here's the scoop

I very rarely watch TV during the day.  It may be on, but I don't sit down and watch it, unless it is The Young and the Restless.  I watch it every day.  Anyway, the TV was on one morning while Rachel Ray was on and Gary and I saw Cynthia Sass talking about her Cinch 5 day fast forward weight loss plan.  She actually has a 30 day plan, but the first 5 days are supposed to help you get over the hump and help with the cravings for fatty/sugary foods.  Gary and I both saw the segment and knew we could do it!  We just needed the perfect time.  One of my blog friends Kelli posted about it too...you can read her post here.

I have been letting myself eat whatever I want.  I count calories every day and enter them into an iPhone app.  I do better not eating so terribly bad if I hold myself accountable. Once the warmer weather hit I remembered the swimming pool...bathing suit and shorts weather.  Summer is not far away...my kids love to play in the water and go to our community pool.  I have to get these few extra pounds off.  Gary and I decided once he got home from his business trip, we would start the Cinch program on Monday.  I bought the groceries for the plan.  I literally ate everything we had here at home and only purchased the 5 foods so I wouldn't be tempted to mess up...haha!  I didn't want an excuse to wuss out.  Well, when Gary came down with the flu, I lost my partner.  But, I am still doing it.  I bought the book and read the entire thing on my Nook app.  The book is so full of recipes for the latter 25 day program.  And it of course has recipes for the 5 day fast forward and a shopping list.  All that for $13.80 and I didn't have to leave the house.  Not to mention I couldn't find the book in the few stores I went to. 

The food you can eat during these 5 days:

eggs

plain yogurt

raspberries

spinach

almonds

I started Monday morning rushing the kids to school.  I was so tired because Gary went to ER that night.  I almost gave up before I started.  But around 8 am I scrambled my egg, sauteed my spinach and measured out my raspberries and almonds for meal #1.  I ate the scramble pretty fast and took the raspberries and almonds with me on my way to take Hayden to school.  I drank a ton of water also...which is so important in any weight loss plan.  I drank a cup of coffee...with splenda.  You aren't supposed to have artificial sweeteners, but I can't do coffee black. And I was so tired I needed coffee.  I hadn't planned on having it, but life happens y'all!!

At around 12:30pm I made a parfait.  It consisted of yogurt, raspberries and almonds.  It was a little hard to swallow at first. So much thick regular non-fat yogurt...but I added cinnamon and it was WAY better.  And of course I drank water.  The plan says you can have tea, but so far I am just doing water.

All day I felt a weird feeling in my chest and stomach.  I can't explain it.  I wasn't sure if I was getting (flu) sick, or if it was the diet. Not pain, but a cool-slight burning. Also...my teeth feel like they have hair on them.  I can't brush my teeth enough.  I'm not a huge berry fan, maybe the berries make my teeth feel weird.  Besides being a little hungry in between meals those are the only side effects so far.

Dinnertime (5:30pm) rolled around and I made myself a hard boiled egg, a bowl of spinach (2 cups) and then I had a side bowl of raspberries and slivered almonds.  I chopped the egg and threw it on my spinach and put a ton of pepper on the "salad'.  I topped the salad with clementine juice. Surprisingly it was good.  I was about done with the raspberries by then though.  Ugh!  And my thought was I have 4 more days of this and a smoothie tonight.  Yep, since you are supposed to eat every 4 hours you have a smoothie late like at 10pm.  I tried so hard to stay up to have my last meal, but I was so dang tired from the day and the night before.  I fell asleep and missed my smoothie. Shoot.  I hope that doesn't mess me up. 

I woke up very hungry this morning, Tuesday.  After I dropped Layla off at school I had more time to make my breakfast.  I spent a few minutes scrambling the egg alone this time. (yesterday I scrambled the spinach and egg all together), Then I sauteed spinach after I scrambled the egg.  I put garlic and onion powder on the spinach and a touch of olive oil.  It was much better than the rush job I did on Monday morning. I ate it with blueberries and slivered almonds.  I don't know if blueberries are OK, but I can't do raspberries every single day.

I did a few things different than the plan recommends and I'm hoping those few changes will be OK. Let me just tell you, it was so hard to fix the kids dinner last night.  I wanted a bite of their mac and cheese, but I was strong.  The worst is seeing commercials for food.  I don't usually do things half way and I am determined.  I really like these 5 foods, so I don't feel too deprived.  I hope it gives me the jump start I need to curve my sweet tooth and more than anything I just want to retrain my brain.  I want to treat myself to good stuff once in awhile, not every day.  Lately I just grab a cupcake or candy whenever the mood strikes me.  Gotta get back on track and if I loose 8 lbs in 5 days then hallelujah!!

I will try to post again on Thursday to let you know how I am doing.  I know there are several of you that have questions, so if I didn't answer them in this post, email me and I can try to help you.