Amazing results

I have been in the "maintenance" or Phase 4 for 21 days. My weight is stable, so I decided to look at measurements, as Haylie suggested. Imagine my amazement to see that my waist is 2 inches smaller than it was at the start on July 29th. My upper arm, thigh and neck also reflected smaller diameters. (My hips seem to have grown an inch, however that could be from the pair of pants I was wearing this time.)

We have learned how to eat better, although we are in a bit of a rut and need to branch out a bit. I've been processing tomatoes like mad since I purchased 2 bushels of organic tomatoes. Need to make some homemade tomato soup.

My friend, Mary, is restarting this week with her hubby. She lost about 10 pounds the first round. She is not confident he can do it since he hates vegetables. It will be interesting to see how long he lasts. Mary eats meat so Phase 2 is less of an issue for her, although still not her favorite.

When I proposed doing it again to my hubby, he said "I am NEVER going to do that again." If I do, guess I'll be on my own :)

Maintenance - so far, so good

Because I could not face Phase 2 again, I'm doing my best to stick to the maintenance plan as Haylie outlined it in her book and on her blog http://www.fastmetabolismdiet.com/phase-4-of-the-fast-metabolism-diet/. Same meals and snacks. Eat mostly like Phase 3 adding in all the foods from Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Since organic dairy is on the table again, I have had one ounce of cheese in the past week. Still looking forward to a caprese salad with fresh in-season tomatoes and basil and some fresh mozzarella.

Have not had caffeine - still love the smell of fresh coffee.

Last night I had one small piece of baklava and was grateful there was no more in the house. I would have eaten it.

Tomorrow night I am planning ahead for a special outing where I will have wine and probably a dessert. The food will probably contain things Haylie would not recommend. And I am going to enjoy myself and not feel guilty. Sunday morning, I will go back on Phase 4.

Gotta get back to drinking more water :)

20 pounds less of me

Finished Day 28 last Sunday (25Aug2013) down 20 pounds from my start. I was so happy I will never do Phase 2 again. Yes, based on my current weight, I should probably do the program a few more times, although I'm happy right now with a jump start on my metabolism and a plan for healthier eating.

As a vegetarian, I always assumed I was making healthy choices already. And I was, compared to the average American diet. It was not enough once peri-menopause kicked in. The soy and wheat were probably the biggest issues, although I'm sure corn contributed. Soy and corn are the two hardest things to avoid, unless you have time to bake your own bread and make your own mayonnaise. The third hardest thing is added sugars (often corn based!). The corn and soy growers have done a fabulous job of convincing everyone that they should be part of every product. My most recent example as a part of this diet is tuna fish. Try to find commercial tuna that is not packed in soy. The "water-packed" tuna is actually packed in a soy-based broth. The oil-packed tuna is packed in soybean oil. Mayonnaise is the same. Unless you buy the expensive ($15/jar) health food store safflower mayonnaise, it is all soy-based. So I was getting much more soy than I was aware of, and we were eating mainly soy-based protein. What in the world would someone who has an allergy to soy do?

I'm already planning for my first alcohol and sugar event this Saturday. I know I will be assaulting my liver, so I'm reading and re-reading Haylie's rules for living. I want to enjoy myself, and I'm going to :0

Week 4, Phase 1

Going into the home stretch. Still down 15 pounds from the start. Still dreading Phase 2 tomorrow.

I am really looking forward to the "maintenance" version: Healthier eating for a lifetime. Good thing Haylie provides 19 "Tools for Life."

Organic dairy is back in my diet on Monday. Still need to avoid wheat (gluten), corn, soy, caffeine, sugar and alcohol (Tool #12). Most of the time. And there are "secrets" to help deal with the exceptions: a big dinner like Thanksgiving, a sugar binge, or drinking alcohol while having fun and minimizing the damage to your liver. It's important to keep your liver healthy and happy so your metabolism stays "fast".

