5 Weeks and Cheating, er...Counting?

First, I'd like to apologize to the readers out  there for the lack of updates. I have mentioned before that I am in my first semester of a graduate program, and it currently has me swamped with final assignments. In fact, I am currently writing to you from the library, with whom I have developed a very serious relationship with. (I know, I know...I'm slightly pathetic.) Regardless, I have overcome the obstacle of eating poorly at school and have packed a healthy lunch with my each day that I have spent 9, 10, 11, 12+ hours on campus.

I will admit to you that I cheated on Sunday morning (I hope you aren't too shocked or appalled by me!) when I went out for breakfast at Cora's to celebrate a friend's Birthday. Essentially, every food that I consumed was against the rules. My boyfriend and I shared two meals, the "April 89" fruit stuffed crepe, and a old-fashioned bacon & egg breakfast.

Cora's Construction Breakfast

I did the responsible thing, by not having custard with my half-crepe. I also only had 1/3 of the breakfast plate. (1 egg, 1 piece of toast, 1 slice of bacon, 1 slice of sausage, etc.) Honestly, this was exactly what I needed. I seriously was ready to kill for a piece of toast with peanut butter and jam. However, I was worried that I wouldn't loose weight this week, or worse, that I would GAIN a few pounds...

Well the results are in folks...I still lost 4 pounds this week! This has brought my total to 32 pounds in 5 weeks! I'm also only 3 pounds away from the weight I hoped to be at by Christmas!

While I hate cheating, this was an eye-opening experience. I did indulge in some of my favorite foods, but I did it responsibly. I also continued to follow the diet strictly, allowing for my body to continue to burn fat. This is inspiring because it shows me that even if I slip up here and there (and let's face it, that's going to happen at Christmas) it's not the end of the world. I can get back on the diet waggon and continue my weight-loss quest.

And now that I've given you the update, it's back to the books...

1 Month Update & Tip!

So, it's officially been one month since I've been on this diet. I really can't believe it! I won't lie, it feels like a lot longer, but I am very proud of the progress I've made. I have officially lost 28 pounds! Averaging just less than one pound per day is definitely an accomplishment!

I hope that whoever is out there reading has been inspired by my experience. I know that most people don't have to be as drastic as I have been the past month, but even making small changes and taking an active role in monitoring what foods you put in your body makes a huge difference!

I want to give you an example of keeping an eye on your intake. My boyfriend has been SO amazing and supportive this past month, eating dinner with me every night. However, when I make seafood, he does not join me because he despises it. I should also mention, that he is not trying to loose weight the same way that I am. So, last night when I made myself salmon, he indulged in a can of Chef Boyardee.

Those types of pre-packaged, canned food are something that I would turn to when I wanted something quick and filling when I was short on time. Plus, they're delicious. However, last night I actually looked at the nutritional values of one can. Following up on my previous post about carbs...there were 31 grams listed. That is the equivalent of 7.75 teaspoons of sugar! That doesn't even include high fat and sodium contents.

So, new diet outlook: instead of simply turning to simple foods, be conscious of what you're putting in your body! Indulge in treats, but don't go to food just because they are easy to prepare. That old saying, "if it's too good to be true, it probably is", is very fitting!