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Nora’s Weight Loss: 5 Month Check-In
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I started this diet in June. In August, I reached my goal weight of 135 lbs. Now it is November and I have kept the weight off (and without exercise-HA!) Not only do I feel good, I LOOK GOOD! I went from a size 14 to a size 6!
Don’t I look great? I had to purchase a whole new wardrobe and last weekend I started to purge all those size 10-14 clothes. It felt great. With a new wardrobe, people are really noticing the weight loss. That and I am actually purchasing clothes that cling to my body instead of hiding my body. What a new experience.
As for my menu, I have reintroduced very few carbs into my monthly diet because every time I have a carb I am disappointed at the lack of flavor and the 2 lb instant weight gain. (My husband thinks I am crazy, but when I step on a scale after eating a carb I am 2 lbs heavier.) I have only had pasta a few times and I just don’t have the love for it as I did. Crazy talk, right?
Now we are heading into the real test: Holiday Feasts. I feel confident about going into the holidays because I just don’t look at food the same way. I went to a Halloween party and it was an impressive spread of food, mostly consisting of carbs. I picked the healthiest of the foods, which was not easy. There were a lot of dips and what do you usually dip with? Crackers, bread, chips. But I enjoyed all of the dips (in small quantities) by using veggies as my dippers. Cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes.
As for the cakes, pies, cookies, chocolates, fudge, and other holiday goodies, I feel good about this feat as well. I have come up with the idea of only eating the things I can’t live without experiencing. For example, Peninsula Grill has a coconut cake that is over $100. You can purchase a slice for $10. To me, since the opportunity came along for me to share a slice of this TO DIE FOR coconut cake, this was a worthy item for me to experience and enjoy. A Little Debbie’s cake, in my humble opinion, is not really a worthy item. (I am reminded of an episode of Seinfeld when Elaine judges her suitors on whether or not they are “spongeworthy.”) So I guess I am looking at all foods I could put into my mouth and judge them to be “weight-gain worthy.”
I guess what I am trying to say is that really this whole diet was a mindset change on my relationship with food. I was never hungry on this diet, nor did I feel like what I was eating was boring or tasteless. I feel I know my body better and know what I can eat and what I cannot eat to stay within my goal weight. And I know if I really need to, I can always incorporate EXERCISE.
I have succeeded in my goal. I don’t think I would have had it not been for the help and knowledge of Tiffany Jackson, ND. Thank you Tiffany. My life is forever changed.
(Oh, and my husband has loss 20 lbs, too—and he seems to be keeping it off as well.)
Nora’s Weight Loss: Done My Time
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I know I have been a bit quiet, lately. But it isn’t because I haven’t succeeded on my diet. Actually it is quite the opposite. I have kept to the diet and loss more pounds and inches. Yay! So much so that I am needing a new wardrobe because all my clothes are falling off me. It is a good problem! Final weigh in is this week.
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Diet
Since I have now done my time and completed my 28 day goal, I have decided to take a week off and then go another 28 days in hopes to lose another 10 lbs. (I will be satisfied with 5 lbs.)
I feel this diet is no longer a diet. I really feel this is a life change. I don’t crave pasta, pizza, peanut butter or even dark chocolate (although I will be making a trip to my favorite chocolate shop on my week off). But I get it. This is how I am suppose to eat and occasionally, in moderation, I can have special treats.
I truly enjoy all the beautiful colors I eat daily. I love that I am never hungry. I love that my skin is not as dry as before. I love that I am walking faster and my husband doesn’t have to adjust his pace anymore. I love going into a grocery store and shopping the perimeter. I love that my husband has also accepted this diet–it has made it much easier.
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Exercise
I think I have mentioned that I hate exercise. Well, this has been my downfall on this plan. I haven’t really exercised in 2 weeks. (Had I, I would probably have loss more inches…I know.) And the thing is, when I was exercising, my back and knees caused me no problems. I felt energized and overall really good. The muscle pain wasn’t even bothering me…well those squats and my thighs that first week…whew! Now that I am not exercising, my back and knee pain has reoccurred. I understand it is something that is good for me and I just need to make it a life change, too.
