Still Cruising.....

Neurosis still happening. 

I weighed in at the gym again (tsk-tsk, I know!). And it was at 154 too, which is up from yesterday there (when it was closer to 150). Hopefully, this will all balance out, and I will soon have a whoosh of two pounds. That being said, I don't work until Thursday so it will be a long wait!

On to something more beneficial - my logs. 

Meals: 

M1: oatbran w/ protein, egg whites

M2: yogurt, tuna, jell-o

M3: more yogurt, coffee w/ protein

M4: chicken w/ cottage cheese and garlic

Total Calories: 1700ish. 61% from protein

Exercise:

5K walk to work

2 mile run

25 minutes Precor

I felt so hungry all day, like empty in side. Now, when I punch in my calories, I cannot imagine why! It seems as though I ate enough. When I was finished my workout, i just felt nauseous. Completely void of anything substantial inside me. I feel better now, after a yogurt and some protein. And I feel bloated. Does that make sense - feeling empty and bloated at the same time. This too shall pass......

Yesterday's dinner pics pour vous; 

Sweet and Salty stirfry

First, saute some broccoli, onions, peppers, garlic

Add seasoning; coriander, ginger, black pepper, sea salt

Then add your beef (marinated in soy sauce and brown sugar twin).

        

Add some yellow beans (can I eat these???)

                                   

  

Serve on a bed of spinach, with some cooked squash. 

(with awful counters, that came with the house, that we will eventually replace)

Delicious. If you pretend while looking at the picture, you could swear those beans were pasta. (You can eat beans right? Not like bean beans, but yellow or green beans.)

Cruising Day 6: Protein only

No glorious horns a blowing.

I weighed in this morning, and after 1 week on the Dukan, I was 154lbs or 70kg.

Start Weight: 158lbs or 71.8kg
One week in: 154 or 70kg

I think I felt like I was lower. Weighing on the gym scale, perhaps gave me false hope. Or maybe I'm bloated? Or is 4 pounds good for one week for someone like me? I know it's not a bad number, I just felt 'less'. I'm neurotic. Just to let you know that. You will come to understand it sooner or later. To tell you the truth, I was considering telling you (and myself) that I didn't weigh in today - but then I thought, isn't this what the blog is supposed to be about. The REALITIES of a diet. The ups, the downs, and me dealing with all of them. So there it is.

The one thing I feel I should get out there right now - as it will be an issue at a future date, and is 'somewhat' already - is that I have digestive issues. TMI??? I don't 'go' as often as most people, and I know that a high protein diet will aggrevate this. I've been somewhat reasonable this past week - but I'll tell you right now i haven't went today or yesterday. I like to think that once I go, the weight will come down a bit. Nothing like piling meals upon meals on top of each other. Especially when they are tuna and eggs! My husband will love me tonight! Aren't you glad you read my blog?

So anyhow - I'll check back in later with my meal log and exercise, as well as some pics of last nights beef stirfry.

Cruise Day 5 - PV Day

No Weigh in

Sorry folks. No weigh in today - but I promise one tomorrow. I'm dying to know myself! It was just too darn cold to walk any further than I had to. And I did A LOT of walking.

Slept in today, which is not unusual for me whatsoever. If I'm not working, you can guarantee I'll get out of bed around 9 or 10am. Probably not a good habit. I know that for a fact, as I am as Sleep Technician by trade! My job is to help people sleep! Not setting good examples, am I? So, needless to say, didn't get much done today, beyond the gym. No cleaning house, no emails, no catching up with friends, no projects. Nadda. Oh well! That is what Sunday is for. Doing nothing.

As promised, here is the delectable dessert I devoured last night;

Greek Yogurt and Jello Parfait

(recipe quite obvious!)

SO anyhow, on to the logs. 

My meals (not all had as of yet)

M1: oatbran and greek yogurt (w/ a bit of flax meal)

M2: some pepperoni and CHERRY DIET COKE (too die for...not many places in Canada have this)

M3: beef stirfry w/ miscellaneous veggies, on top of salad (include squash!)

