| What's Up With Self-Sabotage?
Does this sound familiar?
How many times have we started a new diet with the very best of intentions? We know we picked a good program, we're excited, we've stocked up on the essentials. We might even manage to do well for a few days.
Then the shoe falls. Our resolve wanders. We almost look for an excuse to cheat. You ask yourself, “Why?”
You know full well that 14 strong days as free of temptation as possible will garner you the best chance of success.
Good plan! So, what do you instead? You make a date to meet your pals at the local hangout – you know, the one with the free Happy Hour buffet and 25¢ beers. You rationalize you “deserve” it. You convince yourself that your friends will bolster you with “support”. Well, maybe not based on the last go round. Lastly, you promise yourself to stick to 1, okay 2 max, Michelob Lights.
Yeah that was the promise, but it didn't quite turn out that way. Yet again.
It's not like we need to someone to hold our hand into temptation! It surely doesn't help that there's a McDonalds, Burger King and/or Pizza Hut on every corner. Calling at us like an epic siren, we turn into the drive thru like Pavlov's dogs. Our brain tells us to order a bunless cheeseburger or grilled chicken salad, meanwhile we splurt out “Big Mac & Diet Coke”. Of course Diet Coke! Hey, we're on a diet!
Why do we do it? Why do we set ourselves up? Seemingly, almost on purpose?
Personally, I think it's akin to the emotional reasons we eat, whether we're actually hungry or not. The next time you're standing in front of the fridge, door swung wide open, staring in a blank trance as if some magical 0 cal 0 carb delicious delight will suddenly appear. Take comfort in knowing that your dieting sisters and brothers are joining you world over.
Self examination is the key. What's going on inside your brain? What are we furiously trying to bury under the wrong foods and poor choices? What on earth are we afraid of? Worried that we can't blame personal failures on our fat anymore? Scared about sudden attention and flirting from the opposite sex?
Zillions of books have been written on the subject and I'm far from an expert, but I have spent the better portion of my adult life pondering this puzzle. Therapy is probably the most obvious answer, but we don't have time and I'm certainly unqualified! Behavior modification techniques would be beneficial, as are online support groups, like those at the Kimkins.com site.
For my buck, the most bang is journaling. Yes guys, even you. You've heard confession is good for the soul. Well, it's absolutely true. As luck would have it, your Kimkins membership comes with your very own personal journal – yours to share with other Kimkins members for accountability or with the whole world if you like.
We'll touch more on self-sabotage in upcoming issues. But for now, committing feelings and insecurities, whether to paper or bandwidth, can help.
Go ahead, discover yourself.
Becky's Tips for Kimkins Newbies
I have been on many diets over the years. Some I stuck with for months, some for weeks, some for days, some - only hours! Some, I even gained weight on! But I have NEVER seen a program as quick and effective for weight loss and well-being as Kimmer's way! If you can lose weight at all, you can lose weight well and happily on Kimmer's Experiment and/or Kimkins!
- Over the coming weeks, I'll be posting some info and tips to help get us off to a great start. In the meantime, try these:
- Print out a copy of the Kimkins and/or the Kimmer Experiment guidelines. One each for your purse, fridge door, inside cupboard door -- anywhere that you might need a reminder!
- Give away, throw away, or hide (if the family insists they stay around) any particularly tempting 'trigger' foods that might give you a problem. Warning - This is not the time for a day-before food-fest, eating everything in the house to get rid of it!
- I highly recommend that you set up an account with Fitday.com, a free online program and so helpful in many areas like calculating food intake, charting weight loss, recording exercise and providing a journal. Frankly, it's a real pain to get started and figure out the first week or so, but becomes much easier after that. For most of us, it is indispensable to keep us accountable and show us our blind spots. You'll see that a lot of us make our Fitday accounts public and provide a link in our Kimkins.com signatures.
I really look forward to sharing more of the hints and tricks that I've found to make accountability and weight loss even easier!
Questions? Members please send a PM to Littlebit on the Kimkins.com website.
Ask Kimmer!
Question: I've heard you mention the Domino Effect. What is it?
