17 Day Diet Check-in…

I promise I haven’t abandoned my blog. Remember back when I announced that I was going to give the 17 Day Diet a try back on my Ginger Elizabeth Cupcake Day post? Well… I went through with it and have been pretty much eating like this…

Green tea with every meal – remember how I thought it tasted like lawn clippings? Well… after 23 days and 69 glasses/cups of it – I can actually say, I love it! I look forward to my daily green tea.  My least favorite part of the diet would have to be the hot lemon water in the morning.

I also have been enjoying my two probiotics a day in the form of Yakult shots. I sometimes drink them straight, other times I pour them over fruit in the morning. I have also been eating Dannon Light & Fit Carb and Sugar Control yogurt a few times a week. I prefer the Yakult over that. I SURE MISS my Chobani, but I just can’t do the plain without a bunch of fun mix-ins and the flavored is too high in sugar.

I’ve been eating veggies like it’s my job – giant artichokes have been a favorite. I usually dip my chokes in mayo and lemon… mayo isn’t on the condiment list for the 17 Day Diet, so I whipped up a fat free sour cream, fresh herb (mostly dill) and spices… dipping sauce. Fabulous!

Lean ground turkey taco salads – minus chips, guac and all of the other sinful goodies… the cheese is Fat Free Jalapeno Jack  and the dressing is a salsa and FF sour cream mix. I’ve not tired of taco salads this entire time.

I made turkey/portobello burgers and used the leftovers in a Greek inspired salad. FF Feta, tomatoes, roasted red peppers and spring mix with a balsamic, herb and olive oil dressing.

Sliced pears and more green tea.

Grilled lemon chicken salads with cucumbers, artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, lemon zest and a Walden Farms FF/Sugar free dressing. I pretty much have been making my own dressing using olive oil, balsamic and herbs and spices – think LOTS of garlic… but I was craving a creamy dressing and Walden Farms was all I could find. It’s o.k., probably wouldn’t rush out to buy another bottle anytime soon. I would rather figure out a way to make my own. Maybe adding some agave to make the FF Sour Cream sweeter.

I’ve also been eating a lot of eggs and I’ve had tilapia and salmon a couple of times.

I completed Cycle 1 with absolutely amazing results. Jaw dropping… I followed the plan exactly how it was designed. I never substituted, never said WTF?, didn’t question daily 17 minute workouts… I just did the plan as it was designed. I lost 15.2 lbs. in 17 days.  That is NOT a typo… it’s crazy town USA. I am now almost a week into cycle 2 and the weight is still coming off. Not as fast, but at a pretty steady rate. I’ve introduced 2 servings of carbs into my daily diet (every other day) and I now have a bigger list of proteins to choose from. So far so good.

I am still shocked that this diet is working so well. I have only felt hungry a couple of times. I have lost all of my carb cravings. I’m definitely not overdoing it with exercise – only 17 minutes of cardio a day. I feel better than I’ve felt in a really long time. I don’t have afternoon crashes. I don’t wander into the kitchen searching through the pantry and fridge for snacks. I just check things off my list and go about my day. Food has not been my main focus for the past 23 days and counting and I like it. Hence… my lack of blog posts. I promise, I am still going to make yummy foods to eat. As I finish up cycle 2 and move into cycle 3 – my options continue to increase and I plan to take full advantage of creating some healthy recipes.

I thought for sure I would miss cheese the most. I was the girl that had 10 blocks of cheese in her cheese drawer. The girl that turned to mac-n-cheese at the first sign of stress or anxiety. Nope, I am managing fine.

I just recently went through a very emotional time. My Aunt passed away last Friday and if any time was going to be a time where I turned to comfort eating, it would have been then and now. After losing my first husband, I pretty much can’t handle death. Grieving is already a continuous process for me and adding more just sends me into a tailspin.  This time… I chose to continue to take care of myself and my body. I want to be the healthiest version of me that I can be. Putting healthy vegetables, lean meats, healthy carbs, low fat and low sugar foods into my body is working.