M4: not sure if I will, but maybe some yogurt, or tuna on cucumber

Lots of coffee w/ milk. Not enough water. Must drink more (still lots of time). 

Total calories: Just over 1100. With only 40% coming from protein (????). However, I didn't put the appropriate nutritional stats for my pepperoni, and I think it would be higher on pepperoni than presumed. 

Exercise: 5K walk/run (half and half)

              30 minute Upper Body Workout

              25 minute Precor

              5K walk home! 

Doing great! Can't wait to see tomorrow's weigh in!

Off to the Gym

And maybe a weigh in later????

I might stop by work and weigh in. Now that is commitment! I might be crazy to go to work on a Sunday, but meh! It's not like I haven't been called crazy before now!

Just to edit yesterday; I had more chicken then intended. And I had the most glorious dessert which I took a picture of, so maybe I'll post it later.

My calories turned out to be 1411, with 60% from protein. That's better!

Now I'm off to the gym!

Day 4: Cruise - Protein Day

A Reflection on the last week

I think I've done spectacularly. I haven't remotely cheated. I've eaten lots, but not too much. I may have had one too many 'no fat fruit - no sugar' yogurts (as I thought those were free - but are only 'tolerated' at two a day, and I had three one day). SO! I should stick to the completely plain greek yogurt, with a couple thrown in. Especially if I stop losing. Still haven't weighed in though - so I'll let you know tomorrow.

This is from fitday. It's a graph of my calories burned vs. eaten. Fitday is great by the way. It takes into account your basic metabolism, plus your activities. You can log everything you eat, and create foods (put in exact nutritional info for food that is not already in their log). So from this, it looks as though I did pretty well! 

Here's today's log: 

M1: oatbran w/ cottage cheese

M2: source yoplait yogurt

M3: Chicken slice w/ fat free cream cheese in the middle

M4: (not eaten yet) (not cooked yet!!) chicken w/ garlic/onions and cream cheese inside. Plus

      2 eggs. 

M5: probably some more greek yogurt 

Total calories so far: 973, with 60% protein. I will no doubt eat something else. And I may have underestimated the calories from the chicken. So put that up to 1200. I may edit tomorrow. 

Exercise: 

Walk 5Km

Precor 30 minutes. 

I've been eyeing recipes on the web today, and thinking about being creative and adapting other recipes to the Dukan. I might try making a crust out of carrots and squash, and making some sort of quiche. I have to start posting photos when that happens! 

H

About Yesterday, and a Formal Introduction

Can you believe I actually ate 1581 calories! I'm not complaining - just didn't see that coming. I guess I was hungry from the killer workout.

I'm torn with whether or not to pay any attention to calories. Dukan says, eat however much you want. However - you'd assume, if you ate 3000 calories of protein, you just wouldn't lose any weight. Unless you're running marathons, or have a lot more weight to lose.

Now, I'm not worried whatsoever about 1581 calories. I know - that's not bad, and probably what my body needs (or less) anyhow. I'm just noting it, as it is the first day this week that has been much above 1200 really. Even if I ate 2000 calories, I wouldn't be upset - it just surprised me; how much a workout can build up an appetite.

Speaking of workouts, my body is in so much strife today. I can barely walk downstairs. I wonder how other Dukaners who workout regularly (before and after starting) feel about their muscle recovery without carbs. Generally speaking, after working out, I would have a protein/carb mix. That would also be when I would eat my 'fast burning' carbs, as advised by so many fitness gurus. Once I'm on consolidation - I will try to arrange to have my sandwich post workout. And my celebration meals before a 10K run!

Oh, and I thought I might try to add a pic today - to introduce you all to myself.

SO this is me! Hi! I'm Heather. This pic was taken 7 years ago, but I look pretty much the same. Plus 15 pounds. And a lot more grey hair, but hey - it's black and white! But I've always used this as my 'avatar' if you will. 

Day 3: Cruise (veg/pro)

Exercise Exhaustion!


