I have been on the Dukan diet since Monday and really enjoying it. This diet is encouraging me to try foods I wouldn't normally look at. It is giving me some new recipes that are quick and easy that even my husband likes. I haven't found that I am getting tired of protein as of yet, but I can mix it up enough that I haven't gotten bored.
What I find most encouraging is the weight loss. I have already lost 4 pounds (starting at 209 and now 205) which I'm sure is mostly water weight but it is still encouraging. Having already seen a weight loss makes me want to keep going, it is keeping me motivated. I know that I will not loose this much every week but as long as I do loose, I will be happy.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
so its been a bit since I last updated...
I have finally started the Dukan Diet and I tried my first recipe and even my husband liked it (and he is a picky eater). I found the recipe at http://www.mydukandiary.com for Stuffed Chicken Breasts but did modify it a bit. I used chicken thighs instead of breasts and instead of stuffing them, I added it as a sauce. It is really easy to make and is an Attack Phase friendly. It has low fat cream cheese and bacon in it. I added in some green onions and used turkey bacon. Next time I will try stuffing it and using regular bacon to see how it works out.
So far the diet is going pretty well, but I will check in later in the week to let you know how it is going. Attack phase is only one week so I intend on making it through the week and then onto phase 2.
So far the diet is going pretty well, but I will check in later in the week to let you know how it is going. Attack phase is only one week so I intend on making it through the week and then onto phase 2.
Monday, August 1, 2011
one week in...
Well it has been a week and not much has changed...
Eating clean is not as easy as it sounds when you work shift work. I'm sure it can be if you put enough effort into it but I don't always have the time or energy to do that. I am a working mother who works some weekends and nights on some weeks. For example, last week I worked Tuesday and Wednesday until 5, Thursday 12 - 8, Friday 10-6 and Saturday 8:30-4. By the time Sunday rolled around, I was beat tired and Monday it starts all over again. Some weeks I have a 3 day weekend (when I can get a lot done) and some weeks I only get a one day weekend.
This doesn't mean that I am giving up, just looking for something that is a little easier, that doesn't take as much cooking and shopping, something that is a little easier for a woman on the go. My husband is also doing this diet with me so I am also looking for something that will work with his dietary issues. He has celiac disease and must follow a strict gluten-free diet, so any diet I am on, he is too.
I have been doing some research and will be looking into the Dukan diet. Are you wondering what that is...it is the same diet that Kate Middleton and her mother were on before the Royal Wedding. It is a variation of Atiken's from what I can tell so far with one exception, it allows for veggies and fruit. There are a total of 72 animal based foods and 28 plant based foods to make a total of 100 foods on the diet. The diet is much like the "hunter/gatherer" type of meal plan like our ancestors ate, and lets face it - most of them were smaller than we are today. So far, I only know what I have read on different websites and will need to purchase the book to learn more. If you check out the website www.dukandiet.com you can calculate how long you need to be in each of the 4 phases of the diet - Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilization, and it calculates how long until you reach your goal weight. Check it out!
During the Attack phase is a 2-7 day kick start designed to get your metabolism and allows 72 protein rich foods.
The Cruise phase lasts longer depending on the amount of weight you have to loose, calculated at a rate of 2 lbs of weight loss per week. This phase adds in about 28 specific veggies and salads.
The Consolidation phase is designed to prevent future weight gain and reintroduces cheese, bread and starchy foods back into your diet.
The Stabilization phase you can go back to eating pretty much anything you want with only a few rules. Followers will be on this phase for the rest of their life.
Each phase also includes a walking program that gets progressively longer but not extreme. You start with walking 20 minutes a day, every day and increases to 30 minutes per day. If you hit a plateau for more than 7 days, increase your walking to 60 minutes a day.
I will probably start in the middle of the week and a little worried about this up coming weekend since I am going out of town.
Eating clean is not as easy as it sounds when you work shift work. I'm sure it can be if you put enough effort into it but I don't always have the time or energy to do that. I am a working mother who works some weekends and nights on some weeks. For example, last week I worked Tuesday and Wednesday until 5, Thursday 12 - 8, Friday 10-6 and Saturday 8:30-4. By the time Sunday rolled around, I was beat tired and Monday it starts all over again. Some weeks I have a 3 day weekend (when I can get a lot done) and some weeks I only get a one day weekend.
This doesn't mean that I am giving up, just looking for something that is a little easier, that doesn't take as much cooking and shopping, something that is a little easier for a woman on the go. My husband is also doing this diet with me so I am also looking for something that will work with his dietary issues. He has celiac disease and must follow a strict gluten-free diet, so any diet I am on, he is too.
