Lessmeatarian Week Five

Mark Bittman said I could find a better pyramid so I did. This is from the Mediterranean Diet. A special meal once a month with meat if you even want it, is a good idea. I do not really see me cooking beef again anytime soon so it would be pork. I am not sure why I am off beef but pork doesn't bother me.
I have lost 6 pounds so far but to be fair I wasn't being as careful as I should have been the first 3 with the stress of Mary's baby coming. I am happy with an average of 2 pounds a week, of course 10-20 would be great haha but I have lost weight fast before and it came right back again. I have lost 100 lbs twice before in my life, that has to be incredibly unhealthy. I have a lot to accomplish over the next few months and I need to be in much better health to make it happen. I have never really been much of a one day at a time or living in the now kind of girl. That makes it hard for me to accomplish things as I am always looking ahead instead of focusing on this minute. I am working on that now. I can fine tune this as I go along but for now the crapfood elimination continues along with getting more exercise.
Eventually there are a lot of things I want to change but getting these 10-20 pounds off needs to be a priority, it is seriously holding me back from practically everything I need to accomplish. The struggle for me is determining if I am holding on to this weight for a reason and what that is. I think I know and am working on this. If losing weight were just about putting down the fork, most people would not struggle with it.

Losing the Baby Weight

So, my daughter had a baby 2 weeks ago. She gained a total of 17 pounds, yes I said SEVENTEEN pounds which she has already lost. I gained a total of 15 pounds, did not actually have a baby at all and have not lost an ounce. How is that fair?
I know I am supposed to be following the Lessmeatarian way and I certainly am but this week is going to be more about taking in very few calories. That will of course mean more veggies but there is not going to be much in the way of grains or carbs.
I actually wrote this post last week and was feeling pretty frustrated. I have been much more on track this week and have dropped 5 of those 15 pounds. Carly who lives in Marseille has been following the Scarsdale diet and lost about 15 pounds as well I believe. I cannot count calories like she does though, I would go crazy and do not think that really works for me. I just have to cut out the crapfood which I pretty much have. I did have some gummy bears last night.
My ultimate goal is to not even be on a diet or to not think about weight or food in a negative way, or to consider if everything I eat is going to make my jeans not zip.

Sea Salt & Olive Oil Hand Scrub

Try this spring pick me up with ingredients you have in your pantry. Mix a little sea salt with some olive oil and scrub your hands, in between your fingers and up your arms to your elbows. Follow with a thick body creme and your skin will feel like silk! This is great for feet and the rest of your body as well but it makes a real mess in the tub, be careful as the oil will make it slippery.

You can also use it on your face but do not scrub, apply gently with your fingertips and be careful not to get near your eyes. Did I ever mention I am also a licensed aesthetician?

Lessmeatarian Week Three

Poor food choices abounded this week due to the baby coming early, I did the best I could but I am sure the gyro from the hospital deli, the Snickers and many diet sodas were not part of the plan but I am not really good enough at this yet to think clearly in such high stress situations. I will get better and by the time the next baby comes I should be more in control hahah.

I have been to the market and am ready to make a fresh start for the week. Lots of grains and veggies, very little meat and no beef at all. I will not say beef is gone for good but I sure do not want it yet. Funny that the Bittman way of eating seems to be pretty much spot on with the current food pyramid!

