Q. How Do I Stay on Track on Cycle 2 With Too Many Food Choices?
A. This question came up today on the 17DD Blog Facebook page and I thought, “Wow, what a great question!” During my time in Cycle 2, I felt the anxiety of having too many choices during the Cycle 2 days. After being on Cycle 1 and having so many restrictions, Cycle 2 with it’s every other day approach was somewhat challenging for me. On my Cycle 2 days during this phase, I found it a bit easier to “cheat” and eat a bit more of this or some of that.
If you find that you may not have the willpower to stay on track during Cycle 2, consider having two Cycle 1 days, then one Cycle 2 day, and so on. In the end, this may make it a bit easier for you to acclimate to the structure of Cycle 2 and get you prepared for Cycle 3.
Do you have any tips that have helped you stay on track during Cycle 2? If so, please share them in the comments section.
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I needed this I started Cycle 2 and already cheated to a 3 pound gain. Lost 1 pound by going back to cycle 1 for one day and was planning on doing cycle 1 until I lose the other 2. But I think doing what you suggested will keep me on track!
KEEP IT SIMPLE! Especially on your first go round with the 17DD. Perhaps add a Cycle 2 starchy vegetable, but don’t alter your plan too much. You’re trying to retrain your carb cravings and impulse eating. When in doubt don’t! Before long you’ll be pleasantly surprised that you won’t even WANT to cheat!
Great advice, Diane (and thanks for always participating on the blog and FB)!
Will we be getting menus for Cycle 2 like we did in Cycle 1
Lorraine, the C1 Challenge was just for Cycle 1. There are free C2 recipes and a sample menu on the blog, or you may choose to purchase one of my kits for additional menus here: https://17ddblog.com/shop
Thanks
My biggest challenge is fitting in the fruit and starch before 2pm. Any suggestions? I noticed that in the book, some of the sample menus show fruit servings and/or starchy veggies for dinner. Isn’t that contradicting the 2 pm rule?
Hi Jan. There are some inconsistencies in the book. However, in Cycle 3, you are allowed to eat starches after 2pm, but the book does tell us that if you want to continue to lose weight in C3, to eat starches before 2pm even though it’s not required. The no fruit before 2pm rule is throughout the entire diet.
Hi.im in cycle 2.i live in cairo,egypt so finding food list bit difficult here but trying my best.can i eat rice crackers as i love bread and cutting make me suffer lack of it in breakfast.and we have lite kefir if i do understand is like yougurt but liquid .but it has few grams of sugar.so is it ok?
Kefir is OK. Just keep your sugar low — try to get no sugar added if you can.
Hi,thank you for helping me .i am still on cycle 2.i have few questions.first,can i eat dark diet chocalte no sugar added in this cycle.second ,i tried Faux chocolate pudding and i love it,so how many time i can eat it during the week and when?,last i only loose 200 grams per week is it ok.as im on treatment for my lazy thyroid.thank you.i love this blog.it really help us.
Hi Maissa, I think I answered your chocolate question in a previous blog post. Yes, keep it dark and NO sugar added. The Faux Chocolate Pudding can be eaten anytime and probably as much as you’d like. As for your thyroid and weight loss, I really can’t answer that!
Hi Torey. Your suggestion of having two C1 days will help I think. And I love a lot of the recipes too!
Oh, I’m so glad, Sandy! I really do this this diet is customizable so you can still see results!
I plan my week in advance and pull the recipes that I want to use for dinner. I also use a calendar and mark the days “C1” or “C2” and I keep it in the kitchen so I know what to thaw out for dinner the night before. I did a Transitional day today, which is totally low cal, so tomorrow I will have oatmeal for breakfast, baked potato for lunch and a pork roast for dinner. Then Monday I will go back to my egg muffins, salad and a chicken recipe for dinner.
When I did this diet back in 2011, C2 was my downfall. But I have to say that since I found your blog in January I’ve been going strong! By the way Torey, I won the 3 month office challenge with a grand total loss of 31.3. I owe that to my own changed mindset and your blog so thank you!
Congrats Christine on winning your office challenge! Yippeee!!
Ended Cycle 1 with a flu. Last four days were difficult. But total weight loss was 8 lbs. and I am very happy. Just ten to go. Today I took a day off as we went down to Rosarito. Still a bit under the weather but planning a transitional smoothie day tomorrow and repeating cycle one with alternate cycle 2 days. See how this works. Thanks Torey for your help and support. I would not have done this without the FB group and your encouragement.
Hi CoCo! I’m so proud of your weight loss so far! I hope you’re feeling better!!
My problems with Cycle 2 are that I don’t log what I eat, and don’t really plan that far in advance. So I cook a nice recipe from C2 and one from C1 and have the leftovers in my fridge. Then I forget from day to day what I ate yesterday so can I have C2 leftovers today or not? All it would take is a simply calendar to mark C1 or C2 but you know, that’s too eas :-)
I’m looking forward to C3 because I realy want to start eating closer to my “normal,” of course with everything I’ve learned in C1 and C2.
I’ve got 55 pounds to go so I’ll be back through the cycles at least 1 or 2 more times. Hopefully I’ll get the hang of it, and crush those carb cravings, and resist the urge to fall back into back habits, and keep the weight off, and enjoy a healthier lifestyle, and eliminate the need for blood pressure meds and buy a whole new wardrobe, and portray more confidence in my job…am I asking too much :-)
Thanks to everyone in this group for your support, and to you Torey!
Julie, definitely keep a food journal in addition to your calendar so you can not only keep track of your days on C2, but also keep track of what and how much you’re eating! Before you head to C3, make sure you take measurements so you can see those results, too!!