Dukan Diet Experiment - OVER!

Okay, I was very exited about this diet.  Mostly because of the fast results.  I dropped 5 lbs the first day and 2 more the second day and 1 more the fourth day.  You wake up skinny!

That is the good part of the diet.

Now for the bad:

I had every bad side effect there was.  I had a constant headache, nausea, dizziness, couldn't think straight, and I was very, very tired.

That being said, I am a total carb junkie.  I love my fruits and veggies.  Normally, I eat pretty healthy.  No white stuff.  The attack day diet was extremely boring too.  Probably because I am a vegetarian.

But the absolute worst part of the diet was when you get off of it, BAMO!  Weight comes back in a flash.  The only day I felt good on the diet was the first day.  Probably because I was working off the carbs from the day before.

So, no more 131.8.  Back to 138.8.  I ran 8 miles today. That was the other problem I had with this diet, it is not for anyone who runs.  You need carbs for energy to run.

Well, today is a new day.  I am back on the SELF magazine drop 10 plan.  This is a good diet for me.  It has preset meals.  You don't have to think or figure out what to do.  Just select your 3 meals and on days I exercise heavily, have a 4th mini meal or treat.    I did this diet a few months back and it works. Now, I won't lose 5 lbs overnight tonight.  I will probably be down 1-2 lbs by next Saturday.  

Lynda

Dukan Diet-Day one Attack Phase

I downloaded the Dukan Diet book to my Kindle.  For the most part, I try to just count calories & exercise to lose weight.  This has worked wonderfully for me.  Especially if I can run and keep the calorie count to 1200-1400 per day.

Lately, however, I have been hungry all the time. Carb-starved, as I like to call it.  I have not stuck to my calorie counting.  I am still exercising and running but not making the best eating choices and my weight is up.

This diet has intrigued me since I heard about it on the Dr. Oz show.  I read the 4-Hour Body book.  While it was very good, the diet just did not work for me.  It is hard to stick to any diet that is low carb when you don't eat meat.

So, I decided to try this one.  It has a few paragraphs about what you can eat as a vegetarian during the attack phase. I read this entire book and went on the website to find my Dukan program:

2 day attack phase

20 day cruise phase

29 day consolidation phase

These two books have so many similarities (low carb, cold therapy, etc).  And differences.  One is the oat bran.   You have to have 1 1/2 tbsp. of oat bran every day with the Dukan Diet.  4HB makes you eat beans. No beans on Dukan Diet in this phase.

Today's menu:

Breakfast: 2 hard boiled eggs, Protein shake (water, Lean 1, 6 oz Chobani 0%, 1 c. crushed ice)

Lunch: 1 bocca burger, Protein shake (1/2 cup non-fat milk, 5 star Whey Protein powder - 1 level scoop, 4 oz Chobani 0%, Amazing Grass Cocoa, 1 c. crushed ice)

Dinner:  ahi Tuna steak, oat bran gallette (Dukan Diet recipe)

Totals for the day:  calories: 986, carbs:  60, Fat:  22, Protein:  142

You are supposed to have 1 1/2 quarts of water each day. I can tell you I have had more.  When I intake a ton of protein, this is what it does to me--it makes me thirsty.  I also ran 10 miles today. 

From reading this book (I could skip the chapters on obesity, smokers, etc.), I will feel really tired tomorrow.  This is due to the lack of carbs. I started this diet with a pooch of a belly (that is what I call it) and my weight is currently 140lbs.  According to the stats on the Dukan website, I should be down 1.63 pounds after I complete the full day tomorrow in this attack phase.  We shall see.  

Also, according to this diet plan, my goal weight should be 133.  The weight I am attempting to obtain (that I believe is best for me) is 129.

I do have to say that I am not hungry at all today.  I do feel tired, but that is probably due to me getting up at 4:30AM and running the 10 miles.

PS I had to revise my original post.  When it came time for dinner, I just could not have another protein shake.   I was too full!  Since I knew I needed the oat bran, I made the Dukan diet oat bran gallette (pancake).

Lynda

Dear Diary: 2011, how life has changed...

I thought I would start blogging again here at the running vegetarian website.  Unfortunately, I think I should get a new blog address.  You see, I am injured and cannot run.  

Last year, I thought it would be a great idea to sign up for a full marathon.  I had done a couple of Half Marathon's and it seemed like a logical step.  Plus, this year I turn the big Five-Oh!  I just wanted to finish one before I turned 50.

Training was hard.  I stuck to the Rookie Marathon's suggested running/training plan.  But with all of the running (8 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles on Wednesday, 8 or 9 on Thursday and 15 on Sunday), once I got to this part of the training, my knees started to go numb.  Then ache.  Really ache.  So, I put the knee straps on and plodded through the training.  

