Day One - Cycle One

     The ugly truth is that currently I am overweight by 180 pounds! (Yes, hat means I have lose 180 pounds!)  If that is hard to think about, imagine having to carry all of that weight around with you everywhere you go. Imagine having to be the one who has to find a way to fight your way back to life!   I literally weigh the equivalent of three times my older sister!  That means if I were her weight, I would also be carrying two more of her around.  That seems almost unfathomable.  I don't want to believe it myself, but the ugly truth stares me in the face everyday.  Even when I don't look in the mirror, I see it on the faces of strangers when their eyes widen just before they look away in embarrassment (for me or them?  I am not sure) or their lips contort in disgust (? ) as they take all of me in or as  they give me an extra wide berth of room to navigate a hallway or narrow aisle.  I also get a lot of young children who,  in their naive honesty, are astonished at how big I am, and are not ashamed or embarrassed to point and tell their mommies or daddies to look at the big woman.
     I have had a life time of excuses and denials.  I have tried every new trendy and not so trendy diets.  I am no different than most overweight people who will try anything not to be fat anymore.  Something has to be done.  Something has to work!  A friend told me about this book that she saw on Dr. Phil and we decided we were going to try it.  The 17 Day Diet by Dr. Mike Moreno is our new friend in the fight against fat!  With Dr. Phil extolling its virtues, we figure it must really be something!  So that brings me to the first day of my journey (my friend doesn't start until next week - so I am on my own for now).
     Sooo, I got up late due to over-exhaustion yesterday, and (of course) I had a brief moment where I thought I should wait until tomorrow to get started with this new life change because I was already behind..  BUT... I have done that so many times, and disappointed myself enough by continuously finding reasons not to start "today, that  I made up my mind I am determined to make this work this time, even with a late start (Hey sometimes the late starters end up winning the race because they paced themselves!).  I started The 17 Day Diet at noon today, which isn't optimal for a fresh start, but I figured it was better than another excuse to put it off indefinitely.  I hope Dr. Mike will forgive my embellishment of his program.  I am actually proud of myself for going forward instead of staying stagnant. 
      I began with my glass of warn lemon water, as required.  My seven year-old darling daughter, eager to help, brought me my lemon and warm water. Them, she eagerly stuffed my green tea into the infuser (that was the part she was waiting to do), and she dropped the little metal ball containing the miraculous tea leaves  into the hot cup of water.  I quickly downed  my cup of green tea.  By the way, I am using Wu-Long Tea that comes from China.  This tea has been the object of scientific research, which concluded that Wu-Long tea is "The world's most powerful fat burner."    According to the packaging, independent research studies find that Wu-Long may:

• Burn significantly more calories than authentic green tea
• Help block the fattening effects of carbohydrates
• Support a clear, radiant complexion
• Help reverse signs of aging
• Promote strong healthy teeth
• Invigorate your immune system
• Support optimal cognitive functioning, and
• Enhance mind-body wellness

     I wouldn't use anything else.  You can get Wu-Long Premium Chinese Slimming Tea at http://www.wulongforlife.com/.  It's kind of pricey, but look at all the benefits!  I was referred to this tea by Kevin Trudeau's - Weight Loss Cures (in preparation for his diet cure - which I could not locate a doctor willing to prescribe me the HcG)!
     I then started on my second cup of water (the lemon water counts as one cup of water), but I did not quite make it through that since I had already downed the lemon water and the green tea, along with a piece of fruit and a yogurt.  I am so full, I am uncomfortable. 
     Let me explain.  I do not usually eat breakfast, and sometimes I don' even eat lunch.  Many days I only have one meal, but its usually large and late in the day - which obviously contributes to my weight issues.
     During the process of setting up this blog and writing it, I have had to drink a second cup of tea, and eat my second fruit of the day because you are not supposed to eat any fruit after 2 pm because its a carb and it slows the metabolism down.  Well, once again, I was 18 minutes late with that, but I had to get it in.  So, breakfast - DONE!  First Snack - DONE!  Lunch is coming up.
     By the Way, I decided to write this blog to force myself to finish this diet and finally lose this weight. It is my way of being accountable for my actions.  Although the diet is called the 17 day diet, it doesn't end after 17 days, it changes every 17 days until you lose all the weight you want/need to.  The premise is that the changes keep your body guessing and speeds up metabolism, gets you detoxed from sugars and sodas and such.  I am feeling motivated and excited to see the results.  Usually, after 17 days your body adjusts to your diet and you plateau.  This diet is created to try to keep you losing and motivated.  The guy that Dr. Phil recruited to do this diet lost 34 pounds in 17 days!  That alone motivates me like nothing else can.  I will blog and keep it real for anybody out there who sees this.  I could use some inspiration if anyone has any to give... Until later...