Today started late; I slept in until 10am. Quite the luxury, I tell you. The day was stormy, with lots and lots of rain - suppose to turn to snow tonight. Gale force winds outside right now. I'm sort of hoping the power goes out, as it forces us to be creative. And besides, my bath is already running - and wouldn't total darkness just add to it? Some candles maybe. A glass of wine. Oh wait!

Meals: 
M1: oatbran w/ protein, and greek yogurt
M2: two slices of chicken w/ spinach and fat free cream cheese
M3: 1/2 cup milk w/ protein
M4: 'burgers' sans bread. Some squash. A salad. Maybe a few beets thrown in there somewhere. Maybe. (did I mention I love veggie/protein day?).

Roughly 1200 calories. Right now it's at 1117, but I may have a yogurt later or a little somethin'-somethin'.

Exercise:
It was raining out, so I had to get my hubby to drive me to the gym ( I can drive, but no parking). So sad for this, because if I walk there and back, I walk 10 km. Or 12000 steps. So, I felt like I had to do a lot at the gym to make up for it. And I was supposed to do (or planned to do) only weights at the gym today. Instead;

5K run.
15 minute Precor
1 hour, BodyPump - which just killed me. Me thinks it isn't a good idea to do body pump after 45 minutes cardio, and without carbs. I feel so exhausted/nauseous. So glad to be home in the house now.

As for my weight; I checked at the gym - but it's a different scale, so I'd rather not depend on it for my own neurotic judgement. However, that being said, it read that I had lost 2-3 pounds since yesterday (smile!). This is where someone should slap me so I don't get my hopes up. This is when someone should remind me to only weigh in once a day, on one scale. Naked and pee-less. Haha.

Cruising: Day 2 and Pedometer addiction

Addiction
Crack Cocaine. Facebook. Cigarettes. Chocolate. These are things people could be addicted to. I have to admit, I've had my moments with chocolate (far too many really, and it's an everyday battle). I've even had my battles with cigarettes. Facebook? I'm on it, but I'm not addicted. And I don't necessarily think facebook is a bad thing to be addicted to - unless you're posting how often you pee, or that you slept with your boyfriend's brother. then, maybe it's something you should work on slowing down with.


But there are good addictions. Do you have an addictive personality? I do. To certain things. But my latest one, is a good one! What is it? The pedometer. You see, last summer, I joined a 'biggest loser' competition at work. I actually came in 2nd place, losing 19 pounds over 12 weeks. Not bad. However, they didn't want people to just starve themselves, or eat asparagus and jello all day. They wanted us to move. So we all got pedometers. If you got over 10000 steps a day, you got a ballot in the final draw. Well, I was obsessed with this. I had to have a ballot for everyday, and I was going to win (tickets to a movie. i know. big deal). I pretty much had the 10000 covered. On days where I exercised, I walked alot. It was easy. But on the days that I didn't - it was hard to reach 5000. I still got more ballots than anyone - but eventually (the next challenge), I started challenging myself. I had to get that 10000 - no matter what. 3 challenges in now - and I'm not happy with less than 100,000 steps a week. And I've been successful for the last 6 (although two weeks I was short about a 1000, the other weeks I was way over - so it balances!). It's crazy though. I check it constantly. My husband laughs, as at times I've left home (walking to work) only to be back 10 minutes later because I forgot the silly thing. I'm always checking to make sure it's working. One day I walked around shopping for hours, and it said that I did 2000 steps. I was so angry. No more stiff jeans! They won't let it count my moves. The jeans have been in the closet ever since. I plan my outfits around the pedometer. I'm going to win this challenge!! It's still an odds game, but they are in my favour! Even without the contest at work, I'll still wear it. It's a keeper. I wonder if I should get a BodyBugg? Anyone have one?

As for today: Day 2 Cruise!

Stats:
Starting Weight: 158lbs or 71.8kg
After One Day of Cruise: 154.4lbs or 70.18

How's that? Is that good or bad? Not sure. Is that the result of eating spinach instead of just protein? Weird. I'm not worried, it will come off no doubt.
Meals:
M1: egg beaters and cottage cheese w/ pepper
M2: yogurt
M3: oatbran with protein
M4: beef/tuna burgers with poached eggs. Yummy!

