This week I decided it was time to do an update on my 17 day diet. I have completed the first round, which consisted of 3 cycles of 17 days and to date I have lost a total of 23 pounds. That’s right I lost a total of 23 pounds in 51 days without feeling hungry. Okay I may have been hungry once or twice, but when I got hungry I was allowed to eat. The crazy thing is that with only a few exceptions I never really felt hungry. The eating plan is such that I never had to go very long between eating. I eat breakfast around seven, a probiotic snack around ten, lunch at noon, a second serving of fruit just before two, dinner between five and six with an evening snack of a second probiotic around eight and then I am done. That was during round one which is the strictest cycle. Cycle 2 let me incorporate additional foods including starches and cycle 3 was just plain fun. You cannot imagine how exciting it was to be allowed to have ice cream again. That is right I was allowed skinny cow ice cream sandwiches and I liked them. I liked them a lot!
The hardest part so far was when we had to make our emergency trip to Kentucky. I was worried that I would not be able to maintain the program and was feeling a bit anxious about it. Then I reminded myself the trip was not about me and that if I had to make concessions then I would. As it was it was actually fairly easy to eat within the parameters of the diet and managed to lose four additional pounds while I was away even though I ate out nearly every meal during the whole week.
Knowing what I was allowed was not the issue. Ordering responsibly was. Oh it was not for my lack of trying mind you it was just that apparently the restaurants we were patronizing did not seem to be very big on healthy eating. Take the time I ordered a turkey burger without a bun. While they had a turkey burgers on the menu the waitress looked at me like I had two heads when I asked her if I could get it wrapped in lettuce, of course not. I said okay then I would like it on a plate without a bun and hold the mayo. She was like “you mean you want it naked,” um sure I guess so. I then really pushed the limits when I asked if they had steamed vegetables. She laughed audibly while saying “NO!” Okay so a naked turkey burger and a salad it is. When the lady brought out our plates she actually wrinkled her nose when she called out my order. My daughter thought that was priceless. I did too until I took a bite and found out that naked also meant without so much as salt or pepper for seasoning. It was not something I would order from there again. My mom did make it a point to remind me that I was in Kentucky and that fried is what they are known for.
The next problem occurred when the kids decided to go to Mike Linnigs for dinner. Don’t get me wrong, I highly recommend the place. As a matter of fact I do not think anyone should visit Louisville and not go there. It is that good. It is located right on the river and has been in business since 1925. The portions are enough for several people to share. You won’t find a better fish place around, just don’t go there looking for a healthy meal. I ordered salmon and it was without a doubt the worst piece of fish I have ever eaten. Dry, bland, and again without so much as salt or pepper, unlike the fried delights everyone else at the table was raving about. I made a promise to myself the next time I go there, and I will, I will order off the naughty menu!
When it came time yet again to pick a place for dinner I chose my local favorite, Red Robin. They offer yummy (seasoned) turkey burgers wrapped in a bed of lettuce which you can pick up and eat like a normal, albeit somewhat sloppy, burger. I have eaten there several times during my diet and as long as I order it without the mayo and choose steamed veggies instead of French fries it complies with all cycles of the 17 day diet. There was only one problem I was still in Kentucky. While the burger was perfect the broccoli was barely steamed and the carrots were brought out cold and raw in a tiny plastic cup with the explanation that they did not steam carrots at that particular establishment. It was okay I was hungry and I tend to like raw carrots.
I ended up being able to stick to my diet up until after returning and starting cycle three. It was then that more items were allowed and it seemed that I felt it okay to push the envelope ever so slightly. It was also at that time that I was severely PMS and would have eaten a whole chocolate bar covered in salt if someone had offered it to me. As it were I went off the wagon several times choosing things that were not on the approved list but still being careful to watch my portion sizes. Instead of eating a whole order of fries, I ate three or four off of Don’s plate. I ordered a blizzard from DQ but ordered the new mini size. I did however drink the entire mocha madness smoothie (Chocolate, Coffee, Cappuccino & Non-Fat Yogurt) by myself and I liked it. I liked it a lot. Okay fine, I liked it so much I went back a couple of days later and had another one. I have not however given in to the temptation that awaits me as my ultimate reward. Yes, you guessed it, the hostess snowball that was given to me months ago is still there, still frozen, a tasty reminder of the goodness that awaits me on the other end. Goodness that can and will be consumed in moderation once I have reached my goal.
On Monday Don handed me a three gallon water jug full of water and asked me to hold it for a minute. After a couple of seconds I asked if I could put it down because it was getting heavy. He took it from me and when I asked what that was all about he said the jug weighed 25 pounds, just two pounds more than what I have lost thus far, weight which up until this point, I had been carrying around all of the time. He is such a smart man, and what great motivation for me to continue.
On Wednesday I started back on cycle1. I will follow it with 2 and 3 in hopes of getting to my goal weight. I still do not know what my goal weight is. I have a number in my head of what I think I will be happy with. It is a reasonable number yet on the high end of where the weight scale in the book thinks I should be. Sorry, but I really do not think I would be happy at 98 pounds which is what the book says is appropriate for my height. I think the person who came up with the weight scale must have been on drugs, or a man. Surely no woman had a hand in coming up with those numbers. Sorry guys, I am not a man basher; I just do not see how any self-respecting woman could think that those numbers are okay, much less attainable.
The bottom line is that once again I am comfortable looking in the mirror. I like what I see more and more each day. It is not about a number on the scale or making anyone else happy. This time it is all about me. When I get where I am going I will know it. Since I like what I see now then any progress from this point on will be icing on the cake and we all know how much I like cake!
http://mikelinnigsrestaurant.com/
http://www.tropicalsmoothie.com/menu/
http://www.redrobin.com/