Weight loss time again! I started at 235 and am 230 two weeks later.

Also, am taking MSM for my joints. Four tablets yesterday (2000 mg). Today, 1000mg at 10am, 1000mg at 3pm and will take at least 1000mg later on. Have had a nagging headache through the early afternoon. Achy joints maybe feel a little better, or maybe it's placebo effect.


2/23/07
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MSM:
1000 mg @ 9am
1000 mg @ 11am

posted by jazz 1:19 PM

. . .

207 last night...I know, not much change, but my weight plateau is down to about 210 every morning without really trying too hard. I've gotten to where I take a couple of Metab-o-lites during the day along with a vitamin, and none on weekends. Nobody sells ephedra compounds anymore, so I'm nursing my supply along.

I'm just writing to repeat an interesting effect that's been happening regarding sleep: when I'm using ephedra, I tend to stay awake long hours into the night (up til 2 or 3 am typically). Then I'll awaken at 8 or 9 am (for maybe five hours of night sleep...not what I'm used to). During the day, I'll occasionally do a "phase-out" while sitting or working at my desk. It's not an unconscious thing...it's a feeling of tiredness where I just kind of fall pleasantly asleep for about a minute or two, then wake up! At that point, I'm good to go for the rest of the day (several hours or more).

Weird.

posted by jazz 1:16 PM

. . .

May 25, after a tennis tournament (5 matches in 2 days...whew!) I weighted in at 208...lots of that was dehydration as it turns out.

An hour later I had muscle cramps like I've never had before! Diane called the paramedics as I spasmed on the bed! I don't think the ephedra had anything to do with it, since I've experienced cramps before after strenuous exercise and too little water, but these were really bad.

Weighed in this morning at 211. The June target is 206, which I feel like I'm on track for.

posted by jazz 7:59 AM

. . .

After tennis tonight----214 1/2!

Staying on target!

posted by jazz 7:46 PM

. . .

Well, another month has come and gone and I hit target, 218 lb, on April 29th evening after two hours of tennis.

Celebrated with a big bowl of ice cream and really let myself go for the evening. But still, this morning, I was just 220!

May should roll out at 212 if I keep up the exercise and watch my meals...206 by end of June and 200 (the magic number!) by Aug 1.

If it happens, that would by 48 lb in 8 months.

posted by jazz 10:10 PM

. . .

Made weight for March 31!

Weighed in in the morning at 222 (target was 224) so I got that behind me...

then I pigged out! Even though short term I hit 226 or so a day later, I was down to 220 on Saturday AM after tennis and have hovered at 223 the last few mornings.

I seem to be getting on a roll, and think that 218 by end of April should be very doable.

The ephedra effetcs are not too noticeable now. I'm typically only taking two per day along with a vitamin. It's much easier resisting snacks and such...I think good habits are taking shape!

Been playing more tenis lately with Mike Dickerson. It definitely helps to have 25 fewer pounds to carty around the court.

More later!

posted by jazz 3:00 PM

. . .

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies prefer bananas...

And so March goes out like a lamb. I'm steady at 227-228, and have about a week to get down to 224 to make my March target.

Have encountered more instances of binge eating...it hasn't affected my weight much because I'm playing some tennis now, so am burning a little more.

My knees don't seem to hurt as much as they once did; I think the weight loss is helping some.

Will let you know how March 31 comes out (Sunday). The eph hasn't caused the headaches I feared, even though I spent the weekend off of it.

posted by jazz 10:19 AM

. . .

February came and went, and I weighed in at 229 on Feb 27.

Had my first headache in a long time a couple of days ago. It wasn't too bad, though, and went away by itself.

Pigged out last night at a meeting (with catered box lunch) and hit 231 obn the scale this morning...all in all, not bad, though.

Still getting by with about 6 hours of sleep per night...seems like no ill effects.

posted by jazz 1:54 PM

. . .

1. Getting by with only about 3 hours sleep/night
2. Still not very hungry
3. Weighed in at 232 this morning
4. Doesn't seem to be particularly habit-forming...can go a weekend without significant withdrawal.

That baseball player died a couple of days ago...he was using eph...now Walgreen's no longer stocks it. I have approx 4 months right now...hopefully enough to reach my goal.

posted by jazz 3:18 PM

. . .

It's been a while.

I've continued on the same course the past 10 days: basically one meal per day and no (well, little) cheating.

This morning: 235.

I guess I've lost the post where I set targets, so I'll try to reiterate them from memory here.

Jan 31: 238
Feb 28: 230
Mar 31: 224
Apr 30: 220
May 31: 215

If I strt working out, I think I could probably double the rate of loss that I'm seeing now. Figure I'm burning, say, 1800 kcal/day and ingesting, say, 1500. With a 300 kcal deficit, I'm losing 2-3 lb/week.

If I burn another 300 kcal (same intake) my progress should double...300 kcal is not much exercise...we'll see.

posted by jazz 9:13 AM

. . .

Not as bad as I thought...240 this morning.

posted by jazz 8:30 AM

. . .

241 this morning (Sunday).

Blimped out today and yesterday. Since Friday had 5 burritos (270 ea), 1 chocolate cherry, 4 scrambled egg patties (80 ea), butterfinger bar, healthy choice turkey dinner, dinner at Texas Road House Friday (shared a catfish dinner with Ben and some fries), one of Richard's breakfast tacos (big pig!)...three ice cream bars (160 ea)

I'm afraid of what I'll be in the morning; all that work wasted.

posted by jazz 6:04 PM

. . .

