New and would like a buddy

[catwings]

Here in the deep south, we call pork cheeks hog jowls! ;-) The orange sauce with them sounds excellent. I'm cooking a chicken casserole kinda like Cheryl's chicken divan but with spinach. I throw chopped onions, celery and pepper in there too along with sour cream, a T of mayo and cheese on top. Sometimes, for a pizzaz, I put peanuts in it. One thing I do to make it taste savory is to add a teaspoon of worchestershire, lemon juice and dry mustard. That combo really adds something to a casserole of any kind. Will have a a salad on the side and coffee w/ cream after dinner.

What kinda protein shake w/ added fiber to you use Cheryl? I keep seeing that listed on your menus.

Today I did pretty well although I skipped a meal. Just coffee and cream for breakfast, was busy as soon as I got to work and missed eating. Lunch was a grilled cheese sandwich on double fiber bread, raw cowhorn peppers and some watermelon.
Snack- a few pork skins
Didn't do any structured exercise but it was go go go all day and I even string trimmed outside before I closed up shop.

Weight this morning - 205 (I only got on the scales once...I'm gonna get a new set of scales this weekend when I have time to shop.)

Teresa, I am finding my ailments disappearing as my weight drops...giving our bodies a break from carrying around that extra weight is a kind thing to do for ourselves.

Gotta go finish dinner!

Polly

[catwings]

As an aside, and a confession of sorts - I bought 2 pounds of fresh pecans at the produce stand today. They are a big weakness of mine. I like them toasted but my favorite way to eat them is fresh and raw. It is nice they are allowed on this diet and I view them as a healthy food, but I gotta remember moderation.

Cheryl...boneless chicken breast is on the menu one more night this week, I'm gonna try the chicken pizzini, it sounds delish. I haven't had any salsa since I started on low carb.

Glad to see everyones on track!

Polly

[catwings]

I finally uploaded a pick, I'm nearly 40 pounds lighter now but I figured I'd post this one so there would be a big difference when I post a new one ;-)

[Teresa3]

I swear I am going to start cooking--both those chicken dishes sound delicious! Congrats on getting down to 205, Polly! I'm happy to just lose 1/2 lb. every now & then. I'm short , have slow thyroid, and can't walk much so I lose weight very slowly. But I am determined no matter how slow it goes this time, I am not going to stop until I reach my goal!

I saw two doctors today & am not happy w/the results. I'm hoping weight loss will at least reduce some of my pain--it's got to! I also think reducing carbs could have an effect, but even if it doesn't, I still want to lose weight because I don't like the way I look.

I like your pics, guys. I've got a digital camera, but I don't know how to get the pictures onto the computer and then put one up. As soon as I can get someone to show me how, I'll post one.

Gotta go get ready for dinner--I think it's gonna be salad and fish. I'm depressed, but I'm gonna stick to the plan; I know I'll feel better afterwards! Take care, y'all. Teresa

[catwings]

Teresa, I haven't always cooked every night. For years I only cooked on Sunday and maybe one other night a week. We'd eat out, or get to-go the rest of the time. Chinese one night, mexican the next, B-B-Q, pizza and burgers. I work till 5:30-6:00 six days a week and it was just automatic after work to go by and pick something up. When we first started low carb in April, I did the same thing a few nights a week, only ordering low carb stuff. I lost weight, but as the carbs got out of my system I began worrying about what other stuff was in this resturant food. Cooking for yourself, you can be sure about what you are eating and once you get in the habit of doing it, it comes easier. Another tip is when you buy groceries, stock up so you have all the ingredients on hand.

All that said, we're having to-go hot wings from Goodman's BBQ tonight!!! I'll make a salad on the side and dress it with the blue cheese dressing that comes with the wings. Lunch will be leftover chicken casserole and breakfast...I think I'm gonna have coffee and a side of pecans.

Already drank 2 big glasses of water this morning...I'm floating ;-)

[KirbyTris]

Adding spinach to my Chicken Divan recipe would be divine! I can't wait to try it.

I'm a little disgusted today. Both yesterday and today, I'm up one pound each day. That's a two pound gain. I haven't done anything different, and I've been sticking with my plan. The only thing I can think of is that I ran out of the fiber I have been putting in my protein shakes. Ever since then, I haven't been having regular BM's. It's an awful feeling not going. Right after work today, I'm stopping at GNC and getting the stuff that works for me. I'll throw out the other stuff I have.

