Day 23: Halloween Tricks

This is what greeted me a work today.  Normally I chow down on free food, but of course today it just sat on the counter, mocking me.  

Today was difficult and I'm sure tomorrow will be as well.  There was lots of candy throughout the newsroom, but I held strong and didn't touch any of it.  Well, I guess I did touch some of it - just to move it away from me!

Oh ... and to be clear ... the fact that some of the donuts are missing is because OTHER people ate them, not me.

If you're looking for some ways to avoid the temptation this Halloween.  Check out these tips from WebMD:

1. Buy candy you don’t love. If the candy in your pantry is stuff kids like but that you don’t enjoy, it will be easier to resist opening those bags and diving in. For most of us, that means anything but chocolate.
2. Out of sight, out of mind. Ask your co-workers to keep their candy jars and bowls inside their desks or stashed in a cabinet in the break room so you won’t be tempted every time you see it. If they want to keep candy on their desks, ask them to use a colored container with a lid so you can’t see inside.
3. Savor one piece of your favorite candy a day. Decide what time of day you most relish the sweet stuff, and save your special treat for that time. Then sit back and slowly savor the taste sensation. Indulge your sweet tooth on occasion, because denying yourself completely could lead to an all-out binge.
4. Chew gum. Sugarless gum gives your mouth a burst of sweet sensation for very few calories. "Studies have shown that gum chewing can also help [you] relieve stress, mentally focus on tasks, satisfy a sweet tooth, overcome the urge to eat candy, and help manage hunger pangs to hold you over until your next meal."
5. Replace the candy with better choices. Make the see-food diet work in your favor by putting out a bowl of colorful fruit or veggies in place of the candy.
6. Move the candy jar. There are studies on how frequently people eat candy when it is within reach, out of sight, or requires them to get up to reach the jar. If you have to get up to get a piece of candy, it is not always worth the effort.
7. Count the empty wrappers. It's so easy to pop fun-size candy bars into your mouth that you can lose track of how quickly the calories are adding up. If you keep the wrappers on your desk, it will remind you of how many you ate and hopefully inspire you to exercise moderation and stop after one or two.
8. Take a walking break. Getting away from your desk for a breath of fresh air can invigorate you and help you get over the mid-morning or mid-afternoon slumps that are often mistaken for hunger. 
9. Manage your hunger. Eat breakfast before coming to work and plan for a few healthy snacks along with a satisfying lunch. Your pre-planned meals with keep you feeling satisfied and make you less likely to raid the candy bowl.
10. Sip on a low-calorie beverage. Keep your hands and mouth busy by drinking a zero-calorie cup of hot tea (rich with disease-fighting antioxidants) or big glass of water. And light hot chocolate can satisfy your sweet tooth for few calories than most fun-size chocolate bars.

Day 22: Cheating

Today I've been thinking a lot about cheating.  So far (fingers & toes crossed) I have not cheated once on this diet.  The only bad thing I have done on this diet is not eat all of my daily requirements.  (I'll get to more on that tomorrow)

Last night during our group session we discussed the on-going cycle of poor eating/decision making which leads to cheating and eventually giving up.   It's a cyclical problem:

Trigger/Event that leads to eating > Emotion: Guilt/Anger, etc. > Avoidance > New Trigger 

The key is to not give up after cheating or going off your diet.  The "avoidance" phase can be the worst for most people.  You ignore what you have just done or put off going back onto the program (or diet).  Instead you need to acknowledge what you have done, accept it, and move on.  By moving on I mean going back onto the diet or healthy eating plan.

One of the best examples our leader gave was regarding breaking down and eating a one pound package of Oreos.  According to her (and I did not do the math here) ... a one pound package has a total of around 2400 calories.  Bottom line - that won't even add up to a full pound of weight.  Yes, it is detrimental to your diet to continue this eating pattern, however, once won't kill you.

What you do need to realize is, yes, you ate something unhealthy, but you can move past this.  Don't use the word "bad", there are so many negative connotations to this and it can really mess with your mind and lead to more guilt and more avoidance.

After listening to last night's discussion I've been thinking a lot about cheating.  I realized I do the "avoidance" thing A LOT.  However, the whole discussion makes me concerned that I might break down and cheat.  The whole "it's okay" thing is bad for my state of mind.  As long as I am on the mindset that I won't cheat, I don't cheat.  Does that make sense?  I'm worried that I accept cheating as a possibility that I might do it and then do it again and again.

