4 Hour Body Check In-Skinny for NYC Final Week PROS & CONS

Well I've been on this plan for about 3 months. I've had some successes and I feel good about the effort I made to lose some of my winter fluff. My stats haven't changed much since last week, and I'm still miffed about the extra inches around the bust line (argh), but I did manage to lose 1 inch off that area this week so I think it's because of my hormones/thyroid issues, not the plan. So now that the three months are up I am going to list the Pros and Cons of this plan.

PROS:
*no counting calories
*wine allowed
*cheat day
*energy levels up

CONS:
*expensive due to meat consumption
*miss my fruit
*a lot of cooking
*not easy to implement during travel or sickness

I had three hurdles to jump while on the plan: the tornadoes forcing us to leave our home and take refuge at a friend's house in Nashville, my seriously icky sinus infection, and travel. These three events did not make it easy to stick to the plan. Frankly, when one is driving 400 miles in a day, a burger IN A BUN is necessary. Also easier to eat!! And when one is sick, soup is nice, not beans. And when one is on the run from tornado fallout/debris, a friend's home cooking is a comfort and a blessing.

Despite the hurdles, I did manage to maintain my precious inch losses, but I feel that the diet didn't give me the results I wanted despite adding exercise into my lifestyle. That could be a function of the hurdles and my thyroid being pesky again.

Speaking of exercise. I did ZUMBA twice a week, worked out with Jillian Michaels Shred program, and I walked on a regular basis. I also tried some other BOOT CAMP classes, but to be honest, the instructor was a drill sergeant and when she had us do crab crawls across the Y's gym floor, I quit. I hated gym class when I was in high school. I don't have to do it as an adult.  ZUMBA is amazing. I love the workout and the people in my class. Jillian Michaels Shred workout is great, but I hurt my shoulder doing it so I quit that one. Yesterday, I went to the Y and got set up on the Link system of weight machines. I have a program set up and I am excited to incorporate it into my routine. The best part is that I can input all my workouts at the kiosk or online so I can incorporate stuff I do right when I am traveling. Woohoo!

My biggest problem right now is I'm sluggish and tired, feel frustrated about the bust line issue, and I have some other pesky thyroid symptoms which have me wondering if I am battling the bulge with a boulder on my back (the thyroid going whacko). Yesterday I went to the doctor's office and had my blood drawn so she can check my thyroid numbers, my B12 and Vitamin D numbers before I go to Nationals. I just want to be my best when I am there. I have a doctor appointment scheduled for July 21, but this thyroid thing is so sensitive to any changes that I felt it was important to troubleshoot it before I hit the road next week. I'm certain I need to adjust my medication.

I've had decent results with the 4 Hour Body and I think it is good for me in general, but I am modifying this diet in two ways:

1) Adding fruit and low fat Greek yogurt
2) I'm counting calories/being more flexible with carbs when I travel

I need fruit. I need to count calories because I think the nuts I can eat on this diet are too easy to eat and super fattening. I'm basically tweaking the diet and modifying it to be a mini-weight watcher's/high protein/calorie counting diet. Basically fresh fruits and veggies are 0 cals/points just like WW's plan. I'm emphasizing protein like meat, but I'm counting calories to hold myself accountable. I'm continuing with my workouts, whenever I am in town, and I'm double checking my hormones to make sure I'm not fighting an uphill battle. I'd like the score to be even.

One thing that I have learned is that my mindset is important. Yes, my body is changing and I don't have total control over the changes, but I can dress nicely and use healthy self-talk to encourage myself to continue doing my best to be my best. No. I'm not perfect and I don't have the body I lived in when I was in my twenties. But I feel good about myself at this age. There is a lot to be said for a healthy attitude. The goal here is to be strong and fit at any size. I can't change the effects of gravity and aging (unless I go under the knife which is NOT an option) completely, but I can be my best at this age and any age if I incorporate healthy habits.

So this is the end of the 4 Hour Body journey. Now I embark on a new way of living, eating, and being healthy. Next week I'll be traveling north to the DC/VA area with my Darling Teen. We're visiting with friends before I take the VAMOOSE bus line to NYC for the RWA National Conference. I can't wait to see everyone and to celebrate the wonderful successes of my friends. 

I'll blog sporadically, and I'll try to keep you all posted on my adventures. Meanwhile, I'd love to learn about your diet journey, what has worked and what hasn't and how you have adjusted your diets. Here's to a job well-done to all of us who have tried to make positive, healthy changes in our lifestyles!!

Cheers!

