I love those offers that seem to be too good to be true.  “WANNA LOSE 80 LBS IN 5 DAYS…ASK ME HOW” or “Take this pill, sit on your couch, watch Dr Phil and lose 30lbs overnight”.  It’s silly.  You gotta think that can’t be healthy for you even if it was possible (or legal).  Here’s my sales pitch- “Be like me and lose 10lbs in 3 weeks”.   I’ve actually done that.

A few months ago I saw a friend of mine lose a few pounds and I read his blogs about it.  I was intrigued about his success.  I wanted to know what he was doing and what he was eating (or not eating) to make it happen.  When the opportunity presented itself, we met up with Greenville Hospital System to see if they were interested in helping me lose 20lbs.  I didn’t want to do it with some goofy fad diet or with some pill.  I wanted to do it in a way that was realistic and I didn’t have to completely overhaul my life in order to make it happen.  For example, and I know a lot of people have done well with Atkins or Atkins -like diets, but I just cant imagine eating a pound of bacon and it be good for me? (I’m exaggerating, but you know what I mean) Besides, I know A LOT of people that have done the Atkins and as soon as they get off it, they start putting it back on.  I like carbs and I deserve to have them!  I’m not a fan of doing things twice.  I like to do it once and do it right.   

Ok, so now you have a little more back story on how this whole website and challenge came about.  I won’t ask you to send me 12 shipments of $19.95 to find out how I’ve lost 20lbs.  Here’s basically the deal:

1.        I eat 1500 calories a day.

2.       I work out 5 times a week.

3.       I stay active

So far, that’s it.  Crystal Robinson, a nutritionist from Greenville Hospital System told me that I could go up to 1800 calories a day if I wanted to (since I workout 5 times a week).  I’m gonna stick to the 1500 calories for right now, but I wont get down on myself if I go a little over.  Every time I tell someone that I only eat 1500 a day, they act like I’m crazy.  I love big (fatty) meals just as much as the next guy, but I have found that it has not been as hard as I thought it was going to be.

For example, the other day I did this:

Breakfast-1/2 cup of egg beaters (60 cal), 2 slices of chopped up lunchmeat ham (10 cal), 2 pieces of low-cal toast (90 cal) and a small container of low fat cottage cheese (90 cal).  Total: 340

Snack at 10am-100 calorie snack size sun chips

Lunch-Subway Turkey breast sandwich (no cheese) on wheat.  About 300 calories after you put on the veggies.  Diet coke to drink.

Snack at 4pm-60 calorie yogurt

Dinner:  6oz steak (312 cal) ½ cup Grilled mushrooms (30 cal), 10 asparagus spears (50). Total 390

Snack at 8pm-100 calorie ice cream bar.

Total of 1492!  It’s possible. Oh sure, I know I am supposed to eat more fruit and sometimes I sub in fruit, but with the Diabetic stuff, I need to eat it with other things and not by itself.   The internet is your friend on this stuff!  You can pretty much find the calorie count on all of your favorite foods as well as your favorite restaurant chains.  Also, feel free to ask me.  If I don’t know the answer-I’ll ask someone from Greenville Hospital System who does.