Day 22: Halloween Fat-Shaming

Unbelievable.  Some ridiculous woman from North Dakota has become the Grinch of Halloween.  Instead of treats ... she's giving trick-or-treat she deems overweight notes telling their parents just how fat their kids are.

In an article on Buzz Feed, the woman says she's using Halloween to chastise parents who need to "step up" and make their children lose weight.

Yes, because fat-shaming children won't harm them at all.  That's the way to get kids healthy.  Bitch.

According to the SFIST  the woman actually called in to a Fargo, North Dakota radio station to brage about her plan. If she was really proud she would include her name and phone number on the flyer.  Hmm ... I wonder how many eggs she'll get for Halloween?

Week 3

This week's loss: 
4.0 pounds!

That's 16.4 pounds over the past three weeks!  An average of slightly less than 5 1/2 pounds a week.  Not too bad.

Woo hoo!

Day 21: Thigh Gap

Stunning "plus-size" model Robyn Lawley is making news today for her post about the "thigh gap".   For those of you unaware of this phenomenon, it's the gap between your thighs that only very thin, or genetically blessed women have.  It's also currently one of the most sought-after, and for some, the most dreaded body issue for young women.  Apparently there are Facebook pages and websites dedicated to the subject.

Check out Robyn below.  First off, screw the thigh-gap, I would love to have her body.  And second, it always amazes me how these models are considered "plus-size".  I know they're larger than the average model - but still.  She looks amazing!

From Robyn Lawley's op-ed in The Daily Beast:

"The truth is I couldn’t care less about needing a supposed “thigh gap.” It’s just another tool of manipulation that other people are trying to use to keep me from loving my body. Why would I want to starve and weaken my natural body size? I’m not saying women who have it naturally are unattractive. But I would have to change my entire frame just to achieve something that seems so trivial."

(Courtesy Robyn Lawley)

"You can imagine my surprise when, a year ago, I was featured on a pro “thigh gap” Facebook page. The page displayed an un-retouched photo of me in lingerie. From the photograph, there appeared to be a gap between my thighs. Degrading and humiliating comments followed. I was called too “hefty” to be featured. The word “PIG” was often used to describe my appearance and my thigh gap was said to be not big enough. In the end I couldn’t keep silent, and after 900 or so comments about my body, I decided to chime in. "

I don't understand the need to have every"body" fit into one mold.  People are tall, short, fat, thin... and there's nothing wrong with any of them.  Our bodies are beautiful.  Yes, I am dieting ... but it's because I want to be healthier ... not because I am ashamed of how I look.  Just last night I looked in the mirror and wondered if I should really lose 75 pounds.  I really liked how I looked when I was about 210.  Who knows, maybe that's the best weight for me even if it's not what society (or some doctor's chart) say I should weigh.
As social media pervades our society more and more - people become more vocal about their bigotry.  It's safe in that armchair where no one can see you, as you spout hate about others.  Fat-shaming and thin-shaming are everywhere and neither is okay.  I know that's not eloquent, but how else do you say it?

Day 20: The Fast Diet

Have you heard of "The Fast Diet"?  It was in the news a lot within the past year and was very trendy.  I didn't think anything about it ... other than "Who in their right mind would do this?".  However, now that I'm on this modified fasting diet, I'm looking into it.  I just bought the book The Fast Diet  from Amazon.
It's an interesting concept, you eat normally for 5 days a week then do a modified fast program (500 calories for women, 600 calories for men) two days a week.  After being on a similar modified-fasting for 20 days already, this actually sounds easy.
I have been doing a bit of research on this diet and it looks pretty good.  It also makes sense.  If you're only ingesting 500 calories two days a week, it makes sense that you could still lose weight.  There have been several days in the past three weeks that I've only eating 500 calories, and it hasn't been that difficult.  If what I am doing sounds too strict, this might be worth checking out.




From the Fast Diet Website: http://thefastdiet.co.uk

How to do the Fast Diet

If we were to distill the Fast Diet into a single sound-bite, it would all come down to 5:2. That’s five days of normal eating, with little thought to calorie control and a slice of pie for pudding if that’s what you want. Then, on the other two days, you just eat a quarter of your recommended daily calorie quota. That works out at 500 calories for women and 600 for men. This was Michael’s method for improving his health and losing over 20 pounds in 2012. I followed his plan, and dropped the same amount, losing two dress sizes and four inches from my waist measurement in the process.

