Fast Day 1 and 2

Well, I have already fallen.

This isn't my first Fast, I have completed a couple 3 and 5 day Fasts and one 7 day Fast in the past but all were fresh Juice Fasts and I felt fabulous and not hungry when doing them, so I am not sure what happened to me this time. Maybe it's just drinking tea and water that has thrown me off, maybe it's the thought of starting a new exercise routine, maybe it is the time of the month, maybe it is the weather, whatever the excuse, I have fallen, but am not ready to admit defeat quite yet.

Day 1 of my two day Fast went good, although by the evening yesterday I had a severe headache from lack of caffeine, sugar, and food. But I did well, drank nothing but unsweetened ice tea and water. Day 2 however, has been harder. Still drinking my water and unsweetened ice tea but did have a cup of coffee this morning, with cream and sugar (but not as much as normal). I also had a 4 oz italian ice cup...and sadly, one slice of Pizza.

I blew it, but I am not going to beat myself up over it and throw in the towel like I normally do. I start Slim in 6 tomorrow as planned with the LA Weight Loss food plan ready to go. I am jumping in feet first. I have typed, in large font sz, the foods I can and can't have...and the do's and don'ts, I am taping them to my kitchen cabinets so I will have the plan in my eye line whenever I am in the kitchen

So the Fast didn't work, big deal. The day isn't over and I don't think having 1 slice of pizza and a Italian ice constitutes me starting over, if anything it just proves my ability to limit my food intake and tell myself "No" to more than 1 slice of pizza.

I CAN tell myself "No"!! I can stop eating, I don't have to 'clean my plate'. Again, it's all about choices, not deprivation or starvation. A Fast, though wonderful for its cleansing abilities and quick loss of water weight, done the true and correct way, may have only made me crave the foods I do not need, do not want, and can not really have on the LA plan or Slim in 6 program.

Although, I am saddened by the fact that I did not go 2 entire days on nothing but tea and water, when some people go 30+ days while on a Religious or Healing Juice or Water Fast, I have realized that having only 1 slice of pizza is ok, that 1 slice of pizza can fill my craving for pizza, and when eaten slowly and enjoyed, 1 slice of pizza can actually leave you feeling full, 1 slice is pizza is enough.

I think this Fast has proven beneficial after all, I have learned a lot about myself that I did not know...I can say "NO". Which is exactly what I needed to hear myself say.

LA Weight Loss Diet and Slim in 6

I am going to start Slim in 6 in just a few days and am getting mentally prepared for the 2 day Fast that begins tomorrow, Saturday 5/15.

I have tried every diet under the sun and in one way or another, they have all worked...Weight Watchers, NutriSystem, Slim Fast, etc. About 7 years ago I joined LA Weight Loss and loved their program so I have decided to incorporate the LA eating plan into the Slim in 6 workout routine...I need exact info and although LA isn't telling me an exact menu, it is telling me how many portions to have, so we will see what happens. I did do this plan with success 7 yrs ago but I never made the lifestyle change it would take to keep the weight from coming back...and I didn't workout during my time with LA either, so I am hoping this will be the one two punch I need to get myself back on track and bring me success over the next 6 weeks.

Debbie Siebers will be so proud of me at the end.

Here is the LA plan I will be using...I found my info and pocket guides also in my bin o' DVD's and am so glad I saved them. There are several color coded plans based on starting weight. I am not sure why but I have the Purple, Gold, and Green plans; I will be using the Purple plan as that is what I started with 7 yrs ago and I am heavier now than then.

Unlike other plans that are based on total carb intake, counting calories, or a point system, the LA plan is based on servings per meal.

Purple Plan:
Servings per day

2 Proteins
4 Vegetables
3 Fruit
2 Starches
1 Fat
4 oz Skim Milk
2 L A Lites Bars (might find a replacement protein bar)

Serving broken down per meal

Breakfast
1 Fruit
1 LA Lite bar (n/a)

Lunch
1 Protein
2 Vegetables
1 Fruit
1 Starch

Dinner
1 Protein
2 Vegetables
1 Fruit
1 Starch
1 LA Lite bar (n/a)---But would be used as late night snack.