Word of advice to anyone training for their first marathon, don't "plod" through an injury.  It doesn't work.  By the time I returned from our vacation up north, my running friends could not believe my condition and my limp. After my long run, my knee looked swollen and ugly. 

They (my running friends) said STOP RUNNING!  GO TO THE DOCTOR!  I did the latter and eased up on the running.  I ended up with a kneecap problem.  Nothing serious but caused by the marathon training.  Doctor says "rest & cross train".  I am not a good cross-trainer.  I love running because I love the outdoors.  Hey, I live in SW Florida, how could you not love outdoors?  

I have been biking, lifting weights and using the elliptical trainer.  BORING!  Except for the weights, I am bored.  

And since I have not been exercising, I have gained weight!  I feel like a Mush-Mellow!  But that is about to change. You see, these last couple of month's taught me a lot about myself.  When I ran, I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.  Well, no more of that.  I found out, not running and eating like I used too equals an additional 10 pounds.  Clothes don't fit.  And I am miserable.

So, welcome 2011!  

Start weight:  143 (hard to even post)

Calorie Intake per day:  1,200-1,300

Eat at home more (more control on calories)

Get 8 hours of sleep

Drink more tea (notice it does not say "green" tea)

Exercise Plan:  

Elliptical 2 x per week   45 mins. per session

Stationary bike 1x per week  45-60 mins per session

Weight train 3 times per week; try to increase weight lifted

Walk or dog walk 1 x 60+ mins. per week (this is my rest day)

Yoga 1 or 2 x per week 90 mins. per session

That seems like a pretty good plan.  I am hoping that the yoga helps me heal.  I would like to run again in one month.  Even if it is just 3 miles without pain, I would be happy.

So welcome 2011 and the changes in my life.  I may even attempt pool running.  Anything to mix it up!

Breakfast today:  Oatmeal (Bob's  Red Mill) with banana and two tbsp. of Barney butter

Lunch:  2 slices of walnut arugula pizza (Men's Health Mag)

Dinner:  Leftovers

Lynda

Today's Run 7 + miles

Wow, today's weather was picture perfect for running.  The temps were in the mid 60's when we started at 7AM and no humidity.  My Florida friends would be sooooo jealous, because I know they are running in high heat and humidity.  

Yesterday, I stayed the course with my meal planning, but swayed off a bit when the hubby left an open jar of dry roasted peanuts out while I prepared dinner.  I have been craving sweet corn and purchased some from the supermarket.   It was just getting placed on the display area, so it was most likely fresh. Well, it was not very good.  Next time I crave sweet corn, I am heading to the local farm stand.  I did end up having some wine with dinner as well. Just one glass.  I did not have dessert, so I am proud of myself there.  All in all, not a bad first day, but I did go over that calorie count (I want to stay in the 1200 range).  Total for yesterday:  1,398.  I went over on, guess what?  Fat by 1 gram.  And I was under on the carbs a bit.

We also went to see the movie, Inception, with Leonardo DiCaprio.  Love him.  The movie, not so much.  The best description of this film was strange.

Today's meal plan is simple.  I have already had one green tea and it is starting to grow on me.  I really wanted that extra cup of coffee this morning, but had the tea instead.  I had a new cereal for breakfast called Optimum Slim & some blueberries.  That was only 369 calories, including my gummy vitamins and calcium pills.

Lunch will be a salad.  Dinner is tuna steak on the grill and some summer squash and cooked spinach from our garden.

I may even have room for a little dessert. I will update with a pic of the salad and dinner later today.  I have provided a link to our planned run from this morning.  I modified it a little as I dropped water before the run and probably added 1 mile to my total, including the run home.  I felt so good running and felt like I could definitely do more today, but my kneecap was hurting and of course, the old hamstring on my left side.  But you definitely have to say today is one of those perfect weather days.  This is what makes New England a nice place to be in the summer.

Lynda

Confessions: 137.8 OMG!

First let's start with the confession. I was moved by a blog post by another Spark Friend, Florida Sun, to come clean with my uprising weight. Yes, one year ago this week, I weighed 129 lbs. So what has changed?

Easy answer: I stopped logging into Spark, got too busy with my social life and work and stopped counting calories. Actually, I think it is not counting calories and protein, fat, etc. That is how I found out how to lose the weight last year. Once I started looking at my food intake, I found I was a high fat/carb person and my protein was too low. I am a vegetarian. So, I would eat tons of walnuts for protein. But also consumed lots of fat.

