Welcome New Followers!

So I'm back from Nashville.  I had a blast there, and my newfound energy and stamina were more than evident to me during all the walking I did there.  I've thought to myself many times, it's like I've had a full body transplant.  It's wonderful.  I had several treats while away, but I still kept myself in check.  Overall gain was right at a pound, but that doesn't worry me really.  I did a little drinking, tried sushi for the first time, but I also got plenty of exercise and made a point to ensure my one late evening meal was a grilled chicken salad with light vinaigrette.

Today was supposed to be Day 1 of compensation behavior, but so far I'm not doing so hot.  It's just one of those days.  I don't let them discourage me though because I know every day of bad behavior serves as an even stronger motivational tool the following day as the guilt increases to the point of being entirely unbearable.

Some silly milestone moments have happened over the past week.  Though they're simple and quite personal, I for one, enjoy reading about other people's experiences with small yet beautiful victories that only a select few can fully appreciate.

For one, I bought a pair of jeans off the rack at American Eagle.  For those not familiar with the store it is a reasonably hip brand of clothing aimed at teens and twenty-somethings.  It was long just another store on a list of stores I never ever considered before my weight loss.  A store I wouldn't venture into because it would've been so blatantly obvious that I couldn't fit in a single thing they had there.  To be able to go into that store and have jeans fit was more mindblowing and thrilling and emotional than most would ever believe.  It was a delightful feeling of what I hesitate to refer to as 'achieving normalcy'.  Now I don't mean that in a demeaning way, but I lived so much of my life feeling that I was not simply at one end of a spectrum.  I was off that spectrum entirely.

Yesterday, I went shopping at the mall again, and I went to a store that has a small selection of plus size clothing in addition to misses/juniors sizes.  Before, there was a long expanse of time that I was too large for even the plus size offerings they had.  It used to enrage me that their jeans only went up to size 24.  But now, I went in picked out a polka dotted skirt from the rack in a size XL, and it was too large!  I had to get a large instead.  Now that was mindblowing to me.  It still floors me to carry a bag through the mall knowing that the contents are a size medium and a size large.  :)

Finally, while in Nashville I had another small realization that truly delighted me.  My favorite moments of simple joy arise from subtle reminders of how far I've come.  Part of my trip included accompanying my best friend to some medical appointments.  I had to ride elevators several times.  Very crowded elevators.  It used to humiliate me to ride elevators, especially crowded ones.  I just knew that everyone was judging me...wondering about the weight limit etc.  Well this time, I was free of that.  Entirely free.  I was just another person.  Not anything to tempt the others to judge or wonder.  It was so nice.

I hope I didn't bore you all with my little triumphs.  I'm sure you all can relate or at the very least are motivated by them.

I wish you all the best.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
Lao Tzu

Another Goal Conquered!

Today was a pretty good day for me.  I surpassed my goal of 189.5 lbs this morning with a weigh in of 189 lbs.  I had set my deadline for April 1st, so meeting my goal early was quite the motivator!  I'm now a mere 7 lbs away from my original Dukan "true weight" of 182 lbs.  I feel the best I've ever felt.  The confidence I have now is unparalleled, and I'm so grateful that this diet has worked so well for me.  Here's a photo I took today :)

A New Ending

This week has been a turbulent one for me dietwise.  I've been trying to behave more than ever, while cutting out my dieting supplements entirely.  I began to get paranoid that I might be becoming reliant on said supplements, but the good news is even after cutting them out I'm still losing weight quite rapidly.  The bad news is, I notice the fatigue worse than ever.  I began a regimen of green tea a couple of nights ago, and it seems to be working splendidly.  That in addition to asparagus seems to be as effective of a diuretic as diuretic pills.  I'm four tenths of a pound away from the goal I have set for April 1st.  Meaning this morning was the first time I've seen the 180s in my adult life.  I'm aware that that still sounds huge to some of you, but my original recommended true weight was 182.  It's a little mindblowing to be so close.  I'm not stopping at 182 though, not after fighting this hard and for this long.

