Frustration
I’ve hit a low of 167 pounds, but the new low is at best tentative. The slightest error in either breakfast or dinner ruins my momentum. Yogurt is my ally as I fight my white whale of a belly.
Why do I consider time pressure to exist? On May 19, my tailor’s traveling representative visits Dallas. He will take my measurements. Then my tailor will begin to create custom suits from scratch. Whatever my weight is on May 19 will govern much about my future wardrobe.
Today is May 7 and the deadline is May 19, so I have 12 days to reach my target weight of 150 lbs. I currently weight 167 lbs. So I would have to lose between one and two pounds per day to achieve success. Not even my metabolism can accomplish that feat. Yet if I reach a low of 155 lbs., then that could be the “heavy” end of my wardrobe, allowing for fluctuation between 150 lbs. and 155 lbs. That revised target requires me to lose 11 pounds in 11 days. That goal seems impossible, too, but it’s something for which to strive.
The danger is that I’ve noticed my weight oddly spike upward today. I only can hope a vigorous regime can produce the results I need. YMCA and jogging in the morning, stairs at night, and yogurt for breakfast and dinner… that path leads the way to weight loss.
Yes, I am really this crazy. I know no other way. This weight must go. My patience wears too thin (at least something does), and a crash diet will propel me through the last hurdles. I hope to reach 162 lbs. by Friday…
If you want to lose some weight fast you could go on a 1,000 calories-a-day fresh fruit and vegetable diet. Which means no dairy, grain or protein. It’s only good to do for a week and it keeps your energy up better than other crash diets like just cutting carbs. Dairy, by the way, can make you bloat so when it gets close to measurement time you might want to cut back on dairy to cut back on those inches. You can safely do this for 11 days but don’t forget to take a calcium supplement.
An example of this diet:
Breakfast: One cup of three types of fruit (but not bananas as they are starchy) and a cup of hot water with lemon and you can use a natural sweetener like honey). you can have one cup of coffee a day (no milk)
Lunch: a large salad with lettuce, celery, cucumber, tomato, a quarter of an avocado, olive oil, lemon, and garlic powder. Avoid nuts and legumes (dried beans, lentils) because they have protein and starch.
Snack: one or two pieces of fruit. if you feel tired take 1000 mcg of vitamin b12 (vitamin b supplements are great for energy) or have an Emer’gen-C
Dinner: Vegetable soup with celery, parsley, onion, garlic, parsnip, zucchini… any vegetables except corn and potatoes. Cook as you would a stew in an organic vegetable brother. You can make a big batch to store for the week. Resist the urge to add salt, which can also make you bloat (and also americans get far too much sodium in their diets)
To drink: flat water, as carbonation can lead to bloating. one cup of coffee a day. lots of water. you can have a little juice but check the sugar content, just because something is organic doesn’t mean it isn’t super sugary or even starchy.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? But if you stick to it the week before it should help. It’s only good to do for a week and then after that you can do it two days a week if you’d like.
Then there is the problem of having energy, because it’s the lack of energy that probably drives you to eat a lot and not so well. A sluggishly digestive system equals a sluggish person. Now protein is good for energy, so if the above diet is too hardcore you could add three to four ounces of protein per meal (4 egg whites, or one small chicken breast) or two ounces per snack (a handful of raw almonds or one low fat plain yogurt). This will give you more energy if the diet is leaving you tired.
In your daily life if you limit your carbs to fresh fruit and vegetables, like with the above diet, it will help to keep your digestive system working properly. Eat five times a day so your bloodsugar remains stable and your brain chemistry balanced. This is essential for good energy and stopping those awful cravings for the foods you know aren’t going to help the cause. And don’t fall back on caffeine to stay alert. It throws off your ability to create energy and makes you dependent. You should try taking 30 to 60 milligrams of zinc daily, which helps your enzymes break down food more efficiently and will make you less sluggish after meals.
Also, you can take daily supplements of six to nine grams of fish oil with at least 30% EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. There have been studies that show these fats can speed up your metabolism. But you can’t just rely on taking special vitamins and not changing your diet and work out routine. These aren’t magic buttons.
Tip: fruit flavored yogurt is high in sugar. It’s much better to have plane yogurt and add fresh fruit.
Also, protein bars won’t help you lose weight. They aren’t real food, don’t really satisfy hunger and may lead to cravings.
Holistic nutrionists often recommend taking two capsules of acidophilus (health food stores) each morning to control sugar cravings because it boosts your body’s level of good bacteria.
Comment on May 11, 2006 @ 6:31 pm
This advice helps! Thanks for the detail in each of meal and snack recommendations–I could implement this regimen this week. In fact, I think I’ll try it.
Comment on May 14, 2006 @ 10:41 pm