Revolving Diet

Day 335 ~ 12/19/12

 Pulled the bag of Crio Bru out this morning.

Today was the “TEST” day of the Cocoa Bean Coffee.  I picked up the insert for our Kuerig last
night. 

I was thinking it was going to taste like water chocolate – how I refer to those hot chocolate packets you mix with water.

 

This is what the ground cocoa beans look like in my freshly opened bag.  Grounds are a little bigger
that regular coffee grounds, but it smells like chocolate. 

 

 This is the brewed cocoa beans, a lighter color than coffee wierdly the color of mud, it seems a little "thicker" than coffee.

You can't really see from my picture but there is a slight oily residue on the top layer.  It's not gross or anything, but it is noticible.

I tried it plain (no sugar or milk) and it was okay,  it wasn't hot chocolate.  It was a watered down version cross between coffee consistantcy and the flavor of chocolate.

I added 1 teaspoon of sugar.  Then a dash of cream and another teaspoon of sugar. Then had to re-heat in microwave because it got too cold while I was playing around with swishing it over my tongue to get a good description for you.

For those of you that NEED coffee first thing in the morning.  I am not sure this would be a
good substitute.  It is tasty in every way I tried it.  I am not going to start the challenge this week, you now with Christmas and everything - but right after the holidays I am going to add it into the regualr routine (without cream & sugar) and see if I notice the difference.

Are you as bored as I am with this "Drop 33 or Lose 35 by Christmas" Diet?????  It's like I read the back of the books ending before I read the book....I know I am not going to lost 33, I haven't even barely hit 10 pounds (way off that too)...so it's inevitable that this is not working...

I will plug through until the last day - this Sunday - and then a break for the holidays....

Breakfast Fruit: Banana

Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal, dash of cinnamon

Lunch: Chobani fruit (lemon) yogurt, ham & cheese lettuce wraps

Dinner: Big Salad (spinach, tomatoes) pan seared Tilapia with garlic, olive oil, oregano, paprika

Good Day!!!  

Have a SUPER NIGHT!!!

Morning Motivation....

Summary of World's Best Kept Diet Secrets

The book offered 326 pages of a great deal of information that is available most anywhere - but condensed.  I pulled three diets that were listed as "Diet Emergencies" as the book did not offer a specific diet related to or being the "World's Best Diet"

Pretty much about day two I got  my period - so the week ended up not being a great weight loss week - but I still managed to lose .7 pounds.

The three diets I did do (Mini-Meal Diet, Spa 3 Day Diet and Two Day Pasta Diet) were a nice change to a full week of one diet.

Majority of diet tips were from models and/or celebrities on how they get ready for a big event or drop pounds quickly.  The success stories were mingled between models, celebrities and regular people and most offered the same type successes and what they did to get there as any you will find on the internet.  There were brief chapters on Intimacy and Weight and Children & Weight but they just skimmed the surface of issues in these areas.

There was nothing mind blowing in this book, nothing to say - WOW - good tip, I think I'll try that.  If you are a first time dieter then maybe it offers a basic guideline to dieting - but for us more experienced dieters this isn't the book to look for helpful ideas in as there is nothing new. As far as entertainment purposes and maybe re-familiarize yourself on things you might already know - it was a good book.

Book was easy to read and follow.  The woman who wrote it, Diane Irons, was a model herself and had the ability to get close to models/celebrities for their input.

Would I do and of the (3) diets I did this past week - Yes.  They were all easy and quick fixes if you need to get back on track.

*** DO NOT DO ANY DIET WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST ***

 

Day 24.2 ~ 2/13/11

YIPPEE...FINALLY!!!   Hallelujah !!!  Down .4 this morning...not caving for that extra choclate chip cookie helped push me past the plateau! NO exercise today - did not want to sweat, get a chill and bring back this cold!

Today is going to be a GREAT DAY!! My cold finally seems to be breaking up, hubby is coming home tonight and it seems like the weather is going to out of the 30's and into the 40's....it's a freakin' heat wave!