I have been doing some research and will be looking into the Dukan diet. Are you wondering what that is...it is the same diet that Kate Middleton and her mother were on before the Royal Wedding. It is a variation of Atiken's from what I can tell so far with one exception, it allows for veggies and fruit. There are a total of 72 animal based foods and 28 plant based foods to make a total of 100 foods on the diet. The diet is much like the "hunter/gatherer" type of meal plan like our ancestors ate, and lets face it - most of them were smaller than we are today. So far, I only know what I have read on different websites and will need to purchase the book to learn more. If you check out the website www.dukandiet.com you can calculate how long you need to be in each of the 4 phases of the diet - Attack, Cruise, Consolidation and Stabilization, and it calculates how long until you reach your goal weight. Check it out!
During the Attack phase is a 2-7 day kick start designed to get your metabolism and allows 72 protein rich foods.
The Cruise phase lasts longer depending on the amount of weight you have to loose, calculated at a rate of 2 lbs of weight loss per week. This phase adds in about 28 specific veggies and salads.
The Consolidation phase is designed to prevent future weight gain and reintroduces cheese, bread and starchy foods back into your diet.
The Stabilization phase you can go back to eating pretty much anything you want with only a few rules. Followers will be on this phase for the rest of their life.
Each phase also includes a walking program that gets progressively longer but not extreme. You start with walking 20 minutes a day, every day and increases to 30 minutes per day. If you hit a plateau for more than 7 days, increase your walking to 60 minutes a day.
I will probably start in the middle of the week and a little worried about this up coming weekend since I am going out of town.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
3 days in
Well, we I started at 208 on Monday and eating clean isn't as easy as it sounds. Working long hours and gone at least 9 to 10 hours a day, when I get home I don't want to spend 2 hours cooking. I already don't eat after 7 pm most nights but that can be a stretch when I only get home at 6 and have to start cooking, which is what happened tonight.
So, tonight we had chicken thighs, sweet potatoes and mixed stir fry veggies with asparagus. The sweet potatoes and veggies were frozen but still "eating clean". What I will need to start doing is cooking on the weekend and freezing meals for the week. I will let you know how it goes.
The one thing that is going well is going to the gym. I love spending my mornings working out. I am also going to be walking in the evenings, 2 days a week with one of the girls from work. I will also be spending time with my son walking on the weekends to get both os us out of the house on the weekends.
My goal is to loose 50-75 pounds before my sisters get married. I don't think they will be getting married until 2013 but I don't want to wait that long - I will need to get a dress before that. Either way, I want to loose weight mostly so I can be healthier more than anything else. I want to be around to see all my nieces and nephew get married (my nephew is only 1 right now) and I want to be a good example for my son by leading an active lifestyle. I want to show him that no matter what the hurdle, you can overcome it if you set your mind to it. I have quit smoking after 20 years, I know I can do this too.
So, tonight we had chicken thighs, sweet potatoes and mixed stir fry veggies with asparagus. The sweet potatoes and veggies were frozen but still "eating clean". What I will need to start doing is cooking on the weekend and freezing meals for the week. I will let you know how it goes.
The one thing that is going well is going to the gym. I love spending my mornings working out. I am also going to be walking in the evenings, 2 days a week with one of the girls from work. I will also be spending time with my son walking on the weekends to get both os us out of the house on the weekends.
My goal is to loose 50-75 pounds before my sisters get married. I don't think they will be getting married until 2013 but I don't want to wait that long - I will need to get a dress before that. Either way, I want to loose weight mostly so I can be healthier more than anything else. I want to be around to see all my nieces and nephew get married (my nephew is only 1 right now) and I want to be a good example for my son by leading an active lifestyle. I want to show him that no matter what the hurdle, you can overcome it if you set your mind to it. I have quit smoking after 20 years, I know I can do this too.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
To start the challenge...
So I have been thinking about this for a few days on which diet to follow first and I have finally made a decision...I will start with "clean eating".
You may be asking what is clean eating....very simply, it is eating whole foods and making healthy food choices. You are giving up the over-processed foods and refined carbs like white rice, sugar and white flour as well as foods with little nutritional value. Here are the basics
Read more at Suite101: Clean Eating Basics: The Principles and Benefits of a Healthy Diet | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/clean-eating-basics-a56797#ixzz1T1uKewal
Here is where the difficulties can lie with me...my husband loves eating certain foods and can be a picky eater so this is going to mean that I will need to plan ahead and cook some parts of the meals in advance. He loves white rice and I really don't. I am going back to buying brown jasmine or basmati rice to cook in the rice cooker, or quinoa which I also love. The other challenge will be when we go away on vacations. Within 2 weeks of starting this plan, we are going south with my in-laws for their anniversary which is going to mean eating in restaurants but at least it is only for the weekend and I know that I will be able to find foods I can eat there.
Today, I am also going to look for a picture of me from our recent trip so I can add it to the post as a starting point. I uploaded a picture from this spring during our trip to Cuba but I will find a more recent one. I will also be weighing myself tomorrow morning and posting that as well. I have linked this blog to my www.fatsecret.com website to share my thoughts with even more people like me. Please give me some feedback and if there is something you want me to try, let me know.
