I’m a week into my diet and am holding fast at five pounds lost, quite different from the last time. One of the reasons could be – actually, probably is – that I’ve reduced the whey “power” protein shakes down to only two from the three imposed by the diet plan. Which is OK, I only planned on losing eight to begin with to drop me down to the magical 160 lb mark. Unfortunately, just like the last time I did the diet, four days in and I’m getting the same bout with insomnia as I did the last time. I don’t like having to take any sleep aids but it’s either that or lay awake all night – not the greatest set of choices for sure. I think the last it took a good week to get over so we’ll see if the same holds true this time around.

When you’re on as restrictive a diet as this is (at least for the first two weeks) it’s amazing the kinds of sudden cravings that pop into your head during the day without any notice. The biggest one for me is an extra large double pepperoni pizza with extra sauce light cheese from Rino D’s, a pizza place down the road. Wash a few slices down with a nice glass of chianti or a Sam Adams Boston Lager and that sounds like pure heaven to me.

But I’ve also gotten craving for a couple of places back home, like veal cutlets at Pagliuca’s, or beef nachos and an oven beef quesadilla from Tortilla Flat. Or, a steak and cheese sandwich like the cook makes at O’Hara’s Taven on beautiful Lakeview Avenue in Dracut. (Note to my fellow Goodboy “The Funny Guy”: tell them their link is broken!) I’m also craving machaca tacos and a ground beef enchilada from Serranos, a real good family-owned Mexican chain around here. (Nothing like a mainpage with a big momma enchilada staring you straight in the face!)

The funny thing is, it’s only food I’m craving, I don’t miss beer or wine or my half caffeinated / half decaf coffee in the mornings. Not I’m much of a sweets kind of guy, but I’ve had no cravings for hot fudge sundaes or chocolate, either. One thing I have grown fond of is water with a twist of lemon in it. I think that’s going to be part of my daily regimen from now on, and both water and lemon are good for hydration and your liver, anyways.

By next week I’ll be able to have either one beer or one glass of wine a week as I enter the “meat” weeks”. But that pepperoni pizza is still going to have to wait another few weeks.