Week 1

Its Sunday, and I am here checking in to the Collective to record this past week on Medifast. It was a good week!!! I am down 6 lbs. from my first day on the diet. I feel much better. The first three days were rough - mostly just the really low energy that I had. My coach Julie (who is also one of my dearest and best-est friends) warned me that the first three days were tough. But I endured and made it. Each day brought its challenges. To name a few: not really wanting to cook for the rest of the family but knowing that I need to; planning ahead with what I am eating so I am not tempted; seeing my husband have his evening drink and snacks and not being able to join in the ritual after the kids have gone to bed. Just a few. But doable - so doable. It was a constant reminder that I was making the choices, that the buck stopped with me! I was able to really look forward to and savor my lean & green meal (which until today reserved for supper rather then lunch). I look forward to my real food and eating veggies and protein never tasted so good. I weigh the meat but I allow myself as much salad and veggies (no carrots, very little tomatoes) as I want. My appetite has definitely decreased, so I get full more quickly. Feels good to know when I am hungry and when I am full. I have also noticed that I am more careful about my water intake -- I am able to make sure that I am hydrated -- especially if I am feeling hungry - which actually doesn't happen on Medifast. That is right! No low-blood sugar levels!! I stay at the same glycemic levels throughout the day. I am careful to eat every two hours and no more then two hours after I wake up in the morning. I don't get the crazy feeling - therefore I am not tempted to eat things off my diet. I did allow myself one cheat date. On Friday was my friend's 40th birthday. I ate some appetizers (small amount) and had a glass of read wine (with a few more sips of a second). It was fabulous. I have been thinking some about what it means to live life with food, celebrating with food. I don't think life celebrations should always be centered on food but I think that its ok, good, and beautiful to enjoy the feasting. Throughout the Bible, the Lord includes feasting with food and wine within the celebrations. There is such an emphasis on enjoyment. On rejoicing. On appreciating the bounty. However, I also know that there is a time and a place for all things. I know that when the Lord created food and wine, he did so with moderation in mind. I can still be a "foodie". I just have to pick and choose my celebrations. Smaller portions - and no, self, it is not a Party every evening after the kids are asleep!:) I am learning to replace the habits that weren't healthy for me, with much more healthy alternatives - i.e. instead of a very high-calorie Belgian Ale, I brew a nice piping hot cup of unsweetened cup of herbal tea. I am also watching my caffeine intake. I usually have just a cup of French press coffee with non-fat cream. I think some of the forgotten calories I had been consuming were from my regular half & half creamer in my multiple cups of joe per day! I am wearing my Pedometer each day and making sure that I do at least 5000 steps. I am seeing that its not hard at all to get those in - usually on a busy day with the kids I can log in over 10,000 steps. I want to start getting outside for a walk a few times a week. I would really enjoy walking the kids to and from school -- its a matter of planning and also getting them to be out in the cold! But its good for all of us to be outside. Even in the cold. Here is to another week of future victories!