Come on by!

I know, it has been too long since I wrote to you. Life happens, and I got busy. This time of month is so busy for me! I celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary on the 12th, as well as my birthday on the 24th. You probably wonder if I fell off the bus. I am happy to announce that I have not! I did cheat a little on our anniversary... mainly said hello to my old friend Vodka. A piece of advice if you have a few drinks and it's been a while- The amount you used to handle, will not be the same! See, I didn't realize this, and lets just say I felt it the next day! I was scared to step on the scale, but surprised to see that I had only gained . 6 pounds. Not bad, huh?

In other news, I have created a 17 Day Diet Support page. While I did promote another, I no longer do. While I don't claim to be an expert... because I am not even at goal... I hope you come by for support from everyone. Some days you WILL have a bad day, and need to vent. You need to tell the world about being constipated, or complain about plateaus... That is 100% OKAY in my group! No one is bound to this diet. If you don't want to finish, that is your choice! But before you make your decision, come by and vent! I can guarantee you will feel MUCH better, and probably will have the strength to go on! If you would like to come by, you are MORE than welcome! http://www.facebook.com/17daydietsupport We have teamed up with a 17 day diet recipe page, which will be a HUGE help to you! All free recipes! The moral to this story is, we all need to support one another. With out that, you won't get nearly as far! Do you have a blog you would like to share? Come post a link! Everyone of us needs all the help we can get, and I refuse to keep that from you. You all deserve to be healthy, happy, and HOT!

Since we talked last, I have lost a total of 17.6 pounds! In a little more than 3 weeks! This diet is amazing! I am loving cycle 2, except for the plateau I experienced up until this morning. On C2D2 I stopped losing. It drove me NUTS! Well, I did a bunch of research yesterday and threw caution to the wind! What I read (and please don't try this at home) is that eating something crazy will break it. After the 70+ comment of folks saying it worked, I plunged in! While I am not the sharpest knife in a gun fight, I do have enough common sense not to run out to McDonalds. Instead, I chose a happy medium and ate soybutter on wheat toast. Exciting huh? I didn't think so either... Regardless, I woke up to a 1.6 lb loss! Coincidence? Perhaps... Either way, I was happy!

I am loving cycle 2 and my steaks, scallops, and shrimp! I seriously could live on that stuff. I just threw some shrimp on the stove as I type! That and a little cocktail sauce... Mmmmm! Okay, I am getting side tracked!

Seriously, come on by for a look see! I'd be honored to have you!

Do you know the muffin man?

Do you know the muffin man? The muffin man? The muffin man? Do you know the muffin man, who use to live in my jeans? It's not that I care that he has gone missing... You won't see him pictured on any milk cartons, or post offices. I am pleased the he left me! Because these boots were made for walkin'! I realized he was gone the other day when I put on my jeans. You see, I have an odd shaped body. If you were to only see my legs and butt, you would think I was one skinny chick! However, my waist really throws things off for me in the dressing room. If I want nice fitting pants, I have to wrangle in the flab, tucking and tugging, until I can conceal it. Then I must wear a baggy shirt to complete the look. But no more! He is gone!

I wanted to also add a little side note to my saggy boob post. Something very important for us as women (and men)! I read recently that a fellow 17 day dieter found a lump in her breast after loosing a lot of fat from that area. Thankfully it turned out being nothing, but it could have turned disastrous. It doesn't matter your age either. My best friend was diagnosed with Stage 3c, triple negative breast cancer at 37. She also has a few friends that were diagnosed in their 30's. So you know the saying "Flaunt it if you got it!"? My new saying is "Feel it, since you lost it!"

As I type, I have a steak in the oven! And Shrimp on ice! I am SO VERY excited! Oh, and even better, I am down another pound this morning! That makes over 16 lbs in 20 days! I can't remember my menu yesterday, so please excuse the lack of one today.

Teach an old dog new tricks.

Yesterday I began cycle 2! While I am uber excited about the red meat, shellfish, and potatoes... I am so afraid the my loss will slow. I have heard that you need to bring your exercise up a notch, so that is exactly what I did! I bought "Best of Biggest Loser" on iTunes (the album is awesome), and loaded it to my iPhone. Popped in my head phones... or is it earphones?... and laced up my jogging shoes. I filled my water and began to jog. How do you do that with a 2 y/o old, and an umbrella stroller with handles that only come up to your knees, you ask? I didn't! I ran laps around my front room, through the kitchen, and back out! Each lap I met my cat, who had a mixture of looks on his face. I couldn't decide if he was calling me an idiot in kitty language, thought an invisible dog was chasing me, of I was chasing a really fast bird!

