Tilapia Dinner

So today was an ultimate test of my diet. My friend Debra went to McDonalds for lunch, she got an extra fry for everyone to share at work....normally I would have dove right in and probably would have eaten the whole thing but instead I just sat there with the fries right in front of me and enjoyed my healthy lunch. She is trying to gain weight....wouldn't that be nice to have THAT problem? She's been sick lately.

Breakfast:

1 Egg w/1 T Heavy Cream in Micro

3/4 cup of Rice Chex Cereal Plain (worked out great as I am a 'car' muncher), I MUST have something to munch on in the car.

Lunch:

3 & 1/2 oz Chicken

2 cups lettuce

2 T low carb ranch dressing

1/2 granny smith apple

1 cup of Broccolli

Dinner:
1 Tilapia Fillet grilled with a mix of seasonings
1 cup of steamed broccoli
1 small orange
2 cups of lettuce with about 2 T of Sharp Cheese

Saturday's Food Intake 9/5

On Plan: Water: Exercise:
The scale is going consistently down each day, something that I haven't seen for a while. YEAH! I just hope I don't blow it this weekend as I ALWAYS blow it on the weekends when I am home, it's a lot harder to stay strong for me, guess I just need to keep myself busy and then I won't be tempted to eat crap, although with as broke as we are right now, we don't have much in the way of crap in our house at the moment. YEAH!
Food Intake: B Green Smoothie, Steak, 2 Eggs, Cheese, 1 Banana
L: Green Apple, Garden Salad w/tuna, carrots w/low carb dressing, steamed veggies
D:Orange Garden Salad (Grilled Salmon, Cucumbers, Olives, Cheese, Romaine Lettuce) w/low carb dressing, Peanut Butter/Soy Sauce Chicken/Bell Peppers Low Carb Tortilla Wrap
Snacks: Green Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Activa Yogurt Key Lime
**Green Smoothie: Parsley, Ginger, Pineapple, Honey, Water, Splenda
Exercise:40 Minute Walk with Dog, 10 Minutes Leg Exercises

Do Something About it!

Are you frustrated and burned out? What are you going to do about it?

Is there something you really want to achieve? What are you going to do about it?

Have you just become aware of an incredible opportunity? What are you going to do about it?

What are you going to do today, right this moment? What actions will you take to end your frustration, to achieve your dream, to take advantage of opportunity?

Success and achievement depend not on how much you complain, or on your ability to garner sympathy from others, but on what you do. And right now is the time to start.

Go ahead and move beyond the frustration, begin to work toward the dream, and make the most of your best possibilities. Go ahead right now and do something positive and effective about it.

-- Ralph Marston

Read more: "The Daily Motivator - Do something about it" - http://greatday.com/motivate/090401.html#ixzz0DHGyMqQH&A

This is something that came into my in box a while ago, and I really like it. I think that today I fully 'did something about it'. I exercised not only 1 time today but twice today. I feel great!

Food Intake Meals & Snacks:
B: Left over Steak
L: Salad w/greens, nuts, guacamole, low carb dressing
D: Pork Chop, Salad, Garlic Butter Noodles (low carb)
Snacks: Pepperoni, Cheese Sticks, Banana Bread 1 slice

Blessing my body with loving movement:
I didn't really feel the 'burn' like I normally do from my morning workout, and I've been itching to see if my Chihuahua can keep up with me on a walk, so I went again this evening. He didn't really keep up with the pace I would have liked to have gone, but did good, so I had to slow down a bit, but he did pretty good.
30 Minutes (2 Miles) Walk Slim DVD (in morning)
30 Minute walk outside with my dog, Sebastian

Happy Easter!

