A New Adventure?

I've mentioned in a previous post how Randsome and I started watching Extreme Weight Loss with Chris Powell.  What I didn't say however, was that I found the show so inspirational that I went ahead and bought Powell's book, Choose to Lose: The 7-Day Carb-Cycle Solution.  I thought, hey, suddenly I'm this stay-at-home mom, my career path is no longer clear, I need a little inspiration in my life!  Well, between Allie Cakes, job hunting, daily chores, and blogging, I don't seem to have a ton of time to read.  So this past weekend I made the time.  Even though I'm only about 3/4 of the way finished, I've decided to give Powell's carb-cycling a chance.  He's a pretty persuasive guy.  I don't know if it's the enigmatic smile or those puppy dog eyes, but I seem to listen when Chris Powell talks; even if he's not talking to me.

Chris (we are on a first name basis) says that carb-cycling is all about tricking the metabolism.  He compares the metabolism to a furnace; you have to fuel the furnace to keep the machine (body) running at full capacity.  He goes into a whole lot of scientific detail, but it all boils down to the fact that you need to eat five times a day, and every other day you cycle between a high and a low carbohydrate diet.  On your high-carb days, you may not eat fats.  On your low-carbs, you may eat fats.  Everyday, at each meal, you should be eating protein.  Don't worry, he gives you a food list.

I'm at the point in the book where he's finished explaining the in's and out's of the diet, and now he's moving on to exercise.  I can't say I'm too pumped to continue reading.  I'm one of those people who knows the importance of exercise, but constantly comes up with an excuse not to do it.  Maybe I just showered, or I suddenly think my basement is haunted; all I know is that when it's time to work up a sweat, I decide to alphabetize my canned goods, clip coupons from the neighbor's paper, or make puppets out of Randsome's holey socks.  We'll see if Chris Powell can use his powers of persuasion to get me to do some crunches.

In the meantime I went grocery shopping; I plan on giving this carb-cycling a shot.  I figure it can't be too bad; it's definitely the first diet I've encountered that encourages you to eat. Also, I hate to brag, but I'm pretty good at eating.  Last week I emptied my cabinets of anything that might tempt me.  When I say emptied, I don't mean I threw it away.  I ate that fatty goodness.  Don't think I'm not taking this new plan seriously, I am.   But, I paid good money for my junk food so the only trash compactor I was throwing it into was my belly.  I actually think I did it the smart way, I was fiscally responsible and I was not wasteful.

There I am, eating like a champ at last year's Friendsgiving.

Now, in the not-so-distant shadow of my french vanilla coffee creamer, sits a half gallon of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.  I've filled my cupboards with almonds and protein powder, and my refrigerator with avocados, cheese sticks, fruit, and vegetables.  It's ironic that I decided to start eating healthy now that our income has been reduced; not the greatest timing I know.  I mean let's be honest, healthy food is expensive, but I'll be damned if I let rich people dominate the skinny market.

...and so begins my stay-at-home, dieting adventure.  I'll leave you with a quote from Powell where he discusses how you may feel on a low-carb day, "you may feel somewhat sluggish, but embrace the feeling because it means your body's burning fat!"  Unfortunately he doesn't encourage you to go take a nap, but I figure, with anything new there is a learning curve.

-Katie Lou