Lessmeatarian Week Two

Since discovering Food Matters and Bittman's philosophy I have cooked pretty much every meal we have eaten. I have cooked more meals in the last month than I have in the last year. I am also off beef. I am one of those people that never really considered food sources all that much, I grew up around cattle and I certainly understand the concept but never thought about it much and now I can't stop thinking about it. I tried to cook a small roast last week, the entire flat smelled like ass and when it was done I sliced it, nearly hurled, gave Mary her portion and put the rest in the freezer, I couldn't bear to eat it. I am not sure if it is temporary or not but the thought of eating dead cow is too much. I don't feel that way about pork or chicken, although it has always seemed weird to me to make chickens into food. Hogs do seem like they are meant to be eaten for some reason, they just look like a food source to me. Same with fish.
My report on this week is much more grains and veggies. I don't think I have had any beef at all. Mary does better right now with casserole -type dishes so there has been pasta or rice or some sort of grain every evening. Lunch is usually salad type stuff or fruit or melon and breakfast is cereal. I am feeling pretty good about it all but far from having it well in hand. The baby is supposed to come early next week so after that we can get down to it. Mary has always been a healthy eater and wants to teach Molly good eating habits. I have totally bought into this iCook-centric philosophy and I hope to be completely on track by my birthday in May.
I cannot get over my fingernails.

Leek Soup for a Mini Detox

Mary has been retaining water and this is not good two weeks from delivery. I remember Carly telling me her French friends eat a lot of leek soup during pregnancy and supposedly that is one reason why French Women Don't Get Fat as well. I do understand the leeks work as a natural diuretic, I am not sure I can get Mary to eat this, maybe with a bit of butter or sausage. It is near 90F here in Dallas so it does seem to be time to do a spring cleaning.

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, white and light green parts washed and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
2 cups chopped yellow onion-I omitted this
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
about 1 pound of potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups vegetable stock
a bit of fresh dill
1. Heat a 4-quart soup pot over medium heat and add the oil. If you are using sausage or bacon saute this now and use less oil.
2. Add the leeks, onion, and sea salt and saute for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion begins to turn translucent.
3. Add the garlic and stir well. Cook for 1 minute more.
4. Add the potatoes and vegetable stock, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook 20 minutes.
5. Puree in whatever way works best for you and reheat if needed.
Sprinkle in some chopped dill. This would also be a good time to add in some cream or half and half, butter or shaved parmigiano-reggiano if you like.
Serves 4 - 6
*Recipe adapted from The Great American Detox Diet, by Alex Jamieson

*photo from How Stuff Works

Lessmeatarian Week One

My general observation so far about this eating/lifestyle plan is that it is pretty easy to eat less meat, I am having a harder time with dairy but that will come. I have been basically making the same sort of dishes I would normally but adding in more vegetables instead of meat. Yesterday we spent $48 on groceries for the week.

I am surprised at a couple of things, my nails are quite amazing. I have been distraught over the last couple of years that they were weird looking, all ridgedy and brittle and were just not cute. It was not a huge deal of course but disconcerting as I knew they should not look that way. A week into this and they have grown about 1/8 inch and are much smoother. On the same note, my hair is feeling very healthy. This may seem trivial but I am quite vain actually and happy about this, I also seem to be sleeping better and have more energy.

I have lost two pounds but to be fair I lose and gain this same 8 or so pounds every month so I am not really ready to declare an actual lost until the bouncing 8 is gone. I do really need to lose 30ish pounds but this is more about being healthy than losing weight, one should lead to the other.

In the interest of full disclosure I need to make a few comments. First of all I eat crapfood day in and day out, I believe the day I discovered the book I had a cupcake with pink frosting and 1/4 bag of dark chocolate M&Ms left over from Christmas for lunch, breakfast was probably just coffee. I usually ate at least one meal a day from McDs or Sonic or maybe Chicken Express, if I had time in the morning I would get takeaway breakfast as well. Home cooking for me usually meant a frozen pizza or a Lean Cuisine.

I have been on every diet known to man, had some success and then went right back to eating crapfood. I have done diet pills and Medifast under the supervision of my doctor who has basically told me I am never going to get rid of this weight until I make a decision to make changes as apparantly he does not have access to the magic pill. I have been on blood pressure meds and Metformin for Type 2 diabetes for about two years now.

The other disclosure or comment is that I started using Spirulina when I started this eating plan, I do not know how much effect this has on results but to me it does seem to fit right in with the direction I am headed.