The Jelly Bean Prayer

I really have always loved this! Anyways I hope you all had a great Easter. Rob and I got some sort of food poisoning and spent the majority of the day in the bathroom, I guess as a bonus, it means that since everything was passing straight through...I didn't gain weight :) My family has a dinner almost every major holiday, I had taken some immodium and felt well enough to go, although hindsight 20/20 probably should have stayed home. Rob stayed home. My sister put about $60.00 in many different plastic easter eggs around my parents front yard, we only had 2 Grandkids there, one is 3& 1/2 the other I believe is 2, they had a blast. Then we had dinner, (see below) it was really good. My mom made a 5 Minute Key Lime Pie and boy was it yummy! It used 'low' fat Jello, Yogurt and Whipped Topping, and I ate it without the crust so that helped cut back on the carbs. It was SO good. Here's the recipe: Recipe for 5 Minute Key Lime Pie

April 12^th Weight Loss Day #6

B: 2 Hot Dog Links, Apple Actual: 2 Bratwursts, Chili, Onions, Cheese
L: See Above
D: Ham, Cheesy Taters (Funeral Potatoes), Green Bean Casserole, Roll, Key Lime Pie Dessert (Low fat)
Snacks: Cheese Sticks, Hard Boiled Eggs x2, 1 Chocolate Caramel Egg, 2 Peanut Butter Eggs

Pizza Pizza anyone?

I have to add...I told Rob I was doing the "Sizzling Hot for Summer Challenge" and his reply was "Why, you are already sizzling, get any hotter and I'll get burned". LOL. Such a sweetie I love my husband....he's such the practical joker. He keeps things 'interesting' to say, the least. We have discovered how to make a 'really' easy pizza using Pita breads as the crust, I'm on my protein day so am avoiding carbs, so I just ate the toppings. Anyways the pizza on the right is the one he made for me....it's on a ritz cracker :) He pulled this trick a while back with "Sprite" Floats...see here: http://robnheather.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-husband-and-i-are-equals-in-every.html
t
There are a couple of great quotes in my Lean for Life book I'd like to share today:
"Motivation is a decision. Remind youreself several times every day why you'weightve decided to become lean for life."
"Losing weight---and keeping it off--has at least as much to do with what we put in our minds as what we put in our mouths."
Both quotes are from Dr. Stamper.
Anyways they just hit home with me today as I really believe that what you tell yourself affects how you act. I tend to sabotage myself a lot, and I'm really trying to overcome this. I am making many adjustments/behavioral changes etc in order to become "Lean for Life" and in order to get this weight off, so I can be healthier, and make it easier on my body to have a baby if that's in God's plans for me.

April 5^th Protein Day #2

B: 2 Eggs, 1 Sausage Patty
L: Pizza Toppings
D: Salmon Patty w/cheese
Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

Exercise: 30 Min Walk Away the Pounds (I was going to not exercise today, but I just felt like it so I did)

Weight: 205.2# Woot Woot! This is my lowest so far with this journey! YEAH!

Here are my cutie pies: L-R: Munchie, Pipsqueak and then DeeJay is the one on the kitchen table. Munchie is 2 years old, Pipsqueak is 10 months and DeeJay is 9 years old. Can you tell we were in the kitchen cooking? This is Munchie's 'favorite' chair and he plays 'cute' so he will get little tidbits.

Mind over matter.....

"What lies before you and what lies behind you are tiny matters compared to what lies within you." Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is from my Lean for Life Book:
Words can make you blush. Jokes can make you laugh. Movies can make you cry . Conversations can make you sweat. A card or call from that special someone can get your heart racing. The connection between your mind and body is undeniable. The thoughts you think, the emotions you feel, the images you see, and the things you do all affect your behavior and your body chemistry. Likewise your body chemistry and your behavior affect how you think, how you feel, your impressions of what you see, and what you do. So my book is going to teach me how when I'm feeling sorry for myself to do things that will give me pelasure. If just thinking about exercise is making me tired, it will help me think about it differently. If I am feeling edgy, it will show me ways to relax. If I'm frustrated, they will share success of others who've experienced the same feelings and have overcome them. If I'm overwhelmed, it will suggest ways to refocus my thoughts and energy.

I'm going to explore the importance of treating myself well, clarifying my goals, and cultivating an "achievement attitude". I will become an effective problem solver, learn how to mentally rehearse being successful, and understand what I can do to change my body chemistry.
I will share more on these subjects as I learn more about them.

