That's right. I am hopelessly in love with my steamer. Well. My mother's steamer. Seeing as it's her kitchen. Anywho. About a week or two ago, I made this ginger-sesame haddock, and it required you to steam the fish.
Now. I knew we had the steamer. but in my mind, it only served two purposes. Steaming veggies for St. Patty's day, and steaming Ribs (steaming ribs? wtf, right? trust me. it works, then ya grill 'em . . . oh, nom.). I digress. We made this dish though, and the fish was just sooooo damn moist and delicious and flaky and . . . nom. It had like, a ginger-garlic-sesame-soy topping that was just . . . to die for.
After this, I vowed to myself I would never cook fish any other way. Hahahaha. That being said, last night, I couldn't figure out what I wanted for dinner. So I had a piece of fish, and before I put my fish in the steamer, I made a smorgasbord of steamed veggies. I had an artichoke, cabbage and carrots. Random, I know, but I was in a random mood. Then I put my fish in there, covered it with dill, pepper and a bit of salt . . . oh my lord.
I'm in love with my mother's steamer.
I'm also in love with this new diet I'm trying out. Currently on day 5, and already 3 pounds lighter.
I know. Back the truck up. 3 pounds? Five days? That's pushin' unhealthy rapid weight loss speed.
But listen to this. I got this crazy book called the "17 Day Diet".
Again. 17 days? Seriously. Nobody can lose a significant amount of weight that fast and keep it off. It's impossible! Well. Maybe not impossible, but definitely unhealthy!
Everything that I've read in this book, aside from the rapid weight loss (it's saying within 17 days, you'll be able to lose up to 10 pounds, easy peasy lemon squeezy) sounds legit. Everything that I read, I remembered from my nutrition class. The only thing different is that the doctor that wrote this book is changing things a little bit, accelerating the pace, and slowly reintroducing things back into the diet.
Confusing, right? It's supposed to be 17 days, how does that work?
That's where the catch is. It's not only 17 days. It's 4 cycles of 17 days. Now, for me? I'm totally okay with that. That means that I'll be damn near close, if not actually at my goal weight in just over two months. 68 days.
Basically, what it is, is that for the first cycle, you cut out all complex carbs. No pasta, no bread, no grains, and you eat lots of lean meats (fish and chicken, essentially), lots of veggies from an approved list, fruit twice a day (stopping, preferably before 2:00pm), and yogurt about twice a day. Starvation doesn't happen, it's just super low calorie.
Cycle 2 reintroduces some slow digesting grains and lean cuts of beef as well as shellfish. Then Cycle 3 brings back in some more complex carbs, some breads, wholesome pastas, and a few other things that I can't remember at the moment. Cycle 4 is where you essentially go back to a normal diet. Key word. Diet. Which is what I need. I know that I can't go back to my Italy eating habits, and I have no intention of it after this, but basically, with Cycle 4, during the week, you keep to the leaner meats, you eat lots of veggies, eat your yogurt and overall behave. Then on the weekends, you eat whatever you want, within reason. Which I can do. Nothing I was ever eating was really unhealthy, I was just downing massive, unnecessary portions of it.
So that covers the food part of it. I've mentioned nothing about working out, right? That's just because I haven't gotten to it yet. :)
The good thing about this guy is that he understands us, as human beings. That not all of us want to be gym rats and spend hour after hour being as sweaty mess. He doesn't demand that of us. He wants 17 minutes. That's all. 17 minutes a day of something that gets you up out of your chair, and your heart pumping.
Knowing that my walks haven't really been heart-pumping endeavors, I've taken to doing this thing in my room where I'll watch four 5-minute music videos, and I'll put my stepping stool in front of my computer. So, in time with the music, I basically do stairs. Trust me. I'm a sweaty mess after that. It's a good feeling. :)
I'm also still doing my yoga ball exercises. Love that sucker. More and more each day. I'm thinking about adding dumbbells to my routine too, some bicep curls and whatnot.
I have hope for this diet. I really do. Because of it, I've basically cut soda out, and only enjoy one for dinner. I've also been drinking so much water, I know exactly how many steps it takes to get from my office door to the bathroom. Both leisurely and briskly walking. Hahaha.
I've also taken up yoga while doing this, more frequently than I was before. The doctor from this book recommends it, and I certainly can't complain. I find I actually sleep a lot better when I do yoga before bed then if I skip it.
So. Yeah. I'm not really freaking out about the "rapid weight loss" aspect of this whole thing. I'm gonna do this, do it right, and get myself back on track. It's instilling in me the control that I lost months ago, and I know that armed with the right tools, regaining my body, regaining my health and regaining my eating habits prior to Italy will be a breeze.
All in all, I'm happy. I'm happy with life, I'm happy with where things are going, I'm happy to be moving, I'm happy that things are finally going in the direction that I want them to be. Life is good. Going on the road next week, adventuring to the great outdoors in Maine, and greatly looking forward to it. :)
Life. Is. Beautiful. <3