Why did I stop? I got busy with work and just have made one excuse after another.
I really can’t believe all the excuses I have made. ”I got up too late. I have an early meeting. I am on a rush deadline. I haven’t eaten yet. I just ate and I don’t want a belly ache. It is too late to exercise, I may not sleep.” Everyday, I come up with a new “colorful” excuse.
What excuses do you make? I would love to hear them…
Nora’s Weight Loss Challenge: BBQ Recipe
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As promised, I have gotten the BBQ Pork recipe from my husband that we made at Fourth of July. I was really surprised at how good I was keeping to my diet over the holiday. I ate veggies and barbeque (I did not have a bun with my pork). And although I had a vodka drink, I stayed in Ketosis. How cool is that???
So the rest of this entry is from my husband. My husband is from the south. You would never know it by speaking with him, except when he gets around his family and apparently when he talks about making barbeque! But maybe if it is said with a southern accent, it makes it taste better. (I still feel the need to edit.)
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Begin by making your sauce.
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We are big fans of Eastern North Carolina style, vinegar-based sauces. And apple cider vinegar is so much more healthy than those thick tomato-based sauces.
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Now for the meat.
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Now’s when the fun starts!
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Nora’s Weight Loss: Day 17–Real Food
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More than halfway through this diet and I don’t really feel like I am really on a diet. I know you are saying “What? You can’t eat pasta AND potatoes AND corn AND rice.” This is a doable diet, well, at least for me. And aside from the no beer part, my husband agrees. (He has been loosing weight too, despite his occasional beer intake.)
I like this diet cause it is real food, not some premade, prepackaged liquid “shake” that tastes like the can it came in along with some weird aftertaste that if you don’t chug down while it is below 65 degrees it is impossible to stomach. You know what I am talking about, ladies. And it isn’t some frozen dinner that the cardboard container it comes in has more taste than its freezer burned contents.
Real Food
I am eating real food. Food that has come from either an animal or a plant. Food that has nutrients…imagine that! No food coloring, no refined sugars and no “freshness retainer” aka preservatives. I feel good knowing I am eating better than I have since I was a child. (My mom was a health food fanatic.)
Shopping
I also like how easy and quick it is to shop in the grocery. I use to go down every aisle, but now I am a periphery shopper. I never realized it before, but most grocery stores are laid out the same; the veggies, meat and dairy are all on the outside walls of the store. The only reason I need to venture into the the center is if I need spices, cat food or cleaning products. I love how I save time just scooting around the edges.
Cooking
I don’t think I have mentioned that I don’t cook. So, another reason I like this diet is that it is easy to prepare. You chop up some veggies, you slowly heat up the meat of your choice in a pan with a few seasonings and olive oil or bake in the oven for a bit and then put the meat on top of your salad and douse with apple cider vinegar and olive oil. There is no muss or fuss. And if you don’t want meat, there are plenty of other proteins to top your salad with: soy beans, nuts, hummus–just to name a few. This diet was made for the non-cook.
Next entry I am going to share the recipe for the BBQ Pork and the vinegar based spicy sauce we made for Fourth of July. YUM!!!!! (I would share it now, but must ask the hubby–remember, I don’t cook.)
Nora’s Weight Loss: Day 15-Trivia Night
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A couple of friends asked us to go to Trivia Night at a neighborhood pub. I have been trying to keep at home, where it is safe from most temptations. Last weekend, being forced into the real world, I grew confident that my husband and I could find healthy options at restaurants. But this was a wee bit different. I was kind of worried about my will-power when seeing everyone drinking a beer and eating tater-tots. Even my husband told me he would be one of the beer drinkers…he was only willing to go with me so far on this diet. (Thanks hubby!)
Knowing I was in Ketosis made me feel better about going out. Having the knowledge that I, unlike everyone at the table, was burning fat made it much easier. Now, I did hedge my bets. I ate my delicious 360 meal before we left to ward off hunger. That worked for the first two hours. I became a bit peckish but did not give in–I drank water all night long and still had a wonderful time. Next time, I just may take some nuts with me.