Day 10, I've GOT This!

Today is my 10th day on the first cycle of the 17 Day Diet. I've lost 7 pounds so far. The weight loss is slowing down now somewhat. I lost most of the weight in the first week (water?), then I held steady over the weekend (I did have a couple of cocktails and ate one meal out where I chose all the right foods, but they were probably loaded with mega doses of salt). So far this week, I've dropped another pound. And it's only Wednesday.

The first cycle is basically "clean eating" but with no bread/rice/pasta/starchy carbs...at all (But don't worry! It's only for 17 days!). The second cycle will add back in some foods like brown rice, beans, bulgur, quinoa, potatoes, etc. and a wider range of proteins. The third cycle adds back in pastas and breads....and cheese. Can't....wait....for....the....cheese!

The fourth, and final cycle, that lasts forever, allows for "clean and wholesome" eating during the week to keep your weight in check (which is a good idea anyway just for overall health reasons!). You can eat anything that's included in the first three cycles...which is just about everything as long as it's real food, lean proteins, lots of fruits and vegetables, and unprocessed carbs (whole grains), but then you get to splurge a little on the weekends....as long as you commit to returning to healthy eating come Monday. It's a choice. And it's a lifetime/lifestyle choice. Choose your healthy weight and then eat to maintain it and maximize your health. Or not. It's up to you!


Here is why I think this diet (so far) is working. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! I can DO this for 17 days. I only have 7 days left of the first cycle, then I get to change things up! This is perfect if you, like me, get bored easily. I also love to celebrate and enjoy my food. All kinds of food. Cheese and chocolate included. And good red wine. The fact that I know I will still be able to do that makes this diet less daunting. Another reason why I think it works for me is that I don't have to count, track, or measure anything. The only exception will be when rice and pasta are added back in...I need to remember what a serving size it! Lastly, I actually enjoy clean eating anyway! If you've read any of my prior blog posts, many of them are about my passion for healthy and wholesome cooking/eating.

I mean seriously....who wouldn't love to eat like this every day: (grilled salmon and asparagus with fresh garlic dill sauce)

Hey! How'd that glass of wine get in there???? Well...Rome wasn't built in a day.

Oh, My Neck. My Head. My Foot!

This is "move week". Unfortunately, for the most part, the only thing I'm moving is my household. My body feels like it could certainly use some more moving. No worries though! The remedy, as per my typical modus operandi, is to sign up for "foot races". So I'm doing a 5K in three weeks and a 10K in a few months. No problem. I actually enjoy compounding my stress.

I've also learned that I'm a "stress eater" (and a "boredom eater" and a "let's celebrate! eater", and a "vacation eater", and a "reward eater"). You also may already know that I get strange injuries and inexplicable pains when I'm under any kind of emotional duress.

This move is no exception. I thought I was handling it beautifully, floating along on the organized waves of an industrious sea. Glowing with excitement for "change" and "new possibilities"! Then I looked around my house, looked at the calendar, and ouch! I suddenly have a "neck and head injury" that is freaking me out. But alas, I know it will resolve itself in a few short days.

I also have a dancing injury, which is a much more enjoyable injury to sustain. We went to see Mustache Harbor (you really must see them if you get a chance). Here is their promo video:

http://mustacheharbor.com/

The injury was not caused by my own nimble feet, but by the stiletto'd heel of a friend. Yes, I took a stiletto to the side of the foot. And not to brag, but I kept right on dancing like the good soldier I am. The outside of my left foot is a lovely shade of green, but it's not as bad as it looks.

I'm still walking and running a few days a week. I'm almost up to a mile, and I've got three weeks or so before the Mermaid 5K, so I think I'm ok. I'm ok, right?

On a side note - Apparently, when I'm out in 'da club, I still drop it like it's hot. While enjoying a soft rock explosion (you read that right), I got hit on by a young 20-something kid. Rob has it on video...seriously. It was hillarious. I never get hit on. Rob happened to be recording the band and us ladies dancing with his cell phone, when suddenly, much like a Nat Geo filmographer, who after hours and hours of recording the same herd of beautiful, graceful gazelle (we were the gazelle), suddenly spots a lion in the corner of his lense and realizes he's about to film a hunt! The predator attemps a few half hearted swipes at his prey. Then, on the third try, he grabs hold of his prey around the haunches and goes in for the kill. This is where I should have swatted him away, or rather, kicked him with my sharp gazelle hooves, but instead I turn around to see Rob recording the whole thing, give him "two thumbs up" and mouth the words "Are you GETTING THIS?!?" 

