Fast forwarding to present day

**Warning: some of the discussions in this post may not be  
suitable for all **

I've decided to fast forward a bit instead of trying to play catch up.  My current weight is 160.  I usually weigh myself everyday just to see how the weight fluctuates and it does a bit.  However, I only record the loss.  The other thing that I do, is to step on the scale three times because what I have also found, sometimes the weight changes a bit with each step.  I account some of this to the scale.  I then take the lowest weight or the average.  Today, it bounced between 160 and 159.  I will wait and see what the scale says tomorrow.  That will tell me whether or not I have actually lost the pound.

This morning I had oatmeal, blueberries and string cheese.  Now some may think string cheese is odd as a breakfast item, and by no means do you have to have that but I like string cheese so it doesn't bother me. For lunch I had fettucini alfredo, green beans, broccoli and yougurt.  Since I can have butter as a free food or my fat (for dinner) but I'm sure in amounts to me that would be laughable, I choose to use Molly McButter® instead.  I like it and it works with the program.

Now for the downsize that some have found.  During the second week, I noticed some spotting.  I was a little concerned but not as much when I started my period early and it was quite heavy.  I had concerns that I could be having premenopausal symptoms.  I'm 42 years, but it is possible.  I had no obvious PMS signs, that is no cramping and tender breasts.  The period kinda came on with no real warning.  Still a bit concerned what was going on I started searching for a possible reason.  Now, I'm not doctor, I have no medical degree however, what I did find, I found interesting.  Apparently there is a lot of soy in the foods produced by Nutrisystem®.  There is a dish with tofu and various of other items made with soy flour and other soy products.  Apparently, Soybeans contain an array of phytochemicals, which are biologically active components derived from plants.  One in particular is known as isoflavones.  These isoflavones mimic the female hormone, estrogen.  Like I said, I'm no doctor nor am I a scientist but I will say this.  After looking at the discussion boards within the NS site, many women reported having symptoms of spotting, shorter time periods between menstrual cycles and longer menstrual cycles.  While searching throughout the Internet, I found arguments on both sides, some saying there is no affect and some saying there is.  All I can say is that many women on the discussion boards including myself found our cycles altered.  Not enjoying these affects, I  modified my menu as much as possible to decrease the amount of soy products as possible.  While I'm sure I'll still get a lot, I decreased the amount of soy chips I would comsume the next month.  Is it enough for me to stop NS?  No.  I'm going to continue for my remaining committed 2 months.  I do think this should be something that is mentioned readily.  It would have saved me a lot of stress and the potential doctor's appointment.  I'm willing to put up with this for two more months and I will probably not continue after that.  I am curious to know whether or not it will taper off as my body adjusts to the new foods but only time will tell.

Now one more thing many of us NS people have found and what has been affectionately called Nutritoots, the gas factor.  I think it's mainly caused by all the vegetables that we are consuming.  That's an easy fix.  I started taking Beano® right before I eat them.  This has seemed to calm most of this down.  Thank goodness because this can become quite embarrassing while out in public but in the right household quite amusing if they are rated.  That's another story for another day.

Until next time.