Veggie Monster

I so admire people that love veggies. They just get excited about eating them and include them in their daily diet.

I am really not into veggies. I am a lot better now then I was 1 1/2 years ago though. I like carrots and cucumbers and can stomach broccoli. I've always loved green beans and corn. I like sweet peas and spinach now and brown rice which isn't a veggie but... (I often go off on tangents so beware, hey, at least I'm aware of it).

I don't like peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, artichokes, asparagus or beets (this is not a comprehensive list, FYI).

We will see how I do with the veggies in the plan, I am looking forward to trying most of them and hopefully liking them or at least being able to eat them. But just a warning if you are using this blog as a reference. If I say the veggie is nasty, take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Things I Love about DTG

1. Customer Service

Their customer service people are the greatest. They are so nice and I never feel like I am bugging them. I am really big on customer service as I have worked in this field several different times during my career. And I also just like to get treated with simple respect when spending my money. Sometimes I dread calling companies for fear the person will be rude, and it's so sad but the majority of times my fears are realized.

2. Options

DTG has so many options, from low-fat, veggie, and low carb; 5 day and 7 day plans; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner or just Lunch and Dinner. And they have even more plans then that. Different calorie amounts, snacks, and too many other combinations to name.

3. Substitutions!

There is nothing worse then being forced to eat something you don't like. DTG makes substitutions so easy. You can do them online or over the phone. I prefer over the phone (see #1 customer service). You can get additional meals that are in that weeks plan or you can get something off the substitution menu (which has a bunch of stuff on it). I am very picky and if I don't like something I will not eat it. I love having the option to have a favorite meal more then once that week or never having to eat a veggie egg dish for breakfast, lol.

3. Starting and Stopping the plan

You are not locked into anything. You can change your mind every Friday if you like. You aren't locked into a month of food, only a week, which makes a big difference (hi Nutrisystem). You can decide you no longer want the plan or change to a different calorie plan or a different type of plan such as low-carb. You aren't nickeled and dimed either. You don't have to pay to make these changes. You simply make them. And say you won't be home one week. You can just stop the plan that week and go back to your schedule when you return home. The customization is really awesome.

4. Internet or Phone

You decide. Everything can be done either way. And if customer service isn't open you can e-mail them and they will respond within 24 hours.

5. If you don't like, don't pay for it

I never used this option but if you don't like a meal that you have chosen they will refund the money for that dish. That makes it easier to try new things and figure out what you like and don't like.

6. Variety


DTG has a rotating 5 week menu. This means you don't have to eat the same meal but once every 5 weeks! How often do you have that type of variety in your meals?


7. The food tastes so freakin good!!

Seriously, try things you would not normally try. Because I am such a picky eater I don't normally try a bunch of new things. I always assume I won't like them. I guess that's another great thing about DTG, I get to try all these new dishes each week and not have to worry about wasting my money (see #5). Last time there were only 2 dishes that I didn't like and for me that is huge. Even some of the things that I looked at and just knew I wouldn't like turned out to be delicious. And now I eat a lot more things then I use too so I'm sure to be pleased with the options.

Why Blog Again?

I decided to continue this blog for two reasons:

1. I received an e-mail from someone that used this blog as research to start DTG.

When I started DTG I used other peoples blogs as a way to determine if I wanted to start this plan or not. I love the fact that I can use the internet to research anything. The other blog I found that contained pictures really helped me feel comfortable that this was the right plan for me and it turned out to be just that. Unfortunately there was only one blog with pictures which is what I was looking for, there were a few others with a wealth of information but I am just a visual girl. So when I stated I wanted to be the blog that I was looking for. It's nice to have more then one opinion when making a decision. And once I received an e-mail from a person that actually started DTG because of my blog I knew that I had served my purpose.

2. I used it as a research tool myself!

Sometimes when you go through something good, bad, or other, time passes and you don't really remember it clearly. Because I stopped with DTG quite early it was easy for me to think it wasn't for me. That the food was bad, or maybe the customer service was. That the shipments weren't timely, etc. Or I thought maybe it was great and I was just lazy. Then when ordering food how would I know what to get. I actually forgot which things I liked and didn't like. So I was able to come back to this blog and make decisions based off of my honest opinions and if I didn't have it I would've missed out on some great meals and ordered some that were not to my liking. So this made me realize that this is a great idea for me, and gave me all the more reason to continue.

Diet To Go

THE PLAN I CHOSE

THE PLAN I CHOOSE:

5 Day - 1200 cal - Low fat - B,L,D

I chose the 5 day plan this time. Since my fast I am much better at controlling what I eat. Therefore I didn't feel the need to do the 7 day. This is a big difference from last time when I felt I couldn't survive picking out food for 2 days a week. Guess I have gotten a little better.

I still chose the Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner options. I think I could choose my own breakfast quite easily but I loved their breakfast last time and I really looked forward to them. They also don't add too much to the price and I'm a tad bit lazy so... yeah, I went ahead and included them again. Also, one of my favorite things about this plan was not having to make decisions, so again, it was the perfect choice for me.

I chose the low fat option again. I am not a meat eater so the low carb just wouldn't work for me. And I am not a vegetable eater so the vegetarian option would also not work for me. The low fat option suited my taste buds perfectly. That's another great thing about DTG, they have so many options and I think, something for everyone.

