Results of the GM Cleanse!

We made it through the cleanse!! And we did very well until 6 pm on Day 7, at which point we ate out at Red Robin to celebrate my sister moving to Indy and my cousin running her first mini! But even there we ordered and ate much healthier than we normally would. Kyle ate a Bruschetta Chicken sandwich, side salad, and broccoli and I ate the BLTA croissant w/o mayo, a side salad...and sadly most of my sister's kid's menu french fries.

Our weigh in at the end of it all was very exciting! Kyle weighed 320.2, after starting at 335.6, that's 15.4 lbs down. I weighed a flat 260 so also lost 15 lbs! We're so pleased with our progress. We're also very aware that loosing weight quickly often means you put it on just as fast. However, we did the Cleanse to jump start our weight loss and also get our bodies used to eating healthier, and so we won't crave those comfort food so much.

A couple things that made me quite happy is that we did eat out. I actually ate out twice on Day 6, Friday and then at Red Robin on Saturday. Even though we went out to eat, I still managed to order really healthy things. Friday morning I had breakfast with a friend at La Peep's. I ordered an egg white omelette with spinach, mushrooms, avocado, sun-dried tomatoes ( I even had them hold the cheese :( and the potatoes) and had fruit instead. Then, later with my sisters at Applebee's I thoroughly enjoyed a 12 oz NY strip steak (we were allowed unlimited beef!) and did two ordered of steamed veggies for my side. So, since it's pretty unrealistic that we will cut out eating out all together, I'm really encouraged that they're are tasty options available, but we'll just have to discipline ourselves to order those things and not the regular stuff we usually get.

I asked Kyle how he felt throughout the week and at the end of it. He said he felt pretty lethargic the first few days, especially because he was going without his regular cup of joe at work. But, at the end of the week, he felt that his energy level was back to his usual level, without the coffee! He also says he feels skinnier! I feel skinnier too! And also don't feel too deprived of energy, but I still have a mild headache, hopefully that continues to diminish as I continue to avoid caffeine!

So, thanks everyone for all the encouragement and support, I've gotten several comments on facebook! I honestly can't believe how supportive everybody has been. I've gotten recipe ideas, websites to look at, and general encouragement from some very unexpected places and I know we'll need it to continue forward to someday skinny mini! So any advice or tips are very welcome as we traverse our weight loss path!!

GM Diet...Through the hardest part, onto Day 5!

We made it through! To meat day!! :) Just enjoyed an 8 oz sirloin for breakfast! Thank goodness. The last two days have been a little difficult. Fruits and Veggies on Tuesday weree okay because there was a little more variety, but I couldn't bring myself to eat much more soup. Yesterday was also pretty difficult. I managed to eat four of the eight bananas we're allowed and all 3 glasses of milk. However, both days I was feeling pretty  drained, hungry, and light headed.

However, it's been working. This morning I weighed in at 262,  which is 13 lbs lost and Kyle weighed 325, so he's lost ten! We're pretty proud of ourselves, and we haven't cheated, even though we've been laden with treats at our places of employment this week. Hopefully, this is the jump start we need to eat healthier long term, and that we stick to eating at home, making healthy meals, and staying away from large quantities of processed food.

Also, overall, my achy joints haven't been bothering me nearly as much, and I think my ferocious headache (probably from caffeine withdrawal) is finally subsiding. Two and a half days left, but I know we can make it!

GM Cleanse Day 2

Day 2 of the Diet has arrived. After doing a little more research, the cleanse we're trying is the GM Diet, developed by General Motors to help their middle aged employees begin to lose weight in a healthy way.

The first day wasn't too bad. I've currently got a pretty terrible cold; body aches, chills, etc...So, maybe I would feel worse on the diet if I wasn't already so sick I've also had a tremendous headache, but I'm not sure if that's the cleanse and caffeine withdraw or the illness since I had a headache most of the weekend before the cleanse. Kyle says he's been pretty hungry, but so far holding strong! This morning I had already lost 4 lbs and Kyle had lost 3! We also broke down and made the Wonder Soup we're allowed to eat every day. The recipe is something like 6 onions, a whole bunch of celery, tomatoes, green peppers, and we threw in some mushrooms, combined with water and Lipton soup packets. The broth is really tasty, but the rest of it is pretty overwhelming, but at least we're able to eat something a little bit substantial.

