Each day I will eat moderately and mindfully to be healthy

But today I got my first normal blood pressure reading since my doctor starting making me keep the log over six months ago. And I am really happy about that! I have been following the principles of the South Beach Diet (which is really not a diet – because there is no counting or weighing or measuring anything – it’s just a healthy, satisfying way of eating) and I have lost 31 pounds now. This, along with the exercise goal, has steadily brought my blood pressure down. My high in January was 147/90. Today it was 127/75. Yay!

Edit: Looking online I think ideally the top number should be below 120, but my doc said get it under 130, so I think I’m good, considering the direction I’m going in is down.

Basically, I’ve been eating a good carb only/good fat only/lean protein diet of whole grains, no red meat or fried anything, very little sugar, plenty of veg, reduced fat dairy, and the result is that I’ve lost 28 pounds and my last month of blood pressure readings have been very close to normal. The top number is now well within normal range and the bottom number only three points above. Doc said this was my last chance before he wrote me a prescription, so this will mean no meds when I go back. Which I’m very happy about!

Have lost 20 pounds. Am starting to actually feel attractive again. Oh, and Doc is going to be really happy with me. And I do like to please Dr. Enriquez. ;)

(Can’t help it; I’m a sucker for brown eyes and a foreign accent!)

But my doctor told me to do the South Beach diet after my blood pressure had not budged at my last check up. I was very skeptical at first, but I have a goal to listen to my doctor, so I tried it, and I love it. It basically emphasizes eating plenty of lean protein, good fats only (like canola and olive oil) and good carbs only (whole grains, most fruits and vegetables). Mostly common sense, but even just having the recipes is worth it, because they are really yummy.

To give myself variety, I put poultry back in my diet. Was already eating fish, but am still swearing off the beef. I am making every effort to never eat beef again. The first two weeks is restrictive, but after that not very. The great thing is, I’m eating food that is way more filling and I don’t get hungry. I’m even eating a little bit of dark chocolate every day. My husband is doing it with me, and we’ve lost a combined 21 pounds in two and a half weeks. Oh, and no counting calories!

Still have not had to resort to counting, measuring or weighing anything, and I’m down another four pounds in February. This is the longest period of weight loss I’ve ever had without being on some sort of program. I’ve eaten healthy stuff I like in addition to treats whenever I had a craving (major M&M fan here), but the key has been to let myself get hungry before I eat again, not to get seconds, and if I’m hungry before bed to just have a piece of fruit or something really light.

2007 total: 12 pounds.

Except for a few days in January, I used common sense and some self-control, and I lost 8 pounds. I hope to do it again in February.

Which I’m really happy about, because you know, no sense in throwing all the eggs around the kitchen just because I dropped one. I have to admit, though, I’m battling some jealousy and resentment. My mother and my sister went to this doctor who gives them shots and diet pills and the weight is dripping off of them like melting butter. And I, being the one with common sense, insist on doing it the way most good doctors tell you to do it.

So they come over to my house to eat and are scraping the tomatoes off their food. “We can’t eat those. They’re not on our diet.” What the hell? Since when are two tablespoons of diced tomatoes bad for you?

I’ll just have to console myself with the fact that I’ll get there too, maybe well after them, but I won’t have spent hundreds of dollars and I won’t have turned into that Ellen Burstyn character in Requiem For A Dream. It’s just legal speed, and I don’t like the way speed makes me feel. I don’t really care much for drugs, period. And the vitamin shots they are getting are a water-soluble vitamin, so any excess is just being pissed right out of them. It doesn’t make sense to me.

But I think the thing that is really getting to me is that my mom has lost so much weight now that she’s throwing her old clothes at me. And they’re way too fucking big! My husband said they look like maternity clothes on me. Plus I just refuse on principle to wear my mother’s clothes.

Okay, I’m done with my petulant fit. I hope next time I see them I can be really encouraging and give them a nice compliment, even if I do think their diet and their pill-popping are insane, and even if they do think I’m fat enough to wear clothes that are three times my actual size.

With all kinds of bad, yummy stuff. Yikes! Was doing great until then. Hope to refocus tomorrow but there are two partially eaten cakes in my dining room.

You know, self-regulate. Without counting anything. But I guess I can after all.

Two-week total: down 7 pounds.

Lost four holiday pounds this week.