Bob's Skinny Rules Week 1

I started these a few days early to give myself some time to prepare. One of them is difficult. I decided to go out of order also because rule # 2 is don't drink your calories, and let's face it, Bob obviously doesn't know how important Starbucks coffee is to a teacher the last two weeks of school! So here are the first three rules:

Rule # 1 Drink a large glass of water before every meal. Bob recommends drinking 16 oz during your meal also. While this rule is an easy one, it is difficult to remember. I am going to have to get in the habit of it. There was a study that Bob uses in his book that proves that people who drink more water have a higher metabolism and loose more weight.

Rule # 3 Eat Protein at every meal- or stay hungry and grouchy. He gives suggestions of protein, so it's not just chicken all the time. This is an area in which I am lacking. In fact, I probably border on a vegetarian lifestyle. Thankfully, Bob has recipes in the back of his book to help me think of meals that have protein. One that I tried today is his 3+1 egg omelet. Bob suggests using 3 egg whites and 1 whole egg to make an omelet with lots of veggies. The egg whites are better for you and fewer calories, but the whole egg gives it the color and flavor of a whole egg. 

So my breakfast was 3+1 scrambled eggs. I just didn't feel like adding veggies and making it an omelet, one cup of strawberries, and one piece of Ezekiel bread- which Bob says is best and I say tastes like cardboard (okay I cheated and added some Earth's Balance Dairy Free spread). Do you see my tall glass of water? The bread is 80 calories, the eggs are around 100 calories, and the strawberries I am guessing are 100 calories. So this is more calories than I consume with my cereal and after eating I was stuffed!

I am not sure how this will work during work days. I may try some protein- spinach oatmeal a couple of days for variety. I really like my cereal and am going to miss it, but these strawberries were delicious.

Someone wasn't too happy I ate her strawberries though... We had to go buy them in bulk to make up for it. 

 The rest of my meals were a subway sandwich for lunch and grilled chicken with roasted asparagus and potatoes for dinner. The only meal I am going to have to plan ahead for will be lunch. I usually take roasted veggies, but now I need to pre-cook chicken to add to my veggies.

My Our morning snack was a strawberry banana smoothie. We both loved it. Bob has a recipe for a skinny shake similar to the jamba juice package we used except his is 300 calories, and I want to stick to under 200 for a snack. The one I used, and the yoplait greek yogart one I bought today are both under 200 calories. Instead of adding any milk, I add ice and water. It was really good and very filling. I feel like I over ate today with my new rules. Yikes! Hopefully the scales don't show it!

Rule #18 ( and this one if the biggie) Go to bed hungry! Yep! Go to bed hungry! Bob says that you should stop eating at least three hours before your bed time. I have decided to use the rule "no eating after dinner" but I am now including a fruit dessert of strawberries or grapes to the end of my dinner. I started this one early because I KNEW it was going to be difficult. And you know what?  It is! I swear the animal crackers in the pantry are calling out to me!

I started last Wednesday and thought I would wake up every hour hungry...  but I didn't! I DID wake up ready to eat the next morning, but no more hungry than usual. It has gotten a little easier since then, but I still walk into the kitchen every night and remember that I can't eat. AND I think about eating until I go to bed. I realized that I was sabotaging all the GOOD I was doing all day by my evening snacking. I don't even know how many calories I was consuming! 500?? Maybe 1000??!! My problem is these darn internet classes. I feel I NEED something to eat while I am working. I may start chewing gum or eating ice chips at night. So what do I do instead of eat? Drink water, and more water. and more water. It makes me feel full for about 30 minutes at a time.

So, there's my challenge for the week. What about you? Are you willing to try any of these rules with me? I am also going to start counting calories again, and I am already keeping up a consistent workout schedule that I am hoping to add to this summer. I will let you know how I do and if I lose any weight. I have lost a couple of pounds since early last week, and that's even with a splurge meal last night!