Day 57..Vegetarian is goood!.....who knew..

Today I had a jerusalem artichoke....and it was delicious! In the past few days I've been eating lunch at the Green Door- a local vegetarian/vegan restaurant...if you can get past the table mates talking about Xenu and their third eye, its really fantastic food- so many colourful veggies, beautifully prepared, organic, fresh..yum. I could def become a fish.chicken-a-tarian ...I love my steak but if I only had it once a month or less I'd be ok.

So today;s food and exercise:
2 eggs and toast
1 spelt bread, tofu and broccoli, mushrooms, brussel sprouts, beet and carrot salad.
glazed almonds
1 hr spin
chicken breast, mixed beans, spinach
protein shake (vegan powder, coco powder, 1/2 banana, almond milk)

New hair, new eyelashes, and three days away from leaving for Punta!. awesome.

Day 56..and on and on..

Last night was a good finish. Felt good about doing some strong cardio after a bad eating day on mon.and getting back ontrack . Today's eats were good too
2 toasts 2 eggs
a few slivered almonds
1 hour workout- mostly strength training- upper body and abs
1 piece bread, tofu stirfy/salad at vegetarian restaurant.raspberry torte vegan and spelt crust
chicken breast,brussel sprouts and cilantro salad
2 squares 90% chocolate.

So a good eating day today. Will do cardio tommorow (spin and maybe a run too!) and friday, sat, and sun am! And then off to have some fun in the sun....yeah!

Day 54.55...And still I soldier on...

So not quite 60 days..two months, and yet Im feeling hopeful. WEIGHT is a measure. They dont call it WEIGHT of the WORLD for nothin. It seems like the NUMBER means more to me than everything else- the effort, the changes, the consciousness, the desire for change- you can do fantastic things but that NUMBER (or numbers) at least for me, can dramatically change the course of my day, week, month.

I vow to break free of the prison that is my mindset around my WEIGHT. Sure, I want to lose weight and I want to see the "number" move down...but I'll do it as healthily as I possibly can. And revel in the little things:
-better eating- no more processed sugar (except for cheating here and there)
-less red meat
-whole grains only- no processed breads or flour
-exercise is up to at least 4 days and usually 5 a week, more cardio
-muscle definition is starting to show (TWO people have noticed better def in my arms..my ARMS which are the bane of my existence)
SO WHAT ABOUT THOSE GREAT STATS? lets try and focus on the positive shall we?

THESE ARE THE VICTORIES!
-

And I wont crucify myself if I fall, I'll just come back up.

Monday's food was tough because I was travellling. When Im anxious -especially flying - its like all the rules go out the window. Its certainly an area I can do better in- so:

2 toasts 6am - 200
half banana br -7:30am -150
lunch- lobster bisque and carpaccio 500
small peanut butter cupcake - 190 cals
2 shortbread cookies-200
veggie chips-60
2 eggs and ham sausage kilbassa - 340
1 timbit- 50
20 mini eggs- 100
a few cheesies -300
garlic toasts- 200

somewhere between 1800-2000 calories. WOOO.

brkst fine, lunch fine, and then... I ate cookies, a bit of a banana bread, a few cheesies, and some mini-eggs-basically the end of the day was baad. My roommate brought some crap home after a road trip and I couldnt deny it. Again, another "trigger" for me is to see it there on my counter. But ultimately- I have to be able to walk away. NO one is responsible for bad eating except me.

Todays eating (and exercise) was very good.
1 egg with 1 toast 70 +80
protein shake after 1 hr kickboxing class (yeah! aggression!)200
tuna salad with veggies 250
1 hr spin class (yes I did 2 hours today..whoot)
chicken breast, brussel sprouts, white kidney beans 350
2 squares chocolate. 150

Keeping it real for the rest of the week!!!

Day 53...I could get discouraged BUT!

So I woke up this am and I weighed myself. And lo and behold- I havent lost any weight - none. So heres what I know:
from the beginning of this journey Im probably down 5-6 pounds. Thats not horrible, but for someone who thought Id lose 20 pounds, well, helloooo.

I am ultimately accountable for this BECAUSE- If I look at my food logs I have a real problem with consistency. I go three or four days being "good" and then usually blow it by day 5. So I started thinking...if I really want this (and I really do) WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF?

A few reasons I think of:

I use food as a reward. As a comfort. As a way to deal with frustration. ITs my one "coping thing". I try to basically control everything else in my life. so its my one bad thing..but how it makes me feel is so complex.
I think that for the most part I am very conscious of what I eat. PROB TOO CONSCIOUS. I look around  at people who are (in my mind) THIN and I see them eating pizza and I think- I cant eat any of that ever. ever. and maybe that sets me off feeling sorry for myself. like a crazy person.

So am ever conscious but trying to get to the bottom of it. I need to learn to comfort myself with things other than food. I am definitely into exercise now. So its just about trying to balance that stil and figure out where I will end up to be happy. I am also going to have to face my trainer and tell him that his goals for me are great- but I may feel even more pressure to live up to his expectations which in turn, sets me up to be defiant. Eat. circle. around and around.

Day 52..and I'm feeling alright

So ended last night with chicken, salad and a few squares of 90% chocolate. I thinl 90 is even less sugar and I still like it so Im going to switch to it

This morning I started the day early with a great spin class, food has been good and Ive just felt good all day.//I went out and  bought a few bathing suit tops and bottoms, and lo and behold- I dont hate myself in them!! so I feel a certain sense of victory.

As hard as last week was, with the ups and downs, not great eating. I feel like, ok, I can keep doing this. Just keep working out. Keep trying to eat right as much as possible. drink moderately if at all. (That seems to really throw me off).

One more week before I head off to Punta Cana. I am going to take time = a few hours a day- for myself. Maybe there is yoga there? I'll check into it. Yoga, eating great (I might allow myself to eat fruit there) sleep, family, babies, I will enjoy. oh yes. And boys in bathing suits to look at.

I will weigh myself right before I go to Punta Cana so I know where Im at. I havent weighed myself in a while - partly because Im a chicken shit and it sets me off like nobody's business, partly because I dont want to be a slave to the number. However Its part of being accountable. Stop being such a baby!argh.SELF LOVE SELF LOVE SELF LOVE...ok.

Day 51...I think

So yesterday was a weird one again, it would seem that spring has awakened more than the buds..namely my appetite..

I had the usual two eggs toast
Then gym at noon- trainer didn't show up so I did 30 mins on treadmill, some stair running and some legs
Lunch was cheese and crackers from Starbucks...and a lemon square????
Home to eat ,made a small steak, peppers and brown rice
Had about 5 sugar fees cookies yikes
And a piece of bread withnpb

So likely the cheese and crackers wasn't enough and then I was starving by the time I got home...timing on this lapse of diet is pretty bad given I'm going away in a week but it is what it is?...DO MY best low carb and lean out neat week before I go away...

Day 50..two steps forward...two steps back..its like a dance I swear

So yesterday (Wed) was not a great food day...or workout day..

