Thailand & Dukan Day 88

Posted on November 17, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Today was a PV Day.
Lost weight, but don’t have the stats… they are on iPhone.

Breakfast of scrambled eggs with onions and bran, bacon and sausage, while listening to monkeys chattering and birds chattering… Blissful way to start the morn.

We then headed out on a 3 hour trek through the rainforest. It was awesome… rugged,hilly, rocky terrain. It was challenging, yet fun! The trees that make up the canopy of the rainforest soar 150 feet over your head. We were surrounded by amazing, lush greenery and the sounds of birds and monkeys and rushing water of the creek we crossed, many times on teeny bamboo bridges.

Lunch was BBQ pork rolled in fresh cracked black pepper, turmeric, sea salt and garlic… Heaven! Everyone else ate that and coconut milk soup and scrambled eggs, which would have been perfect for me to eat, until the cook through in sugar 😦 For dessert they had shredded coconut with sea salt, sugar and sticky rice… For me, the pork was good enough… Succulent and tasty, right off the barbie!

We then trekked 30 minutes back to Elephant Hills to pack up to move on to the beachside town of Krabi. The 3 days in Elephant Hills was AMAZING! It will be hard to get better service or accommodation or food… If you go to Thailand, it is a must do on your list!

Two and a half hours in a luxury van brings us out of the jungle and into a beachside touristy town called Krabi. We are staying at the Tipa Resort for 2 nights and we are on our own until tomorrow. Cathy and I got caught up on emails and Dominique and Karen met up with Dom’s friend Emma, who is on her honeymoon. Cathy and I had a yummy dinner in e resort’s restaurant. I had grilled chicken with onions, the presentation was gorgeous and a bowl of Tom Kah Gai soup, because it’s the one thing I won’t be denied while on this holiday!!! I literally slurped the broth to get as much of the flavor as I could… Exquisite flavors! Long walk through town, then a blissful sleep…

Life is good!

Ciao!

Thailand & Dukan Day 87

Posted on November 16, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Tuesday was a PP day… For the most part 🙂

Daily weight loss: Gain 2.8 lb/1.3 kg – Yikes!
Total weight loss: 38.7 lb/17.6 kg

The scales of woe are upon me! I’m not freaking out or anything, I am on vacation, but yuck! It had been a bit challenging to get the right balance of food here in Thailand, in regard to Dukan. They are mostly vegetarians, so very little meat goes into some of their dishes.

For the most part, I did have a PP day yesterday.
Breakfast: 2 egg omelet with onions in it.
Lunch: tofu on a stick and a couple of pieces of fried fish (no batter) while everyone else ate this….
MY LUNCH…

EVERYONE ELSES LUNCH…

Afternoon snack: beef jerky
Dinner: grilled pork and curried chicken, but I dipped the chicken in tea to get the curry gravy off 😦
And that was it! I definitely got my water in, but I haven’t had my bran in a couple of days (going to ask them to sprinkle in my eggs this morning).

We had a great time, again. We took a van down to the southern most part of Thailand and got on a high-speed boat which took us through some beautiful river. He then slowed down and went through a maze of channels into the mangrove forest. This reminded of my childhood when we used to explore the mangroves with the environmental studies center. We saw lots of different snakes in the trees above our heads. It felt like a real Disney Jungle cruise!

VIETNAM BORDER…

We were then taken to a Burmese Junk, where we were given the choice of soaking up some sun or taking a paddle canoe out… I chose the first option and soaked up some Vitamin D 🙂 Karen and Dominique went exploring.

After an hour they served up a delicious lunch… But I was a good girl. We were then taken to a deserted beach for some R$R. The beach is on the border of Thailand and Vietnam. Lots of crabs to chase and take pictures of. I took a nice long walk on the beach.

Then back to Elephant Hills for a good night’s sleep.

Ciao!

Thailand and Dukan – Day 86

Posted on November 15, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Monday was a PV Day because of the limited choices while on holiday in Thailand.
Daily weight loss: GAIN- +0.2 lb/0.1 kg
Total weight loss: 41.5 lb/18.9 kg

Woke up to the beauty and mist of the mountains back in Kuraburi Lodge. Surrounded by the sounds of nature… Ahhhhhhh

Breakfast of hard fried eggs and bacon and a cup of coffee, then back to the room to pack for our next adventure.

About an hour and half on the road we arrived at Elephant Hills Resort and after a brief meeting about what we would be doing, we were led to our luxury tent rooms… And are they luxurious! Wow! Mattresses with memory foam, softest pillows in the world, amazing bathroom… just Wow!