I've been drinking protein drinks for breakfast for many years now. I have a hard time eating breakfast, so drinking a shake works for me. Vanilla is my favorite, and I just purchase whatever vanilla protein I can get with the lowest carbs, but for the best price. I always make it with Hood Low Calorie Milk. I think it has only 3 carbs. Normal milk has 12 carbs. I blend this with a large tablespoon of fiber in a blender with 2 ice cubes. It tastes like a regular milk shake to me and I love it. I also take a lot of vitamins and supplements in the morning, and they all go done much easier with the shake.

I definitely find that when I lose weight, all of my health problems start to dissipate. I had my blood pressure taken yesterday at physical therapy and it was up. My weight is still up from the last time I had my pressure read. That just motivates me more to lose weight.

I love your picture, Polly, and can't wait to see how great you look since you lost 40 pounds. That's so exciting. My picture is an "after" picture. I was 190 in that picture. I still have 18 pounds to lose to get to the weight in my picture. I can't believe how I let myself go. I could kick myself. I do need to think positive. I am 26 pounds down from my highest weight.

You are doing such a great job, Polly! Wow! You've lost 40 pounds. That's fantastic!

Here's how I did yesterday:
B: Vanilla protein shake with added fiber
L: Salad with bacon and ranch dressing; sautéed veggies; diet Pepsi
D: 2 pieces of chicken Pizzini; cut up veggies
Snack: 1/2 deviled egg
Water: 12 cups
Exercise: None

Have a great day everyone!

Cheryl

[Teresa3]

I find fiber makes a difference for me, too. I use the pills because they don't make me get bloated. You're doing great sticking to the plan, Cheryl, don't get discouraged! In the past when my weight would go up a couple of pounds, I'd start a binge, saying what's the use, and I don't care, blah, blah, blah. Then bad things would happen! We really know that weight fluctuation is natural and we have to accept it and not freak when it happens, right? So just ignore it and keep thinking about your health! I'm in a better mood today thinking about how my health is going to improve with weight loss, because of the encouragement from both if you guys--thanks!

Polly, I love pecans, too. I find them easier to digest than almonds, altho I also like them. A handful of fresh pecans dipped into cream cheese spread is pure delight! Chicken wings sounds like a fab meal for a hot day--what's the weather like?

I ended up going out for dinner again last night, and had a buffalo tenderloin and grilled asparagus--what a treat! I love Atkins! The meat was very lean, tender, flavorful. I don't know how great I feel about eating buffalo, but it was some of the best tasting meat I ever ate. I'm from Indiana, brought up on corn-fed beef. I don't think I could ever give it up.

But tonight we're going to cook salmon at home. We've got the local fish caught right here in the Monterey Bay, excellent. And we'll have green beans and cauliflower.

I was down another 1/2 lb. so I've lost 3 lbs. my first week--hooray! Hope you are having a fine day! Teresa

[catwings]

The weather has cooled down a lot down here, over the weekend it was 101 degrees, humid and miserable. Today it's hot, but you can go outside without it hitting you like a brick wall.

I've had buffalo before and liked it although it's not something I want regularly. Teresa, it sounds like you live near some good resturants. I have to travel 50 miles to Tallahassee in order to eat something non-southern. And three pounds your first week! Good going.

Cheryl...don't get discouraged! My weight goes down, then up, then down again. What are we, two thirds water? That's got to flucuate a lot. If you see a trend then it's time to worry. Don't let up on the low carbing, looks like you are on a roll eating well. My weigh in days are Mondays and Fridays. I'm trying not to weigh every day because these fluctuations, plus my "mind of its own scale" is frustrating.

Slow day at the shop...gonna get up and do some stretches and exercise.

Happy Wednesday!

Polly

[catwings]

Weighed this morning - 213...I'm not happy but am not going to record my weight till tomorrow. Hopefull it'll be back down then. If not, I'm gonna boot camp it this weekend. I think it might be time to step up on the exercise. I've been sticking with the plan, but my food volumne has been far from dainty.

