Sacred Heart, day one: Fruit and Soup

Okay, so I'm done day one. How am I feeling? In a word - HUNGRY. I was doing well, eating lot's of fruit... until I saw an episode of "Friends" and they ate pizza. I would like some pizza. I've had a headache all day but don't know that I can blame the diet because I've had the headache since yesterday. I've felt tired, but it's hard to say if that was just me being lazy on my day free of commitments (something typical for me). I have been peeing a LOT... maybe it's due to retaining water yesterday after all the soy sauce I had with my 'all you can eat' sushi buffet!

Here's what I ate:
breakfast - fruit salad with strawberries and raspberries (1), blueberries (1), grapes (1) and cherries (1)
lunch - soup (0), watermelon (1), 1c skim milk (2), unsweetened apple/grape sauce (1)
snack - unsweetened apple/pomegranate sauce (1), unsweetened applesauce (1), 2c. unsweetened cranberry juice (4)
dinner - soup (0), grapes (1), cherries (1), blueberries (1)
Total points = 17

Here's some stats on the day:
Calories - 1102, fibre - 37g, sugars - 194g, carbs - 280g (which is actually over my daily recommended amount, thanks fruit!), sodium - 2186g, cholesteral - 5mg, fat - 2mg.

Sooo... I almost got the daily recommended calories in, got more than enough fibre and sugar and carbs than I really need, and was way under in fat.

I can't wait for tomorrow and have some vegetables. Not sure what I'll do about breakfast though! I'll figure that one out after my "Jon and Kate Plus 8".

For now, I leave you with some photos of my food today. Did I mention I got a LOVELY new camera courtesy of my LOVELY boyfriend (as an early birthday gift!). It's a Nikon P5100 and I am in LOVE with it. NO taking this one to a bachelorette party and dropping it!!!!

Breakfast fruit salad:


Soup:


Watermelon:


Applesauces:




Fruit bowl after dinner:


Cranberry juice:

Sacred Heart Medical Diet

Okay, so I have decided to try the Sacred Heart Medical Diet (note: I accidentally typed "Scared Heart Medical Diet" TWICE now! Freudian? Maybe.)

My mom has done this in the past and LOVED it. After losing like 15lbs in one week (not healthy, I realize) she swore she was going to follow the diet for the rest of her life. Not realistic... but it's something to try for a week. It's pretty much like a cleanse from what I can tell. Fruits and vegetables for a few days then introduce protein and on the last day some carbs. Not something you want to do forever... but it is sticking to fruits and vegetables and lean protein... I see it as possibly cleansing my system.

I'm going to try it for a week, see how I do... and then probably do it the week before the weddings in September. I realize it's nothing permanent by any means. I'm just going to give it an honest shot and see how it goes before I maybe try it before the weddings.

I'll blog my daily progress... How I'm feeling, how my weight has changed, what I've eaten exactly... A daily summary of the diet! I'm still keeping track of my points and calories (which will be interesting to compare my calories vs. my points because vegetables still have calories... yet are 0 points!).

I'll be back later to blog about day 1 officially. I'll start for now (and leave you with) the diet itself... for those who aren't familiar.

Sacred Heart Medical Diet
This 7-day eating plan can be used as often as you like. If correctly followed, it will clean out your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. After only 7 days of this process, you will begin to feel lighter by at least 10 pounds and possibly 17 pounds, and experience an abundance of energy.

SOUP:

* 1 or 2 cans of stewed tomatoes
* 3 plus large green onions
* 1 large can of beef broth (no fat)
* 1 pkg. Lipton Soup mix (chicken noodle)
* 1 bunch of celery
* 2 cans green beans
* 2 lbs. Carrots
* 2 Green Peppers

Season with salt, pepper curry, parsley, if desired, or bouillon, hot or Worcestershire sauce. Cut veggies in small to medium pieces. Cover with water. Boil fast for 10 minutes. Reduce to simmer and continue to cook until veggies are tender.

This soup can be eaten anytime you are hungry during the week. Eat as much as you want, whenever you want. This soup will not add calories. The more you eat, the more you will lose. You may want to fill a thermos in the morning if you will be away during the day.

