The last three weeks have seen personal setbacks. My wife miscarried and then required surgery, so my routine pretty much went out the window for about 10 days. I am just getting back to the routine, but I haven't exercised in over a week, something to correct this afternoon. I have maintained the diet, but without any portion control or exercise my weight is back up to 237 lbs.

My gastroenterologist had to cancel our appointment and I won't get seen until next month, but in the interim I have some new test results back that might be good news. I tested positive for SIBO, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth. I start a round of antibiotics, after which hopefully I will be able to tolerate certain sugars better than I do now. I had previously tested negative for SIBO, but come to find out that the tests are only about 60% accurate. Sigh.

I've also found a great gym to join and got an experienced lifting partner starting in September. I hopefully will turn this spot into more of a traditional log once I get going.

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife. I hope she is doing okay. You both, actually.

And really good job not throwing the diet out the window during such a stressful time.

If you haven't done so already, try adding in some probiotic capsules to your diet. I take them at night and in the morning and it has helped my crohn's out tremendously.

Thanks Gizmo.

BG: I have used Align probiotic capsules for the last month. I honestly can't tell a difference. I'm hopeful that after the antibiotics and resuming the probiotics that there will be a noticeable difference.

Cool. I've been using Probioplus DDS Capsules, you can find them on Amazon. A little expensive but they are very good.

I think you should be continuing to take them while you're on antibiotics? I think my doc told me that once, but i'm not sure. Makes sense because the antibiotics would wipe out everything and it would be good to have some beneficial bacteria in there.

Milestone:

BMI under 30. I'm no longer technically obese. Yay!

Update:

I've been very busy with work and life and haven't got to the gym yet. I am still following the diet, and I feel fantastic. I'm down to 221 lbs.

I have been officiating high school (American) football and it provides a pretty good workout, along with paddling a couple times a month. Crab season starts in November so I'll be doing a lot more paddling in the coming months.

Hopefully the next update will have something about starting SS at the gym.

Fanastic to hear your update -- congratulations. Have you been able to work back in any of the foods that you originally eliminated based on a challenge? What does your current diet look like now?

No actually the opposite. I've had to cut out corn and tree nuts. I can tolerate about 6 oz. coffee just fine, which is huge for me because I absolutely love the stuff.

I eat a lot of eggs, fish, chicken, spinach, quinoa, rice, buckwheat, and chard. I eat bananas, grapes, and strawberries, and on the weekends I make breads or desserts that are compatible with the restrictions.

I've joined the gym and will start SS on Monday and keep a log here.

My weight is hovering around 222, mostly because I have been eating some pretty rich foods as part of a cooking project I have going, lounge thread here.

I'll also do a lot of swimming on non-lift days.

The Dr. gave me the all clear bill of health this week, just keep up the diet.

Nice progress! Keep it up and best of luck with SS.

Lost my workout partner after one week and have been doing a lot more hunting, diving and paddling instead. I went out in 13' swell yesterday for 3 hours and am wrecked today. I've only been using the gym for the hot tub, and worth every penny.

Down to 218, weight loss slowing a bit but I'm feeling great.

Football season ends next week, so the plan is to replace some of the 8-10 hours a week on the field with time in the gym.

Bumping for an update.

Weight currently at 224. I slacked off over the holidays on teh gym, but still religiously follow the diet. I joined a fatties group at the gym, now in our 3rd week of 13. I spent at least 45 mins 6 days a week at the gym for the last 2 weeks. I added weight lifting and am tracking at myfitnesspal.com.

I also switched toothpastes. Turns out the toothpaste I've been using for years has stuff in it that really doesn't sit well with me.

Good luck!

Yeah i had a week long bought of ibs.

Made for some serious dutch oven fun (the most foul smelling farts you can imagine), but overall a pretty miserable experience.