In The Fast Diet book, we outline exactly how to go about the process in order to achieve the greatest effect. Here are a few tips to help get you going on what for many has become a way of life…

Should you be sceptical? We certainly were. After all, anyone who has ever gone on a diet knows that they are hard work; they may deliver results in the short-term, when you are eager and committed and full of good intentions. But then, life gets in the way. You’re soon bored – with just protein or no carbs or cabbage soup or only eating things that begin with the letter ‘P’ (I think I came across this diet once, but it might just have been a bad dream when I was writing my column for the Observer Food Monthly magazine). Anyhow, the Fast Diet does work – not just according to us, but also according to a growing number of people who have tried it to great effect. And it works for exactly the reason that other diets don’t: there is no boredom.

Since you are only fasting for two days of your choice each week, and eating normally on the other five days, there is always something new and tasty on the near horizon. In short, it’s easy to comply with a regime that only asks you to restrict your calorie intake occasionally. It recalibrates the diet equation, and stacks the odds in your favour.
Bear in mind that the programme is designed as a well-signposted path towards a longer, healthier life; weight loss is simply a happy adjunct to all of that.

Day 19: Potassium & Willpower

I am supposed to take a minimum of 2 tablespoons of liquid potassium supplement every day.  I have missed a few doses over the last few days and I'm starting to notice the lethargy setting in.  Okay, so this could just be in my mind too.  However, as I walk up the two flights of stairs to my office, I notice how heavy me legs are feeling.  It isn't just once, I've noticed this over the past two days.  It's a good reminder that I need to do everything properly on this diet.

I also am still not quite reaching 800 calories every day.  I know that must sound crazy, but it's true.  I am almost amazed that I have this much willpower.  I truly thought I was pretty weak-willed when it comes to food.  I guess making the decision and setting my mind on the right track really made a difference.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I have thought about cheating, but never actually cheated.

Tuesday will mark three weeks since I started this diet.  In many (make that most) ways it feels like I've been on this forever.  Hopefully I can stick to it through at least the new year.  Several of the members of my group have set a goal of 100 days.  That will take me to mid-January.  So here's my goal:  I will go 100 days or until I have lost a minimum of 75 pounds.  Right now I am at Day 19 - only 81 more to go!

Day 18: New Photograph

I've been intending on posting a weekly photograph of me, but it hasn't been happening quite as planned.  So here is the second photo taken at the end of Week 1.   Once again not the greatest picture, maybe by the end of this I'll get better at taking selfies!

Below is my Week 1 photograph.  It's not much, but I can actually see a bit of a difference in my face.  It's a bit less puffy.

I'm trying to take pictures in the same outfit, but maybe I need a different shirt.  With all that tie-dye, it's hard to see my shape!

Measurements

When I started this blog, I think I was a bit too embarrassed to share all the dirty details of my weight. However, after a few weeks I am realizing it would be more significant if you knew where I started, so from now on I'll share a bit more.

On Tuesdays I will post my new weight and my weight loss.
On Saturdays I will post my new measurements (yikes!) and a new photo.  Perhaps my photography skills will increase over time as well.

So here is my starting weight:
October 9:  258 Pounds

Here are my current measurements:
Bust:   43 1/2"
Arm:   14"
Waist: 39"
Hips:   50"
Thigh:  27"

Size:  16/18

(and in case you are wondering, yes those measurements are taken from the largest sections of my thigh, booty, etc.)

Day 17: Hunger

Today for the first time I am hungry, famished.  All I can think about is food.  I want a big, juicy burger with onion rings and ranch dressing.  Seriously.  A little more than two weeks into this diet and it has been fairly easy.  Until today.

Have you ever noticed how many food ads are on TV?  Go on a diet and you'll realize they are everywhere and ALL.  THE.  TIME!  I'm not sure what launched today's feeling of deprivation.  I'm eating as I usually do ... so far about 500 calories.  Even now I'm drinking some Tomato Soup w/ a bouillon cube.  I'm feeling full, but it hasn't taken away the hunger.   I even had a fleeting though about eating that burger - what could it hurt, right?  I do realize it could hurt a lot.  After all, the reality is it's ONLY been two and a half weeks.  In that time I've lost 12.5 pounds, which is significant, but only a drop in the bucked compared to what I need to lose.

So far so good.  I'm thinking about cheating, but I haven't and I won't (hopefully!).  I guess this is just something I'm going to have to face every now and then.  Wish me luck.

Day 16: Healthcare Choices

Today is our annual "Healthcare Fair" at work.  Not really a fair, but a couple of tables set up with information about our health choices.  I'm not changing much this year, I'm (relatively) happy with my health care provider.