DRINKS:

* Unsweetened juices
* Tea (also herbal)
* Coffee
* Cranberry juice
* Skim milk
* Water, water, water

DAY ONE
Any fruit (except bananas). Cantaloupes and watermelon are lower in calories than most other fruits. Eat only soup and fruit today.

DAY TWO
All vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed with fresh raw, cooked or canned veggies. Try to eat green leafy veggies and stay away from dry beans, peas or corn. Eat veggies along with the soup. At dinnertime tonight reward yourself with a big baked potato and butter. Don't eat any fruits through today.

DAY THREE
Eat all the soup, fruit and veggies you want. Do not have a baked potato. If you have eaten as above for three days and not cheated, you should find that you have lost 5-7 pounds.

DAY FOUR
Bananas and skim milk: Eat at least 3 bananas and drink as much milk as you can today, along with the soup. Bananas are high in calories and carbohydrates, as is the milk but on this particular day, your body will need the potassium and carbs. Proteins and calcium to lessen the cravings for sweets.

DAY FIVE
Beef and tomatoes: you may have 10 to 20 ounces of beef and a can of tomatoes, or as many as 6 tomatoes on this day. Eat the soup at least once today.

DAY SIX
Beef and veggies, eat to your heart's content of the beef and veggies today. You can even have 2-3 steaks if you like with green leafy veggies but no baked potato. Be sure to eat the soup at least once today.

DAY SEVEN
Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice and veggies, again, be sure to stuff yourself and eat the soup. You can add cooked veggies to your rice if you wish.

By the end of the 7th day, if you have not cheated on this diet, you should have lost 10 to 17 pounds. If you have lost more than 17 pounds, stay off the diet for two days before resuming the diet again.

This diet is fast. The secret lies within the principle that you will burn more calories than you take in. It will flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. This diet does not lend itself to drinking any alcoholic beverages at any time. Because of the fat build-up in your system. Go off the diet at least 14 hours before any intake of alcohol.

Due to the variety of digestive systems in individuals, this diet will affect everyone differently. After day three, you will have more energy than when you began, if you do not cheat. After being on the diet for several days, you will find that your bowel movements have changed. Eat a cup of bran or fiber. Although you can have black coffee with this diet, you may find that you don't need caffeine after the third day.

The basic fat burning soup can be eaten anytime you feel hungry during the seven days. Eat as much as you wish. Remember the more you eat, the more you will lose. You can eat broiled, boiled or baked chicken instead of the beef. Absolutely no skin on the chicken. If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef on only one of the beef days. You need the high protein in the beef for the other days.

Continue on the diet as long as you wish and feel the difference both mentally and physically.

DO NOT - DO NOT
No bread, alcohol, carbonated drinks (including diet drinks). Remember, absolutely no fried foods.

DO - DO - DO - DO
Drink plenty - at least 6 to 8 glasses - of water a day, as well as any combination of the following beverages: black coffee, unsweetened fruit drinks, cranberry juice and skim milk.


Also, if you're interested in the criticisms, see here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/299406/the_sacred_heart_medical_diets_dangerous.html?cat=51

Well, I'm trying at least...

There's my weight watchers dinner of champions (the night before weigh in when you're sure you're up).

The good news? I got up and did my biggest loser workout this morning. It wasn't near as tough as I feared a 6:30am workout may be. I was dragging my feet by the time Jillian takes over, but I still did it.

I'm feeling rather discouraged lately. I don't know if I'm just not trying as hard as I did from January to March... or if my body is rejecting my efforts. I feel like I try hard, don't see results, and give up for a week... it's a 2 week cycle. It's crunch time though. Weddings are in 2 months and counting. It sucks that I feel like I might as well give up because how much of a dent can I make in my weight in 2 months? I just keep going up no matter what I do... I'm sick of going to WI and being told I'm up 0.4 or 0.6... it all adds up!