After unpacking, we went to lunch buffet with delicious Thai food and then to our elephant experience! We walked down a mud track to an area where 13 elephants were brought in by their mahouts and we were given lessons about the difference between Asian and African elephants, about what they eat and how the mahout is with the elephant for life. The elephant hook is used the same as the reins on a horse to guide the elephant.
We then prepared a meal for our elephant, cutting sugar cane, chopping water melons and pineapples, preparing pumpkin and cucumbers and a special packet of tamarind, rice and sea salt wrapped in a banana leaf.
We then got to feed them… Oh it was wonderful! They reach in with their soft, delicate, yet powerful trunks and gently take the food from you. They cradle it in their trunk, near the “hand” (which, by the way, has one finger, versus the 2 that African elephants have), and then swing it in their mouths. Their tongues are huge! They really connect with you while feeding them.

After caring for the elephants we had a little snack break and then walked down to the Sok River for a one hour canoe trip. We each had our own canoe guide who did all the work. We had tea on the embankment and then continued on. We saw snake, gorgeous birds and a monitor lizard! Great afternoon!
Movie about elephants, Thai dancing by some adorable local children and buffet dinner, with a pad thai cooking demo, and a nice cup of coffee ended our day… Slept like a baby with the tent windows pulled back…. BLISS!

I’m off to the shower… Ciao!

Dukan – Day 83

Posted on November 12, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Friday was a PV day.
Daily weight loss: 0.6 lb/0.3 kg
Total weight loss: 41.3 lb/18.8 kg

Today we traveled from Phuket to Kuraburi Greenview Resort. The place is GORGEOUS!

Off for a community visit, no Internet for 36 hours!

Dukan – Days 78 & 79 – Rut ro!

Posted on November 7, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Sunday was PV and Monday was PP.
Day 78: Daily weight loss: -1.8 lb/-0.8 kg (yowza!! YUCKY weight gain!)
Day 79: Daily weight loss: 0.9 lb/0.4 kg … well, that’s more like it!

Even though I ate 3 wedding celebration meals over the weekend, I think this slight increase had less to do with food (because I pretty much stuck to the program) and more to do with the fact that I didn’t get my walks in, didn’t drink enough water AND didn’t have my bran… A bad combination of didn’t haves!

So yesterday (Monday) I made sure I got 2 of the 3 in 🙂 and today I’ll be even better. I was very happy when I got on the scale this morning!

The great news… I got my boxes that I shipped from Dubai to Shanghai yesterday! Wow, what a process going through customs was, but I prevailed, paid about $70 USD in port taxes and have my stuff… YAY! It was like Christmas here. And I finally have clothes that fit… Nice to be back in the clothes I was wearing when I first arrived in Abu Dhabi 3 years ago. Some of the stuff is actually baggy, which made me happy and some of it is a tad too tight, which was the stuff I bought at the thrift store in Miami just before leaving in 2008, in anticipation of losing weight… Well, at least that’s happening now 😀

Attended a lovely wedding this weekend, the couple Chiara and Yang Li (Joe), are the couple who’s sweet Alessandro was born into my hands as the first water birth in Hangzhou, back in May. What an honor to be part of both events!

Now, back on track!! I’m doing a 2nd PP day today to kick my body’s ass into gear! My scale is going to Thailand with me tomorrow and I plan on continuing to win this war of weight!!

End note… My happiest moment came when I unwrapped my painting and she was intact. I missed her and what she represents of the past year!

Dukan- Day 77

Posted on November 6, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Saturday was a PV day.
Daily weight loss: 0.2 lb/0.08 kg
Total weight loss: 40.5 lb/18.41 kg

Ahhhhh, feeling MUCH better tummy wise! I am still retaining some water, but hope to be back to normal for my trip to Thailand this week.

After work today I was invited to Chiara and Joe’s pre-wedding dinner in Joe’s family’s village. As I was walking down the alley between houses on the way from Joe’s family house to the warehouse where the dinner took place, I realized how amazingly fortunate I really am! I am blessed and I don’t take that granted for one single minute!

Good food, good company, many different languages and so much fun! Today they will have their celebration of marriage… Good times.

Breakfast: 2 tea eggs
Lunch: sliced beef and green beans with tofu crumbles and hot chilis
Dinner: see pic below… Stayed true to Dukan, but man it was tempting not to… LOL
I had planned on a pot of yogurt when I got home. But no appetite for it.

Some pics from my fun night out…

Alessandro and his Papa from Milan.

