Halfway There

I am a week into my 14-day journey on the South Beach Phase 1 diet and I have mixed feelings at this point.  At 3 days in last week, I was pretty stoked to step on the scale and find myself down 1.5 lbs.  Then things got a little weird on both Thursday and Friday when I saw that I had gained weight both days.  Not cool.

Even less cool...when my husband stepped on the scale on Friday and he was down 5 lbs.  Kind of a dick move on his part.  Especially since his version of this diet apparently includes soft drinks.  You can imagine my feelings of wanting to slap the smile off his face after seeing his surprising weight loss.  That combined with the 2 hours I spent sitting on my front porch freezing my ass off on Wednesday night passing out candy to little kids....without alcohol I might add....has left me somewhat unsure of this whole diet thing.

On the one hand, I haven't really seen any weight loss (I'm only looking to shave off about 5 lbs...is that so much to ask??), but I do feel like my body is appreciative of my conscious effort to put good things into it.  In the last week, I haven't felt hungry during the day or at night, and I haven't felt any remorse about anything I've eaten either.  Definitely a plus on both fronts.  I'm also realizing that what I am eating on SBD isn't altogether different than what I eat normally.  Which may explain my lack of tangible results. 

So what do I miss most?  Fruit.  Since sugar is a strict no-no during these 14 days, fruit is off limits because of all the natural sugars in it.  I'm a firm believer that Honeycrisp apples are a gift from the Baby Jesus himself around this time of year and I have not been able to enjoy my normal go-to fall snack the last 7 days.  I miss it.  Something else I miss....an easy breakfast.  Maybe I'm not creative enough, but I am having a hard time finding protein other than eggs to eat in the morning.  And eggs are something I actually have to cook.  And I HATE having to spend the extra time doing that in the morning.  My go to breakfast during the work week has been eggs scrambled with veggies (usually spinach or zucchini) and turkey bacon.  It's a bit harder to eat in my car on my way to work than toast or oatmeal, but I manage.  Sort of.

Other than that, it's pretty easy to stay on track.  I've always brought my lunch to work, and I've always packed healthy, so that's nothing new to me.  I've had to be a little more on top of things as far as meal-planning goes, but that's fine by me.  Planning meals into the second week has been a little tougher since I'm trying not to be repetitive, but it's actually helping me to branch out a little from my normal "go-to" meals.

Just to give you an idea, here is a breakdown of what I made for dinner last week:

Monday: Blackened Salmon w/ Roast veggies (squash, zucchini, sweet onion, bell pepper)
Tuesday: Chicken stuffed with sauteed spinach & goat cheese, side of seasoned green beans
Wednesday: Grilled chicken salad (husband had to work, and salad is my go-to meal when I'm cooking for 1)
Thursday: Taco salad with avocado & pico de gallo (I use ground turkey instead of ground beef and spicy taco seasoning for a kick)
Friday: Turkey sausage & sauerkraut
Saturday: Steaks on the grill and roasted veggies on the side

Truth be told, these are all recipes I've done many times...just with a more conscious effort to keep them as healthy as possible.  I'm no Martha Stewart, but I think I do okay and husband doesn't complain (only compliments from him!)

So, we'll see how the next 7 days turn out.  I have been keeping up with my running in combination with all of this (I really feel repulsive when I don't work out), and I do feel good.  No regrets so far, just a bit of disappointment that I haven't shed more (or any) weight thus far.  Depending on how I feel after day 14, I may keep the diet into effect until Thanksgiving just for good measure...that is if the bucket of leftover Halloween candy in our entry way stops taunting me.  I've not given in yet, but I'm worried some of those M&Ms might accidentally fall into my mouth if I'm not careful.  Moreover I'm worried my husband will wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of candy wrappers in the living room only to find me passed out with an empty Halloween bucket in my hand and a face covered in chocolate and shame.  I think he's legitimately worried about that too.

14 days

Folks, watch out.  As of today, I am officially on the South Beach Phase one diet.  For the next 14 days, I will be cleansing by body of all the junk that is making me feel like a busted can of biscuits every time I get dressed.



The truth is that in the last 4 months, I have somehow managed to gain 5-10 lbs, and I have NO idea how or where it came from.  I feel like I eat pretty healthy, and I work out/run about 6 days a week.  I have even cut out alcohol during the week over the last month or two, and I still can tell my clothes are fitting a little different.  I don't think my eating habits have changed since this summer and I know my workout habits haven't changed so I am not sure what gives. 

Pics of me from this summer...would not be caught dead in public in these outfits right now.

 

And no....I'm NOT pregnant!  I know that's what some of you were thinking.

Anyways, I'm pretty much over feeling disgusting, and I know my husband is over hearing me complain about it when he says he can't tell a difference.  Time to take action....and this is what I'm trying.

No, I have not read the South Beach Diet book.  No, I have not done the diet before, nor have I done the cleanse before.  So why do I think it will work?  Because I googled it and printed out a food list of stuff I can eat.  It seems pretty reasonable, and not altogether different from what I eat now.  Basically it is a no carb, no sugar fast.  I'm cool with that.  I hope. 