The one cool-ish thing about today is that we can do some optional testing done to qualify for extra money, $300, from the company.  It used to come in cash form on our paychecks - but now it will go onto a FSA card. Either way, it's still free money.  To qualify you have to be "fit" in two areas.  If you are you get $150 for each:  Your blood pressure must be under 140/90 and your BMI must be under 27.  I easily fit the bill for the BP - today it was 122/70.  Although on Tuesday it was 100/60.  My BMI is another story.  Today it came in at 35.  Sigh.   Anyway, I will get the $150 and can earn another $150 if I drop 5% of my weight.  Since I'm already on this diet, it should be pretty easy to drop 13 pounds!

They also drew blood to figure out our cholesterol levels.  The good news is my cholesterol has dropped significantly in just two weeks.  When I had blood tests done earlier this month it was around 183.  Today it was 153.  What a difference!   Unfortunately my HDL was still way too low, but I'm working on that.  Not sure if this diet will help there - but my efforts to lose weight have got to help, right?

Day 15: The Gap

So, today I was out running some errands and I stopped at the Gap.  I hadn't been there in ages, simply because their clothes stopped fitting.  I could occasionally get into an XXL, but most of the stores don't carry those in stock.
They had a big sale going on, so I checked out some t-shirts.  Gotta love a t-shirt for $6.99!  As , no XXL, but I thought I'd at least try on the XL.  And guess what - it fit perfectly!  It was a banner moment for me - fitting back into a slightly smaller size.  Now, I suppose, it could be that the Gap has actually started making their sizes a bit bigger.  I choose not to believe that :-).  I think maybe, just maybe, may 12.5 pound weight loss might be starting to show a little bit.
My pant size hasn't changed at all, but my belly does seem to be going down a little bit.  That was one thing the doctors said in this week's meeting - belly fat does seem to go first on this type of fasting diet.  Yay!
It may seem minor, but little milestones like this are great motivation to keep going!!!

Week Two

Two weeks down ... who knows how many more to go.

This weeks loss:
-3.4 Pounds!

I am now down 12.4 pounds since I began the modified fast two weeks ago.  We were told the average weight loss is about 3 pounds a week for women and 5 pounds a week for me.  So far I am beating the curve with 6.2 pounds a week!

Day 14: Setting Yourself Up for Success

I have now been on this diet for a full two weeks and I have not cheated once.  I truly believe part of this is that I set myself up for success.  That doesn't mean I won't ever have a setback - it just means I am trying my best to put myself in the position of facing a difficult situation.  These tips are for a fasting diet, but you can incorporate them into your own weight loss world.

Environment:

• Clear the Cabinets:  I gave all of my junk food away.  All of it.  Cookies, candies, chocolate all went in a big bag to work.  I also got rid of brownie and cake mixes, chocolate syrup ... anything that could tempt me.
• Set up Support System:  I have told just about everyone I know that I am fasting.  Friends, family, colleagues, random people on the street (okay, not them but you get the point).
• Visual Cues: I keep all my fasting food on an island in the kitchen.  I know this isn't possible for everyone, but for me it works.  My potassium supplement is on the kitchen counter, I see it every day multiple times a day and have not forgotten to take it yet.  
• Stay Stocked:  Right before I started I had a major grocery run.  I bought a ton of bottled water, diet sodas, wheat bran, bouillon, Crystal Light, etc.  I have everything I need on hand so I won't have a reason to be without food or need an emergency run.  I also avoid going to the store.  I had my food delivered from Safeway.  It's $12.95 delivery charge and for me it's worth every penny to avoid the temptations at the grocery store.

Internal:

• Ask Yourself Why do I Want to Lose Weight:  No matter what your reason, write it down, put it on a mirror, your fridge, somewhere you will see everyday.
• Set a Goal:  I have two goals.  A weekly short-term goal and a long-term goal.  Short-term: I shoot for 3 pounds every week.  If I get more than that, it's a success.  If it's not I just reset that goal for the next week and continue on.  Long-term:  I want to lose 75-85 pounds.  I keep that in mind off in the distance knowing it will take time, but I will get there
• HALTS: Ask yourself are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Sad.  This technique is used in a lot of groups including weight loss.  Why do you want to eat?  If you're tired, sleep, don't eat.  Sure, it's easier said than done - but it's important to start being mindful about eating.  I have been a mindless eater much of my adult life and that's how I got here.
• Plan for Setbacks:  I realize 3 pounds a week may not always happen.  However, if I lose just one pound next week I will still have an average of more than 3 pounds.  Remember, if you follow the plan, it will happen.

Questions?

