**Week 4 Recap of the Fast Metabolism Diet - 5/27/13 - FINALE!**

Well, here we are...WE DID IT!  I'm so proud of both my husband and I.  We stayed with the plan all month and we made it.  Together, we have lost 37 pounds in 28 days!!!  We didn't count a single calorie, we worked out less than we used to, we didn't cheat and we held each other accountable.  It really shows that hard work, determination and will-power really pays off.  If you put your mind to it and set a goal, you WILL get there.  It took a LOT of focus (and some complaining) to get to this day and we did it.  I'm truly happy that I had my partner by my side the whole time - I'm not sure I could have done it without him! 

Week 4 Weight Loss:
Kiana: 3.0 lbs
Anthony: 3.6 lbs

FINAL WEIGH IN:

Kiana:  148.6 lbs,  14.6 lbs lost or 8.9% in just 28 days!

Anthony: 238.6 lbs; 22.4 lbs lost or 8.6% in just 28 days!

 
There were so many more topics I could have discussed in this blog but didn't always have the time to write about.  If you want to know more or have specific questions, I am more than willing to chat about it with you.  This was a great experience for us and it can be a life-changing experience for you as well.  I highly recommend the book The Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy - there are so many more details about why you eat the types of foods that you do on this diet and how the order in which you eat it affects your body.

I've learned so much these last 4 weeks, such as, my amazing will-power and my ability to cook healthy meals even with a busy schedule. I feel that I now have a different perspective on what healthy eating really is. I look forward to our continuous progress on making healthier decisions for ourselves and for our family.

Day 28 on the Fast Metabolism Diet - 5/26/13

With the pounds rolling off the last couple of days, it makes me a little hesitant to go "all out" tomorrow and eat a ton of crap.  We are going to have at least a cheat meal and snack tomorrow, but that's probably it.

Morning Weigh In:
Kiana: 148.8 lbs
Anthony: 239.0 lbs

Menu:
Breakfast @ 7:30am:
Steel cut oats with blueberries, egg with peppers

Snack @ 10:30am:
Cucumber and balsamic vinegar dressing

Lunch @ 1:30pm:
Filet mignon with broccoli and grapefruit

Snack @ 4:30pm:
Sunflower seeds

Dinner @ 7:30pm:
Avocado chicken quesadilla

Workout:
P90X Stretch DVD

Day 27 on the Fast Metabolism Diet - 5/25/13

Yeah!  I made it to the 140's!  I'm super excited - I haven't been here since last year, just before our vacation.  Now, to get down just another 10 would be fantastic!  As I go back through our weight loss chart and stats, I notice that we lose more weight in the phase 3 part of the week, which I find interesting since we don't really work out during that time period.  But, it supports our plan for "what's next" - eating a modified phase 3 diet everyday, starting up a cycle of P90X and having a cheat meal or snack in moderation - not a whole day of cheat meals.  And, by a "modified phase 3 diet", I mean, eat a fruit for breakfast and lunch (any fruit), eat a grain for breakfast and dinner (any grain), and get protein, veggies and healthy fats in at all meals and snacks.  I am so looking forward to it!

Morning Weigh In:
Kiana: 149.8 lbs
Anthony: 240.0 lbs

Menu:
Breakfast @ 7:30am:
Steel cut oats with blueberries, egg and peppers

Snack @ 11am:
Carrots and sunflower seeds

Lunch @ 3pm:
Filet mignon and veggie kabobs

Snack @ 6:30pm:
Sunflower seeds

Dinner - none, fell asleep early

Workout:
Just a massage - yeah me!

Day 26 on the Fast Metabolism Diet - 5/24/13

Well, my husband has come around to steel cut oats!  He said he likes them better than regular oatmeal - yeah!  It only takes trying something a few times and realizing how much better it tastes than the more processed version.  I may actually throw out all the other junk food that is in the house for the kids and start buying the organic version or making it myself.  My kids love granola bars, so I'm going to start searching for a good kid friendly granola bar recipe!