My mom asked me what would be the first thing I eat once the 28 days is over, and I told her it's probably cheese. I'm looking forward to some fresh mozzarella with my tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar.

Meanwhile, my hubby is trying a new recipe for dinner - our last on Phase 1. And I need to plan for Phase 2 tomorrow. It's only two days. I can do anything for two days...

Week 3, Phase 2 - Crash

I hit the wall yesterday. I forgot to mix my tuna up the night before and after a few bites I couldn't eat it. So I went hungry, which is a no-no because it sets your metabolism back to starvation/storage mode. I'm going to have to figure out something so that doesn't happen again.

I only have one more set of Phase 2 days. Only two more days of Phase 2... I can do it. I can do anything for two days.

My friend, Mary, who started a week before me will finish this weekend. Mary has said she will make some permanent changes in how she eats, including keeping the sprouted grain bread. (I remember when you had to go to the health food store to get it and now it's available at most grocery stores.)

I considered skipping Phase 2 next week and just going straight to Phase 3, which is the most like maintenance. Since starving does not help, it is more important to eat and keep eating to keep my metabolism from switching, right? As Haylie says "Diet = Did I Eat Today."

Week 3, Phase 2, Day 1

Down 15 pounds since I started!!!

I've got the rhythm now. I know when I can eat which fruits (and on Phase 2 only lemons and limes). I know which two days I dread (Phase 2) and how to keep eating the tuna. (I gave up on the egg whites.) The hemp protein for breakkie is tolerable if a bit gritty. And my hubby makes a delicious soup from pea protein we will have for dinner. So we are making it work.

My friend, Mary, who started a week before I did pointed out that the app highlights the days you did everything right. So far, I haven't got a single day when I did *everything* right. I missed a snack. I ate outside of the window. I didn't drink enough water. The list is endless and IT'S STILL WORKING!!! :-)

I doctored my tuna last night (enough for lunch and two snacks) with green onions, dill pickle relish, Bragg's aminos, and Emeril's (red and green). I brought celery sticks and red pepper slices and lemon slices for my water. I can face the day and tomorrow. It's only two days...

Week 2, Phase 3, Day 1

Ahhhhh. The weekend at last! And the menu is (somewhat) less restrictive. I am grateful it changes every couple days and so glad I made it through Phase 2 (again). The app is the way to go to make sure you eat according to phase.

I'll admit to wanting to snatch the homemade ice cream sandwich away from the woman in the elevator yesterday, but it was Phase 2, which is tough.

I have lost about 10 pounds since I started, which makes me a happy camper. Today, I was able to have fresh blueberries and raspberries, shrimp cocktail, hummus, almond butter, and I haven't even had dinner yet.

Even though I have more than 60 pounds to lose, my goal is to get through 28 days and see where I am. If I think I can stand to do it for longer, I will re-evaluate. If not, I will make some careful considerations about what I let back into my diet.

I'd like to have sweet corn for dinner once while it's local and in season, which gives me until Labor Day. I'll probably continue to avoid wheat. I like butter and cheese and I miss them, so I will likely add them back in moderation (and only organic versions). Wine tastes so good and Haylie tells you the ways to compensate so the alcohol doesn't completely derail your liver. So, we'll see where I am in two more weeks.

Week 2, Phase 2

Phase 1 is so easy compared to Phase 2. And Phase 3 is a breeze - I can eat that way most of the time.

Phase 2 is a killer. I keep telling myself, "It's only two days. I can do anything for two days."

I'm sure it's easier if you eat a lot of meat and fish, and we don't. So after nearly vomiting egg whites and gagging on tuna on Week 1, Day 3/Phase 2, Day 1, my hubby brought home hemp protein powder and pea protein powder. There is no word on the websites or from the founder on whether these two options can be used on the diet, and we are doing them anyway.

I had a hemp protein shake for breakfast. Not exactly tasty, although much easier to get down than egg whites. Some people would blend with veggies, although "green" shakes are not my thing. They are almost as gagalicious as eggwhites. My tuna is heavily doctored with onions and hot sauce and lettuce and peppers. And I think we are trying tempeh for dinner. Or a soup with pea protein. (Depends on what inspires my hubby today.)

