How i lost 5 lbs in 6 days

Last week, i started following this detox diet i came across in one of my surfs. The holiday buffets and never ending desserts last December made me feel quite heavy so i figured it was time for a reset.

 

First of all, let me start by saying, i don’t count calories. I enjoy eating good food especially when it’s paired with great company. I wasn’t looking for something to help me lose weight. Just a regimen that would help me jumpstart the year with healthier eating habits.

So here goes. I came across the General Motors (GM) diet and gave it a try. No starving allowed here. You’re supposed to eat a certain food group each day. And you can eat as much of it at any time of the day so you won’t feel hungry at all. Sounded pretty good to me so the 7 day program was a go.

Here’s a summary photo i found on Pinterest about the GM diet. Explanations and how i got around to following it day by day stated below.

 

 

DAY 1: ALL FRUIT DAY.

You can eat as much fruit as you like except BANANAS. Cantaloupes and Watermelons (water based fruit) work best for this day. Don’t forget to hydrate with 10 glasses of water.

How i did: I’ve always loved fruits so i thought the first day would be a cinch. For breakfast, i ate one whole cantaloupe. It got me through all morning at work. Then for lunch i had slices of ripe mango, red lady papaya and pomelo. By dinner, the cravings started to kick in. I had half a watermelon. Since i’ve been having nothing but fruit and water for the first day, my body started looking for something salty/sour. Thankfully i decided to stick to the plan.

 

DAY2: ALL VEGGIE DAY

You can eat as much vegetables as you want during the second day (refrain from having them with oil, though.) Breakfast during this day was such a treat as you are supposed to boil one big potato and have it with butter to start your morning (weeee!). Let’s not forget the 10 glasses of water to go with our greens.

How i did: I couldn’t wait for my breakfast. The boiled potato with butter was heavenly  after eating nothing but fruits the day before.

I managed to eat half of this for breakfast. hehe It was huge!

For lunch, i got busy at work. I was planning for vegetable soup but i wasn’t able to go out due to so many things to attend to. So i ended up downing my snack box instead.

Raw carrot sticks and sunflower sprouts with lemon and balsamic vinegar.

I got hungry by late afternoon so i decided to reward myself with a big bowl of vegetable soup (locally known as Otan with lots of malunggay, squash and okra) and some Chop Suey for dinner. By this time though, the minimal amount of oil used to sauté the chop suey tasted weird. Must have gotten used to no oil already. I’m skipping chop suey next time.

 

Day3: FRUIT AND VEGGIE DAY

You can eat as much fruits and vegetables as you want today except for bananas and potatoes. 10 glasses of water for hydration.

How i did: This would have to be the easiest day for me. Mixing both fruits and veggies was a breeze. I had mango slices for breakfast, vegetable soup for lunch and dinner and lots of pears in between for snacks.I also downed 1 whole coconut after dinner apart from the 10 glasses of water i was required to drink up. Super full.

 

DAY 4: BANANA AND MILK DAY

Today you are asked to eat 4-6 bananas with 750 ml of Skim milk and 10 glasses of water.  The bananas and milk will replace the electrolytes you’ve lost from all the peeing. You are also encouraged to eat as much of the GM soup as possible especially when you start to feel hungry.

GM SOUP RECIPE:

(There are a lot of ingredients called for in this recipe with different variations. I just made do with what was readily available in the grocery store.)

1 can of french onion soup, low sodium if possible (i got mine from Rustan’s – thank you for finding me 2 cans, Weesa!!!)

half an onion, sliced

5 stalks of celery, sliced

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 head of cabbage, sliced

1 can mushrooms

3 pcs red bell pepper, minced

 

Directions: Saute onions, garlic and bell pepper in 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Add in the celery and mushrooms then the cabbage. Add the french onion soup to boil. Simmer and enjoy.

 

How i did: I loved the bananas and milk combination! For breakfast i had a banana milkshake, some banana slices for mid day snacks, Gm soup and more bananas for lunch and dinner. hehe I had lakatan and senyorita bananas for variety.