I hope your day went well and you enjoyed it to the fullest!  Waking up with a POSITVE ATTITUDE helps make he rest of your day more enjoyable.  I find if I think only good postive thoughts, my day seems to flow smoothly.  If I wake up a grouch - the rest of the day drags...POSTIVE ATTITUDES wins on so many levels!!

Today is the last day of the Mini Meal 2 Day Diet:

Menu Two:

 Breakfast: 1/2 cup strawberries, 6 ounces low fat yogurt, coffee or tea (had apple instead of strawberries)

Snack: 1/2 cup baby carrots, 6 pretzels

Lunch: 1 cup canned vegetable soup, 4 saltine crackers, coffee, tea or diet soda

Snack: 1 apple

Dinner: 3 ounce sirloin steak. 1 cup sliced green beans, coffee, tea, iced water

Snack: 1/2 cup low fat frozen yogurt

 

Looking good  While Slimming Down per the book (for Men & Women)...Clothing To Avoid:

 

Women                                       Men

Pleated  skirts, pants           Pleated Pants

Loose Tops                         Too loose T Shirts

Large  Patterns                    Large Patterns

Horizontal Stripes                Horizontal Stripes

Clingy Fabrics                     Clingy Fabrics

Small Accessories

 

For both Men & Women you want to stick with the classics. You can use a shirt like a jacket- choose a generously cut shirt in a heavy or lined fabric, layer it over a plain shirt underneath.

 

 For women match your hose to your shoes, legs look longer and thinner when your hose is toned to skirts and shoes. Pleated pants can conceal some stomach bulges - try on before buying.  Depending on how wide the pleats are depends on if they will flatter or make you look fatter.

 

Try sticking with the same color (same color family) to present a longer polished look

 

Chubby Neck - Use V-Neck Shirts

 

If you are top heavy - Avoid Double Breasted & shirts with breast pockets

 

Do not go crazy and go out and buy a whole new wardrobe based on above.  If you are like me - you not only have clothes - you have clothes that have worked well so far. If you are sticking to sweat pants and over sized T-Shirts - then you might want to change up....I own enough black clothing to get me through while I lose weight.  For me black pants, some different color shirts or sweaters and a couple of dress jackets get me through the work week. Believe me - where I work fashion is not first and foremost. The weekend - whatever is comfortable.

 

Buying clothes should be enjoyable (not like buying a bathing suit PURE TORTURE)..... Use this as an incentive - you lose 10 pounds buy a new shirt, lose 20 buy pants, etc....treating yourself is not indulging in bad foods it's making yourself happy (yes, I can hear you - a slice of chocolate cake would make you & me happy) but truly it won't - getting into smaller clothes and getting healthier will make you & me happy.

 

I hope your weekend was great and you are pushing on with your own goals!

 

Have a wonderful night!!!

 

 Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which rises above everything.

 

Day 23.2 ~ 2/12/11

Another day - same weight , no budge on the scale.  FRUSTRATING! 

Today and tomorrow's meals are from The Mini Meal Diet (a two day diet) - laid out in a two day format with meals outlined always a major PLUS!

Day One (Today)

Breakfast: 1 cup Frosted Shredded Wheat with skim milk, coffee or tea

Snack:  1/2 cubed cantaloupe or one apple (had an apple)

Lunch: 4 ounces sliced turkey breast, 2 slice whole grain bread, 1 teaspoon mustard, mixed green salad, coffee, tea or diet soda

Snack: 1 cup skim milk, 1 chocolate chip cookie (ONLY ONE!!! - trying to break plateau)

Dinner: 3 ounces broiled chicken or fish (I had Tilapia), 1 cup cooked spinach, coffe, tea or ice water

Snack: 6 ounces low fat yogurt

 

  Success Stories (how they did it - condensed)

  A couple of the success stories give reasons why they started the diet - an attractive coworker, a 10 year class reunion, back issues, health problems, a reverse nasty comment ("You USED to look good")couldn't get out of a chair, New Year's Resolution, the bathroom towel no longer goes all the way around you, avoiding doing things you like to do, failing at several weight loss programs (and losing the money) - the same reasons we all start diet ourselves.

What they did - Joined TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) - sort of like Weight Watcher, they have meetings at a local establishment and there are fees (but not expensive) annual fee about $26 and then $5 per month.  Link to TOPS site http://www.tops.org/TOPSInformation/AboutTOPS.aspx (first meeting is FREE - if you want to check it out).

