Day One of The Never Ending Diet Story

So here it is.  October 2014 and I am still the same weight and struggling to lose another pound.  My weight has fluctuated back and forth between losing another couple of pounds and then gaining it back.  I seem to have lost my focus on eating fewer calories so that I can lose.

I am determined to take off more pounds to help out my latest medical issue which is arthritis in my hips.  I read that for every pound I take off takes 12 PSI off of my hips.  That's a lot so even a few pounds helps.

I am using the DASH diet plan beginning with the two-week no sugar or carbs diet.  My goal for today is to follow DAY ONE of the plan.

Day Fifteen

Well, I've been off track a bit and determined to get back on track today.  It started on Sat. when I didn't when well.  Illness always sidetracks my diet.  I started taking my zinc treatment and by Sunday I was better but my body was tired and still trying to fight off the cold.

On Monday I went to strength/aerobic class.  It was excellent. as always,  but it wore me out so much that when I got home I took a 2 hour nap.  Whoa!  Also positive that day was the fact that I spent a great deal of time preparing food that was on the DASH plan for the week and some meals I put in the freezer.

Tuesday I did my crunches and some free weights, but did not get in my walk.  Today I will get my walk in my schedule.

Wednesday I went to strength/aerobic class again and then the marathon trip to town to buy groceries and run errands.  I hadn't been to town for two weeks so the list was long!

Some days are so hectic and I have found that if I did not plan ahead for my meals and have the right food on hand, it is easy to stray off the plan.  I have weighed 1.2 pounds more than I should for the past four days and I am going to try to get back to my 5 pound weight loss by tomorrow.

Day Eleven

I can't remember how many days it's been.  Ah yes.  Ten days later and as of today I have lost 5 lbs.  That would be 1/2 lb. per day.  I think a lot of it is water and not fat, but we shall see.

So cool!  I have been following the DASH Action Plan, which eliminates eating almost all carbs for two weeks.. Yes, that means no sugar, no wine at dinner, no bread, etc...  I do get a little bit hungry and when I do I either drink a glass of water, have a cup of tea or eat some nonfat yogurt.

I really like the MyFitnessPlan website.  It's the first one that I have found that seems really easy to use.  There are some adds, etc. but it's better than the Sparkpeople website. Sometimes simple is better.

I like the fact that if you enter your calories, it will tell you how much you will lose in 5 weeks if you follow your plan.

Day Two

Success on day one.  The DASH diet is incredible.  I am down 1.2 pounds this a.m.  I did some research and found a website called MyfitnessPal.  It seems easy to add foods eaten and breaks down the nutrients and sodium content.  I have planned what I am going to eat today as I find that really helps.

Breakfast:  the same as yesterday
Lunch:  3 oz. pork loin, green salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing, green beans
Dinner:  3 oz. lean ground beef (95%) patty, green beans, green salad
Snack:  1 c. nonfat plain yogurt with 10 almonds, 10 almonds, 1 c. baby carrots

Today is Nordic Track day.  Goal of 12 min.

Day One

Today I begin the DASH Diet Phase I again.   I tried the diet for the first time in Feb. 2013 and yes, it worked.  I lost 20 pounds.  What happened next is exactly what happens every time I try a diet.  I quit focusing on it, start cheating and eating foods that I shouldn't, stop exercising.......  which has resulted in gaining back ten of the pounds I lost.

I need to lose weight to keep my cholesterol at a normal level and also my blood pressure.  It is very important to me as I do not want to go on medication to control it.  So today I will begin Phase I again to lose ten pounds I gained back and then 10 pounds more.  The total loss of 20 pounds.  Then my goal is to maintain the loss for the rest of the year.  

Goal:  Lose 10 pounds

1.  Follow the DASH diet phase I
2.  Exercise
        Strength Class on MW
        Nordic Track on TTHFS (or hike )
         Free Weights on F

My longterm goal is to reach 160 pounds.  I know it will take me more than a year to do it, so one phase at a time.

Breakfast today:   1 egg, Canadian Bacon, Vegetables
Cheese & almonds
Lunch:  Green Salad w vinegar and oil dressing
             Stirfry veggies
             Tuna
snack:  carrots
Dinner:  Pork with a green salad, carrot sticks, veggies

Snack:  Yogurt w almonds