Last Tuesday, I think that ended.

Steven linked me to an article plugging a book by a guy named Tim Ferriss called The 4-Hour Body. I read the article and was intrigued by the claims. There’s essentially not much more than adjusting your diet, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I started that evening.

The gist is that you eat 3 or 4 times a day, but you eat only protein, legumes, and vegetables. Something from each category, as much as you feel like eating. The point is there’s absolutely no starving yourself. This is not a low-calorie diet, it’s simply a change in the types of food I’m eating. For example, this morning I scrambled two eggs with a bunch of peppers, onions, and some pinto beans. Essentially I have stopped eating white carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, etc.) and started eating legumes (lentils, beans) and piling on the veggies. This is rigidly adhered to for six days; on the seventh (Saturdays) I eat the way I used to.

I found that it was very easy to eat this restricted diet without feeling that I was depriving myself. The legumes and protein keep you feeling satisfied. I even successfully – for literally the first time in my life – was able to say no to donuts TWICE last week. I don’t even crave the sweets we have in our area at work, and I think it’s because I don’t eat sugar anymore (except on Saturdays). I can’t even explain to you how revolutionary that is to me. That has literally never happened before in my life. Sweets have *always* been a challenge to me. Now they’re just only sometimes slightly annoying.

You may be waiting for the results. Remember, the *only* thing I have changed this week was the type of food I ate. I didn’t even exercise this week (I should, I just didn’t). I was astounded when I weighed myself this morning. Last Tuesday morning I weighed 309.8 pounds.

This morning I weighed 303.8. It blows my mind that I lost six pounds this week only by changing the type of food I ate. I don’t understand it, but I accept it.

I don’t want to make this post any longer, so I’ll do a part two later on. There are a few more things I want to tell you about, but it’ll be at least as long as this post.

I’ll end by posting my numbers. In addition to weight, I’ll be taking measurements of my arms, legs, waist, and hips. I’m going to try to consistently update them. I know I’ve said that in the past and haven’t been consistent, but I’ve also never been as gung ho about fat loss as this. I’m definitely amped enough to go another week.

December 21, 2010
Total inches: 199.7
Weight: 303.8

-j

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I tried something new with my banana breakfast shake that I’ve grown to love. I thought I had posted about it, but now I think that was limited to Twitter. Basically, a frozen banana + a cup of milk + peanut butter = a really great tasting and healthy breakfast.

I tried something new. Banana + milk + instant coffee. It’s not as good as it seemed in my head, but that only means I need to work harder to find the perfect blend. The coffee was too strong (I used a packet of Starbucks Via), so maybe it needs some splenda. I’ll try again later.

For those of you who need either a super fast and tasty breakfast, give the banana shake a shot. Or if you want something sweet but healthy, it makes a great snack as well.

-j

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I had one frozen banana in the freezer, so I cut it up and dropped it in a food processor. You have to kind of wiggle it around, tilt it on its side, and stuff because it gets to a point that it’s too thick to fold back into the blades. I popped in some peanut butter and vanilla extract for extra flavor.

It works marvelously. I’d recommend it. No sugar added, all natural, perfectly healthy ice cream. Sure, it has calories, but it’s got far less than the same amount of ice cream and far more nutrition. Oh snap…next time I’m adding nuts…

Go on then. Make some.
Step-by-Step Instructions for One-Ingredient Ice Cream

-j

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It’s actually quite delicious. Two grapefruit and two kiwi, with a little bit of splenda and extra water to take the edge off. But I realized something that concerns me: kiwi makes my mouth itch.

It’s making it so I can’t enjoy this beverage that I invented. I like it, I’d drink it again, but it’s like how I put up with the skin rash when I wear a nice wool sweater that looks great (I’m allergic). Am I allergic to kiwi?

I’d be interested in any delicious juices you’ve made. I really love natural. If you’ve made any drink out of whole foods, leave me a recipe in the comments!

-j

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• carrots
• onions
• peppers, hot and sweet
• cucumbers
• summer squash, green and yellow
• snaps (green beans, for you northerners)
• tomatoes
• lettuce
• spinach

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When you go to visit someone after dinner and they serve you sausage and cheese, then cake, then fruit, then nuts, you get to a point where you feel rude because you just can’t eat any more. It also makes you realize how important food is to our culture. It’s actually pretty frustrating.

