I’m back. I arrived late Monday night from visiting my family in Fresno. I was so good about sticking to my P90 workout even while being away. I brought my DVD and some resistance bands and I got up at about 7:00 most mornings to get my workout in before the rest of the family woke up. We had a huge annual 4th of July party on Saturday at my Nino’s (godfather) and I got to see some of my cousins I had not seen in 4 years and I got to meet some of their kids for the first time! The best part was, I swam and visited and totally ignored the brownies, cookies and most BBQ foods there. On the actual 4th of July we celebrated my oldest niece’s birthday with a day of more swimming, a BBQ and fireworks. Its legal to use fireworks there!
Even though I ate remarkably well and stuck to my calorie count, when I did my 1 week later weigh in yesterday morning; I discovered I had lost 0 lbs. I was extremely disappointed because usually the first week on the program you lose the most weight. I should have seen like a 3-7 lb loss but to see the scale not budge at all was very disheartening. So I started reading up on one of the fitness forums I belong to about reasons for no weight changes even with a clean diet and exercise program. This is not the first time this has happened to me either. Last fall, for 4 weeks straight I followed The Flat Belly Diet and worked out 5 days at the gym and only lost 1 pound. I somehow rationalized that I must have cheated on my diet or not worked out hard enough; but frankly only losing 15 lbs in 2 years is rather slow.
Anyhow, as I read more about the symptoms of hypothyroidism the lights went on. I have had the following issues for the past 4 years:
- unexplained eczema
- cold hands and feet (even this morning with the house sitting at a cool 80 degrees upstairs my hands and feet were ice cold)
- my hair sheds clumps
- fatigue
- uh one symptom I am not willing to publicly admit haha suckers!
- and now the difficulty of losing weight even though my effort is 100% there
So yesterday, I went to have my blood drawn for a thyroid test and I am waiting to hear back from my doctor about the results today. I’m not hoping this is any sort of miracle drug to help me drop weight easily. All I ask is that my body’s metabolism to function normally so that with my efforts, I will see results.
Update: My thyroid is normal. 0.61 TSH value so I guess I just need to be patient. It still doesn’t explain my other symptoms but oh well.
Anyhow, as far as my micro niche sites go, the only site I am seeing improvements in rankings is the site I mentioned in my previous post. It has moved from #8 to #7. Yesterday, I wrote 2 more articles for that same site to see if I can boost it further.
I also wrote 2 articles for site #31 that I am working on boosting because it is still lost in the SERPs.
Honestly, I still feel the only way to help my sites is to get these article back links to them. So I am still working on my goal of writing at least 4 articles a day and more if I can. Yesterday, I had a slow start because I got caught up in reading all this hypothyroid information and which meds to ask for etc. Then, I had some more drama from my ex to distract me and finally, I had to run down to Kaiser actually have my blood drawn.
My adsense earnings were really pathetic over the weekend and surprise surprise, the 4th of July was a record low of $5.46. The other holiday weekend days were averaging $17 days. Yesterday was a bit better with $20.60.
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I’m just now starting to see better results after the June update. Still not where I want to be but its getting there little by little.
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Hi Sara,
I’ve been following your niche progress off and on.
Regarding your P90 program and not seeing the weight loss you were expecting. I went through the same thing a little over a year ago. I was working out 5 times a week, was being very careful about what I was eating as well as limiting calories. After one month, I hadn’t lost an ounce. After two, I lost a pound. It was really discouraging.
I had some other health issues, I had blood tests, no one (the doctors anyway) could tell me what was wrong.
Then I was talking to someone who does nutritional counseling and fitness training and she said it sounded like I had a yeast overgrowth in my digestive system. The symptoms mimic a lot of other conditions like hypothyroidism.
She had me go on a 28 day detox, where you cut out anything that can be feed the yeast. No wheat, no sugar, and nothing fermented. Fruits are also restricted for the first two weeks. After 28 days, all the yeast will have died off and your digestive system should be back in balance.
