Flab to Fab {Test Lab} v2.0 – Week 2
Week one is ovah, m-fers! And, if I’m honest, I pretty much sucked it. GAHHH.
The Food:
Our Gobble Green meal delivery service is pretty bad-ass so far. We came home to two huuuuge boxes of frozen foods galore last Tuesday night, and had a field day picking through the vacuum sealed baggies and matching meals to our printed menus. We even got T-shirts!
I didn’t have the heart to tell Hunter, you can’t smell the food through the plastic!
I signed up for The Challenge, which basically means a nutritionist is tailoring my meals to help me lose weight. Translation? Very few carbs… and the few I get are mostly scheduled for lunchtime or breakfast. For the most part, I’m down with that. I understand the value of abstaining from the starchiness close to bedtime.
I love the breakfasts (like scrambled ‘eggs’ made with tofu and ooooh, hashbrowns!) and the pumpkin pancakes were a great weekend treat. Sometimes the serving sizes are a bit shockingly small to my overeating eyes, but I’m learning that it doesn’t take as much as I thought to fill me up…. a necessary lesson! It takes a little clever supplementing, because I truly miss fresh veggies and fruit. That crunchy, juicy goodness is missing from Gobble Green‘s grub. So I sneak some crisp in here and there… just a bit. But, I even get dessert! And while the lemon bar can go screw, that snickerdoodle saved my life.
Highlights this week included faux buffalo wings (yum, but where’s the sauce?), breaded eggplant sandwich, curried chili and chicken salad. Lowlights include steamed veggies (just like from your average frozen veg mix) with just about everything, the apple spice oatmeal (not my cup of tea) and the biggest lowlight of all? Watching Hunter unwrap his meals… since he’s not on the diet plan!
Hunter is such a trooper, y’all. This dude isn’t even a vegetarian, much less a vegan… and he’s taking the month-long switch like a champ! But of course, with shamazing meals like mac n’ cheese (what the cuss?! That’s MY fave!), meatloaf n’ mashed potatoes, and chicken sandwich with (gasp) french fries… it would be hard for him to be too bitter. Especially when he looks over and sees my diet meal 
So, yeah… Hunter’s food wins. But, I guess, so does my health. So take that, tubby tire! Poor Hunter got sick last week, and the only food that sounded good was pizza (yeah, he’s a true New Yorker)… so I sat and ate lentil soup while he chowed on some comfort ‘za. How strong am I, yo?!?
I’m proudest to report that I’ve cut back on my diet coke habit tremendously, and I’ve only had one (yup, ONE) in the past week! I’m killing it with hot tea, iced tea, soda water and plain water. My nutritionist says to drink at least 90 oz of water a day… and I’m holding strong!
The Fitness:
Welllllllll, we didn’t quite meet our goals this week. Hunter got pretty farking sick with a nasty chest cold (poor boy), and I was pretty deep into pity-party mode due to the bad news about my foot. So I’m disappointed, but I gave myself a stern talking-to today. But instead of abusing myself with criticism, resentment, and impatience per usual, I took a different approach. I figure, I don’t let other people speak to me that way… so why do I allow myself to get away with it every day? That’s not fair. No no no. No bueno. So this time, instead, I spoke to myself with love, with forgiveness, and with optimism. It was pretty fun!
Y’all should have seen my crazy ass in the car, jabbering away: “This is ridiculous, Dana. You are capable of so much! You can do this… You’ve done it before! There is nothing holding you back, but you. Get out of your way, Dana! Its time to live up to your potential. yo!” and y’know what? It kinda worked! As soon as I stopped beating myself up for not doing, and kindly reminding myself of what I can do, it brightened my mood and renewed my motivation. I know that every day is a new chance to succeed – which means tomorrow I have a hard-and-fast date with Jillian. I’m looking forward to her kicking my flabby ass with her tough love. She always knows just how to “shred”
We also jumped on a couple great group buying deals from Social Buy and Groupon – scoring us each 5 Bikram Yoga classes for $5 total at a local studio ($1 a class? Usually its $15!), and 3 classes at Pop Physique for $20. I’m really looking forward to getting out of the house and into a class. Bikram Yoga is an old favorite of mine and a fat-blaster to be sure… and Pop Physique’s sexy branding had me at hello. Full reports to follow!
How is your Flab to Fab journey going? Any tips or questions for me? Hit me in the comments!