 

DAY 5: MEAT AND TOMATO DAY

You may eat 500 g of lean meat today with 6 large tomatoes. 10-12 glasses of water.

How i did: I couldn’t wait to eat meat during my 5th day. I planned on having steak for lunch as i read it was allowed. Surprisingly, i didn’t quite enjoy the steak as much as i wanted because of the oil. My body was already getting used to the no oil meals i’ve been having since day 1.

A snippet of the US Angus rib eye teppanyaki dad and i had for lunch at Nonki.

 

DAY6: MEAT AND VEGGIE DAY

You may have 500 g of lean meat and as much veggies (except potatoes) as you want today. 12 glasses of water.

How i did: I had vegetable soup, steamed broccoli and Dong Juan’s crispy tadyang and a little sisig during this day. The lesser the oil, the better.

 

DAY7: BROWN RICE AND VEGGIE DAY

You may have 1 cup of brown rice today paired with unlimited amounts of veggies, pure fruit juices and 12 glasses of water.

How i did: In lieu of brown rice, i had couscous with my vegetables. For breakfast, i had fresh cantaloupe juice. For lunch, banana heart “puso” salad and adobong kangkong. And for dinner, sautéed veggies.

So how did i do?

I was happy that i now got used to eating healthier choices instead of the oily, fatty, sweet and calorific food i’ve been filling my tummy with over the holidays. You see, I’m the type of person who won’t stop craving sweets once i start eating them. The reset was such a breather. And the bonus? I lost 5 pounds in 6 days! hihi How amazing is that?

I was 57.5 kg after the holidays. My ideal body weight in proportion to my height is 54 kg. Tadaaah! Target achieved on the 6th day.

I can’t wait to start eating healthy again. My GM diet ends today and i’m back to regular meal choices tomorrow. This 7 day plan is not meant to be done for more than 7 days. One  may take a rest the following week and start all over again the week after.

To those of you who are planning to give the GM diet a try, here are a few tips and guidelines i’ve compiled to help make your reset easier:

1. You may have green tea but no coffee. i had to have a cup after eating oily meat.
2.  Condiments are fine but go easy on the salt.
3. Hydrate as much as you can to flush out the bad stuff.
4. Do not cheat. Just don’t. Trust me, the results will be worth it.
5. Ladies, i noticed this reset is easier followed when you are on your period. The cravings won’t kick in that much.
6. Don’t expect too much. I started this plan with the aim of resetting my eating habits, nothing more. The weight loss was a bonus, not a goal.
7. Write down your meal plan for the whole week and post it somewhere you can easily see it. This will serve both as a reminder for you and a guide for the household not to tempt you with food you’re not allowed to eat. hehe This idea worked pretty well. My dad always read the guide i hung on the wall so he would know what food to bring home for dinner.

Excuse the handwriting. hihi Hanging this on the wall was mighty effective.

This is 1 pound of fat. Go easy on yourself, darling. Every pound lost is an achievement.

Weeeee! There you go darlings. I hope this blog on my recent GM diet experience helps you achieve the reset you need too. As for me, i couldn’t be any happier. I feel lighter and healthier. I’ve decided to stick to greens and fish for now. So happy the cravings for sweet and salty food and all things sinful have curbed.

 

Cheeers to a healthier 2016 everybody!!!

 

 

Love,

Superwoman x

SWISS ITALIAN RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN CEBU—Let’s Talk About Food.

Let’s talk about food today. Good food. Mouthwatering, can’t wait to get more kind of food.

Hello ladies!

Work has been quite a handful the past few weeks what with all the patients up for surgery everyday. And like most people,  this busy private surgical nurse loves to unwind with a really good meal. I’ve found myself eating mostly fast-food lately due to time constraints. So when i finally got a few days off to unwind and recharge, i quickly set foot on a journey to find myself some good cooking! teehee

The hole in the wall food place i’ll be mentioning below is one of my favorites here in Cebu. I’ve shared some photos on Facebook and Instagram of the dishes they offer and a lot of friends have visited this place and have found it to be truly worth visiting again and again. Here’s hoping you’ll get to enjoy their food as much as i did. Enjoy!