To make matters worse, since early morning my 9 y/o yellow lab had been acting super strange. She had been following me from room to room, and wouldn't leave my side. It was so unusual, I contemplated having my BFF text me every hour or so, to see if I was okay. With that said, you should have seen the look on her face! I jogged for 30 minutes, in circles. Round and round I went, with both the dog and cat in utter shock. It got even worse when I went and laid down to do sit-ups. Jada came over and started pawing at me, trying to get me off of the ground! Let's just say that maybe I should make exercise more common around this house.

In other news, I went to the grocery store to buy my cycle 2 foods. I also bought the ingredients for Dr. Mikes Power Cookie. I really hope those are as good as I spent! I am sure future batches won't be as pricey, but still. I walked around with the book in my cart, looking like a complete weirdo. To add insult to injury, I decided to stand in the meat isle, and take a picture of said book. I didn't realize how weird that looked until others stared! LOL This story reminds me of one of the FUNNIEST pranks I have ever seen. My 78 y/o father has reproduced the prank at a local grocery store! Enjoy- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64aTVG5PF38

Oh, and today is my Biggest Loser weekly weigh in. Tune back tomorrow for those results!

Menu for C2D1 and down .6 lbs this morning! -

• Lemon Water
• Breakfast- Grits, egg beaters, 2 pcs. turkey sausage, FF cheese
• Snack- Yogurt/keifer smoothie; 1 c. strawberries
• Lunch- canned tuna, olive oil mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato
  
• Dinner- Salmon, salad
  

Pancakes

Yesterday I noticed a huge transformation. Something I didn't think could get any worse. Something that doesn't make me happy to see. What is it you ask? I am the new owner of pancakes. My ol' rocks in socks have turned into a breakfast food. A constant reminder of morning goodness. Apparently the weight has dissipated from my chest, deflating these old party balloons! But I am an optimistic. There is always a bright side to everything! Just think of all the money I'll save! With the extra space I have created in my waist band, I can now just tuck those puppies right in, like a shirt! Let's be honest. Bra's are expensive! I'm always up for a 2-for-1 deal!

Today is the first day of cycle 2! You think I would have had my meal all planned out... but I don't. I didn't go shopping for this new phase, because I woke up with pink eye yesterday. I doubt my fellow shoppers would like to take that home! "Good morning shoppers! On isle 12, next to the potatoes, we have free samples of pink eye!". So, I may just make some grits for breakfast.

Let's try to remember my menu yesterday.

• Lemon water
• Breakfast- Smoothie
• Lunch- Salad with salmon, and 2 tbls of FF ranch
• Snack- carbmaster yogurt
• Dinner- Jennio turkey Italian spicy sausage, roasted carrots and onions
  

Ode to 17 Days

It seems I started yesterday
17 days have gone so quick!
I've eaten enough chicken,
...to make a hungry fox get sick!

Lemon water in the morning,
then smoothie's that are so grand!
Got creative with the spices,
so the food wasn't so bland.

No more ugly muffin tops,
that hang over my pants!
15 pounds down the drain,
time for a happy dance!

PotAto or PoTOTo,
you can give me either one!
Baked, hash brown, or french fries,
potato goodness here I come!

I hope the scale likes this cycle,
like it sure did with the last!
I'll be a sexy mom in no time,
and fat will be the past!

You heard it right!!!! Today is lucky number 17!!! It seriously doesn't feel like it! I cannot believe that it has been 17 days without bread, processed foods, or a drink! I love beer like a 5th child. And with this many children, the love of beer is a requirement to keep you from drowning yourself in a toilet. But I have done it! Don't know how, but I have! Not once did I cheat. The closest I came to cheating was having a itty bitty bite off of a banana to get my 2 y/o to eat it.

So what have I learned during the last 17 days?

• Get a diet buddy! I found one on the 17 DD fan page. We were both starting the same day, and our lives paralleled in many areas, including being managers to our own short person basketball team. Since she is 3 hours ahead, she writes every morning about the good, bad, and ugly (Hi Jennifer!!). It's a neat thing to have for a few reasons. 1) I am sure your friends and family get sick of hearing about your diet. Who wouldn't? 2)They are handy when you want to cheat, and hopefully they can talk you off of the ledge. 3)You get to swap ideas back and forth, and get someone else's input. 4) The utmost best thing about a diet buddy is you make a wonderful new friend! :o) So I want to thank you Jennifer! You have kept me interested, motivated, and out of trouble! This journey wouldn't have been nearly as fun without you walking with me! Love ya, girl! And congrats on your milestone as well! You did an AWESOME job! I am so proud of us both!!

