Day 32 - PV - I CHEATED.

I cheated today. I am openly and unashamedly admitting it. I was faced with the most delectable strawberry I have EVER seen... and I had to have it. I figured, what harm could ONE strawberry do? Admittedly, it was sort of an enormous strawberry... but I don't regret it... even if I gain a pound in the morning... that strawberry was worth it.

In other news - I'm contemplating re-framing my weight loss goals and moving to the consolidation stage early. Right now, I'm between 136 and 138 pounds.... My "true weight" according to the Dukan website is 132.8.... but I don't know that I can, realistically do cruise for another month. I'm having DREAMS about cheating on this diet. I'm not even joking - last night, I dreamed that someone gave me a cream cheese danish... (sort of an odd thing to be dreaming about - since I rarely, if ever eat Cream Cheese pastries even if I'm not on Dukan) and I was about to bite into it and, no lie, in my dream I had a Tourette's style swearing fest about how I was on this BLEEPING diet and I couldn't have that... and that if I ate it, it would ruin everything. IT. WAS. BIZARRE. So, either my subconscious is more carb-addicted than I realize so it's trying to tempt me to quit.... or I've just mentally had enough of denying myself stuff that I like. The Jury is still out. I'm going to see if I can lose a few more pounds... maybe get to 135.... by doing a mini-Attack redux this week. 135 is a nice even number... then I can move on to Consolidation which is a more normal eating plan.

Consolidation Stage:

• All of the foods from Attack and Cruise are still allowed in unlimited quantities - added to the "allowed  meats" list are: Leg of lamb and cooked ham
• It is no longer required to alternate PP with PV days - you replace this alternation with one set day of PP  per week.
• 2 Tbsp of Oat Bran and 1.5 liters of water are still required.
• Exercise goes back to 25 minutes a day.
• Added to the "approved/ required foods" list:
• 1 serving of fruit per day (all fruits are allowed except bananas - sad panda - grapes, cherries, dried fruits and nuts)
• 2 slices of 100% whole grain bread per day
• 1 serving of cheese per day (!!!!!) (except fermented cheeses like bleu cheese, goat cheese, feta, etc)
• 2 servings of "Starchy" foods per week - including pasta, rice, lentils, and Legumes - which Dr. Pierre summarily lambasted for "causing flatulence"!!! LOL!!)

• 1-2 "Celebration Meals" per week - during the first half of the Consolidation period - Dr. Pierre allows 1 CM per week, it moves to 2 during the second half of Consolidation.
• A "Celebration Meal" is the freedom to eat ANYTHING YOU WANT - the definition of a "meal" according to the book is: 1 starter, 1 main course, 1 dessert, 1 glass of wine (!!!) 
• You may not have second helpings of anything
• You should obviously avoid having two celebration meals in a row - space them out.

Doesn't that sound A LOT nicer?!?! Bread, Cheese, FRUIT!! Normalcy! Being able to have sushi and tacos and go out to eat or have friends over!! The luxury.... I'm am very much looking forward to beginning this stage.

Some of you may be wondering why, if I'm so fed up with Cruise, I don't just quit all together and go back to calorie counting and exercising like normal. Believe me, the temptation is there. BUT - according to the book - in order to maintain the weight loss I've already achieved it is important to gradually reintroduce the foods I've been denying myself. To go straight back to previous eating habits - no matter how healthy they are - would mean almost certain weight re-gain. Anyone who has done Atkins, Dukan, or similar low-carb diet will tell you that the sudden reintroduction of carbs without some sort of  plan or strategy = epic fail. Also - in the interest of follow-through - and since I've obviously hooked you all in with riveting accounts of my weight loss odyssey - I want to finish what I started! :)

So - I'm going to try to make it to 135... and then CONSOLIDATION!

Menu:
Breakfast:
Oat Bran Porridge
Coffee w/ fixins


Lunch:
Iceberg Lettuce Salad w/ broccoli, cauliflower, and crab
Dukan Balsamic Vinaigrette
Strawberry Banana nonfat Yogurt

Snack:
1 DELICIOUS FORBIDDEN STRAWBERRY
1 can Diet Rite Soda

Dinner:
Center Cut Loin Pork Chops with herbs and garlic
Sauteed Spinach
leftover broccoli and cauliflower
Hot Tea w/ lemon