I have maneuvered family lunches in pubs and dinner with friends. I have carried my lunch bag to work and the mall to make sure I stayed on track. This has been a true commitment and I’m proud of myself for continuing to see it through.

Some may think it’s a gimmick and that’s o.k. Other’s prefer to do their own thing and that’s perfectly fine too. Some like WW, South Beach, the Zone, The Biggest Loser Challenge, the Paleo Diet… it doesn’t matter what you grab onto – it just matters that you believe in yourself and that you and your health are important enough to find something that works for you. Don’t ever give up!

I have always felt that I’ve been a fairly healthy eater. Sure, I indulged like most to celebrate or I have been known to comfort eat,  but I have always thought I had a pretty good understanding of nutrition. What I didn’t understand was that some people just don’t process carbs correctly. Raises hand… It absolutely amazes me that I can now eat a meal and not feel hungry immediately after. I used to eat something and 5 seconds later I was thinking about what I was going to snack on next. I constantly shifted from sweet to savory and salty snacks were favorites of mine. Think pretzels, pita chips and hummus, etc.

I’m not claiming to be an expert. I am still learning a lot about my body and how it reacts to certain foods. It’s been 23 days and I’m still excited. I’m excited to be wearing 2 sizes smaller. I’m excited to be in mediums and larges instead of XL’s… I’m excited to see what each new days brings… and for that, I am grateful.

I promise this isn’t going to turn back into my weight loss blog… but I wanted to share what’s been going on and why I haven’t been posting recipes that included a pound of cheese or a bunch of pasta. Not to say that you will never see those things on Foodiddy, I guarantee you will.

So that’s what’s up in my world… how about yours?

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24 comments

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    • Aim on August 23, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    Awesome job, Kath!

    • Laurie on August 23, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    So proud of you! Keep up the good work! :o)

      • foodiddy on August 24, 2011 at 7:46 am
        Author

      Thanks Laurie – gotta fit into the cute CAbi I have in every size, LOL. And wow, the new season is incredible. Not sure I have a need for 4 more jackets, but I’m pretty sure I will invent one.

    • sizzle on August 23, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    I just got back from a beach vacation and man, after seeing the photos, I am feeling utterly disappointed in myself. I really need to reconnect to my body and realign my eating. Thanks for always putting it out there. xo

      • foodiddy on August 24, 2011 at 7:45 am
        Author

      Photos are the worst. I honestly look in the mirror and feel pretty damn good… then I see a photo and gulp! Pretty sure I have the reverse of what I had before – super thin, thought I was fat when I looked in the mirror. Sigh… guess it’s never easy. Your Zumba and dances class reports always make me smile – glad you found something you truly enjoy – it makes a huge difference. I think I’m going to go back to Zumba for cycle 3 when you are supposed to really increase exercise. I miss it!

    • Elinor on August 23, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    I logged on to see how you were doing. Was putting my bottle to my lips, when low and behold, lookee there at your first photo, didn’t I have just the same thing in my hand, only I had the Jasmine Green Tea version of Tea’s Tea.

    My fav, which can be hard to find, usually Whole Foods has it, is the Lemongrass Green one. I find it odd that it’s so hard to find unsweetened tea.

    However, you neglected to mention the gift on each bottle.
    Printed on the side is a haiku poem, different for each flavor.
    They change periodically.

      • foodiddy on August 24, 2011 at 7:42 am
        Author

      “Through muddied waters – A lotus finds the sunlight – Hope resurrected” – Love the Haiku poems. I did notice them, but not until I had already had a bunch. I’ve tried the Jasmine and actually have a Lemongrass in the fridge right now. Are you doing the 17 Day Diet or just a green tea fan? And yes… super hard to find any unsweetened green tea. I have been making pitchers on my own too. Thanks for stopping by.