Today is all veggies plus more soup if we want. So far today I started off the day with a baked potato and a little butter (That's what it says to do) and I've eaten baby carrots and a freezer package of corn....Maybe I should go for something green and leafy this evening. Kyle on the other hand packed himself a delicious looking lunch of lettuce, avocado, sweet peppers, carrots, and pico de gallo! I should have had him pack some stuff for me too, but since I stayed home sick, I guess I can fend for myself!

So, in summation: So Far, So Good! Hopefully I'll get over this cold soon, at least all the vitamins in the veggies should be helping! We're also taking our gummy vitamins :) I consider them a little treat, and it's really hard to just eat the serving of two. I'll let you know how the rest of today and tomorrow goes! But I'm pretty pleased with 4 lbs down, oh and I also need to drink some more water, but we made a pretty delicious apple cinnamon flavored water, so it's helping with the 10 glasses a day!

Beginning Photo

Beginning Again....Weight Loss Journey attempt number...

My husband, Kyle, and I are trying, for the umpteenth time to lose weight. Just a quick background about our struggles...We were both at our adult skinniest (post college) in the Winter 2009/Spring 2010 when we started dating. My  weight loss that time was because of several months of being on the appetite suppressant Phentermine, and dating a terrible boyfriend who had me so upset that I rarely ate at all, so I dropped from 260 to 220. 

Kyle's weight loss was the result of being introduced to urging (using the rowing machine) at the gym with his co worker, and being unemployed, so subsisting on what he called "poverty stew" which consisted of large amounts of rice and beans, and very little beef. He got down to 240.  Together, we looked pretty good, because we're both fairly tall...I'm 5'11 and he's 6'. 

After dating, like apparently most couples do, we began to put on weight, and a lot of weight. We got married and I weighed 240 and he 260 in December of 2010. We consistently stayed about twenty pounds apart, but continued to gain weight. Over the 2 & 1/2 years we've been married, our weight has ballooned up. Today, I weighed in at 275 and Kyle weighs 335! Yikes! Our attempts to lose weight over the years have included a pretty much neglected gym membership, Kyle signing up but not training for several mini marathons (in which he manages to finish anyway!) and using spark people.com to track calories and plan healthy menus. It's not that these things don't work, and we start out successful, but unfortunately we lack any real stick-to-it-ness. So, I get down to about 263-265, and then just bounce back up the other way. 

So, you might ask why don't I just exercise? One, I'm discovering I'm pretty lazy with no one to push me...and Kyle pushing me doesn't always turn out so well ;) I really need a stranger or authority figure to get me into gear, and since I'm not afraid to lash out at Kyle (like I am to grumble to other people), I'm not properly motivated. And number 2, my health is appalling for a 27 year old. I can contribute my high cholesterol to family history (even my very healthy 29 yr. old sister has high cholesterol, along with my parents, and grand parents), and my high blood pressure to my obesity. However, for the past four years I've been dealing with un-diagnosed severe joint pain, which has stumped my doctor, the physical therapist, and the rheumatologist. Most days, I have a hard time walking when I finish my 8 hours on my feet as a pharmacy tech. I've also got a slipped disc, numb/tingly toes, and chronic nausea...all of which have stumped medical professionals...so needless to say, working out isn't on a high list of priorities. But, don't give up hope on me! I'm trying to be more active, and I'm also continuing to pursue the causes of all this medical nonsense.

So, that brings us up to speed to today! Which is the start of yet another effort! (Especially because I'm in my little sister's wedding on July 20th). Today we're starting a 7 day fruit and veggie cleanse (mostly because the thought of doing a liquid cleanse and not eating at )all is so sad! We love our food, clearly), which Pinterest has assured us will help us loose 10-17 lbs.

 (http://health-heaven.tumblr.com/post/17089615944/what-do-you-think-of-gms-diet

And after that, we're going to continue cooking at home and making healthy recipes. We had been doing fairly well at home eating until we went on vacation in early April, and we've been binge eating out since we came back, so time to get back to it. 

So, the point of this blog? Well, I feel that having an internet audience (maybe) might hold me a little bit more accountable! Also, just writing it down will help me reflect on my decisions, and hopefully make the right ones! We are determined to do it this time. My goal weight is 195, and Kyle's is 215, which will restore our 20 lbs apart once more! Wish us luck, and I'll keep you updated on our weight loss, attitude, energy level, etc...