I had an all day meeting that lasted till 630, and just didnt have the desire to workout afterwards. I had brought my stuff to the gym but really had no desire to go once I spent the day in a room crunching numbers etc.
So food was also off (blame the g-d food in a hotel conference room!!) rather more likely- I have no self-control:

2 eggs toast
cheeseburger and salad for lunch (cheese and mushrooms on the burger...oh god)
3 (yes 3) cookies in the afternoon - small ones but still
chicken breast and bulgur salad for dinner
3 sugar-free cookies

when days like yesterday happen I start to wonder:
1) do I really have NO willpower at all
2) do I have a sugar addiction that knows no bounds
3) do I need to just give myself a break....

Well heres the thing- when I look at my food diary, I cant seem to stay on the "straight" and narrow for more than a few days at a time. And I figure that has more to do with WHY I eat rather that WHAT i eat.
Food has to stop being comfort to me. GIven my history with Anxiety, I know thats a tough one to beat. Taking anxiety meds helps but then blunts all my responses, and I dont think that I would have energy for workouts....I feel a little lost, admittedly. Maybe its time to do the full gamut of blood tests to see what the hell is going on...maybe there is something to this that I'm not getting, cause right now I feel like I am climbing a hill that leads to nowhere.

Workout today - hurray! yeeeesh.

Day 49...later...

So I finished The day with a strong chocolate craving...But I'm not going to hate myself that. Everyday I just keep going and keep trying..even though I sometimes get down...

WHAT I WANT? I want to feel light....that's not nessarily about weight...but lightness of being...I need to continue looking for that. Feeling that I deserve to be at my best...looking good, feeling good..getting stronger every single day.

Day 49...wow 49 days already

So last night ended with chicken breast,edamame salad and whole grain salad. Hard to find those ones with no sugar, so went for the lowest sugar ones I could find.

Today was going to make it to gym during day- but I will head out in the am before my meeting downtown, a good way to start the day for sure. Decide which gym this evening. Probably best to Goodlife at Rideau since I can walk across the street to my meeting at 10am.

Tonight have Kelly's presentation, taking on extra stuff right now was probably a bad idea but such is life.

so will hv workouts wed,thurs,fri. should be dead by weeks end.

Day 46.47.48.

Well. Day 46 friday- was better in that I didnt do my usual binge of movie chocolate.froyo.etc.

Did the usual diet and had dried ribs and a glass of wine after shopping.

Sat- well, hmm.
2 eggs & toast
1 hr spin class
powerbar
charcuterie platter shared (meats and cheese)
3 glasses wine, and a few rum and cokes...3?4....I lost count (I went out to celebrate the deal)

Day 48. Hungover. Complete Write-off. Not even worth writing what I ate. BAD!


SO- Day 49- back on the horse, again (this horse sure does move around)...

2 toasts (no eggs in the house)
almonds
1 hr workout
whole wheat pita- chicken breast-
oatmeal sugarless cookies (2)
No carbs for dinner!I'll have a chicken breast and some veggies.

Thank god I only drink once every 6 months to a year like I did on Saturday. ugh.

Day 45..Thursday!

Today is pretty non-eventful. Had to go to a new organic store since my beloved store burned down yesterday. Yes!
I looked into the high def vaser. Yikes. procedure is 18K . PLUS- overnight stay + care etc. Hmm. maybe not. Will look into vaser lipo in Toronto. Maybe if I financed half and paid half Alot of it will have to do with bonuses this year.
So, food:
2 toasts, 2 eggs
almonds
ezekiel cereal with almond milk and stevia (gross)
4 slices turkey bacon
2 squares 85% chocolate
whole wheat pasta, turkey breast, pesto
2 squares chocolate

I'm confused. I measured my waist today. looks like 32 .5- almost 33. So I would think I'd see some changes but not really seeing any weight loss at all or even inches. So what gives? I think my weekend binging of chocolate with movies is not helping me at all. Gotta be consistent. I am seriously worried that I cant seem to lose anymore weight. What do I have to do?

Day 43.and 44.

Tues and Wed:

Not much to report- here's food intake and exercise:

Tues:

2 eggs toast, coffee almond milk 0/2
a few almonds
coffee with cream
salmon salad (out) ; san pelligrino water 0/1
4 squares chocolate- 130 cals, 5 grams sugar 5/0
workout- 30 mins treadmill
turkey roast, brussel sprouts brown rice 0/2
4 squares choc 5/0

Wed:

2 eggs toast 0/2
coffee with cream (small)
1 hr workout - focus on legs today
turkey sandwhich 0/2
whole wheat pasta with pesto
protein shake

Seriously thinking about vaser high def for my arms - will be finding out about this in the next few weeks.

Day 42..Monday into the two weeks

Today, I am down to two weeks before the trip. And rather than berating myself to fit into a bikini, (which I will buy ANYWAY) .....

One thing I am very proud of that I think has changed in my overall attitude is that I will allow myself to get to my goals as I get there..if it takes me a year to get to my goal, then that is what it will take. THE MOST important thing is that I keep going, dont give up, and just keep the process going., BE CONSISTENT..I may fall down, I might eat something I shouldnt, but instead of throwing it all away, Im just trying to be as consistent as possible. Adding in the cardio. Less sugar than ever. Hardly any processed foods. So I feel like I'm doing a good thing. Even if the scale doesnt budge for weeks, I will feel like its something.

So today:

2 toasts, 2 eggs 0/2
handful of almonds 0/0
protein bar (sugar alcohols 6/1)
1 toast with pb 0/1
turkey roast, brussel sprouts, brown rice 0/1)
protein shake 0/0 (cocoa,pb,protein powder,ice 0/0)

Day 41..Sunday and two week countdown..

Ok. So last night movie. Well. I had- hot dog. small popcorn. 2 squares chocolate. and then almonds. sigh. Obviously not the best. Ah well. Its obvious I cant do movies and stay on plan. FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS I CANNOT DO MOVIES. And so.

Today, I ate ok:
2 egg and toasts
chicken on an ezekiel tortilla with lowfat mayo
50 mins on the treadmill. (not bad!)
protein shake (pp, peanut butter, water)
beef tenderloin, salad, tomatoe with horseradish
1 glass wine
So today I recovered from yesterday's bad eats. I will add the cardio to the workouts for the next two weeks, abs and pushups for the next two weeks and now that I'm not going away I can plan and thus be on plan right up to when I go away. Oh, theres St Patty's day in there but I will have to do a workout or two extra to ensure that doesnt throw me off. I wont be drinking heavily so I'll be fine.

Day 39 and 40...Anxiety flying high and success!

Alright. So took off for Vancouver on thurs at noon- food on that day:

2 eggs toast as per usual
chicken sandwhich
almonds
2 shortbread cookies (aack)
starbucks cookie pop (double aack)
seafood salad
2 glasses red wine
So for a travel day it wasnt horrible, could have been worse.The level of anxiety I was experiencing was extremely high (nerves around a presentation I had to do on fri am) but it all works out...as you'll see.

Friday food:

2 eggs, multigrain toast (not 0 sugar, hard to get that in a resto)
1 tall latte
dry ribs for lunch, 1 glass wine
a few sweet potatoe fries
1 small caramel square(petite treat)
cheese platter, small chocolate (70% choc) bar
shortbread cookies
2 rum and cokes at the bar

So not a great food day but again, travel and tried to keep it reasonable. Im over it. Whatevah.

