Progress and Moving Forward

Since I started the 17 Day Diet on 1/03/13 I have lost a total of 10 pounds, 2" off the smallest part of my waist,  1 3/4" off my lower belly, 1" off my thighs/buttocks, 1" off my right calf, and a 1/2" off my left calf.  Not bad for one month!!!  I followed cycle 1 by the book and lost most of my weight so far in that 17 days.  Since then I have been eating most of the 17 Day Diet recipes and trying not to eat carbohydrates after 2:00 p.m.  I'm continuing to have 2 servings of probiotics each day as well as 2 servings of low-sugar fruits each day (and lots of veggies of course).  My weight loss has been slower this way, but the way I'm eating now is closer to how I eat on a regular basis...only much cleaner! I feel really good about the way I've been eating and feeling, and I haven't felt deprived.

My plans moving forward are to try to alternate lower carb days with higher calorie/carb days without following the diet by the book.  In addition, I'm going to continue to log what I eat on my chalkboard at home to help keep me accountable.  I also plan to incorporate some paleo recipes in my diet as they are low in carbohydrates, high in protein, and grain free...a nice parallel to many of the 17 Day Diet recipes.

In the area of exercise, I've outlined classes at my gym that I want to pick back up again on a regular basis such as Body Pump, Hot Yoga, and RPM (a spinning class).  I just ordered myself a pair of cycling knickers too so I can actually tolerate being on a bike for spin classes (I hope!) as I couldn't make it through those classes before without feeling pain in my tailbone (an unfortunate side-effect I'm still dealing with after having my son).  With continued healthy eating and working out, I'm hoping the 10 pounds I have left to lose will be off by the end of March!!!

I started this blog as a promise to some of my friends who wanted to do the diet with me, and I think most of them made it though cycle 1 and had some great success (like Abbi!).  I personally, feel like a much hotter mom (haha!), and can't wait to see how I feel after another 10 pounds!  Life is so much more enjoyable when you feel good about yourself!

I'm going to take a little break from blogging about the diet at this time, but if you need me friends, you know where to find me!!!

Cycle 2 Standstill and Super Bowl Sunday

Technically, I am in about day nine of cycle 2 of the 17 Day Diet; however, I've been modifying my days quite a bit to mesh better with my daily life and social activities, and I haven't been following it by the book like I did in cycle 1.  Unfortunately, I haven't lost a pound since the end of cycle 1 which ended on 1/19/13.  I've gained a pound or two from traveling and then lost it again, but I am currently at a standstill.  If you look at what I've eaten this cycle (check out the "Cycle 2 Meals and Exercise" tab), I feel as if I've been doing a really good job of eating clean and sticking to foods on the diet with the exception of New Orleans and a fixed dinner I went to last week.

With a Super Bowl party at our house today, my son's birthday party next weekend, and Valentine's Day and my husband's birthday the week after that, I'm going to continue to face some obstacles with "dieting".  But such is life.  I keep thinking that as long as I continue to eat mainly clean as a "lifestyle" versus a "diet", I will continue to lose weight...but it is SO HARD!  I really never thought that losing weight after having my son would be this difficult (but he is so worth it!), and now I am faced with the "final 10".  This last stage of weight loss is challenging for most I'm sure.  As I continue to diligently watch what I eat to the best of my ability, I keep reminding myself that last month I was trying to lose 20 lbs. I'm halfway there, and I need to KEEP GOING!  One thing is for certain...I am not giving up!!!

In the weeks to come, I'm going to try and kick up my workouts (I haven't been working out "like its my job" since before we left for New Orleans), and I'm going to continue to follow the diet as best as I can...like eating minimal carbs and making it my priority to eat as few carbs as I can after 2:00 p.m.  Hopefully, I'll start seeing some results soon...a pound or two a week would make me very happy at this point!

For our Super Bowl party today, I've been informed that our guests will be bringing some yummy things like: Stromboli (handmade by our awesome Italian friends), eclairs, chips n' dips, boiled peanuts, etc.  With that said, I plan on making some yummy snacks that I can enjoy without guilt (not promising I won't nosh on a few other things as well).  One thing I plan to make is chicken breast strips baked with wing sauce with low-fat blue cheese dressing and celery on the side (an alternative to fattening buffalo wings).  If you're going to a party today, try to bring something you know you can have on your diet.  Maybe bring some sliced cucumbers with you to eat with dip, bring a chicken or tuna salad (a 17 Day Diet recipe), make some veggie dip with Greek yogurt, and try to stick with the lower-carb items if you can. Just try not to think about the food so much and focus on your friends, the game, and those funny a$$ commercials!  Good Luck, and HAPPY SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!!!

Recipe for baked buffalo chicken

Recharging After Vacation

Well...we had a WONDERFUL FUN time in New Orleans!  My son, husband, and I got to experience a little bit of Mardi Gras while there (the PG-13 parades filled with bead and stuffed animal throwing), strolling and shopping in the French Quarter (on the most beautiful of days I might add), eating some fine New Orleans fare, and hanging out with family and babies.  Although I didn't completely let myself go on our mini-vacay, I did enjoy some food not on the diet as well as a few vodka drinks.

