Tonight I went to the informational meeting about the fasting program. They outlined how to work the fast — what to eat, what supplements to take, and how to deal with the hunger that will most likely happen in the first few days.
I’m actually not worried about being hungry, because I figure that I can always drink more water to fill up in between the times I’m having the meal replacements. They said that most people stop feeling hungry after about 3 days, because the body gets used to taking in fewer calories.
So, here’s what I’ll be “eating” each day this week:
- 1 chocolate shake
- 1 strawberry shake
- 1 mocha shake
- 1 cup of creamy chicken soup
- 1 “chicken” fajita meal replacement
- 1 cup broth (made from 1 bullion cube and 1 cup of hot water)*
- at least 64 oz. of water
- 2 tablespoons liquid potassium
- Metamucil
- multiple vitamin (I bought One A Day, women’s formula)
- (optional): 1 tall, skinny latte (nonfat milk, sugar free syrup
The total calories (minus the optional latte) is around 500. I know that’s really low, but that’s why they call it a fast. Plus, it’s medically supervised, so they make sure that you’re healthy and that everything in the body is working properly.
*They told us they want us to make sure to take in the extra sodium that the bullion provides in order to make sure our electrolytes stay balanced. We’re taking in so little sodium that we actually have to replace some of it. I was surprised by this, but I’m definitely going to follow their guidelines.
The “chicken” fajita is supposed to be the consistency of sloppy joe’s, which doesn’t sound too bad to me. It’s made with soy products, but supposedly tastes like chicken. It’ll be nice to have something that you actually chew, I think.
These were the items that they suggested for the first week, but after this week, there are a few different choices in the types of meal replacements you can buy. I’m sure they’re all relatively tasty, and regardless, this is a means to an end. I can put up with anything if it means that I can lose a bunch of weight in a relatively short time.
The other thing I’m really looking forward to (besides the obvious weight loss!!!) is the meetings, because they’re going to help us learn more about healthy nutrition. They offer education in food preparation, grocery shopping, and how to make lifestyle changes. I think that’s going to be the most important information in order for me to make this a life change.
Taking off the weight is going to be relatively easy — eat the meal replacements, don’t cheat, and the weight will come off. The hard part is going to be keeping it off for good. I am so committed to making this work and have wanted this for so long that I am completely motivated to do whatever it takes to make sure I never weigh as much as I do right now ever again!
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On a side note, I’m so grateful to many of my friends and my family for the support they have shown me already. They want me to be healthy and happy, and are willing to encourage, motivate, and support me every step along the way. Just today, CTLB was so wonderful in talking to me about some of my fears about making sure that I don’t regain the weight, and I know that she wants this for me as much as I want it for myself. With people like her in my life that I can count on in difficult times, I know that I can do this. I can’t help but be successful!!
Wish me luck for tomorrow! I can’t wait to write about how it’s going.
Bella on the Beach 
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