Hi Everyone,

I am pleased to announce that I am still alive and kicking. I am surprised to say that this really isn’t to bad.  I have done many diets in my life, but never one with so many restrictions and I thought that I would be suffering.  I must be honest, I love food!  For the better part of a day I’m thinking about what to eat, what’s for dinner and if I should have another snack.  I usually overcompensate for this behavior by taking an extra kick boxing class or some standing jumping jacks always help.  But alas this yo-yo dieting needs to stop once and for all!!!!

I can’t believe how great I feel.  I am not hungry at all.  That’s not to say that I’ll ever be able to walk by a piece of chocolate with out mourning, but the fact that I’m thinking about it less is a giant step in the right direction.  I have just finished day 5.  Honestly I didn’t even think I would get this far without some kind of breakdown or cheat, but I did.  Maybe it’s because of the public broadcast, but whatever it is I feel kind of proud.

I’m really enjoying the foods that are provided on this diet.  I have taken the road of least resistance.  Even though there are many different options to choose from I have decided to have as little variation as possible to keep things simple.  My day starts with a pre-made shake (chocolate of course) , a bottle of water and some supplements (potassium, multi-vitamin and calcium-mag).  I drink the shake in the car on the way to work.  It’s not just good it’s fabulous and it really fills you up.  I would have to say this shake is my favorite part of my food day.  Lunch is my next meal (you can decide how you space your foods out) and I choose to have the pasta (or so its called).  My office manager Pina prepares it for me which makes things soooo nice .  I have to have two cups of steamed vegetables with this meal, so I bring those from home and mix them directly into my pasta.  The pasta is an Ideal Protein meal that you just add water to and warm up in the microwave.  It’s actually quite yummy and when you mix in your veggies you feel like you are eating a big meal.  It’s very filling and I don’t feel deprived.  On the contrary I’m probably eating more food,  more regularly now then I ever have before.  At around 3pm I have a snack.  I choose the chocolate drink (big surprise)  It’s another protein pack that you just mix with cold water.  It tastes like chocolate milk, not kind of like it, actually chocolate milk.  Nothing wrong with that!!!  Dinner is 5oz of protein or 7oz of seafood, 2 cups of steamed veggies and unlimited lettuce and cucumber.  So I grill a chicken breast with some lemon and pepper and a bit of soy sauce and steam some broccoli and cauliflower.  It’s  ok. This is probably my least favorite meal of the day just because I have always been such a dinner person.  I mean I cook for my family everyday (or I used too) and I loved coming up with new and tasty meals.  Well for the time being those days are done, and I am definitely not cooking for anyone. That would be too painful.  My husband is coping ok, I think he snuck out to Harvey’s the other night, but what can you do?  At around 9pm I can have a snack.  I really like the vanilla pudding.  It is so delicious.  The best part is I usually have to force myself to make this snack because I’m not even hungry.  I’m supposed to drink 4 bottles of water a day (500ml bottles), but this  I find more difficult than the whole diet.  Ugggg, I’m in the ladies room every five minutes.  I figure that the back and forth to the bathroom must also be a good extra calorie burn….all that movement

I had a business dinner this week and I was so worried about how I was going to eat without making a spectacle of myself.  I spoke to the waiter in advance and told him my restrictions.  He told me no problem.  I had a 3 course meal at the Octagon and didn’t cheat!!!  I started with a green salad.  I had oil and vinegar on the side and added what was allowed.  My main course was a salmon steak grilled with only lemon and pepper with a side of steamed vegetables.  It was so yummy.  I finished my meal with a cup of coffee.  I was satisfied and proud, for me this was a real success.  Some how I think with more limitations it makes it easier to stick because there is no question of what you can and can’t do.

Now I’m not going to lie, I would have lovvvved a Martini, but not as much as I’d like a smaller tush, so sacrifice made and I’m better for it.

It’s 5 days and I’ve lost 5 pounds.  Can you believe it????  It’s kind of crazy that I lost that much weight and I’m not even totally miserable.  I don’t want to get too excited because I still have 3 and 1/2 weeks to go.  I really think I can do this though!!!!

Tomorrow is my beautiful nephews 4th b-day party.  I’m a bit worried. I mean there will be cake!!!!  I’m planing to save my chocolate drink for dessert so I can have something sweet while they serve the delicious, icing covered, layer cake.  I’m bringing my own dinner with me in a tupperware.  I never thought I’d be that girl.  I guess what my doctor told me is true.  My weight has always been my choice.  So now I’m choosing it over cake.  I think I’ll be happier with this choice in the long run than the piece of cake in the short run.

Eyal (the nutritionist)  is also doing extremely well on this diet.  He cheats a bit though.  He has an infrared sauna at home and he’s been sweating off extra calories on top of the fact that men already lose weight faster.  I will have to check the manual, but as far as I’m concerned this is just not fair.  We have discussed my concerns, he just laughs at me.  Sooo not funny

So in summary, this really isn’t  bad.  I think I am well on my way to achieving not just my goal weight but a new sense of self.  It’s really very exciting.  I promise to update again soon.

Until next time, take care of you!

xoxo

Shawn Solomon