Morning Weigh In:
Kiana: 150.8 lbs
Anthony: 240.4 lbs

Menu:
Breakfast @ 7am:
Steel cut oats with blueberries, egg and peppers

Snack @ 10am:
Red peppers and sunflower seeds

Lunch @ 1:30pm:
Panera Salad

Snack @ 3:45pm:
Red peppers, carrots and sunflower seeds

Dinner @ 6:30pm:
Chicken avocado quesadilla

Workout:
None

Day 25 on the Fast Metabolism Diet - 5/23/13

I did it - I got all 4 days of workouts in, even with the crazy evening schedule.  I think that as long as you make it a priority, you will make it happen. 

I made it out to the co-op over lunch to grab some things for the weekend along with some baking items for next weekend - there are several recipes that I want to try over the coming weeks.  Per Haylie, "if you bake it, your metabolism can take it!"  And, since I love to bake, why not try some healthier versions of the things we love?! 

Morning Weigh In:
Kiana: 151.2 lbs
Anthony: 240.6 lbs

Menu:
Breakfast @ 6:30am:
Turkey bacon and celery

Snack @ 10am:
Beef jerky and red peppers

Lunch @ 1pm:
Panera salad

Snack @ 4pm:
Beef jerky and red peppers

Dinner @ 7:30pm:
Filet mignon and broccoli

Workout:
P90X Legs and Back

Notes on Food:
We are coming down to the last few days and my lack of creativity is really showing through. I didn't change much up today and had beef jerky twice, but oh well, it was easy and good.

Day 24 on the Fast Metabolism Diet - 5/22/13

I've noticed that I am less reliant on the phone app that I purchased for the diet, however I did mess up and have carrots today so maybe I should keep taking a peak at it LOL. It definitely was a LIFE SAVER in those first couple of weeks, but now everything feels more natural and eating clean is becoming a habit, which I love! 

The question between my husband and I that keeps coming up is - what next?!  What about day 29?  Haylie published a post on her blog yesterday that I thought was awesome, since we are quickly approaching day 29. Link to blog: http://www.fastmetabolismdiet.com/now-what-day-29-of-the-fast-metabolism-diet/
As stated before, day 29 will be a cheat day for me!  But then what?  I still have more weight that I want to lose.  Ultimately I'd like to be in the 130's but I'm not sure I can commit to as much deprivation again just yet.  I'm planning to do a slight modification of both options 1 & 2 that she suggested in her blog (link above).  I also plan to do a full week of the diet, kind of like a cleanse, once every 12 weeks.  Or maybe even every 8 weeks until I get to my goal weight. 
Morning Weigh In:
Kiana: 151.4 lbs
Anthony: 241.2 lbs

Menu:
Breakfast @ 7am:
Egg white souffle (with red/green/yellow peppers and asparagus)

Snack @ 10:30am:
Beef jerky and carrots

Lunch @ 1:30pm:
Chicken and veggie soup

Snack @ 4pm:
Nitrate free chicken deli meat and carrots

Dinner @ 7pm:
Grilled chicken and broccoli

Workout:
P90X Chest and Shoulders

Day 23 on the Fast Metabolism Diet - 5/21/13

My conversations with my husband about eating healthy have become interesting and I'm glad we are making the choice to eat more organic foods.  The more I read about the nitrates in meats and the use of other chemicals on our food, food containers and everyday household products is simply disgusting.  I'm slowly making the change and there are so many more adjustments that we need to make, but I'm glad we are finally starting to make those changes for ourselves and for a healthier family!

Morning Weigh In:
Kiana: 151.4 lbs
Anthony: 242.2 lbs

Menu:
Breakfast @ 7am:
Steel cut oats with blueberries

Snack @ 10am:
Apple

Lunch @ 1pm:
Chicken and broccoli rice bowl and an orange

Snack @ 4pm:
Grapefruit

Dinner @ 7pm:
Chicken sausage fuisili

Workout:
P90X Plyometrics