238 this morning.

Yesterday night: About 4 oz popcorn (400 cal?), 6 chocolate-covered cherries (yeah, I know...) 450 cals total, and about 12 pepperoni slices (150 cals total).

Nothing new...2 capsules this morning along with a multivitamin (the vitamin's becoming a regular addition). Two more later. Haven't had anything to eat yet today.

I've already hit January's target (238) so the next two weeks the object will be to stabilize my high-end weight below 238 (maybe 235 is a good target to shoot at).

Then, getting to February's goal of 230 is that much easier, without backsliding...

posted by jazz 8:30 AM

. . .

239 this morning...2 metaboless first thing in the am, then two after lunch. Lunch was a 290-calorie Healthy Choice, plus two Jumbos (no condiments, extra veggies).

No new side effects to report except for the usual wakefulness. After falling asleep around 11 last night, I woke at 6 AM and started right in with my day.

Is it my imagination or does time seem to go faster throughout the day?

posted by jazz 1:59 PM

. . .

241 this morning...had two capsules late last night (~11:30). Fell asleep, but then woke up at 3 am and was able to work throughout the early morning. I feel a little groggy now, though. Not sure how I'll last today.

Yesterday evening, had a corn dog, 8 low-salt meatballs, about 5 oz ice cream and a hot chocolate (120 cal).

Two Shippley's do-nuts this morning. Now, back to the Yerba.

I think a reasonable plan would be to target 238 by the end of January, 230 by the end of February, 224 by the end of March, 220 by the end of April and 216 by Mick's confirmation. Exercise will help as the weather warms...

posted by jazz 6:08 AM

. . .

Sunday I pigged out...no eph til late in the day (2 capsules). Had some pizza, 3 corn dogs and a can of caramel corn (maybe 5 oz or so).

Saturday I had about 7 baked cheese sticks, a dish of ice cream, donut, banana and more...

Today (2 caps in AM, 2 more at 2:30 pm) has just been a Jumbo Jack with veggies but no condiments. Lots of yerba to drink, and the characteristic dry nasal passage and mouth.

Weighed in this morning at 242.

posted by jazz 1:06 PM

. . .

Yesterday, it was more of the usual: two tablets in the morning along with a multivitamin, then two at about 2 pm.

Meals yesterday: two biscuits, two healthy-choice lunches (total calories: about 600), four bratwursts (one bun) a handful of popcorn and a diet yogurt.

Weight this morning: 242

Still have never felt hungry.My yerba mate drinking has increased significantly, but I don't feel like my overall liquid intake is higher. I'm staying away from diet caffeinated soft drinks, which used to account for perhaps 72 oz (6 cans) of liquid per day..

I remember in previous efforts to lose weight, the first few days I could drop about 6-8 lbs by just not eating (i.e. losing gut fill) then there was a plateau, then more of a steady loss as my body kicked into negative energy balance. We'll see if this is the same.

posted by jazz 7:59 AM

. . .

Yesterday, two diet yogurts, a handful of popcorn and about four brownies.

Four Metabole$$ tablets, two in the AM and two after lunch.

Weight this morning: 240.

I think starting to day I'll supplement the eph with a vitamin pill. This daily diet diary stuff is making me think that perhaps I'm falling a little short in the balance department.

Some insomnia last night. Fell asleep arouind midnight, then was awakened at 3:30 and couldn't go back to sleep.

posted by jazz 5:26 AM

. . .

Well, on Tuesday 1/7 I started using Metabole$$ to see what physiological effects it would have (curiosity factor) and to help me drop some weight (physiological effect).

I had 4 tablets on Tuesday, each spaced apart by several hours, and four on Wednesday.

Weight Tuesday morning: 248
Weight this morning: 242

Psychological effects I'm noting:

The stuff really does cut down hunger. On Tuesday I had two burgers with cheese at the house.

On Wednesday I had two jumbo jacks, extra veggies, no condiments and about 2 oz of Ranch Wavy Lay's chips.

At no point over the last couple of days did I feel particularly hungry. My mouth is perhaps a little drier, but not objectionable) and perhaps the smell of food does not trigger a physiological response (salivation, stomach rumbling) like it normally does.

I noticed this morning that my lowest joint in my thumb is sore, without any memorable cause.

I haven't noticed the usual empty stomach jitters that I would get with caffeine.

Psychologically, it has certainly affected my wakefulness. I've been up until 2 am or later each of the last two nights, and awakened naturally by 8 am the next mornings. My energy level in the office is higher as well.

Again, there is not so much nervous energy as caffeine alone, and far less jitters. I feel like I'm able to perform tasks more precisely and attentively (e.g. typing this blog) than with no stimulant or with just caffeine.


I suspect that I've drank more than my usual amout of Yerba Mate each of the last two days, and suspect that my intake of liquids is up. I have not consciously noticed an increase in thirst, but I'll keep an eye on it.

David advised me yesterday that mood swings are common with Ephedra, and not to take it constantly for more than a few weeks without a break, so I'll really push the weight-loss aspect of it for a month and then feel more comfortable (providing I've dropped some pounds) in deciding whether to continue.

I currently have about 80 caplets of Metabole$$ left, and a 100-caplet bottle of Hydroxycut unopened. Assuming 6 caplets per day over the life of the bottles, that's about a month's supply. I hope I end up taking more like 3-4 per day (as I am now) but we'll see.

posted by jazz 7:25 AM

. . .