This is her blog. She doesn’t have anything up about her detox program, but there is good information in general: http://www.healthylivingwithmelissa.blogspot.com/
Hi Carla,
Thanks for sharing that information. I will definitely check that out to see if it can help me with this.
Oh I found info on the detox diet itself. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/candidadiet.htm
We have a pretty health-conscious community out here and several companies (like http://bodybuilding.com) that have a physical presence out where I live – anyhow, the information about yeast is what I was going to mention.
My wife had just found a blog where one of our friends has an entire product line and blog about yeast and the effects of yeast on the body.
Pretty nasty stuff! And here I was, eating sugar and wheat like it was going out of style…
I’ll see if I can get that blog information for you. Will have to ask my wife about it. But either way: take this as a corroborative, don’t-sue-me-this-ain’t-medical-advice opinion. I think yeast is definitely something to rule out.
JamestheJust on Elance recently posted..What Real Internet Marketing Looks Like
Isn’t it a little weird that what you’re experiencing with your diet and workout sort of mimics what has been happening with those niche sites? I mean, working hard and doing everything right and not seeing results straight away…
I think it’s a matter of sticking to it and being patient. I know, easier said than done. I’m going through something similar with my sites. Lots of work, some movement in the serps and traffic, but no sales. At some point, we gotta trust we’re doing the right thing and that results will show.
Whenever I feel like I’m going through a phase like this, I watch “What the Bleep Do We Know”. Not sure if I believe it 100%, but it does give me a boost and makes me feel better.
Selena recently posted..Progress Report For Early July
You’re right Selena! Weight loss is a lot like these niche sites. Its all a matter of doing the work to see results later. Definitely not an overnight success.
Well, good to hear it isn’t a thyroid issue – those are no fun. But maybe your body is telling you something, Sara…? I know this might not be an appreciated comment, but from the photos you’ve posted, it really doesn’t look to me like you need to lose weight at all. Still, I can relate. I’ve just joined a gym myself. And I know that doing work on anything and seemingly getting nowhere can be super frustrating! So I hope those sites of yours will shape up as well as your body soon!
Michelle recently posted..Weekly Update 5 June 29-July 5
Thanks Michelle. I definitely am overweight. I am about 40 lbs heavier than I should be so my body can afford to drop the weight. Why it is not cooperating is just a mystery to me.
Perhaps I am still stressed out so its fighting to hold weight or water. I am not sure. But I am not going to quit! In fact, I just plopped down my credit card and ordered P90X from ebay. Maybe my body needs to be pushed harder. I am sweating with P90 but I honestly think I sweated more with spinning. And I was actually used to weight training much harder at the gym, so maybe I just need a kick in the pants.
Weight loss can be so annoying.
I have been losing about half a pound a week for more than a year and a half.
Summer comes and I up the exercise doing about twice as much and eating awesome.
In 8 weeks, I gain 2 pounds!!!! Normally I would have lost at least 4.
It’s always tough to put in all the effort and see no results.
Ugh! That is exhausting and frustrating, Dan. Even for a man! haha. What sort of eating plan do you follow?
I aim for about 2000 calories per day and do my best to get in my fruits and veggies.
Note though that when I’m skinny I’m 215 pounds so that’s a fairly large calorie deficit for a guy my size in general.
Yea that sounds like a good calorie amount for weight loss. I am at 1,300 calories and absolutely hated life the first few days but now I have gotten used to it.
Weight loss can definitely be frustrating. I know you have probably heard this time and time again, but drink as much water as you can. On one of the weight loss forums that I frequent people were swearing that they would be able to lose double the amount of weight on the days they drank a lot water, so I decided to try it for a week. I made it a priority to drink water whenever I passed the kitchen, which with 2 little ones is a lot. The water helps to flush out your system as well as fights off hunger. So, in the week that I made a conscious decision to drink a lot of water everyday I was able to lose 6 pounds when the other weeks I would only average 2-3 pounds. May be something you want to consider as it never hurts to drink more water… unless you don’t like going to the bathroom every hour! LOL
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Yea, I am pretty sure I don’t drink enough. I try to aim for 8 glasses a day but I probably drink more like 5-6.