Today I am having a relaxing spa day, and back on track with food- later i will go to gym and have a nice run, steam, sauna and shower. Awesome. Hmmmm...but then, I want to go to a "MOVIE"...hmmm..how to deal with the movie food dilemna. Maybe...hot dog, and i bring chocolate? I think that could work.

Off to BC...and food and stuff

So today was a good day overall. Im glad I went to the gym given that I'm travelling tommorow to BC- long flight but I'll use the time to prepare my presentation/proposal etc.

Food today was ok, Ann brought home some 0 sugar treats but I can see them being domino foods. ...I wish she wouldnt bring them home! but I just have to learn to moderate eating and not be a complete food addict.

2 eggs, 2 toasts 0/2
handful of almonds 0/0
Workout- 1 hr legs - lots of squats- and then 25 mins running on treadmill
tuna on a pita with low fat mayo with salad  0/2
1 sugar free cookie 0/1
chicken thighs and salad 0/0
3 chocolate sugar free candies (160 cals) 0/1

Need to prepare a sandwich and almonds for the flight, and should be good till I get to BC. Have meetings on thurs aft. and prep for preso. Then Thurs am will have bkfst at hotel, then do preso, eat lunch somewhere closeby then head to airport.

Day 37..Workout waining

Well today was a full on work brain day. While Im working on this deal I find it tough to focus on anything else. HOWEVER!! my workouts are my gift to myself, and so I have to focus on them when I am at the gym. And ofcourse once I'm back this weekend I'll be a little more relaxed and focused on me instead of external stuff.

SO today's food was..ok'ish:

2 eggs two toasts 0/2
handful of almonds 0/0
tuna in a pita 0/2
protein shake (cocoa powder, vega powder, peanut butter, ice, almond milk) 0/0
chicken and salad 0/0
2 oatmeal no sugar cookies 0/2
1 square of chocolate 3/0
1 mini babel 0/0

Annnd.I should have done some cardio but I just didnt feel like going out.

Its that late-night snack that always gets me. I have to have good options for a later snack that doesnt blow my day. And having no sugar cookies is ok, but have to be careful not to have more than 2 a day.

Its kinda like the chocolate jonesin thing. Once I start I find it hard to stop. Best option are single 2 square chocolates. Portion control!
Tommorow gonna do 40 mins cardio workout after my workout. ha. That will give me the stress relief I need, and I need stress relief. Oh yeah.

Day 36...PMS false alarm?

Today was a good day- but no period. IN any case:

2 eggs, 2 toasts
handful of almonds
1 hr weight workout (Focus on shoulders, biceps and arms)
20 mins cardio
can of tuna, whole wheat pita
cottage cheese, slivered almonds, stevia
small steak, mushrooms, 1/2 cup of brown rice.

I would LOVE some chocolate. Jonesin' for chocolate. ah well.

Day 36..PMS

Well I had a bitch of a time resisting the chocolate last night-and then it hit me that I might be PMS'ing. One thing that makes this blog useful amongst other things is the ability to go back and see when I last had my period- so according to this I had it on Day 15, which would be 21 days ago exactly. So Im hoping yesterday's chocolate overload is based on that. Other than that they day's food was ok:

2 eggs, 2 toasts 0/2
1 chicken breast, salad 0/0
chocolate -2 squares 4/0
1/2 cup cottage cheese with slivered almonds 0/0
small steak. 1/2 cup brown rice, salad, mushrooms 0/2
chocolate- 6 squares- 10/0

So I probably either just made it on sugar or went over. Carbs overall were ok. Lesson here: no chocolate bars in the house, even if they are 85% chocolate. I just dont have the wherewithall to moderate. If I am craving chocolate I'll have a hot chocolate made with the cocoa powder I bought and some stevia.

Today have my trainer, and will do extra cardio. Also need to get some sundries for the trip to Van later this week. 
I also vow that for the  next four weeks, no movies. I cant resist the movie food or yogurt so Im better off to find something else to do with my time, I have just four weeks before I go away and want to do my best to get down in weight and inches.

Day 35..

I need a day off from the gym, and I feel sort of...premenstrual-and since when do I get cramps?..so I was going to do Hot Yoga today, but Im gonna relax . at least this am. Maybe I'll go to the gym later and jump in the hot tub, yeah.

So last night no big changes, I did have one glass of wine. Today I will stick to it with no chocolate . bwah.

Get ready for next week - So Im thinking in terms of exercise:
Mon- Gym+ 20 mins cardio
Tues- cardio
Wed- Gym+20 mins
Thurs-Travel-= gym aft/eve-maybe a run outside?
Fri-Meeting/Travel
Sat-workout
Sun-workout

Have to plan my meals out for travel. So I will need a sandwich and some almonds for flight down, and almonds for flight back.

Day 34..Sat Sat..

Today started out early and well.

Last night at the movies- hot dog, froyo, and almonds. again, not a great finish to a day that was good.

Drove my niece to work and took advantage of an early start to go to the gym and get my cardio in.

So did 38 minutes at progressively faster and faster speeds, it took me a while to get started.
Shower and headed out.

Food today was "ok"- but having choc in the house is a definite no-no- see below- last night was usual movie overdo. I have to curb that for this month.

So:
1 egg 2 toasts this am
chicken breast with salad
2 squares choc 85%
beef stew
4 squares choc
2 eggs 2 toasts
4 squares choc

Day 33..Into the weekend...

This weekend should be good- no planned events (I had my outing last night with the girls and didnt really eat anything horrible, a bite of gnocchi and 2 glasses of wine, which are allowed anyway) so am just going to stay on plan, and enjoy...

So yesterday's food:

2 eggs 2 toast  0/2
handful of almonds 0/0
chicken breast wrapped in an ezekiel tortilla 0/2
8 (small) squares of 75% chocolate - 160 cals and approx 5 grams sugar 5/1
30 mins run on treadmill.
shrimp appetizer -1/0 (lots of tomatoes)
steak tartare 2/1- a few crips -but they also made beet crisps, which were awesome, but soaked in a sugar/vinegar mix, so Im adding 2 grams of sugar here.

I am going to begin my 5K quest starting tommorow (Today I have my trainer at noon)...we'll see if I can actually run at least 3/4 of it. I should be able to if I start with that.
Punta Cana- I will be there at this time next month! hoooooraaaay

Will post food here later.

Day 32..Jeebus

Ok so jumped on the scale this am. Im UP a pound. Explain that to me please. BUT - heres the weird thing. Im DOWN an inch from my waist- 2 .5 inches total from the start , and an inch off each thigh- so I have to hope that Im retaining water or something, because it just doesnt make sense. And ifs G-D- frustrating. fu.c.k.

AHHHH... I will not lose my mind, sabotage, I will just keep going. Doing cardio tonight before I go out, and will do the cardio thng, at least 30 mins a day, for the next 30 while I watch my diet. What else can I do?

I refuse to believe this is my body's "set point". I refuse.

Will post food tommorow, with any luck I will be able to see a re-adjustment on the scale.

Day 31..into March ...we go!

So today is -1 day before I have 30 days to go for Punta Cana. I will try to pay extra special attention to diet, and exercise, ramp up the cardio, and generally do well for myself if and as is possible.

