Hang in There!

I haven't posted in a while because I've resumed my regular life again.  I have maintained my weight loss, and incorporated many of the things I learned on the 17 Day Diet into everyday eating.  I will probably have to open this book after my cruise to the Mexican Riveria in early June, since I plan to enjoy all that wonderful food on the cruise ship!



I'll check back after my fun in June, friends! Puera Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas are on the radar....Squid Roe here we come again!

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Lose Weight without Dieting

Hey doyou really want to lose weight without skipping meals? Here is the solution tolose weight and not starve. It is time to lose weight without dieting.

Being thin (o) is very important for good health and feel more comfortableand lightweight, but also has another meaning profoundly valuable: you willfeel more secure about yourself to know and see that you have control over yourbody and your life.

To loseweight is not always necessary to resort to drastic diets, and even less notsupervised by a dietitian, nor do we have to let the skin in the gym, and thatexcessive exercise is not going to be beneficial to our health.

Withregard to food should be avoided whenever possible, excess with pastries andsweets and replace them with pieces of fruit or vegetable, just as tasty, andwith fewer calories. You should also not consume excess amount of alcohol ifyou really desire to lose weight, it is good to consider the idea of drinkingwater with meals, and leave for a while the wine, beer or sugary drinks.

Nor is it good for our line of 'snacking between meals',sometimes it is precisely those bags of chips or nuts such that at the end ofthe year we have given a couple of kilos. Ideally, eat three to five times aday at specific times, and do not ever skip your meals.

As for exercise, if you do not have time to go to a gym todo some type of aerobic exercise or spend an hour a day practicing jogging orjogging, we can distribute the effort in small daily tasks: climbing the stairsinstead of the elevator, go buy the paper going, keep the car for journeys ofless than 20 minutes walking, etc.

If we get used to eating healthy and not avoid the littlephysical effort, we can maintain a healthy life, without those extra kilos.

Remember that losing weight and maintaining it is areflection of the connection between your mind and body, since it implies anawareness of how you want to be, what your body needs and when needed. Theproblem is that even today, people do not believe that, if they learn to eatwell, have a good weight you will feel healthy and strong, not only to do theirdaily work, but for exercise.

Taking a good check that thefood supply helps you lose weight, you fat because what is the frequency andquantity of what you eat, whether a piece of pizza, burger or tacos.

How to Lose Weight and Stay Slim?

Remember that it is impossible to lose weight in a shorttime without damage and consequences because the body is not able to metabolizemore than one and a half kilo of fat a week, so if someone loses more weight,what is really is losing water and muscle mass, not fat.

Muscle mass is important because it determines how manycalories your body spends, and that the more muscle you have, the more caloriesyou spend, and the more you spend, the more you can eat without gaining weightand not be in the situation of how to lose weight.
 
If you try above mentioned tips and facts with a positiveattitude will do wonders for you, you'll see

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The Joy of the 17 Day Diet's Accelerate Cycle - Fast Weight Loss!

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I'm happy to report that today, my 55th day on the 17-day diet, I have lost a total of 18 pounds, losing 2 pounds since I decided to repeat the accelerate cycle on Monday (today's Friday).  I'm repeating this cycle since Dr. Moreno's book suggests that if you haven't reached your goal weight, to repeat a precious cycle.  I chose the accelerate cycle for these reasons:

• The weight came off fastest on this cycle


• It's easier to get into the daily groove


• The low carb menu on this cycle works like an appetite suppressant for me and I gain incredible self control.

Also, I was wiser this time, having found out mid way the first time that there were some items I could be eating (check page 46 in the book under condiments) that I didn't know about .  Last time I didn't realize I could have fat-free cheese and salad dressings on my salad (I like Kraft fat-free cheddar). I didn't realize I could have lowcarb marina sauce (top eggplant with it!) Also, this time I know that I can make a dip using fat free sour cream or yogurt and dip my cleansing veggies in it as as a snack.  If you use the yogurt it counts toward one pro-biotic serving.