But this totally makes sense as I think a lot of things in life are 'mind over matter'. One of my favorite quotes is "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't...you're right" I've been having a major slump essentially since Thanksgiving of 2008, because I just wasn't seeing good results which is why I went back to lower carb eating instead of WW, but I let myself be loose and 'slack' about my eating so I wasn't 100% on plan, I would say maybe 50% on plan, and then I wondered why I wasn't loosing? We'll thanks to Mrs. Sheila I'm back on plan and not going to let things get slack, as I want to be "Sizzling for the Summer" Who knows maybe I'll be brave enough to wear a swimming suit :) I hate my body in a swimming suit..always have, I have varicose veins in my legs and I have huge muscularly calves from years of soccer playing as a kid, and I just feel goofy. Any ways here are todays stats:

April 4^th Protein Day #1 of 3 initial (then it's once a week)

Todays Weight: 206.2#
Meals
B: 2 OM Cheese Hotdog links 2g
L: 1 Salmon Patty 2g Carbs
D: 3 ½ oz Chicken Breast
Snacks: 6 Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts, Yogurt

Exercise:
Walk Slim Fast Start 2 Miles (30 Min)
10 Min Firming Exercises

Sizzling for Summer 2 Week Menu Plan

Challenge Week 1:

April 1^st Prep Day #1

B: 2 Eggs, 2 Pieces of Deli Ham, 1 Slice whole wheat toast, 1 Morning Spark Orange Juice

L: Tuna Salad Sandwich, Green Salad w/dressing, Orange

D: Salmon Patty, Baked potato sour cream, butter, Green salad, apple

Snacks: Cheese sticks, lean deli meats, lower carb yogurt

April 2^nd Prep Day #2

B: 2 Eggs, 2 Pieces of Deli Ham, 1 Slice whole wheat toast, 1 Morning Spark Orange Juice

L: Tuna Salad Sandwich, Green Salad w/dressing, Orange

D: Salmon Patty, Baked potato sour cream, butter, Green salad, apple

Snacks: Cheese sticks, lean deli meats, lower carb yogurt

April 3^rd Prep Day #3

B: 2 Eggs, 2 Pieces of Deli Ham, 1 Slice whole wheat toast, 1 Morning Spark Orange Juice

L: Tuna Salad Sandwich, Green Salad w/dressing, Orange

D: Salmon Patty, Baked potato sour cream, butter, Green salad, apple

Snacks: Cheese sticks, lean deli meats, lower carb yogurt

April 4^th Protein Day #1

B: 1 Egg

L: 2 ½ oz Tuna Fish

D: 3 ½ oz Chicken Breast

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

April 5^th Protein Day #2

B: 1 Egg

L: 2 ½ oz Tuna Fish

D: 3 ½ oz Chicken Breast

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

April 6th Protein Day #3

B: 1 Egg

L: 2 ½ oz Tuna Fish

D: 3 ½ oz Chicken Breast

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

April 7^th Weight Loss Day #1

B: Eggbeaters, Apple

L: Salmon Patty, Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Chicken, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

Challenge Week 2:

April 8^th Weight Loss Day #2

B: Eggbeaters, Orange

L: Salmon Patty, Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Chicken, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

April 9^th Weight Loss Day #3

B: 2 Hot Dog Links, Apple

L: 2 ½ oz cold cuts Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Beef, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

April 10^th Weight Loss Day #4

B: 2 Hot Dog Links, Orange

L: Tuna Fish, Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Pork Chops, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

April 11^th Weight Loss Day #5

B: Eggbeaters, Orange

L: Salmon Patty, Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Chicken, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

April 12^th Weight Loss Day #6

B: 2 Hot Dog Links, Apple

L: 2 ½ oz cold cuts Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Beef, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

April 13^th Weight Loss Day #7

B: 2 Hot Dog Links, Orange

L: 2 ½ oz cold cuts Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Pork Chops, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

Snacks: Cheese Sticks, 4 oz Cottage Cheese, 2 ½ oz Lean/Fat Free Cold Cuts

April 14th Weight Loss Day #8

B: Eggbeaters, Orange

L: Salmon Patty, Mixed Veggies steamed, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