I usually never weigh myself the day after I return from a trip, mainly because traveling ALWAYS makes me retain water.  I am always heavier after flying or driving...usually by a few pounds...so I usually give myself a few days after a trip before I hop on the scale.  I did weigh myself this time, and I was 2.4 lbs heavier than when I left.  The good news is after completing a cycle 1 day yesterday I weighed myself again this morning, and I am only 0.6 lbs heavier than when I left!  YAY!  My plan is to continue with cycle 1 days until I'm back to where I was before I left for vacation, and then start  back up with cycle 2.

To me losing weight, dieting, and eating healthy need to be realistic and part of my lifestyle.  I obviously didn't follow cycle 2 to a "T" while I was away, but when I returned I got right back on track to reverse any damage I may have done as soon as possible.  I hope you'll do this as well when you allow yourself some freedoms and get right back on that 17 Day train!


***Here is an AMAZING cycle 1 salmon recipe I made last night.  I paired it with sauteed collard greens...YUMMY!***

Ginger-Soy Poached Salmon:
Ingredients:
2 salmon filets
1/8 c. lite soy sauce
1/8 c. water
1-2 TBS grated ginger
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
2 packets of Truvia

Directions:
Mix all ingredients, except for the salmon, together.  Pour mixture in skillet (make sure you have one that works with a lid) and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to bring to a steady simmer.  Add the salmon fillets, cover, and cook for about 5 minutes.  Gently turn fillets over, cover, and cook another 4-5 minutes. Serve hot.

Sauteed Collard Greens
Recipe Link for Collard Greens

Traveling on a Diet

New Orleans here we come!!!  My husband, son and I are headed to NOLA this evening for 3 days and 3 nights for much-anticipated time with our family, site-seeing, and MARDI GRAS!  I can't wait! I've been to New Orleans only once for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's wedding, and I had a BLAST!  I'm super excited to see some Mardi Gras parades for the first time...not to mention, the weather's going to be gorgeous!!!

I am not going to say that it's impossible to follow a diet while traveling...anything's possible.  I AM going to say that I'm going to do the best I can, but that I'm also going to allow myself some flexibility this weekend.  My goal is to eat as many "clean" meals as I can, drink in moderation, and get some exercise while I'm there.  When we return to Atlanta, I am going to revert back to the cycle 1 phase to hopefully reverse any damage that I did in a short period of time and then phase back into cycle 2 when I get back to where I was before I left.  My goals are still very real and very in my face...I want to fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans sssoooo badly, and I want to wear a bikini in Mexico in a few months.

Over the next few days I won't be posting my daily meals, but I will let you know how I did while I was away and what the damage was when I get home...hopefully it won't be that bad.  So far, I have lost 9.2 lbs since I started the 17 Day Diet on January 3rd.  I'm almost halfway to my goal, and I want to reach it by April 2nd.

I would love to hear how some of you are doing on the diet and what your progress and challenges have been.  Please feel free to leave a comment to let us know how you've been doing!

Until next week everyone!  Have a great weekend, and happy dieting!!!

Cycle 2 Recipes

1.) This morning I've been baking "Dr. Mike's Power Cookie" to eat as a cycle 2 snack (before 2 p.m.).  I doubled the recipe so I could freeze some as well.  I've included the recipe below.  A few things...I did not add pepper (the thought of pepper in my cookies sounded gross),  and I made 12 large cookies per batch versus 18.  That means each cookie I made is about 192 calories.  I am still going to count each cookie as 1 protein and 1 starch.  As a snack, this cookie would be really good with a piece of fruit and a cup of green tea.  Here is the recipe: Dr. Mike's Power Cookie

2.) This is a recipe I'm really excited to try!  It's an acorn squash stuffed with ground turkey.  To make it more 17 Day Diet appropriate, I plan on leaving out the cranberries and the cheese. I might sprinkle a little bit of low-fat or fat-free mozzarella cheese on top, but we'll see.  This meal should eaten by 2 p.m. as the squash is a starch/carbohydrate.  Here is the recipe: Turkey Stuffed Acorn Squash

3.) My mom used to make baked potato tuna melts for me, and I loved them!  I'm really excited that I can eat this on the diet (again, by 2 p.m.)!  If you're following me on Pinterest, you'll see that I recently added many baked potato recipes.  My 17 Day Diet Pinterest Board Link  I'm going to try some of those recipes out first on top of a sweet potato, as they pack more nutrients than a white potato.  You basically just bake a potato, cut it and spread it open, and top with a mixture of canned tuna, maybe a little Greek yogurt to make it creamy, and some spices.  You may then top your tuna with some steamed vegetables such as green beans, sauteed spinach, or broccoli.  Finish it off with a sprinkle of fat-free cheese (optional) and place back in the oven.  Bake until it's bubbly hot!  Here is just one of the several ways you can prepare a baked potato dish as a well-rounded meal.  When you are checking out these recipes, don't forget to leave out the cheese, or just add a little fat-free cheese instead: Loaded Baked Sweet Potato (this recipe is not for the photo below)

4.) Before I started this diet, spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce was one of my husband's and my favorite things to eat for dinner.  We can't eat this for dinner on the 17 Day diet; however, it is definitely being added to our lunch rotation.  You basically cut a spaghetti squash in half, scrape the guts out, place both halves on a baking sheet (inside part up), and bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 45 mins to an hour.  You can tell it's done when it's soft when you put a fork through it.  Let it cool for a bit and then scrape out the squash.  It will look stringy like spaghetti, hence the name.  You'll use the squash as your "noodles" and cook your sauce to your liking.  I like to add cooked ground turkey or cooked turkey meatballs to my sauce.  It's that simple!