Lessmeatarian

Sometimes I see something and think wtf, how did I miss that? I know I am a little well you know, but I honestly completely missed this book . Here is the interview that gave me the first clue after following a link from @bittman So I just signed up, purchased the ebook to read on my iPhone and when I can get out to Barnes & Noble I will buy the 3d version. I hope it has recipes, surely it does.
I am really at the end of my rope here, I am so tired, SO tired of being unhealthy. I am overweight sure but it isn't really about that although it would be nice to wear more fashionable clothes but mostly I just don't want to die. And I am just so tired. There isn't anything wrong with me, well nothing that being fat hasn't brought on, I am just out of shape, I don't exercise because I am too tired and I am too tired because I don't exercise. I know I should eat better, I want to eat better but I have no motivation because I am too tired.

It isn't like I can't workout, I am living in a lovely building that has an amazing gym on the third floor, there is even an elevator to take me to it. I have trainers and socks an iPod and a fancy sports bra, nothing stopping me. I am just too tired. I did have a cupcake, ham sandwich and M&Ms for lunch...

Grapefruit Diet

I want to comment on this eating plan since I get a lot of hits on it from Google and say that it really can work, or at least it works for me. It does seem to be more healthful for an obese person to cut calories rather than fat. You do not want to eat unhealthy fats like are found in deep fried foods but this plan also seems pretty workable with the Lessmeatarian method. The goal there would be to replace some of the meat with other forms of protein which is what is driving the weight loss and the grapefruit still holds it's place as the carb and no carbonated drinks of course.
BREAKFAST:
1/2 grapefruit or 8oz unsweetened juice.
2 Eggs any style
2 Slices of bacon
Black coffee or tea, no sugar
LUNCH:
1/2 grapefruit or 8oz unsweetened juice.
Salad and or raw veggies (any dressing, {not low fat or fat free})
Meat (Cooked any way)
DINNER:
1/2 grapefruit or 8oz unsweetened juice.
Meat (cooked any way)
Vegetables (any green or red, may be cooked in butter or Seasoning or a salad as above)
Black coffee or tea, no sugar
BEDTIME:(opt)
8oz Tomato juice or skim milk
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. At any meal you may eat until you are full, and you can not eat anymore. You must eat the minimum listed listed at each meal.
2. Do not eliminate anything from the diet, especially don't skip the bacon at breakfast or omit salads. It is the combination of foods that burn the fat.
3. The grapefruit is important because it acts as a catalyst that starts the burning process.
4. Cut down on coffee, it affects the insulin balance that hinders the burning process. Try to limit to one cup each meal.
5. Don't eat between meals, if you eat the combination of food suggested, you will not get hungry.
6. The diet may eliminate sugars and starches. Fat does not form fat, it helps burn it, so you can fry food in butter and use butter generously on vegetables.
7. Do not eat desserts, breads and white vegetables of sweet potatoes. You may double or triple helpings of meat, salads or vegetables. Eat till you are stuffed. The more you eat the more weight you will lose.
8. There may be no weight loss in the first 4 days, but you may lose 5 pounds on the 5th day. You may lose 1 and 1/2 pounds every two days until you reach your goal.
9. DRINK EIGHT 8oz GLASSES OF WATER EVERY DAY.
ALL SOFT DRINKS NEED TO BE DIET AND CAFFEINE FREE.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE: White onions, potatoes, celery, peas, cereal, carrots, corn, starchy vegetables, bread, noodles, rice, potato chips, pretzels or fruit or diet dressing.

YOU MAY HAVE: Red onions, bell peppers, radishes, broccoli, cucumbers, green onions, leaf spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, green beans, lettuce, chili (no beans) mayonnaise, any cheese, hot dogs, cole slaw, regular salad dressing, green vegetables, 1tsp nuts, dill or bread and butter pickles.
IMPORTANT:
STAY ON DIET 12 DAYS AND STOP FOR 2 DAYS
Works out great to start on a Monday because you will have every other weekend off of the diet.