D: Chicken, Green Beans, Orange, Green Salad Low Carb Dressing

Breakfast

I am having an incredibly hard time eating breakfast any more, not sure why or what's up but I'm seriously not hungry (feel full) until 11:30 or 12:00 most mornings. Not sure why or what I can do, but it seriously almost makes me nauseated just to think about eating food when I feel that full. I have been trying to do at least maybe 1 hot dog link or string cheese so I have something in my tummy, but it's not working out so well....as I plain and simply am not hungry. I have pills I have to take in the mornings but I have to have A LOT in my belly or I get sick, so I've been eating them at lunch time. Some days I'm not even hungry until 4 or 5pm. I know I need to and should eat breakfast, but I'm at a loss on why I'm not hungry. Anyone ever experienced this?

Small NSV for me today...

Today I got some 'sobering' news about my hubby from the doctor, and it really made me upset. I came home and just wanted to binge and eat whatever I could find, I had a bag of doritos ate 1-2 of them and then put the bag down and asked myself "What the HECK am I doing?" the Doritos are NOT going to make me feel any better. So I went and made myself a yummy healthy salad, and had some string cheese with it. MUCH better choice....and won't feel the shame and guilt of it all tomorrow...So my NSV of the day is, I SAID NO! I didn't give into those emotion cravings!

My hubby has to see a couple of specialists for his Blood Pressure and Asthma, and is also going to be joining me on the diet front, although will be doing a 'Dr supervised' diet/lifestyle change. He is already making changes, like giving away the rest of his 'large' family sized bag of Sour Patch Kids, and putting the rest of his Reece's Pieces in his M&M dispenser at work so his buddies at work could enjoy them. He also is drinking his water! I'm so proud of him!

So for today:
Didn't have breakfast cause we got up too late
For Lunch: Gourmet Salad (sunflower seeds, bacon, almonds, cheese, leftover chicken breast, and guacamole (100 calorie pack)
Snacks: String Cheese & Lean Lunch Meat
Beverages: Water x3 (28oz each) and still going, Diet Coke
Exercise: 100 Steps on my Stair Stepper (my knees couldn't handle any more) Hoping to be able to build up this #

Things that make you go mmmmm.....

I have found several REALLY neat items this past week or two and I'd like to share them with you. The first one is a Water bottle. It's made for walmart, but the cool thing about it is the lid, has a straw that pops up and you can rotate the lid to hide the straw and close the bottle so it doesn't leak if it gets knocked over. This was VERY handy today. I am a clutz and am ALWAYS knocking things over. Here's a couple pictures: (****Addendum...wasn't sure if Rob would like it or not so I didn't get him one but he LOVES it so I will be picking him up one tomorrow).


Then the next AWESOME Find that has made my life EASIER is Ken's Lite Dressing that just has 1g Net Carbs! So far I've tried the Northern Italian and the Buttermilk Ranch that have the 1g Carbs. There are several other "Light" ones of his that have 2-6g carbs which isn't bad for a salad dressing as well.

The next is one that I've been considering for a while, just hadn't done anything about it is Coconut Oil www.coconutdiet.com There are supposed to be a LOT of health benefits from it, and I have several people I know who are taking it and having good results, so I'm excited for it. I'm all about the supplements and more 'natural' ways of doing things. Hubby calls me the supplement queen!

Starting Over....Yet Again

So I've had my "Lean for Life" Diet book from the library for a couple of months now, I've browsed it slightly, but nothing significant. Just mainly the 'plan' pages etc. I've been getting the daily e-mails from the free Rite Aid Weight Loss Plan (which is essentially the same as Lean for Life) for 2 months now...I briefly browse them, but for some reason it 'clicked' today. I really spent some time browsing the book and re-reading some e-mails. MAN there are some really neat 'kick in the butt' jump start motivations in there. I really needed to read that today. I guess in part because I felt bad for my 'bread' binge last night (I had 2 pieces of buttered bread with dinner) and boy have they done a number on me. I get bloated, tummy ached, and burp up yeast when I eat bread sometimes...okay most of the time. I think I'm sensitive to yeast or something. Anyways I really felt bad as I've been stagnant again for quit a while...because I keep yo-yoing on what I eat (adding Red Vines, Sun Chips, and other 'bad for me' foods when I know I shouldn't. So tomorrow is going to be the 'start' over on the Lean for Life diet. Each day I am going to read the pages in the book and the e-mail, probably blog about them and apply the concepts to my life.

