Ready to hit the beach this summer with that beautiful body? I wish I was.
About three years ago, I went to a bariatric doctor who put me on a high protein, low carb diet. I lost almost 100 pounds in a little over a year.
YAY for me, right?
The problem was that he had me so many meds and such a CRASH diet, that when it started affecting my health and I had to go off the meds, I gained it all back and then some. I've tried several times to start over on the menu plan of high protein foods, vegetables and low car, low sugar foods, but only last about a week before blowing it all and going back to eating whatever I want.
The problem? I think there are two main issues I need to deal with first.
One - I need to stop thinking about this as a diet and get it into my head that it's a way of life. I need to find something that works for me every day. Something I won't need to go off of in the future. Something I can live with now.
Two - I need to start slow, forming good habits that fit into my lifestyle. This one is the hardest, because my lifestyle is simple. I'm home alone for most of the day with full access to the refrigerator and the pantry. I need to start shopping better, preparing good snacks that can be at my fingertips and not let anything in the front door that will tempt me back into my old ways.
So, I've chosen to start with forming a good habit. I figure if I can do it one step at a time, it will be easier to maintain. Here's how I plan to do this.
I will start one meal at a time, one stack at a time. The first promise I will make to myself is to only eat protein for breakfast. I have a great protein shake in a powder form that I get at Costco. Just add a little ice and water, put it in my mini blender and it's good to go. That will be my first habit. Get up, fix a protein shake and continue with my day. The rest of the day I will try to make good choices, but not get upset if I slip. As long as I'm forming that good habit in the morning, I'll be fine. (I get chocolate flavor for breakfast so I'm not tempted to add fruit. But if you want to get vanilla, you can have a shake for an afternoon snack and add a little low-fat plain yogurt and a few small strawberries for a smoothie.)
AND, just in case you want to join in, the shake is optional. You can eat any protein for breakfast as long as you don't go over 8-9 grams of carbs. So scramble a couple eggs, or have a slice of cheese, or a couple slices of lean bacon. That's fine. You can even have the shake and the other protein. Just stay away from the carbs for breakfast. The pure protein first thing in the morning will jump start your metabolism for the day and get your body to use up yesterday's fat.
