Uneventful and easy to breeze through. Making plans for the carb re-entry. Will use the power cookie recipe provided in the book I'm reading. It's full of oatmeal, agave nectar, gluten-free flour and dried cherries and other healthy things. It takes like a piece of cake to me - YUM!!! Plan also to use brown rice and potatoes (sweet and white).
DAY 13
Looking forward to Cycle 2 where we can add a few carbs each day on alternating days. Still going strong. The kids enjoy the breakfast smoothies several times a week and we pack salads each night before bed for the next day's lunch. It's become an accepted daily routine.
DAY 12
We attended a family birthday dinner party. We knew some of the menu before arriving and of course, there would be cake. I asked them each to consider the options as presented and make their choices and then we could discuss them afterwards. I was so proud of my crew making good choices and still enjoying the party and sharing a meal without sabotaging their progress or making our eating plan the center of attention at someone else's party. : )
DAY 11
Stopped by the organic market to poke around for a few items for new recipes. My biggest find was the kefir. It's supposed to aid in digestion. I will use it in our breakfast smoothies tomorrow. I sure hope it is tasty. As of today, I can report that I've lost 9 pounds and Michael has dropped 6. Meagan says she feels great and is glad we're making this change.
DAY 10
Double digit day. Had to explain to my husband that none of the cycles of this plan work caffeine back into the eating plan. What surprise and disappointment. Kelsie said "It's a drug, Dad." We're doing well without it, sleeping better and mornings are so much nicer. Big trip to Costco to refill on produce, yogurt and eggs today.
DAY 8 & 9
Were pretty uneventful days. We had shredded pork bbq and green beans for diner one night and pork chops (with the bone-YUM!) and veggies on the grill the next. We did go for a walk, it began to sprinkle but we kept going. Then when we were furthest from the house, the downpour began. We ran home the rest of the way. Got our heart rate up and I guess that counts for our 17 minutes of good exercise.
DAY 7
I can see a difference in my family this weekend. I have noticed their sleep patterns changing. Going to bed at a decent hour and getting up without problem. My hubby woke up this morning and made breakfast for everyone, all according to the plan we're following. We enjoyed egg white omelets with spinach, tomato slices and cottage cheese with cantaloupe. (Thanks Michael, it was yummy) I've noticed everyone preparing and packing lunches in the evening before bed so that we don't have a frenzy in the morning. They are taking their water bottles along most places and still drinking only decaf coffee. (that caffeine should be out of our bloodstreams by now) Wow, this is fun for me. I still feel great. I have more energy and have lost 5 pounds and don't feel deprived. Gonna keep on keepin on.
DAY 6
Today I made our favorite breakfast smoothie before church. It includes frozen berries, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, milk, knox gelatin (thickener and protein) and splenda for a little sweetener. It's quick and easy, and very filling. Today I added a secret ingredient.....fresh spinach leaves. Just a handful in each shake. They were undetectable for the most part. The shake wasn't as bright pink as normal but no one tasted the spinach and really didn't know I had added it until I told them at dinner. We also treated the kids to diet Arizona green tea today for lunch. That brought some familiar smiles to those teen-aged faces.
DAY 5
We attempted going out for lunch on our new eating plan. I discovered that not everyone is really "in the know" on what we're doing. We had a few questions and surprises. We're still not eating any starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn. We can add those in on day 18 or technically day 1 of cycle 2. There are 4 cycles of 17 days each and then we are supposed to live forever in cycle 4. HA! We'll see what happens. We made it through the restaurant experience but I really don't want to try that again for a while because I felt like the food police. It did provide opportunity for more information to be shared and that was a good thing.
DAY 4
Today is sleepy day. I think it's a combo of our bodies adjusting to low carb AND the dreary weather. Everyone is napping right now at 4 pm. Others have claimed to be sleepy in the afternoon all week. Today was my first day to feel that sensation. I literally fell asleep in the rocking chair while reading after lunch. Nothing big to report on the food front. Made the chicken vegetable soup recipe from the book for tomorrow's lunch or dinner. No big cravings or exciting new foods. Feeling good and moving on.
DAY 3
Was a day of carb craving. Kelsie mentioned it in the morning. I didn't feel it until late afternoon. A few nuts and a boiled egg seemed to do the trick. This was the first day I really missed my diet soda. But I got through without too much problem.
I made eggplant parm for dinner. I followed the recipe from our 17 day diet book. I have never liked eggplant until today. Everyone cleaned their plate. Meagan even liked it. She grinned sheepishly as she said it.
It was easy and so yummy. We planted eggplant in our garden and will look forward to this dish again.
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| The recipe didn't list any meat. My family requires meat so I sliced some brats leftover from our mother's day cookout and saute them with whole garlic cloves. |
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| slice the eggplant and soak in egg beaters then coat both sides with parmesan cheese. Place the slices in a prepared pan and bake at 400 for 20 minutes turn and bake another 10 minutes. |
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| I had to taste it and was pleasantly surprised. |
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| added cooked meat to the baked eggplant dish |
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| added pasta sauce and more parm cheese and put back in the oven til bubbly. |
DAY 2
Yes, we made it to Day 2. Michael woke early and made us egg white omelets with spinach/mushrooms and cottage cheese. YUM! He also remembered our hot lemon water this a.m. as I did not. Thank you dear. We packed wonderful lunches and off we went to our separate hangouts. Tonight's dinner will be grilled salmon and salad and tomorrow night I'm making eggplant parm/ new eating plan style. The book I'm reading has a recipe and I'll give it a try. This is something Michael loves and I've never been able to conquer. I'm not a big eggplant fan but will try it again.
Drinking lots of water, eating 2 yogurts a day as well as 2 fruits. The fruits have to be consumed before 2 pm in the afternoon. I'll have to look up why this is important and share later. It has something to do with the sugar and carb intake.
Feeling good and looking forward to Day 3.
Day 1 of 17
After reading most of the book “The 17 Day Diet” I have enough information to begin.
Everyone seems to be happy to join in. Kelsie loves the science of nutrition and Meagan enjoys doing this as a family project together. Michael will go along with most anything for the ease of doing it.
I began by bringing him a steaming mug of hot lemon water this morning as he was getting ready for work. Not what he expected but he smiled, made a cute remark about how “delicious” it was and drank it followed by a cup of hot green tea. “When can I have coffee?” “Whenever you want but it will be decaf.”
It’s basically a plan to detox your body of sugars, chemicals and processed foods. We’ve done this once before for 30 days (followed another plan) and saw great benefit.
We’re going to cut out the caffeine, diet sodas, sugar, breads, rice and pasta and drink lots of water, green tea and eat lean meat, fruits and veggies and yogurt. Eating “God’s food” as some have put it. We’re going to feel healthy and get our energy back that I seem to have lost over the hibernation months and haven’t been able to reclaim completely.
Being able to count the days makes it more fun for me. I love count downs. I have a friend that looks ahead to each trip they plan by how many “sleeps” until the day of departure.
So today is Day 1 and we’ll see what happens. I expect some withdrawal and feelings of frustration in the beginning but as we move along the number line to 17 I think we’ll be more in tune and feeling great.