I know I can do this, I've done it before (lost 70# in 2004/2005). I WILL be thin this year! I may need y'alls encouragement and support to keep me on my toes! Wish me luck!

Involvement vs Commitment: The difference between involvement and commitment is never more obvious than with a bacon-and-egg breakfast. The Chicken, was involved, but the pig was committed. This was taken from my LFL (Lean for Life) book. It really hit's home, while I've been 'involved' with my weight loss so far, I'm not 100% committed and I really need to become committed to it.

Self Sabotage

Why do we do this to ourselves? I worked my 10 hour day yesterday, came home was munchie so I made me a bag of 100 Calorie popcorn which would have fit in my 'carb' limit for the day, EXCEPT that only made me hungrier so what do I grab? Red Vines and Sunchips! ARGH! I do this to myself more often than not and I am SICK SICK SICK of it! I need to quit doing that and just grab healthier snacks. It's not like I don't have them in the fridge WAITING for me...they are saying "Eat Me, Eat Me!" ARGH! Anyways that's my gripe for the day. I had a yummy 'chef/california cobb' salad for lunch today. Salad Greens, Hardboiled Egg, Olives, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Bacon, Tuna Fish....it was really good and hit the spot. I am a salad lover though, I don't have a problem eating salads with my meals. It's one of my favorite foods. The possibilities are endless as well which is always nice. There are so many things that you can add to salads. When I go to buffets I eat salads first, usually end up filling up on a nice healthy green salad with lots of yummy fixins.

February 5, 2009

Day 6 on plan (in a row) Day 4 Exercised (in a row)* Hopefully
Breakfast: 7 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2 carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb
1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1 carb
1 Light & Fit Diabetic Friendly Strawberries & Cream Yogurt 3g Carbs

Lunch: None (See Below) I didn't eat lunch because I was still full from breakfast and snack, and I knew I was going out tonight and it was gonna be 'heavy'.

Dinner: 32g
Went to a diner
Lemon Herb Chicken
Small French Fries 20g
Scone w/honey butter 12g

Snacks: 43.5g
1 Skinny Cow Vanilla Dipper 9g
Small Movie Theater Popcorn, No Butter 23.5g
1 Tortilla 10g
1 Wholly Guacamole Snack Pack 1g

Water/Fluids:
96oz Water
1 Diet Barqs Root Beer
1 Large Diet Coke Movie Theater
2 Diet Cokes Diner

Total Carbs 82.5g Carbs (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise: Elliptical Machine: Time: 25:09 Distance: 3.65 Miles Tension/Intensity 2
I increased the intensity today to get more of a 'workout' as it's been 'easy/peasy' so I got more of a workout today. I wasn't going to exercise as I really wasn't in the mood, but I "MADE" myself do it, I've already used enough excuses, it's time to get this body into shape!

Thoughts: Today I am trying to keep breakfast and lunch low as I am going to a movie and dinner with my sister today so It's gonna be a challenge avoiding a Movie Theater Popcorn as that is my downfall! We are going to eat at a local diner, and I am going to research the menu online and make my choice before I go so I'm not tempted to cheat or eat something very bad for me.

Well I didn't do so hot at the movies. We saw Gran Torino, and I must say it was a very good movie, it made me cry...my hubby will tell you that I cry at the drop of a hat, but seriously I was very impressed with the movie. Had a small popcorn w/no butter, large diet coke, then we went to a diner, and while I made a good choice with the chicken, I should have had a salad instead of the fries and avoided the scone....oh well, I was still within my range for the day just a little higher than I had hoped for.