4 Hour Body Check In-Skinny for NYC

Well I am finally back to normal health again which means I can work out! Woohoo. I made it to Zumba two times this week, and I spent a long day cleaning house on Wednesday so that counts in my book. I need to start up with Jillian Michaels SHRED again, and will do so later this morning.

I measured myself and was pleasantly surprised to discover that I hadn't gained anywhere. I have lost another .5 inch off one of my thighs, but I wish it was off my bust or my belly. And that brings me to something I am NOT happy about which is my bust size. I haven't been measuring it, but it seems to be growing. And it's not my back, because I measured under my ever growing bust and it is a nice normal size. Perfect and exactly where I was as a teen (Ripleys!). So what gives? Now two dresses I'd hoped to wear to Nationals fit everywhere but, you guessed it, my bust!! I am busted up about it.

Oh well. What can a girl do? I'm going through the first stages of the lovely "change" and I guess I get to have weird bust size growth as a result. I'm not sticking my head in the sand about it. I will keep measuring the area and see if what I am doing will help decrease the size a bit, but I'll be honest. I'm MIFFED. I have been eating healthy, working out, and trying to be GOOD even when I've been sick and this is my reward?

Grrrr.

Oh well. Thank you Mother Nature. Anyway, the good news is that I have one amazing dress that I bought in February with my BF so I have one night of fun covered (either the Kiss of Death Death by Chocolate party or the Golden Heart/RITA ceremony). I also went out with Darling Teen on Tuesday and bought several pieces for Nationals, including two pencil skirts in a size smaller (yay me!). So all is not lost. However, now I have to find a second dress to wear to one of the Gala nights because I can't count on the bust getting smaller between now and July 1st.

I feel like the 4 Hour Body diet is not a perfect solution for me because I'm stuck, but I have lost 10.5 inches off of other body parts over the past 2.5 months. It's just not enough. I wish I was back to the size I was two years ago, but I'm not. I have to accept that the weight will just take longer to come off because I am *gasp* getting older.

Everything I've read about getting older says I'm fighting an uphill battle. The body and the hormones are not going to make this easy. But I keep clinging to the words my Darling Hubby said--"we're in it for the long haul." He's lost 8 pounds and is starting to look thinner in the face and belly. He's had to cheat a few times due to his travel schedule, but he is seeing results which is fabulous.

So am I. Plus the energy I get from the diet is excellent. However, I think I may change it up a bit and add fruit back into the equation. It's summer. I want strawberries and watermelon. How is fruit bad for you? The sugar? Well, the 4 Hour Body diet allows for wine which has sugars in it, so I am rebelling! To think chocolate used to be my rebellion food. Now it's strawberries. Hmmm

Okay, so here are my stats (minus the gargantuan bust stat grrr):

Waist: same
Hips: same
Upper Right Thigh: down .5
Upper Left Thigh: same
Bicep: same

Total inches lost this week: .5
Total inches lost to date: 10.5

Goals for the next two weeks include adding the SHRED back into my workout regime, Zumba on Thursday, more water with lemon, and sticking to the plan with one exception: fruit is allowed!

So that's my story for this week. How do you deal with setbacks? Do you give up? Get mad? Or get even?

I plan to GET EVEN!

:-)

4 Hour Body Check In-Skinny for NYC

I blogged about my failure to save money at the grocery store today at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales. You can read about my crazy adventures here. Part of the reason I fail miserably at coupon clipping is that I don't shop interior aisles very often. And the 4 Hour Body diet calls for a lot of meat, eggs and vegetables. Those items are rarely coupon items. I won't lie. This is an expensive diet because you have to cook a lot of meat. Meat is not cheap. Period. So that's a huge downside. The upside of the diet is that I LOVE meat so I enjoy that aspect of the diet. And beans are cheap. One eats a lot of beans on this plan! A steady supply of Beano is necessary.

I'd post my stats this week, but to be honest, I've been battling a massive sinus infection for days so I haven't been able to exercise or follow the plan 100%. Beans and steak don't really comfort a sick body, do they? Nope, what comforts a sick body is chicken soup, a cookie, and some tender loving care from the family. I haven't "cheated" that much, but carbs do help. So I've allowed myself a bun once and some potatoes. No pasta. I haven't caved and eaten pasta. I have put sugar and milk in my tea because I feel like putridness and this is a comfort for me.

I'm actually really bummed about getting this sinus infection because I was on a great roll and doing so well. I complained about it to Darling Hubby, and he said, "Be patient. You're in this for the long haul, not a the short one. This is just a temporary glitch and you'll be back to full gear soon enough." I loved that support!!