Over the past 55 days, I have learned to absolutely LOVE eating raw bell peppers.....green, yellow, red and orange and nibble on them every day now.  I cut out the seeds and slice them into strips and crunch on them whenever I need to.  I've been watching the sales and buying bags of them.  Sprouts had green peppers for 49 cents each and the red, orange, and yellow peppers for 88 cents last week.  I was in Heaven!



I would have never guessed that I could lose 18 pounds in less than two months using pure will power. I'm now within 13 pounds of my goal weight.  Thank you Dr. Moreno for your 17 Day Diet Plan.

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Brown Rice and the 17 Day Diet



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When you reach the second cycle of the 17 Day Diet, you can have some starchy carbs every other day.  Dr. Mike Moreno stresses having brown rice instead of white rice due to its low glycemic load.  If you are still on the fence about switching over to brown rice, try different types and accept that this change is good for your health, not just your waistline.  I Love California Basmati Brown Rice and will never go back to white rice.  It smells like popcorn when it is cooking and cooks fluffy and light. Still not convinced?  Read my article below for the full health benefits and types of brown rice available. Keep an open mind and, in time, you'll learn to love brown rice better than its unhealthy, stripped-of-nutrients, bleached cousin!



Brown Rice and Your Health



What kind of rice are you serving with your meals? If it is that same boring white rice, there are many benefits to switching to one of the healthier brown rice choices.



The Difference between White Rice and Brown Rice



Both white and brown rice are gluten-free, and contain no trans fat or cholesterol, however, the

differences between the two can be monumental in regard to many diseases and health conditions.



The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that the foundation for a healthy diet be three servings daily of whole grains. Brown rice is 100% whole grain, with the bran and inner germ layer still intact. It is not milled like white rice which removes the fiber, the plant-based carbohydrate part of the food our bodies don't digest. Fiber can relieve constipation and prevent several conditions such as gallstones, kidney stones, hemorrhoids, and diverticular disease, a condition in which small pouches develop in the colon that become infected and cause painful digestive problems.



Health Benefits of Eating Brown Rice



1. Lower Blood Glucose.  Diabetes tells us in their Fall 2010 magazine edition that eating five or more servings of white rice weekly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, while two or more servings of brown rice actually lowers that risk. Their article, "Brown Rice for Lower Blood Glucose," states "replacing 50 grams of white rice (one third of a serving) with the same amount  of brown rice would lower type 2 diabetes risk by 16%.



Physicians consider a healthy diet one that includes foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol and made with whole grains. Selecting brown rice in place of white rice as a whole grain choice has several benefits for your body.



Continue Reading "Brown Rice and Your Health"

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Day 46 on the 17 Day Diet - Tips for Dining Out on a Diet

Okay, I was lamenting about how slow the weight loss was and then a few days ago I lost a pound and today another! That's now a total of 16 pounds. I'm trying not to weigh every day...but dang, that's hard! 



I may recoil back tomorrow because I took my grandson out for his birthday dinner tonight and I ate a little more than I should have.  But tomorrow back on it! I thought I'd share this article about eating out when you are dieting.  Dining out is like a landmine for those of us trying to lose weight!





Image courtesy of kevinrosseel/morguefile.com



Tips for Dining Out on a Diet

Willpower in a Restaurant

Dining out can be the downfall to many diets. It is almost impossible to completely avoid going "out" for lunch with friends, or having a birthday dinner with family. Here are some methods to keep you on your diet and not give into temptation.



Review your Diet Commitment before Dinner

Before leaving the house, meditate, pray; review your goals, whatever it takes to move your weightloss goals to the front of your mind. Remind yourself of how much losing weight means to you and acknowledge that it requires sacrifice and commitment to get there.



Ask yourself, "Is eating the wrong food worth going backwards on my diet?" or "Will throwing my body out of fat-burning ketosis be worth this one meal?" or "Do I want to gain back that one pound I worked so hard to lose last week?" Take a diet suppressant right before you leave, if need be. Change your attitude about dining out. It's about the company, not the food after all. If you don't agree with that, you need to do some soul searching.



