Phase 2 Day 30 and 31

Well today (really yesterday as I'm posting late!) I completed my first day without the drops. It actually went okay. I am finding that I am getting a lot hungrier in the mornings, but it does pass after an hour or so. The last couple days I found that I wasn't as turned off by the food I have been eating, which is a blessing because I didn't know what I was going to do if that continued! I have been doing this for a month now, and honestly I still feel like the absolute hardest part is the mental "game". I have always been an emotional eater...I eat when I'm stressed, celebrating, sad, happy, depressed...food is comforting in all situations for me. Sam and I have also built our marriage partially around enjoying and rewarding with food. If one of us is having a hard day, the other one would pick up a "treat", or if something wonderful happens...we go out for dinner! I do really miss our date nights at Earls, and grabbing a Starbucks together...but it is SO important that we break the habit of expecting this. Habits are so easy to form and so hard to break. In the last month I had hoped that my dependence on food would disappear into thin air...no such luck. I definitely realize that this is a lifelong struggle for me, and any progress in breaking these habits is good progress.

On Friday I will be starting a two-week holiday, first to the Okanagan for a wedding, then to Vegas for 5 days, and finished off with a week at my families trailer. It is going to be amazing, but I have been desperately trying to find a way to make my meals easier and on plan. I am so relieved that I will be on Phase 3 by then so that I can at least have a mixed salad for a meal. The funny thing about vacations is that we give ourselves license to EAT, am I right? Sam and I even have a recurring joke about this when we want to get something unhealthy (rationalization mixed with denial, I know!) In light of this, here are some of the things that I am doing to make my vacation eating easier:

In the Okanagan
- protein powder and my shaker bottle for on-the-go smoothies
- little baggies of nuts in my purse for an emergency snack attack
- eat a filling, on plan lunch before the wedding ceremony
- drink 2-3 glasses of water before going to the buffet
- stick to raw veggies with minimal dressing and scrape off sauce from the meats
- eat from the fruit platter for dessert
- get my family to keep me in check :)

In Vegas
- protein powder and my shaker bottle for on-the-go smoothies
- little baggies of nuts in my purse for an emergency snack attack
- at restaurants/buffets eat from the salad bar
- go to Walmart (there's one near our hotel, woo hoo) and buy some sugar-free candies to ward off a sweet tooth
- on anniversary night...eat what I want...but in VERY small amounts
I know that we are going to go out for our anniversary and I want to be able to eat "normal", but I plan to eat very little of the things that I shouldn't. For instance if there is sauce, it will be on the side and I will just use a bit. Or if there are carbs...I will sub a salad or mixed veggies with a little dressing.
- AVOID alcohol completely!

At the Trailer
- bring recipes for coconut flour pancakes for breakfast and coconut flour "bread" for lunch and dinner (I need to do this sparingly still...)
- the coconut flour bread can be wedged into "nacho chips" and served with cheese and salsa
- pre-bake phase 3 appropriate brownies and peanut butter cookies
- buy natural peanut butter, sugar-free jam and syrup to make breakfast more accessible
- use strong cheese (parm, blue, feta) to add lots of flavour to meat and veggies...it will feel like cheating :)
- drink A LOT of water
- gets lots of exercise by swimming and hiking
- make a no-sugar yogurt berry smoothie when the gang goes to my favorite ice cream place!!
*This will be the hardest to say no to I think!*

This is everything I have thought of, and prepared for. For me, I think this is probably the most important part, because I need to set myself up for success or else it will be way too hard to think of "on plan" things in the spur of the moment. If you have any other tips, feel free to share!!

Phase 2 Day 29...already?

These weekends definitely get away from me, and blogging just doesn't seem to happen! Okay, well let's catch up...oh wait, there is nothing to tell. I mean, don't get me wrong, I had lots of fun gatherings this long weekend, which was great. There has been no further weight loss. This morning I was 245.0, which is a total loss of 20.6lbs from my pre-loading weight. I am kind of depressed about this, but at the same time know that I have not been as strict as I could have been the past few days. A couple little tastes here and there of things could be the problem. Here is the real dilemma...I am done with this phase. I am not seeing weightloss, I am so sick of vegetables and meat that they actually make me want to throw-up a little when I see them, and I just want to eat cheese lol! Honestly, if I was still seeing weightloss, I would be fine. I seem to be stalled and it makes me want to not eat "clean" on this phase. I am going to continue tomorrow and Wednesday, then begin my two days of no drops, but still the vlcd. This will allow me to be on Phase 3 for my cousin's wedding and for VEGAS! It will be SO MUCH EASIER and honestly, as my SIL reminded me, I will do less damage to my weightloss. See, cheating on the drops can cause HUGE gains because of how they work in your body, but when you are maintaining your weight, you can eat 1500 calories...this will be such a treat!! I had such great hopes for this cycle and getting into the 230's, but you know what...I still feel great and people definitely are noticing. Today I also felt awesome because I was able to wear a shirt that I bought three years ago. It was on sale, I loved the pattern and even though it was too small, I decided to buy it! I had hopes that I would lose weight sooner, but it never happened...until now!! Just a few weeks ago I couldn't get this shirt over my hips, and today I had to wear a belt because it was a little roomy in the stomach area. HOORAY!

Today I was also reminded that since May 2010 I have lost 45lbs, a major accomplishment! Also, as I approach my 6th anniversary with my hubby I am only a few pounds away from my wedding weight, that is also very exciting. I am also 20-25lbs away (or one more cycle) from the weight my doctor wants me at for the next steps with our fertility plan. I can honestly say that I am so very pleased with my progress and the changes I have been making...and I am looking forward to many more to come!