So this week has been a no-go, but I will get well. When I do I will be back to working out regularly and following the 4 Hour Body plan religiously. This is the thing about lifestyle changes: be gentle on yourself when you have not so gentle days hit you hard.

How do you handle illnesses when you are on a diet plan? Do you cut yourself some slack? Do you feel defeated? How do you get back on the wagon?

4 Hour Body: Skinny for NYC Check In

I'm in a holding pattern this week. No change. But I'm relieved because I expected the waist size to go up due to hormonal shifts. Yay! At least I'm holding steady. I wasn't able to work out as much as I would have liked either. I overused my shoulder during a Jillian Michaels Shred workout so I decided to give it a break for a week. I also had my teenager home more often than not due to her ear infection and her mono knocking her off her feet. Sure, she can fend for herself, but it's not fun being sick and alone. Despite all the interruptions, I did manage to walk twice and I went to Zumba class yesterday.

I called up a friend who is also following the 4 Hour Body plan with her hubby. She said she cheats a bit during the hormonal shifts, but I have held on and stayed true to the diet. Her hubby has lost 30 pounds since January. Mighty impressive numbers. My hubby has not lost more than 5 pounds, but his belly is shrinking so something is going right. Hopefully we'll see a continuing downward trend.

My friend and I talked about some of the challenges we faced on this diet. For one thing, there is NO fruit. I'm fine with the no fruit part except there are times when I just want a blueberry or a grape. And with summer here it's nice to have fresh fruit on a regular basis. However, I'm bound and determined to see it through till NYC. I'll let up on the diet a bit during that time -- and the first thing I'm adding back is fruit in small quantities.

The other challenge we face is more cooking. This isn't the kind of diet that allows you to call in for pizza after a long day of dealing with kids, schools, cleaning, working, writing, whatevers. Nope. And let me tell you, I've had days where I have wanted to throw in the towel. But I haven't yet. I try to get a lot of leftovers going so that I can serve them up in a pinch. To be honest, I usually make extra and stick it into the freezer, but ever since the tornadoes knocked out our power for 5 days I have been reluctant to store extra food.

Fridays. Fridays are tough. Why? Because we aren't officially on CHEAT DAY mode. We still have to follow the plan and it's like we're sick of being good and if we see one more bean we will choke. But the only way I know how to cope with Fridays is to make it a cute picnic day, a fancy meat day, or better yet, go out and let someone else cook it for you. So far we've only gone out on two Fridays. The restaurants just get too crowded here and it's not worth the wait. Somehow we muddle through the day and it works out.

We've gotten smarter about Cheat Day. I wanted to go for breakfast two weeks ago, but I think everyone in town and in the surrounding county had the same idea. We ended up having an early lunch where there was no wait. So now I bring in the cheat foods from the grocery story and make a big country breakfast. I also plan a good Cheat Day at home. This weekend it is Memorial Day so we're doing burgers, hot dogs, brats and all the trimmings. I'm talking potato salad, deviled eggs, Texas sheet cake, chips, dips, the works. I'm really looking forward to it.

But here's the funny part: we try to cheat but we cheat less and less because our bellies fill up too quickly. Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. This is why Cheat Day works cause you think you're going to get crazy with eating, but your body simply won't let you.

Another thing I've incorporated is Lemon Juice. I do a shot of pure lemon juice in the morning to jump start my metabolism. It's tart. Not going to lie. It's kind of gross. But it does wake me up. I'm going to add more lemon into my day by squeezing half a lemon into my water two more times. I'll see if that makes a difference. Maybe adding the lemon juice to my diet is why I didn't gain around my middle this week--which is a total relief!

So my friend and I shared some ideas and recipe tricks. Things we're doing that make our diet more interesting and fun. She is a great cook and we used to cook together all the time when I lived in Virginia, so I'm glad we exchanged recipes and coping mechanisms.

As I've been writing this, I've realized that I'm cresting over the mid-part of my goal for the diet. I think this is where a lot of people give up. They start plateauing and give up. Not me. I refuse. I'm hunkering down and working even harder now because I can see the end. The new skinny me who will look fabulous in New York when she attends the RWA National Conference.

So how do you cope with the diet plateaus and letdowns? Do you give yourself permission to cheat? Do you hunker down and push through the plateau? Or do you quit?

4 Hour Body-Skinny for NYC Check In Time & Recipes

Well I had a fabulous Cheat Day last Saturday, but I've noticed an interesting thing: I can't eat as much of the "bad" stuff as I'd like to eat!! I think this is a neat trick. You think you're going to gorge, but it's impossible to do so when the time comes. I do graze a bit more, but I can't even stand more than a few fries now. And I wasn't able to eat more than half of the amazing Smokehouse burger from Ruby Tuesdays. But, man, it tasted super delicious!!