The other problem is that it’s so stinkin’ humid in Florida, you want to be outside as little as possible. I guess I should just suck it up and get used to it. Richmond will be the same way in short order.

I’m just gonna have to push it at the beginning of this week. Maybe I can offset the damage that has been done so far. We’ll have to see on Wednesday.

-j

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victory

A new coworker started today, and as is our tradition we went out to lunch with her. I love going to Mexican places, but at the same time I dread it. I love it because, well, it’s delicious Mexican food. I dread it because it’s dripping with fat. From the moment those chips come out to the moment that last bit of cheese-covered, guacamole-sour cream-beefy burrito slides down. Not today, my friends. Not today.

I woke up this morning just after 6 without trying. I debated waiting until my alarm went off, but I figured it was pointless. I was going to use the time wisely. Today was day-in-a-row number two for the morning jog. Two miles and 30 minutes later, I was getting ready for work feeling mighty fine. I packed two apples, two oranges, and a package of snow peas for the day. One apple was ravaged on the way to work where I also ate a package of oatmeal for breakfast. At 11 I had a 4oz container of cottage cheese so that I wouldn’t be hungry at lunch. I was feeling abnormally well (see my tweet to the right). I determined that today’s lunch would be different. A taco salad without the shell (I debated getting a fajita and not eating the tortillas), cheese and sour cream on the side.

At lunch I portioned out what I think was pretty close to a serving of chips and knocked back a bit of salsa. As soon as my salad arrived (they had forgotten the cheese and sour cream, but I’m better for it), I dumped out the insides and discarded the shell. It was really hard not to eat it, as well as the amazing cheese dip they brought out for the group, but I didn’t. Here’s why:

You might have read about the Bible study I’m doing about overeating. Combined with the Bible class on Sunday, yesterday’s study gave me what I think is the key I’ve been looking for: keeping my eyes on Christ. When Peter walked on the water and took his eyes of Jesus, he started to drown. When the Israelites were being bitten by snakes, they had to look at the bronze one and they would be healed. Jesus has already paid for my sin of gluttony, and beyond that He offers me a way out of it. I just need to fix my eyes upon Him.

The Bible class reminded me how good intentions aren’t enough. Uzzah died because he was trying to save the Ark of the Covenant. What he failed to do was give God the reverence He demanded. My prayer life does not give God that reverence. I usually pray however I am, and while I’m certain God hears my prayers, I’m missing out on something because I’m not being as reverent as I should. Last night I got on my knees and prayed for today. I prayed for the desire to run when I got up, and I prayed that God would show me what to eat, when, and how much. I confessed that I absolutely can’t do this on my own – I’ve tried many times – and how I trust Him to show me the way.

When I woke up today, that’s exactly what He did. This uneaten shell, the first of its kind, is the proof. Selah.

-j

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This has been a public service announcement. I now return you to your regularly scheduled internet, already in progress.

-j

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I can’t find the article right this second, but it basically had a lady who has been carrying around a certain un-named fast food joint’s Happy Meal for – ready? – four years. Four years, and the only thing that looks different is the roll, which only looks crumbly and hard. The fries look as fresh as if they had just come out of the fryer. The burger and “cheese” look as tasty as ever.

I had always wondered why I feel so hungry from eating healthy food just a short time later until I realized that being hungry and having an empty stomach are two different things. Feeling full isn’t as great as it sounds, especially when you have been feeling full for hours. Have you figured out why you’re still full after the Arches and not asparagus? It’s because the food doesn’t digest! Bacteria doesn’t touch it even after four years. The acids in our stomachs have to work overtime to get that stuff broken down.

To me, now, fast food isn’t food. I mean, I still like it and find myself craving it, but I also have realized that I’m starting to crave vegetables too. Like tonight, I didn’t know what to eat, so I threw a bunch of veggies into a pot and made some stir fry with a bit of rice and chicken. I ate a lot of food, but my stomach is empty now. That means what I ate was used as fuel by my body. Now that I know what it means, I like the feeling of emptiness after eating. It’s gratifying, and the best part is I don’t feel sick before going to bed like I would have if I had made a poor choice on the way home.

-j

More great posts:

• Did I Finally Find It?
• Battle One, Battle Won
• A Tip
• New Take On A New Breakfast
• Healthy Dessert

-j

More great posts:

• Did I Finally Find It?
• New Take On A New Breakfast
• Healthy Dessert
• Stupid Hairy Fruits Make Delicious Drinks
• Things I want in my Garden