Update

Sorry I have been so delayed in posting here (I'm sure my single reader has been disappointed, ha ha!).  I'm still trying to get back on top of things after being gone for our 2-week vacation.  Now it's that crazy end-of-school time, and I've been spending a lot of time on a volunteer project for my daughters' school.

Anyway, I did a sort of modified version of the diet most days - eating the breakfast right away, doing eggs and meat and beans, that kind of thing.  But when I was in the various countries I always ate what I wanted - who knows when I'll be back?  And I ate whatever I wanted for dinner, but I usually avoided the pasta.

And guess what?  I only gained a pound! 

I've been following the diet faithfully since I got back, and I have now lost 11 pounds total, and three inches off my waist.  I feel so much better, and I have quite a bit more energy than pre-diet days.  Who knew? 

9 more pounds to go.  Woohoo!

Vacation diet dilemma

We are leaving for two weeks' vacation in three days, and I'm kind of wondering how I will manage with this diet while I'm gone.  We are doing a cruise of the Mediterranean, and I have no intention of depriving myself of amazing food from different countries while we're away.  One of our stops is Rome, and I used to live in Italy, and I haven't been back in years.  There is no way I'm not going to get some gelato while we're there.  And some pasta.  Mmmm, authentic pasta.  It won't be quite as good as in Bologna, I bet, but I'm sure I'll manage.

At any rate, it's going to be a challenge, and I haven't quite decided how to handle it.  I know I can follow the eat-within-an-hour-of-waking-up rule, no problem.  And I can certainly avoid many of the carb-loaded foods while we're on the ship.  I don't think I'll follow it while we're in port, though - that's just silly.  There's a workout room on the ship, and I intend to use it.  I guess I'll see what the dining options are like, and play it by ear.  To be completely honest, I'm looking forward to a break from this food routine, even though I'm only on my third week.  This diet is a pretty difficult undertaking!