What I learned

I have been on maintenance for almost 4 weeks. I feel amazing and have actually lost 4 pounds. What I learned on the diet was that I feel better if I eat small portions several times a day, that eliminating sugar and fat made me feel better and I have started to re-introduce a little of these by no means do I need to eat them in the same way as I did before. I still cannot believe that I feel full and satisfied on 100 g portions of protein but I do. In fact when I got to add an additional protein I sometimes cannot eat it all! I read about a diet in the weekend paper, the 9 inch plate diet. The concept being that 12 inch dinner plates encourage larger portions that the 9 inch plates our grandparents used. I realize that the Dr B diet is one of the original 9 inch diets! I am still preparing food every day and for the first week I didn't eat any other food except what I prepared and in the last week I have been bringing some food to work and eating some catered food. We went to dinner on Sunday night and I ate what I thought was 150 grams of protein and avoided the potatoes and carrots, I did have some wine and piece of dark chocolate and when I weighed myself the next morning I was down 1/2 a pound. Christmas will be a challenge but I feel that I have the tools and the habits to keep the weight off. I broke down and bought a new pair of jeans that fit and I feel fabulous in them. I still have not returned to the gym but I plan to this coming Saturday. I got my last shot this morning and I am putting the program on hold for 3 weeks at least. I am not sure I will continue maintenance because I am finding that I am eating by the program, still keeping the food journal and feel fabulous. To be continued....

Day 37 I made it!!!!

139

Coffee w/silk, 1/2 apple, 1/2 slice toast
230 g veggies, protein bar, orange
chicken skewer, 230 g veggies, jello
8 soy crisps

I made it! I wore the shorts to be sure and I weighed myself before I left and my scale said 139 so I was sure I was going to be under 140 and I was exactly 139 on their scale too! I feel amazing and emotional as I type this tears prick my eyes because it has been tough but I saw my commitment through and I see the results.
I got my maintenance consult from my nurse, she gave me a book and explained that as of Sunday I could go on the week 1 diet adding unlimited veggies including avocado, an extra protein portion per day, all meats (lean cuts) and adding 4 oz of plain fat free yogurt a day but only 1 portion of fruit. Also I am going to reduce my potassium to 2 from 3 per dose as of next Wed and I am to return for a weekly single shot starting next Thursday. They want me to sign up for an 8 week plan which I am considering. J told me she did not pay to do this she just self-monitored and Di said it is cheaper to purchase 1 week. We shall see. Sunday will be lamb chops I think!!!!

Day 36 the agony

Coffee w/silk, 1 c. strawbs, 1/2 toast
85 g tuna, 1/2 slice cheese, 230 g veg, orange, 1 T cream cheese, 1 T dressing
veg chili – 1 protein, 1 veg, jello
8 soy crisps

Back on Day 16 of the diet I was feeling good about the rate of weight loss but the last 3 pounds or so have been agony. I am still feeling good, not hungry all the time but still feel “fragile”. I am bored of my menus and want to switch things up. I am going to bring shorts with me tomorrow in case I need to remove .1 pound!

Day 35 So close and yet so far

141.6 BP 110/7
Coffee w/silk, 1/2 toast, apple
Oatmeal protein pack, 100 g shirataki noodles, chicken broth, 230 g veggies, pickle, 1T dressing, 1T c cheese
4 slices ham, jello, 8 soy crisps

Can’t believe it. Did not make my goal this morning. If I don’t make it Friday I am going to insist on maintenance no matter what. Have to say felt good again today and didn’t even eat my celery and cream cheese at work. I got sidelined on the way home and ended up have the celery for dinner with 4 slices of ham. Too tired to chop up any veggies tonight.

Day 34 I feel fabulous

Coffee w/silk, 1/2 slice toast, 1/2 c strawbs
230 g veggies, protein bar, orange, pickle
100 g chicken, 230 g veggies, 100g shirataki noodles, jello
8 soy crisps

Well it’s only taken 34 days but I feel fabulous. I bought a scale on the weekend and I weighed myself before yesterday’s weigh in and my scale was off by .4 pounds less than the clinic. This morning I weighed 140 so I am hoping I can lose .4 overnight and be 140 tomorrow! I do feel really great and last night I forgot to eat my jello which I have looked forward to most evenings along with those 8 soy crisps. Wish me luck!

Day 33 Back to work

141.8
Coffee w/silk, 1 c. berries, 50 g tuna, 1/2 slice cheese, 1/2 slice bread
230 g veggies, 1 slice cheese, 1T mayo, 1T dressing, orange
Veg chili = 1 protein, 1 veg
8 soy crisps

Apparently I was keying at 3 today which the nurse seemed impressed about and she then asked me to do the evening urine tomorrow.
I planned my breakfast and lunch to have a little protein with each meal. I packed up the cooler bag with lunch items and my mid-day potassium which I then forgot to take so I took it when I got home. Turns out we have a little fridge in our department so I may end up buying stuff for lunch and prepping it at work rather than packing it every day but I will have to see how it goes this week. We have lunch provided either off a catering truck or from the coffee shop across the street. I saw the lunch my co-workers got from the truck – salmon, rice, beef stew on noodles and salad. I could make this work down the road but right now I am not risking it. As for the coffee shop menu, not sure I want to go down that road so even though lunch is provided I may still have to make my own.
I may be working from mid-day into the evening so the prepared meals I made will work well and I may have to continue my Sunday afternoon cook-a-thons!

Day 32 Website

Coffee w/silk 1 c. raspberries 1/2 frittata 1T salsa
25 g tuna, 115 g veggies, pickle, orange
Crab cakes: 75 g crab, 1 Ryvita, 1T mayo
2/3 c chicken broth, jello
8 soy crisps

Diet crab cakes – who knew? I got the recipe off the Dr. Bernstein website. I tried to log on a couple of times and realized I needed a user name and password but kept forgetting to ask at the clinic. Last week I did remember and asked the nurse who kind of brushed me off and said just call into the clinic and someone will tell me how to do it. So the next day I called in and a different nurse who asked me if I filled out the form? I knew nothing about the form and it had to be done at the clinic. I am not happy with the answers I have been getting from the nurses and why didn’t they give me this form as part of the package during the consult? So I dealt with the form Friday and then got too busy to see what the website had to offer. I went on it this morning and saw the food lists which I had already. There was a recipe section and I found the crab cakes submitted by someone in Ottawa. You basically combine the crab with some green onion, an egg white, mustard, salt and pepper and lemon zest. I formed 3 ball like patties and pressed them into the crushed Ryvita and bake at 450 for 15 minutes. They didn’t really firm up but they held their shape and it was a nice change from frying things in Pam or simmering in diced tomatoes!