Feb 4, 2009

Day 5 on plan (in a row) Day 3 Exercised (in a row)
Breakfast: 14 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2 carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb
1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1 carb
1 Dannon Activia Light Raspberry Yogurt 10carbs

Lunch: 26g
Apple/Cheese/Grape Snack thing w/Light Caramel Sauce from Walmart 18g (too many carbs but better than the potato chips I was eyeing)
Blue Bunny Light Peach Passion 4oz 8g

Dinner: 7.5g
Chicken Stir Fry (Using Stir Fry Mix from Costco) 5g
Low Carb "Cauliflower Rice" 2.5g

Snacks: 22g
2 String Cheese 1g
6 Slices Lean Turkey 1g
1 100 Cal Wholly Guacamole 1g
1 Tortilla Crisped LC 10g
1 Skinny Cow Mint Dipper 9g

Water/Fluids: 4g
128 oz Water
1 Cherry Coke Zero
1 8oz Glass Calorie Countdown Chocolate Milk 4g (I normally am NOT a big milk drinker but I was craving this for some reason).

Total Carbs 73.5grams (aiming for 50-100)

Exercise: Elliptical Machine 25.09 Minutes 3.76 Miles

Thoughts: Doing really good today, only have had 1 Coke. I had my 'meeting' with my staff, I bought them cupcakes and cookies and am happy to report I wasn't even tempted by them in the least, which was surprising as normally I am ALL over the soft cookies I bought them especially since I was stressing about staff meeting a little bit. YEAH! Today makes day 5 being on plan and I haven't felt this good in a long time. I have been taking all my medicine and that I think is helping my moods, productivity a lot. I was up at 8:30 on my day off for Pete's sakes That's a miracle all in itself. I normally wake up at 11:30-1pm on day's off. I spent like 30 min chatting with my sister last night on IM, which is surprising as we don't chat all that often, if felt great! She's getting a new puppy the end of the month! I'm excited for her.

I will admit today was the most challenging day so far with the cravings and being hungry/munchies. I tried to stay busy to keep my mind off of eating. Which is why I had more water/fluids today. It was also my day off which doesn't help matters much as I'm usually a lot more munchie on my day's off than I normally am, probably more boredom than anything. I was only going to do 15 minutes of exercise today, but I was watching CSI NY and I just kept 'pushing' myself, I was still comfortable physically (not dying of exercisedom) so I went for 20 minutes, then I said, I'm still doing good so I kept on going and I did 25 minutes! MOST time EVER with my elliptical! I've only had it since August....and I think I've used it more in the past 3 days than I have all together (not really but that's what it feels like). YEAH!

Exercise or Bust

Today's Affirmation:
"I take great care of myself by giving my body what it needs!"

Today's email from the Rite Aid Weight Loss plan was about taking vitamins and supplements. They recommend the following: Multi-Vitamin, Essential Fatty Acids, and Possibly Potassium or Sodium. When you are dieting you generally take in more fluids than normal so you can deplete your body of Potassium and Sodium. Low potassium causes fatigue and muscle cramps. I haven't ever really thought about that, the depleting the body of Potassium and Sodium. I am taking a Pre-Natal (suggested by Dr when TTC), I haven't taken Potassium before but so far I think I'm doing good in that regard.

Breakfast: 14 Carbs
Egg/Sausage/Cheese
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters 2 carbs
1 Sausage Patty 1 carb
1 T Cheese 0 Carb
1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1 carb
1 Dannon Activia Light Strawberry Yogurt 10carbs

Lunch: 24 carbs
2 cups Romaine Lettuce
1 T Cheese
1 Salmon Patty 2carbs
Rasperry Vinegerrette Spray Dressing 15 squirts 3 carbs
1 Yoplait Light Yogurt Cherry 19g

Dinner: 14g
1 Seasoned Grilled Chicken Breast (seasons: Garlic & Onion Powder & Season Salt)
1 cup Low Carb Penne Pasta seasoned w/garlic/parsley and butter 5g
2 cups Romaine Lettuce 0g
2T Light Raspberry Vinegerette Dressing 5g
1 T Tomato 1g
2/3c Green Beans

