Week ONE Results - YAY

Last week I stepped into the unknown trying to find me.  The only thing I changed about my daily life in week one is food.  I went to my doctor and after checking all my levels and limits, we settled on jump starting my mid-life sluggish metabolism with 1100 calories a day.  I'm 5'10" and proportionate, active and healthy despite being 70 pounds overweight.

Every time I excuse away calorie counting, and try a weird low-carb, fasting, all the lettuce and celery you can eat diets, the results have been negligible. I downloaded the Venus program I found on the internet created for women who have stalled out metabolisms based on hormonal changes.  I plugged in all my stats and the results said a 1100 calorie a day regimen, divided into smaller meals throughout the day would be best for me.  My doctor agreed. 

So using Lean Cuisines, Smart Ones, Healthy Choice, and Michelina's Light meals I started the calorie budgeting.  Instead of sodas, I got my fizzy fix in with LaCroix waters in several essences.  Fast food breakfasts were almost a necessity since I was up at 3:30 and out the door by 4am for the morning show on Mix929.  McDonald's Egg White Delights are a good hearty start at only 240 calories.  I added Progresso soups to the mix for variety mid-week and it really helped change up the fare.  Snacks were a few pretzel sticks with hummus, 1/4 cup of ice cream on two of the days, 3 ginger snaps, Special K with Strawberries/Skim Milk, and Greek yogurt.  I stayed strictly within my 1100 calorie budget using the calculator app on my iphone.  Literally I googled measurements and calories of things, and added everything I ate for the day as I consumed it.  No cheating.  No overlooking a single bite in the totals.

This week contained the natural exercise I get from dog walking pet sitting clients, feeding horses, and taking care of lots of dogs and cats each night.  Was the constant calculating a hassle?  Yes.  I hated it.  It made me angry.  I got really mad that eating had all the fun sucked out of it because I wasn't able to 'metabolate' anymore.  Then I began to remember safe foods, and what a good portion size looked like from day to day.  By the end of the week, I was full at the meals and it was much easier to eat and get on with my day.  The important part of this diet is not skipping meals.  Keep the fuel moving, in smaller amounts while I'm up and mobile during the day - that's the point.  It regulates blood sugar and the body is always burning. (Or at least that is what my doctor explained.

So the result after 7 days?  8 pounds!  8!!!!  Now that may not seem like much, but get a five pound bag of sugar and put it in your shoulder bag.  I promise, even five pounds feels like 20 as you carry it around.  My goal was 2 pounds.  So I'm very excited about this body that has frustrated me through the last decade.  My goal for next week is 2 pounds.  I fully understand that week 1 was about jump starting my metabolism, consuming less than I burn daily.  Week one can be discouraging on week two if the results are less than before.  I'm prepared.  So - 2 pounds is the goal. 

New additions to the plan this week?
Doing something good for me every day. 
Today I had a reiki session which  I'll share more about tomorrow. 

It is my plan to be good to the me that has gotten me this far down the road.  Changes don't always have to be about giving something up, right?  It is my hope that being gentle with myself and rewarding my accomplishments with positives, I will stay on the journey and influence the steps  having nothing to do with weight loss for the good as well.