The Diet Naked Blog

Help, what happened?

I have fallen and I can't get up.

I did great on the cleanse . . . controlled myself, followed directions, etc.  Then, I had a series of very busy days, followed by the arrival of company (two teenage girls), followed by more extremely busy days and . . . when I do not plan ahead, I fail.

For instance, I have a large bag of romaine lettuce in the fridge--you know, the one you get from Costco?  And all I need to do it clean it so I can have salads for lunch (that's my preferred lunch) and I haven't had time (I haven't MADE time) to do that . . . and I can't even fit a prepared salad into my crowded fridge (it's very small) and so I'd need to clean it out so I'd have a place for the salad.  And so it goes.

Excuses, excuses.  Some valid, some lame. 

On a positive note, I have noticed a real improvement in my fitness since I started walking 30 rather hilly minutes each day (walking the dog).  I had to go up and down stairs over the weekend (at a lacrosse tournament) and didn't notice myself getting out of breath--and I definitely noticed a difference at the beach the other day.  There's a set of stairs to go down to the beach and it wasn't so long ago that climbing that set of stairs would leave me gasping for air. 

I won't even tell you how bad my eating choices were today, lest hearing about it causes you to think, "Yum, I want that."  That's how it is for me, sometimes.  I am going along, minding my own business and see a food or hear about it and think I MUST HAVE __________________.

Okay, this is not the end.  This is just a bump in the road.  Get it together, Mel!

Remember to enter my giveaway

Remember to enter the 14-Day Fresh Start giveaway . . . here. 

I'll pick a winner on Friday.

I had a busy day . . . didn't eat as many fruits or vegetables as I should have but did avoid eating sugar.  So that's something.

I'd write more but it's 1:36 am and I'm beat.

Tomorrow I think I'll do some kitchen prep so healthy food will be easier to grab.

The end. 

One week, 4.5 pounds lost

So, a week into this 14-Day Fresh Start and I've lost 4.5 pounds.

Woo-hoo!  Well, actually I feel more like this:  woo-hoo. (I have so far to go.)

No, actually I am thrilled and I think I am finally (?) ready to be serious about losing weight.  I would dearly love to wear more of the clothes in my closet.  I would like to get dressed without having to disguise myself. 

Here are five more reasons I need/want to lose weight:

1)  To improve my looks.  What can I see?  I'm vain. 

2)  To improve my physical stamina.  My youngest child is 9.  I need some energy!

3)  To decrease my chances of developing heart disease and diabetes and cancer.

4)  To decrease back pain and joint pain.  I don't like feeling old!

5)  I hate being fat! I hate looking fat, being invisible, feeling embarrassed.

Funny thing . . . I started with "ten reasons" and could only come up with five.  Maybe because it's so late.  I'm sure there are way more than five reasons.

What reasons would you add?  Why do you want to lose weight?

I did it!

I finished the 5-Day Restart. 

Someone asked how I feel . . . I feel pretty virtuous, actually.  I feel like I've lost weight--and, of course, I did step on the scale, so I know I have, but I am interested to see what the scale says tomorrow.  I will consider that the total amount lost on this 5-Day Restart.

I can't really point to clearer skin or better sleep or anything like that, though.  I blame all that on PMS.  I am sleeping pretty well but not remarkably better than usual.  

I have been walking 30 minutes a day.  Nothing like a rowdy puppy to force you into your sneakers and out the door.

I'm looking forward to eating salad tomorrow . . . now, to continue steering clear of all those dastardly processed foods which make me fat and mess with my blood sugar. 

I am so sick of being fat.  I really am ready to do this.

Progress report

I am staying true to the 14-day nutrition plan I'm on.  (See post below for more info and a giveaway.)

Unfortunately, I am sick to death of shakes and nutrition bars.  I've never particularly liked drinking my calories.  But I am doing this anyway, which makes me realize that I can do the easier thing, too. 

What's easier?  Eating a no-sugar, no white-flour diet!  In other words, eating a low-glycemic index diet.  I would dearly love to eat a big salad for lunch tomorrow . . . and some grilled fish and vegetables for dinner.  But one more day of shakes and bars.  I can do it.

