Janetmarie's Journal, 21 September 2011

The first cycle was hard. Just getting rid of those sugar cravings and loading up on protein but it works. The first day of cycle 2 I went crazy over being able to have cream of wheat for breakfast. And ohhh, when I smelled toast and was allowed to have it...heaven. The first cycle is designed to be a "starvation mode" but you're not really starving. Once you get on the 2nd cycle you will start to confuse your body with the alternating days. Hang in there...I'm on day 12 of cycle 3 now and have lost consistently by following it every day and not cheating. I can walk into a donut shop for a coffee now and not even be tempted by the sugary treats. I just think about how long I'd have to work out in order to burn off the rediculous calories. Hang in there! 

Leesevol...thank you so much for your comments! And I hope you don't mind that my diet says yours....I couldn't believe that the 17 Day diet wasn't listed. Anyways..It has been a little hard at times but I am really looking forward to the next cycle. Did you experience a gain during the 1st cycle?? Both my daughter in law and I did and it was about the same day. She was more strict than I even. Thank you again for commenting. I may have to ask you some questions! Mary Rose 

Yes I couldn't find it but it wouldn't let me add "17 day diet" as it said it was already taken..but didn't exist lol. I didn't experience a gain but I followed it to the letter and had never bothered working out before that so the 30 minutes of exercise I was doing a day was working off what I was eating. What I did notice was that the first few days of cycle 1 I wasn't losing too quickly but I was loading up on protein. Soon it started to convert to muscle again (hadn't done that in 25 years lol). The first cycle I would say I lost about 10lbs and only weighed myself once a week so that I wouldn't judge daily. In between weigh-ins I could visibly see that my muscles were actually developing and my clothes weren't fitting anymore. I may very well have gained and lost a few days but by not weighing myself every day and considering that muscle weights more than fat...I convinced myself that the scale is not the right thing to motivate me. A new wardrobe is more motivating hehe. Only July 1 I was 180lbs. I'm now 155lbs. Something is working! I'm not sure if you are drinking the warm water and lemon juice in the mornings but I have been doing it religiously and have found that it really has improved my digestive system and my skin feels GREAT. The 3-5 cups of green tea a day really helps too. First it fills my stomach and it also helps the body lose fat. Just think..a few more days and you can have a nice warm bowl of oatmeal for breakfast! I have a recipe for 48 calorie brownies that really helps me when I have that craving for something sweet. Just one little square gets my caffeine fix and my chocolate fix. I submitted it about 2 weeks ago but it still hasn't been "approved". Not sure if you can see it in my profile as one of my recipes but it's great! 

Wow, you have been doing great! I'd be so stoked if I were you. It's unfortunate but I have to weigh everyday. Bad habit that I can't break. I'm sure I'm not following the diet to the T because I buy the bottled green tea. As for the hot lemon water, the past 3 years I've drank at least 24 ozs of lemon water as a diuretic. I have just recently started using ground flaxseed in my yogurt which has done WONDERS for my digestive system..so I haven't changed that. Afraid too! I personally have back issues so I do at least 45 mins of exercise 5 days a week. If I don't I can't move. I either do the treadmill for 30 mins or my recumbent cycle for 30 mins...then I do my stretches for my lower back. I personally haven't seen any physical change but I'm so hung up on the number on the scale I probably wouldn't be able to see it! LOL. I'd love to check out the 48 calorie brownie. I'll see if I can see it on you page. Really busy at work so I've got to get off here. I'll be following your progress. Thanks for your suggestions. Mary Rose