Day 2 HHMD

Remember when I said that, from now on, you were likely to see only my stats posted here? Well ...

I did not enjoy the first day of the Hilton Head Metabolism Diet. I really did not. Did I suffer? No.  I was uncomfortable, though, and, quite frankly, I hate thinking that much about food - measuring it out, counting calories, etc. It's good practice, though, for getting a feel for what a portion size really should be, I guess.

Also, I prefer to eat the bigger meals earlier in the day. Nevertheless, that is not what was called for and that's not what I did.

Finally, I found the calorie count of the book to be off, somewhat, and, I went over the calorie count because of the fact that the bread that I can afford is hideously high in calories. It is also hideously high in fiber, though, which is a bonus.

I will tell you that I did feel fine on energy, yesterday. Though, as much as the Greek yogurt seems to be better than regular milk or yogurt, I do think I'm going to have to be careful to limit it to strictly the times 1/4 cup of cottage cheese is called for and just deal with the fact that I will not be having milk, of any sort, with breakfast.

This morning, I made the cup of oatmeal with 1/2 banana and cinnamon, as yesterday, except I added about 10 raisins. I added them in for two reasons. First of all, they are supposed to be particularly good at sustained energy production, and, I have work  to deal with this morning, as well as going to the Kingdom Hall for the usual meeting.  Second of all, they taste really, really good to me. And, since I am not having the milk, they will not interfere with the basic calorie count.

Anyway, I found that the oatmeal seemed like a more generous amount than it did yesterday. So much so that I had to double check to make sure I used the right measurements. I did. I guess I am just settling in.

The best news is that I neither went to bed hungry nor got up that way. Well, I was a little hungry when I got up, but, not feeling starving or deprived, and, right now, after having eaten breakfast,  I feel full. Granted, I did eat a whole 1/4 cup more of oatmeal than called for; but, again, I didn't drink the milk, so, it balances out.

Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal, cinnamon, 1/2 banana, 10 raisins. (145, 61, 26 = 232)

I am sort of guessing on the calories of the raisins. California Maid Raisins says that their jumbo raisins are 130 calories per 1/4 cup. Another site says that the average serving of raisins is 50. Since other sites also mentioned 1/4 cup, it seems that a quarter cup is the average serving. It may be that less than 50 raisins would fit in to 1/4 cup, since they are jumbo raisins, but, I am assuming that's how many fit in. I divided 130 calories by 5, and, 26 is the number I got for the 10.

Anyway, in some ways I am resolved to try to follow the calorie count even better. In other ways, my sister might be in town and offer to take me to lunch, and, I am too poor to pass up a free meal.

Lunch: 1 egg, fried in olive oil  1 slice bread, 1/2 grapefruit  (90 -184, 110, 41 =241/335) (473/567)
The discrepancy is because fried eggs have 90 calories according to some people, and, according to other people, you should log the exact amount of oil used to cook it in. Now, I did not measure the oil, and, I cooked two eggs for someone else in that oil, too. I like to be honest, but, I don't like to go through a hassle to do so.

Okay, I have no idea what the actual calories are for the dinner and snack I had, later on, but, I shall try to approximate:

Dinner salad w/ honey mustard dressing,  5 oz porterhouse steak, medium baked potato, 2 slices Texas toast with butter (154 calories, 400, 161, 400 = 1,115)  Wow! (1,115, 565 = 1,680)
Check out this Salad Calorie Counter. It's pretty cool. Though, it did not ask amounts, so ...
1 small blueberry pancake cooked in butter (184) (1,864)

1,864 calories for the day. Which, while it is horrible for the Hilton Head Metabolism Diet is still well within normal range for a human being. Plus, I felt satisfied. Though, I could have done without the butter on the toast and felt even better about it.

Okay, now let me show you something:

According to the weight loss calculator, it would take 2,237 calories per day, to maintain my current weight, if I was sedentary. I did a lot of walking, yesterday. So, I did not eat an enormous amount, I ate less calories than I could have to lose weight. I had fun.

The concept I am trying to get across here is something men are far better at than women, when it comes to trying to follow a diet. It is summed up in two words "So what?"  It was more calories than some stranger wanted me to have, but, I don't eat like that all the time and I had a good time. I feel no guilt. I do feel slightly more aware and better able to resist buttered toast, though.

And, the more I am aware and even pretending to try to follow the HHMD, the more I come to the realization that I need more vegetables and less stress. Still, I bought the food, and, I shall, more or less, continue and see what happens.