Intermission

I'm going to take a 3 day break from my Vintage menus to do a very non-vintage thing: a Detox.

I've done this before (twice) and it's helped to kick-start my metabolism. I got the recipe out of a Woman's Day article (September 2005). The "Cocktail" is really good and chock-full of good-for-you stuff. The menu is simple--protein and lots of veggies.

On Thursday I will continue the momentum with my vintage, low-calorie menus. This time I will continue with them and faithfully FOLLOW them.

No more sneaky snacks, no more drive-through drinks, and no more chocolate cheating!

Having to have the rings I've worn for 24 years CUT off of my finger because I wasn't able to get them off before the insect-induced swelling began has been a catalyst for me. Looking at my finger, absent-mindedly fiddling with the rings that aren't there any more will be a constant reminder of my determination to get ON with this weight-loss thing already.

Enough is enough!

If anyone is interested, here's the menu and the "Cocktail" from the magazine. I tried to find it online to link it, but I couldn't. Below is the original plan. On the side bar is how I've tweaked it because of my "picky eating" issue. (I don't like seafood.) Below I've given the original menu and recipe. My changes are in italics. The first "tweak" is that I will substitute grilled chicken for ALL of the protein at lunch and dinner.

(NOTE: Each day, be sure to drink a half ounce of water for every pound you weigh. (Example: if you weigh 160 lbs, drink 80 oz. of water or ten 8-oz. cups.)

Day 1:
Breakfast--Cocktail (12 oz.)
Mid morning snack--2 hard boiled eggs
Noon--4 oz. grilled chicken breast, 2 cups mixed greens dressed with 1 tbsp. olive oil and fresh lemon
Mid afternoon snack--Cocktail (12 oz.)
Dinner--4 oz. broiled fish, 2 cups steamed broccoli
Before bedtime snack--Cocktail (12 oz.)

Day 2:
Breakfast--Cocktail (12 oz.)
Mid morning snack--2 hard boiled eggs
Noon--4 oz. baby shrimp, 1/2 cucumber, 1 tomato, and 1 scallion, all diced with 1 tbsp. olive oil and fresh lemon
Mid afternoon snack--Cocktail (12 oz.)
Dinner--4 oz. salmon with fresh lemon and sliced onions, 2 cups steamed green beans
Before bedtime snack--Cocktail (12 oz.)

Day 3

Breakfast--Cocktail (12 oz.)
Mid morning snack--2 hard boiled eggs
Noon--4 oz. grilled chicken, diced, 1 scallion, chopped, 1 clover garlic, chopped, 2 tbsp. yogurt, cumin and fresh lemon juice. Serve over 2 cups lettuce.
Mid afternoon snack--Cocktail (12 oz.)
Dinner--4 oz. grilled tuna steak, 2 cups steamed asparagus spears
Before bedtime snack--Cocktail (12 oz.)


The Cocktail (makes 1-12 oz. serving):

3 Tbs. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 medium vine-ripe tomato (6 oz. canned crushed tomatoes)
½ cup chopped cilantro, loosely packed (I used parsley)
2 Tbs. fresh chives (I used vidalia onions)
½ cup filtered water
2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
½ clove of garlic
Dash of cayenne
Pinch of potassium-based salt substitute (I left this out)
3-4 ice cubes (I increased the water to 1 cup and did not use the ice cubes)

Blend all ingredients for approximately 1 minute on high speed in blender.

Yield: 12 ounces

(The article was written by AnnLouise Gittleman, author of many books about detox, dieting, and hormone issues and a regular contributor to the Woman's Day magazine.)