Trying very hard to maintain this eating plan. I am at the halfway point in the competition. My trainer, Keith, has now cut back my portion sizes, and eliminated the sweet potato. The only carbs I get in my diet is from the oatmeal in the morning. That serving size has been cut back from 1 cup, to ¼ cup, which is fine. I wasn’t really enjoying that without brown sugar and nuts and dried fruit, anyway ! I really have had to program my brain to view food as merely fuel now. I haven’t been out to a restaurant for many weeks. The fact that I have been eating like this every day, for almost 2 months, is a wonder to me. I have cheated a little bit here and there…….glass of wine, piece of chocolate, some steak instead of chicken one night, but for the most part, I have been consistent. The motivator, of course, is the results. I can see a dramatic difference. I can feel it. I have much energy every day. I feel strong. Everyday tasks are much easier. For example, I needed a pan out of a low kitchen cabinet the other day. I easily squatted down and reached in to pick the heavy pan up. I could feel the muscles in my thighs engaged, and felt the weight of the pan on my shoulder and bicep, then easily pushed up through my quads to stand up. Sounds like a no brainer, but when you’re out of shape, that simple action is a serious strain. Mostly on your back, as you use that, instead of the other muscles. That’s one of the reasons so many people have back pain and injury.