Fri, Dec 16 - Over the past two days, I have gained a pound and a half.  As it turns out, this week was NOT so difficult to maintain my eating program. At the buffet I attended on Tuesday, I was able to have vegetables and meat only. I skipped the reception on Wednesday, so my meals were totally within my eating program guidelines, and yet I STILL gained a pound and a half!  This is so totally frustrating!! I have no idea why. So, I am taking a break. I am  going to enjoy some holiday foods from now through New Years, and will post again after New Years when I will probably have gained 30 pounds!!!!!!!!!!

Mon, Dec. 12 - I lost another quarter pound today, so am a half pound from my pre-Thanksgiving break weight and 10 pounds from my ultimate goal.  Tomorrow, I go back on protein & vegetables for five days.  However, I have a buffet dinner to attend tomorrow night and the reception on Wednesday, so this trend may be rapidly reversed.

Sun, Dec 11, 2011 - I lost another three quarters of a pound today, putting me three quarters of a pound away from my pre-Thanksgiving break weight, and 10.5 pounds away from my ultimate goal. Every bit of weight I lose now will only help me get through the holidays and back on track afterward.

Sat., Dec. 10, 2011 - Today, I lost three quarters of a pound, so now I am 1.25 pounds over my pre Thanksgiving break weight, and 10.75 pounds over my ultimate goal. Heading in the right direction, but as I said this coming week is going to be challenging, and with the holidays looming after that, it is going to be some difficult weeks ahead.

I know that I will take a break over the holidays to enjoy some things I would not normally eat, and I am not going to stress over it. I will just have to re-focus after the first of the year.

I have been hungry all day today. Perhaps it is the anticipation of the holidays that is making me hungry. 

Fri, Dec 9, 2011 - Since I last posted on Monday, I had gained another pound making it a total increase of 1.25 pounds this week until today. Today, when I stepped on the scales, I was down 1.25 pounds, putting me at 2 pounds from my pre-break weight, and 11.5 pounds from my ultimate goal weight. I am trying to be very careful because of the holidays looming ahead, but it is difficult with so many eating-related activities coming up.

On Monday there will be the annual holiday lunch at my workplace, which is a glutinous orgy of food. Therefore, I will not be attending that event-- it's not an event I particularly enjoy and there is no way I can attend without going way out of bounds, which I would prefer not to do.

On Tuesday, I will be attending a buffet dinner for a political organization. This too will be a non-nutritious eating frenzy, but not as luxurious as the lunch I am passing up on Monday, so I may be able to hold my own at this one. I hope.

On Wednesday, I will be attending a work reception, but I'm not sure what the food options will be as this is a farewell reception for a departing executive. I suspect the food will be rich and plentiful "stand up" food, but I will put in an appearance and leave as soon as possible. I hope it is not a sit-down event.If it is, I will probably say my good-byes before dinner and disappear.

If I can resist all those temptations, that will get me through next week. I would really be pleased to lose the 2 pounds I gained over Thanksgiving before Christmas, but time is running out!

Mon, Dec 5, 2011 - As expected, I gained a quarter pound. Actually, I'm surprised it is not more. Sunday was a big eating day and the second day of protein and vegetables, which inevitably results in a gain. At least, I will be able to walk to work several times this week which will help somewhat, I hope.

Sun, Dec. 4, 2011 - I have lost another three quarters of a pound, so I am now 2 pounds from my pre-break weight, and 11.5 pounds from my ultimate goal weight. I am surprised that I lost 3/4 lbs because I switched back to protein and vegetables yesterday. Today, I feel very bloated, which will probably show up on the scales tomorrow morning.

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 - I lost another quarter pound this morning, so am now 12.25 from my ultimate goal and 2.75 above my pre-break weight. In all, I've lost 6.75 pounds in 5 days which I know is all fluid, not fat. Today is the last of 5 all protein days; tomorrow I go on protein and vegetables for 5 days. That will cause some fluid retention so I expect to gain a bit next week. So of the 9.5 pounds I gained on break, I would say almost 7 was fluid and the other 2.5 was fat-- interesting.

Thur, Dec 1, 2011 - I lost another half pound of bloat, so I am now 3 pounds over my pre-break weight and 12.5 pounds from my ultimate goal. I suspect at some point, the sustained weight loss I'm seeing this week will ricochet back up, although it would be so nice to see it continue moving downward-- that's not what usually happens. Tomorrow is my 5th day of protein only eating, so on Saturday I start protein and vegetables for 5 days-- that will definitely result in regaining some of the fluid I have lost this week. I just need to persevere and not get too frustrated by the ups and downs, but that is SO hard to do. It will be especially difficult heading into the holiday season, but I am consciously trying to avoid some of the usual pitfalls and temptations-- for example, I am forgoing the annual Christmas luncheon at work. It is not mandatory attendance and it is just a quagmire of fatty foods that I can easily avoid by just bypassing the luncheon.