Cycle 1

OK... 17 days done. I was not as strict as I should have been and had a few cheats along the way. However I lost 6.2 pounds in a mere 17 days. I've also lost an inch off my waist! Hooray!

I am going to continue on to cycle 2 and try to keep this momentum going. I eating better, I FEEL better so it's all worth it!

Let's talk willpower

I have heard people say to me "Wow, you have amazing willpower, I wish I could do that"

You CAN do it! Willpower isn't something that's easy. It's something I struggle with on a DAILY basis. Some days are a lot easier than others and some days... all I want to do is hunker down with a king sized choclate bar, wine and maybe even pizza. While it gets easier to pass on the unhealthy foods.... it's NOT always easy and my willpower isn't something that's just there. I work on it, every day.

Some days I will have one hershey kiss to kill that craving for a king sized bar of yum. And, most times, that little taste of chocolate curbs the craving and I am fine. There are days I slip, or days I allow myself to eat whatever (read: last weekend) but on the day to day... I remind myself of one thing: how will I feel AFTER I eat that giant cheeseburger? Will I feel good? Will I feel good about myself, will I feel physically good? The answer, if you're honest with yourself, is probably not good. Reminding myself of that overly full, greasy, heavy feeling that comes AFTER the part when you're eating... ugh. Feels crappy doesn't it? And the emotional feeling after binging is not so hot either. That's how I keep my willpower when I am thinking about slipping.

The other motivator for me is my weight. Today I woke up at 166.6 and fit into some shorts I have not fit into in... well, I don't even know how long. And no muffin top either so I am not squeezing into them, they actually FIT. Let's face it, I was able to get into them before but if you've got some giant muffin top spilling over the top... just be real - they don't fit you. And it's really not so attractive either. Remember that no one knows that number on the tag except you so, get over it. Besides, those sizes are not standard. Depending on the store, I am anywhere between a 10 and a 14. Who cares? We all look better in clothes that fit.

Today is Day 12 of cycle 1 for me. I usually don't post progress pics until a cycle ends but... I like how I look and love how I feel today so, here it is:

Back in the 160's!

I am doing well, although it's hard sometimes, I am working hard at staying the course. It's been harder this time around and I've have cheated on occasion (although I have shared every cheat!) I am keeping myself accountable for everything I put in my mouth. If I were to hide something, the only person I am hurting is me and I don't want to do that.

I love how I FEEL being thinner. I love that I no longer need to take blood pressure medication. That's right... after years of needing it, I am DONE. My BP is back to a normal range and just keeps improving with every pound I lose. I love how I see photos of me now and while I still want to see myself shrink some more... I don't cringe or hide them. I don't hold the camera super high in the air to make myself look thinner because, I don't have to. I actually fit into t-shirts from Old Navy that are a size M! I don't even know when the last time was that I could say that. The way I feel is enough to keep me from ever seeing my weight start with a 2 again. I will never again even come close to that. My goal is getting closer... 24.8 pounds away. I really hope I can attain this goal sometime this summer. I think if I work hard, I can.

Here's my day today.

Day 10: 169.8 (-4.4)

H2O: IIIIIIIIIIII

B: black coffee, fruit salad, 2 eggs, green tea

S: green apple

L: leftover chicken tacos w/ ff cheddar, green tea

S: 2 mandarin oranges

D: buffalo chicken lettuce wraps with ff ranch, green tea

Lots of chicken I know (I do add a LOT of veggies to my cooking). The first 17 days are mostly chicken, turkey and fish for protein and as fish doesn't tend to fill me up... I go with chicken and turkey for the most part. If anyone has any good, on plan, filling fish recipes, let me know! Not sure I can take another whole week of chicken. haha

And the verdict is....

Homemade taco seasoning is about a million times better than the crap you buy in the store. And... I don't feel like I need to drink my weight in water when I am done eating :)

I really enjoyed my dinner. Chicken tacos with ff cheddar and a little fresh salsa. Mmmmm

Looking forward to my weigh in tomorrow. I did have a latte this morning but I did go for the skim milk. Not OP but it was not a very large coffee at all... probably smaller than a Starbucks tall. Otherwise, my day looked great!

Day 9: 170.6 (-3.6)

H2O: IIIIIIIIIIII

B: Honey Almond Latte w/skim milk

S: green tea, apple

L: salad with chicken & lite balsamic, green tea

D: chicken tacos in lettuce wraps w/ff cheddar & fresh salsa, green tea

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Tonight I am planning on making chicken tacos (using lettuce instead of tortillas) for dinner. Imagine my shock when I actually read one of those seasoning packets! A bunch of crazy ingredients: Yellow Corn Flour, Salt, Maltodextrin, Paprika, Spices, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color (sulfites). What? Really? Oh and the 400+ mg of sodium PER SERVING - ew!

So, I decided to pass and as soon as the kids were upstairs for "quiet time" I googled home made taco seasoning. Spices are OK on the 17 day diet but I am pretty sure that the ingredients in the packet thing are NO GOOD, dieting or not.

Here's an awesome taco seasoning recipe that I will test out tonight but it sounds yummy!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

1 Tbsp chili powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp paprika

1.5 tsp ground cumin

1/2 to 1 tsp sea salt (more or less to taste)

1 tsp black pepper

1. In small bowl, mix all ingredients and store in airtight container. (Or you can mix it together in the container you are going to store it in–just give it a shake!)

2. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of this mixture plus 1/2 cup of water to one pound of cooked meat (of your choice). Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until there is very little liquid left in the pan.

Good day yesterday

I stayed on track yesterday and am very proud of myself. And, the scale went back in the right direction today, hooray!

Yesterday:

Day 8: 172.4 (-1.8)

H2O: IIIIIIIIIIIIII

B: greek yogurt with peach, green tea

S: 2 mandarin oranges

L: Leftover ground chicken, green tea

D: 2 egg omelet with veggies, green tea

My weight this morning was: 170.6 (-3.6) so I am thinking... back in the 160's tomorrow. I kind of wish I hadn't screwed up my week but, really, I had a great time with a lot of awesome ladies. Life is always going to happen and you can't beat yourself up. One thing I have learned, an important thing, is that you can not let one instance be an excuse to then keep messing up your day. Enjoy your outing or your party or your dinner out with your spouse but do not use that as an excuse to then continue to eat horribly. Don't say "well, I already ate pizza and screwed up so... here, let's eat these chips, soda, candy now." Enjoy your day, your meal and then jump right back on the wagon. The key phrase, that we've ALL heard: everything in moderation! A diet or lifestyle change is never ever going to work if you don't allow yourself to enjoy things. It's not realistic that you'll never again have a slice of pizza or a scoop of ice cream.

Today is a new day and I have a good meal plan for the day. Let the 17 day diet commence - I love healthy eating! It's hard sometimes but I do love it. :)

Water weight is a *&^%$

OK so... got on the scale this morning and wanted to cry. 172.4 - FOUR pounds up in one day?!?! Well, I know I didn't consume 14,000 calories yesterday, not even close, so I am going with gas, bloating and water weight. I ate a lot of salty snacks in the limo yesterday and it is showing up on the scale today.

I'll be drinking more water today to try to flush everything out and staying 100% OP all week. NO CHEATS.

Disappointing morning but I know it'll be OK. 160's... I am coming back for you!