Thanks to my friend Mary, who started a week before I did, I have switched my tuna to Wild Planet brand. The others (Starkist, Chicken-of-the-Sea, Archer Farms) all use "vegetable broth" instead of water for their water packed tuna. And the broth contains soy. For the record, the oil-packed tuna also uses soy, so the only brand I could find without soy is Wild Planet.

Now, power through tomorrow and arrive in Phase 3 on Friday, happy again.

Week 1, Day 4, Phase 3, Day 1

Oh thank heavens! Some fat allowed. Actually, healthy fat is required at this stage. Every snack. Every meal. I like raw almond butter. I love avocados. Maybe I can make it for 28 days... I can do Phase 3. No problem.

I have not been hungry (except tonight when I was late getting home for dinner). The protein days I was so full there was no temptation to eat anything. Not even what I was supposed to eat.

A friend of mine volunteered that I could make lemonade in Phase 2 - lemons and limes are the only fruits allowed. And stevia or zylitol are allowed, Voila! Lemonade. She even suggested freezing it to take to work - bless her!

So now I just have to figure out how to make it through Phase 2, three more times...

Week 1 Day 3 - Phase 2, Day 1

Epic Fail. My hubby bailed. He managed to choke down an egg white omelet for breakfast and a single packet of tuna for a snack. Then he tried to eat tuna for lunch and failed. He got home tired, cranky and with a headache at 2:30 and told me he couldn't do it. He couldn't eat tuna. He couldn't eat egg whites. He wanted hummus and Syrian bread. Hummus is back on the menu on Friday, although they don't have a sprouted pocket bread that I know of, so he'd have to eat it with sprouted grain tortillas or rice crackers.

I understand why. Phase 2 is hard if you don't eat meat. And harder still when the choices are so limited. Egg whites need fat to reduce the ick factor. Tuna needs mayonnaise. I had hoped I could do an egg salad with mustard, but I don't like the organic stone ground mustard we bought. I choked it down. And I won't do it again.

I am going to keep going without soy, wheat, corn and dairy. If I can get through today and tomorrow, my choices will expand, because I am willing to eat shellfish (crab, shrimp and lobster) and regular salmon. Smoked salmon is too fishy for me and makes me gag. Since I can have olive oil on Phase 3, it's easier to cook everything, too.

Week 1 Phase 1

Holy crap! We have to eat a lot of food! And that's not counting the "optional" veggies.
At the last minute (Saturday) we decided to start Monday. A friend of mine heard about it from me and dove in without thinking and planning. Of course, she eats meat, so Phase 2 is a lot easier for her and she can find something on a menu anywhere.

Yesterday, Day 1, was "interesting." In the Minnesota sense. As in, "I didn't like it." I was on a road trip with my mother to meet some friends. We met at a restaurant. I was worried that there wouldn't be anything for me to eat.. It turned out all right. I ended up with a lovely spinach salad, with the dressing on the side (which I didn't touch). There were red onions, red peppers, and cucumbers. Sliced hard-boiled eggs. I picked out the yolks and stray black olives. And with all the red wine vinegar I could douse it in the meal was lovely. And I ate every bite. No, I didn't have enough protein. I was supposed to have 4.5 egg whites, and probably should have asked for extra hard boiled eggs. I didn't want to be too fussy. I was already being picky.

Did I fail? Yes and no. I didn't get in a gallon of water. I did drink substantially more than I ever have before. Did I eat all my meals and snacks? Yes. Just not on the assigned schedule. Was I tempted to stray? Only once. As I walked into the gas station I thought about chips - sour cream and onion or spicy nacho. And just as quickly brushed it away. I picked up juice and hard boiled eggs for my mother. Got back in the car and proceeded to eat 1.5 cups of fresh blueberries during our three hour drive home.