* SWISS ITALIAN RESTAURANT*

I cannot begin to tell you how much i enjoyed course after course of absolutely delish and truly authentic Swiss Italian Cuisine here.

Alfredo Honnegger, the owner of this quaint, 5-table restaurant, is his own main man at the kitchen. He uses only the finest and freshest ingredients for his dishes– think Italian cheeses, freshly harvested vegetables, and age old wines i could barely pronounce! teehee

His tiramisu—-freshly made on the spot,mind you, is truly a must try! I have not tasted tiramisu as delicious as the one he has made. And i cannot wait to get myself some more when i return to his restaurant, that’s for sure.

One thing i truly love about the Swiss Italian restaurant is that, you are not only there for the food. You are there for the experience. Unlike most restos, Alfredo’s restaurant has an open kitchen. Anything you order is cooked, baked, prepared right in front of you. And as soon as all five tables have been served, Alfredo puts away his apron and visits each table, talks to the guests and familiarizes them with the dishes they have ordered. This, in itself, is such a wonderful experience for me.

Price wise, orders range from 390-600 + pesos. It does not belong to the cheapest of the cheap, but for the amazing quality of the food being served, the one of a kind experience and everything in between, this place definitely beats other restaurants of its kind found in Cebu City (prices in the city restos usually start at 600-1000+). And portions are huge! Each order can definitely be shared by two.

And when asked what the secret to his amazingly delicious food is, Alfredo is quick to reply: “Love and dedication. I cook with love and dedication.”

This wonderful , wonderful restaurant has been running for 2 years now and is located in Cordova, Cebu. I got there as a walk in guest but it is best to call them ahead. Contact details of the Swiss Italian Restaurant are provided below.

Here are a few photos of my memorable food experience at the Swiss Italian Restaurant.

I had the appetizing caprese salad for starters. Notice how fresh the herbs and tomatoes are. And the cheese…. divine.

Authentic Swiss Fondue is love! Alfredo spoke about his adventures in the Swiss Alps and how he learned how to make such a yummy dish out of cheeses and wine. Make sure you mix it well before dipping the bread to get the most out of the flavorful combination!

The amazing Alfredo in his open kitchen about to make his famous tiramisu. Ahhhh that tiramisu is the bomb, i tell you!!!! =)

The secret to his tiramisu? Love, dedication and Mascarpone!!! That incredible pint of Italian cheesy goodness any tiramisu should never be without.

Tadaaaah! Now doesn’t this tiramisu look amazing? Yes, it’s made fresh on the spot.

                      one menu for swiss cuisine, one menu for italian cuisine.

I scanned the place and read menus while waiting for our orders to be taken. Reminded me of french lessons months ago. Pomme= Apple. I still got it! hehehe

The Swiss Italian Restaurant is located in Quezon National Highway, Gabi Cordova, Cebu just opposite Golden Meadow subdivision. They are open Mondays through Sundays. Judging on the posts, i assume Alfredo opens his restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner by appointment. For reservations, one may call (032) 496 7074, (032) 318 8979 or 09177778979.

This post is not sponsored and is intended solely for the purpose of sharing to everyone such a lovely hidden gem found in Cordova, Cebu that is worth visiting. After all, their food is made out of love. And when something is made out of love, you can never go wrong. Wink! =)

Quick selfie. The author with the  owner of Swiss Italian Restaurant, Alfredo. (I called him Chef Alfredo and he humbly corrected me: I love to cook and i’ve prepared food alongside Michelin Star chefs, but I’m no chef. Just Alfredo”

Till the next blog post, ladies! Catch you all Soon! =)

All my love,

Superwoman