I realize I haven’t finished chronicling my “diet” or, as I prefer to call it… my “eating transformation” blog BUT I thought I’d give a current update. Starting after Labor Day (2017), Jim and I decided it was time to go back on our plan in a very strict way. Strict as in strict like we did September 2015 when we first started.
You see, we enjoyed our summer… A LOT.
Which is a gentler way of saying we found a few of the pounds we had lost and decide it was time to part ways with them again! I gained 17 lbs which, honestly, isn’t too bad when you consider much of them were brought on by eating in restaurants and drinking alcohol freely. We started back on the plan the day after Labor Day (Tuesday, 9/5) and I am already down almost 10 lbs. Again, much of that was simply water weight gained from eating at restaurants so don’t be shocked by the number.
Things are going very well. It helps that our garden is producing copious amounts of goodies plus our raspberries are going gang-busters. It actually hasn’t been difficult at all. Once again, I am averaging between 750-900 calories a day. Don’t be alarmed by that. I eat when I am hungry but the foods I eat (fruits, vegetables, beans, etc.) are very low in calories. The most calorie-laden stuff I eat is brown rice, barley and other such grains.
Of course, I feel good. No more waking up with a heavy-head from too much night-before drinking. Less tummy bloat. And overall more energy. Plus my clothes, as well as the rings I wear on my hands, are loose again.
My plan is to continue down this path until my annual conference I do for my clients each year. This year’s event is October 11 & 12th. I then plan to go back on plan shortly after… either the 16th or the 23rd and stay on it until the national holiday known as my birthday (12/17 for inquiring minds). After New Years, I’ll do it again until either the summer begins or I hit my goal weight.
Honestly, this is what I love about my new way of eating. (Notice I avoid calling it a diet as I am not on a diet instead I’ve changed the way I think about and approach food.) I can easily turn on the switch and go back at it strict. Most of the summer, I continued to eat the plant-based foods I have grown to love but allowed myself a few cheats/treats mainly in the form of occasional restaurant eating and alcohol. But when I feel it is time to go back on, I simply hit the switch and I’m back at it.
More later!