Weight loss update

For those of you keeping score, I am down almost 14 pounds from two months ago, and feeling great! In fact, Ed, my weight loss buddy at school, said today that even my head looks like I lost weight. Actually, I think his words were that I have a "pinhead." Thanks, Ed. Oh, and speaking of the weight loss contest, I think my burger of choice shall be The Mastadon.

At any rate, it's nice to be able to start fitting into my old clothes again. I've had numerous people ask me what my secret is, and to be honest, it hasn't been exercise up to this point. (However, this summer I am fully planning on biking, running, and playing tennis to keep active.)

The entire weight loss has been the result of a somewhat dramatic diet change on my part, which has been long overdue. Here are some lessons that I have learned work for me:

• Whole grain cereal in the morning (Grape Nuts, Raisin Bran, etc.) with nuts or dried berries mixed in
  
• Keeping a bag of raw carrots or cucumber with me during the day to snack on if I'm hungry
• Drinking lots and lots of water (especially after high-sodium meals)
  
• Eating few carbs at dinnertime (though plenty at lunch & breakfast)
• Replacing "empty" carbs with whole grains
• Eating slower
• Having a pile of cut-up fresh veggies for dinner with hummus...mmm
• No total deprivation - but only eating bad things in very small amounts
  

I love carbs - really, really love them. So when diet plans say you can't have them, I pretty much reject them entirely. But it is true that eating lots of them later in the day is detrimental to weight loss or maintenance, especially ones that don't have much fiber. Plus, replacing crappy carbs with whole grains and fiber has really evened out my blood sugar problems, and I rarely feel dizzy or sick anymore.

So, that's it, really - take it as you will. I will post pictures of my victory meal - the one Ed will pretty much have to buy for me at this point, because he's definitely not catching up by the contest deadline, May 14. Woo!