That being said, here's today's summary:
Breakfast - egg (2), raspberries (1)
Lunch - salad with tuna (1), cheese (1), peppers and onions (0), ff italian (1), lettuce (0), yogurt (1)
Dinner - lettuce wraps (0) with chicken breast (3), cheese (1), peppers, onions and tomatoes (0), 4 tbsp light sour cream (2); cottage cheese and fruit cup (2); broccoli (0) and sour cream dip (2)
Total: 17 - not enough, but it's to make up for going over yesterday
Water: 3L
Activity: biggest loser cardio level 1 and 2
Tomorrow's goal? maybe be DOWN at WI (sure, during my bloated week too), maybe do the biggest loser workout.

I guess I should get some sleep if that's going to happen.

Good luck tomorrow... there's probably no hope for me (ahhh yes, listen to my sad sad song and feel sorry for me!)

I better kick it up a notch here...

everyone I talk to seems to be finding it difficult to find motivation... i don't know why this summer is so tough for myself and everyone around me. My day started out well... but then I went for sushi with Alex for dinner... you really don't realize how many points/calories can add up with sushi. all that rice i suppose... I managed to stay away from anything fried all together and tried to get mostly hand rolls... then i came home and ate CHOCOLATE CHIPS! What is up with that? I had a headache and despite taking 4 advils... by 9pm I gave up on any hope of my biggest loser workout.

What is wrong with me?


needless to say, no biggest loser workout today. I think I'm nervous to do it in the morning out of fear I won't have the energy for it... still, I can adapt. I can not try as hard until I get the swing of it for 6am workouts. I think I will try that.

Today's Summary (guessing though due to dinner out):
Breakfast - watermelon (1)
Lunch - salad with tuna (1), cheese (1), ff italian (1); yogurt (1); berries (1)
Dinner - handrolls (10), sushi (5)
Snack - chocolate chips (4)
Total: 25 (thank god I had eaten very light for breakfast and lunch otherwise today could have been a worse disaster)
Water: 3.5L
Activity - NIL (damn! bad girl!)

Tomorrow's goal: Biggest Loser cardio in AM! I CAN DO IT!!!

Where did the weekend go?

So long, farewell, I hate to say goodbye... my dear vacation. It was back to the reality that is the office today. It wasn't so bad actually. It has been crazy busy right up until this week. June was our busiest month all spring... whereas last year June started to slow right down. I hope we can start to catch a bit of a break and people stop having so many mental health issues (who am I to talk? haha!).

I didn't stay true to my word and post all weekend. Oh well. I'm here now.

I haven't done any exercise since you last saw me. Actually, I lie. I HADN'T done any. That is, until tonight. Did the biggest loser cardio tonight. Now, I am pooped and ready for bed!

Today's back to work summary:
breakfast - egg (2), watermelon (1)
Lunch - salad with chick peas 1/2c (2), cheese (1), veggies (0), ff italian 3 tbsp (1), yogurt (1), 2c berries (2), cheese string (1)
Snack - 2 cheese slices (1)... chocolate chips OOPS couple of tbsp (3), butterscotch chips OOPS AGAIN couple of tbsp (4)
Dinner- lettuce wraps with couscous 1/2c (3), salsa (0), chicken breast (3)
*light dinner due to all of that crap i snacked on earlier*
Total Points: 25
Water: 3L
Activity: Levels 1 and 2 of biggest loser cardio
Tomorrow's Goal: entire biggest loser workout in the AM... and remember to pay my car insurance!

Last *Official* Day of Vacation

Sigh

I didn't get time to post yesterday... the day was busy with things and then mom and dad came by for a quick visit and dropped off their dogs with me for the evening while they went to see Dirty Dancing... Then Alex and I went out for subs and I spent the rest of the evening trying to get Skittles to stop crying!!

Anyway, I didn't go to WI (like I had planned). I would have been up... but it's okay, this week I WILL be DOWN! I finally feel like I have control over my own appetite again. And, as if to really put myself to the test and possibly sabotage myself, I am going to Pontypool for the night. I'm taking my biggest loser DVD with me since I haven't had time yet today to do it... I'm planning on putting it on downstairs at mom and dad's and doing it later (maybe... grandma and poppa jim are coming for dinner and that can be exhausting sometimes... depending on how well grandma is doing).

