Day 30 of VLCD – Injection 28

December 9, 2007

Round 1 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Yesterday – 242.0
Today – 241.0
Loss Overnight –  1.0
Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 11/10/07  – 26.4
Average loss per day –  .91/day

My 18 year old daughter is in her first year of college at a University in Ohio. She has spent the majority of her young life living in the desert of Arizona. Last year when we were talking about where she might like to continue her education, it was her desire to go somewhere that had a change of season (something she had never experienced). So last August I flew out to the desert and together we drove her car to the Midwest.

This last week, with the freezing weather blasting the north, she called and in an excited tone said it was snowing and was sticking to the ground. But it was supposed to melt later in the day and then turn to rain, sleet and ice. I had reminded her that she has never driven in snow or ice before, and that she needed to understand that her car will behave differently in both of those road conditions. Ice, especially, can take the car places she won’t want to go. I said an inexperienced driver will sometimes struggle with the car to get back on track before crashing into curbs, or worse, other cars. I told her there is a simple trick to get back on track, but it goes against the natural thing to do and until you get the hang of it, you will want to fight it. She asked, “what is the trick? I said, “when your hands are tightly gripping the wheel, simply take your foot off the gas and let go.” Her response was what I expected. “Let go? Of the Wheel?” “Yes”, I said, “let go. When you do that the tires will naturally turn the way it is the car is  heading. Then, once the wheels have turned into the direction of the slide, you just take the wheel and turn yourself back onto the path you want to go.”

That has been my challenge this week as an inexperience “driver” with this protocol. I have wanted to direct exactly where, how, and how fast to eliminate with this diet. Much to my dismay, the “ice” under my wheels have taken me anywhere it wanted to go. It wasn’t until I was willing to let go and “enjoy the ride” that I was able to see that I am now back on course. And it is even deeper than that. I was always on course, it just didn’t feel that way. I have eliminated nearly 27 pounds in a month and one pound overnight. Since yesterday I did absolutely nothing different except “let go of my grip” and “sit back and enjoy the ride.”

I don’t know if there is anymore “ice” up ahead or not …. but most probably it should be expected. I trust when I get there I will remember to “let go”.

Had my breakfast patties for lunch and dinner, no broccoli, but 1/2 grapefruit, 2 crackers and celery. Drank more water than usual.

I’d like to thank everyone for their posted comments and emails. I enjoyed the stories of childhood and the south. I too like to analogize, obviously. Pairing stories, lessons and events with feelings help me express my ideas and emotions. Thanks for indulging me. Hope it helps some to understand what others are going through.

Rain here today. “&%/*#^~” rain. If ever I picked a challenging time to come up here to paint the house, it would be now.

Onward. Yielding to the ice beneath my feet makes it easier to experience the knowing my “Life is Sweet!!”

Biz ~ you are quite the girl. There is a special place in heaven for you for all the effort, love and care you give others struggling for answers. Thanks again from one of the many.

Lilli ~ When my daughter was a little one I used to get the same question and my answer to her was always, “Yes we are there and we’re having a lot of fun.” But then I have always had a bad streak of smart ass in me.

Crystal ~ I never knew how to eat until I moved to New Orleans. I was lucky enough to work at a fancy hotel on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter for a number of years and learned how to enjoy southern cooking. Nothing down there moves the herd like the dinner bell.