Went to the gym today- started to do workout and trainer wanted to talk about goals again- he sees improvement in my abs (Hello Belly Fat Cure) and now wants to establish some targets - :

He asked what areas of the body I wanted to focus on so I said:
Get better obliques (tighten in my waistline)
2 inches off arms
2 inches off waist
hips- down 3 inches

So we'll see how I do getting towards that goal. Small, incremental changes seem to be making a difference. Time will tell.

Another day, another food roll-call :
3 eggs with 2 pieces toast -sourdough kamut 0/2
1 handful almonds pre-workout 0/0
Workout- 30 mins treadmill at 5.1
Psychoanalysis by trainer- 1 hr. HA. well its all worth it because he continuously tells me not to apologize for wanting to be the best (even better than I can imagine) version of me that I can be. I realized that there is something holding me back- the fear of being perceived as overly vain. But- as he said- FUCK EM IF THEY CANT TAKE A JOKE.
Tuna-small can with mayo, lots and lots of veg and ezekiel tortilla  0/2
cottage cheese with stevia 0/0
Chicken breast, rest of salad (alot) and 1 piece sourdough kamut 0/1 and almond butter
Tea!
Will weigh myself on thursday, cause thurs night I'm expected to go out and i think will likely have 1 or 2 glasses of wine, which will stall me.

Day 30.! Well....

Today is day 30.Not sure what that means exactly-but given how much Ive jumped around on these diets Im not going to make any specific statements of where I "should" be..I tend to self-sabotage on the goal setting thing so I'm just keeping to it and making no grandiose statements.

I have ALWAYS. ALWAYS ALWAYS killed my own spirit by setting ridiculous goals,and so Im trying my darndest to stick to something with some regularity.

So today I had no eggs (gotta go out and get some at the organic store) and you know..Ive been eating alot more "organic" these days (bread, eggs, veggies) and I dont know if its psychosematic (is that the spelling, I dunno) but I feel ...better.

So today I had oatmeal with some stevia and a TINY bit of splenda brown sugar.. 3/2

Get eggs for lunch. Gotta go out anyway so I'll kill two..well you know the rest.

So got the eggs. Had 2 with 2 pieces sourdough kamut bread 0/2

2 squares dark chocolate mid-afternoon 110 cals 3/1

Bison Steak, lettuce, mushrooms and 1/3 cup rice. 0/1

Cottage cheese with stevia 0/0

Didnt make it to the gym. Have to do an extra 45 tommorow after my training.

If I cant do separate workouts then I have to add on to my existing workouts, need to up that cardio!!

Days 28 and 29...back on that good ol' train...

So after the debacle that was Saturday, I just got right back on that train Sunday.

1 egg and 2 toasts for brekkie
Hot Yoga 75 mins and 40 mins running on the treadmill- oh yah!
pack of almonds
tuna on a pita (with light mayo)
2 squares 85% chocolate
beef, onions, chipotle sauce, whole wheat pasta (1/2 cup)
a few more squares of chocolat

All in all a pretty good day given the workout. I love doing the yoga- man does it ever make me realize how much flexibility Ive lost since I was younger and so much more flexible...ah well its all in the offing...

Day 29

2 eggs and 2 toast (its a workout day!)

handful of almonds

1 hr workout with Adrian the sex fiend (more on this later) and an additional 20 mins running /walking on incline on the treadmill (thus begins my cardio attack for the month of March- 1 day early!)

tuna salad on whole wheat pita- added in a good portion of veggies -thanks Adrian for the suggestion
(I particularly like the salty and spicy- green olives, pickles, and hot peppers) got em from Subway and just popped them in that puppy!

Cottage cheese- with sweetener

Gonna make chicken breast on the bbq tonight- a whole bunch of em- so probably chick breast with brown rice tonight.

Awwright.

Day 27...curiouser...and curiouser...

Well today was a weird food day.

I started off with the usual- 1 egg 2 toasts.
Then I went to bridgehead and had A CHOCOLATE CROISSANT. YES I DID.
Thus began my roller coaster day of somewhat binging. Cant explain it...just went with it.

Tuna on a pita.
Thumbprint scone
popcorn snack pack
cereal
8 wings
small cupcake
chocolate 85%
2 toasts

So...yeah. I think today was a write-off. For whatever reason, I couldnt stop once i started, or Im feeling a little frustrated about je ne sais quoi..anyway tommorow I will go to the gym, and get right back on that horse.
Will weigh in on Monday or Tuesday, see how I feel.

Day 26...nothing good..lasts forever..

Hmm..so this am I weighed myself (maybe a bad idea) and I was up a few ounces from monday. Not a huge deal but I guess eating a protein bar for lunch every day is likely not my best strategy. So I will have to change it out for something more standard- gonna look at Jorge's one week sure fire plan and see how we do next week. Tommorow I will work out and Sunday, that will be the beginning of ramping up the cardio
Starting March 3rd I have 30 days of workouts. I wanna see how I do when I add in more cardio. I m joinign another gym (in addition to my trainer) so I am interested to see if by changing it up I start enjoying different kinds of workouts and move the needle on my weight loss efforts.

Todays intake:
2 eggs, 2 bread
chicken breast, 1 bread
movies- hotdog, froyo and almonds (OK def not on plan) but cest la vie.

Day 25...and again...

Today was uneventful- except that I did feel a little more hungry than usual.

2 eggs, 2 ezekiel bread. 0/2
1 protein bar 4/2
handful of almonds 0/0
1 ezekiel tortilla, cheese, turkey bacon, pork tenderloin, spinach, pesto 0/2
4 pieces dark choc 5/1

Debating if I weigh myself tommorow or sat, we'll see...prob sat am since I'll do a workout tommorow.

Day 24..end of day and Im loving spinach

So just had dinner...

Spinach salad, with : mushrooms.org bacon.hard boiled egg.blue cheese and 0 sugar dressing. yum! 0/0

I will also have 4 squares of dark chocolate (5/1)
I had almonds also right before my workout (was feeling a little peckish):
Totals today: 10/5

Today's training was good- we did alot of upper body work, squats, posterior chain stuff. Always always with the posterior chain. Pushups, leg presses, tricep extensions, bicep curls, lunges, squats, my favs! I did my "trick" and thought positive things before each set that I dreaded (some things, like squats, just set me off, so I just say " good squats"! Im good at this ! and I get my trainer to remind me why they are good for me.(What parts of the body it trains). A positive attitude is very very important in my training and overall success.

Day 24..all quiet on the eastern front..

Today woke up and felt that my stomach was really starting to feel..flat...thats the best feeling in the world I'll have you know..

Still "assisting" my regularity for now, it makes 100% difference in how I feel, and how I am able to get through the day. We'll have to see if this is problematic over the longer term but as long as I "go" every day I am happy with the mechanism to get me there.

Today is like all others, I'm kinda sticking to a pretty similar diet, maybe mix it up if the scale doesnt budge much on friday..

2 eggs 2 sprouted grains
protein bar

Dinner still to come...we'll have to see what I feel like but maybe I'll make some type of fish on the bbq...stay tuned.
Probably some dark chocolate too. :)

Day 23..a chat with the trainer..

Ok, today is good again..Im onto something here...