• All yogurts are NOT created equal! Originally I thought I was making a smooth move buying a "light yogurt". I couldn't have been more wrong! It had crazy sugar and carbs! I then switched to Fiber One yogurt which was the 2nd best choice. I finally found "Carbmasters" yogurt, made by Kroger. While some people don't like it, I do... but like I have said, it doesn't take much to impress this lady! My favorite flavors are strawberry, cherry vanilla, and carrot cake is pretty good too! But, if you do buy carrot cake, buy just one to try. LOTS of people hate it!!!

• I don't like green tea. Well, I don't like the ones I "can" have. They only one I can stand is "dieters green tea". I add a little truvia, and lemon. However, this tea has natural laxative properties. While it didn't effect me, I am a horse of a different color.

• With that said, be prepared to get BACKED UP! Seriously. I was to the point of taking 2 laxatives a day, on top of the "tea". I couldn't figure out how this was possible with all the fiber I was getting! Well, I think I have it figured out! Green tea will stop you up, like rush hour on a L.A. freeway! Therefore, I bought green tea capsules at Wallgreens pharmacy.
  

• Eggplant Parmesan is to die for! If you are sick of chicken and fish, try it! Don't wait like I did! Also, I added a bit of FF mozzarella and cheddar. It reminded me of a pizza!!

• I can do anything I put my mind to! If I can do this, so can you! I have about as much willpower as a drunk locked in a beer cooler. But I did it! Anytime I wanted to cheat, I reminded myself that it is was ONLY 17 days! 17 days is a little more than 2 weeks. TWO WEEKS! I also wanted to end the 17th day with a clear conscious. I didn't want any "what if's". With that said, I have cheated more than my fair share on other plans. If you do, it's not the end of the world! You won't be labeled as a cheater with red ink on your forehead! Just jump back on the bus! The destination is worth it!

• Last but not least, I want to thank my readers. Without you, I may have been prone to cheat. There was no way I wanted to log in with the title "Diana's trip to the all-u-can-eat buffet!!" I dunno if I have told you, but I live in Nevada. Where casinos are as thick as grass in a cemetery. Casinos and buffets are best friends. Casino owners add these delicious venues to get people there, especially locals like me. They know if they have an all you can eat crab, lobster, prime rib buffet for $20.00... locals will come. Then they will put a dollar or two into a machine on the way out.

And since we are done with all the mushy, Oscar like tidbits... here is my menu from C1D16. I found an AWESOME app for my iPhone 4. It is called "Fatsecret", and I hear it is also available for the Droid. It allows you to scan the barcode of foods, and comes back with all of the nutritional info, as well as the capability to add to your daily food journal. While it looks like I had plenty to eat yesterday, the calories tell me a different story. 726 calories is not nearly enough, nor is it healthy. When you live on that amount of calories, your body begins to think you have moved to a starving village in Africa, holding onto every ounce of fat, because it knows you will be chased by a cheetah at any moment. This probably explains why I gained 6 tenths of a pound this morning! Obviously it wasn't enough to actually gain anything, and I had PLENTY of water!

• Lemon water
• smoothie with 1c. strawberry yogurt, 1c. Keifer, 1 c. blueberries
• snack- 1 c. of yogurt
• Lunch- 3 turkey sausage links, salad w/ 2 tbls. of FF ranch
• Snack- Red apple
• Dinner- salmon marinated w/ lemon and orange juice, orange zest, basil, and spray butter. Steamed green beans.
  

Recruited the pizza man!

Last night I ordered the kiddos pizza. When the pizza guy came, the one who always comments on how old my dog is, and his that died about this age (WHO DOES THAT?!), I told him I wouldn't be eating any. I told him I was on a diet, but it was o.k. because I had lost 15 pounds in 15 days! He then asked how, and I went off on my pitch. Dr. Mike should start paying me a commission for as much as I sell it. ;o)

Today I am on C1D16. I cannot believe it! Seems like yesterday I started. I am so excited for a steak and potato, yet terrified the loss will slow. I have heard some encouraging things from people about cycle 2. I am hoping since I have yet to cheat, I will be successful too! I only have 10-12 lbs to lose before goal, and if it goes quickly I want to try another 5. That would put me at the weight I was at 18! Also, I realized the other day the I begin Cycle 3 on my birthday! How cool is that?! I will be able to have a drink, and not feel bad! Even have a Skinny Cow ice cream and a candle!