Approximate Calories: 1117, 60% from protein.

Exercise: 5Km walk to work, 5Km walk home (taking it easy, because it's so beautiful outside!)

I have a long weekend, and I am so excited (slash exhausted!).

H

Day 3: Cruise - Protein/Veggie

How can Veggies be This awesome??? 


Starting Weight: 158lbs or 71.8kg
After 3 days of Attack: 154.8lbs or 70.36

That means down 3.2lbs or 1.45kg. Not to bad for 3 days. I actually feel slightly chubby. Not really sure why - I feel almost empty on the inside, but feel more bloated. Does that make any sense? I'm neurotic when it comes to 'fat days' and sometimes feel as though I just want to hide under the covers. Today it wasn't that bad.

Meals:
M1: oatbran porridge w/ egg whites
M2: egg beaters
M3: romaine salad w/ chicken and a few bits of bacon (yogurt dressing)

Haven't had my dinner yet, but think I'll be making a beef stirfry with mushrooms and peppers. Honestly, the lettuce I had tasted amazing. I felt like I was indulging in chocolate or ice cream. Too funny. I can't wait for dinner! But gotta hit the gym first.

Exercise:
Already today: 5Km walk to work
Will do: 30 minutes on the precor. Maybe a run. Not sure - but I'm on my way there now!

Day Three: Attack!

Quick post today. I had a 'recovery day' as i like to call them. Switching back from nights to day shifts. So there wasn't much eating or exercise going on - as the majority of my time was actually spent sleeping. And now, I wake up in the middle of the night - as I'm all messed up!
What better time to catch up on the blog (and then back to lala land.)

M1: oatbran pancake w/ a little yogurt on top
M2: two poached eggs with a little beef marinated in soy sauce and sugar twin (brown)
M3: greek yogurt with vanilla extract and cinnamon

1185 calories. 60% protein.

Drank some coffee w/ milk. Didn't drink enough water really (although about 1.5litres)

Exercise: 5K walk home (in minus 16 degrees celcius!)

Night shifts really screw up my eating habits, and sleeping habits - so hopefully the Dukan will really help me at least get the eating part going better.

Day Two; Part Two

Almost bedtime!

Eats:
M1: oatbran porridge w/ greek yogurt
M2: tuna (red chilli tuna) (not bad!!)
M3: egg beaters w/ cottage cheese
M4: tuna w/ cottage cheese

And again, lots of water. Lots of tea (chai with skim milk). I'm sure I'm getting at least 2 litres+, but I haven't been measuring. But I've been in the loo non-stop.

Fitday says 1255 calories.

Workout:
5Km walk to work
40min Upper body (chest, shoulders, back, and triceps) + abs
25 minutes on the Precor Eliptical (which is the incline eliptical - not sure what it really is called).

I promise I'll cook more exciting meals, and hopefully start taking some pictures. Tuna mixed with cottage cheese is hardly exciting to look at.

And not sure if I can weigh in tomorrow. But the next day for sure!
Good luck all  you dukaners (are you out there?)

Day Two: Attack!

Second day Come on!

Forgot to mention my actual weight in all of yesterday's posts!

Starting Weight: 158lbs or 71.8kg

And after one day of Attack: 155.8lbs or 70.8kgs.

On kilogram lost in a day is not bad. I know that it is water, but it does make me feel less bloated. I was actually up 5 times during my wee 5 hour sleep today to go to the bathroom. So I can really tell that it was truly water weight!

I did end up walking another 5km home. I also had a bit more chicken and a coffee when I arrived.
I checked my calories into fitday, just to see what it looked like. I know - we are allowed to eat as much as we want - and I did. But I was just curious to see the numbers. I guess because I want to see whether it is the protein that helps with the weight loss, or just the fact that it sort of goes hand in hand with smaller calories (less hunger). Anywho - the total calories were 1341cals. 64% of that came from protein. It's hard to believe that the other 36% came from carbs and fat - when it truly didn't feel as though I ate any! That makes me feel a little better though. I hate the thought of restricted an entire category.