Hey, have you tried bar method? I think there's one in your area, we just got one here in nyc in soho. i bought a deal on one of those social group buying sites – bloomspot – got a whole month of unlimited classes for some nice coin. it's totally out of my way…i work in midtown and live in queens…but i LOVE it. i'm addicted and go like 4-5 times a week. you should def. check it out. My last week is next week and i'm super sad
oh and i also just bought some treats from gobble green. I'm not really looking to go vegan but i have such a hard time eating easy gluten free foods and they have a lot of options so i bought i few to try.
super excited.
Dana, you're so inspiring! (I tell all my engaged friends to read your blog!)
When I read your first Flab-to-Fab story I was uplifted – right then and there I started my own F-2-F and was able to shed and tone for my wedding by doing a Bikram yoga 30-day challenge (which equals 60 days of yoga at around $3 a class) and enjoyed a happy trim form in the wedding gown! But then I gained it all back in the time since. Booo…. So when I read your entry last week (about version 2.0) I signed up for another 30-day challenge, booked a bootcamp program for autumn, and applied for a yoga retreat as a "reward" for impending success. You rock – keep up the great work and I can't wait to keep reading about it! (p.s. Have been vegan for over 3 years and loves it)
Don't be too hard on yourself! it's a process. Think persistence, not perfection!
I was doing really well until I also got a nasty chest-cold. Threw a wrench in the whole thing.
I agree, we have to speak kindly to ourselves and allow for mistakes. I've had a really busy week and I really didn't feel I had the energy to follow with my exercise plan… I'm not very proud of myself right now. I feel I used excuses… again… But your words are uplifting to me: "every day is a new chance to succeed". I will keep it in mind today, and tomorrow, and hopefully many days after. Let's take things slow: more fruits and veggies in my nutrition (bump 1 more a day for this week) and add a mini-muscle-toning routine to each day. I'm in no hurry. The point is to find a better way of living: it's not a race!
A great FREE way to stay fit is to go to Meetup.com and join a hiking, biking, walking, rollerblading or other type of workout group. It's fun, free and keeps you motivated, plus you meet some really cool people. I just started doing this because I am so tired of the gym and don't feel like paying for a membership. At GODA Yoga in Culver City, new students can pay $30 for 2 weeks of unlimited yoga-great deal!
I'll check into it – thanks for the recommendation!
Ooooh, which did you get? I want to know what you think!
OMG my little yogi friend – I am SO impressed by you! You inspire me! Holy crap, you are a bad-ass and a half. Stick with it and rock it out. And come back all the time and whip my ass into shape. I believe in you!
Thanks lady. Hard to remember, but good advice, always.
Yes! I'm glad I could help save you from the wrenches of guilt and the mean-mind
Slow and steady, baby!
Thanks Erin! Ugh, Whyyyyyy is Culver City so far?!? I love the meetup idea – will definitely check it out!
Hey Dana!
It's Melissa Brey here! What a great blog you have! Love your writing style too! Way to go kicking the diet coke habit!!! This is something that I truly truly hope you will keep up with after your Challenge.
So I read that you're having "just a little" on the raw veggies. Have as much as you want girlfriend! Gnaw away on cucs, broccoli, peppers, zucchini strips. Your body will not hold onto those wholesome healthy fibrous carbs.
And so happy to hear your doing 90 ounces of water! That is tough if you're not used to it. Now I believe you only have 1 week left on your 30 day Challenge so lets kick that exercise into high gear this coming week and really make something happen!!! xo
Melissa Brey
Gobble Green Fitness and Nutrition Expert
Cutting out Diet Coke was a good decision. Many people think that it’s okay to drink it but it is not a health beverage at all. I personally like making my own fruit and vegetable shakes. Getting from Flab to Fit was difficult at first but when I started to feel myself getting stronger, it motivated me to work harder on achieving my fitness goal.
This kind of food is what most of the people are trying to eat. Hmmm yummy.
Food trip is what I always do whenever I am alone, lonely or even depressed. However, I tend to gain weight everytime I overeat myself. so right now I am controlling it.
Great post, great read and i'll look forward to your next post.
Oh… Foods and drinks are my favorite part. no wonder because I am not gaining more weight day by day. it's pretty cool. furnace repair coupons
Wow, I like the food. thanks!
Frankly speaking, the dishes on the pics don't look very tasty and attractive… I suppose that I wouldn't eat it! But if it can help me to lose my weight… well, I will think about it!