Today I've been to Cdn Tire and Michaels... now I will head out and stop at a couple of places in Whitby and go home and maybe wash my car... do my biggest loser workout... and visit.

Today's summary so far (I will try to update from mom and dad's now that mom has HIGHSPEED!)
Breakfast - ww bagel (2), 1tbsp cheez whiz light (1)
Snack - smartpop (2)
Lunch - smart ones baked ziti (6)
Total Points: 11
Water: 1.5L
Activity: None (so far?)

Another day, another cake class

<----- This is my bear from today's cake class. Alex thinks it looks like an ewok. I think it's cuter than that! It's a chocolate cake with butter cream icing (just coloured brown). It was nice to go to a class in the middle of the day and not worry about it after work.

I realized today I have to buckle down with my portions. My heaping size tablespoon of Wendy and barb's skinny dip hummus jumped out at me like a sore thumb... and I realized I'm slipping... Even though I measure and weigh everything... it's when I measure a cup or a tablespoon... I let everything overflow just a little bit... like I think if it FITS on a tablespoon that means it actually IS a tablespoon. Yeah Jen... not so much.

The goals I set yesterday for today were accomplished. I like this daily goal thing... take it one day at a time. I did the entire biggest loser cardio max. I find level 3 (Kim's workout) a walk in the park compared to Jillian's.

Here's today's summary:
Breakfast - 2/3c smart bran (1), 1tbsp flaxseed meal (0), 1/2c skim milk (1)
Lunch - flatout (1), hummus (1), maple dale jalapeno cheese (1), lettuce and tomato (0), yogurt (1)
Dinner - chicken flatout quesadillas with 2 flatouts (2), 2oz chicken breast (2), allegro cheese (1), cheese string (1), peppers, onions, tomato (0), 4 tbsp light sour cream (1), strawberries and raspberries (1), watermelon (1), ff cottage cheese fruit cup (2)
Snack - popcorn (3)
Total points = 20
Water = 3L so far
Activity = 50min biggest loser cardio

Now to go watch the end of "X-Weighted". I missed the beginning of it so I will likely watch it again at 11pm since I don't have to get up early tomorrow. I am loving vacation... I already don't want to go back to work on Monday!

Good luck at weigh in... I am not going tomorrow. My regular leader is away and my parents are coming over for dinner before they go to Dirty Dancing. Time to cash in a missed meeting coupon!

Happy Canada Day 2008!

I have spent the day dealing with my bear cake. I have killed 1 cuddly bear (it's now in pieces in a bag for dad and Alex to eat the scraps) and have successfully baked another (so far!). It's cooling on the cooling rack and ready for me to carefully take to the class tomorrow. I'll take photos and post them later!

I woke up at 8am and chickened out of jogging in public. First, it's scary... second, I thought I might get bored since I don't own an iPod (yes, I am one of those rare people who do not have one yet/still!).

I DID, however, do the full biggest loser workout. My legs were sore afterwards, but it was great! The other things I wanted to get done today didn't happen (cleaning, taking out the recycling, laundry...). Now I'll spend the rest of the evening on my couch. It's a work night and Alex is exhausted from the last few busy weeks and weekends... so he is staying in. I miss the old days where the entire family would get together for fireworks in Fenelon Falls or at the lake. It's nights where I sit here alone that I miss them the most.

Here's my Tuesday wrap up:
Breakfast - 1c multi grain cheerios (2), 1/3c smart bran (0), 1/2c skim milk (1)
Lunch - quesadillas with 2 flatout wraps (2), peppers and onions (0), 60g allegro cheese (2), 2x 100 calorie snacks (4)
Dinner - salad with chicken breast (3), 1/4c chick peas (1), cheese (1), ff Italian (1), 2x 100 calorie packs (4)
Snack later - fruit (2) including watermelon, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries
Total points: 23
Water: 4L and counting! Thirsty today!
Activity: 50min Biggest Loser workout

Tomorrow's Goals: 50min Biggest Loser workout and only HEALTHY food (lean protein, vegetables, fruit, whole grain carbs only!)