Joined Weight Watchers link to site: http://www.weightwatchers.com/plan/apr/index.aspx

Put mirrors around the house - no matter where you go you constantly see yourself.

Join a local gym for the exercise and make new friends.

Made sure to have healthy snacks on hand so that you do not grab the fattenng stuff.

Made a friendly bet with a friend/family member that also needs to lose weight - set a goal date and put a monetary amount in (or payable to the winner at the end) and GO FOR IT!  Sometimes doing it together helps push us harder!

Of all the choices out there - it's up to us to make the difference in our own lives.  SO far we are in mid February and I am sure that everyone that has been following me has done something to better themselves - either diet or exercise or both! 

Keep Going!  You are the only one that can make it happen!

 

Have a wonderful night!!

 

Failure will never win if my determination to succeed is strong enough

 

 

 

Day 22.2 ~ 2/11/10

Well, this has got to be the longest plateau I have hit.  I am happy though as usually when I get my period I gain 3-4 pounds - so maybe this plateau means diet is working and just keeping the excess water gain at bay. I also got ANOTHER cold.  The place where I work seems to be a breeding ground for every cold sysmptom.  It started yesterday as a sore throat and today I got the entire head cold. Just ducky! 

 Third Day of the 3 Day Spa Diet so far pretty good - although yesterdays lunch could of been a little more substantial (I was still hungry after it).

Todays Meals:

Breakfast: 1 slice raisin bread broiled with 1 tablespoon low fat cottage cheese topped with cinnamon, 1/2 cup fruit, coofee or tea (I went with plain toasted cinnamon swirl bread, cottage cheese with cinnamon & fruit on side)

Lunch: 1 slice pita bread broiled with with 1 ounce mozzarella cheese sliced tomatoes and your choice of mushrooms, broccoli and onions. Also 2 cups mixed greens with 2 tablespoons low fat dressing, diet bevereage. (I made the pita & mozzerella cheese prior to work & nuked in microwave at work - used tomatoes, broccoli & onions in salad)

Dinner: 3 ounces white fish broiled with 1 teaspoon sesame oil and sesame seeds topped with ginger, 1/2 cup wild rice, 1 cup broccoli, coffee, tea or diet beverage (I had Tilapia with the sesame oil & seeds - yummy!, no ginger - not a fan)

Last night while looking ahead to todays meals - I realized I messed up.  I could have had SNACKS for each day - (which probably would of helped yesterday after lunch)....I have no idea why they put this information at the end of the diet...Each day I could choose from the following:

1 cup cubed cantelope -or- a 1/2 cup banana blended with skim milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla & 4 ice cubes -or- 1/2 cup skim milk and 1 low fat cookie

Tonight SNACK: (I actually debated it I shold eat my snacks form the other days....I DIDN"T....) I had the banana shake (with a pinch of sweet & low)....so satisfying!!

 Under the SHORTCUTS Chapter - these are some helpful hints(condensed): Even another diet!!

The Garlic and Papaya Diet

This is a natural diuretic when you need to get into an outfit quickly and safely.  Many Models use this to prepare for photo shoots and is the "secret" formula behind very expensive capsules sold in Hollywood (this is all per the book)...Tablets available at local drugstore or health food store....

Take two garlic tablets and two papaya tablets before breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eat lightly for two days and stay away from salt, bread and carbonated beverages. Stay near a bathroom.

Drinking Ice Water - If you drink eight 12 ounce glasses of ice water a day, your body will burn an additional 200 calories

Spicy Foods - Scientists have discovered the chili, peppers ,salsa, mustard an ginger can raise your metabolic rate - resulting in burning calories faster (up to 45% faster than bland diets)

 

Soy - Packed with antioxidants, a vegetarian protein source protein, prevents heart disease and diabetes, also reported to cut breast cancer rates and lower blood cholesterol.