Do not get discouraged. I am on week #3 of P90X….how much weight have I lost?
2 pounds….
Fortunately I took some ‘before’ measurements and noticed that I have lost a few inches. I honestly do not care what the scale says, I am just trying to be around for my son!
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Wow! I am shocked. I have P90X on the way and will probably start it next week. I sure hope to get some good results with it.
I am a woman so its only natural for me to be obsessed by the scale. I am aiming for the weight that the US army says I should be for my height which is still the top range of what they feel I should be at. According to the low end, I would have to drop 60 lbs.
Your body just needs time. This first pounds you lost when you start working out is mostly just the lost of the water in your body which is not good, it just indicates that you are not drinking enough.
You body has to realise that your workout is not just a short-term activity and than it will start burning fat(long-term store of energy).
You should just keep on working out and also working on your niche websites – it will all pay out later…
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In all the talk about losing v. gaining weight, it could very well be that you have put on lean muscle weight – that would be my guess. Give it a little bit more time, I’m sure you’ll see results.
JamestheJust on Elance recently posted..What Real Internet Marketing Looks Like
Hello Sara
I have been following your blog since long. Your Adsense Journey is inspiring.
Yeast and detox? Let me dig up my CB links!
Carrie recently posted..Earnings and Status Update
haha, yea I actually saw a CPA site on the yeast detox thing but that is seriously not to be messed with without the supervision of a doctor. last night I read up on the Candida diet and apparently if you kill off the yeast too quickly it can be quite harmful to you and even cause death. So, I am seeing my doctor tomorrow. She is already going to test my thyroid further by getting my free T4 and free T3 counts but tomorrow’s visit will determine whether or not to pursue the yeast overgrowth direction. I just know something is not right. I know my body and I have never had such difficulty dropping weight.
Are you going to ask your Doctor about yeast? Somehow I don’t imagine that will go over well. Medical Doctors are so uptight about that stuff.
Good luck, hope you get it all figured out soon.
Carrie recently posted..Earnings and Status Update
Well, I did ask her about yeast but she didn’t even touch on the topic much. She just pretty much made up her mind that all my symptoms are due to stress. Even with some of the symptoms I have had for 4 years, she feels its all stress related.
She also said that my thyroid value is on the lower end and closer to having Hyperthyroidism which means it should be EASIER for me to lose weight.
She said I probably need to do twice as much cardio as the average person because my metabolism is just slow and she is recommending I go to two different classes, one for nutrition and one to help reduce stress.
Overall, I am not happy with the appointment. She asked right away if I was stressed and I told her well yes because I am dealing with a court battle and with my son’s father; as soon as she heard that she pretty much shut me out and concluded all this is stress related.
She also says that I am probably retaining water as part of my monthly cycle.
I’m not at all surprised by her responses. Usually you have to figure this stuff out on your own or see a naturopathic doctor or something like that.
I still recommend low carb. Not only do I lose weight but it has helped my joints. Might help your other symptoms.
Carrie recently posted..Earnings and Status Update
Sara, you may still be hypothyroid…that blood test will often not show it.
Just curious, are your eyebrows starting to disappear? …you might want to look that up.
(Thats how I found out I was hypothryroid.)
No, my eyebrows are still dark and hairy as usual. haha! I wax them every two weeks. TMI huh?
I am still going to be tested further for hypothyroid though. I am going to have my free T4 and free T3 values looked at. It will be another blood test this week and I will probably do it today after my doctor appointment.
Sara,
When I went through Melissa’s program she did recommend . . . I don’t even remember what it was . . . but some sort of supplement that is supposed to help with keeping your body balanced during the process. I did start feeling a little under the weather about four days in, which is normal. That passed after three days.