2 eggs, 2 sprouted grain toasts 0/2
protein bar for lunch 5/2
pork tenderloin, fauxtatoes (white kidney beans mashed ) 1/1
almond breeze, chocolate unsweetened 0/0

trying not to weigh myself every day which seems to allay frustration- so I will weigh myself once a week, friday or sat. - as long as I feel good and not bloated I know I'm headed in the right direction.

So my trainer and I had one of our "discussions" today (read: arguments) which centered around the fact that the difference between people who are fit and those who arent is that people are generally "lazy". I took offense to that term, and I said it had more to do with "commitment". I dont think that someone who doesnt follow a nutritional plan is lazy per se, but I do think that its about making a commitment. My "AHA" moment was when we were talkiing and I said":I need to take my health and fitness plan as seriously as I take my job- and dedicate the same amount of "perseverance" to it as I do to my work. If I wont settle for second best in work- why would I settle for less than in my own quest for my best personal health? Treat yourself as #1. Dont accept people saying that "you are obsessed, youre vain, you are fine the way you are"...because thats not about YOU, thats about THEM. I am going to focus my energy on this one element- treat yourself as you would your VERY BEST CLIENT (in my terms thats how I can relate). Go out of your way for YOU. YOU deserve it.

I cannot help but think that feeling happy and less stressed is doing something to aid my weight loss. It could be a complete crock but at this point I think its possible. We'll see how it pans out on the scale fri/sat.

Day 22..Yipee-Ki-YAY

Well awwright. THis morning jumped on the scale- down 4 POUNDS now from the start of this!. Hallelujah. So really- deprivation, no carbs? NO! just no sugar. And regularity. These things seem to be doing the trick. Now to step it up. A little more cardio during the week, keep on it with the workouts, careful on the carbs. Weigh yourself every few days..
Today's day was good, a little high on carbs :

2 eggs, 2 sprouted grains toast 0/2
protein bar 5/2
popcorn - 2 cups approx 0/2
whole wheat rotini () sugar 0/2
cream,almond milk and cheese 0/0
Cheese topping 0/0
4 squares dark chocolate 0/1

Day 21..Sunday ...Hot Yoga is well..hot

So today another good day (could it be because I havent weighed myself in a number of days?):)

I did an hour and 15 mins of hot yoga this am. Quite an interesting experience! I have no idea if this affects fitness but it likely helps with flexibility and relaxation, and man I sweat like a dog! so that part was interesting.


Todays food diary:

2 eggs, 2 sprouted grain toasts (0/2)140+160= 300
1 protein bar (5/2) =350
whole wheat pasta 1/2 cup 2/2) 100
chicken breast 150
pesto 130
parmesan cheese 100
4 squares 85% chocolate (5/1) 115

so I'm within sugar range, +1 on the carbs. Gonna have to watch that in coming days. We'll see what the scale says tommorow am.

Day 20...End of day...

So end of day, just got back from movies. FInished off the day with:

few pieces of cheese
dark chocolate- about 12 pieces 5./1
frozen yogurt small- had about half so 10/1
popcorn 2 cups approx 0/1

So altogether I might be up +1 in carbs but overall ok for a day with movies...yep I can do this.

Tommorow if I get myself out of bed, gonna try to do hot yoga. We'll see!

Day 20..lunch

So I forgot to mention took AGG this am, with my coffee. I am interested to see if it makes any diff.

For lunch, I wasn't very creative:

1 egg 0/0
2 ezekiel br 0/2
2 slices of turkey bacon 0/0

so based on this, I am at 0 sugar grams and 4 servings carbs. I could therefore have up to 15 grams sugar and 2 carb servings ..so two cups popcorn -and some good chocolate options. Will go shopping before movies! ya....

Day 20..Awwright.

Ok, so this am feeling good again. Food is ontrack..tonight I'm going to the movies, so I'm going to get some sugar-free chocolate to take to the movies so I dont blow my day.

So far:
2 eggs (0/0)
2 pieces ezekiel bread 4:19  (0/2)

Trying to decide what to eat for lunch that'll allow me some choc and a few popcorn bites..we'll see

Day 19..I think?

So back on track today, with the belly fat cure diet. Feeling groovy. I dont know what'll mean on the scale but I feel good, not shaky, not starving, not angry. Just..good.

I went to the gym today, had a great workout and my trainer told me that my abs were flatter than they've ever been since I started with him. For him to notice this is a BIG DEAL. If this is what this kind of diet can do for me, I;m sold. I need results to be happy and maybe I wont see it on the scale right away but if my clothes fit better and I am fitter, then I'm going in the right direction.

I still want the scale to go down, but if Im feeling good, then I can be a little more patient!
I have to have the right attitude. Im gonna try.

Travel is my downfall: Day 16.17.18

Well I am enroute back home today, and travel has kind of unravelled my best laid plans.

Tues I ate well until dinner time- eggs in the am with 0 sugar bread, brought a sandwich and almonds for the plane- ate that- then had small chili at wendy's - then came dinner with clients - had half a biscuit, and half a piece of pie (with ice cream!) and some wild rice. Thus began my downward spiral.

Wed was all bad.

Toast in the am with some type of powdered egg which was god -awful
Mid-morning bran/raisin muffin (not quite a whole one but still)
lunch- half a salmon sandwich, and some type of black forest goo dessert
snack- cookie
dinner- app shrimp with some type of crunchy batter (corn flakes?) and dry ribs (small appetizer size serving), and a brownie - 2 glasses of wine.

So yeah. Not great. But I will try to stay back on track today, as best I can. THen go at it for the rest of week (friday) and stay ontrack for the weekend. No cheat day since essentially I am trying to do the belly fat cure now ....
I wont be travelling (I dont think) for at least a month and so I should be able to do well for the next 3-4 weeks and stick to it.

Day 15. Yeah.

Just to confirm: I have the monthly visitor. So. It may be very much a case of PMS and retention - however I think that for ME, Im gonna try this approach and see how I do for 15 days. That will give me a good basis for comparison. I can then look at both plans and figure out whats best. I do think for me, this approach (FBC) will be sustainable LONGER than the 4HB but we'll see.

Regardless both plans are making me realize that SUGAR is not my friend. NO way, no how. I need to find alternatives that will make me feel good while curbing that need and drive to have sugar. So I may not have the cheat day but I think I can do it without.

Day 15...HACKING is my middle name...

So heres the thing:

First- this am after eating, I noticed that it "seemed"as though I'd started my period (again). Im not sure then, if the weight gain is because of this., because of that OR WHAT. I dont know if the up and down of this diet is fooling with my insides, but its just weird.

So who knows if I am experiencing PMS and thats why Im retaining weight..whhaaatever. Irregardless (I just wanted to say that...I know its not a word):

Today I am moving into Belly Fat Cure, lets see what happens for the next 14 days. So the premise of BFC is:
No more than 15 grams a sugar a day
6 servings of "carbs" a day (mostly carbs that have no sugar) which are determined by # of grams of carbohydrates in food
I went to organic store and bought a few items to see whats what(ezekiel bread,almond milk, org eggs).

I travel as of tommorow am so will see how I do, its always tough to stick to stuff thats weird when you are not at home..