1 Fat, 4 oz skim milk, 1/4 tsp lite salt and 64 oz of water per day are also a must.

Here are the DON'TS on the plan:

-Don't eat beef or tuna for the next 3 days (when starting program)
-Don't use fats not listed on food list
-Don't eat 4 hrs prior to bedtime
-Don't eat beef, lamb, pork, or wild game on the same day as cottage cheese, tuna fish, scallops, salmon or swordfish.
-Don't eat potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, or cereal on the same day
-Don't split proteins (ie surf and turf)
-Don't skip foods or save foods for the next day
-Don't use 2 starches in the same meal
-Don't use 2 proteins in the same meal

Well there you have it. And after typing all that, I must admit to being scared to death, but it's 6 weeks, I should be able to do anything for 6 weeks. I will try to find a replacement to the LA Lite bars.

I know I can do this, I have done it before, I just have to wrap my mind around too many carbs at one meal or during the day...that is what will be tricky. I love cold cereal for breakfast and I love potatoes or rice for dinner, but with this plan it's about choice, I have to choose one or the other. Not both.

This is sure to be an interesting ride...

Slim in 6 Challenge

So, I have 3 children, Morgan (6 3/4), Mason (3 in 6 days), and Matthew (just turned 1). They are my life. I adore them and they are fabulous. Growing up all I ever really wanted to be was a mom. I went to college and found my husband, which sadly now, I realize was really the only reason I went, and we have built a fantastic life together.

Normally after my pregnancies I lose a ton of weight, but after the birth of Matthew, be it age (almost 34) or lifestyle, instead of losing I have slowly seen the pounds creep up. I have never been a small girl...I have never been smaller than a sz 10/12 and I am not a person who wants to be a size 2...I am happy at a sz 12, but I am much larger now than I have ever been and at sz 18/20 I am ready for a change.

For almost 3 yrs now I have had the Slim in 6 program tucked away neatly in a plastic bin labeled, "Exercise DVDs", it is along side the Power 90 system and The Firm DVDs...I am a weight loss infomercial junkie...I love them, I love all of them, I love watching them in the early morning hours on the weekends...I love all my DVDs, with many more in the bin than just mentioned, but I have never been able to complete the block of time they say it will take to have that "WOW" factor they always show in the Before and After pics.

"Lindsey lost 34 inches, 32 pounds, and 4 dresses in just 8 weeks using the (you fill in the blank) System."

I have never made it that far, I always purchased these products with the sincere desire to complete the program, following it exactly the way the booklet and DVDs say, eating the correct way, working out daily etc but within 2 weeks I am burned out and exhausted and I completely talk by myself out of doing it. I have a bit of a obsessive personality, so when I start something I hit it hard, way hard, doing too much too fast and burning out too quickly to ever really be successful.

I need accountability, I need to see the finish line...so I have blown the dust off the Slim in 6 DVDs and I am going to make myself do the entire 6 week program. I have marked it all my calendar...I am using the rest of this week to get mentally prepared, then I will fast for 2 days prior to the beginning of the program, just like they say to do. I will take my own 'before' and 'after' pics and I will finally see the difference in 6 weeks. All these programs work, it's exercise; and I don't doubt that doing these will help me lose weight, so whether I lose a little or a lot, the goal is just simply to make it through the 6 weeks...to force myself to do something I really don't want to do, and to see if I have a grand awakening in the end. To feel like I have achieved something I have been meaning to do for 3 yrs now.

I love my children, in fact I would like to have one more child, but I just don't think it's fair to them to have me only half-heartedly because I am too tired to play outside with them or because I am too embarrassed to go to the park because I can't fit into anything but sweats. I am their Mother, and it is up to me to take care of myself, so I can better take care of them.

Morgan is fast approaching that age where I will automatically begin to embarrass her, where she won't want to be seen with Mommy, I do not want to also be the 'fat' mom all the kids make fun of her for...because let's be honest, kids are mean, and childhood and fitting in is difficult enough without me making it harder on her.

I am making a vow to do this once and for all...and to see what happens at the finish line....

Here's the plan:

Fast Days: May 15 and 16
Week 1: May 17-22 Weigh in: May 23
Week 2: May 24-29 Weigh in: May 30
Week 3: May 31-June 5 Weigh in: June 6
Week 4: June 7-12 Weigh in: June 13
Week 5: June 14-19 Weigh in: June 20
Week 6: June 21-26 Weigh in: June 27

I will make this 6 weeks happen. I will!