The hardest part about this diet is the fact that we're not allowed fruit. This makes it difficult to try some recipes that I'm itching to make. However, I'm sticking to it almost religiously till I reach my goal. Once I reach my goal, then I'm adding back a little fruit and some complex carbs. I miss couscous and wild grain rice blends. I don't need them every day, but they are a nice addition to the meal. But as long as I am striving to get skinny, there is no way I'm going to blow it!!

I'm posting some recipes and I hope to get more from you.

Moroccan Grilling Rub from The Huntsville Times Food Section

1/4 c kosher salt (I think this is too much--I'd cut by half or more the next time I make it)
1 tsp. ground pepper
2 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. all spice (I used a teaspoon because I couldn't find mace and a recipe site said to substitute nutmeg or all spice for the mace)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground mace (or nutmeg or all spice if can't find it in store)
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground cardamon

Blend well, store in air tight container. Makes half a cup.

I rubbed this all over two pork tenderloins and had plenty leftover for another meal. We grilled the pork and it was delicious!! I served the pork with the turkish spiced meatballs and roasted cauliflower.

Roasted Cauliflower

1 bag frozen cauliflower, thawed and drained
non-stick spray oil
garlic powder
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray pan with oil. Toss the cauliflower with the spices, place in pan. Roast till slightly browned, turn as necessary.

Moroccan Chicken

1-2 tbsp. moroccan rubbing spice
juice of three lemons
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4-1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 chicken breasts halved through the middle
green onion chopped for garnish

Combine lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and Moroccan rub. Whisk till thoroughly combined. Place cut chicken pieces in large plastic ziplock bag or glass bowl. Add marinade and cover all chicken pieces. Marinate 4 hours or overnight. Heat oven to 350 degrees, remove chicken from bag/marinade and place in shallow baking pan. Roast till juices run clear. Serve with sprinkled green onion and your choice of vegetables. Delish!


One Pot Cannellini Florentine (Bush Brothers & Co. Recipe)

4 slices bacon, chopped (I used turkey bacon, already cooked and cut it up)
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained (you can use canned but I chose not to)
1 15.5 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 15.5 oz can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15.5 oz can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3 14.5 oz cans chicken broth
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, small strips
1-2 tsp. dried basil
crushed pepper flakes
shredded parmesan cheese (we omitted due to diet)
crispy onions (we used dehydrated, non fried onions that were super crunchy and delicious)
olive oil if using already cooked bacon

In large sauce pan, cook bacon over high heat OR add 1-2 tbsp. olive oil and heat. Then add bacon, onion, garlic and cook till slightly browned and tender. Mix in spinach and saute for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients except for crispy onions and parmesan. Simmer on low for 10-15 minutes. (This stays warm in pot for a long time). Serve with onions and cheese (if allowed on diet).

I loved this dish. It was colorful and filling. I'm keeping an eye on Bush Brothers' Bean Recipes--they know what they are doing!!

Porchetta-Style Pork Loin with White Beans from  MEN'S HEALTH Magazine

3 garlic cloves, minced
grated zest of two oranges (I figure zest is not a fruit LOL)
1 tbsp. fennel seeds
1 1/2 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
1 tbsp. olive oil
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
1 pork loin (about 2 lbs. with a a think layer of fat still attached)
2 cans cannellini beans (also called great northern or white beans), drained and rinsed
juice of one lemon

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On cutting board, combine garlic, orange zest, and 1 tbsp of the rosemary till it forms a paste. Scoop it up into a small bowl and add olive oil. Season the pork with salt and pepper then rub paste all over the pork. You can let this sit up to four hours in the fridge. Place pork in roasting pan, insert thermometer, and bake at 450 degrees till the thermometer reads 160 degrees F. (about 30-40 minutes).

Take meat out and let it rest for ten minutes. Meanwhile, in saucepan heat the beans, lemon juice and remaining rosemary (1/2 tbsp) till warmed through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice the pork and serve with the beans.

We loved this dish and plan to make it again. I also like to take herbs de provence and roll pork loin in the spices, then sear in olive oil, then bake at 400 degrees till the thermometer reaches 160 degrees F. Very fragrant and super delicious.

