Friday, July 16, 2010

Flat Belly Diet - end of the Kickstart


I have lost 5.2 pounds this week! I have been following the 4 day Flat Abs Kickstart program pretty close. Exercise is optional in the diet; however, exercise is not optional in my lifestyle. Therefore, to keep myself from getting into too much of a deficit I have supplemented the program. I have added a couple of post exercise recovery shakes following intensive exercise. Everything else has been spot on – well – the program did call for cutting out coffee – and – well I just not willing to do that at this time.  Regarding the kickstart: 
“Just like a professional athlete preparing to “make weight” in his weight class, you’ll be shedding water and dropping pounds – fast! IN just four days, you’ll lose several pounds and inches, which will start a cascade of motivation and energy that will immediately set you up for success on the rest of the plan.”

Flat Belly Diet! for MenThis is the only diet book that I can recall that says the weight you will lose in the first few days is primary from water. We all know that is true but most books do not spell it out. I have no unrealistic expectations and know that I am getting back to my preferred weight by shedding water. I wish I would have followed a similar program when I was cutting that last week for the pump and run. It would have been a lot easier than sitting in the sauna at lunch before the race.

After the kick start I will begin following the standard program. The only real difference is that now I will be consuming five 400 calorie meals each day. This will not be as easy as it sounds. I’m not awake enough hours in the day to spread them around. I will have to work out a schedule.

There are only 3 rules for this program. I keep catching myself calling it a program and not a diet. I guess that is because I don’t believe in diets. The word diet has taken on the connotation of a temporary adjustment – and then I can get back to my ‘normal’ routine. Come on, we all know that does not work. The ‘normal’ routine has to be the lifestyle that allows you to achieve your goals. I once heard someone say that the lean body mass and six pack abs were the result of their lifestyle not the goal of their lifestyle. That is my philosophy. Anyway, back to the 3 rules:

  1. Stick to 400 calories per meal.
  2. Never go more than 4 hours without eating.
  3. Eat a MUFA at every meal.

I have been loosely following these rules for years. This program is just providing structure – and a whole bunch of great 400 calorie meals.

I have been drinking the cucumber / ginger / lime / mint firewater – I call it swamp juice every day and I have come to like it. It is no sugar added cucumber limeade. I also went to the farmers market this week and picked up some farm fresh eggs and honey. I have also not put a single packet of sweetener in anything that I have consumed. I have been using the pink and blue packets of evil for years and it is time to wean myself off of them. I am off to a good start!  I have had no problems following the plan.

On the exercise front I actually did a nice recovery ride this morning. I did NOT push the pace. I just rode a nice and easy 20 something miles. I had a nice chat with Steve (the postman) – he was riding 50 miles. We talked about running fast marathons and slow ironmans. We had a good time. I played some intense racquet ball at lunch. It truly wore me out. I was dragging the last couple of games – and it showed.

Last note – I am falling on the contest band wagon. I will be posting a review and a chance for someone to win something – ohhh – ahhh. I know you can’t wait!

11 comments:

Jeff - DangleTheCarrot said...

I was taking a sip of my coffee when the part about no coffee came up. Felt guilty for a brief moment and then you said you are not giving up the coffee and I felt much better!

That 400 calories per meal (x500 =2000) seems low for a triathlete. I weight about 158 right now and have easily been taking in 3000+ per day and the weight has still been coming off! Will be very interest to see how this all works out James and also how you feel during the workouts! Thanks for being the guinea pig!

Matty O said...

Jeff, I thought James said he was supplementing his workout calories as well? Is that right James? If you are doing triathlon off of 2000 calories... errr that is bonkers?!

I have kicked coffee once a year for the past 3years for about a month a year... I go through withdrawal, horrible headaches and I sleep for 2 days straight, its nuts. Its easier to just keep injecting it in my system than to remove it haha!

Interesting take on "diets" I view them the same way, I view a diet as a 2 or 3 week thing to obtain my objectives. Programs you stick to for longer periods.

Cucumbers... LOVE THEM, they don't love me. I have a reflux and will burp/have indigestion for a day if I eat cucumbers, even small slices on my salads... its a tragedy!

Great job with week 1!

Emz said...

5.2 pounds this week?! crazy. Way to go.

misszippy said...

Wow--good for you! Glad it is working for you.

Jon said...

Man, this "program" is starting to really entice me. I tried looking for the book locally but struck out. Online we go!

TRI-james said...

Yes - 2000 calories is the base line. I believe that my Resting Metabolic Rate is in the mid 1700's. So with my lifestyle 2000 calories should be just about right. I add another several hundred more calories for each workout - depending on intensity.

Gotta Run..Gotta Ride said...

I love it when the scale shows results for hard work. I too am on my first week of a better balance eating (not a diet) and can hardly wait to weigh on Sunday. Only once a week per the book.

Not sure about the cucumber limeade. Eating a ton of fresh veggies this week and water..water... protein drinks...lean meats... plenty of food. Your guidelines are very much like what I am following. Keep it up!

Luke said...

If you are addicted tot he coffee as a pick-me-up, a doctor once suggested that I try one or more servings of coconut oil (he used his as a salad dressing). It is in a family of suuplements that have a similiar effect but are healthy. I am alergic to coconut so I use CLA because it is in the same supplement family. It helped me stop drinking soda (or pop if you prefer)

Jon Gilchrist said...

MUFA? Keep it up my man...

TRI-james said...

Monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Nuts including peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios, avocado, canola and olive oil are high in MUFAs. MUFAs have also been found to help in weight loss, particularly body fat.

Taken from: http://www.healthcastle.com/goodfats-badfats.shtml

Tricia said...

very interesting, I'll be following along to see how it goes