D-Day ("D" As in Diet, That Is...)

So, I started a diet today. An "Official' diet. The "Flat Belly Diet". Sounds nice, a flat belly, doesn't it?

I thought so.

I've never actually dieted before...I've thought about it, sometimes so intently for several days in a row, enough to convince myself that I was legitimately doing something to lose the leftover 10+ baby pounds that have been hanging around since after my first pregnancy.

I've even cut calories and limited things like sugar and carbs for a couple of days...all in the name of dieting...tricking myself into believing I was really doing something about the weight, but guess what?

It hasn't gone away...

See, my problem is not that I don't exercise, I actually enjoy exercise...I just ran a 1/2 marathon in May for heaven's sake. It's not that I eat really crappy food all the time. Most people who know me would tell you I eat TONS of fruits and vegetables-- even things like brussel sprouts-- without so much as a second thought.

My problem is I LOVE food! I LOVE to eat. I have NO portion control and I really, really, REALLY love all things carbohydrate; pasta, potatoes, pasta, rice, pasta, bread, did I say PASTA?!! AND, on top of it I REALLY love cheese...and LOTS of flavored creamer in my coffee everyday. I also LOVE to snack...especially after a really long day, which means after the girls are in bed, which means sometimes I'm making things like ham sandwiches at 9:30 at night (or eating chips and dip which is my ultimate guilty pleasure reserved for the the worst days...like last Thursday evening!).

In addition to LOVING food, I HATE to feel hungry...it makes me really cranky.

You can see how these things would likely cause a weight loss dilemma.

So, even when I was running, running, running to get ready for the 1/2 marathon I only lost maybe 3 lbs. because I would eat more because I was hungry more often.

Basically, the amount I eat + the amount I run/exercise balances out to have kept me at the same stinking 137-140 lbs. since three months or so after Ella was born...As a 5'1 female, 120-125 is a much better weight for me.

Over the last couple of months I've been reading about different diets-- waiting to see if there was one that seemed intriguing and didn't force me to drink shakes all day long or give up carbs completely...I came across the "Flat Belly Diet" book at Target one night and the recipes in the book sounded SO yummy and the plan sounded so practical that I decided to give it a try. I also got the Family Cookbook which is loaded with great recipes as well.

The first four days are called the "Anti-Bloat" jumpstart and are the strictest part of the diet...and though today hasn't been easy and I'm STARVING right now (and have actually cheated by eating 2 rice cakes with mustard after dinner (not a part of the diet, just the only 'cheat' I could come up with that I didn't feel  bad about!)). The purpose is to rid your body of all things bloating (excess salt, to much lactose, wheat, caffeine, soda's, alcohol, etc.), therefore giving you a little jumpstart on feeling thinner and some motivation to keep going.

The problem is this first 4 days restricts you to about 1,200 calories! The rest of the diet is 1,600 a day.

Did I mention that I HATE to feel hungry? And that I AM!

My only consolation is that this part of the diet only lasts 4 days and then we're onto bigger, better, and yummier things!

I'll let you know how it goes!

As part of the 4-day anti-bloat regimen the authors require you to make what they call "Sassy Water"-- not only does it have a more interesting taste than regular water but it is FULL of things that help calm your stomach and therefore help to rid bloat!

Here is the recipe for Sassy Water if you want to give it a try-- I plan on continuing to drink it after the diet is over because it is pretty yummy and is pretty good for your belly.

Sassy Water

2 liters of water (about 8 1/2 cups)
1 tsp freshly grated ginger root (found in the produce department- I find it near other root vegetables)
1 med. cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 med. lemon thinly sliced
12 mint leaves

mix it all together in a pitcher the night before and stick in the fridge...drink throughout the day!