Dr. Oz Rapid Weight Loss Diet Plan - Week 1

I signed up for another 30 day challenge, this one is for fitness, health and hair.  The first two weeks of the challenge we had to follow Dr. Oz's Rapid Weight Loss Meal Plan.

The plan is basically a detox, you eliminate alcohol, sugar, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, dairy, and wheat.  You can only eat between the hours of 8am - 8pm and you are required to take a detox bath nightly.  When you wake in the morning, he wants you to drink a cup of hot lemon water.  Dr. Oz also wants you to take a multivitamin (1/2 morning, 1/2 evening) and a probiotic.  You can eat unlimited amounts of low glycemic vegetables, detox vegetable broth and 6 ounces of chicken, fish or turkey daily.  The only fruit allowed on the diet is a 1/2 cup of mixed berries which you put into the Breakfast Smoothie.  You are also allowed one 6-oz serving a yogurt daily.

I didn't make the broth, I purchased organic vegetable broth from Whole Foods.  I forgot to get low sodium for the first week.  The one I had was 540 mg of sodium!


Day 1:
The first day of the meal plan wasn't that challenging, the smoothie wasn't what I was used to but I drunk it. By the evening I had a headache.  I had previously started cutting sugar out of my diet and I am not a big caffeine drinker so I think the headache came from not eating fruit. I didn't take the detox bath the first night, I was too tired.  I drunk the

Meals:
Hot lemon water (another requirement)
Breakfast - breakfast smoothie
Green tea
Snack - cucumbers and broccoli with homemade greek yogurt vegetable dip and hummus.
Lunch - mixed greens salad with 1.5 oz jerk chicken breast and the vegetable broth.
Dinner - 4 oz grilled chicken breast, string beans, broccoli and mushrooms cooked in the vegetable broth and 1/2 cup of brown rice (the only grain/carb allowed).
Green tea

Day 2:
The smoothie was a little easier to get down than the previously day.  I worked out using the Latin Cardio video on YouTube since I couldn't make it to the gym.  Dr. Oz does not want you to work out while using the plan but I need to lose weight and stay motivated.

Meals:
Hot lemon water
Breakfast smoothie
Snack - cucumbers, snap peas, hummus and greek yogurt vegetable dip.
Lunch - 2oz grilled chicken breast, leftover vegetables and lentils cooked with red & yellow peppers, onions, garlic and vegetable broth.
Dinner - 4 oz baked salmon, 1/2 cup of brown rice and sauteed spinach.

I was full before I finished my dinner but I didn't want to waste it so I ate it all.  An hour after dinner I took the detox bath.  I was in sweating like I was in a sauna lol

Day 3:
I decide to switch things up with my meals.  I don't like wasting food but I also need to learn how not to stuff myself.  If I am full, I need to just stop eating.  So I decided to eat my heaviest meal during lunch and go light for dinner.  Most weight loss articles tell you to do this anyway but hardheaded people like me don't listen. I also added the daily yogurt serving and kale to the breakfast smoothie, it kept me full until lunch time

Meals:
Hot lemon water
Breakfast Smoothie
Green tea
Lunch - 4 oz leftover baked salmon, 1/2 cup of brown rice, lentils and balsamic glazed brussel sprouts.

Green tea
Dinner - 2 oz baked salmon, mixed greens salad with avocado, balsamic glazed broccoli, string beans, snow peas and brussel sprouts

Day 4:
I cheated, I ate 2 pieces of pineapple. I just couldn't help myself. I had to cut the pineapple before it went bad and there it was looking so sweet begging me to have a piece. I wasn't feeling too bad, at least it was a piece of fruit and not cake.

Meals:

Breakfast smoothie remix (kale, yogurt and chia seeds added to it. I added the chia seeds because I haven't been regular (TMI) since I started the challenge.)

Green tea

Snack - a spoonful of hummus

Lunch - leftovers again (3oz salmon, 1/2 cup of brown rice and the veggie mix from last night)

Dinner - turkey burger topped with mushrooms and onions, curry lentils and a salad.

Day 5:
Friday was rest day as far as exercising.  I followed the meal plan throughout the day but ended up cheating with dinner.  It wasn't that bad but I did regret it after I bit into that piece of fried chicken.  I ended the night with a glass of wine.

Meals:
Breakfast smoothie remix
Lunch - ground turkey and string bean stir fry over a 1/2 cup of brown rice.
Dinner - mixed greens salad topped with a little blue cheese, two buffalo wingettes, one fried wingette, chick peas, broccoli, string beans, snow peas and a 1/4 piece of tilapia.


