This year, I not only decided to return to The 17 Day Diet (I would rather call it a lifestyle plan) but also to start exercising more, spend less time on the internet, spend more time with my family, and watch less TV.
I realized over the later part of last year that Facebook has become all consuming for me. I was checking it at least hourly, most of the time more, and my train of thought often included, "I should post this." I realized that I was addicted. I decided that I needed to take a break from Facebook when I noticed how much data it was consuming on my phone. I uninstalled my Facebook app and made a promise to myself to stay off for one month. I am about 2 weeks into this and feeling great about it. I was getting so upset daily about crap people post on there. I really am quite happy to not know peoples opinions on politics and religion, etc. My hope is that after a month I won't feel the need to be on there all the time. I think, like most things, it is okay in moderation.
I starting reading to my daughter again at bedtime. I used to read to her every night up to a couple of years ago. She is almost 11 and I thought too old yo be read to,(she reads at a 10th grade level), but she asked me to start again. I didn't realize how much I missed it. I was thinking about why it stopped and not only because I thought she was too old but because it seems there was a TV program on every night that we wanted to watch. So now, I am making her choose, either read or TV, not both. She tried to talk me into reading at 9:00pm (her bedtime) but I set the time at 8:00pm. This tackled both less TV and more family time.
I am on day 17 of cycle 1 and have lost 7 lbs!! I can't wait to add carbs back in. I think this time around I am going to exercise on the carb days. I have been doing 20-30 minutes of walking on the treadmill and then 30 minutes of yoga and exercise ball. I have been trying to do this every other day. I can't believe how great I feel. My skin has cleared up, my back and shoulder are hurting less, I have more energy, and I have been sleeping better. I hope to be at my goal weight by spring break in the end of March. 13lbs to go. I am on my way to a better version of me.
