The BookFetish Blog

Week 1 of the Game on Diet (or as we contestants are calling it, Crazy Game On Diet) is officially over.  I’m proud to say I lost an even (and healthy) two pounds.

I’ve said before (not here, but in real life) that I’m glad I’m not a celebrity. This week gave me one more reason why.


Emma Watson adopts a Pixie cut and it makes the entertainment headlines, Twitter rounds, and Facebook commentary. Fandom and Entertainment sites host “Love It or Hate It” polls. Keri Russell went super short years ago when she played Felicity and the backlash was immediate and harsh. Same when Faith Hill adopted a bob.


Y’all, changing our hair color and style is part of the fun of being a girl!  My own hair hasn’t seen its natural color since the 1990’s.  And I’ve changed styles more times than I can count.  I am so grateful that when I change my hair it doesn’t warrant press coverage. I’d never be out of the news.


I started life as a blonde- once I finally had hair.

:

Earlier this year, I went a little shorter still, and the blonde highlights came back in.

That’s right, y’all. I’m still playing. And I’m still kicking it on points.  I have had to deduct two whole points. But that is it!  I’m in it to win it! Well, I don’t care so much about the prize. I want to be able to look back on the game and say I put everything into it that I could and I am glad I did it and  I am healthier because of playing.


I write that because I have been WHINY today.  I’m sick of water.  And hot herbal tea. And iced black coffee.  And I’m TIRED. Which may or may not be related to the game, or my allergies. One of the other players has been in the game before, and she said the first week she played, she felt like I do now, but the second week, she felt better than she had in years.  I’m sticking it out, people!


I’ve been cooking a lot which I like, but this is not a game you can play- and succeed with- if you aren’t willing to plan ahead.  I’m getting creative with some of the dishes.


We’re allowed to weigh ourselves once a day.  So far, I am down over a pound.  I’m going for 25 in total, which I know I can’t healthily lose in four weeks. But if I play hard, I should be off to a good start by month’s end.


I’m doing well on my daily habits, too.  I’ve managed to write every day. Sometimes it is this post, sometimes it is something else- I just can’t count any of the writing I do for work.  So this is a way for me to prioritize something I want to do.


I also had my first encounter with one of my negative habits yesterday. But I caught it and turned it around, so I got my points.


Oh, and I started using the 100 free calories of anything but soda-diet soda-alocohol today.  The purpose of that is so players never have to feel deprived. I think it is a good thing.


My final crazy silly thing for this update?  I’ve started drinking my evening water out of a wine glass. And I’m starting to discover that the ritual of sitting, relaxing with a pretty glass in my hand is more important to me than what is in said glass. 


So, I would say today was so-so. I got all my points, and I didn’t lose any but today’s been my least fun day so far.  

I’ve made it through Day 2.  Yea!  I even managed the working out today. Go me.  Because although I feel good once the workout is done, I absolutely detest actually doing it.


But let me tell you, this one takes a lot of planning.  I have to take between three and four small meals with me to work. Although I cooked Sunday afternoon, I’m going to have to do another round tomorrow evening.  So this isn’t something to be undertaken by the faint of heart.


That being said, it hasn’t been that hard (yet) to not have soda or booze. Remind me I said that next week when I have two concerts to go to. Because who doesn’t want a cocktail before  a concert? So, there’s that.


And mints.  Mints count towards a free 100 calories a day we can have. Which I haven’t been doing, but do I seriously have to count popping an Altoid after drinking black coffee?  I consider that a public service.


Sigh. It is what it is.  And so far, I haven’t found anything that’s been worth compromising points.  


Bring on Day 3. 

I planned ahead for this diet/challenge.  And by that I mean I consumed as much bad for me stuff as I could in the days leading up to it. That, coupled with two weeks out of town and nearly all meals consumed in a restaurant, and my body was ready for me to get back to something healthy this morning.


There’s a lot to think about with a radical lifestyle change like this.  I decided chronicling it here could be a good way to share what I’ve learned, as well as hold me accountable to the folks I am playing against.


I stocked up at the grocery store yesterday, planning ahead for this game.  So I feel prepared- there’s little alcohol or soda in the house, so as not to be too tempted there.  And that’s what it is all about for me. A compulsiveness, or an obsession perhaps, that since I have the parameters of the game, I’ve only myself to blame if I don’t adhere to them.    At least in situations where I am in control.


So what have I noticed so far?  For starters, the people I’ve explained the rules to always want to talk about how easy it will be to lie in this game.  After all, with this group, it is a virtual competition.  But it is true.I suppose any of us could lie.  But really? This competition? If I’m going to lie, I’m going to save it up for something much bigger than this.  And while winning would be great, I think all of us are motivated by something more than just that bragging right.  After all, if I lie about my points but come out of this not a pound lighter and still swigging diet coke, then really, what was the point? I don’t need the prize money that badly.


The second thing I’ve noticed is that I have not thought of myself in the past as a mindless eater.  Today, however, I realized I may be.  When I was washing off all the fruit I bought yesterday, I was tempted to sample a strawberry or grape.  I stopped myself in time, since it wasn’t with a meal.  I would not want to lose points for snacking because I mindlessly popped a grape in my mouth.


I also realized that five little meals a day is going to be a lot.  I slept in this morning, the cumulative effect of a significantly delayed flight Wednesday evening and the lack of ability to recover from that.  So here it is 5:30, and I’ve only consumed three of the daily meals so far. Fortunately, they are small portions, so I think I’ll be able to get the others in.


I also chose today as my day off from exercise this week. Yep, the first day.  But like I said, I slept in today, and I desperately needed to run some errands. So I showered, washed my hair, and headed out the door.  I chose at that time to forego the exercise today. Yes, I know that means I must do at least 20 minutes the rest of the week.  I can do that.


I haven’t really missed sodas today, probably because I had a lot of soda yesterday and the idea makes my stomach hurt.  The sparkling water will definitely help with soda cravings.  And I’ve figured out how many of my aluminum water bottles will constitute three liters each day.


Picking out a good habit was easy- it is to write every day, and no writing I do for work counts for that.  A bad habit was harder.  Why? I already have cut out a lot of really bad habits, and many others are being severely curtailed by the game.  So choosing one of them felt to me like I was giving myself a bit of a bye.  I finally decided that whenever I catch myself focusing on what I don’t have, rather than what I do, I will lose my bad habit points for the day if I don’t turn that thought into something positive.  I’ve been working on that a lot lately, and it really helps. But again, it is all about mindfulness.


So that’s it. Day one, nearly complete.  This month seems a bit long right now. I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to manage some dinners out and upcoming concerts without completely wrecking my points for the day.  But I’ll work that out when I need to.