Happy Canada Day to all!

Vacation, How I love Thee!

I am loving my vacation so far! I still have tons of things to keep me busy, but at least it's nice NOT to have to worry about going to work on top of it all! I think after this fall I will have bridesmaid withdrawal!

Today I ran out and got a few things for the bridal shower I'm throwing on the 20th (July) and a few things I needed for this Wednesdays cake class... Otherwise I sat around on the couch enjoying some quality time with my TV. I did attempt the treadmill today... but it's making an odd squeaking/grinding noise when I step down with my left foot. I tried to figure out what was making the noise... but it only makes it when I run... and I can't run and be down on the ground beside the treadmill at the same time (believe me, I tried it... and almost broke my neck!). So, this evening I decided I wanted SOMETHING positive to report in my blog and I broke out the biggest loser workout. What's funny is I had actually decided today maybe I should focus on the biggest loser workout. I think I was seeing more weight loss results when I did it more often in the past. I think it challenges me more than I challenge myself on the treadmill. I have also decided to set my alarm tomorrow in case I get enough courage to jog in public around my big block... but we will see!

Today's Summary:
Breakfast - 1c shreddies (2), 1/3c smart bran (0), flax seed (0), 1c skim milk (2)
Lunch - 1/2c couscous (2), 1/2c chick peas (2), celery and onion (0), curry powder (0), blue menu butter chicken sauce, 2tbsp (1), 2tbsp ff sour cream dip (1), broccoli (0), TWO no sugar added puddings (2)
Snack - peanut butter crispy delights (2), ww cookie (1)
Dinner - 2 ww tortillas (2), cheese slices (2), salsa (0), steamed chicken breast (3), steamed garlic spinach (0), ff cottage cheese and fruit cup (2), yogurt (1)
Total Points - 25
Water - 3L and counting
Activity - 20min treadmill, 30min biggest loser workout

Tomorrow's goal: 50min biggest loser cardio max, plus another cardio (dancing, jogging, rollerblading - if I can find somewhere flat and isolated to go!)

The Time Has Come...

...for a CHANGE! It was time to make over my blog and give it a fresh look. The past week FLEW by and I didn't commit my time here like I had hoped. I was up 0.4lbs on Thursday and have finally changed my ticker to reflect my regression as of late. One of my bridesmaid dresses has come in and I like it. It doesn't show too much cleavage after all (thank god) except for the fact that it's a couple of sizes too large in the chest and is falling off... once I have it taken in it will be much better!

Yesterday was a day all to myself. Something I haven't had since... I don't remember. I went grocery shopping and then spent the rest of the day on the couch. I was a sloth. I ate anything and everything. Today the scale shows it! I did make some healthy choices yesterday though... like my quesadilla. 2 WW tortillas with TONS of peppers (red, orange and yellow), onion, celery and allegro cheese... baked in the oven. I've also made some couscous and steamed some chicken breasts and cut up my watermelon... I'm ready for the week! I also happen to have the whole week off work... I am taking a 2hr cake course on Wednesday but otherwise - BIGGEST LOSER WORKOUT and TREADMILL - here I come!!

Today I've had a "healthy delite" thingy I found at Fortinos. It's essentially a quiche made with egg whites, potato and broccoli or spinach. It's 2 WW points (as per the box!). They have a website ( http://www.healthy-delites.net i believe) but there isn't anything on it. It would be just as easy to make something similar at home. Now I'm going to do the Biggest Loser cardio workout and then alex and i are going for SUSHI and then to the Imax at Ontario Place to see a movie about the great lakes (I live 2min from Ontario Place yet we have not gone to the IMax at all together!).

Today's Summary:
Breakfast - egg quiche thingy (2), ONTARIO strawberries and raspberries (1), watermelon (0)
Lunch - sushi (8), hand rolls (4), miso soup (1), mango ice cream (2?)
Dinner - turkey sub (12), beer (4)
Water - 2L (so far)
Total Points - 34 (eek! they added up today!)
Activity - NIL!