Last night as I was trying to go to sleep, I started thinking about this blog and why I am doing it.  There are really only two reasons.  1)  I want to use it as a diary of sorts to keep track of what I am doing and how I am feeling on this diet and 2) to help other people who may be trying to lose weight.  When I started looking into this particular sort of diet, I had a hard time finding in-depth information.

Which leads me to this:  Any questions?  If you have any questions for me, please comment at the end of this blog.  I'll put the answers in a blog post as soon as I can.

Thanks!
Me

Day 13: Feeling Full

I'm still surprised that I can subsist on just 700-800 calories a day and rarely feel famished.  Sure, there are times I am hungry.  The other night I went to bed and I was so hungry my stomach hurt.  I could have gotten up and had a shake, but I just didn't feel like it.  That was really the first time since I began this diet that I was REALLY hungry.  Not too bad.

As I mentioned before, I am having a difficult time getting my full 800 calories each day.  I only had about 650 yesterday.  Today I'm not working, so I think I'll manage to get up to 800 calories.  As I'm sure many of you know, getting too few calories can be just as bad as too many.  It can send your body into starvation mode and instead of burning fat you can start burning muscle.  This is what I keep reminding myself when I don't get enough calories.  Sigh.  It's a work in progress.

Day 12: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

"The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" is the name of a book by Aimee Bender.  It's one of those books that got rave reviews, so I bought it and it's been sitting on my shelf ever since.  Today I thought of it because I made a disaster of a lemon cake.  It made me think of the book ... now I might actually start reading it this week.

Today I tried one of the new flavors, it's a pudding mix called Lemon Chiffon.  It was good, with a mild lemon flavor.   As I was eating it, I thought this might make a tasty cake of sorts - so I then tried to create my own.  It did not work.  I mixed the pudding mix with some egg, some water, baking powder, baking soda, a bit of wheat bran and some Splenda.  

As it was baking the dough rose nicely, it was looking good so far, but once I took it out of the oven ... disaster!  After a few minute the entire cake sunk into a flat egg-y mess.  I do have to  say the flavor was pretty good - but the texture was very weird.  Maybe next time I'll try it without the Egg Beaters.  I was trying to adapt from another recipe - but clearly I'm no pastry chef.  I really had no idea what I was doing.  I'm much better at coming up with simpler recipes!

I'm going to give it another go on Monday.  I'll let you know what happens (and share the recipe if it works).  I am now determined to make a freakin' lemon cake ... if it's the last thing I do! 

Day 11: First Hiccup

Today I felt ill for the first time since I started the Weight Management Program.  I woke up around 8am and went back to bed at noon to get in a quick nap before I had to head to work.  I slept for an hour and felt even worse.  Nothing specific, kind of an overall malaise.

I turned to my symptoms & treatments list to try to find a cure.  I ended up taking another tablespoon of Potassium and drinking a cup of Tomato Soup with a bouillon cube.  I should say at this point in the day I only had a 100 calorie shake for breakfast and nothing else.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that I simply didn't have enough calories and vitamins in my system.  A few hours, and a bottle of water later, I felt much better.

It's a good reminder for me (and anyone) who is cutting back calories.  Make sure you are drinking lots of water and getting the nutrients you need.  It doesn't do you any good to cut back so much that you are no longer healthy.

Here's a small list of some of the symptoms that can come up while on this diet:

• Dehydration 
• Lethargy 
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Feeling Grumpy/Cranky
• Headache
• Gallstones

(This is in no way a complete list.  I also am NOT a doctor nor am I offering any specific health knowledge for you.  Please make sure you check with your own physician before you start any diet and if you suffer from any of the above symptoms!)

On another subject, I highly recommend Crystal Light's Grape Favored Energy drink.  I tried it for the first time today and really like it.  First of all, after one bottle I was bouncing off the walls.  That's probably because I haven't had a lot of caffeine (or food!) since I began this diet.  So I can truly say it's energizing.  Also, it tastes like Grape Kool-Aid which is one of my favorite drinks.  So now I can have something similar without all the sugar or calories.  Yay!

Day 11: Even More Recipes

I've been scouring the internet looking for websites that have recipes using these powdered meal replacement shakes.

Health One Facebook Page has lots of great looking recipes from people that use their products.  I would imagine the products are relatively interchangeable.

This one looks great.  I'd have to adjust to make it lower calorie and keep out things I can't eat right now like the chocolate chips, but maybe with a few tweaks...  It also uses an Aebleskiver pan, what could be better than that???