The real test of the new me comes this weekend.  I'm heading to Nashville to stay overnight, and all I've ever been told is how much walking is required when visiting there.  Here's hoping I can walk all over that town with a grin on my face. :)

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start 

today and make a new ending.

Dining Out for the Dukanian Plus Words of Wisdom

Today I would like to address one of the most common and daunting obstacles for those trying to lose weight.  After 233 days of beginning the Dukanian lifestyle, I have dined out numerous times.  In the earlier days when leniency was not an option it was more difficult, but here's some tips.

Protein Days

• Buy rotisserie chickens from a local grocery store when you're out and about.  Though they're a bit messy, just pick off the skin and eat the white meat.
• Check out your local restaurants' menus for no carb options.  A local restaurant here offers a 'low carb platter' that comes with either a beef patty or chicken breast along with lettuce, tomato, and onion which you can eat or not eat depending on whether the day is PP or PV.  
• Though there will be temptations, consider family buffet style restaurants.  Places like Ryan's offer a wide variety of meats to choose from, garnish with some onion slices from the salad bar.

Protein/Vegetable Days

• McDonald's side salad with their fatfree balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  Order a grilled chicken breast to top it with if you would like.  Though it won't be as lean as a chicken breast from home, it won't be enough to hurt you.
• Order fajitas at a Mexican restaurant minus the tortillas/sour cream/guac/beans.  You'll end up with a large portion of sliced chicken breast cooked with tomatoes, onions, and peppers.
• At finer restaurants simply mix and match a lean meat with steamed veggies and a salad!

Consolidation Phase or Pre-Consolidation Phase*
*These are options that you may take advantage of at your own risk.  Everyone's body reacts differently so when you indulge keep a close eye on the scales or else!  Also, be wary that indulging in these items can very easily increase overall cravings.  It's the price you pay.  You must decide which is more difficult for you, adhering strictly and missing certain foods without hunger pangs, or being able to indulge occasionally while still losing weight but feeling hungrier.

• The fajita option mentioned above with 1 tortilla and a few chips
• Pizza toppings only.  Though there's fat, you're minimizing carbs so greatly that in moderation it's doable.
• Small serving of Japanese veggies with chicken.  Sauces typically contain vast amounts of sodium and sugar, so do not be deceived.  Water weight gain is almost inevitable following this indulgence, but when carefully done you may escape with little to no harm.

Overall use the rule of thumb that if you are indulging in something less than perfect, you need to do so sparingly and as early in the day as possible.  Try to follow your indiscretion with a pure protein day or two and possibly a diuretic as needed.  I've actually found that an occasional treat can in fact aid your weight loss in the long run.  The ways in which it does this are as follows

• You alleviate the feeling of deprivation
• You allow yourself to acknowledge that the perceived reward of eating something inviting is mostly rubbish.  I've found personally that after indulging the guilt and overall lethargy are punishment enough to make me regret my transgression.  Sometimes you have to simply remind yourself of this though.
• Variation in your diet can sometimes help digestive troubles that the diet otherwise causes.
• Keeping your body acquainted with 'bad' foods and managing to maintain and still lose weight is a grand education in what becomes a healthy lifestyle rather than a diet!  It is here where you learn to manage your food intake regardless of what happens.  

 As previously stated, the last options are an at your own risk type of endeavor.  You will almost certainly temporarily put on a pound or two, and you will have to compensate.  You simply have to make sure that every step back is met with two steps forward.  This will slow your journey a bit, as it has mine, but these indiscretions are what enable me to live my life.

Feel free to comment with your own advice about dining out.

I would like to close with a quote my friend Cheryl shared with me this morning.  It is a reminder that taking control of your life, whether it be through dieting, exercise, or whatever path of self-improvement you embark upon, enables you to focus on what is within your control and helps reduce stress overall!

"You can't force another person to change. Be aware when you spend more time on another person than yourself.

Look inside and take care of your own well being and progress.....then you will be a living example of transformation"

A Year Makes All the Difference

The photo on the left is from March 2010, and the one on the right is from March 2011.  The difference between the two is right at 110 lbs.  Though I still have around 20 more lbs to go, I figure I've came quite a ways. :)