Snacks: 8g
2 String Cheese 1g
PM Snack: 8:00pm 2 String Cheese 1g
6 Slices Lean Turkey 1g
Low Carb Ice Cream 5g

Water/Fluids:
128 oz Water
3 Diet Cokes

Total Carbs 60 grams

Exercise: 19,996 Steps (9.44 Miles) Yeah I get my exercise in at work
20 Minutes Elliptical 3.08 Miles

Thoughts: Going to be strong today and avoid guzzling diet coke! Hoping to keep the number low! Wish me luck! Did pretty good with the Diet Cokes even with stressed, as you see my water is higher than normal....I tried to drink water every time I was craving a diet coke, it helped! It was just a MEGA STRESSFUL day at work today, having employee issues I need to deal with tomorrow (they weren't scheduled today or I'd have dealt with it today). YEAH I exercised again! 2 days in a row...that's like a new record for me lately! I tried rationalizing it but I 'forced' myself to do it, and I did longer than I have done in the past in a LONG time. So far 4 days on plan and 2 days exercise. I'm so excited, I'm feeling great, and positive!

Oops....there goes another one....

I had a lot of errands to run today, and my pants are WAY too loose! So I started at a 22 verge of 24 in July 2008, got 18's in November right before Thanksgiving, and now I am ready for a 16! I'm excited! It's been a long haul. I have a VERY VERY favorite pair of pants that look killer on me that are a 12 so I'm getting there! I can't wait to be able to wear them again. It feels great! My only problem is I have a lot of scrub pants that are size 2x and now they are literally falling off of me. It makes me feel good but have to replace them little by little with the $$$ issue.

I am trying the "Carb Smart" icecreams from Breyers (I think) I like to have my little 'sneaky' treats that are still "Low Carb" friendly. I think that's my biggest complaint is having to 'not eat' what are/once were my favorites. My hubby has helped out greatly with this coming up with new ideas. He makes this KILLER Low Carb cheesecakey type dessert that is REALLY yummy!

Tuesday January 6th

Today was a hard day at work, I a sick, I have a sinus infection, and am coughing up a small amount of blood, since I already had a follow up appointment with the doctor tomorrow, I just called to make sure it was okay to lengthen it. My left ear also started feeling warm, and is achy so I'm sure I have an ear infection on top of that. Work today was hard, my little brother comes in and helps out when I am there alone, I do the cleaning, and he helps the customers/answers the phones etc. So today I cleaned rooms, cleaned, cages, cleaned townhouses (kitty that is), and then bathed 5 dogs for my sister to make things easier on her as well, it was no wonder I had a hard time, I'm under the weather. No exercise today as I really have a hard time when I'm sick, but I think I go all my exercising in at work ;). Then when I got home there was a van in my parking spot, this happens about 1-2 times a aweek, it's not always the same person, but usually it's a 'spiral effect' one person parks in someone elses spot then they take someone elses etc......it gets SO frustrating, especially when the 'visitor' parking spaces are snow packed and hard to get into. This is one of my BIGGEST gripes about living in a townhouse complex.

My meals:
Breakfast: 2 Servings Egg Beaters 2g, Cheese 1g, 1 T Low Carb Ketchup 1g, 1 Sausage Patty
Lunch: Salmon Patty 2g, Salad w/dressing 1g, Cucumber
Dinner: Salmon Patty 2g, Green Beans 5g, Salad w/dressing 5g
Snacks: 2 String Cheese, 2 Turkey Slices, 2 Low Fat Cheese, 1 Bag Popcorn
Total Carbs:

Fried Green Tomatoes

Ever since I saw the movie way back when I've wanted to try some and have just never gotten around to it. Well here in Utah we had SNOW this weekend....and this weeks forecast is 71! LOL! You know you live in Utah if you have SNOW and 70's in the same week :). Anyways my mom and dad had a TON of tomatoes and a lot were green so I picked some up and made some Fried Green Tomatoes tonight!
YUMMY! I really enjoyed them! Here's the Recipe I used:

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES from Southern Living

Yield

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 medium-size green tomatoes, cut into 1/3-inch slices
• Vegetable oil
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Combine egg and buttermilk; set aside.

