3.5 down...

96.5 to go. Ok, my goal really isn't to lose 100 pounds. I'd be ok with 50. And let me just say again: 3.5 down. I have LOST 3.5 pounds. That is a win in itself, and I'm trying to focus on that.

Granted, it would be easier if my pants felt looser instead of tighter. Damn PMS. But still.

Ok, so that is the basic update. Here's how it happened:

I just started taking Alli 2 weeks ago. I started the diet on Sunday, May 17, and I started the Alli on May 22. So far, I'm down 3.5 pounds total (I know, I'm repeating myself. Get over it. I'm happy)...and will weigh in again on Saturday morning.

Because of all I read before I started the Alli, I try to keep VERY close track of what I'm eating. The amount of fat per meal depends on your total calorie intake...in my case, I shoot for around 1800 calories, which allows up to 19g of fat per meal. Overall, the goal is 30% or less fat.

So far, I have only had a few very minor effects...and no "accidents". I have gone over the fat target a couple times. Once I really thought I was doing well, too. Boo. Just goes to show, when you eat out, you can never be sure if you don't look things up ahead of time! FYI: the Honey Balsamic chicken at Macaroni Grill has FIFTY NINE grams of fat! For grilled chicken, grilled broccoli, and some pasta. 59!!!! Yeah...my tummy wasn't happy the next day. If I had known beforehand, I wouldn't have taken the pill. But really, I thought it wouldn't be that bad.

For me, it's not so much that the Alli will help me lose. It's that it keeps me from cheating. Without it, it's so easy to say "Well, just this one order of fries won't kill my diet. I've been good lately and can spare it" but when there is a consequence...I really think hard about it. And usually, "just this one" would turn into a major fall off the wagon...and a few day binge. So by thinking about it, I do still find ways to have things I enjoy, but I also stay in the guidelines 98% of the time.

I'm facing another challenge tonight, and I can't decide what to do about it. It's Bike Night...when we go out to dinner with other scooterists/motorcyclists. Great PR for DH. Unfortunately, a lot of times, they choose wing places. Some places, like Taco Mac, I can find something I can work with without being the obnoxious person ordering "Grilled chicken, no oil, with a side salad, no cheese, no bacon, fat free dressing on the side, and steamed broccoli, no butter or oil." I just want to smack those people...so I try to find something as close as possible to what I want to minimize the "special" stuff. Tonight, however, they chose Shane's Rib Shack. I don't eat BBQ, so my options are a Fresh Greens Salad with char grilled chicken, or corn on the cob. I'm really not a big fan of salad as a meal...especially for dinner. Lunch, I can deal with. So there is really nothing left for me to have. DH, god bless him, said "If it's not worth it, we won't go." And if it was just this one time, I would have said ok...we'll skip this week. But it's not. It's a consistent thing for this group. I'm one of only 2 or 3 girls, and the others are skinny chicks that can apparently eat anything. *sigh* So, I need to learn to deal with this.

I have 2 choices:

1) Get the damn salad. And then go to Rita's for dessert (high in calories, but no fat...I've had NO trouble staying in my calorie range, still).

2) Skip the Alli pill, and get a cheeseburger and fries. Or chicken tenders and fries. Downside: I'll probably still have a few tummy issues, but not as bad as if I took the pill. Upside...it's a cheeseburger and fries. How is that a bad thing?

I'll probably decide when I get there.