*To come, I'll be reviewing some of the recipes I tried in cycle 1 (which can also be eaten as cycle 2 dinners).  If you have any recipes to share, please include them in to comment section of the blog.  Happy dieting!!!

Lessons From a "Free Meal"

So I completed cycle 1 of the 17 Day Diet on January 19th with a total weight loss of 9 lbs!  Before beginning cycle 2, my husband and I decided we would allow ourselves one free meal, and we would go to a restaurant we've been wanting to go to for quite some time.  Yesterday, I ate every meal according to cycle 1 of the diet EXCEPT for our dinner out with a plan to start cycle 2 today.  We were really looking forward to indulging in some things not allowed on the diet and taking our time ordering and eating.  My hubby and I shared a beet and goat cheese salad and a cream cheese lemon fritter appetizer (both ssssoooo delicious!) to begin our night.  For my main entree I had sea scallops on top of spaghetti squash and mushrooms drizzled with panang curry.  It was amazing.  Finally, we shared a bottle of wine and also had dessert.  We were really naughty, and we knew it.

A few hours later we went to bed, and I could not believe how awful I felt after eating this meal...I mean physically NOT RIGHT! I woke up several times in the middle of the night sweating profusely, and my heart was racing so quickly I thought it would burst from my chest!  Not to mention today, I have felt tired, hungover (though I didn't get drunk), bloated and depressed.  MUCH different feelings than what I felt on the diet.  On the diet I felt happy, I had energy, and I felt successful.  Today, not so much.  It is almost 4 p.m., and I still don't feel like myself.  Regardless of how I feel today, I started cycle 2 of the 17 Day Diet this morning.  My hope is that I will feel like my body has regulated itself by tomorrow.

Lesson from my "free meal"...it was delicious at the time, but NOT WORTH IT!!!  As I'm faced with more challenges during cycle 2 (traveling), I'm really going to try to remember the effects of this meal during the next 17 days and do the best I can to stay on track!!!

This quote is ssoooo true!  I felt first hand that what you eat affects your health and how you feel.  Eat healthy to be healthy!!!

What's to Come...

Hello! First of all I would love to share that I lost another pound since yesterday! As of this morning and 15 full days completed on the 17 Dat Diet, I have lost a total of 7.6 lbs! This means that with two days to spare, I have already met the goal I set for myself to lose 8 lbs in cycle 1! YAY! There were definitely times during the past two weeks (especially that 5 day spell when I didn't lose a thing) that I was skeptical if this diet would help me shed the 20 lbs I want to lose...I am skeptical no more. Granted I pretty much followed the diet to a "T"...I worked hard, I exercised, and I remained disciplined. I can honestly say I have never been this dedicated to a diet plan, and I really have you to thank for that. Writing this blog has given me an amazing platform to stay accountable for my actions, and I thank you for that!

Secondly, I'd like to apologize for my lack-luster blogging this week (no pictures, no added recipes, no daily meals posted, etc.). My husband went away on business this week and took our good-working laptop with him. I've been blogging from my iPad, which hasn't been the most fun of processes. I promise that next week, going into cycle 2 of the 17 Day Diet, I will start making up for that.

Thirdly, I'd like to share with you some upcoming blog topics. I'd also like to invite you once again, to please leave a comment with any topic(s) you'd like me to discuss.

Upcoming Blog Topics:

1.) Other sources of probiotics that are non-dairy 

2.) The Paleo diet and how aspects of it can be incorporated into this diet for those who want to live a grain-free and dairy-free lifestyle 

3.) Cycle 2 recipes

4.) Recipe reviews

5.) Choosing healthy meats, dairy and produce (review of the "dirty dozen", buying organic, etc.)

Lastly, even though this is more of a support site for our 17 Day Diet jouney, some of you may wonder what my qualifications are to educate on diet and nutrition. I do want to assure you that even though I'm not a doctor or an expert, I am very familiar with nutrition. If you are a good friend of mine, you already know this. I have read numerous books on nutrition and wellness, I am a previous holder of a certification as a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant (I let it expire due to my busy job as a Speech-Language Pathologist), and I've been living a mainly heathly lifestyle for many years. I am passionate about nutrition and good food, and I am always trying to learn and tweak my diet based on new knowledge. I worry every day about what is good to feed my son and what will other people (who don't see my point of views on nutrition) going to feed him when I'm not around? This blog is not for me to be pretend to be an expert or even to push or promote the 17 Day Diet. It's just a platform to complete this diet together and to potentially create lifestyle changes in each and every one of us as we work our way through it. I hope you are getting as much out of it as I am!