So, I started a new diet on Tuesday. Well, my husband and I started a new diet on Tuesday. It feels a bit easier with him on board too.
The name of the diet is "The 17 Day Diet". The information needed to follow it can be found in the book of the same name, written by Dr. Mike Moreno.
The diet is comprised of four 17 day cycles. The first cycle is called "accelerate" Its purpose is to promote rapid weight loss by improving digestive health. Let's be honest, we all want to see rapid results or we give up. This 17 day cycle is meant to give you early success so you don't give up.
The second cycle is called "activate". It's purpose is to reset your metabolism by increasing and decreasing your caloric consumption to stimulate fat burning and help prevent plateaus.
The third cycle is called "achieve". It helps to develop good eating habits by re-introducing your body to additional foods and move you closer to your goal weight.
If after the third cycle, you have not reached your ideal weight, then you return to cycle 1. If you have reached your ideal weight at the end of 53 days (good for you, just don't tell me--just kidding) then you go on to cycle 4 which is "arrive"
The "Arrive" cycle keeps you at your goal weight by eating your favorite foods on the weekends while eating healthfully during the week.
"Arrive" sounds a lot like many diets I've tried but I always found the weekdays a challenge and soon my cheat weekends would turn into Friday through Monday and then they turned into weeks and before I knew it I was back to eating unhealthy every day.
I recently tried Game On. But found that for someone who has problems with portion control and problems choosing healthy foods, asking them to eat 6 small meals is a huge mistake. I found myself obsessing about what I could and couldn't eat all day long. I'd finish one meal and would have to start planning the next so I could fit all 6 in or else lose points for my team. I found myself eating between dinner and bedtime just to get in my 6th snack when I really wasn't hungry, just so I wouldn't lose points for my team.
So far, "accelerate" is working well. The guidelines are: Eat as many healthy veggies and lean proteins as you like. Limit your fruit intake to 2 servings of low sugar fruits (he has a sample list) before 2 PM and eat 2 servings of any kind of yogurt you'd like each day. Drink eight 8 oz glasses of water each day. This is what I CAN eat. I try not to focus on what I can't eat because this is a LARGE list of things I can eat.
However, I will share with you, in this first cycle there is no cheese, limited carbs, no breads, pastas, beans, potatoes or other starchy things. It's simply lean meats, certain veggies, 2 servings of specific fruit and 2 servings of yogurt.
Even the lean meat list is pretty short. But, it's do-able.
Yes, even without my diet pop I am surviving. I am encouraged to drink 3 cups of green tea each day. It's great for it's caffeine kick and also its healthy properties.
So far, Jason and I are following it to the letter. The only thing we have not done past day 1 is something that is merely suggested. Dr. Moreno suggests first thing, upon waking each morning to drink 8 oz of hot water with the juice of half a lemon. Apparently it gets the digestive juices flowing.
I don't mind it, I just don't always have time to do it. My husband on the other hand, thought it was the most wretched thing he had ever tasted. I have been religiously drinking my water and tea.
So---how's it been going?
I won't lie. Day #1 was rough. It rated high on the divorce meter. I told my husband I now know why my mother would go out and buy my father a pack of cigarettes every time he tried to quit smoking. I was ready to feed Jason french fries and a Big Mac by the end of day 1 he was so crabby and miserable. (My dad was eventually successful at quitting, by the way! :))
We both had some headaches and felt ill the first couple days from the low calorie amounts we were consuming. But, we're eating more of the lean meats and may even try a higher fat yogurt since any kind of yogurt is allowed for your two servings.
We are both feeling better today on day #3. There is an exercise component as well---exercise 17 minutes per day. Whatever you want--walk, run, aerobics, whatever. Just do it for 17 minutes.
We have yet to incorporate this since we were feeling so lousy and weak, but we hope to exercise tonight.
So far, we are liking the results we are seeing on the scale and hope they continue. Hubby is down 3 pounds and I am down 4. I am a firm believer in rapid results making you want to continue to do well. I am hopeful that this diet will allow us to slowly work up to eating a wide variety of foods but with portion control and making healthier choices.
On diets I've tried in the past, I've always felt like I was missing a step. Like I wasn't quite ready to be at the point they wanted me to be. I'd mess up once or twice and see no results, get frustrated and go back to my unhealthy norm. Once I get to my ideal weight and go to cycle 4 it seems totally live-able.
I hope to continue blogging about our progress, especially through the holiday season. We know it will be a challenge, but I'm hoping having a plan in place will keep me from eating through a dessert buffet or two in the next month.
Off to drink my green tea,
Michelle
The 17 Day Diet, by Mike Moreno
