Diet - Week 1

So, I am going to diet. The wife is doing some crazy hard 14 day diet where you eat all sorts of odd combination of foods like one meal you have two egg whites, fourteen almonds and cabbage leaves. The next one you can have frozen yogurt, edamame and acorns. I cannot even think about keeping that sort of diet.

I weighed in this morning at a nasty 314. Gross. Just months ago I was down to 285. Stupid lack of willpower. So, I am cutting into that. The first weight loss goal is to get BACK to 285 and get that reward meal at Eischen's in Okarche that I once earned but forfeited as soon as I became Fat Craig again.

I have done three major types of diets in my life. Atkins, counting calories and one I did at an old gym called the Fitness Zone back in Arkansas. I lost 20 pounds quickly with Atkins but gained it all back after I broke down and had a biscuit. I lost about 120 counting calories and gained about 60 back. Then I lost about 30 with the challenge. I still weigh about what I did when I came off of that diet. So, I am going to try that one for a few months and then I will go back to counting calories.

Here is the challenge in a nutshell. Basically, you exercise for around 30 minutes a day for six days.

For days 1,2 and 3 of each week you sort of clean your system out just eating green veggies, citrus fruits and lean proteins. No salt. No sugar. Stay away from processed foods. Eating the following foods prepares the body to burn stored body fat and eliminate toxins.

Below is a list of things you can eat these three days, with a sample day's menu:
Eat moderate amounts of the following:
Proteins:
- beef
- chicken
- water packed tuna
- turkey
- fish
- egg whites
- whole eggs (no more than 2 per day)

Veggies and fruits:
- cucumbers
- cabbage
- lettuce
- green onions
- green beans
- asparagus
- oranges
- celery
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- tangerines
- cantaloupe
- red/green bell peppers
- squash
- zucchini
- radishes
- collard greens
- brussel sprouts
- edamame
- eggplant
- spinach
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal
- grapefruit

You may use butter or oil to cook your food. You can season to flavor as long as there is no salt or sugar.

You may use oil or vinegar or any lite or fat free salad dressing. NO canned veggies.

You need to drink a MINIMUM of eight 8 oz glasses of water per day. Perrier and mineral water may be substituted.

In addition to water you may have two 12 oz cans of diet soda or 4 cups of caffeinated tea or coffee with 4 packages of splenda, sweet'n'low or equal.

No sugar. No milk.

NO breads, pasta, milk, cheese, condiments or fruit juices during days 1-3.

Days 4,5
You are free to eat everything on the list from days 1-3 and add any of the following in moderation.

1 serving of milk
1 serving of fruit juice
2 servings of any of the following fruits: strawberries, grapes, apples, bananas, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, pomegranates, kiwi
Vegetables: tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, parsley
Fibers: chick peas/garbanzo beans/kidney beans/black beans (1/4 cup)
1-2 slices of whole grain wheat bread
Cottage cheese
2 TBSP all natural peanuts or almonds
1 serving high fiber cereal
5 oz brown rice / 1/4 cup cooked pasta
2 TBSP condiments (ketchup, mayo, mustard)
2 heaping TBSP of wheat germ

Day 6
Same as days 4 and 5 but allow yourself 1 cheat meal if you desire.

Day 7
A free day. No rules or requirements. Just eat in moderation and watch your portions.

Then start over on days 1-3 etc.

Days 1-3
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 egg, orange
Snack: grapefruit
Lunch: large green salad with a can of tuna fish and lite dressing
Snack: cucumbers dipped in lite salad dressing and small orange
Dinner: ground beef patty, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower
Snack: Cantaloupe

Days 4-5
Breakfast: Fruit Smoothie (1 cup milk, 1/2 cup fruit, ice, protein powder)
Snack: Almonds, orange
Lunch: turkey sandwich on wheat, carrots, tomato
Snack: pineapple, cottage cheese
Dinner: grilled chicken, brown rice, big salad, asparagus
Snack: orange

If you actually eat this food, you will NOT be hungry. In fact, it is a lot of work to eat this much food in a day.

Tips:
- Get some Mrs. Dash seasonings. They are a life and taste-saver!
- Eat breakfast like a king (big healthy portions), lunch like a prince (medium portions) and dinner like a pauper ( a small meal)
- Try not to eat past 8 PM.

Of course, no booze. No sweets. No desserts. Save that for the free day but be smart.