Yeah...I'm that dorky.

I thought the young man looked like Stefano from American Idol. Rob said "No. No he didn't."

There is much more to the story, like when Stefano wouldn't let go of my hand as Rob ushered me to the door to leave, or the fight in the parking lot. I made up the part about the fight in the parking lot. Ok, maybe there really isn't much more to the story. It seemed way more epic at the time.

Weight wise - well, let's just say....cooking while packing blows. So does filling your pantry and fridge with food while packing up a house. So I haven't. We've eaten out a lot. We found our new "favorite" Mexican place close to our new home and enjoyed a great dinner with family - Rob's sister was here from Maryland and my brother was here briefly from Seattle, so we made it a big family affair!

To get back on track, I decided to try something new. I haven't been able to crush my plateau and I'm tired of it. Plus, there is a swimming pool looming in my near future. Rob has a vision of us doing yardwork in our swim suits, jumping in to the pool now and then to cool off. I would love to make his vision a reality, but the only thing I'm going to be wearing while doing yard work are overalls and a straw hat. "Farmer Eline" is a long way from "Swimsuit Eline". I've gotta get on it!

I've been trying for the better part of a year, but I can't get past the mid 150's (FYI...I've creeped up a bit from there in the past week or so). So I'm going to do "The 17 Day Diet". It's actually 3 cycles of 17 days each, then a final 4th, "Arrive" cycle for maintenance. What really sold me is the "PMS Exception Diet" that you get to throw in once a month. Brilliant! The plan is pretty much "clean eating", but to the 10th power. No cheating the first 17 days. No sugar, no processed foods, no starchy carbs, etc. The good news; I can eat all the "lean protein I want"! Oh good.

After completing the first three phases, the fourth phase promises that you can "eat your favorite foods on the weekends!". I'm sure Dr. Mike doesn't realize what I'm capable of ingesting over a weekend. That's what got me in trouble in the first place. I think there is probably some fine print that states "within reason", or "one serving", or some such nonsense.

Anyway, I think I'm going to start next Monday. We're moving this weekend.

So, I gotta go pack now!

Move Along...

There is absolutely NOTHING to see here!

I'm (sniffle sniffle) up 1 pound this week. But in all fairness, it was quite a week. And I didn't track anything after Monday, when it was quite apparent that I was "celebrating" our good fortune with a bit too much gusto.

On the up side - I ran twice this week! Yes, I'm going to give it another go. I'm not sure if it's the lovely weather we've had these past few days, or the fact that our new house has a pool and I'm anticipating a "greater than average probability" that I will be in a bathing suit the majority of the summer. Whatever the reason...I feel like I'm back on track. Tracking, walking, running, yoga-ing, packing, cleaning, et al.


As fas as what I'm eating - since I know we'll be moving in a few short weeks, I just don't feel like stocking up our fridge and pantry. I'm on more of a "cook with what I have and purge" kick. Or make quick runs to the store for one meal's worth of ingredients at a time. It's a bit of a challenge to eat healthy but I think I'm doing all right. I also think I'm ok to be in limbo for a few weeks, although I'll track and try to make the best choices.

Speaking of tracking, for lunch today, I discovered an easy and satisfying 7 point lunch! Trader Joe's Mango, Roasted Quinoa, and Chicken Salad is only 6 points and it's HUGE (I thought about taking a photo of it...but it was too late). I'm also trying their Roasted Seaweed Snack as a side. It's only 1 point for the entire package!

So far, I'm on sheet three, of what appears to be about 100 sheets of slightly fishy tasting, paper thin squares of crunchy seaweed. Not sure I'm a fan yet, but in the interest of reporting on my find (and the fact that I was so excited to find a near "reverse calorie" food that I bought 5 packages of them), I'm going to power my way through. This is what they look like:...yum.

five minutes later......

Ok, the package of crunchy Roasted Seaweed is gone. And I like.