*image from Food Network

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Plan

Day 8 of the Grapefruit Diet, ok I have basically abandoned the diet plan, eating bacon and eggs every day just cannot really be good for you. Switched to cereal of some sort and the grapefruit for breakfast.
I did add a 15 minute walk to my routine this morning, dang it does not take very long to get completely out of shape. I would have gone further but Emma managed to get out of her harness and it was impossible to get her wriggling body back in it on the street so I came in.
The cornbread I had with the pot roast for dinner probably was not a good idea. I do think I am finished with the crock pot, it seems like every time I make something in it I feel queasy the next day.
Here is my problem, how is it possible for a foodie such as myself to not be overweight? I just don't know how to do it, I mean I see all of these people who are way more into their food than me like David and Pim and smitten and Richard and so many others and they aren't a hundred pounds overweight, in fact they are slim and fabulous! How does this happen, do you not eat what you cook? I mean holy crap David makes ice cream and not the lowfat kind either. I love to cook and I love to eat, I guess I have to figure out how to either not eat it or develop a love for cooked things that will not slowly or maybe not so slowly-kill me.

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Plan

Day Four of the Grapefruit Diet, I will tell you when it is time to eat I am STARVING! I am still not doing this properly, not getting near enough food but I am not eating hardly any carbs comparatively speaking. I am having the grapefruit 3 times a day though and it seems to be doing some sort of a flush-like action...
Still have not found time to work out but next week I am cutting back hours per day and giving up a day off so I will have a little time in the morning.

How Did I get So Fat Again -The Plan

Sort of started the Grapefruit Diet tonight but officially start in the morning. Twelve days. Basically all this really means is that grapefruit is your carb and sugar for 12 days plus it is has other "magic properties" apparantly. With grapefruit at .25 cents each it seems like a good time! Full plan here.

Turkey Bacon

This morning I discovered turkey bacon is neither turkey nor bacon. It is more like some sort of gross bologna product. Of course there is no grease so it sticks and makes my egg stick. However, as my friend helpfully pointed out, while scrubbing the pan clean I did burn off the 20 calories I had consumed. I find that my day goes a lot better if I have protein rather than carbs for breakfast so I am trying out some ideas. I think I will be going back to grilling boiled ham with my egg.
Then I go over to Sam's and see her breakfast. Sigh.
Sam's post did remind me that I thought if I had a bread machine I could make my own whole grain sugar free bread and wouldn't need to spend 20 minutes reading labels. I don't mind whole grain sugar free bread too much but the texture is pretty dense and it is much better toasted. It holds the sandwich together and that is all I really need I suppose. I still cannot get completely away from a sandwich, and can sometimes trick myself with lettuce wraps or putting the fat-free cheese on the outside and sort of rolling it up.
I am trying to get away from fake stuff like fat free and sugar free and focus on things that came that way naturally. But for a girl who has become accustomed to a #3 from Taco Bell or a #1 from Sonic to a grilled breast and salad, it is going to take some time.

PCOS and Pre-Diabetes

I was diagnosed on Monday with PCOS and pre-diabetes. Yikes. Well this is sort of good news bad news as it is something that can be treated and explains this massive amount of weight I have gained in the last year and a half for seemingly no reason. I have seriously tried everything and not had much luck. I have just had all of this fat just settle around my midsection and thanks to books like You on a Diet I have been terrified I was going to die. I even went into therapy to see if this was some sort of an emotional issue.
How encouraging to find out I actually have a medical reason! But still, diabetes sucks. I am on Metformin to treat both and let me tell you that is not fun. I have spent the week feeling really unwell. I will spare you the gory details but finally on day 4 I am feeling quite a bit better. I have still dragged myself onto the treadmill every day but Wednesday, that was my worst day.
Anyway, I have some new stuff to think about now and am really working at this. With my slight OCD I am sure I will have it down to a science soon!