Review the Restaurant's Menu Ahead of Time for Choices that Fit Your Diet

If the destination for dining out is planned ahead of time, check the internet to see if the restaurant has a website. Most major eateries have nutritional information online. If so, plan a meal that is in line with your diet's guidelines. If not, call the restaurant to make sure they have something you can eat without guilt.



Most restaurants have a meal or two that fits into a low fat or low carb diet, and will, at very least, offer a salad that works for almost anyone. Look for grilled chicken or fish with vegetables that are low on the glycemic index. Get used to the idea that if all else fails, you'll order a salad with low calorie dressing and enjoy it.



Stick to Your Diet Guns and Order Naturally

Before ordering, quietly tell the waiter you are on a restricted diet and need to have your meal prepared with no sugar and reduced fat. Ask how they cook their fish or chicken. Ask if they have a low-fat salad dressing and get it on the side. Ask them to leave the potatoes or rice off the plate, so you won't even be tempted.







Continue reading Tips for Dining Out on a Diet

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Day 43 on the 17 Day Diet

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I'm on the ninth day of the third cycle, achieve.  It's nice to be able to eat more, but boy....the weight loss is crawling now. I'm not drinking alcohol and trying to stick with starchy carbs before 2, but that doesn't seem to be helping much.   I'm stuck at a 13.5 pound loss and would really love to make that fifteen pound loss statement to friends and family.  I think I'll try a few changes:

1. Weigh myself every 3 days instead of daily

2. Every third day resort back to the accelerate cycle guidelines

3. Do 30 minutes of exercise daily (I admit, I've been slacking here)



I've still got almost twenty pounds of extra junk in my trunk, so I will definitely be returning to the accelerate cycle when this one is over. I feel good on this diet and have incorporated healthy alternatives into my diet.....but I want that last twenty gone before I resort to pure mantenance.



How are you doing?? I'd love to hear some comments from others!

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After 37 Days on the 17 Day Diet I've Lost a Bowling Ball!



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It's my third day on the Achieve Cycle and I'm so happy to have gotten this far.  After a week of my weight loss lingering at 13 pounds, I finally dropped another half pound as of this morning.  It's interesting too, because now that I can eat more, I'm finding I am often not all that hungry and eat less!  I have to admit that I look forward to my two servings of starchy carbs, but for the most part, I'm still enjoying most of the other foods I've been eating on the first two cycles. I'm happy that in just 37 days there's 13.5 pounds less of me!  I'm getting into pants I haven't fit into for a year. My skin has a healthy glow and I feel good about myself.  Life is good!



Here's how I'm looking at my weight loss after 37 days on the 17 Day Diet:



My drop of 1/2 pound today = a can of tomato sauce or a canister of Parmesan grated cheese

My total loss of 13.5 pounds = a pro bowler's bowling ball

I've lost 3.5 pounds more than a 10 pound bag of potatoes on this diet!

When I reach 15 pounds I will have lost weight equivalent to a market umbrella!

Since last fall my 20 pound drop equals a 19-inch flat screen TV plus a bag of sugar!



For more fun weight loss equivalents read "Losing Weight One Pound at a Time"

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Automate Your Diet and Fitness Routine

Part of a successful weight loss plan involves several moving parts.  This article I wrote a while back has ideas that work in perfectly with the 17 Day Diet! Automating works!

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Turn on Your Internal Auto Pilot to Stay Fit!



Staying fit isn't easy, but if you automate your diet and exercise routine, you'll find it easier to hit and maintain that healthy number on the scale. Here's how to do it.



Automate Your Food Shopping

Shop no more than once a week and use a shopping list. Head directly for those items, rather than strolling up and down every aisle where tempting food lurks. Many stores offer home delivery and their websites allow you to save your shopping list for future use. Consider this option, since it will keep you out of the store and less likely to purchase a treat that might sabotage your diet.



