many calories your body needs to maintain its healthy weight and eat 20 to 30% less. It couldn't be easier. You eat all the foods you love just less of it.
Success
I love this way of eating it makes perfect sense to me. I was never successful following rigid diet plans. Ones that say eat this for a week or two then this and add this back in later. No good. To hard to do. I can't even remember what to do next. I hate having to check a book to see where I am.
Man Made Food
When I started Cr I also was very aware of how dangerous modern man made food is for us. Just look at people, are they healthy, lean and full of life? Hell no. Most of them are fat, and the ones that aren't and still eating unhealthy food may be sick and they don't know it.
Eating modern man made food is a killer. Period. It is not for me.
Moderation?
People taunt me with pizza, pies, cookies and crap everyday. They say I need the eat grains they are so good for us. If they are so good for us why are they all processed. Why do they take 6 hours or more to digest? Why do we have to drink copious amounts of water just to digest them? Why are they making us FAT?
I made the decision to not eat them and I am happy and healthy because of it. That does not mean I don't have an oatmeal raisin cookie once in a while. I do, half of one anyway. I share it. I don't eat a whole box, I won't eat a pizza unless I make it and I won't use cow's milk cheese either. I have my healthy pizza about 3 times a year.
So I guess I do eat crap in moderation.
Wanted for murder
What disturbs me is how people can eat cereal for breakfast, health bar(misnamed) for a snack, a sandwich for lunch, a cookie for a snack, then pasta for dinner. Even if they eat a small portion they are not eating processed food in moderation. Their stomach is always processing the processed food. It never gets a break. Never.
If this is you educate yourself. Don't be reading how healthy grains are for you, they are not, read what damage they are doing to you. Wise up consumers.
Fresh
Moderation is such a cool buzz word it is used right along with getting healthy. You cannot get healthy and continue to eat crap. Period. You will eventually begin eating more and more of the crap because that is exactly what that food is made to do. You are not eating it because it is healthy, you are eating it because your mind is telling you it tastes good. Ha, no it does not. Fresh food does taste good and it is healthy.
Period. There is no argument. Nobody can defend crap food in anyway. It isn't even filling and satisfying. I just makes us fat, depressed, miserable and hopelessly addicted.
Toss it out!!
Diet
Practice a healthy lifestyle, one that will make your life long and healthy. A diet that will keep you out of the doctors office and off modern medicine.
Get you blood work done once a year to see how great you are doing.
Don't defend bad habits. That is exactly what a person that tries to eat crap in moderation is doing. It is a path to failure.

Calorie Restriction and vacation plans

I have decided to go to Colorado to visit family again. The last time I was there is the month I started Calorie Restriction. September 2007. Ninety pounds ago and several sizes. I think I was a 2X then. I bought a size 4 yesterday.
There is also a class picnic I want to go to. Funny how I am actually looking forward to doing this type of thing again. I sure didn't for the past 15 years.
I am not concerned one bit about going off plan during these two events. Eating out with Calorie Restriction is so simple. I have a steak, salad and veggies or a hamburger and don't eat the bun. I prefer home cooked fish and chicken but I can never get a steak with that great smokey taste at home. I actually look forward to eating out and eating healthy.
Yesterday I went to a Dermatologist to find out if I am a good subject for a injectable face lift. Seems I am. I go in next week for the procedure. Wow, what progress I am making for myself. Wish I had the cash for more than the fillers. I have to be happy with what I can afford and hope for a windfall so I can do more. Yea right.
I am doing alright with tracking my calories with the cronOmeter. Sorta off and on but always with nutrition and calories in mind. I do fair without the cronOmeter. I don't gain when I don't use it so that is a good thing. Of course I still don't eat the foods that would make me gain. That is not an option for me. I don't even think about them except to feel sorry for people that do eat them.
My summer is starting off great hope yours is too.

Calorie Restriction my healthy life

Self Acceptance
I have been hearing lots of talk about self acceptance. This is coming from fat people, they prefer fat instead of overweight.
If staying fat were healthy I would still be fat. I was fine with my body, of course society wasn't and my health wasn't, I was. I loved my old life, I drank myself silly all the time, ate quarts of ice cream at a sitting, a big bag of P-Nut M&M's almost everyday. I ate what I wanted and when I wanted to never thinking about what I was putting in my mouth. I ate things I hated just because it was there. Cakes, pies, donuts nothing was off limits. I did this for several years, maybe 20.
Weight Gain
I didn't gain weight fast. I started at 130 and stopped at 227, it took me 20 years to get there. I was still gaining weight when I decided to stop killing myself.
All the time I ate very healthy meals, very similar to the meals I am still eating.
I loved my life, I did do things different then. I seldom went out, didn't shop for clothes, didn't even do the grocery shopping, the Greek did it all. I made him buy all the crappy food.
He went shopping everyday and sometimes late at night for more wine or ice cream or a run to the fast food joint.
Health Issues
I started having some pretty obvious health problems. Panic attacks and heart palpation's, shortness of breath and always tired. I decided to get healthy. That was September 2007 and I have not stopped. I am so fortunate that I was not sicker than I was. I had blood work done to check out how I am doing. The Dr. said some of the results are better than his and he is at least 25 years younger. Calorie Restriction has saved my life and I am in complete self acceptance for my new body, health, and lifestyle.
CR saved my life
One day I just decided to stop all the bad eating. I remembered seeing a program about CR on TV and knew it would be perfect for me. I did some research and also knew I had to give up the foods that were making me crave unhealthy foods. I am a complete carb addict, still am.
I no longer eat anything processed, no grains even whole grains, which are processed by the way. I gave up rice and potatoes, all sugars, starchy foods and my best friend Wine.
I have not have any cravings for any of them. I have had about 2 bottles of wine in the past 2 years. If I want a cookie we go to Barnes and Noble for a cookie and we share it. I no longer eat pasta and never will. Potatoes, maybe someday I will have them again. I am in no hurry but peas, corn and beans, I can do without them for a very long time. Maybe forever. I bought a bottle of Merlot today. I am in no hurry for it either and it will be only one glass instead of 2 bottles.
Carbs
What I have learned is that I am so addicted to carbs they can be in any form. I can over do it with dried fruit mostly raisins and dates. I can overeat even fresh fruit, a whole watermelon or cantaloupe is normal for me but I haven't gained any weight. I don't like doing this because I am eating around 1500 calories a day instead of the 1000 to 1200 that I should be but I am still healthy because the food is.
New Me
Being healthy is also so much darn fun. I have learned I like to shop and actually try on clothes in the stores now. I am now doing all the grocery shopping and loving it. I am even thinking of other things I want to do again.
I completely accepted myself fat but I absolutely love myself thin.

