In Mid December, I announced on my facebook page that I was going to do a Carb Detox, but that I wanted to fully enjoy my holiday festivities first. Many of you chimed in asking to join me and while I debated waiting until February 1st, I know that the longer I procrastinate, the harder it will be dive in, and I’m sure you agree.
I will be starting my No Carb, No Sugar Detox this Monday, and I’d love for you to join me.
For me, accountability is key to successfully cutting carbs because those first few days are ROUGH!! I love my carbs and as my body detoxes from their effect, everything in me wants to eat more of them. It’s a vicious cycle.
If completely cutting carbs leaves you running for cover, why don’t you just pick one healthy living area that you want to focus on during the next month?
Maybe it’s cutting all white carbs and white sugar or maybe a baby step like cutting soda is where you land. You decide, but by just making one small choice, you can really make a difference.
I am not into quick fixes or “magic” diets. Over the years, I have tried varying approaches, but it comes down to healthy eating choices and lifestyle change. I admit, when I’ve splurged on fun foods like I have the last few months, I need to do something a bit more drastic and thus, the no carb and no sugar approach. Those are my downfalls, so I will be following the The 17 Day Diet Plan: A Doctor’s Plan Designed for Rapid Results.
If any of you read my blog last year, you’ll remember that I shared about it throughout the month of February and March and honestly, I had never felt better. I didn’t have to count calories or follow a tricky plan. The philosophy is quite straight forward and it’s been amazing to receive emails from many readers who joined me with such amazing success and have kept their weight off.
Yes, I sound a bit like an infomercial, but this is all just my opinion. I have nothing to do with the 17 Day Diet, nor did they hire me to start a challenge. 😉
My husband lost 20 pounds, and I ended up losing 15 pounds just from working my way through two 17 day cycles. I didn’t finish the third cycle but jumped into their maintenance mode. I kept the majority of the weight off easily until I decide to have a free for all and eat anything at anytime, whenever I wanted for these last few months.
When I first kicked the The 17 Day Diet off last year, the struggles I shared in my Keeping the Weight Off Post are the same issues I struggle with now, so it was worth repeating.
I “know” that eating fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats and fish are the wisest choice. I know that staying away from the bad white carbs (white bread, pasta, white rice, potatoes and sugar) is best for losing weight and healthy living, but I just haven’t wanted to give those things up enough to lose the weight.
For me, it’s still all about balance and enjoying those things in moderation, but in order to get this weight off initially, I have to be willing to go without my favorite carbs. I can’t just stop at small portions of carbs. I inhale my favorite carbs.
My goal is to adhere to a more unprocessed, low sugar, low glycemic index, low fat, food plan for 17 days (the first cycle) and then gradually add the carbs back into my food choices.
I did that, lost weight, had more energy and it was manageable. Now, don’t get me wrong, the first week is the hardest. I had to retrain myself to enjoy veggies. I had to spend more time dicing and chopping and sauteing for stir fries, but after a week or so, I began to crave healthy foods. I shared some of my 17 Day Diet Food Ideas near the end of Cycle 1.
As I mentioned, the plan is fairly straight forward.
“The The 17 Day Diet: A Doctor’s Plan Designed for Rapid Results , relies on proven methods to help you take the weight off and keep it off. His revolutionary program adjusts your body metabolically so that you burn fat, day in and day out. Each 17 day Cycle “Accelerate, Activate, Achieve and Arrive” changes your calorie count and the foods you eat.”
The plan has four cycles. Each cycle consists of 17 days where dieters vary the carbs, proteins, fruits and other kinds of foods they eat in order to stimulate their metabolism and promote weight loss.
There are “free” foods in which you can eat unlimited amounts of each day: 90% of all veggies (but not the carb based ones like potatoes, avocados and corn), lean chicken breast, turkey breast and lean fish. For me, the key was advanced prep on the chicken. When I had a lot of it cooked up and ready, I was fine to ward off cravings. When I had a craving, I would make a quick salad with grilled chicken on top. (I’ll go into my menu plan in a post later in the week.)
I had a LOT of chicken.
Things like Speedy Chicken Cacciatore where I would just eat the veggies and chicken, but serve it on pasta to the kids.
Our family has eaten so healthy and the kids are enjoying it. I do not like cooking two meals, so I get creative.
Since I make this in a pan, it’s easy to just avoid putting the ranch and cheese on my portion in my quick Cheddar Ranch Chicken.
Citrus Herb Chicken @10MinuteDinners.com
Then there are the “two/day” foods – two pieces of fruit (before 2:00), two eggs and two servings of probiatics foods. I choose plain yogurt to make smoothies.
While it seems limited in choices, the results are amazing. There are delicious recipes that you can create with veggies, chicken and my favorite seasoning – Herbamare. I buy it through Vitacost.com where I save on many of my health, whole foods and supplement products.(You receive free $10 off your first $30 order.It’s one of my favorite sites.)
