Day 4 Menu

My little guy woke up this morning with a sore throat and we are just getting over strep throat so this has me a little freaked out.  We need to replace his toothbrushes and get serious about getting this OUT of our house.  Diabetes and infections do not always mix well.

With that being said, DH rose to the occasion and went into work late so I could still get in my walk.  Did 2 miles and back by 8:30 so he could go into work.  I must say this diet is a little better with both of us doing it.  And it seems right up his alley because he has always joked that he is a "meat-atarian."  I think both of us are seeing how carbs were such a part of our lives before.  ALCOHOL, sweets, pancakes for a special occasion breakfast, sandwiches, chips, you name it.  If nothing else this attack phase has brought me to a heightened awareness of how unhealthy my diet was before. 

On a happy not, I am down 10 pounds since last Tuesday, May 3rd.  That was the day after I saw Dr. Oz, and started eating sensibly for a week.  This was so I could clear out the fridge and begin research on the Dukan Diet.  Today I weighed in at 225.  It is inspriring to see that scale move after so long at the same awful number. 

We are leaving for Vancouver to embark on an Alaskan Cruise June 8, so that is my short term deadline to see how far I can get.  Long term the ideal weight finder on the Dukan Site says I can be at my goal weight of 175 by November if I stick with it.  I think I may have to do another attack phase after the cruise but we shall see. 

So today's plan is thus:

B:  Fiber One Vanilla with Fish Oil additive
2 Slices Turkey Bacon
Snack: 2 Pieces Jerk Tenderloin Chicken
L:Leftover Pot Roast
Cottage Cheese
Snack: Hot Tea & Pink Cheesecake Cupcake if I get around to making them
D: Baked Turkey Meatballs
Snack:  Skim Milk Smoothie

If I can get up to whole foods I'd like to find some sugar free ketchup.  I have a great barbeque pulled pork recipe that involves ketchup and a diet coke thrown in the crock pot with the lean pork tenderloin that would be good on this diet.  Maybe I can bribe Cooper into coming up there with me if I dangle lunch out as an incentive.  Hmmm, bribing a child with food...wonder if this is why we American have such a relationship with it.  Will have to ponder that one.

Day 3 Menu

B: Fiber One Blueberry Yogurt with Fish Oil Additive
2 slices turkey bacon
L:  6 slices of All Natural Boar's Head Turkey / Black Forest Ham
Fiber One Vanilla Yogurt
Snack:  3 Chicken Tenderloins Cooked in the cast-iron skillet with some jerk seasoning
D: Vietnamese Beef
Dukan Pancake
Snack: Skim Milk with instant coffee, sweetener, ice, and cocoa powder blended

Temptations:  Licking the peanut butter knife after making my daughter's sandwich (I threw it in a cup of water in the sink!!), I wanted to lick the spoon from the ice cream after giving my kids a small scoop for a snack.

I really am missing my "munchies".  I would love to have a pile of almonds and eat them one by one.  Or a small bit of popcorn.  I love the crunch and the idea of being able to snack while watching a show.  Next week when I can have the veggies I will eat some while watching TV or something and see how that does.  I am already planning a cream cheese spinach artichoke dip that I can dip some cucumbers in.  Yum!

Day 1 Down on to Day 2

Yesterday was my first day on the Dukan Diet.  I must say it was a complete success!  I have discovered that one of the "emotional eating" problems I have is that I eat when I am bored.  I struggled internally with not having a purpose in life.  I think that as a stay at home mom with kids in school that I have more free time than I know what to do with.  As part of the diet I have decided that I need to make sure my time is filled with productive, fulfilling activities.  So I volunteered to make some posters for Ms. Reid for the Art Fair, I am planning a bike ride for the first time in who knows when, I took Brinkley for a walk/run by myself, and I have a few other things on my To-Do list. 

Yesterday it was easy to follow the all protein diet.  I ate throughout the day whenever I was hungry but was proud of myself for surviving a lunchtime gala meeting at Mellow Mushroom.  I packed myself some lunchmeat and yogurt but then was satisfied with a Diet Coke during the meeting. 

For dinner John and I had a milk smoothie, pancake and pork chop for dinner.  It was a very satisfying dinner and we were able to go up to bed after working on the posters.  That was his idea so that we would not be tempted to fall into our normal patterns of drinking beer and eating after the kids are in bed.  It was fairly simple for me to shop for food yesterday, as I was able to pass by most of the carb-laden selections that would normally fill my cart.   I am starting to research the next phase of the diet, the Cruise phase, and I know that I will be looking forward to adding some veggies into my diet come Sunday or Monday.

Locks of Love

Today Cooper was home sick from school.  I took him to the Doctor since now that he has diabetes, he is at increased risk of high blood sugars and ketones when ill.  He definitely has strep and started his antibiotics today.  HE will have to miss the Hembree celebration because he is considered contagious.  I am trying not to focus on how fun it is going to be. 

I picked Nan up from school and we headed up to Great Clips where you get a free haircut if you are donating to Locks of Love.  I asked Nan on the way in if she really knew what Lock of Love was and she was able to clearly put into words why she wanted to do it.  She remembered Ms. Ericka being bald from her chemo and wanted to give her hair to make wigs for people who lost their hair.  What a mature young lady.

I looked at my food diary and realized that I had forgotten to write in it since yesterday.  I went back and remembered for the most part what I had eaten at Book Club.  Chips.  Carbs.  Dessert.  I did manage to keep the quantities in check though.  Once I start Dukan next week I will have to either bring food with me or eat a strong meal before I go.  I am starting to put together my meal plan for next week.  A week of meat.  I hope I can do it.  I think I can.  From what I understand there will be some headaches, bad breath, and digestive issues, but it will all be worth it if I can lose weight.

Helping out up at the school

I read Marshall Brain's Blog about his diet and was amazed at the number of slip-ups he recorded while on the diet.  It took weeks before he made even one.  Here I am on day 2 of eating sensibly and I have already slipped up numerous times.  I had a beer last night.  I ate a petit four off the lunch table today.  I cannot seem to eat a sandwich without bread.  Last night John grilled me a hamburger and although I fully intended to eat it plan, I could not resist the bun. Same with today.  I was supposed to have just a chicken breast for lunch and I could not resist the bread!  Oh well, I am still being sensible.

Tonight we have a gluten free cooking demo from 7-9 and I hope the kids are well-behaved.

The first day of the rest of my life

I watched an episode of the Dr. Oz show yesterday, probably the first episode I have ever tuned into and it got me thinking.  The show was about the Dukan Diet, all the rage in France.  I have fallen off the Weight Watchers Wagon and when I fall off, I totally go haywire in the other direction.  I have been completely out of control in my eating for the last six months, and I am wondering if I am ready to start a weight loss plan that I can stick with.  I have been researching the Dukan Diet all day and I may be willing to try it.  My plan is to weigh myself today, then eat "sensibly" for a week.  This means low carb, lots of fruits and vegetables, and no desserts or fried foods.  This will help me clean up the fridge a bit and prepare.  Then next Monday May 9 I will start the 7 to 10 day attack phase where I will eat only protein, oat bran, and low fat dairy.  I am writing this blog to keep up with my cravings, feelings, and temptations.

As an aside I have been walking the kids to school each day and continuing after the dropoff to walk 2 laps around Hembree Park with my friend Ericka.  I am proud of being able to walk 2 laps and have been feeling better because of it.  During our walks Ericka tells me about her journey with quick weight loss.  She has lost 20 pounds and looks great and feels much better.  I think hearing her story is helping me to come around to the idea of being able to stick with something.  I have 35 days till I leave on my Alaska Cruise!