I've lost 16 Pounds! WoooHoo

Well bloggers, I haven’t written about this yet because, to be quite honest, I was still processing and digesting it.  The day before Thanksgiving my other half, Doug, was diagnosed with Type 2 Diebetes.  He hadn’t felt well for a long time and always just wrote it off as “I’m getting older”.  He went to a new doctor for a different reason because his doctor wasn’t available.  The new doctor in one visit and as a new patient ran all kinds of bloodwork, etc on him and found that his sugars/cholesterol/triglycerides, and everything else were just about off the charts.  He was ordered that evening (mind you the night before our Thanksgiving Feast hosted at our house) that he was to go on a major diet change, get a glucose meter and exercise, etc, etc.  Doug is not a HUGE person, but he’s a manly man.  6’1” and probably was 260 pounds prior to the Diabetes. Doug and I love to cook.  He’s a VERY good cook and doesn’t cook easy things.  He loves to watch the food network and replicate with a twist the things he sees.  I love to cook Italian foods and sweets.  We indulged in Thanksgiving, but the very next day, he took it very seriously and started to eat only healthier food.  No longer were we fixing casseroles smothered in cheese and cream sauce, gone were the Chicken Pot pie he is famous for, gone were the sweets (his weakness) and bye bye Fettucine Alfredo (my favorite).  It was hello to meat, veggies and some other good choices.  Well at his 1 month follow up appointment, the doctor was impressed. The sugars were down as well as some of the other levels, but he suggested he follow this diet called the 17 Day Diet.  It’s a book you can find it online here.  The doctor said I promise you will lose 30-40 pounds on this diet and that will really help your sugars come down even more.  So we got the book and decided on January 2, we would start the diet.  Now we THOUGHT the plan was to lose the weight in 17 days, but it’s actually a diet in 3 phases of 17 days, so it’s really 51 days.  Phase I was pretty strict.  It’s very low carb (much like South Beach Diet if you are familiar with it, only more strict).  During the 1^st phase you eat only “white meats” i.e. Chicken, Turkey & Fish, lots of veggies and of course no breads, etc.  We made it through that 17 days.  I lost 10 pounds.  We just started Phase II, which opens up a bigger window of foods to enjoy, ie Beef, pork, potatoes, brown rice to name a few.  I’ve now lost a total of 16 pounds.  Doug has lost 25 pounds total since he was diagnosed  (I really wasn’t dieting until Jan 2).  The next Phase opens up even more foods like pasta etc.  After the final phase you return to eating healthy during the week, but you get weekends off.  You can eat pizza and alfredo etc if you want to.  The beauty of it is, already my stomach has shrunk, I can’t eat the portions I could before.  I’m full very quickly.  In addition to the diet, I’ve also given up Diet Pepsi (I used to drink a 6-pack a day and sometimes more).  I gave up alcohol, I  used to enjoy a glass (or two) of wine in the evenings.  I am at my Target weight now, but am going to keep going.   I feel so much better.  I’m alert, my skin looks better, my skinny clothes fit again.  Doug’s sugars are dropping all the time and he’s had so many added benefits to the way he feels.  Anyway.. I’ve rambled a lot, but I thought I’d tell you about this journey we have been on.

Weightloss...... update

Well I haven't posted about the weightloss for awhile. I weighed myself a couple of times and weighed the exact same, even though my clothes were/are continuing to fit differently each day. So I layed off weighing for awhile and you know what... as of yesterday I'm down 14 pounds! Yay! The beauty of it for me is it's been more of a life style change rather than a diet. I have changed my breakfast routine and lunch routine and still eat what I want for dinner. On the weekend I usually bake something fun and I eat it when I want. I really believe it's all about the portion control and not depriving your body of this or that.

Weigh In Friday

I did weigh myself on Friday, but forgot to post.  I've lost a total of 10 pounds and have decided to go for 17 total, so I've got 7 more to go.  Really not doing anything in particular differently other than eating a sensible breakfast and lunch and for dinner I eat what I want, but still watch the portions.  I did make cookies yesterday, and had a couple and we went out for breakfast which isn't usual, so today I will be extra good. :)

Weigh in Friday

Well today I weighed and I am down 7.5 pounds... I feel a bit better, but still really need to lose the other ten, but I'll take it.  I have been eating a lot of fruit (grapes, melon and pineapple) this week and snacking on pretzels for my salt fix.  For dinner I'm eating whatever we have.. chili, burger, pork chops, etc., the only difference being I'm not going back for seconds and trying to be reasonable on the first serving.  So.. 7.5 pounds is a start.  How are you doing?

Digi in Deeper Lesson 4

I just finished this layout from the Digi In Deeper class with Jessica Sprague.  I am not sure I am quite this "free style" in my layouts, but it's good to go outside the comfort zone, right?



My Diet check in yesterday didn't happen.  I am sorry.  It has been a crazy week.  I did lose another pound, but that's all.  I am afraid all the birthday celebration and all kind of slowed it down.  I did continue to eat light lunch (usually a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with lowfat mayo and either carrots or fruit, but dinners were a bit tougher.  So one more pounds.. that's ok... at least it wasn't a gain week!

Weightloss First Friday

I started the weightloss program on Monday, it's now Friday.  I've decided to weigh in on Fridays hoping that it will keep me in check for the weekend (Don't want to undo what I've accomplished during the week on a weekend splurge).  So, I weighed myself this morning and guess what??? 4 pounds! Woot Woot!  I know the first week always is the biggest and now it will probably be a pound or two a week, but for now, I am excited.  I would totally be lying if I said I wasn't dying for a big plate of Fettucine Alfredo about now!

Oh, and a little side note.  One time I read that if you are going to eat a fast food breakfast a McDonald's Breakfast Burrito was a good choice.  I have been going to McDonald's for over a year almost every morning and getting two breakfast burritos.  Yesterday, I didn't have time for breakfast so I thought well I will swing in and get 1 burrito.  While waiting in the line at the drive thru I googled from my phone "Calories in a McDonald's Breakfast Burrito".  OMG!  320... IN ONE.  All this time I have been downing 640 calories before I even got to work !   So, needless to say it went something like this...


"Welcome to McDonald's can I interest you in a Mocha Latte?"


"One LARGE DIET COKE, please and that will be all."


$1.07, please drive around


I get to the window and the lady said... "No Burritos?"  I said... no, I am in rehab! :(

Weight Loss

It's been a long hard winter and it's only the beginning of February.  I, along with a few of my close family and and friends, have soothed the winter blues with lots of scrumptious home cooked comfort meals and unfortunately the pounds came with it.  I am setting a goal on for myself of 15 pounds.  (I really could lose about 20, but let's tackle one goal at a time.   So I've set a counter on the sidebar and am hereby holding myself accountable.  I have tried repeatedly, but when I don't see the the immediate change in the scales, I lose faith and figure why not eat the yummy Chick-fil-a sandwhich that I so love.  My thought process is this... I will write down everything I eat... EVERYTHING.  I am thinking maybe I can shame myself into following the program.  :)  Want to try it with me?  Let me know... I would love to support you in your weightloss goal and would love to have your support.