Good Nutrition is the new Comfort Food

Phase II | Day Seven

Weight Loss: 17.6 lbs.

So it appears that I have caught a bit of a cold.  It is strange, it started out as allergies, then a little congestion, then today it is pretty evident I have a cold.  I am going to continue on with the shots and the diet as planned and see how it goes over the next couple of days.

I am basically treating this like any other cold - minus the Nyquil (which is loaded with sugar).  Tonight my beloved made me some homemade chicken and celery soup.  The broth did wonders for my congestion and now I'm coughing a bit but I know that just means it is clearing up.

Most people will agree on most comfort foods - mashed potatoes, meatloaf, green beans, etc.  What I am realizing is that comfort does not have to mean fattening.  Comfort should mean nutrition-filled.  The chicken soup I had tonight was probably the best I've ever had and it wasn't full of sodium or preservatives.

Now that's comfort food I can get used to!

Steakhouse Dining

Phase II | Day Six

Weight Loss: 15.2 lbs

Today was a very busy day of preparation.  It seems that organization is the key to success with this process.  As I mentioned before, I do fell like Desmond from the Dharma Initiative - preparing shots, cutting chicken, and strawberries into pre-packaged portions, etc.  It is a good feeling to be organized.

We purchased a spice rack and filled it with the primary spices we seem to be using.

We are using a lot of garlic powder, onion powder, basil, celery salt - all spices I have utilized in the past.  With this new diet however, I am being exposed to quite a few new spices: Turmeric, Cumin, Marjoram. While they have all been included in meals I have enjoyed in the past - I have not really cooked with them much.

For dinner tonight I had a 4oz filet mignon and grilled asparagus.  To prepare the filet I only used salt and pepper.   From what I have found simple preparation is always better when dealing with good cuts of beef.

The asparagus posed a unique challenge as I typically toss them in some extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle on sea salt/kosher salt and ground pepper.  Since olive oil is not on the approved list, I rinsed the asparagus and then quickly added the spices.  Voila! I was able to make the spices stick without having to add oil.  I tossed them on the grill and after about 10 minutes they were warm, slightly crunchy and DELICIOUS!

When I started this experience, I was really unsure how successful this Foodie would be cutting out all the foods that had enriched my life.  Much to my delight I am finding new and healthy ways of cooking food that still excite me!

Breakfast For Dinner

Phase II | Day Five

Weight Loss: 13.8 lbs

So after a very busy day at work I came home to the comforting smell of bouillon being made. It seems as if my beloved has caught the cooking bug so tomorrow for lunch we are planning on homemade chicken and celery soup. How delicious does that sound? Pretty delicious when most of the meals lately haven't been even close to being able to be labeled "comfort food".

Usually I am a "little bit of coffee with my cream" kinda gal so I have been very hesitant to try any sort of black coffee. This afternoon I treated myself to an Americano and boy did it add some pep to my step! To my surprise I really liked it! This weekend I am going to buy an Italian Espresso maker so I can try and work that into my morning routine. I think it will do wonders for my productivity during the first few hours of the day.

For lunch I had my delicious shrimp and spinach salad with lemon juice dressing. It really is becoming one of my favorites. Good flavor and easy to pack and take to work.

For dinner we had one of my favorite things in the world - breakfast for dinner! We figured out that 5 oz. of egg whites can be substituted as a protein (for 150 calories) so we decided to make omelets.

I sliced up a beefsteak tomato, weighed it, then took one slice and diced it to add to the egg whites. I tossed in a minced garlic clove and some pepper, sea salt, etc.  For my vegetable I used the remaining slices of tomato as my vegetable and added salt and pepper. It was just like I was sitting in a New York diner across from my best friend Jewie while he ate his omelet with spinach and extra feta. Yum!

So far I have lost 13 lbs! It is already showing in my pants especially around my waste. The sacrifice and dedication is paying off. I am very pleased with the results so far!

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Civic Responsibility vs. Nutritional Responsibility

Phase II | Day One

Weight Loss: 2.6 lbs

Today was the first time I have ever been called for jury duty.  Since I was selected I obviously cannot say much, however I will say this - it has proved to be a very, very interesting experience.

To begin the day I woke up, took my shot and weighed myself (a gain of 3 lbs but I'm not worried).  Then I showered, got dressed, grabbed my packed lunch and work bag, and made the short walk to the lightrail to catch the train downtown.  I had never been selected so from everything I had heard from others I fully expected to be released somewhere around mid-day but took my lunch just in case.

After a very long jury selection process, I was surprised to be selected but not entirely disappointed.  I find the legal system fascinating and something I have never really been exposed to.  It should be fun fulfilling my civic duty.

After a few minutes, we were escorted in to a room and told the good news that the judge - because the process had taken so long - was going to purchase Crazy Jim's Pizza and Salad for everyone. Hurray!  ...not so much.

Talk about temptation! I was thrown for a minute but I pressed on.  While everyone jumped up and served themselves pizza I prepared my Spinach and Grilled Chicken Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing that I made myself and especially since it was day one, I WAS DETERMINED NOT to deviate.  While my fellow jurors were filling the room with "mmmmmm's" and "oh this is delicious" many of them were encouraging and almost jealous when they saw what I was eating. 

Today I was very proud to be an American AND very thankful that it was day one.  Had it been another day I may not have been able to make it.

Goodbye Bleedin' Armadillo Goom's Cake

Phase I | Day Two

Today was day two of "fat loading". I knew today was supposed to be a loading day but I found myself distracted with planning and instead ready to move to phase two.

On an encouraging note I woke up to a five pound weight loss but that was probably just water weight. I am looking forward to many more mornings where the scale takes a dip.

We purchased some magical Stevia - flavored in a variety of options. We picked up Valencia Orange, English Toffee and even Chocolate! We already used the plain liquid Stevia to prepare a vinaigrette dressing for tomorrow's meal #1: Chicken and Strawberry Spinach Salad.

While preparing I was shocked at the amount of some items. I was honestly imagining teeny tiny portions but I guess it is all about WHAT you choose. Holy MOUNDS of spinach Batman!

I am beginning to feel a bit like Desmond or some other member of the Dharma Initiative from LOST: portioning out meals, preparing shots.... Work is my button to push every 180 minutes.

Tomorrow however I will not be pushing the button - I have jury duty so lunch poses a unique challenge but I am up to it. I prepared my lunch complete with these great little plastic containers that have a built in cooling pack. It pays to be organized.

I am a bit too excited to sleep but I know morning will come quickly.

Farewell my friend -  for my final "meal" I had a slice of Bleedin' Armadillo Groom's Cake.

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Coffee Farewell

Phase I | Day One

Took shot one today. Not feeling anything yet - of course.

I said goodbye to one of my favorites today - a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee lite with hazelnut.

Since it is fat loading day #1 I got a glazed donut too. Normally there would be too much guilt associated with it but today it is more about bidding farewell.

Shot was easier to administer than I thought it would be. I am looking forward to the challenge of sustaining the mental stamina this takes to achieve and to coming up with some new and creative ways to make food still exciting.

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