Drinking? Not a Problem

Every diet advice article you read emphasizes it: drink lots of water. (You did realize this post was about drinking water, right?)

Water’s never been very appealing to me, so I’ve had to dress it up a little to keep the momentum going. Every day when I arrive at the office, while my computer is booting up for the day, I take my 4 water bottles to the water fountain and fill them up. (If you aren’t aware of the controversy over bottled water, check this out. I recycle my bottles so I don’t feel bad at all about it.)

When I get back to my desk, my mix factory gears up. One bottle turns a deep orange with peach-flavored green tea. The second bottle looks a little foggy with a clear raspberry multivitamin drink. The third bottle gets a pinky-tan shade with apple-cranberry white tea and the last bottle is strictly for fun with either pink lemonade or raspberry Crystal Light.

By the end of the day, I’ve usually finished them all off and refilled at least one on my way back from one of my many,many trips to the rest room. The refilled bottle gets a black cherry fiber drink packet. Yum!

It’s really easy to keep track as well and make sure I get at least the minimum water amount each day. Since I usually have another bottle or two at home, my average is about 7 bottles a day.

Chocolate, My Nemesis

After 5 days of perfect low carbing, yesterday I screwed up. The first part wasn’t so bad… I walked to the bank and then on my way back, I stopped at Quizno’s and ate one of their 200 calorie Sammies. (Oh man, was it good!) I ripped off about a third of the super yummy flatbread to save on carbs, but it was really, really hard to throw it away.

The problem with a few carbs is that they lead to wanting more carbs… by the time I got home, I was crashing and looking for something else to eat when I found them… in the top cupboard over the sink… the chocolate squares I bought at the after Christmas sales.

Justifying to myself that chocolate is an antioxidant (and really good for you. Really!) I practically inhaled most of a square. My daughter saw me eating it and said, “Are you allowed to eat chocolate on a diet?”

Shamed, I gave her the rest of it. But then… there were 7 others waiting in the cabinet. Much to everyone’s joy, I quickly handed them out to the 4 kids I had last night (my nephew was over) and got rid of most of them… but one of the dark chocolate squares was still there. Yes, I caved. I ate one and a half squares of really decadent chocolate.

While my intention was to do extra exercise to mitigate the damage, it didn’t happen. I ended up sitting on my rear watching Project Runway most of the night. And… ahem… eating whole grain, low fat quesadillas. Maybe one too many of those too.

Staying off the scale today because I don’t wanna see!

Facing the Eggs, Meat and Cheese

These aren’t my favorite foods. But I can do this, I know I can (said the little engine who could.)

I just got back from a trip to the store where I loaded the cart with salads and salad fixings, strawberries and cantalope (a couple of the lowest carb fruits) and lots of meat, cheese and eggs.  I feel a little sick thinking about it.  But I can do this!

I’ve got a dozen eggs on the stove right now, hard boiling themselves into convenient snacks for the work day.   I’ve mapped out a plan that still keeps me at about 1200 calories a day, mostly protein.  I’ve bought the ketostix so I can tell when the weight loss is kicking in (those are what keep me sticking to it!  I love seeing that stick turn purple.)

I’ve got a can of almonds to add in to the mix once I’m past the induction period and can add more carbs.  I love almonds- I think for me, the key is to separate them out into little containers so I don’t eat too many.  But that’s 2 weeks away.  Eek!

I am happy to report that (since I’ve been dieting for several weeks) that my body has finally accepted the reduced calorie level and I’m no longer hungry all the time.  I even went with my sister and niece to Atlanta Bread Company and limited myself to half a turkey sandwich with the lid removed.  Even when my (evil) sister tried to tempt me into eating a chocolate chip muffin and went so far as to break off a chunk of it and set it on the table right under my nose, I resisted.  Ha!!  Take that, evildoer!

Who Really Loves You?

I’m gonna do it. I’ve studied a number of diets out there and I really and truly think low carb is the way to go. I looked and looked for the “all bread all the time” diet and Google failed me. Google, I thought you had all the answers!

Low carb is the most efficient way to force the body to burn fat for fuel instead of the readily available carbs. The thing that really is the sticking point is that I truly love carbs. Like, we should get married and settle down and be fat and happy together forever.

But that is a false dream, the delusions of a girl who needs to face the reality that carbs will turn on you. While satisfying your immediate desires, they really don’t have your best interests at heart. I mean sure, a warm chocolate chip cookie loves you when it’s waiting for you on the plate, but who’s there for you when your favorite jeans won’t zip? The cookie is not only part of the problem; it wants to lead you further astray in an attempt to comfort you. It’s all lies!

Smart women need to learn to look past the glamor and appeal of flour, sugar and 100-calorie cookie packs and appreciate the long term commitment of protein. It protects muscles, promotes efficient fuel burning and it will proudly be there for you in the fitting room.

Carbs, you’ve made a fool of me for the last time. I know who’s good for me for the long term, and it’s protein.