So, at the risk of being a heinous, carb-deprived bitch for the next 14 days, I am trying this out.  Please pray for my husband...he'll need it.  Especially with the buckets of Halloween candy I have to give out on Wednesday.  Maybe pray that I don't scream at any small children while they are trick-or-treating too.  And also pray that I don't turn into Penny from Happy Endings by the second week.

So there you have it...if I seem a little irritable on the blog or other social media in the next couple weeks...well, this is probably why.  I'll keep you fellow readers updated on how I'm feeling during the next 14 days and if I see any improvement.  And now I leave you with another funny Penny clip from Happy Endings and something I could totally see myself doing....Thank the little baby Jesus this show is back...

Fall Faves ~ The non-fattening kind

Okay, so it's no secret that fall is my favorite season....mostly because I already told you that fall is my favorite season.  There's only one problem with that...fall tends to make me a bit of a whale.  Seriously though.  It's like my body gravitates toward these sweet treats that emerge in the fall and i think subconsciously tries to create a layer of extra padding to get me through the winter.  Not this year though.  This year I bought a wedding dress....and upon buying said dress, I was told "Now, you can lose all the weight you want, but you can't gain any weight."  Okay great.  No problem.  Losing weight is soooo easy for me (insert sarcasm here). 

So, with that careful reminder ringing in my ears everytime I shove another slice of pumpkin bread into my mouth, I had to start thinking about fall treats that aren't so bad for me.  For starters, I love me a 'lil Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.  But guess what...those are terrible for you.  Sad but true.  So, in place of my latte, I found this little box of deliciousness:



That's right...it's Pumpkin Spice Tea.  And it's delightful.  I've been devouring these during the workday like nobody's business.  I like mine with one equal packet, and one shot of creamer.  And that makes it about 30 calories.  I shit you not.  Try it now...thank me later.

Next up is a little treat that I wait for all year.  That's right dear readers...it's the Honeycrisp Apple...and it's back. 



Seriously friends...if you have not had one of these...I am truly saddened for you.  Please stop reading this post and run up to Kroger where they are $1.99/lb right now and buy yourself one.  Do not pass go, do not collect $200.  Just go.  Again, you can thank me later.  Not only are they 100% fruity goodness...they are also huge!  Pretty sure the one I ate today was bigger than my whole stomach.  Put a little peanut butter on it and you'll be full for 6 hours.  Plus, they are only in season in the fall, which makes them extra special.

If you are looking for a savory autumn treat, look no further than the acorn squash.  It's pretty much the easiest thing to cook and and accompanies whatever protein you are having for dinner beautifully.  I typically cook mine for about 45 minutes face down in some water and then add a little brown sugar and butter at the end.  A couple teaspoons of brown sugar is only 30 calories, and I buy low-cal butter with calcium.  It is sweet and savory and awesome.  Oh, and did I mention that they are easy?  Yeah I did...but I'll say it again.  You literally cut them in half and cook them.  I usually take a shower and watch something on my DVR while they're going.  Plus they make the whole house smell Ah-MAZE-Ing!



Want a delicious fall breakfast?  How about some plain oatmeal with some brown sugar and apple slices and dare I say some pecans thrown on top?  I do dare.  I do.  Since I don't have a lot of time in the morning, I get the plain oatmeal packets and warm them in the microwave.  I get the generic brand since it's cheaper....it tastes the same as quaker oats.  Promise.  Throw a little brown sugar, apples, and pecans on top and let the sugar melt while you pour yourself some milk.  Nevermind that I would eat brown sugar by the spoonful...that's beside the point.  This is a seriously good breakfast because not only is oatmeal great for your heart, but it's a good carb to have in the morning that will keep you full until lunch. 



Okay, so don't think I haven't forgotten about all of the yummy goodness sweet treats that are EVERYWHERE during this time of year.  I have not.  Well, guess what...a little splurge here and there is totally kosher (cut to me eating no less than 50 ginger snaps covered in pumpkin dip at my sister's baby shower this weekend).  But on the whole, I do my best to avoid them on the day to day.  That doesn't mean that I can't fill my house with the scent of yummy goodness.  I use the same logic here as I do when someone brings a box of Krispy Kremes into work...I can open the box and smell them, and that will be enough.  Let's face it...nobody ever got too big for their jeans over-smelling. 

 

Okay, so last but not least...and this is a good one.  One of the best things about fall is being able to be outdoors.  Not only is it gorgeous outside, but it is that perfect time of year when it's not too hot and not too cold.  If you're not a runner, it's a great time to try it out.  If you hate to run, go for a walk.  Yesterday I took my monster (the dog) for a 4-mile walk.  It was the best part of my day.  Today me and the boy ran 4 miles.  It was exhausting, but it was 35 minutes that felt great and it was a wonderful way to de-stress after a long workday.  Plus it's great time together that we get to talk.  And seriously...is there anything better than the bright orange, yellows, reds, and browns that are everywhere right now?  Umm, I think not.  And while I find running past obnoxious kids on skateboards quite annoying, I do love to see all the fall decor on all the houses in my neighborhood.  Just lovely. 



Anyways, that's just a few of the healthy things I am currently enjoying this fall.  After all, fall is by far the most fashionable of all the seasons, and I'll be damned if my legs get too big to fit into my skinny jeans and my zip up boots just because of one too many slices of pumpkin pie :-)