I can't even begin to imagine how people like Oprah ever do the kind of meal replacement diet (like Optifast) for any length of time.  I like to eat!  I even like to eat healthy food.

I am looking forward to this diet plan transitioning into real low-glycemic index food.  I know how to do that.  Eating that way works for me, as long as I don't supplement it with donuts and cookies and ice cream. 

Be sure to enter the giveaway in the post below.  And have a great day!

Enter to win a 14-Day Fresh Start Nutrition Program

Today was the second day of my 5-day reset.  In other words, meal replacement shakes and meal replacement bars.  I also ate a carrot and drank a lot of water.  And I rounded out my busy day by taking the dog for her usual thirty minute walk, even though by the time I got home from taking my daughter to soccer practice at 7 p.m., I just wanted to read in bed and nap. 

If you need exercise, get a puppy!  Puppies don't understand wanting to relax.

Thanks to Urban Girl Wellness, I am able to give a free 14-day Fresh Start program (valued at $250) away to one of you.

Here's how you can enter to win:

1)  "Like" UGW on Facebook and "Follow" on Twitter:
https://www.facebook.com/urbangirlwellness
https://twitter.com/#!/UrbanGW
2)  Leave a comment here and confirm that you've "Liked" and "Followed" Urban Girl Wellness. 

And how am I doing, you ask? 

Thanks for asking. 

I'm doing okay.  I went to bed last night with a headache and woke up with the same headache which I blame on caffeine withdrawal, but I took a couple of ibuprofen and that took care of it. 

It's nice not to have to think, "What can I eat?" because all too often lately, I come up with bad answers to that question.  This reset is extremely straightforward. 

I am looking forward to eating regular healthy food when this is over.  Maybe that's the whole point of it, really.  A big salad sounds so enticing right now!

So, if you'd like to try this, too, "Like" and "Follow" Urban Girl Wellness and then leave a comment and let me know you've done so. 

Onward . . . toward smaller pants!

* * *

The winner of the 14-Day Fresh Start Nutrition Program is Brenda Espy!  Contact me to claim your prize!

14-Day Fresh Start

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I've been struggling to gain some traction and get started back on the path to health.  (In other words, I was fat, I lost 60 pounds and now, I'm fat again.  Alas.)  I've been spinning my wheels for so long, deciding to make a change, then failing in big and small ways. 

So when Urban Girl Wellness contacted me and offered me their 14-Day Fresh Start Nutrition Program, I said, 'Yes, please!"  I need some accountability.  I need to be picked up and turned around in a new direction.  And I need a kick in the pants.  (I am very needy.)

The 14-Day plan starts with a five day cleanse.  When I reviewed the plan, I saw that it said, "real food" and I nodded my head.  It talked about the low-glycemic way of eating and I know for a fact that works for me. 

But I guess I hadn't really understood that the five day cleanse involves meal replacement shakes and nutrition bars and vitamins/minerals.  I've always been sort of a skeptic about meal replacement sort of diets . . . but this part lasts only five days.  In addition to the shakes and bars, you can have a fruit serving a day and unlimited raw vegetables.  And water, of course.  Lots of water.  So, despite my skepticism, I'm going for it.

The program also includes support--a Facebook group, videos, emails.  You can read about the 14-Day Fresh Start Nutrition program here. 

After the first five days,you eat five healthy meals and snacks a day, including a smoothie and nutrition bar (which comes with the program).  The meals you eat are meant to be low-glycemic, which I am familiar with.  So the idea is to reset your body (and mind) with a five days cleanse and then start fresh.

I need a fresh start.

So, tomorrow is the big day.

Stay tuned and I'll let you know how the first day goes.

And don't forget to come back because I will also be giving away a 14-Day Fresh Start Nutrition program to a reader (valued at $250).  I'll let you know how to enter later this week.

 

By the way, Urban Girl Wellness provided the 14-Day Fresh Start Nutrition program to me free of charge, but all the thoughts and opinions are my own.