My Life in Diets

Disclaimer: There is a review included in this post. Which doesn't mean it's not worth reading!

Let's see . . . there was the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (high protein, you eat whatever you want for an hour a day). It worked, but I think it may have been a bit unattractive to those around me to watch me shovel food in my mouth for an solid hour each day.

Atkins, of course, which is probably better for people who actually like steak. I enjoy one good Filet Mignon a year. This year I had it at a restaurant in Chicago with Blognut and the memory still makes me swoon. Maybe two a year. The steak I had on my anniversary was darn tasty as well.

The Fat Flush Diet works great and is a very healthy way of eating--it's just again with the protein thing--have I mentioned that I'm not a big meat eater?

I'm O positive, so the blood type diet might work for me--eat lots of meat and no carbs. Ummm, no.

These diets are just the tip of the iceberg--I'm a yo-yo dieter from the get-go, though I will say that I have never done crazy crash diets--I tend to go for "eating plans" that have a healthful component and are "lifestyle" changes.

Yo-yo means up and down, so it's clear I know how to lose weight. I've even been pretty good at keeping weight off for fairly long stretches of time. Four years the last time. (My mother died and I gained 30 lbs. in 2 months, taking me to my highest weight ever. I got a grip, ate right, exercised, lost 60 lbs. in one year, kept it off and then was thoroughly derailed by the 2008 deaths of my sister and friend. Yes, I recognize the emotional eating component).

Anyway, here I am in late 2009, having regained about 35 of those 60 lbs. over a year and a half and at a weight that makes me know it is absolutely time to get another grip. (I knew it already, but decided I wasn't going to let it ruin my summer--consuming lots of Champagne and losing weight are non-compatible and I really wanted the Champagne).

At this point in my life, my goals as far as weight are:

1. Be healthy

2. Be fit

3. Don't be fat (I'm okay with a little overweight)

So . . . It is time to get serious. I do really well when my life is very structured-so starting to work full-time was already going to be helpful. Plus, my older kids are not home and they are the ones that really love Mom's home cooking (the younger two are content with a thrown-together whatever and my husband is traveling a lot). My exercise partner agreed to move our work-out time to 4 p.m., so we can keep up our 3-day a week routine. All systems for success in place.

Then . . . I got an email from the manufacturers of a product called Sensa. I'd been reading about this interesting concept for a while (in Oprah and Time) and was already intrigued by the idea (my interest, however, conflicted with my frugality). They offered me a 6-month free trial if I would review the product on my blog. I researched it a bit and decided to give it a try. What appeals to me about this system is that it isn't a drug and it is designed to help me do what I already know works--exercise moderation in my eating and eat healthy food. I'm stellar in the healthy food department--it's the moderation that needs some assistance. For me, this seems like it is worth a try.

I'm not going to turn this into a diet blog and I am never going to tell you the weight I started at, but I will fill you in on my progress occasionally. I've been  at it for a week and I must say the product seems to be working as promised. I haven't had seconds at all and I actually left some rice pilaf on my plate at Daphne's Friday night (that may well be a first). It's easy to use (odd looks when you shake it on food notwithstanding). I lost 3 lbs. I feel great because I'm eating about 10 servings of fruits and veggies a day. I'm not feeling deprived because I will occasionally have a small snack of Hummus and pita chips or something else I really enjoy.

I've also discovered a great new food. I didn't get this for free, but I love it so much I wanted to share. It's noodles made of tofu. The brand is Shiratake and I get them from Henry's. Their are only 20 calories in 8 oz. It's super easy to make my family a pasta dish and then just serve myself the tofu noodles. I love to dice up an eggplant, saute it with some garlic and onion in olive oil and then toss the noodles in.

If you should want to give Sensa a try yourself, they're making a 60-day free trial available to my readers, along with a gift card to Glow.com. Click on this link to check it out.

Comments

[kcinnova]

I think I need to stop back here after a good night of sleep and check out those links! I know you wouldn't try anything unhealthy.
And tofu noodles?? That sounds great! I usually make spaghetti for the gang and I put my sauce plus a small serving (1/4 cup) of noodles on a plateful of fresh greens, but tofu noodles might be my ticket on pasta-craving nights.

Like you, I do better with routines (as long as I don't allow myself to skip meals and become too hungry to think).

[Kimberly]

I have been hearing about these gosh darn noodles for a couple of years now on the Hungry Girl website and for the life of me I can't find them anywhere! We don't have Henry's. :(
I hear ya on the "meat" diets. I am a pasta and breads girl and meat is something I do every-so-often, so as they worked I missed my carbs sooooo much!
I'm interested in hearing about your progress with this new product.

[Jocelyn]

I just clicked over and read about Sensa. It's so tempting; however, I'm going to put the idea in my hopper and let it shake around for a few days. Since years of my life have been about hating my body and fighting off and regaining pounds, I have to not make decisions on impulse!

Good luck with continuing to peel away those lbsssssssssssssssss

[busy bee suz]

I think you are going to do great with this plan and your new routine.
I really want to try these noodles...you have perked my taste buds.
ps. I could also live long periods of time with NO meat...wish I could convince my family of this too. (ok, just the husband)

[Fannie]

I LOVE meat. But I also like my pasta and bread. There isn't a fad diet out there that would work for me. Good luck on your new endeavor!

[Jen on the Edge]

I'm in the process of losing a lot of weight -- at least 60 and probably more -- so this is interesting to me. I'm looking forward to hearing about your successes (and I know there will be MANY) in the coming months.

[MissM]

I felt like I was reading my own thoughts there for a moment. I was a vegetarian for a long time and the healthy food comes easy to me as well, just a LOT of it... Especially when I am sad... or happy. Or medium. OK, OK, all the time...

I would LOVE to try it, but I will have to wait until I am not breastfeeding... Just to be safe. I want to know more for sure! I read a little about it and it makes a lot of sense. I can't wait for updates. Tell us how it makes you feel too...

[jenrantsraves]

I think I will wait and see how you like it. Have you heard about the stuff found in wine? I cannot think of the name right now. Anyway, I tried it for a while, and had to get off it, because it was making me sick to my stomach. I'm wary of the "free trial" offers, because you always end up signed up to automatically receive more, and have your credit card charged!

[Suzy]

I wish you hadn't mentioned steak in this post. Now I have to go to Costco and buy Filet Mignons. EVIL WOMAN!

I've heard of that product and I've heard good things about it. I've leveled off at 130 and have decided to stop fighting it. If I walk more and eat fruits, I drop weight but am not consistent. I miss my thin clothes.

[phd in yogurtry]

It works with our sense of smell, huh? Do you notice anything different while you're eating? Interesting concept. Good luck. Sounds like you are off to a great start.

p.s. Odd, I just started Bob Greene & Oprah's book, The Connection, where she rattles off all the fad diets she tried over the years. I'm reading it to get inspired.

[magpie]

Sounds interesting. And your goals are good - I need to do this too.

[Mary~Momathon]

I'm heading to Henry's! yum!

[Mike Cole]

You should try sensa to control your eating habits. Learn how to control your eating consumption. Sensa is like the best thing out there, with the right diet plan you can accomplish a lot.