So for today's eats:

8:30 am 3 eggs whole and 2 pieces whole wheat bread (0 sugar - S/C value- 0/4)
12:00pm 1 hr pretty heavy weight workout (with ALOT more energy and focus- my trainer was complimentary!)
1:30pm protein bar (4/2)
1:35pm grande americano with almond breeze unsweetened almond milk (no sugar) 0/0
5:30pm chicken salad (romaine, cilantro, lemon fresh squeezed, olive oil, chicken breast, parmesan cheese-allowed as a slowcarb on this menu ha! (0/0)
I feel better, at least today. Is it all psychosematic? Who knows..Lets see how we do weight wise and otherwise, in days to come.
Hacking, redux.

Day 15..Roller Coaster anyone?FAAACCK

Well this morning I'm up again. Still down in total, but no change from last week at this time.  Its just really frustrating. I cant seem to get past this plateau.

So the question is really wether this diet (in this form) will work for ME I am a little confused as to how to want to stick to this when ultimately I lose two pounds during the week, gain it back on the weekend through the cheat, and then take another week to lose it. Just doesnt seem to be worthwhile.

Its working for others and I was 100% sticking to the plan. with little to no results, so really, whats the problem? I dont want to resort to taking laxatives either (because of all the protein I am extremely constipated on this diet).

I am considering switching to the slow-carb but 0 sugar friendly Belly Fat Cure, which is somewhat like slow carb but doesnt have the massive cheat, and focused on 0 or very low sugar - no processed foods, etc. but does allow some healthy grains and substitutes that allow some sweet in the diet (no sugar but allows sugar alcohols) . I'm thinking that for me, this might be more sustainable and then also train my brain to get away from "the white devil" once and for all. Both diets say you should lose 4-9 pds per week, depending on overall loss needed, so really I am thinking whats the diff>?

Tim says you should watch all the factors, and make conclusions based on facts. OK Tim, so based on facts:
in 15 days, I have lost 1.5 pounds. According to my accu-measure fat caliper, body fat has not changed. I'll do my measurements today to see whats what but I did measure my waist yesterday and it was the same. Menstrual period >? I am constantly experiencing breakthru bleeding because of my IUD so I never know what cycle Im in. I know I am in perfect health having had a recent physical so its not health oriented (ie maybe some strange reproductive issue thats making me hold on to my fat gut)..

Another problem- I cant sustain my workouts with no energy, and I am definitely lacking energy when Im on this diet, last week I found it tougher than usual.  Maybe I am not eating enough. But man there are alot of calories on my plate from where I sit. I am confused. Have to think about this today. And when you pay 75.00 per workout, you kinda want to get your money's worth...

I dont want to caack but I also dont want to waste (waist!) another two weeks of time on something that just doesnt seem to be working.

Day 14. Food diary...

So todays food, basic except for the 1 piece of bread in the am.

9:30am  two eggs 1 egg white, 1 piece ww bread (no sugar), butter
took AGG.
12:30pm taco beef, refried beans (leftovers from thurs), steak (leftover from fri) asparagus
2:00 gym - lat pull downs, push ups, lat pull ups gravitron, sitting rows, leg press
3:00pm protein shake with vega greens complete food, protein powder, 1 tbsp peanut butter
6:30pm 1/2 roast chicken, salad with balsamic and oil, broccoli

I miss sweets already. Let the withdrawal begin..ugh.
will take just Policosanol tonight. PAGG at night seems to disturb my sleep.

Day 14. Isnt it apropos that Cheat day was day 13?

Well I awoke this morning feeling strangely- un-disgusting. My god I can actually feel my abs. It is possible? .

Scale says I gained less than a pound after yesterday's foodapalooza. Is it possible? I think that one cannot discount the "poo" factor..I had more movements yesterday than I did all week, so that definitely has something to do with it.

Maybe we'll see a delayed reaction.Maybe there is something magical to this after all. In any case, Im feeling ok this am. so I'm going with it.

I'll go to the gym today and do some swings, some running and some abs. Will see how it pans out.
Food diary later. This am I did have a piece of the 0 sugar bread with my two eggs and 1 egg white.

That'll be the only carb today (well grain then) , we'll see if that helps me feel more satisfied during the day.

End of CHEAT day.....bleeehhhhhh

Ok, so its 10:30, Im back from the movie, heres the final damage:


Cheese and crackers - 4 pieces cheese, 4 crackers at Starbucks- 350 cals
small froyo- 250
2 cups popcorn 200

small cup of choc covered almonds 250
-- 1000 calories. ok.
annnnd/.....to top it all off...a red velvet cupcake when I got home, cause my roomate bought them and well, if I didnt eat it, it woudl go bad (right? RIGHT?) by next weekend.
My stomach is making funny noises. I get the feeling I will have some type of explosion later..

This kind of eating is not healthy,, and I cant figure out how it can be good for you.

1350 + 1200 from earlier today so Im thinking 2550 for today. WHOOOAH. Ok, so what this tells me is:
I overdo it on cheat days
I am addicted to sugar- dont know how to manage sugary carbs (obvious)
I need to get real about the sugar addiction...better to not eat it at all!
Although Tim says I should be able to eat this much and still lose weight by sticking to the plan during the week. That didnt happen last week, we;ll see what happens tommorow and Monday.

If I want to get to a weight that I am happy with, time to face my food addictions and realize that this diet is maybe a step in figuring out whats good and not good for me.SUGAR IS definitely got to go. Permanently. Weekend cheats have to be non-sugary.

THe whole thing about sugar for me is that I really CANT seem to stop once I start. Before today, I was fine without eating the sugary stuff.

CHEAT Day ...getting to thinkin...

So I still have tonight for the cheat..and I'm sitting here, thinking about how eating, or not eating..and wondering how the next few weeks are gonna go. I'm reading Jorge Cruises' belly fat cure and it seems so much more ...reasonable.


At this stage, if I'm only getting a pound or so of weight loss per week, I am going to consider plans that are maybe a little more moderate with a little less caloric intake but a few low sugar carbs. I have to be able to sustain this over the long term and not eating any bread or any carbs is just too limiting- and difficult. And then the cheat becomes the undoing of all the work put in during the week. I also feel like its not condusive to good workouts - Ive had alot less energy than I should these past few weeks, havent had the same drive to do my workouts. So Im gonna mix it up for the next two weeks and see what happens. I am travelling so it'll be easier to follow as well.

Let the hacking continue. Tommorow, will start off with one carb for bfst and potentially one for lunch- and then no carbs after 3pm. Will check out the scale tommorow am after todays cheat.

I will also start the countdown for Punta Cana and devise a workout plan to help me get to my goal - I need to step it up with cardio to supplement the workouts..if I give it 100% for at least 30 days I should be able to get to where I want to be. Seems the only way to do it.

CHEAT DAY..halfway thru....damage so far:

Ok so its 3pm, and I already feel full:

2 eggs with 1 egg white 150
grapefruit juice
2 pieces whole wheat toast (no sugar bread) 250

POO- still feeling the effects of the Xlax..

decaf tall latte 90
1 petit scone 75

works ground turkey burger with:- goat cheese,caramelized onions and mushrooms on whole wheat bun 400
chocolate chip and pecan cookie 250
another decaf
half a 85% dark chocolate chocolate bar...150
AGG= will take before go to movies..

Still have the movies tonight- and I'm thinking I'll have something "decent" before heading out since I always have fro-yo and some popcorn.
Piece of toast with cheese? ooh maybe with the leftover tacomeat. Yeah.

