17 Day Diet Update

  I just completed the Phase 2 of the 17 Day Diet.  This Phase has been challenging for me.  I have not followed it as faithfully as I did the first Phase.  The areas I struggled with where: 

• getting enough protein
• eating my Probiotic Foods
• Drinking my Green Tea
• Not Eating fruits or starches after 2.  I usually ate these items for dinner instead of lunch
• Eating more of the starches then allowed – Instead of 2 – 1/2 servings I had full cup servings.
• Eating corn chips with salsa or having taco with the shell (love my corn)

With that said – I only lost 2 pounds in this phase.  I felt that the first week I was at a stand still…  trying to be as faithful as I could.  The 2nd week I was not as faithful- to the logistics of the diet  but made healthy choices and I finally broke through that plateau.
Physically, I was struggling with these areas: (sorry – might be TMI – too much information) but just trying to keep it real…

• Feeling blotted – like I was retaining my fluids.  I have been on some medications for high blood pressure and a medication for hormone replacement to help with hot flashes.  I stopped the hormone replacement meds, and this help with the fluid retention.
• feeling bound up – I started taking  herbal fiber supplement and that is helping with that.

The benefits that I am seeing from the diet are:

• Over all I feel better – at times I miss my carbs – but I feel better on having so many -
• I feel that my body is loosing fat – even though my weight loss does not reflect it as much as I would have thought.
• I am making healthier choices in eating and developing better eating habits
• I am motivate to make long term change and choices (big one for me)
• I am exercising more – not as much as I need to – but more…

Here are the logistics of Phase 2.
Goal of Phase 2 is: Metabolic restart with alternating low and high calorie days to help shed body fat.

• Warm Water with Lemon
• 8 glasses of Water
• Green Tea - 3 times day
• Coffee allowed - 1 or 2 cups day
• Do not eat fruit or starches after 2 p.m.
• Exercise Daily - if possible 17 minutes a day
• Unlimited Lean Proteins (except eggs)
• Unlimited Veggies
• 2 Servings of Fruit
• 2 Servings of Natural Starches

.Lean Proteins - Unlimited

• Fish
• Tuna
• Chicken Breasts
• Turkey Breasts
• Ground Lean Turkey
• Eggs - 2 eggs
• Egg Whites - 4 whites
• Shellfish
• Lean cuts of meat
• Natural Starches

Grains (1 serving - 1/2 Cup)

• Barley
• Brown Rice
• Bulgur
• Amaranth
• Cocous
• Cream of Wheat
• Grits
• Basmati Rice
• Millet
• Oat Bran
• Oatmeal

Legumes (1 serving - 1/2 cup)

• Black Beans
• Any kind of beans
• Peas
• Slit Peas
• Lentils

Starchy Vegetables

• Corn - 1/2 cup
• Potato - 1 medium
• Sweet Potato -
• Squashes - 1 cup
• Yam

Vegetables - Unlimited

• Artichoke
• Asparagus
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cauliflower
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Garlic
• Green Beans
• Green Leafy Veggies
• Kale
• Leeks
• Lettuce - all
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

Fruit - Low Sugar - 2 servings daily

• Apples
• Berries
• Grapefruit
• Oranges
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Prunes
• Red Grapes

Probiotic Foods - 2 servings Daily

• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Low - fat acidophilus Milk
• Breakstone's Live Active Cottage Cheese
• Sauerkraut

Friendly Fats

• Olive Oil
• Flaxseed Oil

Condiments & Seasonings

• Allowed in moderation

So I am moving on to Phase 3 and have these goals in mind:
   Exercise 4 times week – doing on or a combination of these

• Walk
• Glider
• Calisthenic – stretching exercises
• start T-Tap video (my unique son is going to help me with that)

   Drink my tea
   Continue to take fiber supplements
    Eat/drink  my probiotic
   Watch my portion sizes
For more information on the 17 Day Diet check out these web sites:

• http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/the-17-day-diet/
• http://17daydiettips.blogspot.com/
• http://www.thedoctorstv.com/forums/527-17-Day-Diet-Recipes

I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
                                                                                                                      Philippians 3:13-15
Pressing on~
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Mason Jar Salads

Since I have been on the 17 Day Diet, I have been eating allot of salads.  I saw this idea on pinterest and though it would be a great way to store salads and have them ready ahead of time.  So when I am tempted to eat something else that is quick and easy - I can grab on theses.  I will be making a bunch of these this weekend.

