On Diets and Dieting

Let's be brutally honest here. I ate too much over the holidays. Did you? Were you nibbling in the kitchen as you cooked? How about the leftovers in the fridge? Now don't get me wrong, I'm a believer in a long term (read forever here) plan to keep your weight under control. And exercise. But there are times when it just doesn't happen for me and I need some incentive to get back on track.

One of the oddest diets I've ever seen was posted on Noble Pig's blog last fall. It was called  "The 11 day, Fit-In-Your-Jeans-Again, Diet". Did you see it? It was off the wall, but an 8 to 9 pound loss is nothing to sniff at. Just not sure I can hang in there with those truly odd ball meals for 11 days. All those nuts and some totally strange food pairings. Not a good diet if you work either. Impossible, actually. Some of the comments were a scream. Read about the diet HERE.....brace yourself .

Years ago a model friend of mine was complaining about a show coming up; she'd been on holiday so needed to lose a few pounds fast. Someone had given her what she called "The 3-Day Model's Diet." She proceeded to sing its praises and then wrote it out for me. This diet has been kicking around for a number of years so you may be familiar with it under its real name: The Cleveland Clinic Diet.

I have used it off and on to kick-start myself, then morph into my "forever" diet; which really never lasts forever no matter how good my intentions. Let's face it: the kitchen is my favorite room in the house. Anyway, it really does work. You will lose anywhere from 4-8 pounds (which must be nearly impossible when you are already a size 2 as my friend is); although realistically, most of that weight is likely due to fluid loss and not the more desirable fat loss. I never lost more than 4 pounds on it but it always did the trick and has the advantage of being easier to take than the 11 day diet. Oh well, any port in an diet emergency storm. Especially if the emergency is fitting into that little black dress in 4 days.

Do any of you have diet secrets to share?


Cleveland Clinic Diet (3 Day Model's Diet)
( Only salt and pepper for seasoning, no fat. Tea and coffee allowed- no cream or sugar; Splenda or Equal allowed)
Hints: I always use fresh veggies and good quality cheese
Let me also add that I HATE canned tuna. So I used canned salmon in one place and broiled fish in the other.

Day One:

Breakfast:
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 slice toast

Lunch:
½ cup canned tuna ( I eat canned salmon)
1 slice toast

Dinner:
3 slices any meat ( I eat turkey or chicken, small slices)
1 cup beets
½ cup green beans
1 apple
½ cup vanilla ice cream

Day Two:

Breakfast:
1 egg 1 banana
1 slice toast

Lunch:
1 cup cottage cheese
8 saltines

Dinner:
2 hot dogs
1 cup cauliflower
½ cup carrots
1 banana
½ cup vanilla ice cream

Day Three:

Breakfast:
3-5 slices cheddar cheese
8 saltine crackers
1 apple and 1 banana

Lunch:
1 hard boiled egg
1 slice toast

Dinner:
1 cup canned tuna ( I eat some other kind of fish )
1 cup beets
½ cup broccoli
½ cup any fruit
½ cup vanilla ice cream