Mon. Nov 7, 2011 - I lost 1.5 pounds since I last posted on Friday. This is a surprise since I haven't walked much at all in the past week due to work schedule and the streets being blocked by downed trees and snow piles from last weekend's storm. I did a lot of garden work all day Saturday and Sunday, cleaning up downed tree limbs at both my house and my son's home as well as cutting back perennials that were damaged by the snow and frost. I was outside half of Saturday and all day Sunday, working steadily so perhaps that physical activity helped move the weight off. Today, I am in day 2 of a 5 day protein only interval. Alternating protein only and protein & vegetable days for 5 days is proving to be much easier for me to manage logistically and I think the results are a bit steadier, although not really faster than alternating each day.

I now have 10.5 pounds to lose in total. I would really be pleased if I can get that under 10 pounds before Thanksgiving arrives in two and a half weeks, but that might be asking too much since I lose weight so incredibly slowly.

I continue to find that I am much more satisfied following this high protein diet than I ever was following Weight Watchers as they prescribe one should follow it. Although they now emphasize eating more protein to fill up, I don't think they emphasize it enough. It is too easy with the choices available with Weight Watchers to use the points allowance on carbohydrate based foods and not enough on protein. Essentially, I am following the points value limits associated with Weight Watchers while on the Dukan diet, but I'm just using all the points for lean protein choices. While on Weight Watchers, I felt "entitled" to having some carbohydrates so I would have them, and that would leave me feeling hungry and not satisfied. I was always thinking about food; when and what I could eat next. My life revolved around thoughts of food and eating. I am finding that on the Dukan diet I am not always craving "something". I do sometimes get hungry at meal times, but I eat and am full and stay full for a long time, able to do and enjoy other things without counting the hours until I can eat again.

Having said all that, I do think that taking periodic breaks is important for me to do, because I lose weight so slowly. Sustaining the Attack/Cruise phases of Dukan for a long period of time without a significant weight lose and without breaks would be really difficult to do. The interesting thing about the breaks is that I feel so bloated and heavy by the end of the break, that I am ready and eager to restart the Dukan program!