which I read right before I began Phase One on January 1, 2008, Dr A says you do NOT have to exercise to make this diet work! As far as I could tell, and I read it carefully, he never mentioned about a specific exercise program or plan that you needed to follow.
So, the way that I took that was exercise if you want but you don't have to. I also read, with keen interest, other people's experiences here on 3FC to see what the consensus was. It sounded like some people found that exercising was more difficult when they were on Phase 1 HOWEVER I did not ask if this was their first time doing Phase One AND just starting exercising or what.
I did NOT exercise. In fact, I decided to take a sabattical from exercising since the end of November for no other reason than I "want to". I am going to resume my formal exercise program on February 1st. Why? I "feel like it". Maybe, it has something to do with the days getting longer and hearing the early spring birds (I live in Georgia) chirping but I feel like "moving again"!
I lost 4 lbs the first 10 days. Then, I ran out of groceries for the food plan and I didn't get paid until the following Tuesday so I went back to my WW plan in the interim. I went directly into Phase Two on the scheduled date, January 15th rather than finish up my last four days on Phase One. I stepped on the scale on Day Two of Week One on Phase Two (a lot of numbers there, huh?
) and I lost another 8 lbs.
Since, I had been dieting since last September (see ticker) I just figured that when Dr. A says 8-13 lbs he is talking about the person who hasn't picked up a diet in a long time. SO, I wasn't expecting any thing, really. I just figured the Phase One is like an initial "detox" since most people start it on January 1--you know, after all of that holiday eating.
I was expecting to feel just awful and, yes, I had a couple of hours where I felt sort of light-headed here and there but I am kind of "dizzy"
on my own any way so I just shrugged that off as my blood sugar or blood pressure dipping a little too low.
The first week of Phase Two I had 1 carb/1 fruit. Then beginning on week Two of Phase Two I began 2-3 carbs per day (the low glycemic kind) and 2-3 fruits per day(again the low glycemic kind). I have remained at that and I plan to continue to remain at that. I feel comfortable with that. I usually have both of those early on in the day so my lunch and dinner meals resemble the Phase One meals.
I have had one planned "cheat" meal this past Sunday. I made a big bowl of stove top popped corn with canola oil and home made fudge. The fudge is my DH's favorite and I was feeling in a "sweety pleasing" mood. Maybe, a little guilty that he hasn't had any 'sweets"( besides me) in the house for a month. I just needed a mental break from following the plan to the letter (which I had done up until then). I sent the fudge with my DH to work (a big hit!) and resumed my plan Monday morning "as usual".
I have a lot to lose and I want to get this off in a year's time so I know that I have my work cut out for me. I know my limits and I don't test them. I want a steady 2 lbs weight lose each week and I hope to be able to do that until I am my goal weight.