Chocolate Lava Puffs 

1 Packet Vanilla HEALTH ONE

2 Tbsp. Egg Beaters®

1 Tbsp. Splenda® or Equal®

1/4 cup Hazelnut DaVinci Syrup

½ tsp. Baking Powder

1 Tbsp. Unsweetened Cocoa

1 Tbsp. Water

1 Tbsp. Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips

Mix everything together but the chocolate chips. Cook in a puff pan and put 3 chocolate chips in the center of each. Flip and cook on other side. Chocolate melts and makes the "lava".

This next one isn't my style, but could be good.  It's a bit higher in calories than I would like, but it gives you an idea of what you can do.  (The extra calories could be from the Health One products ... the Vanilla Meal Replacement I use only has 100 calories)

Pumpkin Spice Latte

1 pkg Vanilla Meal Replacement
8 oz Hot Water
2 Tbsp Sugar Free Pumpkin Spice Coffee Mate (15 cal per tBsp)
1/4 tsp Pure Coffee Extract
Dash of Pumpkin Pie Spice

Whisk first 4 ingredients in glass bowl until well blended and frothy like, pour in mug and sprinkle Pumpkin Pie Spice!
(190 calories)

Day 10: Never Enough

It's now 8pm and I have only eaten 460 calories so far today.  Who would have thought one of the more difficult things on this diet was to reach the minimum 800 calories a day!

Here's what I've eaten so far:

• Chocolate Mint Shake 100 Calories
• Cup of hot tea 0 Calories
• Creamy Tomato Soup 100 Calories
• Creamy Tomato Soup 100 Calories
• Bouillon broth 10 Calories
• Scrambled Eggs (Egg Beaters & Chicken Noodle Soup) 150 Calories

It's not a lot of food calorie-wise, but it is an awful lot of time spent actually eating.  So now I have just mixed up a Dark Chocolate shake mix with a diet coke ... and it's pretty tasty!  When I was a kid I used to love drinking Chocolate Cokes at the Big Top Drive-in in my hometown (at least I think that was the name). I don't have them very often anymore ... now I can drink one and it will only be 100 calories.  By the way, if you're keeping track that's only 560 calories today.  Guess I'll have another "Chocolate Coke"!

Day 10: Recipe Time

Even though this diet consists primarily of pre-packaged shakes, puddings and soups ... there is a little bit of flexibility.  You just need to be a little bit creative and willing to try out some new things.

Recipe #1:  Root Beer Float

1 Packet Vanilla Shake Mix

1 Diet Root Beer (I like A&W)

Pour Root Beer over shake mix and stir well.  I mix about half the Root Beer then once it's stirred in I pour the rest of the Root Beer into a glass.  This helps keep some of the fizz in the drink.

This one is simple and I would image could be used with any type of diet shake mix.  Give it a try.  I think I am going to try the Chocolate Shake Mix with a Diet Coke ... a play on a Chocolate Coke.  I'll let you know how it works.

100 Calories (with the WMP Shake)

Recipe #2:  Teresa's Egg Bread

1/2 Cup Egg Beaters

4 Tablespoons Wheat Bran

1 Tablespoon Dried Minced Onions

1 1/2 Tablespoon Dried Parsley Flakes

1 Bouillon Cube (if desired)

Mix all ingredients together until you have a rather thick batter.  Pour into a frying pan sprayed with PAM or other no-calorie, non-stick spray.  Cook about 1-2 minutes until one side is cooked.  Flip over and cook other side 1-2 minutes (or less).  I found second side didn't need to cook quite as long.

Once cooked I cut/tore into pieces and put into a bowl.  I then poured the Creamy Chicken Soup over the top.  I did not come up with this recipe, I only modified it to my own tastes a bit.  You can adjust the spices or add another favorite dried spice to change the flavor.  

110 Calories

Day 9: Back to Work

Today was my first day back to work after a five-day mini vacation.  It was planned ages ago, but helped make my transition to Meal Replacement eating so much easier.  I worked about two days when I first started the diet, but it was nice to figure things out with a few days off.

I started my day with the Mint Chocolate shake.  I really like this one.  It just might be my favorite after the Dark Chocolate shake.  For lunch I had scrambled eggs.  I was thrilled to begin incorporating Egg Beaters into my diet.  I combined the Chicken Noodle Soup Mix with 1/2 cup Egg Beaters.  It's substantial and filling and a nice break from the "Shake Diet".

The rest of the day was pretty typical.  Another shake, dinner was Nacho Cheese Pasta (which looks like a really, really small portion of Mac & Cheese).  When I get home I'm going to down a Vanilla Shake mixed with Diet Root Beer.  It tastes like a Root Beer Float ... delicious.  Seriously.