Calorie Restriction back to basics is working

It has taken me longer than I expected but, I am losing weight again. All fingers and toes crossed that it continues for at least 10 pounds. Making it an even 100 pounds lost since starting Calorie Restriction September 2007. This morning I was 138.6. I know it is no big loss but I got past 139 for the first time in over 20 years. I had not lost weight since January 2009.
Supplements
I have been taking a new supplement to try to curb my appetite and it seems to be working. One is Acai Berry extract. I don't know if it is just me wanting to eat less so bad I will it to work but I am actually not as hungry as I had been. From my past experience I will need to take something to curb my hunger for a few weeks then I will be OK.
The other two new supplements are Tonalin XC-CLA. I don't know if it is working yet. I will keep taking it for a few months to see. I have taken it for only 3 days.
I also bought Fucoxathin. I am very happy with all the new supplements I have added.
I will continue to take them and update on any changes in my mind and body.
Calorie Restriction meals
My Calorie Restriction is working great. I want to keep them around 1050 for as long as I can. For my age and height I can't eat too many calories in a day anyway. 1500 is all I need to maintain. I know it is higher now because I work out but I don't know exactly how many calories I burn there. The machines say 400 each time but I really doubt that. I expect it is closer to 100 so I won't rely on working out to keep my calories low.
My protein intake has gone up since I added cottage cheese and eggs back in. No more green juice for a while. It has far to many calories in it for now. Once I get myself stabilized at 127 I will add them back occasionally. I know I do better with flesh protein over vegetable, who knows what I will do.
My foods are my favorites and what I would eat even if I weren't counting calories, I would eat more of them though.

• Breakfast 2 eggs cooked in olive oil spray
• Lunch 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• Snack apple or banana
• Dinner ground beef patty or ground turkey, or other lean protein.
• A huge raw spinach salad, about 5 cups or more, with olive oil,lemon and honey dressing.
• Snack 2 cups frozen blueberries.

This comes to around 1050 calories each day. Of course there are days I change the snacks. There is far to much fruit that I love to eat a boring apple and banana all the time.

Back to Calorie Restriction basics

Well, my basics that is.
I started my diet plan September 2007 knowing I wanted to do Calorie Restriction and also eliminate foods that I felt I overate and what led me to eat even more. At the time I didn't know just how bad these foods are for us. I educated myself as I went along. Glad I did.

I read all I could about Calorie Restriction and nutrition so I tracked my food with the cronOmeter and started taking supplements if I didn't get 100% every day. I lost weight pretty fast for about 9 months. Then it stopped. I didn't change anything with the plan stuck to it. Five months later I lost another 20 pounds. This leads me to January 2009. I reached 139 pounds, a 90 pound total loss. I still need to lose about 20 more pounds but the scale has not moved since January.

Since I had been reading blogs, vlogs and books on eating healthy foods I decided to try and change mine. I did lots of different things, even fooled myself into believing that if I ate raw I could eat things that I didn't eat normally but liked. This would be dried fruit. I started buying it, lots of it. This led me to really blow Calorie Restriction. I was still eating the healthy dinners.
I stopped eating eggs thinking of the Paleo diet, no cottage cheese, that Paleo deal again. Still the weight did not budge.
My weight fluctuated between 144 to 139. I never had a 139 day back to back. I joined a gym, I work out 3 days a week and have gained inches, did not lose weight. I bought a juicer and started drinking green juice. That didn't last long. I do like the juice and may drink it again but it just isn't something that I can stick with. Calorie Restriction is. I really do love it. It is so easy to do but, it is also easy to have the calories creep up without realizing it. I do believe that is exactly what happened to me. Hell, I know it is. Now the hard part, I have to go back to basics, my basics, where I was September 07. That is where I am right now. I have added eggs back in my diet. I now have 2 eggs for breakfast and that 1/2 cup cottage cheese for lunch. I have 2 fruits for snacks during the day. Then I have that healthy meal for dinner with a huge raw veggie either a salad or spinach. I am NOT hungry but I am struggling to not eat to much fruit after dinner, another bad habit I got into.
The weight is also changing and I am feeling leaner again. I was 139 for 2 days in a row. I may be speaking up to soon with this but I don't think I am. I feel confident the scale will be 138 tomorrow.
I will not be buying and new books on other plans. My lifestyle suits me as it is. While it may be named Calorie Restriction is sure doesn't restrict in food choices. The food is plentiful and wonderful. I am the one that refuses to ever eat grains and I am healthier for it.

I am a big time tea drinker and have discovered how to take my tea to work. I ice it and take two big jugs of it with me. Aaah peace.