Post Holiday Reality Check

Well, what a test we had over the holidays.

I wanted to see how Id be with all the food, drink and general temptation all around during the holidays. For the most part I did pretty well, although Ferrero Rocher chocolates are evil...! However, as my scale revealed a few days ago, Im up to 147...a full 5 lbs higher than pre-Christmas maintenance weigh-in.

Uh oh....!

So, as we are taught to do on the Bernstein diet, its back to basics for me. No 4 oz glass of wine for another month; gone are the 1/2 cup portions of potatoes, rice and pasta, and certainly no more corn or carrots.

Actually, I can honestly say with all the hedonism over the holidays, I need a bit of a flushing out. The salt, butter and preservatives...I actually feel weighed down.

So, before the extra poundage turns to 10 lbs, Im back on strict - but just by myself at home. Im going to do it on my own. I think...I hope.

Ive already announced to my husband that cookies and treats must be banished from the cupboards again. Its amazing how quickly they creep in again (not from my persuasion mind you, but his and the kids!) So - theyre gone.

I have to. Its self preservation. I know what my weaknesses are, so why deny it?

As a family were reaffirmed that were going to healthy again. Were buying a bread machine (to make Essene bread and whole grain baguettes) and Im back into no salt soup making mode.

Ive even encouraged (sucessfully) to make a weekly cooking project with my son, so he can learn to cook (hes 9) and get used to food preparation, tasting new flavours and recognizing calorie and sodium/sugar content. Wish us luck. Its a toned down version of Julie & Julia .... without the deboning of a duck. More like Dakota/Helen & Dr. Bernstein...relishing in all things weighed, premeasured, veggie and protein. The true test will be if he can actually embrace the brussel sprout. Ill let you know how that goes.

Anyway, Im not going to beat myself up for 7 lbs - its a learning experience and I cant take back the Baileys in my coffee, or delicious steak and cheese fondue. I had a great time preparing the rich and flavourful food, and enjoying it.

It just goes to show how portion control and ingredients have to be measured and monitored.

After January 1st.

Heres to 2010 everyone!!

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Post diet impacts

Well, its been a month of "maintenance", and things are going well.

While I didnt last long on the Bernstein-sanctioned program approach - opting instead for my own Portion.And.Calorie.Control method - I am staying the course at 140.

I must say that I do need to get back to the meal tracking and CalorieCount.com data inputting, to make sure I stay on track.

As Im reflecting on the diet though, and meeting up with others here in Ottawa who have also done the program, Ive noted a few things.

Decreased Potassium

Ive heard from some that they are experiencing some ongoing "cold" sensations. Cold hands and feet. Perhaps due to the decreased potassium intake, one lady theorizes. I cant say that I noticed that until today. My hands are little ice cubes, and Im dressed quite warmly. No signs of a cold coming on either...strange...

Cramping

What I have experienced is daily foot and leg cramping, which I attribute to the decreasing of potassium. I did notice this as soon as I began decreasing the potassium...or was it from the cessation in the B Vitamin injections? Not sure....

Delayed Period

I also seem to have "lost" a period last month. While I rather enjoy not having the monthly disruption, it was a little unnerving. Plus, when it did return, it came with a cramping and flow vengeance. Yikes! Hopefully this will stabilize again.

Hair Loss

Now, one thing that I was warned about (by my coiffeuse who was on Bernstein 10 years ago) was that I would experience hair thinning. This is due to the rapid body/physical changes. Interesting that the clinic doesnt advise patients of this possible side effect. Not that it would have deterred me - the results are worth some new hair growth.

While I didnt think it would happen, it does seem to be. Each morning Im losing what I feel is a lot of hair in the shower, with some additional throughout the day. the remedy? Ive been advised to use Nioxiderm treatment which stimulated follicle and hair growth. A 30-day daily treatment to prevent more loss and stimulate growth. Well see if it works.

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Guest post Mrs B gives up rubbish for Lent

 Melanie Bennett blogs about living, riding and eating in Yorkshire over at

www.mrsbsstuffandnonsense.blogspot.com

Todays post comes courtesy of regular Tweeter and blogger, MrsBYork, aka Melanie Bennett, whom I first met when she left a comment on The Rubbish Diet several years ago and have since met properly during a visit to the city of York. When Mel told me last week that she was giving up rubbish for Lent, I was naturally intrigued to pick up on her story and asked if shed mind writing a guest post.  Ill now leave you in Mels company where she kindly shares news of her fantastic challenge.

Over to you Mrs B.....

Ive never claimed to be hugely religious - Im nominally Christian, was baptised into the Church of England as a baby, attend Quaker Meeting for Worship when I can (I wish I could make it more often, that life didnt get in the way so much) but in recent years I have got into the habit of observing Lent.  Its as much about challenging myself and developing better habits as it is about making religious sacrifices.  In previous years Ive given up alcohol, meat, junk food - and always felt better, in body and mind, by Easter Sunday.

This year Ive decided to give up rubbish - both in terms of what I eat and what I put in the bin.  There shall be no takeaway food, and no ready-meals, between now and Easter (technically, Sundays are not included in Lent, but as Im committed to my proper Sunday dinners we dont tend to eat such things on Sundays anyway.)  And there shall be no rubbish going into my landfill bin, or at least as little as possible.  As a long-term follower of The Rubbish Diet I like to think Im already doing pretty well - but I do get lazy at times, and I dont always make the effort to choose well when Im shopping, so by making a concerted effort for 40 days Im hoping to get back on track.

So, where am I starting from?  Well, I already have:

• A tiny bin.  When we moved to this house a couple of years ago I decided that I didnt want to give house-room to rubbish, so I bought the smallest bin I realistically could - this little guy from IKEA tucks into the cupboard under the kitchen sink and holds 14 litres of waste.  He gets emptied, currently, about once a week.  My aim is to not empty him again until Easter weekend.

My kitchen bin, spray bottle shown for scale

• A good kerbside recycling program.  City of York council collects waste and recyclables on alternate weeks.  They take paper, card, glass, plastic bottles (though, as many other councils, not any other plastics), metal cans and foil.
• A Household Waste Recycling Centre within walking/ cycling distance, for those things the kerbside collection doesnt deal with. It would make my life easier if the full range of facilities were available to pedestrians & cyclists though - at the moment we have to drive there if we want to recycle our tetrapak cartons!  Local shops also have collecting points for things like batteries, water filter cartridges and plastic bags.
  
• Composters!  I volunteer for York Rotters, a local  composting advice service, my back yard is my trialling-ground and Ive just taken delivery of my latest toy - a Green Johanna hot composter, which is suitable for all types of food waste.  I also have a standard "dalek" type compost bin, a wormery and a (rather unsuccessful, Im afraid, & thus neglected) bokashi set.
• Bags.  I hate carrier bags with a passion, and keep a collection of Onya bags in my handbag.  I have a couple of sets of Onya Weighs too, & need to get back in the habit of using them.

At the time of writing were currently on the second day of Lent, the bin is empty - long may it remain so!

So you see theres always an opportunity to give yourself a rubbish challenge, not just when its New Year or when the kids go back to school, and this is truly an inspirational idea for anyone who follows Lent.  Mel has promised to update us on the progress of her challenge and Im looking forward to hearing her news.  In the meantime, if you want to find out how shes getting on, you can follow her on Twitter at @MrsBYork, or visit her blog Stuff and Nonsense, where shes got a great blogpost about the Green Johanna. Thanks for sharing such a great idea Mrs B. I hope its a real success.

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