Here is my menu from yesterday-

• Lemon Water
• Breakfast- Keifer/yogurt smoothie w/ blueberries
• Orange
  
• Lunch- Left over taco salad
• snack 2- yogurt
• Dinner- TexMex chicken bake w/ mock rice (pretty darn good!)
  

Down 15!!!!!

I am down 15 pounds in 15 days! Today is C1D15, and that AMAZES me! Although I am so excited to get to cycle 2 so I can have some red meat, and a starch... I hate to leave this cycle.

I have not updated this is 2 days for a few reasons... 1) My mom came back, and visited. 2) Yesterday I felt crappy (and still do). I think I have a cold. Don't ask me why that makes my fingers not work. Maybe it's an actual case of just desperately needing some quiet time, and didn't feel like talking. The moms out there will know what I mean. Mom burnout.

In the last 2 days I have made a few different recipes. I finally made a keifer smoothie, and boy are those good! I use 1 carbmaster yogurt, an equal amount of keifer (measure it in the yogurt cup, because I need more dirty dishes like I need a hole in the head), and a cup of blueberries. I blend that up, and TADA! I could live on those suckers! I also made eggplant Parmesan. I topped it with a little mozzarella and cheddar cheese (fat free of course). It reminded me of pizza! Super good! Finally, I made taco salad with ground turkey. Um, why haven't I tried that before?! YUM!

Here is yesterdays menu-

• Lemon water
• Breakfast- Keifer smoothie
• Snack- 1 c. of grapes
• Lunch- 3 turkey sausage links
• Snack- cherry vanilla carbmaster yogurt (another YUM)
• Dinner- Taco Salad
  

Kale Chip... the new Lay's

C1D12, and I am proud to announce that I have lost 11 pounds in 12 days! This morning I was down 1.6lbs! I also went to the store, and stocked up on new foods to avoid burnout! I bought kale for the first time in my life, and made kale chips! I was pleasantly surprised, as they are delicious! You can find the recipe by clicking here. I also bought "carbmasters" yogurt, and it has a significant less amount of carbs, sugars, and calories than the Fiber One. Doesn't taste half bad either! I also finally found Keifer, and am anxious to try it! Last but not least, I bought a Jennio Lean turkey italian sausage. I hear this is a no-no, but did it anyhow. It was BEYOND delicious.... yet we will see what the scale thinks!

The picture above is my weekly weigh in on my "Biggest Loser" game for Wii. As you can imagine, I am thrilled! Well, I am off to bed! Busy day tomorrow. My mom comes back from her tropical... well warmer... retirement. She has been gone for 6 months, so we are excited to see her and my step-dad!

Menu (yes, I know I didn't eat much today... Ooops!)

• Lemon Water
• yogurt with 1c. strawberries
• Lunch- Carrot cake carbmasters yogurt
• Dinner- 1 turkey sausage link, roasted broccoli, carrots, and caramelized onion w/truvia
  

No.More.Poultry!

Sorry I didn't update ya'll yesterday. I was busy helping my 7th grader with a science project due today! I seriously cannot look at another piece of poultry. In fact, I have a hard time swallowing it! It's like my uvula (little dangly guy at the back of your throat) wants to hold on tight, and not allow it to go down. Because of this, I probably have not had enough calories the last 2 days.

Today (well, yesterday) I lost .4 lbs. I was a little disappointed, but kept trucking.

Now let me try to remember what I ate-

• Lemon water
• yogurt, 1/2c blueberries
• snack- yogurt blueberries
• lunch- left over turkey, with light mayo spread on top; Salad balsamic vinegar
• dinner- cheese burger salad (mainly ate veggies), however I did thinly slice some onions, threw them in a pan with olive oil, and truvia, and caramelized them. The were DELISH!
  

Short and sweet.... Mmmm sweets....

This is going to be the fastest post of all times! I took my melatonin (or however you spell that wonderful drug), and am hoping to fall asleep early. Six a.m. always comes too soon! Also, my stomach is beyond upset tonight. I am hoping it isn't something I ate... or a lovely bug I caught from the hundreds of germ infested kids at yesterdays party. However, it also could be the "dieters tea" that I have a fond taste for. Anyhow, C1D10... 7 more days to go! Yeeehaw! I cannot wait to add in a potato! Such a simple life I lead! Heck, I get excited to shower uninterrupted, my 2 and a half year old sleeps through the night, or have the time to shave both legs, instead of one! What can I say... I'm a cheap date!