Will drop back in a the end of the day to catch up.

Day One: Attack!!!!

My food and fitness

Not a bad day overall. I chose to start the Dukan when I was going into my night shifts. I tend to go crazy a bit on nights. Feeding frenzy. I hunt for cereal in my friend's cubbies. I raid the fridge for anything sweet. I never bring money, so the vending machines are off limits. I thought it would be good way to start - eat what I want - just all protein! Get my  nights out of the way!

On the Dukan, I can eat most meat (no duck, no skin - no problem), seafood, and fat free dairy products. Eggs are limited to 2, but egg whites are free for the taking. I'm curious about egg beaters. What's the deal there? And whey protein? I really need to buy the book!


FOOD LOG: ATTACK DAY ONE

Meal 1:  1 egg, with some left over chicken
Meal 2:  1 Tbsp Oatbran, with whey protein (carb free) and a cup cottage cheese (nonfat).
Meal 3:  Peanut Satay tuna (don't ask - it looks like cat food, and it isn't much better....not that I've tried.....)
Meal 4:  Can of Normal tuna (in H20) with one egg and lotsa pepper!
Meal 5: 1 cup Greek Yogurt with vanilla whey protein (yum!)

*the night is not over....so may have some more somethin' somethin'. Cottage cheese or yogurt. I will make more chicken for tomorrow night. Or Tilapia.

Also had copious amounts of water. Three cups coffee with milk (skim). Three cups tea with milk (skim).

FITNESS LOG: ATTACK DAY ONE

10km Run on the treadmill. Woohoo! This is somewhat abnormal for me. I usually do 5km, and to be honest, have been slacking this past week. I felt so motivated, starting something new, that it completely inspired me to kick some butt. It was an awesome run, and I feel fantastic having started this week/this plan on the right note.

Possibly will do this: 5km walk home. Not sure what the weather will be like (could be a snow fall coming our way - you never know in Canada!).

Doing the Dukan! Am I crazy? Maybe a Little....

First, let me tell you a little bit about my past and current relationship with food, dieting, and weight.

I grew up a chunky chunker. This may sound self-defeating, but hey - if you can't laugh at yourself...
I wasn't colossal or mammoth by any means - but I was plump. Enough that people noticed. Enough that people had to tell me 'what a pretty face' I had. My first memory of the scale put me at 141lbs, in grade eight. The majority of my friends (all of them actually) were atheltic and fit. I was the team manager, so to speak. I talked loud. I laughed loud. I was friendly and gregarious, and made my way just fine.
In highschool, I stayed in a relatively healthy weight range, but not on the 'lighter side' if you know what I mean. I was still the chunkiest of my gals. And I wasn't coping overly well on the inside.

Then hit University. I blossomed! I blossomed right up to the deuces - put me on par with Will Smith in Ali. The film he had to gain weight for. He's 6'2. I'm 5'6. And even he looked chubby. I ate like a 6'2 heavy weight champ. I wasn't happy.  Things were tough. I was still fun and having fun. Always had lots of friends (even boyfriends). I still had a pretty face. But I wasn't so fond of what stared back at me in the mirror. I wasn't so fond of not fitting into Club Monaco or J. Crew. And my self-esteem plummeted. I really didn't like much about me at the time. Don't get me wrong, I had good times...but my weight brought me down on a daily basis.

After uni, I travelled overseas. This was too be my 'Sabrina' moment. I was going to come back, and people would be shocked. And that is essentially what happened. Except throw in meeting the love of my life, getting married, and being gone 6 years. And losing 80 pounds.

