DAY 238, SATURDAY, JAN 8, 2011 PART 2

     I always assumed that the Challenges were for camaraderie in weight loss, and accountability above and beyond the blog world. Normal Challenges, with a start and a finish are fine and fun. After Phase 1 of the Challenge that I started it seemed that people enjoyed the plan, the commitment, the focus, and a little bit of firm ass kicking. I also assumed that although I have done nothing extraordinary except eating less, some people wanted to follow a plan that works. It all makes sense, and we had a great time through Phases 1 - 3. Awesome stuff, lots of choices, and 1000 pounds of crap lost.
     Phase 4 promised to be harder, a little exercise, and NO DIET CHOICES. I made this painfully clear to everyone that wanted to enter. With the help of a Cornell University trained nutritionist, 3 NYC oncologists, and an exercise guru, a plan was developed. An example of a 1200 calorie day of eating, when one of the days on the written plan was either boring or out of reach looks like this.

It is based on the USDA guidelines for proper nutrition, protein and food balance. It is not a boxed meal, it is not fly by the seat of your pants, and it is based on a science that we are lacking.
The diet plan as written offers either an exact plan, that looks very similar to this example, or to a daily plan that has exact and measured choices. There are no substitutions beyond those listed, no surprises, no mistakes, and the choices are made for the challengers.
Ya feel me, it is a no-brainer, no thought involved, pre -made plan of food, drink and exercise that works. It works so well that when followed, an obese 300 pound person will lose 100 pounds in 5 months. Without question, when followed it works. And that would be why I would follow a challenge.
Of course, tomorrow is the first weigh in. I have read some of the Challenger's blogs, and here are some of the things I read....
Breakfast: Sausage McGriddle & Coke
Lunch: 12 baby carrots, 2 TB Hummus, 10 Almonds
Dinner: Boneless Pork Chop, 2 cups Salad Mix, 1/3 cup diced grape tomatoes, 1/3 cup Black eyed Peas, 2 TB light Raspberry dressing

Culprit: Ham steak for dinner, maybe? 100 calories but like 800 sodium grams? But I had potato with it, and that has balancing potassium, AND I took 2 potassium supplements as well and drank 3 cups green tea.)
Plan for today is: lunch, chicken and apple salad; dinner, buffalo tenders with celery and carrots; morning snack, half a smoothie, afternoon snack, probably a pear and a bit of cheese.

A few mini baguette slices with smear and caramelized onion. A few tortilla chips with diced Roma tomatoes and yes, a handful of candy. No excuses
Breakfast: 274 (whole wheat bagel thin, egg, LC cheese wedge, 6 pretzel crisps. I needed some crunch with my sandwich.)
Lunch: 330 (grilled chicken wrap, side salad w/ 1/2packet southwest dressing. banana)
Dinner: 487(left over stir fry beef and broccoli, 1/2 serving left over lo mein noodle)
Snacks: popped a few blackberries
 
I want to make next week the week I follow that packet word for word plus add my exercise on top of your exercise in there. I want to see what really happens when I follow something word for word, meal by meal and exercise by exercise. I know I improvise often, I can see that in the scale this week.
 
     There will always be dietary restrictions, allergies and minor adjustments. We all get that. But fucksticks, can't fat and obese people read. I get that we want to "do it our way". I did that for 46 years. The real question is why would you want the menus, want to lose weight with a proven method, and then blame anything but yourself ? At least the last person is getting on the stick before I post this. The CHALLENGE IS TO FOLLOW A PLAN, NOT MAKE YOUR OWN.
     I got fat over time because I was "smarter" than the diets I followed. In my world, Veal Parmagiana was lo-carb, because it was meat and I didn't have the side of pasta. I watched TV where they said that Raviolios were the same as a serving of vegetables. Vegetables are good, let's have 3 cans of pasta, it's a vegetable. I thought for sure that eating lo-carb meant that I could eat 2 pounds of bacon and 12 eggs, as long as I had no toast. I knew that chocolate shakes, if swallowed quickly, did not have time to turn into fat. I was sure that Fettuccine Alfredo was healthy, because it had no meat. I could bullshit with anyone. Then I followed a plan that was created by people that are a lot smarter and healthier than I might ever be. And it works. I have passed that along to 70 people. So far, and I am sure there are more, many of you are outsmarting a plan, and you don't look all that smart. Stop the madness !!! Weigh in should be look forward to, not feared.