I got in another 30 minute workout today. I really enjoy that game! It doesn't feel like a workout at all, and it is rather fun! I also lost .2 lbs!

Menu C1D10-

• Lemon water
• Breakfast- 2 servings of yogurt; 1/2 c. of blueberries
• Snack- Apple
• Lunch- Salmon patties (minus cracker binder); salad
• Dinner- Slice of turkey breast (well about half); 1/4 c. of green beans (if that).
  

I had cake....

on my finger, and didn't eat it! Tonight we went to a cousins 5th birthday party. As I was passing out the cake, a big globe of frosting made a new home on my thumb. Most people would have licked that glob of goodness off, and believe me... it crossed my mind! Instead I grabbed a napkin, and removed the temptation! Furthermore, the pizza ran freely at this party, and I graciously turned it down. I knew before going that I wouldn't be eating. I ate a yogurt and a few pieces of chicken before leaving, to satisfy my hunger. I had forgotten lunch, so it would have been bad news!

I think I was more motivated than ever today. You know why? Because I was DOWN 2 POUNDS this morning!!!! That makes a total of 9 POUNDS in 9 DAYS!! Yipppeee! I was happier than a tornado in a trailer park! In fact, I didn't even really "want" these foods that I would have accepted 10 days ago, happily.

One last thing before I go. I saw this new workout on facebook today. How fun does this look! If it weren't for the fact that I am so clumsy I could trip over a cordless phone, I would be first in line for a membership! Anti-Gravity Yoga (click here)

Menu for C1D9-

• Lemon Water
• Fiber one yogurt; 1/2 C. Blueberries, 3 sausage links (turkey); dieters tea
  
• Snack- Fiber One Yogurt; 1/2 c. blueberries; 3 pieces of grilled chicken (small strips)
• Dinner- Cheeseburger salad; dieters tea
  

Don't learn the hard way-

I wanted to add some tips and advice that I have learned the hard way, over the last 9 days. By sharing this, I hope that you can skip these mistakes, proceed to "GO!" and collect $200! ;o)

First, let me tell you what my work out game told me yesterday! I dunno if insulting is a shock method they use, but boy... I was kick boxing along, doing great in my opinion. As I have said, I have about as much coordination as a drunk on stilts! As I was giving myself a proverbial pat on the back, my trainer says, "If you keep this up, you'll be a biggest loser in no time!!". Excuse me, Sir? Obviously you know nothing about me. Maybe this workout is a little too light for me. Sir, I have been a loser all of my life! ;o) Anyhow, my kids and I about DIED laughing. We are still laughing.

Diana's 'Been there, done that' words of advice-

• Not just any yogurt will do! I made the mistake of buying a high carb/high sugar yogurt. Because it was 'Plain', I thought it automatically must not have any sugar... because it SURE doesn't taste like it! Well, they say to try to keep your sugar content below 5. After a good 20 minutes in the yogurt isle at Wally World, the best yogurt I could find was 'Yoplait Fiber One' in the little cups. I add 1/2 c of blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries.
• Watch what fruit you buy! The first go around I bought frozen berries, that had 'liquid sugar' in the ingredients. Buy the 'no sugar added' type.
  
• They say not to drink tea with sugar substitute. That's why I ended up going with the capsules, since I detest green tea!
  
• I was advised not to use the Jimmy Dean Low Fat turkey sausage links. However, I have not had a problem eating them. They are easy and fast to make, something I need in this life.
  
• This is probably considered a no-no, but when I crave junk food, I chew a piece of 'Extra Sugar Free Gum' in the dessert flavors. My personal favorite is the Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, and the Key Lime Pie. Seriously, it tastes like the real thing!
  

Turkey Burger Salad!

This cartoon captures EXACTLY how I felt today! My day didn't start out well. I woke up to a storm, both of the snow form and weight! After yesterday's .6 gain, I was only down .2! I was a bit bummed by this, to say the least. Where, oh where has my pound-a-day-loss gone? After searching the couch cushions, my pockets, under my saggy boobs (after for kiddos, you'd be amazed at what gets lost under those rocks in socks!), and the fridge (2,3,4 times), I gave up! I threw a pity party of sorts today, and then my dad came over. He must of heard about the party, because he surprised me with not BYOB, instead it was BYOMD's! Yeppers! Mc Donalds! Luckily he didn't specifically bring me a burger, but it was still tough watching the kids eat them! It was a snow ball effect, and I began to crave EVERYTHING under the snow cloud covered sun.

