Down 21 Pounds and Craving a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I'm now down 21 pounds and finding it hard to stick to my plan.

Until last Friday, I hadn't deviated from the program by even one bite. Then we went to a poker tournament fundraiser and I had a taquito and three tortilla chips. I should have planned ahead and eaten something before we went because the healthy food selections were limited.

After cheating with the taquito, it was easier to do it again. Two days later, my husband and I went to the movies and I had some popcorn. With butter.

After cheating a couple times, I stepped on the scale and found myself a pound heavier. What?! I thought it took 3500 calories to gain a pound and surely those two items didn't have 3500 calories. But apparently the Lindora eating plan somehow changes your metabolism and so when you deviate, it has more impact. Hmmm...

Religiously sticking to the program took that pound off and a little more so that I registered a total loss on Monday. You'd think I would have learned my lesson. But no, last night after a very healthy Valentine's dinner -- seafood and veggies -- I also had a small frozen yogurt. And a piece of candy. Ugh. Not going well... And this morning, again I registered a gain on the scale.

So today it's raining and I find myself craving a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup. There's nothing like dipping a crusty, creamy grilled cheese sandwich into a piping hot bowl of Campbell's tomato soup... But I know if I do that, I will be continuing farther off the path I've already strayed from.

Was the popcorn or the frozen yogurt really that good? What was it about eating them at that time that was really so important?

Apparently I still need to work on curbing cravings and focusing on my longterm goals. I guess if it was easy, I would have already lost the weight.

19.2 Pounds Down!

I've now completed two whole weeks on my new eating program and as of today, I am 19.2 pounds lighter than when I started. Yay!

In just those two weeks, my perspective on cheating has changed a little. One day a week, I have a "protein day" with this program, which means no fruits or vegetables. Yesterday, I was having a really tough time sticking to the plan and by dinner, I was ravenously hungy and light-headed. Brad had made halibut, asparagus and rice. I broke down and had some asparagus and then after dinner, I had a banana... But I still didn't have any rice. So I "cheated" technically, but in a different way than I would have before.

I'm Just Gonna Say No!

It's been a long day. I was on the computer responding to client emails by 7:30 a.m. and answering phone calls before 8 a.m. I've been out showing properties, submitted two purchase offers, reviewed a third that came in on one of my listings and worked on negotiating short sales.

And it's that time of the month. I'm realizing that this is one of those times when I would rationalize eating what I want... The mantra goes something like this: I've worked hard all day, I'm tired, I've got cramps, I'm achey and I deserve a treat.

My assistant mentioned meatloaf earlier and I've been thinking of it since then. I'd love to go to Sprouts and pick up a meatloaf (they have the best meatloafs in the universe for those of you who aren't watching your weight!)... A couple thick slices of meatloaf sounds wonderful.

But I'm just gonna say No tonight. Tomorrow morning, I will step on the scale and I know if I indulge, it will produce a higher number and take me off the path I've just embarked on. I hope that as time passes, it will become easier. But if not, I guess I will just get more used to it being hard.