I worry about this marathon I signed up for. I am thinking I have bitten off more than I can chew. Can I do it? Is it too much? Too far? My friends gave me a training schedule, but I am going to follow the Marathon Rookie plan. It has long runs, but not as many. It is a much lighter schedule with the theory being not running as far is better because once your body has run for two hours the benefits for training are nil. When exhaustion sets in, the likelihood of injury does as well. There is a 20 mile run in the training and a few 18's. I will attach a post of the schedule in a later blog post. It is just that this schedule is not as daunting as the one my friends provided.

I have been struggling with injuries all summer, hamstring, knees, top of foot. Icing and Motrin constantly. And I am struggling with light headedness which my doctor says is allergies. None of my meds seem to help all the time.

So, it is posted. I am up almost 9 lbs. I am up a pant size (from 6 to 8). The size 8 is loose but the size 6 is tight. I can see the fat under my arms, on my back and in my tummy. Very ugly.

Today is a new day, right? And every day is a gift. I learned that when I lost my son two years ago. I plan on counting my calories again. Doing more yoga and trying to like green tea. That is what worked last year and hopefully this almost 50 year old body will respond again!

So far today, I had a ; small organic yogurt before Powerflex class, spinach/goat cheese/omlet for breakfast and two homemade Tazo green teas, with agave (1 tsp.) and lemon (why don't I like green tea?). 

Planning on a corn on the cob, summer squash, and Rachel Ray's Open Eggplant sandwich for dinner.   

Lynda

Sticking to the Game Plan

Day 6:

Okay, sorry I did not post the pic of my pasta dish from Sunday.  To be honest, the dish was quite bland.  Instead of the Parmesan cheese that was recommended as "optional", I used smoked Gouda.  So it made the dish at least have a flavor. That did add calories, but I just shaved the Gouda and only used less than one ounce.

 Yesterday's dinner was scrumptious:

I made a swordfish steak and just grilled/steamed it in a tsp. of olive oil and some lemon pepper seasoning. For the side, that is a big portion of sauteed spinach that I cooked with a small amount of water until it wilted and then added a pat of butter (real kind).  Also, I cut up 1/2 of an avocado and squeezed some lime onto it.  Delicious and low calorie and good fats.

This morning I was up at 3:50AM.  I have accomplished so much already.  6 1/2 mile run- check done! Dog walk- check done!  Garbage out-check Done! etc. etc.  I ran with the running group that meets at 5AM and I am so glad I did.  Good run, good friends.

For breakfast today I have had 4 egg whites and 1 small individual package of egg beaters, scrambled with 1 c. spinach and some fresh basil chopped up in it.  I did spray my pan with a  little olive oil pam.  For my "side" I just put a little fresh salsa.  That should keep me full till lunch time.  Oh, yes, and I am having my chocolate-pistachio green tea with honey.  It is the only green tea I like.

Lunch today will be small.  Another Bocca Burger and that black bean - avocado - corn dish from Sunday.  Snack will be an apple.

Tonight's dinner is at Naples Flatbread and Wine Bar.  I will order my favorite dinner, the Mediterranean flatbread.  It will be cut in half, as they serve such large portions there.  And this is my only wine night.  I have not had one glass since 3/31/10 - part of my detox/cleanse plan.  

And it is working (down 2 lbs already).  I feel better and my run today was a great one.  Felt like I could keep on truckin! What is that old adage?  You are what you eat.  So true.

Lynda

1200 Calories

Okay, so I got the idea about 1200 calories from the biggest loser show. And from entering my settings on www.Sparkpeople.com website. But after reading several articles regarding women in the over 45 age group needing 1 hour of exercise per day to MAINTAIN their weight and reading how women after the age of 45 start to have their metabolism slow down and require less calories per day than before that magic number to MAINTAIN. I figure it is much better (for weight-loss purposes) to keep the calorie count in 1200-1299 range and exercise every day.

Today's breakfast was oatmeal pancakes (this is a file pic-I did not add banana):

	Oatmeal pancakes

I found this on www.sparkrecipes.com.  It is delicious, easy to make and makes 3 servings.  And did you check out that protein count?  Awesome.  Especially for vegetarians.

Now, since it is Easter Sunday, I am planning on a long dog walk (long for them is 2-3 miles) and 1 hour of weight training with a short bike ride today to the gym.  It is supposed to be another glorious day, sunny and in the mid 80's.

Lunch will be an avocado-bean salad and a bocca burger (more protein) again found on www.sparkrecipes.com.
Snacks for the day include a serving of 100 calorie Orville Redenbachers kettle corn fat free popcorn, a handful of apple chips from Fresh Market and 1 skinny cow vanilla ice cream sandwich for dessert.

Does that sound like 1200 calories?  Well it is if you measure and pre-portion out those serving sizes.  The total calorie count for the day only comes to 1,234 and I am well within my protein and fat and carb numbers that work for me for weight loss.

I will update and post pics of the dinner later in the day.