My husband then texted me, asking if he could buy a beer. He is somewhat following the 17DD with me, but not nearly as strict. I told him I didn't mind, just don't bring me one! If you know me, the words beer and Diana go together like two year olds and temper tantrums! I was pretty proud that I- A) Turned one down. B) Didn't ask for a sip!

Because of this torture of a day, I decided I needed something "new". Something besides chicken or fish. Then I realized I could make turkey burgers! I was a little frightened at first, as they didn't look like real burgers, but what choice did I have? I ended up sprinkling on some steak seasoning, and broiling them. When they were done, I sprinkled on a little FF cheese. While they were cooking, I sliced up some tomatoes, and picked out lettuce pieces out of the mixed salad bag, and added it to a bowl. I cut the burger into bite size pieces, and threw that into the veggie mixture. Then I added a bit of reduced sugar ketchup, and mustard; mixing it together. It turned out being DELICIOUS! Tasted just like a juicy hamburger with all of the fixings! Totally my new favorite! Try it out! You won't be disappointed...

• Lemon water
• Breakfast- 3 turkey sausage links, yogurt, 1/2 blueberries, GT capsule.
• Snack- 1/2 c blueberries, yogurt
• Lunch- Left over chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, balsamic vinegar
• Dinner- Burger salad, carrots, broccoli, 3 tbs FF sour cream mixed with ranch seasoning, dieters green tea.
  

C1D7 Laughter is the best medicine

and studies show laughing raises energy expenditure and increases heart rate 10 percent to 20 percent. Ten to 15 minutes of laughter could increase energy expenditure by 10 to 40 calories per day, which could translate into about four pounds a year.

That being said, I thought we would start this evenings post off with a joke! I wasn't as lucky this morning, as I realized lasts nights bad feeling was true... I gained .60 a pound! How you ask? Well, I have NO idea! I was hoping you had the answer! I assume a few things, but you know what they say about that... When you assume things, it makes an ass-even bigger! ;o) I have a feeling it was the dressing though. Like I said, it had a few more carbs than the brand I had been using. It still blows my mind though, because I even skipped my second fruit for the day. I also exercised for the second time during my journey on the 17dd.

Oh well, people pay good money to ride roller coasters... I just won a free trip! So back onto the wagon, and no more dressing!

Here is my menu for the day before I conk out on the key board (thanks melatonin!)-

• Lemon water
• Breakfast 2 servings of yogurt, 1/2 C blueberries; green tea capsule.
• Snack- Apple
• Lunch- Left over turkey breast; roasted broccoli, carrots, onions; boiled egg; green tea capsule.
  

• Dinner- Chicken breast topped with salsa, tbls. FF sour cream (mixed into salsa before baking) sprinkled with FF cheddar cheese' green beans; green tea capsule.

Cals-1,293 Carbs-102

Breaking News! Book is 50% off!

If you would like to purchase the 17 Day Diet book, it is 50% off today! That makes it around $10! I suggest you pay for the expedited shipping ($20), because people are saying it takes about a month to receive with standard shipping. But who can beat $30 for a diet? Weight Watchers can't. They sure don't have such fast results, either! I am one of those "NOW!" people...

I'm a loser. A Biggest Loser!

C1D6- My wonderful hubby "Sgt." (I'll call him here), went and bought me the Biggest Loser game for the Wii last night. So today I fired it up, and boy was it fun! If you know me, you would know that I have about as much coordination as a drunk on stilts. The 17DD aerobics DVD that I bought was much too complicated for me to stay with. As soon as you figured out the right, left, right... she would change it up to turn, jump, turn. It takes a concentrated effort for me to remember how to walk, and chew gum most times. Anyhow, this was simple! Simple, yet effective moves. I could really feel it in my thighs. I cannot believe how out of shape I have become! I am only 30... well, 31 a month from tomorrow. I shouldn't feel 90!

I ended up doing 40 minutes of exercise. The challange option was fun, so did that twice. I cannot wait to have a friend to compete with! That sounds like sooo much fun! I also ended up jogging in place while watching a favorite show of mine. That right there added on another 20 minutes!

Oh! I also lost ANOTHER 1.2 lbs! That makes a total of 7 lbs. in 6 days! How wonderful is that? I was really shocked by it, as I had not felt like I had lost. I am hoping tomorrow is the same, yet I have a bad feeling again. I used a different dressing today, which was a raspberry hazelnut balsamic vinegar. It had a few more carbs than the other. Because of that, I skipped my 2nd fruit. I also have been having a REALLY hard time choking down the tea. I cannot stand it! I have even tried different flavors. Well, today at Walgreens I found green tea capsules. I bought a bottle, and hope it works!