This week I also peeled parsnips and sliced them on the diagonal, then roasted in pan where I'd just seared the pork loin. I added the parsnips to the baking pan and roasted them with the pork loin. The parsnips got a nice caramelization which gave them a sweet taste (and on this diet any amount of sweetness that doesn't come from sugar is welcomed!). Totally yummy.

As always, I measured myself. Here are this week's stats:

Waist: down .5
Hips: same
Upper Right Thigh: same
Upper Left Thigh: same
Bicep: same

Total Inches Lost this Week: .5
Total Inches Lost to Date: 10!!

So the losses aren't as monumental, but the numbers are going down. I didn't expect to lose off my thighs or bicep. And I wasn't expecting any major losses off the hips or waist. I wasn't able to work out as intensely due to a sore shoulder, but I did walk a lot, so I feel good about the entire week.

So share your successes or frustrations with me about your weight loss/diet goals. And if you have any good recipes bring them on!!

4 Hour Body-Skinny for NYC Check In Time

This week has been so much better than last week. First of all, I was able to work out 4 times and I was able to follow the diet plan. I had a fabulous Cheat Day on Mother’s Day. We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I enjoyed the biscuits, the hash brown casserole, the jam, the juice, the ketchup—everything! I was full on breakfast, but five hours later I had some amazing brie cheese, Dubliner Cheddar, delicious pear, and then my Darling Teen and Darling Hubby made me a fabulous pasta dinner which they’d chosen from the Disney Cookbook. I was so full by the time I finished eating that there wasn’t room for the dessert my Darling Teen had planned to make us. But I’ll eat that tomorrow for my next Cheat Day.

Cheat Day makes this diet easier to follow. I won’t lie. I live for Cheat Day.

I did the Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred program this week. I am up to Level 2!! It’s a tough workout, but I like it better than the Level 1 workout. I think it uses more muscle groups and burns more calories, too. And I’m in a hurry for results so I’m glad I can puff my way through this tough workout. I also went to Zumba class two times. I was so happy to see all my Zumba classmates and to see that none of them had incurred major damage due to the April 27 tornadoes.

This week I tried a new recipe using a Moroccan rub. The rub was great, but a bit too salty, so I’ll try it again with less salt. It called for kosher salt, cinnamon, all spice, cardamon, coriander, white pepper, ginger. Once I fine tune the recipe, I’ll post it on this blog. I rubbed this onto pork tenderloin, then grilled the tenderloin. I also made Mediterranean meatballs using a Turkish spice from Penzey’s spices. They were delicious. I served them with a canellini bean salad and roasted cauliflower. Yum!! We also had steak this week. Today I plan to serve up chicken with the leftover Moroccan rub along with more bean salad and veggies.

I’m feeling pretty good about the results I’m achieving thus far. I have a pair of skinny shorts I’d bought five years ago when I was ahem skinny, and I’m trying them on once a week to see how they are fitting. I couldn’t pull them over my hips before we went to Disney World in March. Now I can pull them over my hips. My goal is to be able to wear them this summer and have them fit comfortably, not tight, but just right. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, here are my stats for the week:

Waist: down .5 inches

Hips: down .5 inches

Bicep: same

Upper Right Thigh: same

Upper Left Thigh: same

Total Inches Lost this Week: 1

Total Inches Lost to Date: 9.5

I’m sooooo happy to see a downward trend in the hip and navel area. This is the toughest place to lose. I don’t expect to see much downward movement in the thigh and bicep areas. They are about as skinny as they were when I was at my best size 5 years ago. So now I’ll see losses where I want to see them the most!

So how are you doing with your weight loss and get healthy goals? Are you sticking to your plan? Are you seeing results?

4 Hour Body: Tornado Survivor's Guide

On Wednesday, April 27, my area was hit with 21 tornado warnings over a 16 hour period. We lost power at 4:30PM. No lights, no cooking, no sound other than a small transistor radio which kept us informed about the NEXT tornado band's approach. I had been on a pretty good roll with 4 Hour Body diet and exercise in place. However, the 4 Hour Body was the least of my concerns on that day. We had cake for dinner. The next day we grilled all the meat and had meat for lunch and dinner. We also had cookies, cheese, tortillas, bread, you name it. Frankly, who cares? The thing about the 4 Hour Body is that it doesn't really offer much in the way of comfort food when one, well, needs comfort. We were spared. You can read about my experiences here and here.

After we cleaned out the fridge and threw out about $600 plus of food, we drove to Nashville to ride the rest of the week. We had no Internet or cell phone service and a sick kid so we felt it best to go to a place with power. We arrived at our friends' house and were immediately surrounded by good cheer (read LOTS of wine) and fabulous southern comfort food. My friend loves to make full, hot breakfasts. We had bacon, quiche, pancakes and hash browns two days in a row. We ate ribs, grilled bbq chicken, steak, corn casserole, chocolate bomb cakes, amazing banana bread. The 4 Hour Body went out the window. We didn't care. We were alive.

