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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Fun Monday # 44 - The Dreaded Diet

Grace - MamaRehama is our hostess this week and her assignment is:

Many people make resolutions during the month of January and they usually include diets/eating healthy/losing weight and all that good stuff. I myself decided to try the Weight Watchers this time round. My assignment is to tell us about a diet or two (Atkins, Sonoma, Weight Watchers, South Beach, the You on a Diet, Best Life, The Abs Diet, The Zone, Cabbage Soup, E-Diets, Dr Phil, Jenny Craig, The Meditteranean Diet, Nutrisystem, Slim-Fast, Suzzane Sommers or No Name diet etc etc) that you have tried and what you liked or did not like about it. You can tell us about one diet that you had so much success with, or another that was a torture to follow or both. AND/OR Photo assignment: post a photo of something/someone that makes you feel good about yourself. It could be your loved one, your pet, your part of the world, anything goes.

My New Years resolution this year has NOTHING to do with dieting because I always fail. But, a couple of years ago, I tried one and it worked pretty good ... at least for a while !!

The South Beach Diet - it can't be classified as a low-carb diet, a low-fat diet, or a high-protein diet. Its rules: Consume the right carbs and the right fats and learn to snack strategically. Confession: I just put away the Chex Mix I was munching on while putting together this post - guilt got to me !

It really isn't a "diet" - it's a life style change, in regards to the foods you eat. You can eat a great variety of foods - it's mantra - NO WHITE - stay away from white breads, stay away from white potatoes, stay away from white rice, stay away from white pasta - and sugar too - it becomes carbs.

So, it took me a couple of times to get started (phase one is a killer).

I failed time and time again. I felt tired all the time and seemed to always be hungry. My head would ache and I was a total B!tch to be around.

I then decided to Sh*t can phase one and concentrated on phase two. I plugged away and vowed not to give up.

After a while (quite a while, it seemed), people started to notice that I had lost a few pounds. My clothes started getting a bit looser - the belly fat was disappearing. I was able to buy some clothes in a smaller size. I was feeling pretty good about myself and it really wasn't all that hard. A lifestyle change - that's what it was. Being constantly aware of what you are putting into your mouth ...

I lost 30 lbs. and was for the first time in a long, long time - under that God awful curse of 200 lbs. People never believed me when I actually confessed to my weight - I am 5 ft. 10 in. and blessed with height so the weight is distributed - but I knew how much I weighed and didn't like it one bit.

I went on a cruise in June of 2007. I ate often AND like a pig. ANYTHING I wanted.

When I got back, I hadn't gained an ounce.

I was feeling so good about it and eventually sabotaged all of my hard work. I no longer paid attention to the lifestyle change that I had created for myself. I was still mindful of some of the things I ate and careless about so many others. It creeps back on - Yes, it does.

So, now I am determined to do it again and lose 30 plus pounds this time (I didn't gain it all back - but still hate myself for the pounds that I let slip back on to my body). It wasn't really all that hard once you got into a routine - you get tired of some of the same foods - over and over again. But, if you are willing to try new things, there is plenty of variety.

All of this - because I am going on a cruise again in October of this year. And I want to feel good AND look good too.

And this time, I vow not to fail - both before and after.

And now, for the photo part -

Post a photo about something/someone that makes you feel good - um ... looks like I have failed to read the rest of it !


Dark Chocolate !!

Make sure to visit Grace and see what everyone else has to say ...

13 comments:

SJINCO said...

I didn't realize you had lost 30lbs when you did South Beach - that's awesome. And you can do it again! I know you can...

And it's not like that cruise in October shouldn't be enough motivation to do it.

You know I was successful with South Beach, and I've even had my success (so far) on Weight Watchers. It's all mind over matter...

Good luck!

Sayre said...

I wish I had your height to spread my weight out on... I'm only 5'4" and on me, 210 looks like A LOT. But so did 240, which is where I started.

Having let the cruise sabotage your goals the last time, at least this time you can go in knowing that it can happen and take steps to prevent it! I know you'll look maaa-velous when you step on board!

Anonymous said...

Hey Darlin...Just a quick note to say hi and let you know that my beautiful scarf is with me every step of the way on this discombobulated road trip...we had lunch with Sayre and are now in Pensacola...promise that the next time we are in DC, lunch is on me. Have a wonderful week and stay in touch. Kath

Hootin Anni said...

I've read somewhere, in fact in a lot of places, that dark chocolate is GOOD for you.

My Fun Monday isn't much, but I posted it...come on over and say howdy if you can. Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

I think I'm a nutritional bigot...I love the white stuff. Good luck losing the pounds...you did it once!!!

Anonymous said...

Mmmmmmm...carbs *drool* Good for you for making, and re-dedicating yourself to, lifestyle changes that you feel will improve your quality of life! In my opinion, there is WAY too much pressure on people - especially women - to be "thin". I think we need to concentrate more on "healthy", and it sounds like you are doing that!

Anonymous said...

dont beat up on yourself, just get back on the right track and be determined and patient. You know what works so go back to it. Good luck, I'm sure you will be looking "HOT for your next cruise.

ChrisB said...

It's such hard work losing weight but the cruise is good motivation to get back on track. I know you can do it.

Dark choc is good for you in very small doses!

Faye said...

Um! Dark Chocolate(the capitilization was instinctive!. And you chose the right kind--Doves.

You found the key--mindfulness. Whatwever the progam you're trying to adopt, it can't be done on automatic pilot. Good luck with the cruise goals. Where are you going?

Anonymous said...

i cannot do without the white stuff, 30 pounds is great, you did it before so you can do it again. thanks for playing and I love the chocolate

Living Life said...

Well a cruise is certainly incentive for getting to that desired weight. Good luck to you. Oh, and that dark chocolate looks heavenly! Did I mention that candy is my weakness?

Gattina said...

I have never done a diet, I am lucky, I don't like sweets or fat things and soft drinks even when I was a child.

CPA Mom said...

dude, I'm 5'10" too and well over 200 for years now....and it doesn't look good at all! I'm glad you are still going to be able to go on the cruise in October and I KNOW you will LOOK fabulous while you are on it!