I started the GNC Total Lean 7 Day Fast Loss program today, and so far, so good.

Last night before bed, I had two cups of Soothing Mint Get Regular Tea by Yogi Tea, thinking that would help me sort out what was going on in my tummy. The instructions say that it’s soothing and gentle, and that you can have up to 4 cups in a 24 hour period. Thinking that ‘gentle’ meant that the tea wouldn’t run through me like a rusty brillo pad, I went ahead and made that second cup, but in hindsight, I was VERY, VERY wrong to do so.

I was awake with the worst stomach cramps ever from about 2am on, and by morning I weighed in at 160.4 lbs – down almost 4 lbs from yesterday, and feeling every bit like I had earned it. Sorry to be graphic, but let this be a lesson to those of you who think you can drink two cups of laxative tea without suffering for your pride. Ack!

So this morning I woke up and made myself my first Total Lean shake. The box came with 7 chocolate and 7 vanilla, and since I hate vanilla I decided it would be best to start the day off with it, then later reward myself with chocolate for being ‘good’. The instructions say to mix the shake powder with water, but I did coconut milk instead. It was palatable, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to drink it in the future.

The way the plan works is that you have two shakes a day, a packet of vitamins/pills, and a cleansing drink at night (which hopefully will work nothing like the Yogi Tea did, or I’ll die by the end of the week). You’re also supposed to have 1500 calories of regular food during the day, preferably cleaner stuff like fruits, veggies, and organics. The kit comes with a little diet plan that looks yummy and pretty close to what I eat on a regular basis. Since I’m following the WeightWatchers Points Plus System, I’m adding up the shakes as part of my points allowance for the day, which means that I’ll probably end up eating less than 1500 calories in ‘real’ food. But that’s OK, since salads and soup are low in points, and that’s what I bought at the grocery store yesterday, anyway.

I’m glad I found this system to try out. I don’t believe that it will help me take off an insane amount of weight, or that it will help me keep it off, but I needed something to put me in the right mental state. From the reviews I read, it seems like most people lose at least 7 lbs when they use this right, and I know that the pounds I’ve packed on over 153 are very easy to take off anyway, when I try. If I can just get to 153 by the end of this, then I’ll be in a spot where I can feel good and keep going. Best of all, if I continue drinking the shakes after this is over, I can get in a lot of my daily protein, which I’ve had a really hard time doing in the past without going overboard on fat.

My plan for the rest of the week is to eat healthy and light, drink these shakes, take these supplements, and go to the sauna and work out every day. I’m also going to do something I’ve always thought was idiotic, and buy myself a dress for my friend’s wedding that’s a little too small, and work my ass off to fit in it by the end of April. I hated the pictures people took of me at Mardi Gras – I don’t want to hate the pictures people take of me at their weddings this summer. Worse, I really don’t want to hate the pictures that are taken on that sailboat in Croatia in June. I can’t keep letting my depression over my job make me look bad, too. Got to work harder at this.

End of Day Update:

I managed to stay within my given allotment of WW Points, well under 1500 calories of ‘real’ food, and also do everything that I was supposed to do for the GNC kit. I’m insanely full right now, too. Don’t think I could pack in another bite even if I wanted to. I’m a little more tired than usual, but I think I’m catching the cold that my boyfriend had all through Mardi Gras, and that’s affecting my energy level more than the diet. I’ll take an extra Emergen-C tonight before hitting the sack.

Other than that, I did not manage to exercise, but I did make it to the sauna, which felt wonderful. I’ll try harder to fit in that workout tomorrow.