DietBet: So, What Did We Learn?

Here I am, the first day after the official weigh-in for my last DietBet, and I feel like a winner.

So yes, I won the DietBet. I achieved my goal and lost 4% of my body weight in 4 weeks. I’m currently awaiting the final results to see how much of the pot I will be sharing with the winners.

However, that’s not the only reason I feel like a winner today. Every time I have participated in a DietBet, I’ve used different techniques, and I am happiest with what I tried and executed this go-around more than any other time. So, what stuck and what didn’t? I’ll dish:

• Caffeine: I tried to live without it, I really did. Sometimes, though, a girl can get desperate. I think it’s a good thing to wean yourself off of caffeine for a while, and I went for about 2 weeks without the stuff, just to prove to myself I could, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Once my schedule got more hectic and I had work and after-work priorities every night for two weeks in a row, it became necessary.
• Alcohol: I didn’t touch the stuff the entire time, and it was actually really easy. Cutting out alcohol is a great way to cut out empty calories your body won’t miss. Plus, I always feel better if I’m out late and not drinking at all. To fit in, I’d ask for a seltzer water with fruit or a diet soda if I was feeling “naughty.” That way I never got asked if I needed a drink and I was able to tip the bartenders. Plus, I really like seltzer.

• Smoothies: Try as I might, I do not think these are for me. They never fill me up and I’d much rather just eat a piece of fruit or some nuts. Or…
• Larabars: Like em. Love em. Obsessed with em. Generally I think food bars can be a little gimmicky and fake science-y, but these are so basic and so delicious, and they really keep you satisfied. Who knew dates were so versatile? These became my lifeline on days where I was home for approximately 10 minutes.
• Snacks: I mostly avoided them, but if I needed to, I had bags of The Good Bean in my desk drawer. Other various snacks during the diet included dried fruit, nuts, bananas, apples, and carrots.
• Wheat/Gluten: I generally avoided it. I think I ate one sandwich in 4 weeks and had a couple burgers/Field Roast sausages with sprouted wheat buns, but that was about the extent of it. I didn’t go fanatical with the gluten-free thing but reduced greatly and I definitely think it helped.
• The sweet stuff: I learned a long time ago that denying yourself a treat during DietBet will put you down a bitter and resentful road. I saved some dark chocolate for emergencies or enjoyed coconut milk Greek-style yogurt with some vegan chocolate chips or dried fruit if my sweet tooth acted up.
• Stir fries: Are my heroes. A grain + vegetables + a protein = the perfect meal. Basically mixing brown rice with any kind of vegetables you like, something spicy, and my favorite, cashews, has become a stand-by for me.

All in all, the DietBet was a pleasant experience, but I’m happy I’m done. I had a day of stuffing myself in celebration (trust me, stuffed), and now I’m ready to continue on my track of eating whole and getting outside and active. I’m not sure if another DietBet is in my future, but if it is, I feel well-armed with tools to help me.

What diets or lifestyle changes have you embraced recently? Do you have any tips for anyone trying to live a healthier life? Or, do you have any questions? Feel free to reach out to me via email, on Facebook, or on Twitter.