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Community Corner

Another Swing at Dieting Before Summer

With summer right around the corner, many people are trying to shed some pounds before hitting the beach.

So with Lent just having passed—and the fact that I am not pregnant—I decided to try to lose weight again. If you read my last column you know I have been feeling fat lately. This is the longest in my almost 23 years of marriage that I have not been pregnant, weird and sad, another stage in life approaching.

So I checked out a new eating plan that my girlfriend was using. It is called the 17 Day Diet. I am just a newbie and can't tell you too much, but what I can tell you is that I am eating great, not hungry (yes craving stuff), feeling wonderful and losing weight!

Some general guidelines for the first 17 days called "Accelerate Cycle":

1. One 8 oz cup of hot lemon water (squeeze half a fresh lemon in cup)
2. 3 cups of green tea a day
3. All the fresh fruits and veggies you want (minus a few) and no fruit after 2pm
4. 2 sugar free probiotic foods a day (like Chobani fruit yogurt and Breakstone's Live Active)
5. Eight 8 oz cups of water per day
6. 17 minutes of exercise a day
7. Right now the only meat I can eat is fish (I eat tuna & tilapia), turkey breast & ground turkey (lots of turkey tacos and turkey burgers), and chicken breasts.
8. The only "fat" I can use is olive oil and cooking spray

I am sure there is a bunch I forgot, but reserve the book from the Bowie library and see what you think.

Good thing it was Lent I could do this, especially for 17 days. So far I have lost about a half a pound a day.

My triathlete husband (aka "dirty hippy" due to his crazy long hair) who runs 20 miles a day for fun has placed a bet.When I get to 149 he will get a haircut! I only have to lose another 4 lbs and my husband is getting nervous. A deal is a deal! Now he keeps tempting me to eat pancakes, fries, and take me out to our favorite spot—! I am woman, hear me roar!

I am so excited because I just ran 4 miles on the treadmill! So, I will keep you posted on what happens and send pictures of my handsome husband after his haircut. Can’t wait to get on the scale tomorrow…did I just say that?

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