Everyone in my family went through it, but I didn’t restrict fruit for my girls at all. I lost 10 pounds the first week and then my weight loss slowed down. But I did notice that if I didn’t eat breakfast, my weight loss would stall.
This was last October. When Halloween came around, I did let the girls have some of their candy, but they ended up throwing most of it away. They just didn’t crave the sugar.
Through doing the detox diet, I found out that I have a wheat intolerance, so we pretty much stay on the same diet that we did during the detox. We did pretty well up until the holidays when we fell off the wagon. My goal for this year is to get the gluten/sugar free baking down to the point that I can stick to it even through the holidays.
The rest of it isn’t that bad once you get used to replacing healthy foods for the garbage you ate before.
I don’t think giving up sugar will be so bad for me. Basically the past 2 weeks I’ve had a very low sugar diet. Yesterday the only sugar I had came from a tbsp of jam and the wheat bread I ate it on. Last weekend I was eating much more fruit than I am this week but I could deal without some fruits for the first part of the detox.
I could probably give up wheat products too. Early on, I thought it was wheat that would cause me to break out with eczema. I still don’t know what foods cause a flare up but I do know for sure that the sun aggravates it and it almost always breaks out on my driver’s arm if I have not put sunblock on it. I always keep a light sweater in my car for days I am driving around town and forgot to put sunblock on it.
Giving up sugar as a whole isn’t the way to go, no matter what anyone says. The goal is to restrict your sugar intake to only natural sources. For instance, any on the shelf products that have added sugar, any kind of fake sugar (corn syrup, sucralose, any of it), have to go.
But intake of fruits and natural sugars are important to your body. I firmly believe that the things God put on the earth naturally were meant to be eaten and should be a part of your daily diet. It’s all the processed crazy stuff that is ruining people’s health. SO much of what we eat is processed and augmented by fake chemical based flavoring that it’s sickening.
I would just be careful completely giving up sugar. Personally all I drink is unsweet tea, black coffee (This was the hardest for me cause I love sugar in any kind of coffee), and water. Really all my sugar comes from pure honey, strawberries in smoothies, and the likes. I find that a strawberry banana orange juice smoothie (sometimes with blueberries) daily, controls my sugar craving and is healthy in the meantime.
MatthewDC recently posted..Working Hard on New Authority Sites
I do agree with You on the fruit issue Mattew. I definitely believe God put fruits and veggies on the planet for us to eat. Not only for vitamins and minerals and antioxidant properties but so that it is nature’s dessert. I dunno what year chocolate was discovered but I am pretty sure Adam and Eve weren’t eating any. haha!
Uh, the Garden of Eden was a paradise and you cannot have a paradise without chocolate!
Carrie recently posted..Earnings and Status Update
Keep cranking out those articles. Its the safest way to get those backlinks! A lot of people who rely solely on article marketing were not affected by the mayday update.
Yes, I agree Myles. I’ve been working on back linking one site per day via 4-5 article submissions.
Diet’s and losing weight are a tricky thing. In a lot of the posts, people have been comparing the niche site business to losing weight, but honestly, thats not a bad comparison. Dropping pounds, especially around the waist, requires consistency and a real dedication.
Drinking Water is important. Having a solid breakfast is important. It’s also known that calcium and dairy in the morning can actually help kick start your fat burning (altho it depends on the doctor, I swear by it). The other key factor is sticking to your meal schedule. Skipping meals is a killer as is not properly allocating your calories throughout the day. For instance, having a snack that is 50 calories and a dinner that is loaded up.
Timing your meals and workouts is also very important. You should definitely eat within 30-45 minutes after finishing your workouts and make sure you are getting plenty of protein. Also, make sure you are taking in fat, YES FAT! If you eat all low fat, low everything foods from the grocery that claim to be “healthy”, you are ingesting tons and tons of strange chemicals that hinder your efforts. Your body actually needs fat.