CHEAT DAY #2..its like Christmas with a dirty secret...

It does feel like Christmas this am...freedom..and yet there is that twinge of fear..what if I completely lose my mind? Will I undo any progress and have to start all over next week (which is essentially what happened to me last week)...but oh how I love bread. Have already had two pieces this am with my eggs ...eggs and toast, my favourite breakfast.

We're going to the gym today to do some of the damage control exercises...but if I feel like eating something today, I am going to eat it...maybe not a ton of it, but yeah, I will eat it.

OH YEAH.

Day 12 food

Quick post to go over food from yesterday:

bkfst:Two eggs and two turkey bacon slices
Gym=workout 1/2 hour (lesss than usual cause I was in such a crabby mood- see yesterday's post)
lunch:Greek salad- 1 chicken breast,lettuce,feta cheese, tsasiki, tomatoes,olives
snack: protein shake- protein powder, vega powder (veggies), 1 tbsp peanuut butter and ice
PAGG bfr dinner: filet mignon, mushrooms, asparagus 2 glasses red wine
PAGG bfr bed

Day 12. Baby steps..so why do I want to kill the baby?

Today is Day 12 on the Slow-Carb..maybe they call it that because its so G=D slow coming off..

Ok so good news first: 1- did lose another pound or so since yesterday...and I HAD A POO. Thank you EXLAX.

Anyways, weigh in this am takes me to 3.3 pounds lost in 12 days. I KNOW I should be happy, but I am,in my usual fashion, ready to rip my own head off. My thoughts immediately go to-
-Why is this so hard
-The only diet I lose weight on is a starvation diet, and I dont want to starve!
-I work out 4 days a week and this is what Im getting..

In other words, today feels like...frustration. X100. Not really sure why...PMS? dont know..anywayyyy..Im figuring I should start tracking my mood here too..maybe I'll see some clues as to why I feel differently at different times of the month...(Hormones anyone?)

Went to the gym today- told my trainer that I was in a bad mood. ( I didnt tell him why- he would absolutely lose his mind if he knew I was on this diet) So, he made me do 30 minutes of brutal cardio (and kick-boxing, which was apropos) and told me to go home and relax, and get my head on straight. I should usually be there for 1 hr. God love em.

So as per the hacking concept, I'm adding new elements to this diet at Day 12 here to see what happens. Today I bought the PAGG stack ($90.00 dollars later..ahem) as well as a "greens total food" like product that I can mix into my protein shakes. I need more veggies but I cant be bothered to eat them with each meal, so hopefully this will up my overall veggie quotient and give me the energy I need to stick this out.Gotta read up on how to take them, its all a little foggy.

Very interested to see what the stack does- if anything- but I dont think Tim would recommend (would he?) if they were useless because he even mentions its alot of money to spend in the book.

I;ll do another post later for food stuff. Just had a protein shake (with the greens product tastes good-kinda coconutty..hmm) so I feel sort of ..alive. Maybe not having sugar makes me. crabby. But Im not craving it today. OH CHEAT DAY>>>>YOU ARE UPON ME>>>>HOORAY.

Day 11. Pls god, some relief...

So Day 11. Im probably down...2 ounces from yesterday...yeah, so really, its still down from start, but not by much. And part of that is this little problem I seem to be having..of, well, not making any "deposits". At all. So, after basically a week of this, you can imagine, things are uncomfortable. VERY.

So will drink extra water, and I've taken matters into my own hands with a little X to the Lax. I mean really, 5 days...geesus. Beans, protein...veggies. not really surprising.

So today's meals:
8am three eggs with cotttage cheese
12pm salad with egg,smoked salmon, sprinkle of feta cheese(not on the diet I know but man was it good) oil and vinegar
5pm taco salad (extra lean ground beef,reduced sodium taco mix,guac,jalapenos,refried beans and half a head of iceberg lettuce...ruffage anyone?)

So by tommorow am, I'm assumign I'll have some type of explosion, and we'll see what the scale says..and then its one day to cheat-land. Not that I am all that enthusiastic given the lack of weight loss. Not feeling it today folks, I must say. I think no sugar is the right strategy, but maybe too much meat and protein overload is making this a little tough on my pipes..

Todays eats: eggs, and some more ...eggs

Ok so today was a workout day, and super busy work day. Food was onplan.`

8:30- two eggs, leftover taco beef, and refried beans- 140 + 100= 240
10:30- rest of refried beans (pre-workout)- 100
1:30pm- mushroom salad -onions, salmon fillet - 150+ 250= 400
3:00pm- protein shake (1 tbsp peanut butter)- 180
6:30pm - 5 eggs, sausage, red and orange pepper scramble.- 350+150- 500
1440

Today's workout- the good news- 10 man-pushups-almost chest to the ground and back up again- woot! and the bad news- burpees- argghghh-  I couldnt keep going- and really its my brain that shuts down when I dont want to do something..I have to stop the negative self-talk. As soon as I hear "lunge,burpee,squat"..something happens...I have to figure out how to re-program so that I hear happylunge,happy burpee,happy squat!!

Let's see what the scale looks like tommorow. Lunch out- but I think I know a salad I can have..so should be good..

Day 10. Groundhog Day.Dieters gone wild my ass. (Literally)

Can you tell Im a little..frustrated? Ok, so this am- 10 days into the program- I am back to my pre-cheat weight, which is down approx 1.5 pounds from the start. Groundhog day anyone? bah. Well, if I can lose another by tommorow or friday, and create some momentum, I'll feel like this is worth something. 2 pounds a week should be worth it- shouldnt it?

I am concerned that because I want to lose 20 pounds (and realistically at 20 pounds I I will be smaller than I've been for the past..20 years) and have not been able to get there with Dr. Bernstein or any other diet method, that maybe its just not in the cards for me or that seeing a 4 to 5 pound weightloss per week on this plan just isnt gonna happen with me. It does get discouraging. Regardless of how much or how little you have to lose, you want it gone, and giving up bread and sweets should amount to something!

AFTER ALL THIS RANTING>..My biggest problem is follow-through. I expect everything to happen "like that" and when it doesnt I give up.

 SO- I'll make a statement here for the blogosphere (and more importantly to myself):

I will stick to this for 30 days.. and see what results I get. I will not abandon it because I am too G-D impatient to allow results to happen.
I will enjoy my cheatdays and not overdo it- but indulge in a few tasty items.
I will continue to drink more water
I will appreciate the body I DO have right now, and be thankful that Im healthy
I will work towards donning a bikini for Punta Cana in APril!

today's eats:

Ok so as per my pledge to clean it up, heres what I ate today:


830am two whole eggs, 2 pieces turkey bacon - 200 calories of yummalicious
coffee with half and half *a whole bodum
12pm tuna with lentils and curry. YYYYYUUUCK. threw half of it out.so...
12:30- protein powder (no sugar), 1 tbsp peanut butter, ice (its quite good actually) in a blender
6pm- taco salad: extra lean ground beef, iceberg lettuce, reduced sodium taco sauce (dry) with water, organic refried beans, 1 tbsp guac, black olives. DELLLLICCIOSO...