 

Loofah - Before showering or bathing - dry brush your body with a coarse loofah - it gets rid of dead cells, stimulates circulation and aids lymphatic drainage - it will un-bloat your body 

A Mirror - Put a small mirror on your refrigerator (I liked this one!!) - so you have to look at yourself every time you want to peek in - it might just give you a quick reality check & prevent extra eating

 

Butter - Put one pound of butter or shortning in a plastic bag - make it the first thing you see in your refrigerator  (reality check to remind you that this is only 1 pound....many more to go???)

 

I hope your motivation levels are still high and your week went well!! 

Have a great night!

 

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

Day 21.2 ~ 2/10/11

Third day of no loss - between a plateau or my period - not sure.  At least it's not a gain!!

Day Two of the 3 Day Spa Diet Meals:

Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 1 slice pita bread, 1 slice Swiss or Muenster cheese, coffee or tea

Lunch:  Mix 1/4 cup each of grapes, pineapple slices, kiwi and strawberries with 1 cup yogurt, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons wheat germ, diet beverage, cooffee or tea. (I had a couple extra grapes as I do not like strawberries and I did not mix the fruit into the yogurt & had water - just ate on the side)

Dinner: 1 cup pasta, 1/2 cup marinara sauce , 1 teaspoon parmesan cheese, 1 cup steamed zucchini, 2 cups mixed greens with 2 tablespoons low fat dressing, coffee or tea

As stated previously there are recipes included in the book.  Recipes are for "Real Food" options so that you do not feel like you are on a diet. The funny thing is usually when recipes are included in a diet-type book there is a specified diet plan to work them in - there is none in this book - but the recipes cover appetizers through desserts and are 200 calories or less per serving.  I am not going to include recipes here as most are common; Salsa Dip, Baked Onion Rings, Gazpacho, Tortellini Soup, Greek Salad, Ciitrus Salad, Carrots & Grapes, Zucchini Frittata, Broiled Flank Steak, Meatloaf, Baked Scallops, Blueberry Muffins, Lemon BarsBiscotti, Cheesecake Cups, Sugar & Spice Donuts ad more...

Personally my problem would be with the desserts - I LOVE DESSERT and recipes are full recipes, meaning that they do not make 1 or 2 desserts servings, there are 24-30 servings for a couple of them.  Like the old Lays potato chip saying "How can you eat just one??

I know WILL POWER is one of the many facets of any dieting....but it is hard to keep limits (for me anyway) when it comes to desserts or candy!!  Sometimes I cant' just "walk it off" or "do something else"...I want -  what I want  - when I want it.  So I try  to keep it out of the house - it's easy if you live by yourself - but if you live with someone, are married, have kids - keeping the Bad (good) stuff out is HARD!!!

I hope you made your day a positive, active day!

Have a TERRIFIC Night!!

 Last note on willpower......I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it...

Day 20.2 ~ 2/9/11

The last two days - no loss, no gain.  I think it's about that time of month (I started having some chocolate cravings). I did however get 20 minutes of hand weights and some floor exercises in!

Today along with the next two days I will be doing The Spa 3-Day Diet.  Today's Menu listed below.

I have gone through this book three times and have not found a specific diet that is outlined as a daily menu other than the Diet Emergencies.  There is a chapter called FOOD CHOICES that gives the below helpful hints (I have condensed)

What Should I Eat: Topping the list of foods you should eat are ones that stimulate the body to lose weight. These include grains (pasta, oatmeal, corn, pretzels, popcorn and rice). Fruits (bananas included) and vegetables (no potatoes). Continuing on the book provides 20 calorie snack ideas & 50 calorie snack ideas then moves to listing what is good to eat at fast food places. The rest of the chapter goes on to tell you to steam your veggies to retain vitamins, eat soup before a meal to fill up, use spices, choose cereals with fiber, fill up on celery, use low calories items such as diet pudding and low calories frozen pops for treats.

At the end of the chapter the only reference to what to eat each day is broken down as follows:

Vegetables: 3-5 servings

Meat: have no more than three 3 ounce servings, cut off all fat, Try to make two servings turkey or chicken. One serving of fish a day is ideal.

Frutis: 2-3 a day (1/2 cup of chopped or sliced is a serving)

Dairy: At least 2  day (serving is 8 ounces of milk or yogurt or 1-1/2 ounce of cheese)

Fats: Salad dressings, cooking oil, butter, etc (2 servings a day)

That's it.  Nothing earth shattering. ANother reason why I am going with the Diet Emergencies Diets.

