For a background to this post see How I Plan to Lose 20 Pounds and Win the Bet.
Week #2 Weigh-in: Unchanged. I weighed myself a few times this week and was down, then up, but I ended the week even. Due to a project I was less active than Week 1.
Sunday March 2
- banana
- tuna (1 can)
- cucumber
- cod
- apple
- cheddar (2 oz)
- beef chili w/ rice (2 bowls)
- grapes
- cheddar (2 oz)
Monday March 3
- coconut oil (1 T)
- kimchi
- banana
- beef stew w/ rice (1 bowl)
- cheddar (2 oz)
- apple
- 2 lengua tacos (corn tortillas)
- pear
- brussel sprouts w/ butter
- beef stew w/ rice (1 bowl)
- apple
- cheddar (3 oz)
Tuesday March 4
- 2 bananas
- Vietnamese: beef + tomato + eggs + rice
- grapes
- cheddar (3 oz)
- apple
- French onion soup w/ cheddar
- Falafel (GF) salad w/ tahini sauce
- cheddar (3 oz)
- beef chili w/ rice (1 bowl)
Wednesday March 5
- tuna (1 can)
- kimchi
- apple
- 2 lengua tacos
- cheddar (4 oz)
- apple
- beef vindaloo w/ rice (2 bowls)
- apple
- gouda cheese (2 oz)
Thursday March 6
- banana
- apple
- beef chili w/ rice (2 bowls)
- cheddar (2 oz)
- Korean: cauliflower soup
- apple
- kimbap
Friday March 7
- banana
- cheddar (2 oz)
- kimchi
- beef vindaloo w/ rice ( 2 bowls)
- apple
- green salad w/ oil/vinegar
- carrots (2)
- Korean soup: Beef stock + seaweed + shrimp + mushrooms
- cheddar (3 oz)
Saturday March 8
- 2 bananas
- cheddar (2 oz)
- 3 eggs
- Brussel sprouted w/ butter
- blackberry shrub
- apple
- green salad
- beef marrow
- cheddar (2 oz)
- Korean soup: Beef stock + seaweed + shrimp
- lunch meat + cheese (6 oz)
- beef vindaloo w/ rice (1 bowl)
Notes:
- I might need to consider scaling back on the cheese. Maybe reserve it for just before bed and minimize the rest of the day.
- As the days get warmer and longer I think AM fasting will get easier.
charles grashow
Mar 9, 2014 — 11:46 am
You might cut the bananas and the processed lunch meat as well as the cheese.
Anemone
Mar 9, 2014 — 12:12 pm
I discovered YourEatopia.com this week via Matt Stone’s forums, and am now wondering why you are trying to lose weight in the first place. (This is what happens when you find a new blog. 🙂 )
In my own case, when I switched from meat/junk food to meat/vegetables/legumes this week, I became exhausted and achy, which it turns out is normal for someone finally eating well enough to heal. I assume that’s not been an issue for you, since you never lost that much weight or ate badly to begin with.
At any rate, I now find your experiment bizarre but look forward to comparing results in four-five months regardless.
Russell
Mar 9, 2014 — 2:54 pm
You should throw in some Shangri-la diet principals – some tasteless calories with an hour of fasting before and after. I always found it useful.
MAS
Mar 9, 2014 — 4:59 pm
@Anemone – Here is why. https://criticalmas.org/2014/02/regained-weight-lost/
@Russell – Maybe, but in the past I hadn’t needed those tricks, especially in the AM.
Pauline
Mar 10, 2014 — 2:09 am
Plateaus are normal on the way down its a bit of a zig zag ride. I am always amazed how the body stabilised at a certain weight, a few weeks up and down and then settles at lower weight. Its like appetite, digestion and the brain all synchronise over time.
Geoff
Mar 10, 2014 — 4:16 am
MAS – These journals are very informative. Thanks for posting this part of your weight loss journey for us. If I were you I’d resist the urge to change anything just yet. A one-week plateau is nothing too concerning and could be the result of any number of variables. I’d leave things “as is” for at least another week before changing anything.
MAS
Mar 10, 2014 — 11:01 am
@Pauline – Good point. A friend of mine reminded me that to look my progress as 2 weeks of a 1.5# weight loss, instead of 3# and 0#.
@Geoff – I agree. It is far too soon to start mixing things up. I will practice pushing back the cheese to late in the day to curb PM hunger.
thomas
Mar 10, 2014 — 6:23 pm
I eat way less and can’t lose that last 10-15lbs. In fact today all I’ve had is coffee + 6 pieces of tuna sushi for lunch + 1/2 avocado w/cheese for dinner. Drank diluted lemonade otherwise. I have what is known as skinnyfat so trying to bulk up makes me fat and losing weight affects my musculature but not my midsection.
btw: do you wear a hairpiece? Looks like a good one.
MAS
Mar 10, 2014 — 7:23 pm
@thomas – No hairpiece. My hair is thick and glorious!
Pauline
Mar 11, 2014 — 2:05 am
I also see maintenance as very valuable so not to be discounted.
thomas
Mar 11, 2014 — 8:53 pm
What do you think of Tim ferriss’ idea of eating dirty one day a week. I have hit a weight loss plateau and have considered eating whatever I want like he said to do once a week but am skeptical that it actually “kick starts” weight loss. From my research it seems if you are a skinnyfat ectomorph the best route is to get skinny first and build up muscle slowly. Bulking just turns straight to fat and I can’t get rid of these love handles. They are small but creep up my back.
OK about the hairpiece…err…sorry I mean glorious head of hair, our little secret 😉
MAS
Mar 11, 2014 — 9:06 pm
@thomas – I like the cheat day idea. Tim Ferriss designed a diet not for optimal results but for optimal compliance, which I think is a brilliant way to approach fat loss.
sheri
Mar 12, 2014 — 8:17 am
Hi MAS!! I am still totally reading this, oh BlogFather 🙂
MAS
Mar 12, 2014 — 7:03 pm
@Sheri – Long time reader!
Sheri has been reading since August 2001 when I got my mug in the USA Today. 🙂
thomas
Mar 12, 2014 — 7:45 pm
I also need to lose 20lbs from my midsection, so you do believe that overeating will catalyze weight loss? or do you think it is more of a psychological crutch/reward? I just can’t seem to lose the bellyfat and don’t think cheat days make sense.
MAS
Mar 12, 2014 — 8:06 pm
@thomas – The Ferriss diet is about going 6 days undereating and 1 day overeating. The logic is the net result over a full week is a calorie deficit and fat loss. It is one approach. Works for some and not for others.