Thats all she wrote. Trying to get at least 2 litres water into my gullet. God I hate water. I wish it came in another flavour. Water- now in Peanut Butter flavour! one can dream..

Tommorow is hump day and 3 days away from Bread Island....

I have to travel next week, I hope I can keep it together. Only a few days, I'll bring almonds to snack on as Tim suggests.

Day 9..ugh!

So weighed myself as usual this am. The scale has not budged, I am still at +1 pd 3 days after cheat day.

So....definitely will take a different approach to cheat day this coming weekend. I happened to have looked at Jorge Cruises' book Belly Fat Cure (another trend just like this one) but the thing that stuck with me was the GI and  the insulin response..so whilst "a cheating I will go" on Sat, I will look to keep the sugars under 15 grams for the day..we'll see what that brings. Can still eat bread (those without sugar like sourdough) and cheese (no sugar versions) and chocolate (the full cocoa versions 70% and up) so I should be ok....this is all about hacking right...I mostly miss (crave) BREAD above all others so thats what I'll focus on.

Also I guess that means good-bye to my yummy protein bars..f**ck.

Oh well, it was too good to be true. To do my workout, as intense as they are, eat essentially 1100 calories and still hang on to that pound is frustrating as hell. Given I've done the Dr. Bernstein diet before this (yeah I know) I also know that you cant stay in ketosis if you introduce a protein bar- you wont gain weight but you wont lose any either..there is the whole debate that the weight lost last week (the first week) is all water...so it'll be interesting to see what happens towards the end of this one and onto week three.

I;m also going to shut down the diet rootbeer..(A&W Rootbear you are my nemesis!) one of those things can throw u off..I know Tim drinks two diet cokes but he's also sub 20% bodyfat and his muscle mass burns more than my fat ass can do.

There is the issue of constipation also- I havent been doing well in that department with all the meat and protein, gotta do better with water and greens.

Will post food later...gonna keep it super-duper clean today.

Day 8-food diary

Today's food:-
8am- wake
8:20- two eggs whole, two slices turkey bacon, coffee with cream
10:30- handful of sesame seeds
12:00- workout with trainer- kettlebell swings, clean and press, leg press  *300pds, abs
1:15- protein meal replacement bar with no sugar (but sugar alcohols...)
1:10-starbucks vente americano (coffee essentially, no milk)
6:00pm -chili *extra lean ground beef,tomatoes,spices,mushrooms,red kidney beans,no sugar salsa*(had a second helping!
1 diet rootbeer

so on track today, based on Tim's notes that you can have carbs within an hour of a weightbearing workout. I will see how weight looks tommorow- protein bars are easier because I'm at the gym and there is a nutrition store in the same mall, allowing me to eat within the hour. But I also note Tim talks about artificial sweeteners being a no-no, so it'll be part of the experiment.

My workout was tough, I felt sort of sluggish (probably due to sat's binge and wine overindulgence) but I plowed through.

I talked to trainer about using a accu-measure bodyfat caliper, heres what he said:

Take measurement from:
Above hip bone (lower abdomen)
tricep
below collarbone
hamstring

ideally you should have  7 points but these will give a good baseline (and you can do them yourself). Key is to use the same method regularly.

Tommorow I'll measure body parts again and update

CHEAT Day..remembered..and final observations

So this is a little backwards but trying to get back ontrack with using the blog so:

This past Saturday was my cheat day. A few observations:

When I woke up, I wasnt craving anything (I started the diet the Sunday before)
I didnt feel as though I needed to cheat...and couldnt really think of what I was hungry for. NEVERTHELESS:

8am- awake
830am-3 eggs scrambled with decaf coffee, half and half cream (as per Tim eat 30g of protein within 30 mins of waking
10am- 1 hr spin class (brutal)-apparently you burn anywhere from 5-1000 cals..lets say 700
12:25- abt 4 ounces grapefruit juice - 90ish
12:30 - CHEAT BEGINS;
1 thumbprint scone- 150 cals

2:30- egg/bacon artisan sandwhich at Starbucks= 390 cals
tall latte- 90 cals
choc banana cake= 380 cals

4:00 -small baskin robbins rocky road  290 cals

7:00pm- dinner at DiVino Wine Studio
-1 glass proseco- 90 cals
-4 glasses of red wine (That I counted..it might have been 5) - 400 cals
 -cheese and charcuterie platter (shared amongst 4) with bread- 500 cals
-did I mention bread ? bread with olive oil,...bread dipped in my friends pasta dish..prob another 500.

so yeah, alot of calories... - spin class, but still...thats alot of calories.

When I stepped on the scale on Sunday am, I was up two pounds from my weight at the end of last week.
When I stepped on teh scale on Mon am, I was up 1 pound.


So my observation is this (and it will largely depend on how the scale looks tommorow.):


Cheats, while fun, are not worth going bezerk on since it may take me half of the week to get back to normal levels..we will see..and in having read many people's blogs in the past week, it seems that women do tend to have a harder time losing after cheats than men,,or maybe we just go way too wild..

All will be clearer tommorow..But I wont be dettered as I think its a good way to curb my sugar habit..

I think next week's cheat will focus on non-sugary but satisfying carbs such as whole grain bread, some dairy and cheese. That should do it.

should have done this a week ago..one week into the 4HB! Thoughts and observations so far.

Now that one of my friends started a blog (thanks Barb) I feel compelled to do the same ...all part of the "stick-to-it and be accountable bit that Tim evangelizes...

So here it is "day 8 ' technically, for me of the 4HR body. I watched Dr. Oz' review with Tim and was instantly captivated. Eat meat? as much as you want? annnnd...you get a cheat day where you can eat ANYTHING and AS MUCH AS YOU WANT? I was sold. Got the book, got super-duper excited. Bought the food, drank the koolaid. The whole nine.

Did the measurements, the fat % (22% according to the caliper which apparently is effective if (I will post a separate post on that soon)you take a few different spots (I asked my trainer)- you can buy one for 20 bucks I think..

Bust: 36
Waist: 34
Arm Circumference: 12.5 (my arms are big)
Thigh: 22.5

Weight is 169. I'm 5 foot 8.5. I've been as high as 190 and as low as 157 in the last few years, I tend to go up and down but have kept it sort of 165-169ish for the past year or so. I felt great at 160, ultimate goal would be 149 (maybe thats a pipe dream but its what I will work towards.)

- I have about 20 pounds to lose to get to an optimal level of fitness. I work out alot- 3 days a week with a trainer- and mostly eat healthfully but my sugar addiction is baaaad..I saw this as a way to get down in terms of weight, really get body fat to a better level and ultimately do Occam's Protocol to bust out the best body I've ever had. Thats what I;m taking from this  anyway. Disciplined cheats seem to make sense to me also, as opposed to the all or nothing way I tend to overdo-it.

So Days 1 through 6 were as expected- TOUGH. Very tough to give up all types of sugar (not just the ones that are obvious- Im talking sugar in rice (sushi was one of my lunchtime favs), in bread, in all kinds of stuff.
Headaches in days 2 thru 4, by 5 much better, and by 6..cravings for sugar were almost non-existant. Taste buds seemed dull though. Bah.

From here on in I will blog daily to go over my thoughts, feelings, recipes I find, other bloggers I find that are helpful (or not) and such..