One Month Later

One month ago Larry and I decided we needed to start a diet. Together. From time to time one or the other of us has tried to lose weight, but not both at the same time. This time we realized that we needed to make a change and that the best way to make it work was to do it together.

I don't guess it's really a diet, since we're not starving and not doing anything like the Adkins diet or any kind of program like that. Our rules are pretty simple:

1. Cut back the breads. We were eating toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch. Now it's toast only on the weekends.
2. Eat oatmeal for breakfast, save the eggs for the weekend breakfasts.
3. Few sweets. Except for honey in my tea, and jam for the toast on weekend, the sweetener in oatmeal, that's about it. We can break loose a little on weekends, but that's all.
4. More salads, soups and vegetable. With the freezer and cellar full, veggies are easy.

5. Less salt. My blood pressure was higher than it's ever been when I was at the doctor at the beginning of the month--I don't want it to get any worse. And Larry's is an issue too. I don't have to take meds yet, and I don't want to start if I can avoid it.
6. And because of the same reason, decaff coffee. I have never been able to tell the difference anyway.
7. Keep dinners light. Salad or soup, usually. This week we're splurging a little with quiche. I cook on the weekends so dinners are easy to prepare. That stops the "just-grab-something-quick" syndrome.
8. Chamomile tea in the evenings is a new addition, and we like it. It's relaxing and is supposed to help us sleep better. I don't worry about that, but I do like its flavor.

After one month, Larry has lost 20 pounds. I've lost 8. His bp and sugar levels are perfect now that his medications can work like they should because he's eating right. My bp is usually fine, occasionally still skimming that line so I have more work to do. But already we both feel much better and have more energy.

This coming month I don't expect such wonderful results and will be happy with losing another pound or two. I am having fun experimenting with different recipes, and we're saving money because we're eating less and using more from the freezer and cellar.

Anyone else on a diet? How is your going?