Once you finish the first cycle of 17 days, you enter into cycle two when you begin adding in additional beneficial carbs and lean beef, as well as some other choice foods.
I ended up losing 15 pounds from working my way through two cycles and then jumped into maintenance mode. I kept the majority of the weight off easily until I decide to have a free for all and eat anything at anytime, whenever I wanted for the last few months.Those who say they gained all their weight back after doing this most likely just went back to eating what ever they wanted, when ever. Of course, no one can keep weight off when that occurs. I was surprised that I kept off what I did with how I was eating.
I’ve gained half of it back and my goal is to drop additional weight plus another 8 pounds. That’s my goal over the next two months, but I am taking it day by day (or I should say, 17 days by 17 days.)
Would you like some group accountability?
I will be posting many of my recipe ideas, sharing them on instagram, as well as doing check ins on my facebook page.
Remember, just pick one healthy living choice. We’ll be in this together.
For additional reading, I’ve shared a bit about my Weight Loss journey, in that category here
and if you want to read the entire book, this is what I’m following – The 17 Day Diet.
I am taking the Made to Crave study online starting this month and my goals is simple. Eat healthier and move more. My problem is sweets. I adore them and they love me back! At 51, I need to make better choices and model it better for my kids. Plus, my son gets married in 6 months and that’s extra motivation!
Yes, the MAde to Crave study is wonderful. Simple goals is where it all starts!! Plus how exciting for the upcoming wedding! YAY!
I started this Jan, 1
6 days in and haven’t cheated. except lunch today I had a fish sandwich. I am sick and I just needed something warm and comforting. But I had some fruit with it and this afternoon I’m gonna do a smoothie and dinner will be diet worthy. Amazingly enough the fish sandwich didn’t taste as good as I had hoped. Kicking the carb habit has worked!
Jenn,
You must be a carbon copy of me! I first heard of the 17-day diet from you, investigated, and then executed that last summer. I have never been more than 12 pounds overweight but am small boned and that looks like a lot on me Anyway, I lost 9 1/2 pounds and have pretty much been doing that diet 3 to 4 days a week (until I get back to my goal) and then eating what I want the rest of the week. Monday is my “true up” day when I get back with it. Christmas got me off track. Today I have my yogurt, tuna, fruit, broccoli and green tea. I will miss my coffee (which has to have sugar and milk), cheese and other goodies on my salad, etc, over the next week or two but the weight WILL come off! Glad someone else will be in there with me. I am in my mid-50’s and had found that Weight Watchers did not do the trick anymore. I know the reason now- too little protein and too much carbs. Let’s get the new year started right!
YAY! Libby, we can do this together. 🙂 So glad it’s been helpful for you and I’m with you. It’s amazing how well it works, but I’ve determined just one little cheat and that’s my coffee. When I first did it, I went cold turkey off of it, so not only was I detoxing the carbs but the caffeine and it was a LOT. Now I do just add a little skim milk but no sugar.
I am SO ready to get started! Count me in.
Just started something similar today….no carbs,no sugar and no alcohol for21 days. I was a crazy eating machine over the holidays and need to break the bad eating cycle big time! Never heard of the 17 day …..will check it out.
Looking forward to following along with your progress.
Cheers,
Janis
Yes, we can cut those carbs and sugar together!
I’m in. I bought the book today and have been reading for the last hour. I’m tired of weight being my excuse or issue. I want to show my boys a strong, healthy momma. It is time.
Me too.We are going to be healthy mommas together 🙂
I too started living a lower carbohydrate lifestyle two years ago and it was the best thing I have ever done! I have a degree in health promotion and behavior so initially ( before I truly began researching) this type of eating was contrary to everything I had always been taught or believed. I learned very quickly, however, that my diet consisted of mostly leaner meats and proteins, tons of yummy veggies, and generally whole foods! I love the way I eat now so it has been so easy for me to maintain. In the past I would yo-yo terribly- eating low fat foods, that while “good” for me, I just did not enjoy. I would get so sick of low fat dressings, tasteless cheeses, and processed low fat items that I would fall WAY off the wagon- quickly regaining all the weight I had worked so hard to lose. In the first 6 months of eating lower carb I lost 35 pounds and have kept it off for two years. I feel so much healthier, have more energy, and have become a runner!! All that said, I research low carb eating ALL the time (I’m a health geek) and I truly believe this is the way our bodies are actually designed to eat. If you are curious about the health aspects of this type of diet try doing a search on PubMed regarding the latest research on saturated fats (not the bad guy we thought) and sugars related to heart disease. You will be surprised at what you find!
Okay, I’m in. Over the past year I’ve lost 65 pounds. I started slowly and thirty pounds in, found I needed a little more accountability so joined WW. Six weeks in, with success, I discovered I was type 2 diabetic with 10.6 A1C. My doc prescribed the meds but over the week, my insurance company fought me on the prescription. However, I made a drastic change to my diet immediately and over that week, my daily bg readings were looking good. I gave my doctor the numbers and she said fine, continue without the meds, reviewed with me monthly until my 3 month re-A1C. Yay! It was down to 6.1, totally diet controlled. Blood pressure excellent. Cholesterol normal. Okay, my thyroid is still out of whack so I’m now on meds for hypothyroid but over all…. I’m a proud 55 year old. I finally learned how to take care of ME! Over the past month, it’s been a little harder. I haven’t fallen down totally, but with the holidays, and flu, I haven’t lost any more weight and I’ve gotten a little bit sloppy with the carbs…. only a little bit though. So, this sounds ideal. I’m ready to go. January 10th, I’ll join you on the 17 day plan. I’ve got about 30 pounds left I’d like to lose (Doc says 20) and because of the diabetes, I know this is a life plan, not a diet. But I love the thought of doing it with you. I’m picking up the book tomorrow to make sure I’m ready. Thanks for the inspiration and I hope I’ll be a worthy team-mate. I’m gonna do my darndest!
Ok, Cindy – we can do this. I have one more day to keep myself motivated!! Let’s rock this 17 days. 🙂
I’ve been on a low carb diet since July and it works. I exercise 5 times a week as well. I’ve lost 35 pounds since July and I have 15 more to lose to reach my goal weight. Good luck on your journey! I will be low carb-ing along with you and cheering you on!
Holy cow. end of day two. I’m hungry and crabby. I”ve stuck to the plan. Eaten my veggies and protien, etc. BUT still am hungry….I don’ t have specific cravings, but I would imagine I’m having some cravings and withdrawl. uggg. advice? yikes! 15 more days……..is it like this for the whole 17 days or is there a light before day 17?
Hang in there. No, it doesn’t last. You will get past that feeling within the next few days. I think that 2-5 is the worst and then it’s sailing from there. In fact, on day 17 I felt like I could do it forever. Can you grab some more protein? I am cooking up chicken right now and will have a bunch on salad with a drizzle of olive oil, seasoning. Drink a ton of water too. That helps flush out. You are detoxing. So I keep telling myself this is good, but I am with you. Have a big headache.
ok, I’ll take your word for it…..I’m holding on by my toes at this point. I’ve eaten protein. and lots of veggies. and lots of water. I’ll just keep at it. apparently I must have been fairly “toxic”. boy howdy!
Well, my word comes only because I am right there with you. I told my husband I just need to go to bed early because I want to eat so much. haha I will be excited when I wake up and can have a smoothie.
Ok, so we have just finished day 5. I’m not going to post on your fb post b/c I’ve told a few people, I’m not interested in sharing with EVERYBODY! : ). Saturday and Sunday were HARD. I went back to work on Monday and that was much better………I like the directions of what to eat/not to eat b/c I am a good rule follower and that is helping me a lot. I’ve already been to the grocery store a second time this week for more yogurt, veggies and salmon. I’m down 4 1/2 pounds. I think at this point, my mind still has cravings but I’m not really feeling them physically. It is a big switch to not eat until stuffed. It is also a big switch to slide through those mental cravings without giving in. My meals have not been super exciting and I don’t like to make separate meals for myself and family, so that part has been kind of tricky. This weekend will be a test for sure, b/c we have to be out of town on saturday, so I will pack a cooler with some protien, yogurt and veggies and see how it goes. Dinner out will be a salad and protien….that should be do-able where ever we go. This requires a lot of planning…….I can see what this is more effective for me than other plans b/c I was eating so many carbs and still hungry. Anyway….the journey continues……..
You know you are on the 17 Day Diet when you shop in Costco and don’t eat any samples. Luckily there weren’t any dessert samples today or I would have had a hard time saying no.
oh Janna – I feel you. For some reason I am really struggling right now and I shouldn’t be. Day 12. I feel fine and I am not hungry,but those voices in my head that are telling me, this doesn’t really matter and just a bit doesn’t determine healthy eating are LOUD!! I know I could add on a few things that are still healthy, but for right now I am determined to win over my lack of discipline. haha 5 more days!! Then my homemade granola will sound like dessert. 😉
I don’t understand why everyone is trying so hard to do something for only a period of time. I feel time would be better spent learning how to eat correctly rather than just giving something up and waiting to be able to consume it again.
If you read my other posts where I talk about it, it’s definitely steps towards healthy life style change. I would never recommend cutting carbs forever, but for me, I need a period of discipline where I cut them completely and this is a way to cut the for cravings of the bad carbs and then slowly adding the good carbs back in, with treats in moderation.