See diets don't matter when one is in survivor mode. One eats what one has and that's that. I was also unable to exercise which impacted me as well. However, I did a lot of running around because of the tornadoes and I believe my adrenaline was pumping a lot. I didn't  notice any weight going around the middle, but honestly? I didn't care. On Monday we left our friends and went to a hotel in Franklin, Tennessee. I began to make small changes again. My lunch was healthy and followed the plan as did dinner (but I admit I did eat the roll that came with the Cobb Salad). The next day we had McDonalds for breakfast. I ate an Egg McMuffin and I enjoyed the hash browns, too. When we got home, we had to clean the fridges with hot water, etc., then I went to the store. I immediately implemented the 4 Hour Body plan, but I am not going to lie: wine consumption was still higher than allowed by the plan.

I haven't been able to exercise yet because the YMCA is offering hot showers to those who still have no power. I did go for a walk with darling hubby on Wednesday. I wore workout clothes yesterday, but didn't work out. Today? I hope to go for a walk again.

I did notice that my jeans, the smaller ones, fit just fine yesterday and my stomach is not bloated at all. I'm happy about that for sure! My hope when I measured this morning was to see no UP on the numbers. I was pleasantly surprised! I lost another inch and a half. None off my hips or navel area, but that's okay. At least I didn't increase due to all that yummy comfort food.

So without further ado, here are my stats:

Total inches lost this Week: 1.5
Total inches lost to Date: 8.5

I hope to be more on plan and get the belly flab down -- that is the hardest place for me to lose weight and usually the last. I'm just very grateful that I didn't gain despite all the yummy food I indulged in eating.

I hope you are all doing great on your plans! Check in and let me know if you're still on track for getting Skinny for NYC this summer!

4 Hour Body: Operation Skinny for RWA Nationals--Check In Time

I have had a fabulous week which started with my amazing CHEAT DAY. This time I went whole hog. I had a quarter pounder with cheese, a small fries, a donut, turtle cheesecake, cheese, and PIZZA!!! Yah, baby. It was good. Oh so good. The best part about it all was that I never felt guilty the entire day. I just enjoyed the food and had fun.

I love CHEAT DAY. But I also love getting back on track with the 4 Hour Body diet. It's actually pretty easy to follow, not too much to think about really, and I like eating meat, beans, and veggies. I've had a couple of days when I seriously wanted chocolate (hello? Easter candy is all over the stores!!). But I survived my craving with a small, sugar free strawberry jello.

This week was a bit tough because Darling Hubby was out of town, and I missed my dieter-in-arms. However, we prepared for the week by cooking our favorite cedar plank salmon and steaks on the grill. I also had some pre-cooked chicken and tilapia filets to bake so all was well in my world. I did have a few moments where I just wanted to nosh on something "easy." Easy being a roll and a hunk of cheese. After all, Darling Daughter wasn't home as well so it was boring to cook for one. A "why bother" time. But I succeeded to last throughout the week on the plan.

My go-to vinegar is White Balsamic Vinegar. I just love it on a bed of lettuce along with my fish, etc. So tangy and yummy. I've also enjoyed my tomatoes and eggs this week. I cut a tomato, drizzle balsamic vinegar on it, sprinkle some sweet basil on top, and drop my eggs on top of that combo. It's pretty tasty. And it hits all my taste buds in a satisfying way.

I managed to work out Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I didn't work out on Wednesday because I had to clean house. Mind you, I've burned tons of calories cleaning toilets, tubs, vacuuming and mopping. I figure the clean was a workout in that regard. I did Jillian Michaels' Shred 3 times and went to Zumba twice. I also walked for thirty minutes on Sunday. I've noticed my shoulders and arms are getting slimmer and more toned. My legs are also looking better. So all this exercising and dieting is making a difference.

Stats for today are:

Total Inches lost this week: .5 (off my hips!!! Woohoo!)
Total Inches lost since start: 6.5

I'm heading to Atlanta for a Georgia Romance Writer's Workshop which you can read about here. I  can't wait to get to Historic Decatur and visit my favorite restaurant, LEONS on my CHEAT DAY. Darling Hubby is coming along. Should be fun!!

So let me know how you are doing. And give yourself a pat on the back. You're one week closer to reaching your goal!!

