hi -
some of you here know that I have been strugging with weight issues following having my first child.  Well after going backwards and forwards with being compliant with BTD/swami I have decided to really try to be 100% with my foods for at least a month, no excuses.  That means no small amounts of sugar (in chocolate for instance), no ketchup, mayo unless it is homemade - basically fully compliant.

Anybody want to join me?  Or is there a thread for this already going?  I am really going for 100% to see if I can get some results.

Good luck!

I pretty much do that all the time, although with Passover coming up I have a few planned treats. I can't find "kosher for Passover" versions of all my compliant foods, so I do eat things such as homemade almond milk and charoset made with apples and honey. This is the one week a year when I intentionally eat a few things that are "avoids" on my SWAMI, though still in wholesome versions.

Oh my God, I can't even go through the "wash out" phase....

I'll always get weak at one point and gorge on avoids... So I have to start over again, and I'm thinking of giving up.

I really want to follow that diet, but it makes me feel like I'm actually on a diet, which I don't want to be...
Explorer compliant cakes are just not good.

be prepared for a week or tow of cravings but after that it gets so much better.

Be strong. and take some herbs and supplements to help.

keep a diary too oxo

Loops, first of all: goood luck! I'm sure you'll feel and see the benefits of being 100% compliant; I know I do.

I've started out being 100% compliant, due to health issues. Then, after about one year, I decided to be a little more lenient and went down to about 90% compliance.
As I immediately noticed that I wasn't feeling and doing as well, I went back to 100% compliance.

So that's what I've been doing for several years now. It's very rare that I "stray". It happens, of course, but very very sporadically.

I hope you'll see the results you want after your one month project
And compliance actually becomes easier over time, as you get used to the list of what you can eat.

Way to go, Loops!  

Just know that I'm on your 100% compliancy team.  That's what it takes for me to feel good - I have struggled with so many mysterious and chronic health problems throughout my life.  Anything short of full compliance and my body is not happy.  I've been sticking with 100% for many years, although a few times a year if I'm traveling or eating at a friend's house, I'll eat some black dots.  This is literally 2 or 3 times a year.

Once you form the habit, it's easier being compliant than not, because the momentum begins to carry you as you feel better and happier and stronger!

I'm ready to join in!

Quoted from Cecile

Oh my God, I can't even go through the "wash out" phase....

I'll always get weak at one point and gorge on avoids... So I have to start over again, and I'm thinking of giving up.

I really want to follow that diet, but it makes me feel like I'm actually on a diet, which I don't want to be...
Explorer compliant cakes are just not good.

Do you have SWAMI or are you following the Explorer diet in the  book?

If you're having  REALLY tough time sticking to the diet 100%, my guess is that you're not on quite the right diet. The "right diet" feels satisfying, not depriving. If you have a SWAMI, double-check all the data you inputted- see if there are any mistakes, mis-measurements, etc. If you're following the Explorer diet from the book, it may be time to invest in a SWAMI.

If that's not an option right now, then you still need to make some changes. Double-check your measurements and the strength tests- see if maybe you'd do better on the Warrior or Teacher diet. Another option is to switch from GTD to BTD and follow the A diet. Yet a third option is to stick with the Explorer diet, but eat the "Black dot" foods more liberally. Some "black dot" foods are OK for some individuals, and all are far better than the outright avoids!

thanks everybody!  I've been really good today and yesterday - hasn't been so hard.  I expect my cheese cravings to kick in tomorrow as they usually do around day 3 off dairy - I am really intolerant to the stuff.  Great bluesinger to have a buddy on this - we can do it!

Keep focusing on the beneficial foods, Loops.  I try to be 100% beneficial foods only, but sometimes utilize some neutral foods.  I have a very diverse food list, so this isn't real hard, but my DD's food lists (and tastes) are very limited - so she has to include neutral foods to be able to eat anything...

Quoted from Cecile

...I can't even go through the "wash out" phase....

I'll always get weak at one point and gorge on avoids... So I have to start over again, and I'm thinking of giving up.

