Monday, January 30, 2017

Looking back at Round 1, 2 and 3 and planning for Round 4, slip ups and areas of improvement

This is actually not an easy post for me to do; but I am sure it will be very beneficial for me. This is the post where I acknowledge the slips I had in the fast metabolism diet. I have done three rounds of it since September last year and not all these slips have happen all the time, but it is high time to access these so that I know what to watch out when I actually do the round 4 in March. I am planning to do a very rigorous round 4 with extra emphasis on following the book to the T.



1. Not eating within 30 minutes of waking up
Round 1 - no(but yes sometimes)  Round 2 - Yes Round 3 - yes

Yes I defy one of the main rules from the diet; it is very difficult for me to eat first thing in the morning. I will try to follow it diligently in round 4. Also, in round 3, one thing not allowed on FMD but I added here is chai with sugar. This was the only thing which kept me going. I have replace that with Herbal Tea and Phase specific snack. This will be tough to do though!

Change - YES

2. Portion Sizes
Round 1 - no(yes sometimes)  Round 2 - no(yes sometimes) Round 3 - yes
I was better with portion sizes in round 1 and round 2. Round three i mixed up portion sizes, i missed some food groups and missed meals as I was not feeling hungry(especially phase 2 where I was not ready to put any more egg white in my mouth. Portion sizes need special attention on phase 3 fat.

Change - YES

3. Protein powder
Round 1 - no  Round 2 - no Round 3 - yes
I used to drink Shakeology, after starting FMD i stopped drinking Shakeology; but in round 3 I felt that I had to replace my snack 3 with protein powder in hot water. It made me feel good. Hailey does offer her own phase specific drinks so I think it is ok to drink protein powder, so i think I can take vegan vanilla Shakeology(or may be stick to Chocolate as Vanilla made me gag)

Change - PROBABLY NOT

4. Skip Meals -
Round 1 - no  Round 2 - no(yes sometimes) Round 3 - yes
Especially in phase 2 I skipped dinner; accepting that I cannot take another bite of egg white or broccoli I did prefer to drink chamomile tea and sleep at night.

Change - YES

5. Eating on time(3-4 hours between meals)
Round 1 - no  Round 2 - no(yes sometimes) Round 3 - yes
I will get caught in things and will not eat at the recommended time. Now I have app so it must be easier do will try to stick with it in round 4.

Change - YES

6. Phase 3 grain consumption is higher, sticking to plan on weekend had been impossible
Round 1 - yes  Round 2 - yes Round 3 - yes

Keeping up with FMD is particularly tough on Saturday and Sunday. Even if I manage Friday the weekend is always tough. I never realized that grain was not allowed in Phase 3 lunch; also dinner grain is also optional; I used to eat at both. I do not remember a single day on weekend in phase 3(Saturday and Sunday) which has been impeccable; I will cave in or something will come up and I will eat outside the plan.

Change - YES

7. Supplements
Round 1 - yes  Round 2 - yes Round 3 - yes
So I have been taking supplements for all the rounds. Supplements I am currently taking are -
 - Spirulina
 - Ashwagandha
 - Vitamin D
 - CLA

What I am contemplating to take - Whole food supplement(Dr Mercola), Adrenal formula by Dr Berg(contemplating) or supplement suggested by Haylie Pomroy herself. Now all these supplements are super expensive so I have to really think about this point. Here is the cost breakup(30 day supply)
Whole Food Supplement(Dr Mercola) - $48
Adrenal Formula(day and night) - 27$
Haylie Pomroy's(Metabolism Multi) - 58$
Haylie Pomroy's(Fat Blaster Bundle) - 130$ (I wish her stuff was less expensive!!!)

So as you can see lot of money is at stake; but then what is also at stake is mending my metabolism. If I am going all the way to make it impeccable then why be scared for 50$ more.


8. Meal Preparation
Round 1 - yes  Round 2 - yes Round 3 - yes

Well I think this diet is impossible for a working person if they do not meal prep, so I did put yes on all the rounds; but it is listed as slips because I think all the slip ups above this point can be overcome if I prep my meals better. I should buy containers; prep for the phase, portion out and have the boxes ready.

This I think will be the game changer in round 4. If I am able to do that I wil be successful.

Things I need to make this work -
1. Meal prep using the Metabolism App - Need to do that because that governs the groceries I will buy.
2. Chopping and cutting(phew always tough and feels like a waste of time when you are in a hurry)
3. If anything can be pre-cooked and frozen
4. If boxes of prepared meals can be kept(phase 2 is tricky in this aspect, but the phase 2 lunch can be prepared)
5. Blogging; Yes I am going to blog my food again, this takes up time, but have good impact
6. Use the cookbook more; as the current recipe are getting boring.
7. Have to create some fun challenge for sticking to the plan for phase 3 over weekends, example can buy this or take this massage etc.


These are the things I could think of right now, I will add more to these if I can think about it. I am determined to make my Round 4 epic; something which is worth a case study for FMD.


Friday, January 27, 2017

Round 3 of Fast Metabolism Diet - Last week - Round up

So I documented my journey of round 1 and round 2 of fast metabolism diet; i captured what I ate every day. I must say it was a family wedding and though I didnt reach the size I wanted to be(how much is anyways possible and healthy in 2 months; I was pretty happy with the results. I did lose around 8 pounds which has never happened in last 5 years!

Then there was a break and I indulged in all Indian sweets and delicacies(do not regret even a single bite of those); the new year though started in a funk with me back to 146 pounds. Second week of Jan I decided to start FMD again. This is my third week into the diet. This time around I have not been capturing the details in blog; which is a bummer as nothing keeps you more accountable than writing what you ate.

So yes I have not been super diligent about my diet this time around. I will finish week 4 on Feb 4; will take a week or two off and do next round of FMD! But next time I am sure about -

1. Using Fast Metabolism Diet App to plan my meals; it is so convenient then why not use it to make things better. I actually got to know a mistake I have been making in Phase 3, I thought grains are a part of Phase 3 lunch; but guess what they are not! Helpful app!!

2. Using blog to capture what I actually ate; kind of different between what I planned and what I ate; I will also track what I felt different that day and what was most rewarding and challenging about the diet that day. Also I capture the exercise I did that day.

3. Need to read the book again and also refer to the cookbook again; need to find some more recipes for phases; kind of bored of the one's I have been eating.

4. Meal prepping - I know this can save my life and make things so much easier for me; but I confess I still lack at this. Sometimes I think what is the point of doing a half ass attempt on the diet but then I cave in to some temptations thinking if this little bit can help me get through the day without screwing everything then why not. Example Phase 2 this week, I had to put cracker pieces in my Broccoli and Soya Bean salad as there was no way I was able to eat it and I was hungry!! Well that half serving of crackers helped me get through day 3 and 4.

Any diet is a emotional ride; yesterday I was almost in tears as i ate one more piece of egg white; but at the end of the day it does make me feel so energetic and light that in the end it makes everything worth it. I am glad that I know about it; it is definitely easier now than it was when i did it first time back in 2013/2014.

My biggest take from this diet if not anything else is that eliminating Sugar and Caffeine from my diet does wonders for my energy and mood swings. I do not think I will ever go back to that crazy dessert eating maniac. Right now I do not crave sweets; but my craving for crackers and salty spicy food persists.

I will measure my weight tomorrow or Sunday morning, will report back!