Dukan – Day 76

Posted on November 5, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Friday was a PP day.
Daily weight loss: -0.4 lb/-0.18 kg (so gain of 1/2 lb)
Total weight loss: 40.3 lb/18.33 kg

So I was disappointed this morning when I got on the scale. How in the he’ll do you gain a half pound when you’ve had dodgy tummy for FIVE DAYS!!!!! I’ve spent the better part of this week in close proximity to the toilet and not the fridge… LOL

This morning, however, I walked to work and went to put on my dress pumps and they were tight. So I guess my body really is holding on for dear life. The good news is, I saw the TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) doc and she did some spinal manipulation, tummy manipulation and then she did acupressure points and cupping (which hurt like a mofo!). Well, no more dodgy tummy!
So, I’m hoping that tomorrow the scale will be on my side.

Breakfast: nothing… The staff canteen didn’t have eggs 😦
Lunch: Ravenous! Beef slices with cilantro and tofu.
Dinner: out at a Brazilian meat restaurant… Lots of meat, and I accidentally ate cow tongue, and it didn’t taste bad (never would have eaten it if I had known!)
No snack with bran, but I got about 1 liter of water in, and drank about 500 mL of lemon juice at dinner.

Ciao!

Dukan – Day 75

Posted on November 3, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Thursday was a PV Day
Daily Weight Loss: 0.0 lb/0.0 kg
Total Weight Loss: 40.7 lb/18.51 kg

Same same as yesterday. I know it’s because I have been eating less because of my dodgy tummy! My body is holding on for dear life 🙂 I’ll keep plugging along.

I did two PV days in a row because I forgot to take protein out of the freezer for dinner, so here’s my Thursday intake:

Breakfast: 2 tea eggs, 500 mL water, coffee
Lunch: sliced beef with cilantro and spicy tofu (I know… No wondery dodgy tummy is on day 4!) 300 mL water, Coke Zero
Dinner: stir fried onions, garlic stem and asparagus with 4 small slices of lean ham. 500 mL water
Snack: pot of FF Greek yogurt with Splenda and bran

I moved into a new office this week:

And did my first JCI Accreditation lecture for the staff:

I think it went well 🙂

I hope everyone has a blessed day!

Ciao!

Dukan – Day 74

Posted on November 2, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Wednesday was a PV Day
Daily Weight Loss: 0.4 lb/0.2 kg
Total Weight Loss: 40.7 lb/18.51 kg

Well, after 3 days of Montezuma’s revenge, I thought I’d have lost more weight! Although my left wrist is a bit swollen this morning and a my water retention “barometer”, I think my body was just trying to hold on for dear life. I actually considered eating rice yesterday, to settle my gut, but I persevered and think I might be okay now.

Rough couple of days to say the least. In addition to the tummy troubles I had to spend an unexpected night in Shanghai. My boxes that I shipped from Dubai have arrived and I had to do the 96 step process to release them through customs. They say I can pick them up on Monday. I’ve been waiting to get them so I could pack for my trip to Thailand next week, I leave on Wednesday! Otherwise, I’ll be wearing the same 2 pair of pants for 2 weeks, as nothing else fits! This is not, however, a bad thing 🙂 I love that nothing fits!

Wednesday’s meals, on the run in Shanghai:
Breakfast: 1 fried egg and slab of pork (street food, yes, I’m a glutton for punishment!)
Late lunch: Roast chicken and green beans with tofu crumbles and chilis
Dinner: pot of FF Greek yogurt with Splenda and bran

Only got about 600 mL of water in, but did have a couple coca-cola lights and a cafe latte with skim milk.

Another big thanks for all the support! It helps more than you can imagine to know that there are other Dukaners on this journey AND that my family and friends are also cheering me on!

Ciao!

Dukan – Day 72 – I DID IT!!!

Posted on October 31, 2011 by flamidwyfe

Sunday was a PP Day

Daily Weight Loss: 0.4 lb/0.2 kg
Total Weight Loss: 40.3 lb/18.31 kg YAY!

So, I met the goal I set for November 9th! Now to keep it off. And stay steady. I know it slows down the further along you get.

I did a pure, pure protein day… I didn’t eat any onions or garlic, even though they are allowed.

Breakfast: 1 egg, scrambled and 3 small, round slices of ham
Lunch: 1 boiled egg
Dinner: 1 small steak with leftover chicken from yesterday
Snack: small pot of FF/SF yogurt with Splenda and bran

A teeny bit more than 1.5 liters of water, 1 Coke Zero and 2 cups of coffee

So, moving along this journey of weight loss. Told a friend the other day in chat that I am devoted to doing the Dukan program for life. I’ve read the book through twice, and I’m on the third round, too. I really suggest you read the book, word for word, for complete understanding of the “why’s” of this program. It makes it so much more motivating.

Ciao!