Breaking through the Pound Barrier

Today, a minor celebration since I've broken through the pound barrier (149 pounds this morning, broke through 150).

My temperature this morning is 97.0 (using an inexpensive digital thermometer and taking the highest of 3 testings under the tongue). I am still getting over the flu, so I'm not sure if that temperature is really reflective of my normal waking temperature.

So, a little reflection on the first two weeks:

At an average calorie level of about 1,000 per day (see Calorie Diary; I filled in as best I could for missing days while I was sick and didn't feel up to recording everything), I'm losing weight despite hypothyroidism. I'm taking calcium, vitamin D, and fiber supplements (plus A,C, and E), and I don't feel like I am starving myself, though I am really beginning to crave some calorie-rich foods. Last night, the family got takeout pizza, and I had one slice of spinach-ricotta pizza for dinner. I know, that's not diet food, and what's worse is there are about five slices of that pizza left in the refrigerator. I think today I will cut them in half and freeze them, make them less fattening and less tempting. There is that little voice inside that says, It's not realistic to avoid ALL fattening foods. I'm going to have to build in a few high-calorie choices now and then. That's the hard part, I think; there is something addictive about those fattening choices (like pizza, or pasta with cream sauces) that goads one into eating much more than the small serving that would be "allowed" in rational dieting. It's easier to avoid it altogether, but then that little voice starts clamoring, "No fair!"

I know that my body will soon accommodate itself to this level of calories and I will hit a weight plateau. So far, I have only been doing a few calisthenics (5-15 minutes per day) plus the everyday walking that I do as a teacher, or on the weekends, biking with my kids or doing housework. I expect that when I hit that plateau with a week of no weight loss, I will have to kick it up a notch and start exercising more earnestly. This week was a particularly bad week for exercise, since I was sick. I literally slept for almost three days straight, and did very little else but get the kids ready for school and help them with homework when they got home. Now that I am getting better, I am feeling hungrier.

I will not let up on my commitment, however. The small success of having lost 6 pounds during the 2 weeks I have been dieting is worth validating. I attribute that success, truthfully, to the discipline of recording everything on Calorie King's website and being able to have instant feedback on nutritional values; plus the discipline of recording progress here, on this blog. I will not allow myself to grow complacent about this progress; I know it will slow down even with the same level of calories. I want to seek out other low-calorie but savory recipes that are relatively easy to prepare and to store for several days in the refrigerator. If weight loss stalls, I am willing to try other supplements (CLA) and see if they help, or give in to the need to have blood drawn periodically and finally manage weight from the thyroid perspective with thyroid supplements. One reader commented that the problem with the reformulation of Armour may be solved by simply crushing the tablet before taking it; that the problem is only a dissolution/absorption issue rather than a problem with the active ingredient. I feel like a moron for not having tried that before.