Day 6:
I messed up again!  I am just not strong on the weekends, I need willpower people. 

Meals:
Breakfast smoothie remix (without kale)
Lunch - 3 oz baked salmon, balsamic glazed brussel sprouts and 1/2 cup of brown rice.
Dinner - fire grilled salmon, sauteed spinach and broccoli.  I also had a patron margarita (argh).

Day 7:
It was Mother's Day and my diet went all out the window.  The day seems to start off on the right page but by dinner it goes right down the drain. 

Meals:
Breakfast smoothie remix
Lunch/Dinner - curry chicken kebab, vegetable kebab, cous cous, and naan
Dessert - strawberries, pineapple, mango and watermelon on top of grilled pound cake with coconut milk whipped cream.
3 glasses of wine.

For week two, I am determined to stay on track.  Even though I messed up (a lot) I was able to lose 3 pounds.  Others who are on the challenge have lost 7 pounds.  I need to really focus on my goal and stay determined to reach it.  I can not let food beat me!  Wish me luck and stay tuned for week 2.

Black Girls Workout Too

Before summer started I wanted to find a home work out program for days when I just can't make it to the gym. On InstaGram, I kept seeing people post their results from Black Girls Workout Too. Now these were amazing transformations from real people, so I decided I wanted to check this program out.  I went on Amazon to see how much the DVD would cost, it was $29.99. Now to some that's nothing but to someone as cheap as me that is a lot.  Then I read the reviews and most were saying the quality was not work 30 bucks so I decided not to get it. 

Months later I got the DVD from my sister-in-law. I have to say the quality is very low BUT the workout is GREAT!!! I was sweating harder than when I am in the gym. I have decided that I will use the DVD three times a week and go to the gym three times a week. I am determined to get this body tight and toned!  I'll keep you all posted on the results.

If you've never heard of Black Girls Workout Too check out the mother/daughter duo on InstamGram @VitaminEllen and @lanagem. You can also get more information from their website.

A New 30 Day Challenge

On Wednesday, May 1st I will start a new 30 day challenge.  This one is a cardio workout challenge sponsored by Rahman Grayson aka Mr. Shut Up and Train.  I'm not sure what it will all consist of but I am ready.  I read that you will need to have dumbbells and a medicine ball, which I already have.

If you are interested in signing up for the cardio challenge or to get more information check out his site  http://www.mrshutupandtrain.com/30daycc/

You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @mrshutupandtrain

I am still drinking my smoothies!  Simple Green Smoothies did another 30 day challenge which is coming to an end tomorrow.  They will have another one on July 1st. www.simplegreensmoothies.com for more info.

Green Smoothie Challenge - week 1

I started the green smoothie challenge last Tuesday. I am not looking to lose weight, just belly fat and to be healthy.

The first day I replaced lunch with a green smoothie. The second day I replaced breakfast and lunch with a green smoothie. I ate a little over half of my dinner that night, which is not normal. On the third day I only replaced breakfast. I was going down to my mother's job later that day. She works a few doors down from the Honey Baked Ham store, I just had to have their Tuscan pesto turkey melt sandwich for lunch. I couldn't finish the whole sandwich, I was so full from just eating half! I gave the other half to my son.



Day 1 - 1 cup of spinach, 1 cup of mixed berries, 1 cup of almond milk, 1/2 banana and agave nectar:

Day 2 - 2 handfuls of spinach, 1/2 an orange, 1 banana, 1 apple, 5 strawberries, 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon of flax seeds (makes 2 servings) :

Day 3 - a handful of spinach, 1 cup of mixed berries, 1/2 banana, 2 tablespoons of flax seeds, 1/2 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt and 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice:

Day 4 - 2 handfuls of spinach, 1/2 cup of pineapple, 1/2 apple, 1/2 banana, 1/2 an orange, 5 strawberries, 2 tablespoons of flax seeds, 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt and 1/2 cup of almond milk:

Day 5 - handful of spinach, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1/2 cup of almond milk, 1 tablespoon of flaxseeds, pineapple, mango, strawberries, and banana

Day 6 - handful of spinach, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1/2 cup of almond milk, tablespoon of flaxseeds, pineapple, mango, strawberries and banana (same as day 5)

Day 7 - handful of spinach, blackberries, 1/4 orange, greek blueberry yogurt, 1/2 cup coconut water and a tablespoon of flaxseeds

For week two,  I plan on adding kale and coconut water to my smoothies and replacing breakfast and lunch for a least 3 of the days.