Hello All!
If you're currently reading this, thanks for coming back!
I've now made it through 2.5 days of the Fast Metabolism Diet - totally through the first cycle of phase one and currently in the middle of phase two, what I like to call Protein Packed Power Days (okay, I don't ACTUALLY call it that. But I'm a cheesy English teacher and I needed to sound catchy and use alliteration). Anywho...
Phase 1 completion was pretty easy. That turkey chili I showed you all last post was crazy delicious. Eating it for lunch and dinner two days in a row was a breeze. What didn't work in phase one? Have you ever BAKED grapefruit and covered it in cinnamon? Blech, I don't recommend it. The lack of sweetener (still need to get that Truvia. Jeff, are you reading this?), plus the heat (my own theory) made it even more bitter than usual. That's definitely not a keeper. Sorry, Haylie Pomroy. Another success was making it to Tuesday Trivia night at the local pub and being surrounded by delicious crab dip, fries, and beer, and NOT indulging. I was the dork who brought her grapefruit - raw this time - from home to snack on during the game.
Phase 2 definitely started with a bang. I snuck on the scale this morning - this is something I really try to NOT do during the midweek. I know that weight fluctuates daily and I don't like to get my hopes up and then be disappointed on the real weigh in day. However, I got on this morning and was down 3+ pounds. Impressive and scary all at the same time. I'm now super curious to see what the real weigh in on Monday brings, but that number this morning really helped keep me motivated.
I also started my morning with a delicious egg white scramble. I am the girl who gags at egg whites so I was really not looking forward to this. However, I sauteed some red onions, mushrooms, and spinach before adding the eggs, topped it with some crab seasoning, and it was great!! I am looking forward to noshing on that again tomorrow morning.
Phase two snacks are protein filled:
If you're currently reading this, thanks for coming back!
I've now made it through 2.5 days of the Fast Metabolism Diet - totally through the first cycle of phase one and currently in the middle of phase two, what I like to call Protein Packed Power Days (okay, I don't ACTUALLY call it that. But I'm a cheesy English teacher and I needed to sound catchy and use alliteration). Anywho...
Phase 1 completion was pretty easy. That turkey chili I showed you all last post was crazy delicious. Eating it for lunch and dinner two days in a row was a breeze. What didn't work in phase one? Have you ever BAKED grapefruit and covered it in cinnamon? Blech, I don't recommend it. The lack of sweetener (still need to get that Truvia. Jeff, are you reading this?), plus the heat (my own theory) made it even more bitter than usual. That's definitely not a keeper. Sorry, Haylie Pomroy. Another success was making it to Tuesday Trivia night at the local pub and being surrounded by delicious crab dip, fries, and beer, and NOT indulging. I was the dork who brought her grapefruit - raw this time - from home to snack on during the game.
Phase 2 definitely started with a bang. I snuck on the scale this morning - this is something I really try to NOT do during the midweek. I know that weight fluctuates daily and I don't like to get my hopes up and then be disappointed on the real weigh in day. However, I got on this morning and was down 3+ pounds. Impressive and scary all at the same time. I'm now super curious to see what the real weigh in on Monday brings, but that number this morning really helped keep me motivated.
I also started my morning with a delicious egg white scramble. I am the girl who gags at egg whites so I was really not looking forward to this. However, I sauteed some red onions, mushrooms, and spinach before adding the eggs, topped it with some crab seasoning, and it was great!! I am looking forward to noshing on that again tomorrow morning.
Phase two snacks are protein filled:
I indulged on the first round of lunch meat and cucumbers as I wrote this...can't say it's my favorite and I've already got it on tap for tomorrow. I haven't eaten lunch meat in ages, so that's probably a part of it. Can't say I'll be snacking on that next week. As for the cucumbers, I portioned out a LOT for today and tomorrow...so I just quickly took the opportunity and turned tomorrow's cucumbers into "pickles" by soaking them in vinegar with some salt, pepper, and dill. Can't go wrong with any of those flavors!
Lunches today and tomorrow are a total success....except today's protein. I got over excited and decided I wanted baked salmon on my salad today and tuna tomorrow. Only after I baked the salmon did I realize it's not *technically* approved for phase 2...but smoked salmon is? I figured it was close enough. The real star of the show was the "dressing" I made. Limited to no oil allowed and my meager pantry, I came up with combining red wine vinegar, yellow mustard, and onions into a super tasty topping for my salad! Go figure!
What's really been getting me through the day is looking forward to tonight's dinner: steak and asparagus. To me, steak is a rare treat (as is any animal protein, so this phase is a whole new world for me), so eating it TWO nights in a row has got me giddy. The preparation is simple: asparagus (salt and peppered) underneath slices of steak. I'm hoping the juices from the steak help the asparagus along, since again, I'd usually use a little EVOO (extra virgin olive oil for those of you not as obsessed with Food Network as I) to roast things. I made cute little foil packets and intend to roast it off in the oven after the gym tonight. I'm saving time by roasting tomorrow's dinner too to just reheat - easy peasy.
What I really love about this diet so far is A) it's given me definitive guidelines to the "clean eating" I was attempting to do myself after the holidays and B) it forces me to take the time and cook for myself. Many people see this as a burden, but I'm crazy about being in the kitchen and some times I let life get in the way and I turn to quicker meals (like peanut butter banana sandwiches for lunch) to save time.
Well friends, I've settled in with a cup of blueberry herbal tea (my second favorite so far, after the peach), and am relaxing before a fun night of step aerobics.
Thanks for keeping up!
Well friends, I've settled in with a cup of blueberry herbal tea (my second favorite so far, after the peach), and am relaxing before a fun night of step aerobics.
Thanks for keeping up!