I am 5’9 and I range anywhere from 145 when I was training for a marathon, up to 160 when I am running less and working out more. I have tried quite a few different eating plans and find that vegetables, lean proteins, dairy, eggs, good breakfast, and smoothies every morning, are all absolutely necessary for me. I snack on almonds, yogurt (i love yogurt, like to the point its scary), almond butter rocks, cheese and triscuits, all kinds of stuff.
Someone mentioned it before but if you want to get in shape, find a CrossFit gym, or read up on CrossFit. It’s crazy hard but it’s worth it. These guys know what they are doing.
One of my friends is trying out a paleo diet, but I couldn’t live without bread so I couldn’t deal with that one..
Anyways, just hang in there Sara! Try different eating habits to see what works for you. Finding what to eat at fast food restaurants was one of the most important things for me, since I am always in a rush.
Good luck and keep us posted!
(sorry that was so long).
- DC
MatthewDC recently posted..Working Hard on New Authority Sites
Well when i was unable to lose much weight last November, I was eating 1,550 calories a day and now I am eating 1,300 calories so I am pretty sure that its not a matter of me eating too little or too much. Although, I am sure the doctor at today’s appointment will tell me its too little.
Normally calorie counting does it for me. As soon as I track my calories in and follow through with my exercise program then I drop weight consistently.
So far I am at 1 1/2 lbs lost in 11 days. I still think this is much slower than usual. Its very possible that since I was used to 45 minutes of spinning 2x a week and weight training 3 days a week for an hour that P90 just is sub-par for me. Although during the midst of all the madness at the end of May, I did not go to the gym or follow my diet plan for almost 4 weeks. P90X is suppose to arrive Monday so we will see if kicking things up 10 notches does the trick.
I have never heard of the P90 program before! With 2 small children now it might be kind of hard to do the raw diet even though I love it and I feel great on it.
I am visiting my Dad’s house right now and my wedding dress is in his closet. I have not tried it on since my Wedding day, and it has been years-I am tempted but I do not want to get totally bummed and end up sitting in front of the TV w/ a bag of Reeces! Maybe I will just burn it!
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A raw diet is really easy in my opinion if you don’t fall for the complicated raw gourmet crap that isn’t very good for you. I follow the 80/10/10 diet by Doug Graham, I eat mono-meals of fruit during the day and have a large green salad at the end of it. I love it. It is tough at first to get enough calories but you can help yourself by making smoothies.
I have so much more energy now and feel more balanced. My 2 year old loves eating lots of fruit too and has been high fruit and veg since birth.
Oh and I am eating at least 3,000 calories everyday of fruit. I still breastfeed my 2 year old though but I eat even more on days when I run. I was fairly thin before my pregnancy but I am even thinner now and I think I have found my perfect natural weight. I love it and feel comfortable with who I am too.
FRUIT RULES!!
It could be that you’ve put on muscle and lost fat. Muscle weighs more than fat so you could have lost quite a bit of fat and put on a little muscle. As well as weighing youurself you should measure around your stomach, thighs, etc to get a true reflection of how your body is (or isn’t) changing.
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measure your waist and chest etc, are you thinner? I do a lot of exercise and, last year I wanted to lose weight, so I started exercising, no weight was coming of, so I was told to measure my waist chest etc. and I was thinner!! weight came of eventually.
I’ve also been working on articles for building back links. I’ve been looking at some of the competitions back links and noticed quite a few are from Technorati so I thought I might try that along with the blog catalog service. I recently came across ezarticlelink.com so I’m testing it out on a couple websites as well.
I’ve a question for you or your visitors, besides ReviewAZON can you suggest any wordpress plugins that drip-feed post/articles?
Witchie recently posted..Failing miserably…
Hi Witchie, Sorry I have no recommendations for a WP plugin that can drip-feed posts although I am sure they are out there I just prefer to have original content so that is why I do not bother with the plug-ins that scrap and pull content from other sources.