You may be asking what is clean eating....very simply, it is eating whole foods and making healthy food choices. You are giving up the over-processed foods and refined carbs like white rice, sugar and white flour as well as foods with little nutritional value. Here are the basics
Clean Eating Principles
- Eating a mini-meal every two to three hours (5 to 6 small meals per day total) to keep blood sugar level and prevent hunger
- Combining lean proteins and complex carbs at every meal
- Avoiding all over-processed and refined foods (especially sugar, white rice, and white flour)
- Avoiding saturated and trans fat, instead consuming healthy fats
- Avoiding soda and other sugary juices and drinks
- Avoiding high-calorie, zero nutrient foods (i.e., junk food)
- Eating proper portion sizes
- Drinking at least 8 cups of water every day
Read more at Suite101: Clean Eating Basics: The Principles and Benefits of a Healthy Diet | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/clean-eating-basics-a56797#ixzz1T1uKewal
Here is where the difficulties can lie with me...my husband loves eating certain foods and can be a picky eater so this is going to mean that I will need to plan ahead and cook some parts of the meals in advance. He loves white rice and I really don't. I am going back to buying brown jasmine or basmati rice to cook in the rice cooker, or quinoa which I also love. The other challenge will be when we go away on vacations. Within 2 weeks of starting this plan, we are going south with my in-laws for their anniversary which is going to mean eating in restaurants but at least it is only for the weekend and I know that I will be able to find foods I can eat there.
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| Me from behind, this spring |
Thursday, July 21, 2011
How to be accountable
So I have been thinking how I can have accountability and I think I have the answer - I will blog my way through my way through my journey with pictures and weigh ins on a weekly basis. I will try different diets to see which ones give the best results, give me ideas.
There is only one stipulation is that it has be adaptable for a gluten-free diet, since my hubby has celiac disease and he will be doing the diets with me (but he doesn't know yet).
I am going to start on Monday with my first weigh in and which diet I'm going to start with. Also, I will be posting my work-out schedule during the week and checking out different weight loss sites to discuss the hits and misses. If you have anything you want me to try in the way of diet, supplements (safe and legal like B12 or protein powders), exercise or website, drop me a line.
There is only one stipulation is that it has be adaptable for a gluten-free diet, since my hubby has celiac disease and he will be doing the diets with me (but he doesn't know yet).
I am going to start on Monday with my first weigh in and which diet I'm going to start with. Also, I will be posting my work-out schedule during the week and checking out different weight loss sites to discuss the hits and misses. If you have anything you want me to try in the way of diet, supplements (safe and legal like B12 or protein powders), exercise or website, drop me a line.
Why
Why do I do this - I get all worried that a big event is coming up and stress about how I look. How many people do that? Well I know I do for sure. Is it better just to accept who you are or work at making yourself better?
I want to loose at least 75 pounds and have tried a few different ways including going to the gym daily and swimming along with eating right but nothing seemed to work. Is it the serving sizes? Is it the calorie count? Is there something else that could be holding me back? I am not sure what the answer is...but I am not a quitter and I do not want to fail again. I don't want to get any larger, I want to take the pounds off and keep them off. I eat well (for the most part) and exercise daily but nothing is helping and it is bloody frustrating!
I think I have finally, finally I have figured out what I need - I need accountability. I need to find someone that will keep me on track.
I used to go to Herbal Magic and lost weight, keeping it off for a while but it did come back over time. I had to stop the program supplements because I was going for surgery and not sure if that was part of the reason the weight came back. Either way, over time my hubby and I ended up going back to our old ways.
A few years ago, I went to Weight Watchers and started their program which worked well for me, so well I thought I could do it on my own without the weigh-ins. I was wrong. I need the accountability to keep me on track. I need the accountability to keep me motivated. I need accountability.
I know that once I get the weight off, it will stay off.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the MTS High Speed Mobility Network
I want to loose at least 75 pounds and have tried a few different ways including going to the gym daily and swimming along with eating right but nothing seemed to work. Is it the serving sizes? Is it the calorie count? Is there something else that could be holding me back? I am not sure what the answer is...but I am not a quitter and I do not want to fail again. I don't want to get any larger, I want to take the pounds off and keep them off. I eat well (for the most part) and exercise daily but nothing is helping and it is bloody frustrating!
I think I have finally, finally I have figured out what I need - I need accountability. I need to find someone that will keep me on track.
I used to go to Herbal Magic and lost weight, keeping it off for a while but it did come back over time. I had to stop the program supplements because I was going for surgery and not sure if that was part of the reason the weight came back. Either way, over time my hubby and I ended up going back to our old ways.
A few years ago, I went to Weight Watchers and started their program which worked well for me, so well I thought I could do it on my own without the weigh-ins. I was wrong. I need the accountability to keep me on track. I need the accountability to keep me motivated. I need accountability.
I know that once I get the weight off, it will stay off.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the MTS High Speed Mobility Network
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