21 Day Challenge - Day 9

My guilty pleasure, the cheat meal.

I am on day 9 of my challenge now and as of yesterday I had lost 5 pounds! If you are wondering how I haven’t fallen off wagon and into a vat of cheese fries, let me just tell you, it’s been difficult. But following the meal plan, taking the supplements and abstaining from drinking is definitely worth the pain. I feel better about myself and my energy level is very high, I am never hungry, (which is probably the main reason I haven’t indulged). Even during the first week, the program helped me recognize the detrimental eating habits to which I have become accustomed.  After both lunch and dinner I feel a craving for chocolate and it occurred to me that I always eat some (small) sweet treat and those calories were subconsciously adding up. Eating carbs with every dinner meal also seemed normal, until I began eating salads, protein and grilled veggies as the last meal of the day. After this challenge is over, I am going to drop the late-night carb fest and stick to more filling alternatives that will leave me satisfied but not incapacitated.

Abstaining from adult beverages, while at times challenging, comes with the greater rewards of feeling better, saving money and losing weight. Now for my confession… I did use my cheat meal yesterday; I saved up all week for a cheeseburger and fries. The rules are as follows: the cheat meal has to fit into the meal box, you must consume your protein first and you cannot eat dessert. I only ate the few fries that would fit in the box along with the cheeseburger, and I have to admit that while it was tasty, I stopped wanting to eat the burger halfway through. Whether it was due to the poor burger flavors or my disappointment with the restaurant, I felt bad after I ate it. I suppose that is what happens when you start to eat healthier food - your body starts to reject the greasy foods. I will keep you posted about my progress, let’s hope I can lose ten more pounds before June 9^th, and keep it off!