So here is the menu breakdown for the day-

• Lemon Water
• 3 jennio turkey breakfast sausage patties; yogurt w/ 1/3 c. of blue berries
• Lunch- Salad w/ raspberry hazelnut vinegar; 2 deviled eggs
• Snack- Yogurt
• Dinner- Turkey breast; roasted carrots, broccoli, onion
• 100 ounces of water... YES, 100 OUNCES of WATER! Better buy a life raft soon!
  

I beat you Mr. Macaroni and your side kick Cheese!

C1D5- Dieting with small children in the house is like trying to heard cats. Especially my house. 'A', my son, has multiple food allergies. One of them includes fish, which is an obvious staple on this diet. So normally I am preparing two separate dinners at this house... just to add to the chaos! The kids' menu tonight consisted of hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and broccoli. If you are like me, you throw directions out the window when preparing the blue box. You have done it so many times, you could make it in your sleep. However, a mandatory macaroni rule is to taste the finished product. Enough milk? Salt? I didn't realize this old habit until making it tonight. I just about had to close my eyes, and breathe through my mouth while serving their plates! Anytime the Taste Monster whispered into my ear, I took a big swig of water! Before I new it, I had totally tuned out that evil creature because something else was speaking to me... well, yelling at me... It was my bladder, informing me I had taken one too many swigs! Sigh...

I am feeling MUCH better today! The exhaustion is gone, along with the dizziness and headache. I even had the energy to dye my hair today... something I should do more often, as its a guaranteed 45 minutes of silence, locked behind a bathroom door! I didn't get any exercise in, but my wonderful husband went out and bought me 'The Biggest Loser' for the Wii Fit! I cannot wait to start tomorrow! It says it has a competition capability, where you can compete with friends! Now, if only I could recruit some poor soul... Oh! I almost forgot to add that I lost ANOTHER pound! Yippeeee!!! That is 6lbs in 5 days!

Enough chitter-chatter! My bladder is screaming again! Here is le` menu:

• Lemon Water
• Breakfast- 3 turkey sausage links, yogurt, 1/2 c. blueberries
• snack- yogurt w/ 1/2 c. blueberries
• Lunch- Large salad with left over buffalo chicken pieces, balsamic vinegar dressing.
  
• Dinner- Baked tilapia with lite soy sauce and garlic. Roasted broccoli
  

Can you hear me now?

I just purchased an iPhone app, so I can entertain you from the bathroom (darn water), or the scale! Kidding of course... Well maybe... But while I am here, lets talk about water! How do you ensure 8 glasses a day? Since yesterday, I carry a 20 ounce bottled water with me. It's less intimidating to drink 4 of those puppies, than looking at 8-10 glasses! I just fill er up when I'm out, which also pads my pockets! Hey, moms of 4 scrimp and save!

A little mid-day humor!

Health & Fitness 'Facts'

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain... Good !

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO ...... Cocoa beans ... another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets and remember,

C1D4- The Good, the bad, and the ugly.

Good news, or bad news? We will start with the ugly. I feel like heck! Once again I am drained, dizzy, and have a headache. It has to be this diet. Some say it's sugar withdraw, and others say it's not enough protein. What ever it is, I wish it would stop. How can a girl work out, when making dinner feels like a workout in itself? Although the headache may be caused by lack of protein today. Now onto the bad- I went to Walmart today, and bought myself a digital scale. I wanted to make sure that my old fashioned kind wasn't deceiving me. However, when I weighed myself I was a whopping 6 pounds HEAVIER than what my old one said! Grrr! Six more pounds to add onto my goal! Now let's get on with the good news! As of this morning, I am down 5 pounds! That's 5 pounds in 4 days, people!!! Let's hope that this is true, since Mr. Old Scale proved to be a liar! ;o)

Before I get to my daily menu, I thought I would share some interesting facts on the importance of drinking water. Luckily I have never had a problem doing so. I LOVE water! Heck, I enjoy it more than the green tea!

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NOT DRINKING WATER

- 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half the world's population).
- In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
- Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
- One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters investigated in a University of Washington study.
-Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
-Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
-A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
-Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Last but not least, here is my menu. I have yet to eat dinner, but do have it planned.