        • Elinor on August 24, 2011 at 10:02 pm

        Just a green tea fan be moi. I may need to loose weight but I’m not a diet type. More the change diet — drop this, add that — and increase exercise type.
        I was curious what the green tea factor was in the 17 Day Diet?
        My summer drink this season has been pitchers of green tea with mint from my little pot out by the spigot on the deck.
        Now, lucky me, my friend just gave me a lemongrass plant!

    • Dave2 on August 23, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    I covet your cherry tomatoes. And your pears.

      • foodiddy on August 24, 2011 at 7:39 am
        Author

      OMG Dave, pears right now are incredible and yes, so lucky to have a huge supply of incredible tomatoes right now.

    • Mommers on August 23, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    I am so proud of you honey……….your will power is just amazing……Love and Hugs, Mommers

      • foodiddy on August 24, 2011 at 7:38 am
        Author

      Thanks Mommers!

    • Melissa on August 23, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    Way to go Foo! That’s amazing! Out of curiosity what do you order when you eat out? I have been following a clean eating plan and when some obligation comes up to eat out I panic that there is nothing I can eat!

      • foodiddy on August 24, 2011 at 7:37 am
        Author

      Hi Melissa – I always go for grilled chicken or fish and ask for not butter, light on the oil. As for sides – since I’m pretty limited right now, I go for steamed veggies. I’ve found a couple of items at local restaurants that are my go to items – Macaroni Grill for one has their spiedini chicken, shrimp and salmon. I’m finding that places are pretty accomodating. Salads are hard because places really use tons of toppings and by the time you are done extracting them all, you’re paying $6-10 for a plate of lettuce. I’ve found that not everyone offers oil and vinegar either, so I’ve kind of stayed away from salads.

    • Erica on August 24, 2011 at 8:18 am

    Way to go girl! I’m so glad that you have had awesome results with the 17 day diet. Even though it is called a “diet”, it is really a new way of life with not only the healthy eating and exercise, but with the amazing energy that comes with it. To date, I have lost 18.5 pounds and only 3.5 to go to reach my ultimate goal! Everyone who wants to lose weight, whether a little or a lot, should get on the 17 day diet bandwagon!

    • Tina H. on August 24, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    Hi Foo,

    You go girl. Risking that you might get angry at me ….I loved your weight loss blog so much more than this one 🙁 There we really got to know you and fell in love with you, and you posted so much more.

    Anyway…good job with the diet. You always rock it when you put your heart into it.

    Hugs

      • foodiddy on August 24, 2011 at 4:46 pm
        Author

      Hi Tina – Not angry at all. You are entitled to your opinion, and I welcome sharing here on Foodiddy. I’m sorry you don’t like the new blog as much, but the change needed to happen. I am no longer that lost girl searching for answers. I like myself. I love my body and what it can do and I’m grateful to now have a little space on the Internet that I can share with my family and friends that I see everyday. Professionally it’s just not cool to have your whole life on the Internet. While the readership of my other blog was 20x’s what it is here, I’m o.k. with that. I’m more confident than ever and I don’t need to be going on and on about stuff that really doesn’t matter when you look at the bigger picture. I’m once again enjoying food and I’m actually paying attention to nutrition instead of how much I can eat for as little points as possible. I’ve learned a lot over the years – I’m really happy now and I wasn’t back then.

        • Tina H. on August 25, 2011 at 1:18 pm

        Amen to that! You are pretty on the outside as much as you are on the inside, girl!. You always have been and you always will be.
        I only said that about the older blog because it was you that helped me lose 120 pounds.
        But I also know what you mean about having your life out there. It is good that you decided on some privacy because people judge without knowing the real truth sometimes.
        Well, I got the 17th Day Diet today 🙂 I still have some pounds to lose, so I thought, why not.
        Thank you for being here and being you.

        Hugs

    • sarah on August 25, 2011 at 7:13 am

    Giving up sugar is the most challenging part because from what I have read sugar is addictive like a drug, so this is probably why it is so difficult! It does get easier!