Okay onto the First Day of the Three Day Spa Diet:

Breakfast: 2 Frozen low fat waffles topped with 1/2 cup blueberries and a teaspoon of low fat topping, coffee or tea (no blueberries for me - I used a teaspoon of Maple Grove Farms sugar free maple syrup)

Lunch: 1 cup mixed greens with 1 ounce water packed tuna and 2  tablespoons low fat dressing or mayo, alfalfa sprouts and red peppers to taste, 1 slice protein or whole wheat bread, diet beverage (I used a little mustard with tuna and had whole wheat bread)

Dinner: 3 ounces chicken breast coated with 1 tablespoon each of dijon mustard, honey & apple cider vinegar then sprinkle with basil and broil, 2 cups mixed greens with 2 tablespoons low fat dressing, coffee or tea.

The meals were pleasantly filling - if they serve this in a Spa - sign me up!!  I have only been to one Spa (many,many, many years ago) You could sign up for  either a restricted calorie diet or a fast.  If you did the fast you got 1/2 of your money back (hence the reason I did the fast)...

A Day on the Spa Supervised Fast went as follows:

The First day there before going to bed they gave me a bottle of Citrate of Magnesium and told me to drink two 8 ounce cups of water.  The next day I spent from about 7am through to about noon in the bathroom evacuating every ounce of anything I had in my body (no one told me what the Citrate would do)...from there the week consisted of this daily:

7:30 am - 5 mile walk around a lake

9:00 am - Dixie cup filled 1/2 way with orange juice and 1/2 with water and a handful of vitamins

12:00 pm - Dixie cup filled 1/2 way with orange juice and 1/2 with water 

The rest of day until about 4:30 pm you were on your own to sleep, exercise, play board games with others.

4:30 pm - 5 mile walk around the lake

6:00 pm -  Dixie cup filled 1/2 way with orange juice and 1/2 with water

If you felt especially weak - they would give you a small apple (the size of a MacIntosh).

I lost about 12 pounds during that week and on my way home I stopped at a Perkins Pancake House and ordered a grand slam type breakfast (pancakes, eggs, bacon) Once it was put in front of me I started to get nauseous - I got up and paid and didn't eat anything.

A few years ago I thought about going there and doing another supervised fast and when I called to inquire I found out it was now a cooking school...(there are temptations everywhere)....

What we will do to lose weight!!!

I hope your day went well!  Have a GREAT NIGHT!!!!

Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and be unstoppable 

Day 19.2 ~ 2/8/11

Yesterday was a blur.  I had wanted to include in each day a little more about this book as it has a little of everything.  So I am catching up!! 

No exercise today – my body is still running internally from yesterday…plus I forgot to wear work-out clothes to bed last night and this morning I just didn’t feel like it.

Okay you probably want me to get to the “Secrets of Models & Celebrities”….

The below (5) items is just a general tips before chapter:  

Ice Water – Body needs to use 40 calories to warm itself to room temperature – theory of negative calories is true being you are actually using more calories than you are taking in.

Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar – A tablespoon in a cup of warm water – blood purifier

Colon Cleanser – You know what that is - I am not going there

Kelp – Models carry Kelp tablets to speed up metabolism

Dandelion Tea – Used as a diuretic, works quickly

Condensed Secrets…..

Cindy Crawford – Avoids Dairy

Niki Taylor – Mostly Veggie Diet, no dressings or sauces

Elle Macpherson – Eats twice a day and does 500 daily sit-ups

Nadja Auermann – Veggie diet, uses beans instead of meat for protein

Claudia Schiffer – Eats Lightly at dinner (salad & veggies) & eats nothing but fruits before noon

Daisy Fuentes – gave up pizza & burgers and joined a gym

Lauren Hutton – Salads, Fruits & veggies and a lot of water

Joely Fisher – Drop 5 pounds fast tip (do no longer than a week) Breakfast: low-fat yogurt & strawberries, Lunch & Dinner: Brown Rice