  Mason Jar Salads

Here are a few tips:
1. Dressing on the bottom, lettuce on the top. If the two are touching the lettuce will turn to slime.
2. So, dressing goes in first. On top of your dressing, use a rather "hearty" vegetable, such as shredded cabbage, pea pods, or julienne carrot matchsticks. They can withstand the acidity of the dressing, and actually get better!
3. Pack it in. Use a nice variety of colorful vegetables! Make it fun and involve the kids.
Here are some of our recipes:
Poppyseed: Layer, in this order:
-poppyseed dressing
-carrot shreds
-green peas
-pineapple
-blueberries
-raspberries
-lettuce
Asian: Layer, in this order:
-light asian ginger dressing
-peapods
-carrot shreds
-cabbage shreds
-water chestnuts
-green peas
-bean sprouts
-quinoa
-toasted sesame seeds
-lettuce
Seafood: Layer, in this order:
(I make a light dressing with light mayo, skim milk, s and p, and parmesan
-dressing
-cabbage shreds
-cherry tomatoes (halved)
-black olives
-celery
-drained canned crab / drained canned salad shrimp
-lettuce
Caesar: Layer, in this order:
-light Caesar dressing
-carrot shreds
-diced grilled chicken
-celery
-cukes
-lettuce
-parmesan
(add croutons later) ...they get mooshy in the jar.
We also made rainbow fruit salads....layered in this order:
-blueberries
-honeydew
-cantaloupe
-pineapple
-strawberries
-raspberries
-kiwi
Now, don't forget to label the lids! We use a Sharpie. The Sharpie ink can be removed easily with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for your next use.
Recipe From: mypinsmypinterest.blogspot.ca

Romaine Mandarin Salad
1 large head Romaine, torn into bite sized pieces
1 cup celery, chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
2 green onions, sliced
1 can (284ml) good quality mandarin oranges, drained well (discard the liquid)

Enjoy~
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Monthly Menu Plan –17 Day Diet

April Menu Plan

Since I am on the 17 Day Diet. This months plan is focused on more kid-friendly meals. I find it much easier to make easy, fun meals that are not as tempting for me to eat when I am dieting. I am making allot of salads, chicken and chicken & veggie soup for myself.











Goal of the first phase of the diet is:

Rapid weight loss portion which helps flush sugar and fat storage from your system.




Every Day

Warm Water with Lemon
7 glasses of Water
Green Team 3 times day – with meals
Coffee allowed - 1 or 2 cups day
Do not eat fruit after 2 p.m. – I will sometimes eat fruit after 2 but try not to after 5.
Exercise Daily - if possible 17 minutes a day.

Accelerate Days

Liberal amounts of protein and Vegetables
2 servings of probiotic foods
2 servings of fruit
1 serving of fat

Lean Proteins - Unlimited

Fish
Tuna
Chicken Breasts
Turkey Breasts
Ground Lean Turkey
Eggs - 2 eggs
Egg Whites - 4 whites

Vegetables - Unlimited

Artichoke
Asparagus
Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Green Beans
Green Leafy Veggies
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce - all
Mushrooms
Onions
Spinach
Tomatoes

Fruit - Low Sugar - 2 servings daily

Apples
Berries
Grapefruit
Oranges
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Prunes
Red Grapes

Probiotic Foods - 2 servings Daily

Yogurt
Kefir
Low - fat acidophilus Milk
Breakstone’s Live Active Cottage Cheese
Sauerkraut

Friendly Fats

Olive Oil
Flaxseed Oil

Condiments & Seasonings

Allowed in moderation

I am enjoying the ease of the plan -  it is an easy plan to follow.  I made the kids chili cheese hot dogs the other day – and I was so tempted to have one, but I did not give in. For the most part I have been pretty faithful.  A few times I have sampled the kids food while making it an then realize – oops!! I did have some corn in my soup this week (used mixed veggies in making it.)  Corn is not on the diet until Phase 2. The book details the diet and gives specifics on how to follow it.

Enjoy~
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