I really want to follow that diet, but it makes me feel like I'm actually on a diet, which I don't want to be...
Explorer compliant cakes are just not good.

My Explorer DD feels your pain...  Sweets of all types really bother her, but she is bothered less if she keeps mostly compliant.  

My only suggestion is to continue to do the best you can and persevere.  Any meal that has 1 beneficial food rather than an avoid that you could have chosen is better for you...  

yes I have to eat some neutrals - I live in Chile and it is hard to find all beneficials.  Depending on which list I go by that is - via BTD I can find most beneficials but my Swami puts a lot of those into neutral territory and the diamonds are mostly unfindable here!  It doesn't matter to me though - I try my best. I can still do the diamond vegetables and the superfood meats and well the fruits are neutral via Swami and beneficial via BTD so that is fine by me.

So I am a bit bloated which usually happens coming off dairy and yesterday had stomach ache and my back was aching.  But I feel like I am on the right track - hopefully will start to feel better soon.  Otherwise I feel fine.  Sleep is off though - again, messing with dairy screws up my sleep I am THAT sensitive to casein.  Onwards!  Breakfast was fried blanquillo (rice flour and egg and olive oil to fry) with a banana, and lunch is steak with broccoli and some walnuts, and pineapple juice.  Onwards!

Quoted from ruthiegirl

Do you have SWAMI or are you following the Explorer diet in the  book?

If you're having  REALLY tough time sticking to the diet 100%, my guess is that you're not on quite the right diet. The "right diet" feels satisfying, not depriving. If you have a SWAMI, double-check all the data you inputted- see if there are any mistakes, mis-measurements, etc. If you're following the Explorer diet from the book, it may be time to invest in a SWAMI.

If that's not an option right now, then you still need to make some changes. Double-check your measurements and the strength tests- see if maybe you'd do better on the Warrior or Teacher diet. Another option is to switch from GTD to BTD and follow the A diet. Yet a third option is to stick with the Explorer diet, but eat the "Black dot" foods more liberally. Some "black dot" foods are OK for some individuals, and all are far better than the outright avoids!

Hey Ruthiegirl, as always we can count on you

I am already using swami and I think the Explorer diet is way better than the BTD...
Less than sugar, what I miss the most is wheat...

I'm scared that if I rerun my swami, it's gonna make avoid different types of food I really like!

Quoted from ABJoe

My Explorer DD feels your pain...  Sweets of all types really bother her, but she is bothered less if she keeps mostly compliant.

Oh yes, I have such a sweet tooth!!! I don't mind using honey instead of sugar, but cakes without wheat or event spelt flour are just not as great...
Same for bread...

Quoted from Cecile

Oh yes, I have such a sweet tooth!!! I don't mind using honey instead of sugar, but cakes without wheat or event spelt flour are just not as great...
Same for bread...

I agree that the texture of a rice flour cake is not quite as smooth as a wheat or spelt cake, but DD made a chocolate cake that was a good alternative.

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
2 c. rice flour
3/4 c. cocoa powder
2 1/3 t. baking soda
2/3 t. cream of tartar
1 c. honey / maple syrup / agave syrup
1/2 c. olive oil
2 eggs
1/2 c. plain yogurt

Directions:
Preheat oven (350 F) and grease pan(s).
Sift together dry ingredients in medium mixing bowl.
Mix wet ingredients in another bowl.
Make well in center of dry ingredients, add wet ingredients in batches and mix well.  Beat by hand until well mixed or use an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes.
Pour thin batter into greased 13x9x2 inch baking pan or two smaller pans.
Bake at 350F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan(s) to complete cooling on wire rack.
(We left it to cool in the baking dish, decorated the top and served from the pan.)
Decorate as desired.

Ok day 5 here.  Had slip up the other day with some vegetable crisps that had some yucca in them and also sunflower oil that I didn't notice (duh).  I thought they were in palm oil which isn't so bad.  Apart from that I have been 100% with mostly beneficials, apart from some dried plums which are bene on BTD but avoid on Swami.