With my coupon the first week came to $95, I think it will be about $120 after that. Oh and about that, because I love a good deal I realized the 1200 and 1600 cal plan were the same price with my coupon. Being the frugalista that I am I went ahead and purchased the 1600 plan but will downgrade to the 1200 plan after the first week. Another great thing about DTG is that you can make just about any change you want from week to week. 1200 calories is the amount that will work the best for me but I don't think 1600 calories is necessarily a deal breaker. Also, during the first week maybe a few addtitional calories will help me ease into it since I've been eating a lot of calories these last two weeks. I think it will be cool to see all the differences in the 1600 vs. 1200 also, without having to pay the extra $. And as before I will document it all with photos. 

Setting up Diet-To-Go (DTG)

Setting up DTG was painless. I received a $30 coupon via e-mail to come back and I obviously accepted. Usually after I stop a diet plan I opt out of their list but this time I didn't, and they don't send a ton of e-mails like a lot of other companies so the ones I received never bothered me. I'm happy I did stay on their list because I love a sale. I had been thinking about starting but this just pushed me over the edge.

One problem I had while trying to start was that I could only do it over the internet but for some reason the coupon didn't seem to be going through. Long story short, after talking to customer service and sales I went ahead with the order online and the page right before submitting showed that the coupon was successful. So all that calling for nothing.

The process is still the same as when I did it last year. I think they only had 4 weeks of menus last time though, can't really remember and I don't recall lasting more then 4 weeks so I guess it doesn't really matter. SN: I'm so happy they still have the grilled cheese with the brownie (totally random). Ok, back to business.

My One Meal Wish

There was one meal that was pictured on the front page of the DTG website that I was really looking forward to that I was not able to get. It's the Parmesan Chicken Wings, yummy!

Alas, this is only for the low-carbers among us. I guess it has a lot of calories. I wouldn't even need to eat it with the blue cheese though. Just some hot sauce, lol. DTG please let me have that meal. *pouty face*

"Going Out Of 2010 Smaller Then I've Ever Been"

I refuse to go backwards and I have a saying for the next few months, "Going out of 2010 smaller then I've ever been." Maybe not smaller then I've "ever" been but you get the idea. Smaller then I've been in a very very long time. So right now I'm about 180lbs. I will weigh myself once I officially start the DTG which will be next week whenever my food arrives. So excited for it to start!

Turning 30

Oh yeah, I turned 30 in August so I believe that has a lot to do with me restarting this plan. As each year passes I don't usually feel any different but these few months have been, well... different. I feel enlightened and invigorated. I have started thinking differently about things and I'm seeing huge changes, great changes, in who I am as a person. One major thing that hit me was to decide to DO instead of PLAN. So many times in the past I have wanted to figure it out before I started. Learn everything I can about something before I do it. Figure out all the pros and cons and why my idea/project/hobby/trip/etc might fail. And that has done nothing but stifle me. Now I am Doing. Regarding this blog, one example would be learning all about nutrition. Instead of trying to look up calories, fat, diet plans, work out plans, work out clothes and fitness centers I am just going off of what I already know. Because truthfully I know everything I need to know about losing weight. The fattest people (myself included so don't be offended) are the ones that can tell you the calorie of a grape. They can tell you how many calories you will burn running, walking or cycling. They can tell you what workouts to do: cardio vs. weights vs. stretching vs. yogo vs. pilates. They can tell you when to eat, what to eat and where to buy it from. So knowledge isn't the problem. It's the action part that we fail at. And this is just one example of my DO instead of PLAN philosophy.

Starting Again

Although I stopped this diet plan in May 2009 it has remained my favorite diet plan ever. That's because it's not so much of a diet plan as it is a personal chef. I don't know how to cook many things but I love flavorful dishes. I also like variety. And this program provides that.

I am still in the same position that I was when I originally started and I weigh even more now. And since it has been over 1 1/2 years it is clear that I still need some help. Since the last time I tried this program I have of course tried to lose weight. I have done a fast called "The Daniel Fast" but that was for church so it wasn't something that I stuck to long term. I did it twice and they were 40 days each and while I did lose weight it was not a plan that is for life. I have tried to make healthy choices and I have actually lost a bit of weight but I am not losing steadily and I am not consistent. I felt so good while on the fast that it made me want to get back to eating properly and working out. My number one goal is always to lose weight honestly. But I do want to be healthy, feel healthy, ward off diseases, lower my blood pressure, etc.

I decided to do the 40 day Daniel Fast starting September 1 because August was really busy with birthday fun. And I finished October 10. I lost 13lbs and felt wonderful. But when it was over I went back to my old eating habits immediately. The fast has only been over a few weeks but I don't want to go backwards. So instead of giving myself time to totally fall off the wagon, waiting until after Halloween, after Thanskgiving, after Christmas, after New Years, or for the real procrastinator, after Valentines day, lol, I decided to start now. No sense in waiting for the new year to roll around to start a plan. As much as I love the holiday meals and festivities I will have to live through them for the rest of my life so why not start now.

One thing that I just remembered is that I couldn't really afford the plan and that is another reason I cancelled it. I was in between jobs and because I wasn't sticking to the plan 100% I just felt I couldn't afford to splurge on it. Thankfully I am in a better position now and I am looking forward to beginning.

I'M BACK!

I've decided to try DTG, follow me.... AGAIN!