More of the same

No big developments recently -- I'm plodding along with an evening eating window and avoiding processed sugar and flour. Results are slow but sure.

Counting calories

I´ve never been one for counting calories. I just found a great phone application though, called Lose It!, that makes it easy to enter foods eaten.
Results after a week: No wonder I´m barely losing weight. I eat too damn much! I average 1800 to 2000 calories while I should be at about 1700 or under to lose weight. (If you´re wondering why those numbers are so high, I´m 5'11".)

Mystery solved.

I´ll keep tracking calories for a bit to see if I can spot patterns and eliminate the big problem foods.
The program also tracks macronutrients (carbs, fat, protein). I´m eating about 10% protein, at the low end of the USDA recommendations. I´ve heard that protein boosts satiety so I´ll try to eat more of it. As a vegetarian, that means lentils, beans, quinoa and perhaps protein powder.

Just losing 2 pounds per month... but that still means I´ll be 24 pounds lighter after a year. More fun than a kick in the head. ;)

Metabolic slowdown?

Week 16 and it's more of the same routine -- ducking out of lunches and packing my own sliced apples for break-fast at 5 or 6 pm. I've lost a total of 17lbs now. I'm very pleased and motivated! I hope the trend continues.

Brad Pilon's posting on metabolic slowdown due to dieting is the first informed, thoughtful piece of information I've seen on the subject. Final verdict: yes, as you lose weight your metabolism will slow down, but only to the rate of lean people who have always been at the lower weight. Don't worry about it. :)
http://bradpilon.com/weight-loss/dieting-and-your-metabolism/