My Diet

I hate being sick. I have a cold, and it is kind of knocking me on my ass. It's a good thing I have a student teacher. I was able to call in and go back to bed without even thinking of lesson plans. It was quite nice. I didn't wake up again until someone texted me at 10:30. I could sleep more, but I want to be able to catch some zzz's tonight.

Over the past few months I have had many people question me about my diet. I usually skirt around the answer and say, "I'm seeing a nutritionist". That, my friends, is not the truth. It is partially the truth, but not the whole truth. So here is the truth.

Optifast. If you are old or watch any television at all, you will remember Oprah in the early 80's. She was large and in charge.

Then one fall morning she showed up on national television SUPER SKINNY!



Look! Isn't she fabulous? (that was for Matt!)

Ok, so we all know that she gained all the weight back plus some. After this nationally televised disaster of their product, Optifast changed the program. There is still so much negativity towards this program, that is why I usually skirt around how I am losing weight. Fifty persent of the people that try the Optifast program gain back their weight. when people hear that they go bonkers. FIFTY PERCENT! But when you think about it, that's pretty much all diets. I figured what the hell? I'm fat, this can't hurt. So I called the Center for Health and Nutrition and made an appointment.

The day of my first appointment came. I was very nervous. The nurses weighed me in, took measurements, did a heart scan of some sort, and then I met with Elizabeth. She calmed my nerves right away.

She is the registered dietitian at the Center. She explained the program to me. Here it is.

800 calories a day.

Two shakes

Two bars

One soup

That's it. Seriously, that's it.

I can't even imagine what my face looked like. Two shakes, two bars, and one soup. That can't possibily be it.

Then I met with the Doctor.

What a nice man Dr. Auriemma turned out to be. He's pretty good looking, so that doesn't hurt either.

Dr. Tony continued to explain the program to me. As well as eating the 800 calories a day, I have to drink at least 64 ounces of water, and excerise. Oh yeah, there's the weekly "re-programming" class. They are classes to help you realize how you have gotten so fat. Okay, they don't say it like that, but basically, that's it.

I signed-up and began a few days later. I did have a last meal the night before. In true fat girl style I ordered the best Pad Thai (large, meant for two people) and a large Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

The first week was the hardest. I cried a few times, but I stuck to it. I went to the doctor and discovered that I lost 9 pounds. 9 pounds in one week is really good. I didn't excerise at all, but I still was able to do it. After the first week the plan became easier. I did very well, and after 22 weeks I had lost 54 pounds. I was very happy. I still am happy and that is why I am back on the full fast. I need/want to lose 50+ more. I know I can do it. When I start doubting myself all I have to look at old pictures and i know I am doing the right thing for me.