Thanks for joining me here, friends.
I thought this whole blogging thing would be a great way to chronicle my time on the Fast Metabolism Diet
Yes. that's right. Another "fad" diet. BUT WAIT! Don't go. Let me explain myself. I promise it's worth hearing.
It all started about three and a half years ago. I had just finished sophomore year of college where I gained 35lbs in 9 months at my lovely, state funded university (coming from my fancy private Ithaca College freshman year, where I dined on organic, vegan, and kosher options at every meal). In Millersville, PA I discovered Sheetz and the ever-so-famous Millersville SugarBowl. Late night fried food runs were part of my everyday culture. Now, I didn't enter MU a slim twig. I started out at 190lbs and came away from that year weighing 225(ish...).
I was done. I needed a change. September of that year, I tried Weight Watchers...and failed miserably after less than a month. My heart really wasn't into it even though I knew it needed to be.
Flash forward a few months to January 2011: my 21st birthday and my yearly doctor's appointment. If seeing the bloated, sized 18 girl in the photos from my birthday wasn't enough, stepping on the scale and seeing 232.2lbs was the breaking point. I was DONE killing my body and being unhappy (not to mention my blood pressure was literally so high, I was a "stroke waiting to happen" according to my doctor - AT TWENTY ONE YEARS OLD!). Hell NO! It was time for a change.
Back to Weight Watchers - successfully this time - and after 3 years...these were the results:
It was 3 years of hard work. A complete lifestyle change in regards to food and fitness. I am now in love with working out, the gym, and anything physical. I started at 232, lost 82 lbs, and finally reached my goal weight of 150lbs this fall.
However, lately, the 2013 holiday season caught up to me, and I put on around 10lbs. It's not a huge deal. I still feel just as fit as ever and my size 8 pants that I so proudly bought last year still fit fine, but the number I see on the scale just doesn't please me.
I tried "clean eating" on my own after the holiday, but it just didn't take. I tried the MyFitnessPal app and kept track of my calories. But I cheated sometimes and even when I didn't, I still wasn't seeing a loss. So, I got desperate for something new. A "jump" to my system. However, from all the knowledge I'd gained from WW, I was not going to do a crazy starvation-cut out all foods you love-then only drink juice for a month-diet. I knew that wasn't healthy and any "weight" I'd loose would be all my precious muscle, which would come back as fat a few weeks later anyway.
So into my life walks (or flies, really) this Fast Metabolism Diet book - all the way from Michigan, courtesy of my boyfriend's mother. At first I thought it'd be another fad, but after sitting down and reading the literature, I "drank the Kool-aid" and decided to commit. The diet is backed by a lot of science and explanation about how our body systems work, and it all actually made sense to me.
The basic idea of the diet is to "reset" a sluggish metabolism by changing up what is eaten every 2-3 days - a series of 3 "phases". (Healthy) carb heavy phase 1, protein heavy phase 2, and then a combination of the two phases, plus healthy fats for phase 3. Each phase accompanied by endless veggies and moderate fruits.
The only "sacrifices" on this diet are cutting out refined sugars, wheats, and processed foods. I was trying to cut these out anyway, so not a HUGE shock to my system. Other, more difficult sacrifices are taking out alcohol and caffeine.
Oh, coffee. How I miss you already...My coworker gave me the brilliant idea to ween myself off of caffeine last week before the big purge this week, and I thank her for it. Saturday/Sunday were my first two days totally coffee free and it was sad and there were migraines from the withdrawal. But today is day three and it's going well so far. I've got herbal tea as a replacement...
More preparations included a huge grocery bill...double what I normally spend...but trying to tell myself that I invested in a lot of meats that will actually last me this week and next and possibly into the third.
I also spend Sunday SLAVING (hah) over the crockpot to make a batch of turkey "chili". A recipe from the FMD book. It's perfect for Phase 1 (Monday/Tuesday). Filled with 5 different types of beans and zucchini, it's sure to be filling. I'm a creature of habit, so I'll be eating it for lunch and dinner both days...and for at least the next two weeks as well, as it made a HUGE batch!!
I also spend Sunday SLAVING (hah) over the crockpot to make a batch of turkey "chili". A recipe from the FMD book. It's perfect for Phase 1 (Monday/Tuesday). Filled with 5 different types of beans and zucchini, it's sure to be filling. I'm a creature of habit, so I'll be eating it for lunch and dinner both days...and for at least the next two weeks as well, as it made a HUGE batch!!
Week 1 started this morning with oatmeal with blueberries....not terribly atypical of my diet, but in dire need of some sweetener. Luckily, stevia is on the list of acceptable foods, so that needs to make it's way to my apartment, ASAP. (See the desperate text to my boyfriend about it...)
Phase 1 will continue today and tomorrow with that chili for lunch and dinner, more oatmeal in the morning, and lots of fruits as snacks (frozen mango, kiwis, apples). Like I said, I'm a creature of habit.
Looking forward to phase 2: PROTEIN. Did someone say STEAK for dinner? Yup. I love the thought of that already!
So, I'd say that's about all for today, friends. It's snowy here in Maryland, so I'm stuck inside, tucked away under blankets with that herbal tea....
Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated on the progress!
Looking forward to phase 2: PROTEIN. Did someone say STEAK for dinner? Yup. I love the thought of that already!
So, I'd say that's about all for today, friends. It's snowy here in Maryland, so I'm stuck inside, tucked away under blankets with that herbal tea....
Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated on the progress!