C2D15-16 The end of cycle 2

   Well friends, I am almost there.  I am nearly done with Cycle 2 of the 17DD and am feeling great.  I am down 21 pounds and feeling lighter, happier and in more control than ever before.  I have a great weekend coming up which I posted about the other day and feel so good knowing I have a plan in mind for each meal.  It's such a relief.  Tomorrow night we've got a date night with our friends J & M and since dinner is involved, I asked that we do asian b/c I know that I can find great choices on the menu that will keep me on track.  Yesterday I made a big batch of eggplant parm (the 17DD version of course) and it was yummo I also roasted some more beets and fennel.  I can't get enough of that combination.  I had no idea what happens though if you eat so many beets.  It actually turned my stool RED.  That was a surprise I was not ready for this morning.  I wonder if your whole body would turn red if you ate too many, like carrots.  Today I enjoyed a great Greek salad with a balsamic dressing and some sliced turkey.  I am currently finishing up my FF plain Greek yogurt with berries.  Not sure what's on the agenda for dinner tonight.  I should probably think about prepping something after I finish the blog. 
    Can I say, I cannot believe I am almost through C2.  C3 is about to begin and I can't believe I can begin having whole wheat bread, udon noodles and virtually any fruit or vegetable.  Since I am incorporating new foods I cut back on other things, so the calories stay in check.  I have really been enjoying life without all of these carbs and am not super anxious to go back.  It's only 17 days and then back to either C1 or C2 until I reach my goal.  I have no idea how long it will take, maybe a year, maybe longer.  Then you go on to maintenance where you pretty much stay on plan 5 days a week and over the weekends enjoy 1-3 meals of what you want in moderation.  Maintenance is what scares me.  I feel like I am OK at losing weight once I get motivated, but I am scared that once if comes off, it will pile back on.  I know this is a lifestyle change and if I do the right things, this should be my life and weight forever once I reach my goal.  I am scared though, I did it 1x before.  The difference is, this time, I have the past to remind me of the mistakes I made and use my new found wisdom to hopefully not make those same mistakes.  So I finish up Cycle 2, 21 pounds lighter one meal and one day at a time.