As I write this I realize I need to start taking some photos of the food.  It's nothing special, trust me, but I'm sure you would probably like to get an idea of what I'm eating everyday.

800 Calories.  It's not much, but I'm finding I'm not hungry.  I'm not cranky (yet).  I think I can handle this.

Day 8: First Group Meeting

I was too excited to share my news about my 9 pound weight loss, I couldn't wait!  Now it's time to explain everything that went on during my first official Group Meeting and doctor visit.

This is a medically supervised diet, so it's important to tell you that I get weekly medical checkups.  The first week I weighed in, had blood drawn (have no idea about the results) and spent about 10 minutes with a doctor.  The doctor checked my BP (122/68 - pretty normal for me), then we discussed some of the issues I've been having on the diet.  There weren't too many - just the diarrhea and my concerns about my gall bladder.  Both my parents have issues and this diet can be a problematic for anyone with a history of gall bladder issues.  The doctor wasn't concerned - which was great because I don't want to take any drugs!

After the doctor, about a dozen of us met for the group meeting.  It looks like these meetings are a combination of sharing our issues/tips and giving us information to move forward.  Tomorrow I'm going to share some of the recipes I have come up with or tried ... but for now I'll tell you what I can eat.

• Meal Replacements (Choices like Vanilla, Chocolate, Chicken Noodle Soup, etc.)
• Fiber
• Water
• Non-Caloric Beverages
• Sugar-free Jello
• Egg Beaters
• Non-Fat Milk
• Dried Herbs & Spices
• Extracts: Vanilla, Chocolate, etc. 
• Sugar-free Torani Syrup
• Sugar Substitute 
• Bouillon
• Lemon or Lime Juice (fresh!)

I liked how the group leader described this.  The above items were listed in a box and she said during the fasting-phase of the diet "It's important to NOT eat outside the box".  

We also discussed exercise and keeping records.  As you probably already know, keeping records and getting off your butt and moving not only help you lose weight - it's helps you keep it off!

Week 1

End of week one on this wacky diet ... and (drum roll please) I have lost 9 pounds.  Nine freaking pounds!  In a week!  I couldn't be happier.  This is an intense diet, but at week one, it's already worth it!  All I can say is Woo Hoo!

Day 7: The Plan

Here's the Plan:
800 Calories a day.  75 grams of protein daily.  No straying.  You have to stay on the plan or quit.

Here are the products:
I need to use 5 of the following 100 calorie packets each day:

• Chocolate* 
• Chocolate Mint*
• Mocha*
• Vanilla*
• Strawberry
• Chocolate Hazelnut
• Dark Chocolate*
• Peach
• Creamy Tomato Soup
• Creamy Chicken Soup*

The other 3 can be used from the above or the below.  These items are slightly lower in protein.  Calories vary from 60 to 130.

• Lemon Chiffon
• Custard Creme w/ toffee bits
• Cheesecake*
• Chicken Noodle*
• Veg. Sloppy Joe
• Nacho Cheese Pasta*
• Oatmeal
• Cappuccino
• Creamy Hot Cocoa*

*Products I have tried

Another option is to substitute 3/4 cup of Egg Beaters OR 1 cup of Non-fat milk for one of the food packets daily.

Day 6

Weight Management Program

I guess I should explain exactly what kind of diet I am on.  This is a medically supervised meal replacement plan.  It's only 800 calories a day using shakes and soups instead of food.  It essentially takes the choice out of eating.  You use only the products on the plan, or you try something else!

Each shake/soup is approximately 100 calories.  So I need to eat/drink eight times throughout the day.  I also must drink a minimum of 64 oz of liquids daily.  I was thrilled to find out that included no-calorie sodas, crystal light, etc.  I also take a potassium supplement - this nasty, cherry flavored liquid.  It has to be prescription grade, apparently the pills don't work as well.  The most bizarre thing is during the first few weeks we need to drink two or more cups of bullion every day.  This helps put sodium back into the body.  The meal replacements are pretty high in sodium, so I was surprised by this, but I am just hoping the doctors know what they're talking about!

Here is a quote from the website:

The Weight Management Program offers effective medically supervised weight loss. It's more than just a diet—it's a lifestyle change.

The goal of The Weight Management Program of San Francisco, Inc. is to provide you with a safe, significant weight loss method under close medical supervision. Medical screening and monitoring are integral parts of our program. Additionally, we'll work to educate you on how proper nutrition and physical activity work together to keep your weight down. We'll also teach you the skills and habits necessary to help you maintain a medically sound weight.

