December 12, 2016
If your past few weeks have been anything like mine, perhaps you too feel that you need to hit the “reset” button. Last week, I set out on a mission to do just that, to reverse the holiday eating and drinking damage that I had done even before the season was in full swing.
The goal was to feel leaner, healthier and stronger after implementing a two-week diet/exercise/healthy living program. The eating plan was adapted from Dr. Oz’s Two Week Diet (See approved and banned food list in last week’s article.)
Also, I planned to cut out coffee and alcohol during this time although it was optional (my husband didn’t). We set out to exercise for 12 of the 14 days of this challenge, alternating cardio and resistance training each day.
So, here’s what really happened.
The first five days – Sunday through Thursday – were my strongest. I didn’t miss a workout, didn’t go off the meal plan, didn’t have a sip of alcohol, took my vitamins everyday. I did have coffee without milk a few times. Friday came around and I exercised and ate regularly during the day but ended up having two glasses of red wine and crab guacamole with chips at happy hour with my husband. I ordered the guacamole thinking I would eat it with a fork but I couldn’t resist the chips.
We woke up the next morning and went to the gym as planned. We came home, had egg whites and turkey bacon and then realized that it was our six-month wedding anniversary. We decided to go out to dinner, but went to a semi-healthy Mediterranean BYOB. We had scallops, calamari, hummus and some pita.
Sunday we stuck to the diet and had egg whites again for brunch at home and then made chicken and cauliflower mash for dinner.
This past week was a really good week as well. What I found is that the weeks start off strong. It gets more difficult to stick to the diet and exercise plan as the weekend gets closer. Life does get in the way sometimes, but you have to roll with it.
For example, last Tuesday, I met my friends at a Mexican restaurant for one of our girlfriend’s birthdays. I ate before going knowing my weakness for chips and salsa/guacamole. No one cared, they all knew I was trying to stay away from that kind of stuff and didn’t question. I compromised and sipped a little red wine and water. (It was my friend’s birthday, I had to have something to toast with!)
The end of last week gave me an extra boost of momentum knowing that this two-week challenge was coming to a close and I really wanted to feel successful in what I had done. Partly because I want to report good news to all of you and partly because I have so many holiday parties coming up and I want to feel my best going into the New Year, too.
Now, at the end of the two weeks, there is ABSOLUTELY a dramatic difference in my body. I’m not a huge scale person but I wanted a point of reference so I weighed myself before and after: 6 pounds lost during the program. Just having the rules/structure makes me feel more confident in myself, like I am accomplishing something for my health.
In fact, I am not stopping the program. I am taking my vitamins everyday and going to try my best to keep to the diet/exercise routine throughout each week, Monday-Friday, indefinitely.
I am learning about myself throughout this process, too. I find that I need to prep my meals on Sunday for healthy eating at home during the week. Also, I know that I am more likely to skip an afternoon workout as opposed to when I get it done first thing in the morning. I keep my vitamins on my nightstand so even if I forget to take them all day, I can take them at night before bed.
Moral of the story, it is good to have a plan for your health, but also know that plans can change. You have to be able to adapt without completely falling off the rails. If you fall off the wagon, get back on. Or maybe jump off every weekend and make sure you hold on extra tight from Monday to Friday afternoon.
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I will continue to keep you posted on my health journey. Please feel free to share below or tweet me @christiemandia.