People always ask me how I lost it, and I never really know what to say. I stopped driving. Started walking everywhere. Stopped eating Western food (ie; processed or packaged). I did the Atkins, I did South Beach, I did Body for Life (my fave), I did stairs, I started running. All of these things took me down to my lowest weight (139lbs). In their own ways, they all helped. That's my theory on diets. They all work. If you do them right. It's the maintenance that is the evil part. That is where 'eating clean' fits into it all. And I'm all for that, but then I fall off track, forget how important it is, and before you know it - I'm addicted to cheetos. Okay, well not really cheetos (not a fan) - but anything chocolate and/or peanut butter. Then I'm craving carbs like crack cocaine and my husband has to hide the fudge I made him for Valentine's Day because I'm up at 3 am hunting it down with a crazed (and terrifying) look in my eyes.

Now, I've gained 20 pounds of the weight back (actually more, but have lost some). I work nights half the time, which makes eating harder (or that is one of my excuses).  I still exercise like crazy, and quite enjoy it (on most days). But I'm getting bigger than I want to be. It's bringing me down again. And all of that makes me want fudge, and date squares, and chocolate cake all the more. I gotta stop while I still can!

Skip forward 6 days, to February 20th, and I'm starting the Dukan. For a longer summary of what it is, check out this site.

Essentially, the Dukan is a High Protein, Low Carb weight loss plan. Now I've done low carb before, and I realize that it is not something that can be done for life. And feel free to tell me your opinions. But what I like about this plan, is the second last phase; the consolidation - where it helps you add carbs back into your life (the healthy ones), at a slow pace. Being a carb fiend, I know that I need to learn control. I also like the regimentation. The rules. Sometimes, I just feel like I need some rules in my life. In fact, I wish I had someone to slap my hand if I didn't floss everyday, or if I went to bed without taking my make up off. (Perhaps I need to work on those things too). But following a plan has always helped me in the past, and lately I've been badly in need one. So today marks my first day. My goal is to get to the weight (whatever number that may be) and stay there. I'd like to be 134, by 34 years old. But a number is a number, and it all depends on how I feel at the time. Looks good from here though. Stats to follow. Wow - will that mean three posts in one day???!!! I'm on a roll!

A New Blog, A New Day, A New Diet

Welcome to my new little world here in cyberspace. I'm feeling slightly timid, and slightly blank and really have no idea where to start or what to write. A brief introduction? Perhaps.

My name is Heather, and I'm 33 years old. Why am I starting this blog? A few reasons;

1)I love blogs! I've been a blog reader for the last 10 years. It's been one of my biggest/stickiest past times, and I thoroughly enjoy reading the days of other people's lives. I've seen some of them grow from just tiny wee blogs, into the superheroes they are today. For example, I remember reading  DOOCE when she first started. And to see her today, with her handsome husband, two gorgeous kids, and an incredible career is amazing. I feel so inspired by so many bloggers - just for their dedication to the blog world. I also have to mention my addiction to food blogs in general. Or the foodies, or whatever you call them. They are a different source of inspiration; one that helps me eat healthier, run further, and to lead an overall healthier lifestyle. So....all of this has lead me to this blog! Perhaps, I can too be a part of this world!

2)I need a way to document my fitness/food intake under a daily basis. I find that (and sources say that) I live a healthier lifestyle if I am writing everything down. It holds me accountable. I become (and this doesn't sound good - but I think it is) somewhat obsessive about it. Obviously, this could be seen as some sort of disorder (and it very well might be) but it gets things done. I'm one way or the other - disciplined or a hellian.
If I hold up my end of the bargain with this blog, you might get to witness said extremes! SO!! Extreme Number One: New Diet. I'm starting the DUKAN DIET. I'll get into that a bit down the road...

3)I want to evolve. I need to try something different. I feel like I've been stuck in a rut lately, and although I'm not unhappy - I'm bored. I need to experience something different - and how can you do that if, day in and day out, you do the exact same thing. I'm not sure that having a blog will be the change I need, but it's something that I've always been interested in, and who knows where it shall lead. We shall see....

So that is it, in a nutshell. There will be much more to learn about me (if there is anyone really out there), but I think that is good for now. Stay tuned for more about the Dukan, what it is, why I'm trying it, and why it may or may not be a crazy idea.