What should I do??????

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?????

I wanted to ask those of you who follow my blog wether I should start a new blog, change the name of this blog, or keep blogging as is?

Why?

Well, I'm no longer on Dukan "officially".  After I transitioned to the cruise phase I fell more and more in love with my veggie days, and then modified the diet to all PV days (Once I was happy with the weight I lost and didn't mind loosing slower).  The problem is I REALLY LOVE my veggies!!!  I began researching a lot of whole food lifestyles, and somehow I've gone raw.  So I went from a carnivore on the Dukan to a pseudo-vegan on my new diet.  I really discourage people from jumping from one diet to another, but my body was asking for it, and I feel AMAZING!

The pounds are still coming off with limited exercise, but the food I eat is a lot healthier than what I was eating on Dukan.  So, what should I do?  I have so many great recipes, but some include non-dukan food like avocados, nuts, or fruits (not all though).  Also, I don't want to mislead those who are new-dukaners.  However, I don't want to loose the friends and members I've made on this site.  You all are so supportive! Also, I want to continue to pass on the information that I learn and also I know that some look to my posts for motivation, so I would hate to loose that.

I will leave it up to you guys.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know your thoughts on this.  

THANKS!

Recipe: Zucchini Chips & Guacamole

Recipe: Zucchini Chips & Guacamole ~344 Calories (as shown)

Ok, so I know technically you're not supposed to have avocado on Dukan, so I only recommend this to people on the Stabilization, Consolidation, or modified Dukan phases.  I have gone from Dukan Cruise Phase to a modified Dukan Veggie/Protein Phase, which seems to be leading me to a predominantly Raw Food Diet.  I have pretty much cut out all refined & processed foods.  I buy a ton of veggies, but I still am eating meat (mostly fish), and I do have cheese once in a while (low-fat organic).  By the way, the scale went down yet again- Today Im at 188.4 down from 220!

Ok, so here's the recipe - Super simple!

Ingredients:

2 Zucchini
1 Avocado (thinly sliced)
0.5 Vine ripe tomato (diced)
Fresh cilantro chopped
Raw red onion chopped
Salt to taste

Recipe:

Take the sliced zucchini (~ size of a nickel) and dehydrate over night.  If you don't have a food dehydrator - get one - they're AWESOME!!! or just put in the oven for about 15' but keep an eye not to burn and make sure you turn over.
To make the guacamole just take a ripe avocado and smash it up with the bottom end of a fork.  Then add in the other ingredients- add in the cilantro and onions to your liking.  AND YUMMY!

30 lbs LOST (cont...)

This was my dress that I squeezed into today.  It actually looked more flattering, I just didn't pose very well.  As you can see, I'm standing right next to the dessert table with lots of cakes, none of which I was even tempted to eat!

I felt really great in my dress, and it was the dress I wanted!  I was worried it wouldn't fit, but I got in there.  The greatest reward other than my health has been the ability to walk into a store and try on clothes that I like.  Before, I was so limited on what I could try on because the stuff I liked didn't come in my size.
I know my journey is no where near being over, but I've gotten to a point where I can say, "Hey, wait a minute!  I did something really great here!"  It's important to stop and take time to pat yourself on the back.  You can't always be looking at the final number.  I mean I still have 40 lbs to go- if I focused on that I would too easily get frustrated, and feel like it's never enough, and that's not the case.  With every pound comes a kind of victory in the fight against fat!
I had a great day today.  Below is a picture of some of the food.  None of which I ate, except for a little bit of the grilled skirt steak (churrasco).  I had a wheatgrass shot for breakfast, then for lunch I had a fat-free yogurt.  I then had a little bit of the steak when everyone was eating, and then when most of the guests left I made some Kale.  There were some comments from the remaining guests, but you know what I don't care- I'm eating healthy- get used to it!  I only had champagne at the toast, and no more alcohol.  I have gained the confidence and discipline that I lacked in all my other diets.  I don't even get in the "I'll burn it off later mode".

To be honest, I look at it all, and it no longer looks like food anymore.  It's not what I want to put in my body.  I think it's also because I have come to find healthier "cheat foods" that has made it easier for me to completely put all these carbs into another category, which is not food for me.  It's all just part of the decor!
Here are some pics of what they had ....
Desserts (left), Steak, Rice, Potatoes, and Empanadas which were gone (bottom left), Chicken Parm, Pene alla Vodka, Meatballs, and bread (bottom right).

 

30 lbs LOST!!!

30 lb PIG! 

I did it!  I got to 30 lbs lost! This is a picture of a 30lb pig- this is what I'd been carrying around with me everywhere!  Bye Piggy!

I lost the 2 lbs I wanted to be down today to get into the dress that I bought for my niece's baptism!!!  Most of the guests were in my brother's wedding where I was really BIG!  They haven't seen me since my weight-loss, so it should make for interesting conversation.  I bought a pretty "shapely" dress too!  I will try to post some pics after the party !!!

Also-- I'm 2 days coffee-free!  This is a huge deal for me!  Granted it's the weekend, but still- lots of energy and don't miss it at all!