4 Hour Body: Operation Skinny for RWA Nationals--Check In Time

I've been following the 4 Hour Body diet pretty religiously for three weeks now. I can say I totally look forward to "Cheat Day." Last Saturday I had cookies, cheese (my all time favorite), extra drinks, ketchup on my eggs, and my favorite Trader Joes Meal MANDARIN ORANGE Chicken with rice and broccoli. Sigh. Sooooo yummy. By the end of the day, I was ready to go back to the plan.

Two possible problems arose this week due to travel and company coming for dinner. While I was on the road, I didn't have access to my usual egg dish. I chose to eat a protein bar for breakfast and had small packages of South Beach style nuts to nibble on. I must say it wasn't fun going to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner, THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY, and not being able to order what I wanted. I ended up getting chicken medallions, extra veggies, no rice and edamame for an appetizer. My dinner companions could eat bread and tortillas, but I valiantly abstained. Not going to lie. It was tough.

On Monday I had to host a dinner for one of my darling hubby's colleagues. No problem. I had a lovely pork loin which I rolled into Herbs de Provence, seared, then popped into the oven for approximately 50 minutes at 400 degrees. The aroma was divine. I also had nuts on hand for an appetizer to munch on, but not the usual cheeses etc. because why tempt myself? Or hubby for that matter? I made two different veggies thinking this would suffice, explained that we were on a low carb diet and the man's face literally fell. He lives for carbs as he is of Italian descent. Sheesh. Thankfully, I had some frozen french rolls in the freezer, so I bopped three into the oven and baked them alongside the pork toward the end of the cooking time. Noted this issue to myself and picked up another bag of  mini rolls while at the grocery store just in case another carbaholic shows up at my place for dinner.

Due to my travels, I didn't hit the grocery store till Tuesday. I bought tons of fresh salads, beans, meat, salmon, the works. We had the chili lime grilled on the cedar plank Salmon last night over a bed of lettuce drizzled with white balsamic vinegar and fresh asparagus spears. Yummy. The week was very busy with Darling Daughter performing in her high school musical, GUYS AND DOLLS. I prepped a shredded beef dish which I served with lettuce wraps and "allowed for" condiments. Thursday we had a grilled flank steak with veggies and beans. And today I plan to serve balsamic chicken breasts, scallopini style with the usual beans/veggies. Usually by Friday I am over beans and meat. I can't wait till Saturday so I can eat bread, pasta, anything but meat and salad and veggies.

I'm not just trying to change my diet, I'm also working out. This week proved challenging because of my travels and a dentist appointment on Tuesday (yuck--can we say crown and total pain? Yes!). However, I managed to get to my favorite Zumba class again on Thursday and I used Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD on Wednesday. I was going to punt working out today, but after I took my measurements, I was motivated again. So I'll do another Jillian Michaels' Shred workout this morning.

And now, drum roll please, here are my stats:

Total Inches Lost this Week: 1.5 (half an inch off my waist! Hallelujah!!)
Total Inches Lost to Date: 6
Favorite Go-To Food: Sugar Free Jello and Kale Chips for the crunch
Favorite New Dish: Mexican Beef Lettuce Wraps

I blogged about my technological challenged at Petit Fours & Hot Tamales today. Come read all about my trials and tribulations with all things technological here. And today is a special day. This is my 500th blog post since I first started Digging Out of Distraction!! I'm celebrating the next 500 on Monday. Come join me for a trip down memory lane.

So how are you doing on your plans? Did you stick to it? What were your challenges to your will-power? Did you work out? Is your energy higher or lower? What are your favorite foods to keep you going when you are struggling to stay away from cookies and sweets?

Spring Cleaning the Veranda

It's spring! Trees are budding, flowers are blooming, tornadoes are looming, and I'm making some changes. I'm switching my blog days to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I'll start this change tomorrow.

Wanting to look fit and trim for the summer? Me, too! As many of you know, I've embarked on a lifestyle change called Operation Skinny for NYC. You can read about it here and here. I'll be posting about my "lifestyle change" journey every Fridays. If you want to join in the fun, come visit the veranda on Fridays and let me know how you're doing.

I'm also blogging for Petit Fours and Hot Tamales on Fridays so I'll give you a link to one of my infamous confessions--stay tuned for Confessions of A Wannabe Techno Geek and Confessions of Teenage Drama Queen's Mother. I am working up those blogs for PFHT this week.

Need a little inspiration? I do, too! I'll be blogging about how I stay focused and on task throughout the month. And I'll also be sharing Debut Authors with you on Break out the Bubbly and Dark Chocolate. Lots of my friends are debuting their first novels this year. I can't wait to celebrate with all of them.