In a nutshell, the Domino Effect is incredibly rapid weight loss. When carbs are very, very low you enter what I term deep ketosis and the weight loss is phenomenal. Way, way faster than the 3500 calories = 1 lb rule would allow.
Think of a set of dominos, placed upright 1” away from. At the beginning of Kimkins or the Kimmer Experiment, the dominos begin falling. One, then two then three -- look out! They start falling at blazing speed, building rapidly on the momentum already started and you'll stare at the bathroom scale in amazement..
Maybe a tsunami would be a better analogy? Think of the power of thousands of miles of water, moving with such force that the ocean appears to have risen 50 feet!
Once the dominos have been stopped from a cheat, the Domino Effect comes to a grinding halt and the momentum is dissolved. Darn. Start all over and it will be another 4-7 days of so-so weight loss until the dominos get set up again.
It is not the same as the measured 1-2 lbs a week lost on traditional plans. A "cheat" on those plans can be recaptured much more quickly -- if you're interested in only losing 1 lb a week.
People who commit to strict Kimkins are those who show the miraculous weight losses you see at the Kimkins website. And I do mean miraculous!
Question: How many pounds do I have to lose to go down 1 size?
It largely depends on two things: current weight and body frame. Generally speaking, a medium frame person will work this way:
Weight 250 - 350 lbs - 20 lbs per size
Weight 200 - 250 lbs - 15 lbs per size
Weight 160 - 200 lbs - 10 lbs per size
Weight 115 - 160 lbs - 5 to 7 lbs per size
Do you have a question for me? Come and ask in Questions & Advice on the Member Forum.
Kimkins Recipe Box
Zesty Zucchini Latkes (makes 8-10)
- 2 zucchini, grated & squeezed dry
- 1 tsp garlic, minced (jarred is OK)
- 2 tablespoons onion, grated or finely chopped
- 1 egg, well beaten
- .25 tsp salt & pepper (+ garlic powder if raw garlic not used)
- Splash Tabasco (optional)
Mix all ingredients well, let sit for a few minutes for flavors to mingle.
Heat nonstick skillet on medium, spray with Pam (or wipe with olive oil). Drop zucchini mixture by large cereal spoonfuls and cook until set & lightly browned (5-6 minutes), flip and cook 3-4 minutes on reverse.
For breakfast I make large latkes, poke a whole in the middle (donut) and break an egg into the center. Cover, cook 7 minutes on low, serve.
Guilt Free Slushies (makes 1 servings)
- 6 to 8 flavored ice cubes (I like frozen strong Crystal Light)
- 2 to 3 oz Diet 7-Up
Empty everything into a blender, whirl on high until smooth & frosty! Really hits the spot on a hot summer day (or freeze the slush for a snow cone later!)
Nothing easier and totally guilt free!
Quick To Do: Veggie Garden
Delicious, nutrient rich veggies are an integral part of the Kimkins plan and naturally we want to choose from a wide variety -- the more colors the better!
A convenient way to have an assortment at your fingertips is to grow them in a container garden! If you have kids, this is a fun family activity and most anyone can find space for at least 2-3 favorites.
What You'll Need (3 veggies)
3 14" diameter planters
3 4" veggie plants (maybe tomato, zucchini & green beans)
1 large bag potting soil (Miracle Gro brand is excellent)
1 pkg concentrated plant fertilizer (I like generic Miracle Gro)
What To Do
- Lightly water your nursery plants
- Make 1 gallon of liquid plant fertilizer
- Fill the plant containers midway with potting soil, tamp down
- Finish filling loosely with potting soil, making a well to insert plant
- Gently tip the plant out of its store container, place in the well, tamp
- Add additional potting soil as you firmly tamp the soil to rid air bubbles
- Carefully water well with diluted plant fertilizer mixture
Done! So easy! Place your new masterpieces out of direct sunlight for 24 hours (48 hours if very hot outside), then move them to a place where they'll enjoy 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. You'll probably need to water daily, check soil for moisture.
Notes: Tomato plants should be buried deep in the soil up to first set of leaves. The buried stem will produce roots and give you a healthier plant! Pick "bush" veggie types. You can "rush" your results by buying larger gallon size plants & larger containers.
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