I mentioned this last week, but it bears repeating: the Fast Metabolism Diet is not about deprivation. Ultimately, Pomroy has a great way to drive her philosophy home by asking why, when it comes to dieting, do we expect that we'll get more by doing less? We don't expect to become stronger by exercising less, so why would we expect to become healthier by eating less?
Unfortunately, during Week 3, that's the exact aspect of the diet that I struggled with, though not intentionally. I skipped meals or snacks on more than a few occasions this week when I wasn't hungry or prepared and I definitely felt the effects full force: I was tired and lethargic for most of the week. Granted this week had more social functions that had me out later than most nights, but still...it was a good reminder that Pomroy is absolutely right: more is always, always more.
Day 15 - Saturday Phase 1
I remembered to pick up fresh mint and rice crackers at our neighborhood co-op last week, so I am really excited to have the Fat-Burning Mango Smoothie recipe from the book this morning. It's one of my favorite, most refreshing breakfasts on this meal plan. I wake up early to make that, then pack a couple of apples for my snacks and get in the car for our day trip up to LA. On our way up, we are bringing Ryan's parents to LA so they can pick up their new car. Before we go our separate ways we stop for lunch at Cafe 50's, a chain diner with the kind of kitschy 50's decor I love. I attempted to find something Phase 1 friendly for lunch and ended up ordering their Turkey Chili with a side of Sweet Potato Fries. It was good, but not as good as my leftover Turkey Chili that I defrosted and ate later that night for dinner after we got back from a long day of art museums and exploring.
Day 16 - Sunday Phase 1
On Sunday, I wake up early to go walk 5 miles around Lake Murray with my friend Shanna. I opt for a Strawberry Pineapple Oatmeal Smoothie for breakfast instead of the mango... a little more sustenance for our exercise. After our walk, I eat an apple on the drive home for my first snack. Our friend Makena has a housewarming BBQ at her house later that afternoon, so I eat another one of my frozen Turkey Chili lunches before we go and then proceed to drink approximately 5,000 La Croixes during the party. All night people keep asking me if it's terrible to be the only sober one there, but honestly? It's not bad at all. Aside from getting sleepier earlier than most of the people there, I loved being able to stay focused on my conversations with everyone. And despite the fact that I wasn't running on alcohol fumes like everyone else.. we were the last to leave! I did however feel bad about skipping dinner since, during all of the talking and games of Heads Up!, I forgot to eat a second big meal. But I managed to eat my second snack... I sliced up 2 Kiwis about 5 hours into the party and downed them with, you guessed it, another La Croix.
Walking the trails at Lake Murray
Day 17 - Monday Phase 2
It's Memorial Day, so no work for me today and luckily, no sun either. I say luckily only because it means we don't feel bad about being lazy or not having any BBQ plans. I sleep in and eat my breakfast of Turkey Bacon and Celery with Lime Juice pretty late, around noon. Then, I indulge a little for lunch: on our way to Home Depot to pick up some indoor plants, I ordered a protein style burger from In-N-Out. The tomatoes and the sauce are obviously not Phase 2 approved, nor were the several fries I snuck from Ryan's meal, but I don't really care. Have I mentioned how much I hate Phase 2? For dinner, I fry up chicken breast in a little bit of olive oil (getting real crazy today!) with shallots, onions and garlic. No snacks today... I was only awake for about 9 hours and 3 meals were all I had time for.
Day 18 - Tuesday Phase 2
Still pretty exhausted from the long weekend, I am dreading another Phase 2 day when I wake up. I eat my Turkey Bacon and Celery with Lime Juice with a scowl on my face and begrudgingly snack on Trader Joe's Turkey Jerky for both of my snacks today. I wrap the leftover chicken from the night before in romaine leaves for lunch and skip dinner entirely, opting for an early night instead. Secretly? I think this was my way of getting out of another Phase 2 meal.
Day 19 - Wednesday Phase 3
Breakfasts on Phase 3 tend to default to my favorite Berry Nutty Smoothie more often than not: half a cup of steel cut oats, a quarter cup of raw sunflower seeds, a cup of water, cinnamon and a handful of frozen raspberries. For snacks, I keep it simple and bring a bag of baby carrots and a container of hummus to work. And for lunch, I make my favorite Tomato and Olive salad. But for dinner... I finally try something new and I LOVE it: Baked Cashew Chicken. This is a recipe from The Fast Metabolism Diet Cookbook and it is absolutely delicious and super easy! I'm excited to have found a new favorite.
Day 20 - Thursday Phase 3
I'm up a little early today, so I toss some Sprouted Grain Bread in the oven to get toasted and make myself a little Toast with Hummus, Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Red Onions for breakfast. I stick to carrots and hummus again for both my snacks today and am super excited for my Cashew Chicken leftovers at lunch. For dinner, I make some more Chicken Quinoa Risotto only we don't have enough hummus left and it comes out a bit drier than I'd like.
Day 21 - Friday Phase 3
After a Berry Nutty Oatmeal Smoothie for breakfast, cucumbers with hummus for a snack and leftover Chicken Quinoa Risotto for lunch, I feel like it's ok to treat myself to a couple of the meatballs we had catered from San Diego's The Ballroom for our office's Housewarming Party. The meatballs are delicious but totally have cheese on them and in them and I don't even care. In fact, I decide that while I'm on a roll, I'll even have cheese with dinner, and feel guilt-free about ordering a Quinoa, Arugula, Carrot and Feta Salad at Starlite later that night for dinner., wrapping up the end of Week 3 at one of my favorite restaurants in SD!
