Dr. Bernstein Diet - Happenings and Updates

Image via Wikipedia What a sense of accomplishment. 9 weeks in and I'm 38 lbs lighter. What a difference I feel.  From 207 to 171...and counting!  I've gone from a size 18 pant to size 12, and from a 1X shirt to a large t-shirt (Gap no less.)   It feels amazing to be able to shop in regular stores again. I just picked up a size 12 beautiful cream and white piping tailored jacket at MEXX (50% off right now by the way...)  Do you know how that feels?!  For those who may have once had a fashion sense, style and cool look happening, it's quite something when you lose it and find it back again. And to think - I'm only half way there.  What will I be when I'm at my target weight of 140? Size 8, or maybe 6? I can't wait. I'm already feeling more confident back in my skin and pre-pregnancy size. And as the icing on the top? A colleague from work is coming to take all my large clothes away. Over 2 large suitcases of good work clothes, winter and su...

CONSTIPATION  Because there is no fats in the diet, constipation does occur. I've always had a lazy bowel to begin with, so I knew it was going to happen.  I bought the Senokot.S laxative they recommend, and with after 2 tablets, you go. You then take 1 tablet daily (I just put it with my morning multi vit and potassium) and now I'm regular like clockwork. Whew! ;-)  The doctor recommended Wheat Bran; the nurses said Metamucil or Benefibre (no salt versions) but I just stuck with the Senokot.S. Works for me, and it does the job beautifully. The bran did nothing for me... Image by mlhradio via Flickr I just hit on something - a pattern that works for my body. I noted that once a month, I would get a windfall 4 lb loss over the course of a couple of days. I wasn't quite sure how it happened, since I didn't seem to do anything special. However, recall that I said that constipation is a problem on the diet? Well, I have found that by taking two (2) Senokot.S tablets be...

Image via Wikipedia THE NEEDLES They'll start the first week with the injections in the butt. They do it to see if there will be a reaction. Likely not, but that is standard. They then give the option of the belly or thigh. I highly recommend the thigh. They say it circulates the most throughout the body. The belly works on the belly/butt in the butt, but they do not reach all areas. I only do the thigh now and it's amazing. It really does seem to hit everything. However, they don't inject in the inner thigh - the flabbiest part. Darn...I really could use some help there.... The nurses will say - ooh, you're so brave because it hurts. That's bull - it stings (pinprick for 2 seconds) the same as the butt or belly, and by the time you walk out of the clinic, you don't feel anything. I recommend the thigh - well worth the overall fat breakdown. There - have I clarified my appreciation of thighs? ;-)

Image by MoToMo via Flickr EXERCISE  Is discouraged on the diet.  Unless you fully disclose what you do on a daily basis, they can adjust for it. The diet and calorie intake is based on folks with no exercise regime. I mean really. I wasn't running marathons prior to joining the diet, so why would I fool myself to think that I would become physically active while trying to diet. It's enough for me to just manage working an 8-hour day, manage a household (equitably with my husband of course!), support my kids' activities, and try to squeeze in an hour of t.v. for rest and relaxation. Running? Cycling? The gym? Good luck...  That's the reason I'm in the 65+lbs overweight situation I'm in. Lack of "me" time.  If you are exercising, be sure to get your protein and potassium on time, and have some veggies/breads with you in case you feels your blood sugar is dropping. I had it today where we had our office retreat. I forgot, in all the morning r...

Image via Wikipedia MONTH 2 MUSINGS  I must say, the needles aren't the most pleasant thing, but they sure do help. I remember the first real day that the diet started. You get a single dose of B vitamin complex, and I felt such a rush of energy and balance. There's really something to be said for the injections. I hadn't slept so well in a long time than that first evening after I got the injections. Probably largely psychological but I don't care.  I don't mind the injections at all. They first take the buttocks as the main site. Stay there for a week or two and venture into door #2 or door #3 from there.  I chose door #2 - the thighs. I chuckle when even some of the nurses on the program say they just won't go there. Sure it stings - for about 3 minutes - then you're off!  I've had a chance to go back over my last 6 weeks on the program, and my biggest weight loss was during the "thigh phase." Somewhere along the way, I was cajoled...

Image by George Eastman House via Flickr I must admit, the diet does put a major cramp in your style when traveling. We went to Montreal this weekend, and there's nothing worse when going to a fine restaurant and having to defend your green salad and side of asparagus and spinach order to the waitress. If looks could kill for not ordering a 12 oz steak and glass of wine - geesh!  I actually felt fine ordering my water with lemon, diet Coke and meal, but when the waitress asked whether I was on a diabetic diet, she apologized that I couldn't eat their food. What a laugh... It actually wasn't that hard. I packed my meat pre-cooked and pre-portioned and brought it to the hotel (which luckily had a refrigerator.) I also brought hard boiled eggs, some fruit, my crackers (breads) and water/Diet Coke which did me just fine. I just kept my vegetable portions for eating out. I didn't have to worry about a thing!  That was my first real test traveling on the diet. It was...

MONTH 2   I'm embarking into Month 2 with a visit from Aunt Flo....great.  Water retention still occurs while on the program. The B6/B12 injections have limited my usual cramping, but I had a real slowdown in loss during the week. Tomorrow morning will tell how my burn is.  For the most part, I've been steady between a 2-3 burn rate for ketosis. The machine is working!  For my diet, I'm sticking pretty close to egg white and chicken for my proteins, with a weekly helping of lean beef (3.5 oz max.) I must have my red meat. Along with a good shiraz, a good steak is my Achilles heel. So, since wine is a definite no-no on the program, I try to harken back to my little indulgences with memories of steak. However, I do pay for it the next day with a slight drop in ketosis. What the hell....a girl's gotta still live too.  Like any food addiction, I do find it physically troublesome to be around fresh baked bread, popcorn and chips. The salty starchy carbs. I have...

Image via Wikipedia SOUP/BROTH  I was making myself broth everyday in the first couple of weeks for some extra substance, but with the salt, it was holding back progress.  SO, since there are things that you're allowed on the diet, if you have a tendency to retain water, then just stay away from it.