Phase 3 – Day 19

Weight: 173

Well, this is crazy, but, as my husband says, “I'm not going to complain about it, I'll take it!”

The 2 pound loss in one day indicates that it really was water weight, and, as I wrote yesterday, I woke up full.  I also was able to drink three bottles of water and I think that also made a difference.

Sunday is technically my last day of Phase 3, but I have to say that I have not been as strict as I thought I would be when I first read about this part of the protocol.  I was just so tired of being restricted, and I like eating low-carb anyway.  Or, maybe that’s because I know I’m going to do another round, so even if I gain 5 pounds, I will lose it again, which is not the best approach to take.

Phase 3 is for forming habits, as well as resetting my metabolism.  As I continue to read online postings about this phase and other people's experience with it, I keep seeing that this is a time to figure things out and see what works to maintain your weight, but I think that is more for real life eating, which is Phase 4.

I've been thinking about my upcoming vacation which starts in a couple of weeks and how I'm going to make good food choices.  I am very excited and interested in seeing how my weight fluctuates, or not.  Even so, in about a month I will start Round 2 in order to get rid of the last 15 to 20 pounds.

In a strange way I'm looking forward to starting the diet again because of the structured menu.  In some ways it's very easy to be on a diet because you have rules laid out for you, but when you don't have a list to follow, it's easy to lose your way and make exceptions and allowances.  Pretty soon, weight comes back.  I think this is a big key to a lot of people’s yo-yo dieting.

I keep thinking of my friend who is in excellent condition and works out for her health, as well as her profession,  and has never had a weight problem.  She is also a foodie.  I used to work out as much as she did, but I didn't look like her.  Genetics and good metabolism were not her only allies, I'm pretty sure that we were not making the same food choices, and that makes all the difference in the world.  Her approach and attitude are a great example for me to follow.