I started the 17 Day Diet. This diet consists of 4 cycles, each 17 days long. I finished the first cycle yesterday and lost a total of 5 pounds. I was hoping to lose more, but it is a decrease in weight, so I can't be too upset. Today, I start cycle 2. The 17 Day Diet basically consists of eating lots of lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and some dairy. Then in the 2nd cycle, you add in some healthy carbs like brown rice, oatmeal, beans, etc. Then on cycle 3, you add in more types of fruits and vegetables and some other foods, then cycle 4 is the maintenance stage. That is the brief rundown of the diet.
I'm excited to share that I'm officially out of the "obese" category according to the BMI chart, and in the "overweight" category. Although I'm still considered overweight, it feels good to not be considered obese. (That is just such an ugly word).
Some good things:
- I went shopping, and I'm fitting in much smaller clothes. I started out as a size 20 in Old Navy jeans, and (although they were tight) I was able to get into a size 10! I'm half my size!
- Chris rewarded my hard work with a new pair of tennis (workout) shoes and a new workout tank top. (So now I can be stylish while working out...haha!)
- I bought a new swimsuit. Although I'm not strutting around the pool in it like some swimsuit model, it was nice to buy a cute swimsuit (that was not being sold in the plus size section) and that didn't have a full on skirt at the bottom.
- Chris' eating habits are changing, and he has been losing weight as well.
Some tough things:
- I've been getting discouraged that I'm not "there" yet. I want to be in the maintenance stage SO BAD, and it's frustrating that I still have 25 more pounds to go.
- I've felt like giving up. I mean, hey, I'm out of the obese category, I've lost 85 pounds, and I'm way more fit than I was. I lose more weight later. I need a break. (Don't worry, I'm not giving up - these are just the thoughts that have been going through my head).
- I have been feeling like I've been/am becoming obsessed with weight loss. I feel like everything revolves around this. I'm still processing this because I literally just had this thought/revelation last night. There needs to be a balance in life. I'm going to struggle with food and weight my entire life, but does everything I do have to revolve around my weight? Maybe for now it does until I reach my goal, then I won't be so consumed with it. I know that so many aspects of life contribute to my weight. Food, exercise, stress, even relationships can contribute to my weight loss. So I want to be conscious of these things so that I can continue to lose weight, however, I don't want it to be the only thing I ever talk about with people. I don't want it to be the only thing that dictates my day, my activities, my conversations, my thoughts. Like I said, I'm still processing all of this, but I guess the bottom line is I just don't want to be consumed by this even though it is important - it's not the MOST important thing.
So my birthday is 12 days away. Obviously, I will not meet my goal by that date (unless someone has some magic drink that will instantly make me skinny. In which case I will drink it, become skinny, then proceed to beat you with a stick for not giving it to me sooner). But seriously, I intend to stay on the 17 day diet, at least for cycle 2. I will splurge on my birthday (we're having sushi), and then jump back on the diet the day after. I will do my best to keep losing weight and reaching my goal.
The "90 Day Fitness Challenge" that I wrote about a while ago is going good. I'm still doing it - reading the entries every day, trying to continue to create a lifestyle. The 17 day diet is what is keeping my eating under control, but the 90 day challenge is educating me, encouraging me, and helping to keep me structured in my weight loss.
So there's the good, the bad, and the in between. My new goal is to be at my goal weight by October 18th - my two year anniversary of my weight loss journey. I hope to be at my goal weight before this date, but if I'm not, I think this is a realistic date to lose the weight by. I need to be held accountable to this date and to this goal. It's time to finish the first leg of this journey. Thanks for your love, support, accountability, and encouragement. I so greatly appreciate it.
Love,
Lauren
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