• Lemon water (gag)
• Breakfast- 2 scrambled eggs, apple
• snack/lunch 6oz of Fiber one yogurt (strawberry), cup of grapes, turkey jerky.
• Dinner- Buffalo chicken, mock mashed potatoes (made from cauliflower), carrots.
  

It's 7 O'Clock. Do you know where your exercise is?

Because I SURE don't! I dunno what it is, but today I am 100% EXHAUSTED! To the point I keep hoping that I am not coming down with something. But I do not have all bad news to report! Today is C1D3 and I have lost 4 pounds!! I barely can believe it! Another friend I have made during this journey has lost 3 lbs on day 3, so I guess it is accurate! I may try to get some exercise in while I watch my shows. It just worries me that I will be up all night, since Desperate Housewives starts at 9pm.

Here is my menu rundown-

• Lemon water
• Brunch- 4 egg whites, peach, and green tea.
• Snack- small piece of turkey breast and carrot sticks.

• Dinner- Chicken Parmesan, large salad w/ balsamic vinegar.

Day Two

Let me first say that I was EXHAUSTED on day 1. I dunno if it was the diet, or the fact that my kids were home on a snow day, and acting like pre-pubescent monkeys. With that said, day 2 I felt MUCH better. I did get in 17 minutes of aerobics from the DVD I ordered with the book. I was appalled by how out of shape this 30 year old is! Sheeew!

C1D2 menu-

• Lemon Water (drink it quickly like hard alcohol if you detest the taste, like me).
• Breakfast- Fruit smoothie with plain yogurt (before I learned of the no-no) 1 cup of mixed berries, and a tablespoon of sugar free jelly.
• Lunch- Baked cat fish with lemon pepper, topped with thinly sliced onion. Added to a large salad w/ Balsamic vinegar dressing.
• Snack- 2 whole eggs, scrambled w/ onion.
• Dinner- Baked turkey breast (2 lg slices), roasted carrots and onions, and green beans.
  

Day One

Today, my weight loss journey begins. This is not the first time either. What's new about this experience is my approach. By chance, I was watching Dr. Phil in late January. He was discussing a new diet, by the name of 'The 17 Day Diet' By. Dr. Mike Moreno. His approach is to eat healthy. Plain and simple. There are 3 cycles to the 17 day diet. Cycle 1 consists of cutting out processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy carbs. You begin your morning with 8oz of warm water, with the juice of 1/2 of a lemon. Being a mom of 4, I normally don't have time to cut, prepare, or anything else with things like that, so I use lemon juice. Let's be honest. I rarely have time to shave my legs! ;o) The Doctor also has you drink 8oz of green tea with your meals. Currently I am using the Diet Arizona Green Tea. Another huge part of the diet are cleansing veggies, as well as lean protein. You can have as much as your heart desires! Now, when I say that... it doesn't mean to the point where you must unbutton your jeans, for fear of severing your body in half! He also suggests probiotics (low fat, low sugar/carb plain yogurt, greek yogurt, and carb free fruit flavored), which is a wonderful tool to make yummy fruit smoothies, with your 2 fruits a day allowance! I also add in some sugar free jelly to sweeten it up a bit! One of the most important things is the WATER! He wants you to drink 8, 8oz glasses a day. This does not include your tea.

If you are interested in purchasing the book, it is sold at www.17daydiet.com I did spend the extra $20 for priority shipping, since there have been complaints by people who have yet to receive their book a month after ordering. If you are a facebook junky like me, here is a fan page that I ADORE! You will see all of the astounding results from folks on the diet. Facebook Fan page
Last but not least is a blog (click here) that I love to read. She has more detailed info than I, and in my opinion you could use her info to try the diet without ordering the book. While the book has menu ideas, and recipes, Terri gives you the general idea.

Now onto the nitty gritty! Everyday I hope to blog my menu, pros/cons, brags, and complaints. I hope by doing this, it will motivate me to keep going... plus I am sure my friends are sick of hearing about it! ;o) My goal is to lose 20-25 lbs., although it would be better to lose about 30!

Cycle 1, Day 1 menu-

• Lemon water
• Breakfast- 3/4 c. of egg beaters, sauteed with diced onion. 1 orange, and green tea.
• Lunch- grilled salmon, large salad with onion, and tomato. Balsamic vinegar dressing.
• Snack- Fruit smoothie with a cup of mixed berries, plain yogurt (a mistake I made because of the high sugar) and a tbls of sugar free jelly.
• Dinner- Tilapia topped with a mixture of lite soy sauce, mixed with crushed garlic. Asparagus and carrots (steamed). Green tea.