The RWA National Conference is in New York City this year, so I think I need to get my travelogues out and start planning my trip. An occasional blog about shopping for fun clothes for the event might pop up as well. And I hope that some of my Golden Heart and Rita Finaling friends pop in and say hello to us.

Want to read some other fun blogs? I'll be sharing some of my favorites with you on Mondays. Some of them might surprise you.

What are your spring plans? Making any changes to your blogs, your houses, your gardens, and your wardrobes?

4 Hour Body: Operation Skinny for RWA's National Conference

I've blogged about my foray back into diet and exercise world on Petit Fours & Hot Tamales. You can read about my ongoing rebellion and submission here. So here's the deal: I've decided to share my ongoing mission because I need to be held accountable. I've got lots of reasons to get back into shape, but the primary one is sheer vanity. I want to look good in my clothes. I especially want to look good in my clothes at the RWA National Conference being held in New York City this year. I'm a Golden Heart Finalist's date (how cool is that two of the people I've critiqued are in the Golden Heart Circle of Finalists???? Very!). I don't want to embarrass my good and dear friend, Sharon Wray. She deserves a date who looks great in her dress.

My Darling Hubby has joined me on my adventure. And my Darling Teen is also watching her calories. We're not an obese family, but we are a little on the, shall we say, "fluffy" side. And I am tired of being fluffy. I decided to share my journey with my blog world because I hope it will make me more accountable. Plus, I think it will be fun! I'm not posting my weight (ugh--scale is so demoralizing so I avoid it). But I will post my inches. Inches? Well, that is the total amount of inches around my thighs, my navel area, my hips, and my left bicep (which is getting pretty buff).

In my PFHT blog about my ongoing love/hate relationship with the scale, I revealed my total inches and diet plan. I confess that I didn't add the numbers correctly so I think I wrote something like 114 (I wish!). Actually, I started at 145 inches. Sigh. But the good news is that I'm already seeing results. I had been searching for a plan that would suit my lifestyle and my personality. I'd pretty much tried everything as far as diets are concerned. I knew I didn't want to give up wine, hated counted calories, and hated the very thought of starting a diet then being invited somewhere to eat where NONE of my "allowed foods" were an option. I'm also lousy at counting points (hey, I have trouble adding inches!).

Then a friend of mine told me about the 4 Hour Body diet. She said, "You'll like it Christine because you can drink wine." Sold! Well not totally, first I researched it and then I bought the book. I liked it for three reasons: wine was allowed, no calories counted and one full day of not worrying about what you eat or how much you eat. Yay!! I can do anything for 6 days if I can cheat for 1 day!!

I started my foray back into "diet world" very slowly. First I incorporated a new exercise program. Then I made two changes: no more food in the bedroom (I confess a certain penchant for a snack at bedtime while I am reading), and no carbs till dinner. Then we went to Disney World and I didn't worry about the carbs or the plan after breakfast. I also walked a lot. I had a great time and didn't regain any lost inches. When we returned from our fabulous anniversary trip, Darling Hubby and I began the plan.

We're on week two. So far it hasn't been awful. We aren't hungry. We like the foods we're eating (lots of beans, greens and meat), and we're seeing results. Darling Hubby does miss his grain alcohol, but I let him cheat a bit on Friday night last week when we went out with friends so he was okay. We already had our first cheat day. Ate anything we wanted. We got super stuffed super fast and we were eager to start again on Sunday (we picked Saturday as our Cheat Day for now).

So, now for today's blog, I'll share my stats so far:

Start Date of Modified Plan: 3/3/11
Total Inches: 145

4/1/11--Day 11 of Full Plan
Total Inches: 140.5

Total Lost Inches (darn I have to do math): 4.5 inches!

Favorite go-to food when desperate for something sweet? Pistachios, macadamia nuts, and sun dried tomatoes. Oh, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm eyeing the sugar free Jello!

Favorite new recipe? Salmon on a cedar plank. We dust the salmon with hot chili powder, red peppers, a bit of coarse salt. We place it on a soaked cedar plank and grill it till done. We squeeze fresh lime juice over the salmon as we grill. It is delicious over a bed of lettuce with a legume side salad.

Favorite exercise? Zumba!!! At the local YMCA.

What shall I have for Cheat Day? Oh, not sure, but I can assure there will be cookies, dark chocolate, cheese, and more than the allowed amount of wine :-)

Are you on a plan? Is it working for you? Share your stats with me. Let's get skinny for the summer!!