The amounts of food are enormous. So far, it's taking me nearly an hour to consume everything I am assigned to eat for a meal.

My husband is Mr Negativity. He has a snack late and the timing is off and he's ready to throw in the towel. I have to keep reminding him, it's not about perfection. No one is perfect. We just have to keep doing it and it will get easier. I keep telling myself "I can do anything for two days." And "I can do anything for one week." And "I can do anything for 28 days."

On Friday I can have safflower mayonnaise. And avocado! I love avocado. We can have hummus and olive oil. Meanwhile, the two most dreaded days are ahead of us. The protein packed days where we have very few options. For me it's tuna and egg whites. For my hubby it also includes smoked salmon. I'll let you know how it goes...

Planning...

Started with the digital version on my husband's Nook Tablet, which we both read.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fast-metabolism-diet-haylie-pomroy/1113745604?ean=9780307986283

Got the app for my iPod on iTunes ("The Fast Metabolism Diet App").
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fast-metabolism-diet-app-customized/id626362411?mt=8

Bought a hard copy of the book on Amazon in order to see the charts better and photocopy them for planning. http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Metabolism-Diet-Pounds-ebook/dp/B009UAO0B6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374787644&sr=1-1&keywords=the+fast+metabolism+diet
(Sure wish she'd post the worksheets on her website so we could just download them for planning our meals and snacks.)

And I went to the author's sites to register both here:
http://www.fastmetabolismdiet.com/
and here:
http://shophayliepomroy.com/

Haylie Pomroy sells specially formulated powder and bars to make the diet easier. Although you will have to be prepared to spend a lot of money. Last time I checked the bars were $42 for 12, and they are phase-specific, so you need a box of bars for each phase. A "normal" person would need a minimum of 16 bars if only using them for snacks on Phase 1; plus 16 bars for Phase 2; plus 24 Phase 3 bars. And remember my hubby and I are not "normal", so we probably won't go that route. Although, I am seriously considering it for Phase 2 because of the issues raised in my first post.
(NOTE: As of this writing 25Jul2013, all the bars are out of stock as is Phase 2 powder, so they may not be available for us.)

We need to clear the fridge and the cupboards of anything tempting and use up our cheese and milk. (And enjoy sweet corn on the cob at least once since sweet corn is in season now.) We had to get past my birthday so I could celebrate with alcohol and sugar.

We need to sit down and plan our snacks and meals at least for the first week.

And I want to review what's on the forums for vegetarians.
http://www.fastmetabolismdiet.com/forums/

In the beginning...

My husband heard about a book on NPR and bought it for his Nook tablet. He read part of it and it languished. Then I decided we needed to try something new and he brought it up again. So I read "The Fast Metabolism Diet" by Haylie Pomroy and I am sold. It makes sense. The science seems sound to me.

Now we have to plan. This is not a diet you jump into. Especially if you are vegetarians like we are. We will make some sacrifices. We will not eat wheat, soy, corn, or dairy for 28 days. We will give up caffeine, sugar and sweeteners, and alcohol for 28 days. We will follow the phases each week - two days on Phase 1, two days on Phase 2, three days on Phase 3. And we will begin again each week.

Phase Two worries me the most. We have decided we will eat fish for the Phase Two portion. Not vegetarian. However with soy (and wheat and corn) out of the picture, our options are very limited. We will eat egg whites - you don't have to kill a chicken to get eggs. And they suggest non-GMO, organic soy tempeh for vegans, but only for vegans.

We have to eat a lot. Because we are larger than "normal" we have to increase our portions to 1.5 times the standard serving size. And we have to eat every 3 hours beginning within 30 minutes of getting up each morning.

There is phase-specific exercise, too, and you're not allowed to exercise on an empty stomach. Phase One do cardio. Just once. On one day. Phase Two lift weights. Just once. On one day. Phase Three relax - do yoga, get a massage, etc. Just once. On one of the three days.

It seems doable and daunting at the same time.