Lose Your Mind to Lose Weight

The cruise is just 19 days away. I had fully intended on getting in some extra exercise (and by "extra" I really mean "any") and altering my diet some (and by "some" I really mean "not at all") so that I could drop a few lbs. before I had to have a bathing suit on every day for a week. Needless to say, it never happened.

Last week, Chip attended some "get healthy" seminar that was hosted by a friend, and called me on the way home. "Col, don't get mad when I say this, but I think this could really help you."

#1. Never, ever, ever start a comment with, "Don't get mad." By the time the rest of the sentence is out I'm already defensive.

#2. Follow #1.

However, I was already thinking that I needed to do something, so I thought I'd give this new thing a try, and then place all of the blame on him if it didn't fly. Here's what the web site says:

Isagenix 30-Day Program - Achieve peak results with our 30-day system. This program feeds your body cleansing nutrients like aloe, herbal teas, vitamins, and ionic trace minerals. Then, the regimen helps kick-start your metabolism to burn fat naturally, without the use of stimulants. Losing weight becomes easy and enjoyable with a delicious wave of nutrients from IsaLean Shakes. You may also gain more energy, build muscle, reduce unhealthy cravings, and improve your mental clarity.

Chip got the products on Friday afternoon, so Friday night we went to Prime Only for dinner, and I ate my weight. Artichoke & Spinach Dip with salty tortilla chips... not a leaf or chip left on the plate... Prime Rib, Pittsburgh-style (seasoned & seared) with a baked potato, and a few green beans... a few Miller Lights. Now I was ready to face the dreaded "diet."

"I am now ready to achieve PEAK results and increase my mental clarity." Already it sounds ridiculous. I started by reading all of the literature. I watched the DVD. The woman on the DVD looked happy enough so I must work, right?

Here's the deal -- each day I have to drink 2 oz. of IonixSupreme, some weird-fruity-smelling, dark-brown sludgy stuff. Then I replace 2 meals with a replacement IsaLean shake full of nutrients and cardboard flakes. The 3rd meal I just need to be reasonable. And there's some supplemental tables and such that go along for the ride.

One day a week I get to drink a "cleansing drink" 4 times that day -- that's it. No food.

Saturday I drank the Supreme brown stuff. It's not good, I won't lie. It DOES look like it's got tons of good things in it though, so I'll deal with the funk. I drank the shake & that wasn't horrific. Then I sat down to watch a little TV. Here are a few things I noticed right away... I love to watch Food TV & there are FAR too many food commercials! It was bombarding me! FOOD! FOOD! I had the shake for lunch. By 3:00 I was feeling like I was torturing myself. I re-watched the video and learned that I could "cheat" with a stalk of organic celery! WOO-HOO! So I went to the store and bought lots of organic celery & ate one stalk on the way home - didn't even wash it. I ate a normal dinner and felt better.

Sunday was more of the same. I had the shake for b'fast and then tried to stop thinking about eating a pork roll, egg & cheese sammy. I read. I walked the dog. I did some laundry. Any distraction I could find. I had the shake for lunch. And a celery stalk. I had dinner, and  was all OK at the end. Chip's friend called to see how I was doing and told me that I can also "cheat" with a hard boiled egg or almonds. You can bet I'll be back at Harris Teeter ASAP.

This morning, I jumped on the scale, and lost 1.8 pounds. Maybe my scale if off? Other than a mild headache (which I normally have) and a change in the color of "stuff" I'm feeling pretty good. I'm going to try to cleanse on Wednesdays, so I get get 3 in before the cruise.

I'll keep you posted.