Breakfast- The most important meal

Before Dukan, I was NEVER a breakfast person, but it was really important for me when I started the diet, so that I wasn't hungry throughout the day.  Most breakfast foods are FULL of carbs; cereal, oatmeal, breads, muffins, poundcake, coffe cake, croissants.....
It seems no one has time for eggs anymore!  We are rushing to start our days, so we want that "meal on the go" and let's just face it, throwing some egg whites into your Prada, just won't do!  I can tell you from my experience that there is a big difference in my days depending on whether or not I have (a good healthy) breakfast!
I would rather be a bit late, or wake up early (really it doesn't take more than 10'- clean up when I get home) and feel satisfied.  Of course there are those days that time just slips, and there is no way to squeeze  it in- then I try to have at least something (fat free yogurt, part-skim string cheese, SOMETHING).
By the way-- if you were like me-- you thought coffee WAS breakfast!  No it's not!
When I first started Dukan I would have 4 egg whites (68 cals) and a couple slices of 98% fat free ham (~40 calories).  I got away from the ham b/c it's overly processed and not the healthiest way to get protein.
The pic above was this morning's breakfast; egg whites, mini sweet peppers, spinach, fat-free feta- topped with a slice of tomato and fresh basil(~195 cals).  Took less than 10' to make  (I keep the peppers sliced and frozen).
I start the day feeling great!

PICS!!!! As promised...

Pic 1:  Pre-diet at my heaviest in Italy stuffing my face w/ Pasta & Wine
Pic 2:  This was me after the attack phase- down 10lbs.  I was holding my niece who was about 10lbs.
Pic 3: Me on Sunday.  Down 28 lbs.

I had a bit of a plateau, but this week, I'm back on target!  Feeling great and motivated.  Really want to get down the 2 lbs to get to 3o.  Doesn't seem like a lot, but after a week and a half of the scale at a standstill- I'll take my 2 lb loss and be happy!!! (Then only 5 more lbs to half-way point!!!!)


BTW-- this was tonights dinner - had to add a pic- YUM!

Under 200 calories!!!

Foods	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Cholest	Sodium	Sugars	Fiber
Dinner
Generic - Vine Ripe Tomato, 1 medium, whole (2-3/5" dia)	26	6g	0g	1g	0mg	11mg	4g	1g
Cucumber - Peeled, raw, 0.5 cup, pared, chopped	8	1g	0g	0g	0mg	1mg	1g	0g
Alessi - Organic White Balsamic Vinegar, 1 Tablespoon	20	5g	0g	0g	0mg	0mg	4g	1g
Generic - Oregano, Dried, 0.33 tbl	0	0g	0g	0g	0mg	0mg	0g	0g
Generic - Shrimp - Bbq Medium, 12 medium shrimp	90	0g	0g	18g	129mg	123mg	0g	0g
Generic - Lettuce, Radicchio, 4 leaf	8	0g	0g	0g	0mg	8mg	0g	0g
Generic - Turnip, Raw, 0.5 cup (130 g)	18	4g	0g	1g	0mg	44mg	2g	1g
Earthbound Farm - Spinach, Baby, Fresh, Organic, 2 cups fresh	20	3g	0g	2g	0mg	65mg	0g	2g

New Start and juicing!

I took a week "off" the diet and by off, I just mean that I wasn't monitoring (strictly) what I ate, and basically acted, as I would have had I reached my goal weight.  I'm happy to report that I did not put on any weight even with the additions of some questionable foods.  I tried to make healthy choices even when I wasn't logging in my food.  I was staying at a friend's house for a week, so I didn't have my scale, my sneakers (to workout) or my DUKAN-ready fridge.  I tried to as best as I could, and for the most part it was as though I was on the consolidation phase.  I didn't eat any breads, pastas, rice or potatoes, BUT I did have about 3 bites of a chocolate lava cake (dinner out), 2 tablespoons of greek yogurt ice cream (work birthday party) and drinks (about 2- either wine, diet cokes, or vodka martinis) through out the week at various social gatherings.  Other than that I pretty much stuck to my modified-dukan (all PV).
To be honest, although I was doing really well on the diet, I guess I felt I needed some time "off" - not because of the food, but I just didn't want to think about anything.  There were a lot of things going on, and I was on full avoidance mode, but I am proud that for the most part I was honest with myself about the whole things, which kept me from binging or eating anything that was "too" bad.  This gave me some confidence for what it will be like, after Dukan.
Today is Saturday, and I need to really catch up this weekend to get back on track.  The diet is not difficult, but it is time consuming to do it right.  There's a lot of prepping that needs to be done in order to avoid any pitfalls.  On the bright side- I ordered a juicer and a food dehydrator.  Obviously, I can't have fruit, but I will maybe sneak some in from time to time to see how my body reacts to the sugar, but not till I drop about 2lbs to get to 30 lbs lost.  When I get to 35 lbs lost (MIDWAY POINT) I will introduce fruits back in.  I find that this way of doing the dukan works well for me, and helps me make active choices about what I put into my body.
Above you can see my groceries for the week!!!  I still have a freezer stocked with Salmon, chicken breasts, and turkey ground beef-- Can't wait to get back into my Journey-- sorry for the detour!