Automate Your Meal Planning



When trying to lose weight or maintain your weight, it isn't necessary to cook like a chef and plan a wide variety of meals. Keeping a balanced diet in mind, plan a simple, weekly menu that includes healthy foods that you enjoy. Then repeat!



Continue Reading "Automate Your Diet and Fitness Routine."

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Where to Find Recipes for the 17-Day Diet

Online Resources for Dr. Moreno's Weightloss Diet



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As the popularity of the 17 Day Diet picks up speed, more recipes and resources are popping up online. This is a good thing since nothing can derail a diet more than eating boredom. Here are a few helpful sites I uncovered.



Dr. Mike Moreno's Recipes

The 17 Day Diet book does contain recipes that adhere to the program's guidelines, which helps to get you started. I've already outlined some of my favorite recipes from the book in my "Tips and Advice for the 17 Day Diet" and "Review of Two 17 Day Diet Recipes" articles. So far, I've been pleased with the book's recipes. But eventually, you'll want to explore new options.



New Recipes for the 17 Day Diet

Once I hit week 4 on the diet, I began to tire of the chicken vegetable soup, even though I really like it! That was when I stumbled upon a few helpful online sites that stirred up my taste buds and renewed my commitment to sticking with the 17 Day Diet plan.



Gina's Skinny Recipes

Gina's Skinny Recipe blog, recognized by Kitchn.com's as one of the top ten food blogs, is in the running for top spot in 2011, and I can certainly understand why! The day I discovered the website I spent a few hours looking through all the recipes and printing out some to try. The sidebar on the blog showcases a few mouth watering examples that would work once you get past the first cycle. I've tried two:



1. Gina's Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken fits nicely into the Activate guidelines and is very tasty! I found it a bit too spicy for my gringo tongue, so I will reduce the amount of cayenne pepper next time; also, mine came out a bit soupy, so I will reduce the amount of broth also.

Continue reading, "Where to Find Recipes for the 17-Day Diet"

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Chicken Pot Pie Soup



Image courtesy of Gina's Skinny Recipes Blog

 I just tried another Recipe from Gina's Skinny Recipes that fits into the Activate cycle of the 17 Day Diet. 



Today was one of the coldest days this year and soup sounded good, so I made the "Chicken Pot Pie Soup" from the many recipes on this awesome blog.  It is filled with chicken chucks, portabello mushrooms, celery, potatoes and other veggies.



I used cornstarch as the thickener and made two changes to the recipe: 1) I only used 4 ounces of the mushrooms and I added one idaho potatoe and one sweet potatoe. 



This recipe is delicious! 250 calories, 1.8 grams fat and 31 grams carbs.  Too bad we can only eat this soup every other day on this cycle! :)

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Watching the Scale

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This is my 14th day on the second cycle (Activate) of the 17 Day Diet and I've lost 13 pounds.  Usually, when trying to lose weight, I only weigh myself once a week or at most, every couple days. On this diet, however, I have been stepping on that scale daily. The weight isn't coming off on the activate cycle as fast as it did on the accelerate cycle, but am seeing a steady downward trend. 



During the first cycle I was losing 1/2 pound most days...it was amazing, but it only makes sense that this pace isn't sustainable.  Interestingly, I'm finding that during this second cycle, which alternates between a day on accelerate and the next activate, I've noticed that I tend to see a drop in weight on the day after the Activate day, which seems backwards to me.  I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed that?  And I've even gone up a pound or so some days, but the very next day, I would have lost that pound plus another one!



I'm sharing this so you won't be discouraged if you don't see the number on that scale that you were hoping for.  I'm finding that if I just stick with it, week by week I am keeping off the weight I've lost during the week prior and an additional few pounds.  The trick here is to be realistic and happy that your weight is less week after week.



This diet has been truly wonderful for me!  After losing 40 pounds on Medi-weightloss, (eating less than 1000 calories a day and taking diet pills), then gaining back 20 after I stopped, I was feeling despair.  But this diet has gotten me back on track eating delicious healthy foods without those diet pills! I hope you are experiencing good results too! Happy guilt-free eating!

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