For those that are curious, here are some updates on how my diet has been going. Today, January 31, 2010 is Week 14, Day 2 of my diet. I weighed in at -1 lb. this morning. I am not yet at my goal weight, but I am really close. Actually, I am within 4 lbs., and that makes me happy. Never mind that I look like shit in the picture below. I wasn't prepared to have "photo day" at the gym, but my trainers insisted on taking progress pictures, so I'm sharing it with you. Since this was taken I have lost another 1.5 lbs.

On Week 13, Day 4 I had it out with my trainer over quite a few issues. The bottom line was that I decided that I am fucking starving and I need more food. He agreed. So, I can now have Sweet Potato, Ezekiel Pasta, and Brown Rice (I feel like I just leveled up in “Farmville”). I was told that I can add oatmeal to my shakes, and that I could eat these carbs at every meal. He increased my caloric intake from approximately 800 to 1500 per day. Of course though, I am stubborn.

I was happy to be allowed to eat more food, but at the same time I feel like I have worked so hard to be where I am at now, that if I gain weight because I added more carbs without yet being at my goal weight I’m going to be pissed. So I added them in at dinnertime only, for now. I figure that should keep me from wanting to kill people all of the time.

For my first experiment I made diet Sweet Potato soup and I promise you, you couldn’t imagine how good it tastes. There isn’t any brown sugar in it (however I recently discovered that Splenda makes brown sugar), but rather a substitute, sugar-free maple syrup with Purevia. Instead of flour I used Flaxseed. Instead of butter I used “I can’t believe it’s not butter”. Instead of store bought broth, I made my own Veggie broth that’s fat free, and salt free. I added some spices, and didn’t use milk at all. It was delicious, and it will be a regular staple food for me in the future. This week I am making Sweet Potato chips and Sweet Potato Fries (sprayed with Pam, and baked of course, then pan-fried with Pam for crispy coating!)

Since I am starting to eat more carbs now we have changed my workout routine. I am doing less and less traditional weight training and more “Art of Strength” training, and Boxing. I actually box quite a bit now, and these came in the mail for me this week:

I love them! My boxing trainer says that I’m really good, and that I improve every single time we box. That’s probably because I enjoy it more than anything else that I do. I like going to the gym. I never thought I would, but I do. The AOS training is awesome, but there’s just something about the boxing that really makes me want more. Perhaps it’s my Martial Arts background and the natural love of fighting, but even after a day of boxing when I am so sore the next day, I can’t wait until the next time. What I love most is that it’s a high intensity workout, so I don’t have to worry so much about adding in my new food. Since I have started eating the carbs I have still lost 1.2 lbs more.

Lastly, one of the most trivial, but greatest benefits to me is that I am finally fitting into all of my designer clothes that I bought before I was pregnant with Isabella. This was my whole reason for setting my goal weight so low. And, what’s crazy is that the more things I try on, the more I realize how thin I actually was at one time. While most things are fitting great, there are still some things that I can’t get into. Perhaps I’ll try again in 4 more pounds. In any event, it’s nice to have my old wardrobe back!

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