Weight came down a pound, then went back up this morning, so no loss so far but it is very early days.  Still managing to abstain from dark chocolate (has bit of sugar so is avoid).  I usually gain coming off dairy at first before I lose.  I am also a bit ill with a cold and haven't been getting to the swimming pool as a result - feel like I need to do some exercise but also need to get well again.

Here are my suggestions.

If you want to kick start your weight loss Loops, tell us about your exercise routine.  What are you doing, how long a period of time and how often?  O's need to get their heart rate up and keep it up for a period of time.

Eat only beneficials for one week.  Nothing else.  Increase your water intake. Go grain free for that week, and make your fruit servings very, very small, too.

See what happens.  Sharing with the best of intentions.

no I am not restricting fruit - the whole point of this experiment is to eat ad lib from the beneficials - I don't want to skew any results by doing low carb etc.  Plus I have done low carb before and in the long run it just didn't make me feel good - the way you lose is the way you maintain I have learnt.  Also, if you read through the FAQ for BTD, it is clearly stated that portion sizes are a guideline ONLY - that it is more important to eat from beneficial lists and avoid avoids.  Having said that I don't stuff myself with anything - but eat what I think my body wants at the time from the lists.

On the BTD there are no beneficial grains for me - I can't buy ezekiel bread here anyway.  Rice I am trying to avoid - that is the only neutral.

Exercise-wise I am swimming and walking - yes, I am aware type Os are supposed to do intense exercise but I have a 6 month old boy that needs looking after which takes up a lot of my time.  I will be taking up tennis again soon - believe me, that is no walk in the part - I have a trainer who makes me run non-stop.  

Thanks for the ideas though...

Quoted from Loops

no I am not restricting fruit - the whole point of this experiment is to eat ad lib from the beneficials - I don't want to skew any results by doing low carb etc.  Plus I have done low carb before and in the long run it just didn't make me feel good - the way you lose is the way you maintain I have learnt.  Also, if you read through the FAQ for BTD, it is clearly stated that portion sizes are a guideline ONLY - that it is more important to eat from beneficial lists and avoid avoids.  Having said that I don't stuff myself with anything - but eat what I think my body wants at the time from the lists.

On the BTD there are no beneficial grains for me - I can't buy ezekiel bread here anyway.  Rice I am trying to avoid - that is the only neutral.

Exercise-wise I am swimming and walking - yes, I am aware type Os are supposed to do intense exercise but I have a 6 month old boy that needs looking after which takes up a lot of my time.  I will be taking up tennis again soon - believe me, that is no walk in the part - I have a trainer who makes me run non-stop.  

Thanks for the ideas though...

Only you know what's best for you.

Sharing with the best of intentions.

Day 6.  Still no weight loss - scale stuck at 70kg still.  As I am 5 foot 6 female this is too much for me.  I feel I should probably weigh between 60 and 65kg.  I guess I was hoping for a slight change after eating all beneficials.  It is not as if I am coming off eating loads of bad lectins-avoids for years either.  I was doing Swami during my whole pregnancy with the addition of some chocolate and a few avoids here and there like a bit of ketchup or mayo.  Sorry to moan on and on!  I just really want this to work - otherwise I have to go back to low carb high fat and I just can't do that without dairy long term.  And as I am intolerant to dairy I don't want to do that!  So I am hoping this works.  Even just a slight change on the scale or on my Omron fat monitor would be great and encouraging!

well that is not quite true - I was trying to go back to low carb for a few days at a time and was eating pork and dairy...but not much and not for long.

Stress and worry are also not conducive to weight loss, at least that's true for me... it might not be what you are eating so much as how much of it. I know when I over eat on the suggested portion sizes, I start gaining. My 2 cents.

It's so hard to be compliant for many reasons.  I cheat primarily due to boredom, being talked into going out, watching cooking/travel shows, or even looking at pretty pictures in cookbooks.  Will power, mind over matter, having a goal, and having faith in Dr. D is what works for me.