South Beach Diet Log - Week 13 & 14

Summary: Week Thirteen - Can you count to ten with me? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9.... I've lost 10 pounds! This week, more so than in recent weeks, I don't feel as if I'm on a diet any longer. I feel so much more relaxed than I have since I started this journey a few short weeks ago. I'm absolutely never hungry. I can go to the grocery and not be tempted to buy junk foods. Although I do occasionally pick up treats that I shouldn't, I'm consciously doing it. I allow myself to drink my favorite soda, Cherry Coke, a couple times a week. I put limits on my indulgences rather than outlawing them completely. I'd rather have three bites of real ice cream than eat a dish full of artificially sweetened frozen dessert. My belly is always full eating wholesome foods. By "full" I mean satisfying, not bulging. That ol' Buddha Belly of mine no longer exists. The cheat treats I occasionally choose are meant for my taste buds rather than for me to gorge on, so a couple of cookies or a half slice of pie is sufficient. Why eat larger portions? It is the first couple of bites I enjoy the most. Any more, I feel guilty. I can save the other half slice of pie by shoving it to the back of the fridge to eat a couple days later if I really want it.

Of course, I couldn't always do this because my husband, who has a higher metabolism than I do, would discover my saved goodies and finish them off. It soon became apparent to me that when treats were brought into our home that if I didn't eat my share right away that it wouldn't be there for me later on because he would discover them and eat them. We would then argue about the missing food. I would say, "where is my pie?" and he would sheepishly admit that he ate it. Then I'd be mad and pout. Then he'd offer to go to the store and get another pie. Well, I didn't want another whole pie with its additional calories brought into our home, I only wanted my half slice. That plus my husband would often bring home a 'peace offering" pie home anyway from the store the following week. After several of these food arguments I learned to eat all my pie, or whatever, in one sitting or it would disappear. We had more food in the house to accommodate his needs than my body really wanted. So, ultimately, this is my fat story. I gained weight because I began eating more treats than I really wanted in the first place in a stupid stance of me wanting fairness and to avoid new arguments.

This whole idea of fairness involving equal treats began when I was growing up. My mother would often give one treat out for my sister and me to share. We would divvy up one candy bar or one bottle of soda drink between us. My sister would cut the candy bar in half and then I would get to pick which half would be mine. We became very creative in trying to get one crumb more than the other. My trick was to put three ice cubes in her drink and only two cubes in mine, making it look like she was getting more to drink when really I was. She caught on eventually, we then measured the soda in the glasses after the fizzy bubbles settled down and before any ice was added.

Anyway, I realize now that I don't have to eat equal portions to feel as if I've gotten my share. It's rather silly that I equated fairness to food portions in the first place. But, now that I realize that this is what I had been doing then I can work at changing that picture in my head. So what if my husband can eat four tacos and still feel hungry and I feel stuffed after eating only two? I'll never be able to catch up with all that he eats, I don't even want to try.

End of Week Weigh in: -.5
Total Weight loss after thirteen weeks: 10 pounds

Summary: Week Fourteen - This past week flew by... although if you were to look at my date calendar it would look fairly uneventful. I simply feel like I've been very busy busy busy, but can't really say what happened to all my time. Before I knew it, the end of the week had arrived and it was time for me to post my weekly diet report. Guess what? I've lost another pound. This means that I am only 4 pounds away from my original goal! That's my happy report! Plus I'm still losing inches, significant reduction on my breasts and thighs. I'm definitely looking leaner, although since I'm wearing layers of warm clothing due to the cold weather nobody would really notice. But, who cares? I know I'm skinnier under my bulky sweaters. I think in January I'll be enjoying browsing the Spring clothing catalogs.

I've been a little bored with mealtimes and menu planning. The recipes in SBD book are great but I'm ready to find some new low-carb recipes. I was given a new cookbook this week so I'm going to experiment with some of the recipes in it for variety sake. The cookbook is titled Back to Protein: The Low Carb, No Carb Meat Cookbook. The author, Barbara Doyen, is a huge fan of the Atkins Revolution Diet.

End of Week Weigh in: -1
Total Weight loss after fourteen weeks: 11 pounds

Next: Diet Summary: Week Fifteen