    “Here are some recipes that helped me stay on track with the 17 day diet.

    Good luck to all!

    • Kristin on August 25, 2011 at 7:47 am

    Wow! Your commitment and your weight loss is pretty impressive! Maybe I’ll try that diet postpartum. Thanks for the comment on my blog. I look forward to reading more about your experience with this diet and if there is maintainence phase

    • Dubu on August 25, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Girl you look GREAT!!!! It’s all about finding what works for you and sticking to it!!! You’ve found what works for you :-). I’m excited to give your dipping sauce for the artichokes a try. Plain ol’ mayo just doens’t cut it for me.

    • Kelly on August 25, 2011 at 11:14 am

    WTG!! Many have refered to the 17 day diet as a diet, heck, even the title of the book says “diet”; but, it really is a life style change. That is how I see it. I dropped 11 pounds on the first cycle when I started. Thanks for some new ideas on the food. My choices have all been realitivley simple, but yours look so much more yummy. I still have some more weight to lose so I’ll be going back to cycle 1 this weekend and since enough time has passed I have high hopes that I’ll see another 10 pounds come off in that first cycle.

    • Hannah K on September 21, 2011 at 2:45 am

    After seeing 2 of my co-workers have great success with this diet, I finally decided to do it myself since I never lost the baby weight from having my 2nd child. So I played it safe and bought this book with a few other weight loss books so I could mix and match the information to suit me just in case 1 of the diets was too hard for me to stick to.

    Right now I’m midway through the 2nd cycle, but at the end of the 1st 17 day cycle, I lost a total of 13 pounds. I did some tinkering around with some of the other diet information I learned however, so I didn’t do this strictly by the book.

    The 17 day diet is a branch off of low carb diets. The first of 4 different 17 day cycles is the hardest and requires you to eat a lot of chicken, turkey, fish, and vegetables. So if you’re a picky eater and like to eat a lot of different things, this may not be the diet for you.

    Because of the lack of carbs, I had a headache, a bit of brain fog, and was more tired than normal for the first 2 days on the diet. But after tinkering a bit, my body adjusted and I was fine after that. You’ll also add back the carbs in the other 3 cycles so don’t worry if you’re a big carb addict with a sweet tooth or in need of starchy foods.

    Learn to like green tea. I wasn’t into it before this diet, but I’ve gotten used to it. No big deal. You have to get away from sodas and diet sodas. Sodas are loaded with useless, empty calories and diet sodas have aspartame in them.

    Also on carbs, you’ll end up eating most of your carbs in the morning, which is great advice.

    For exercise, the 17 minutes of walking each day is sound advice for people who never exercise, but for me it wasn’t enough. I did it (actually I did 30+ minute walks) after dinner, but I also followed the home exercises from The 5-Second Flat Belly Secret – Lose 2-3 Inches from Your Belly in Less Than 1 Month I could speed up my weight loss.

    Supplements and buying expensive special foods… none of that type of stuff in this book as opposed to most other diet books. So that’s a big plus and saves money.

    If you’re someone who needs a simple plan to follow and you have some discipline, then this book will work well for you. I give it 4 stars and not 5 because it’s still a diet and there are restrictions and because I think the Kindle version could be cheaper. It’s not a perfect diet and it’s definitely not a fit for everyone. But for most people, it should be fine.

    • Mary on August 10, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    Thank you for sharing so many photos, recipes, and thoughts! A friend and I have just started the 17 day diet ourselves. Seeing how you have navigated the “interesting” elements has helped me get through some of the harder aspects. Trying to describe it to my coworkers has been fun – “it’s a low-fat version of low carb.”

    Ha ha! Anyway, hope you are doing well. I found your blog by googling 17 day diet and I’m glad I found a more well-rounded blog here, including your other recipes and daily reflections.

    Keep at it!

    Mary, another fan 🙂

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