Ashley Judd – heavy vegetable diet and stays away from dairy

Minnie Driver – relies on spirituality

Demi Moore – Workout (for the move Striptease) stomach crunches, walking lunges & leg lifts – drinks herb teas and takes vitamins

Dolly Parton – eats everything she likes but only a few bites and that’s it

Jane Seymour – satisfies her sweet tooth with frozen fruit bars

Joan Lunden – eats low fat turkey breast to help her avoid sweets

Fran Dresher – no dairy, eliminated milk, cheese, butter, eggs and ice cream and lost 28 pounds

Vanessa Williams – no caffeine or wheat (got this info from a psychic)

Julia Roberts – swears does nothing special – but does down 8 glasses of water a day

Courtney Cox – Nibbles on candy all day and compensates by eating lightly at night

Raquel Welch – Big protein eater and snacks on fruit and rice cakes

Ann-Margaret – Avoids soda, candy and peanuts – Noted that she went on a watermelon diet and lost 20 pounds in two weeks – she ate watermelon for breakfast & lunch along with lots of water and would eat a low fat nourishing meal for dinner.

Goldie Hawn – Juice fasts

Barbara Eden – has her biggest meal of the day at lunch so she has the rest of the day to work it off

 As you can see this book is geared toward women. Although in the Success Stories there are comments from men….(if there are any tips there I will include sometime during this week)

 Second Day of the Two Day Pasta Diet:

 Breakfast: ½ cup cottage cheese, ½ cup pineapple, 1 slice low cal bread, coffee or tea (I had tea)

 Lunch: 1 cup egg noodles, 1 ounce chopped chicken or turkey (I had turkey), 1 ounce melted part skim mozzarella cheese, 1 cup cooked spinach, diet beverage (I have fresh ice tea)         I mixed all together and it was really good and filling!!

 Dinner:  1-1/2 cups macaroni mixed with 2 ounces low fat melted cheddar cheese.  Mixed green salad with 1 tablespoon salad dressing blended with balsamic vinegar. Coffee, tea to ice water (I had Ice Water)

 I hope your day went well!  Have you pulled out an old pair of jeans  or bathing suit you are working toward getting into?  We have about 5-6 weeks to make some progress!!  Scary when you put a time limit out there  - - - RIGHT??!!??  

Ten pounds is a jeans/dress size….it’s DOABLE!!

 Have a WONDERFUL NIGHT!!

 Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice

Day 18.2 ~ 2/7/11

Busy, Busy, Busy Day!!  It's just about 9:00pm and I am finally getting to a computer!  Summary for last weeks diet will be posted tomorrow - I just ran out of time today!!

As stated in the overview of this weeks diet - there are several diets listed under "DIET EMERGENCIES".  Continuing with..."Crash Diets Can Work"!!  Crash Diets inspire a dieter by the quick results....For the most part the diets that fall under "DIET EMERGENCIES" - The One Day Juice Diet, The Cabbage (Soup) Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, The High Protein Diet, The Liquid Diet, The Mini Meal Diet, The Spa 3 Day Diet and the Two Day Pasta Diet.

I started with the Two Day Pasta Diet:

Breakfast: 4 scrambled egg whites, 1/4 cup mushrooms (I omitted - I HATE mushrooms), 1 slice low calorie bread, Cup of tea (you can have coffee or tea)

Lunch: 1 cup cold pasta mixed with 2 ounces tuna and 1 tablespoon low fat dressing (I used italian), 1 teaspoon grated cheese, diet beverage (I had fresh brewed ice tea with sweet & low)

DInner: 1-1/2 cup spaghetti topped with 1/2 cup tomato sauce & 1 ounce ground beef (it say meat, no specifics), 1 teaspoon grated cheese, coffee, tea or ice water (I went with water)

I was more than satisfied today.  I was just happy to have something other than a protein drink and veggies!!  Cardboard with some butter on it would have been fine after last week!

Had a good day - just very rushed.  I hope your weekend went well and you are starting to see some positive results!  If it's going slow - DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED!!!  You didn't gain it all in a few weeks and you aren't going to lose it all in a few weeks!

KEEP POSITIVE!!! 

Have a GREAT night!

The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible