Snowydancer

In an effort to avoid drinking calories, but to maintain my healthy addiction to Mountain Dew, I have completed a full conversion to Diet Dew. This is a remarkable step for me, as I have been drinking regular Dew nearly every day with few exceptions, since I was about 11. That is aproximately 32 years.

My experimental diet actually facilitated the move, and here is why; I was eating and drinking a lot of sugar, and raised my tolerance for taste. Whenever I would try a diet drink, it tasted aweful.

However, eating a low sugar diet must have retuned my tastebuds. Drinking diet soda now tastes sweet enough, and isn’t all that bad. I have been on diet Dew for about a month now and have no reason to switch back (other than the more masculine-colored cans).

What about Aspartame, you ask? I studied it long and hard and conclude that it is harmless. This podcast about Aspartame is one of the best I have found. It will change your mind about Aspartame.

I am really wanting a big piece of carot cake right now. For the most part I am over the cravings, but every once in a while I start to justify a snack. Ever committed to the experiment, I have just finished a plate of, you guessed it, chicken, beans, and veggies.

It’s the end of my second full day and I am describing how I feel as ‘real’. What I mean is that I think my body is void of the stimulants I would normally be taking at this point, including sugar, caffiene, and, well… More sugar.

This has left me feeling a little slow, and frankly a bit unfocussed.

My mind seems to be preocupied with snacking. I can see why dieters have such a hard time with this. I had no idea I was so dependent on being within arm’s reach of a snack.

Tonight I am just ‘hanging out’, and am a little disappointed in my low level of productivity. I am sure this is where I would bail if this were just to loose a few pounds.

Perhaps because I am concentrating on this so much, I seem to be going into what I will describe as a ‘withdrawel panic’. I am literally fighting off an urge to run down to the Paradise Bakery for a sandwich, some tomato soup, and the largest piece of carrot cake I can find. I am sure I could top it all off with a couple cookies, too.

Holding fast; I’m going in for some chicken, black beans, and veggies.

On the positive side; I am really liking the idea of eating a standardized meal every time. I know exactly how long it will take to prepare, it’s easy to do, and I am liking the tastes so far. No food boredom yet.

I’ll check back in a while…

According to the scale, and Weight Tracker, I have lost .8 pounds. I am not sure it is entirely possible that I have actually lost .8 pounds within one day, but i’m going with it.

Observations include my apparent sugar habit. I don’t really think this is a ’sugar craving’, but rather a mechanical habit that causes me to nervously look for a piece of candy or something for nothing more than something to do with myself. I am coming to realize that I am filling time with eating throughout the day. I don’t need to eat, I just seem to do that instead of doing anything else. Bad habit.

Sitting at my desk I have just realized my first ‘hunger pain’. Normally I would be reaching for a candy bar right about now; not today!

I have enjoyed one meal so far, breakfast, and have just realized that I worked straight through lunch. That explains my sudden need for sugar.

I am heading to the kitchen for some chicken, black beans, and veggies.

Things to note; I have had my head burried on work all day and haven’t really noticed any hunger until now.

I weighed myself tonight for a starting point. I weigh 209.5 pounds. I recorded my weight in my iPhone using an app called WeightTrack. For the time being I am using the standalone option.

I also just got back from the store for food. I ran over to the local WallMart with three specific ingredients in mind:

1. Black Beans
2. Chicken
3. Vegetables

I purchased black beans in a can at about 50 cents each. I also picked up a few cans of pinto beans for variety. Lynne (wife) found some packets of frozen vegatables; Bird’s Eye brand, they come in microwavable bags that have a built-in pressure valve. Very convenient.

I also grabbed a packet of chicken breasts. I will supplement chicken for salmon fillets that I got earlier from Costco.

I cooked up my first meal on the new plan tonight. I was prepared for bland, but found the whole thing rather delicious. My boys ate with me and together we cleared our plates. I have decided to create my first rule: For any meal, I will eat only as much food as will fit on one plate. No second helpings in one sitting.

Oh; and I also picked up two cases of Lipton Diet Tea. This drink has become my favorite since a friend introduced it to me a couple years ago on a Lake Powell trip. Good stuff, and zero calories. Good bye Mt. Dew; at least for a while.

Getting to bed around midnight, and plan to be up by 7:00 am to start the day.

My first post was done from my iPhone using Wordpress. I plan to use that method for most of my posts since I will be posting while on my way to other places. I am going to try to focus on ListPipe during the day to get as much done as possible in as little time as possible.

Tonight I am starting a personal experiment. I am starting a new diet with the goal of loosing a few pounds, and gaining focus.

I am starting a diet prescribed by Tim Ferris; more on this later. I am also going to record the whole thing using a suite of new electronic tools; more on these along the way.

I will record my weight and report every day. I also intend to keep you posted on my progress, including gains, losses, and the technologies I am using to manage my progress.

For starters, I am writing and posting this entire first post from my iPhone using the Wordpress for iPhone application I downloaded for free from the Apple iTunes app store.

See you soon!