Once you've reached your weight goal, we encourage you to join our Maintenance Program, designed to help you make the adjustment to living in your new, lower-weight body. 

What Our Patients Can Expect: 

You'll be taught the skills to keep off weight. You'll attend weekly health education classes to learn techniques for supermarket shopping, ordering in restaurants, and many other difficult situations. You'll receive frequent monitoring by medical staff. You'll focus on what you can do, not what you can't. 

The same skills and habits developed to lose excess weight work to improve other risk factors (like high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes) linked to being overweight. So your overall health can improve. In turn, becoming healthier is itself a strong incentive to maintaining one's weight loss.

What happens during the Weight Loss Phase of your program?

During the weight loss phase you will be on a 800-calorie prescription using meal replacements. You will come in weekly for medical monitoring and for a one-hour lifestyle change class. During the classes we will provide you with techniques to help you lose weight and we will teach you the skills that you will need to use to keep the weight off during the maintenance phase. Classes and medical visits occur during the early evenings.

Day 5

The First Challenge

My first big challenge came today.  I am heading to my parents house for the weekend.  I have found that the Meal Replacement Plan isn't difficult to stick to when I am along, but traveling is tough.  First challenge today - driving the three hours to my parents.  No big deal, but I had to stop twice to pee.  (That's the problem with drinking so much water!)  The second challenge, hanging out with the family and we're all big eaters.  Luckily, they're very supportive and are working very hard to not tempt me in any way.  My dad even offered to throw out the apple tarts my mom made for herself - so sweet!  But those weren't an issue for me - had it been chocolate I might have said yes!

The biggest challenge today was visiting with my best friend.  We only see each other every few months and when we do it's usually a long talk over dinner.  I told her we could do anything as long as it didn't revolve around food.  First we did a little shopping at Wal-Mart.  Then we decided to go drink some tea at a local coffee shop.  Unfortunately my friend decided she was hungry, so she ordered food.  It looked good, but I wasn't really tempted.  I also figured, why should I make others suffer because of my own decision to go on this diet.  It worked out well - I drank about 3 cups of tea, felt full and enjoyed spending a couple of hours talking with my oldest friend!

Day 4

The Before Picture

A lousy picture ... and why didn't I clean up the mess behind me when I took it?  Oh well.  Here's a look at what I look like right now.  I'll be taking a picture once a week through the journey, so follow along and hopefully the weight loss will show up quickly.  (And maybe I'll get rid of those cropped yoga pants - they look terrible!)  

Day 3

So Far, So Good

I'm on to day 3 ... the second full day of the diet.  Okay, so my headers weren't such a great idea.  It's only two/three days into this thing and I'm already confused.  Sigh.

A couple of things I've discovered already.  This diet isn't the easiest on the body.  Warning - I'm going to get a bit up close and personal here: The whole reason I am doing this blog is because I couldn't find a lot of information about these meal replacement diets from real people.  Sure, I found stuff on Yelp and the occasional review, but nothing really substantial.  I wanted to find out the real dirt on what people are going through.  So ... finally to the point ... I'm going to share all the ups and downs with you.  Example:  There are lots of issues with bodily functions going on.  I'm not sure what the problem is, but every time I use one of the products, I have diarrhea.  I have to figure that one out.  I'm trying to drink as much water as possible, but that just keeps me up all night heading to the loo!

Meal Time

Day 2

And so it Begins

The first full day of the Meal Replacement Plan isn't off to such a great start.  I woke up late and had a physical therapy appointment for my bum ankle, so by the time I finished all that, I was starving.  All I could think about was stopping by Starbucks and picking up a big 'ol Salted Caramel Mocha.  I was a good girl though, I came straight home and whipped up my first WMP (weight management program) shake.  I had the Dark Chocolate - it wasn't bad.  I drank it up ... but unfortunately I was still hungry.  Good lesson for me - from now on I'm going to drink a shake fairly soon after waking up in the morning to help fight off those first hunger pangs!

Day 1

The Last Supper

Tomorrow I start the big diet.  It's a full meal-replacement plan, which means zero real food for months.  Yes, months.  I am on a 700-800 calorie a day, doctor supervised diet. I've been planning this for about a month now, so for the most part I'm ready.  I've told my friends and loved ones, got rid of all the food in the house and now it's go time.

This might not be the best time to undertake something this dramatic.  It's October, so the holiday season is just getting underway.  I also just went on my first date in quite a while, so dating without eating is certainly going to be a challenge.

Tonight I had my last meal for quite some time.  I ordered take-out from Wasabi & Ginger in San Francisco.  Gotta love sushi.

Wish me luck!