The Tracy Tea Diet
May 5, 2007 by JanB
I wanted to write this up so that I can post the basic points of my diet plan on my fridge, so here it is. I call it my Tracy Tea Diet.
Tracy Tea refers to my friend Tracy, who has been my friend since Kindergarten and who told me that she drinks her iced tea straight with no sweetener. That’s a brave gal, but you know what? It’s not half bad that way! She inspired me to create this diet plan. It’s based on what I know is true. If you eat less than you burn you will lose weight.
1. No sweet drinks. If I drink tea, it will be either unsweetened or sweetened with stevia. No pop, soda, etc. I don’t drink milk anyway, so that’s not an issue. I have been drinking lots of water. I used to drink gallons of sweet drinks every day. And pop! I would drink cans and cans of it. The acid from the coke and pepsi made it seem like I had irritable bowel syndrome. But once I stopped drinking all pop the problem went away. Must have been the carbonation and the acid!
2. First thing in the morning, at least 60 minutes of exercise on my treadmill a day, every day. I also have a cheapo exercise bike and I lifting 6 lb weights later in the day. When I am on the treadmill, I am pushing myself to a level 7 on a scale of 0-10 in exertion. I sweat. Big time. I go to bed early and am up at about 5:15 am to workout.
3. Lots of fruits and veggies. Apples, oranges, bananas, onions, peppers, broccoli, green beans, that’s what I can find now at the grocery store. Canned and frozen veggies, carrots, beans, lots of beans, mixed veggies. Mmmmm. Three meals a day and at least two snacks. Nothing after 6 pm except water.
4. Choosing foods carefully, instead of :
Red Meats ——> Boca Burgers
Bread ———-> Pita Bread or Lite English Muffins
Potatoes ——-> rice
Chips ———-> Pretzel Crisps
Butter———-> I can’t believe it’s not butter spray
Dressings ——> Salad Spritzers
5. Fitday.com journaling - it’s free. I journal my foods that I eat, my exercise, and I have a written diet journal where I can talk about anything. And I do. My journal is public, feel free to browse it and then you can set up your own if you wish.
6. I skip on the Mayo, the butter, sour cream, anything that’s not no fat Dairy products, breads, cakes, cookies, chips, dip, if I can make a reasonable substitution, then great, if not, then it’s history. I can live without chocolate chip cookies.
7. Medical Intervention: I am taking Meridia, 10 mg every other day. Sometimes you can’t go it alone. I also take a multivitamin, an Omega 3 supplement and a calcium supplement every day.
8. I am doing this for ME. Not for my husband, not for my kids. Not for wanting to see if people treat me better, but because I want to be thin. I want to be strong and I want to cut my chances of ending up like my parents did, dying of cancer because of years of unhealthy eating habits. Food can kill or food can cure. I choose cure.
Let me know if this information about my diet helps you.
Look up this book, I didn’t read it before starting out my plan. But he has basically the same plan.
Lots of common sense that you’ve pulled together. Good for you!
you have inspired me! I think its great you are so public about your journey, and I like you, want to do this for myself, not for my husband or friends, or kids. and I dont want to do it to be skinny and fit in baby doll tees, but to be healthy!
Jenn, You’ll do it. It’s hard, no doubt about that, but it’s not as hard as I had thought it was and getting past the first month made it much easier.
The great thing is that no matter a person’s reasons for losing weight, you get all of the benefits of being able to fit into smaller clothing, etc - along with the personal satisfaction of having done it. I love being thinner. It makes my day to feel collar bones, etc. Absolutely thrilling.
Sounds like a solid plan! I think the hardest part about change is achieving it with the right frame of mind, and I think you’ve got it! I’m trying to follow similar principles, but there are good days, and there are bad days.
Lidia, that sure is the truth, one of the most important things I have learned is about the ups and downs. Taking those ups and downs into account and knowing that they will come is what has helped me stay on track this long.
Damn! Maybe I could stomach the tea, congrats on your progress.
Jan, you know I support you and have been a cheerleader to you on WAIWMIWLI but what about the “good” fat. I saw that you are taking a supplement, but I think fat has gotten a bit of a bum rap. I think fat is important in our diet, if it is bennificial. What are your comments on this?
I am so proud of you, BTW.
Jules
Since time has gone on I have added more good fats into my diet. Esp. from nuts.