Combine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or pan.

Dredge tomato slices in remaining 1/4 cup flour; dip in egg mixture, and dredge in cornmeal mixture.

Pour oil to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch in a large cast-iron skillet; heat to 375°. Drop tomatoes, in batches, into hot oil, and cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels or a rack. Sprinkle hot tomatoes with salt

***IMO they could have used a little more flavoring in the breading...not sure what though.

The Root of the Pumpkin!

Got your attention didn't it! As part of the "Plump your Pumpkin" Challenge we can earn cool things for our pumpkin by doing 'mini' challenges.

This week's challenge was:
Our challenge for this week is to get to the root of why you are overweight. This is about self-reflection, understanding why you behave the way you do with food. On your personal thread (or on a sheet of paper if you do not want to make this public) please list 10 reasons why you believe you are overweight. Then go through each reason and mark them as either "medical" or "me." For instance, if you are overweight because you have a thyroid problem, your parents are both over weight, you have pcos, etc- mark it medical. If you are overweight because of lack of exercise, you love cheeseburgers too much, etc- mark it "me." Then write a small paragraph about what the list taught you and what you think the root of your weight loss problem is.

My 10 Things that Cause me to keep the weight:
1- PCOS (Medical)
2- Medications I take for other reasons (Medical)
3- Genetic tendancy & at risk for diabetes, HIGH risk for thyroid (Medical)
4- Easier to eat unhealthy than not (Me)
5- No time to exercise--working 4 10's by the time I get home I am pooped and can hardly move. Although I get quite the workout at work sometimes....16,000 steps today at work! (Me)
6- I am a stress eater Stress causes hormones that tell you you need something......(Medical/Me)
7- Low Self Esteem (Me)
8- Hurts joints to exercise I know when I lose weight my joints won't be so tender....but I also have Arthritis. (Medical/Me)
9- Laziness on my part it's easier to sit at computer and search/goof than to exercise (me)
10- Not listening to my body --there are days when I binge almost (no vomiting though) and eat so much my stomach hurts. I mindless munch (Me)

My Tally:
5 Medical
7 Me
2 that are both Medical & Me

I think this really made me realize that if it is to be it's up to me. I have more that are in the ME part, although there are a lot in the medical, I can do what I can to help. A lot of the medical issues are 'aggravated' by weight issues. I KNOW that I can do better. I can MAKE time to exercise, even if it means giving up sleep (but getting to bed earlier) in the mornings to do it, or even exercising during my lunch hour. I need to find healthier outlets to deal with stress. Make it 'easier' to eat healthy. I've been doing pretty good at this preparing my lunches/healthy snacks the night before so they are all ready for me. I need to get off my duff and JUST DO IT! I NEED to take control and listen to my body...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Greek Chicken & Pasta

I made this on Friday night. Got the recipe from: E-Mealz Menus & Meal Planning which is a site that has different options and will give you a weekly menu with a shopping list etc. I love it, I have a REALLY hard time coming up with stuff on my own so this works great for me.

Greek Chicken & Pasta Makes 3 servings 6 WW Points Each
3/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
4 c fresh spinach
4oz sliced mushrooms
2 Roma Tomatoes sliced
1/3 c Reduced Fat Feta Cheese
1/2 c Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigerette**
1 1/2 cup cooked Angel Hair Pasta

Cut chicken into tenders. Layer spinach, chicken tenders (I seasoned with Garlic & Onion Powder and Seasoned salt), mushrooms, tomatoes & then feta in a sprayed 9x13 baking dish. Pour vinaigerette over all ingredients and bake 30 min at 350 uncovered. Divide into 3 portions and serve each portion with 1/2 cup pasta.

**I had no balsamic vinaigerette and didn't feel like making any so I used: Two Sisters Gourmet Garlic Parmasan Vinaigerette and it TRULY made the meal way NUMMY! My hubby is NOT a big fan of vinegar products but he REALLY like this one, said it was a keeper, he suggested instead of the Angel Hair pasta to use toasted italian bread underneath it.