Ideal Protein diet DAY 2

DAY 2,

wow! A little bit of a different experience today. I woke up, ate some 'eggs' from the plan, and well, they are interesting. I think I may have over cooked them or something. That is one thing you have to learn with this, the consistency you prefer and what tastes best for you. Ate those down and headed to the gym. ** You are not allowed to workout during the beginning of this program due to the very low caloric intake you are under, and I'm sure for various other reasons.** SO, I just walked and biked. Very, VERY slow and easy on both. I burned 84 calories in 45 min. of doing both. This is about what you burn in that time just sitting or doing nothing, maybe washing dishes. (I would normally burn around 500 cal. during that same time at a normal pace) I just love going to the gym and working out (which apparently isn't my problem so much with my weight, but my food). So, allowed to walk ONLY I decided I could do those 2 without my heart rate getting over 89 BPM. It worked, but didnt feel quite as satisfied as I'd hoped.

Afterwards, decided to follow another suggestion in another cleansing diet: the wet sauna. Sweating without aerobic activity helps the lymphatic system and immune system cleanse your body. Dry brushing also really helps. This diet does do some 'detoxing' while resetting your pancreas (allowing it to rest by not eating too many carbs and no sugar or alcohol), letting your kidneys flush themselves out by limiting salt intake, and giving your liver a rest from processing your normally, higher fat diet and getting your fat to be the center of burning energy for your body. By limiting fat intake, your body must turn to stored fat to get energy now, other than your food, which then starts to melt off as your liver becomes cleansed and highly efficient. (this is all paraphrased, I'm not a Dr., only a layman with an interest in the workings of the human body).

There is a manual of 'what ifs' they provide: It states what to do in the event of headaches, nausea, Fatigue, Muscle Cramps, Bad breath and Constipation. I didn't have anything my 1st day. Felt fine. Decided I should rest and take it easy though. Didn't to start running crazy amount of errands and get to not feeling well. The 2nd day, wow, so much different, noticed major sugar craving and wanted chocolate and carbs pretty bad. It says they should go away by the 4th day or so. I hope so! I've tried to abstain before, but only lasted 3 days, now I know why! The body holds carbs for about 3 days, so the body is in cycle of craving the sugar that carbs create in our system. You eat sugar, body uses that as energy rather than your fat, you crash, need more sugar and cycle starts again, along with high caloric intake, then your calories get mostly stored as more fat, so what you are really burning when eating sugar is just sugar, and no fat! The need to cleanse from this eating behavior: Sugar makes you fat! In order to kick in the fat burning, you have to take all immediate sources of it from your diet, and to get rid of the sweet tooth, which YES, IS temporary, may not feel like it though, from what I've been told you wont even crave it once it's kicked to the curb. (and YES, sugar IS addictive just like an illegal drug, sugar has been shown to have some same effects as cocain). Once you kick this craving, you can then more easily navigate the path of health eating at the end. This way of eating is maintained for 90% of your weight loss goal. Then you proceed to stage 2. I'm supposed to be on this until 1/31/2010, to lose 20 lbs, at a safe bet of 3lbs a week, up to about 5lbs a week (for most women). Men can lose: 4-7 lbs a week. (Isn't that always the way it works!) The only thing keeping me from binging or taking even one little nibble: My end goal is so worth it. So, I forcast getting to stage 2 around 1/15/2010 maybe. I'd love to be the 5 lbs a week and be done in a month, but don't want to hope that, in the event it doesn't happen. 2 months is fine. (oh and i started this diet 12/4/09).

I chose to do this diet through the holidays for not only weight loss, but also a very therapeutic reason. If you haven't read my other posts, quick recap: I lost my mother at 22 due to "natural", albeit, too early, causes. She had symptoms of ALS, which cannot be clearly diagnosed in all cases. I am terrified this may be a genetic disease and doing my best to ensure great health so this isn't as much a possibility for me, in the event it is hereditary. (her mom passed away only 10 years older than her from the same thing). SO, I decided after talking to my therapist, (gotta have one when your only parent passes away so early), to embark on a self-love task. I knew that (deep down), doing this now, would help me be more confident while losing weight, not feel as pressured during the holidays to eat, and mark my boundaries and focus on me more. I apparently have few boundaries with most people, I don't get walked on, but I don't stand my ground with family and friends as much as I should. I either shy away completely or am too 'OK that sounds good' and follow along. SO, I'm taking a stand, "I am losing weight, and this is how I'm going to eat until necessary. I love you, my family, but understand this isn't for you, but me." (my family mind you, is my husbands, he has 2: dad and mom, divorced and remarried, so it's all those family members). The reason for me not spending time with my few remaining family members is a more personal story that I don't wish to post.

This holiday will be one of a revolution for me, not a war like mentality of rebellion, but rather, a time of great reflection and taking note of me, and who I really am, and see those changes I'm beginning upon with the utmost excitement and hope to see what affect I can have on my own self and life. I'm open for positive changes this coming year, what a better way to celebrate than lose the forever, 'last 20 lbs'...? 1/2 way into 2010! The idea seems absolutely fantastic to me, so, here goes day #2, cravings unrecognized and all. I will have a healthy relationship with my food! (and look good in the process!)

Note: When the Dr's for this program were checking me in and getting my stats, they asked if I 'was a glutton for punishment' starting this so close to Christmas. No: I actually will be doing something really great for myself and achieving a 4 year goal, long overdue.

So, there you go cravings, I will be leaving you in the dust today.

**NOTE: this entry was journaled and entered a day later**