Speaking of boot camp, the other day I found the weight challenge group, "boot camp charlie" at this site. It's a bunch of guys, no women allowed except on Sunday, and they don't allow all the smiley emicons. I got tickled at them. One thing I did notice is that they have a weigh in day for the thread and it's set up like this

All time high (1997) - 250
Start date April 1, '07 - 240
May 1, '07 - 224
June 1, '07 - 215
Today's weight - 213
Goal - 140
Height - 5'6

Ya'll want to adopt this format on Monday mornings? I'm thinking if I know I need to post an official report on Monday it might help me be a good girl over the weekend.

Polly

[KirbyTris]

Good morning, everyone!

I can't believe how much better I feel now that I moved my bowels. I hate being constipated! I hopped on the scale this morning and only lost 1 of the 2pounds I have recently gained. I am hardly upset at all about this (losing so much last week and gaining this week). I am just THRILLED that I am able to stick with this way of eating. I am ecstatic that I've not had any really horrible binges these past two weeks (I was binging constantly prior to LC). I'm also delight with how good I feel. I also feel much thinner.

Polly: I would LOVE to include the format you suggested for a weigh in every Monday morning. That's my normal weigh-in/record-in day. I'll make sure to post that on Monday. That will be a great motivator to watch my diet on the weekends.

I'm really benefiting from sharing my eating journal with you guys each day. Sorry for boring you. It makes me more accountable. Just last evening, when I was eating a few nuts as a snack, I could have ate a lot more, but thought of you guys reading my list the next day.

What will "boot camp" entail for you, Polly?

Yesterday:
B: Vanilla Protein shake with added protein
L: 2 hard-boiled eggs; bag of mixed cut up veggies
S: 1/4 c of almonds
D: 2 halves of deviled egg; 2 bowls of homemade veggie soup
S: a few pecans and walnuts
Water: 10 cups
Exercise: 1/2 hr treadmill; 1/2 weights and stretching

Has anyone read the book "Beck Diet Solution?" I found mine at Target recently. It's a book which deals with the "mental" side of losing weight. There are so many great suggestions in the book. I've heard of them all many times in the past, but this book has an excellent way of explaining everything. Writing down everything you eat is one of the exercises they suggest you do everyday. Another is to have a "buddy (or buddies)." I really appreciate being a part of this group. It's helping me tremendously.

Have a great day!

Cheryl

[Teresa3]

Hi, guys--

I like the idea of "boot camp"--let's go for it. It's really been helping me, too, to be able to share food plans every day and stay accountable. And to share frustrations! Having buddies is the greatest thing; otherwise I'd just go off and binge when I felt frustrated or tired. Tired is one of the big ones that makes me want to overeat! Now I tell myself it's OK to be hungry; and it's even OK to be tired.

I really like hearing what you're eating every day. It gives me ideas for things to eat, and encourages me to stay on the program. I have noticed after a week of cutting out carbs, I'm not as famished all day long. Eating carbs always makes me hungry for more!

Cheryl, your exercise plan is an inspiration--I've got to get to the gym today. I didn't walk yesterday because it was too hot. But too hot here is in the 80's. Polly, I can't imagine 101, with humidity! I sure wouldn't feel like cooking in that kind of heat; no wonder you got the hot wings! But I love that we can eat things like hot wings on this diet. I'd much rather give up bread and pasta!

I had some delicious local-caught salmon last night w/green beans and zucchini. Tonight probably going out again because I have a meeting downtown. But it'll be OK because I'm doing well at staying on the plan at restaurants, and asking them to substitute only non-starchy vegetables for the potatoes or grain, and totally avoiding bread. Salad is great; it all works out. I try to stay aware of when I'm feeling satisfied, and take the rest of my entree home.

Polly, may I ask what kind of a bookshop you run? That seems like such a romantic occupation! Do you like to read a lot, or write? Cheryl, I haven't read the Beck diet book, but it sounds interesting.

Great hearing how things are going--here's to another low carb day! Teresa

[KirbyTris]

Teresa:

You need to get your picture up so we can bond even further!

Cheryl

[catwings]

One thing I like about the kind of low carb diet I'm concentrating on (part atkins/part protein power) is that it allows and encourages fiber. I find I'm eating more fiber than I ever have and thankfully, my bowels have been very regular so far.

I haven't read the Beck's book although I've seen it. Might have to try it out, sounds interesting. This group is helping me too Cheryl...I like reporting what I'm eating, it helps me keep up with it and encourages me not to cheat.

I've had to rethink my boot camp weekend. We're having my husband's 50th birthday party at our house this saturday night. But thankfully, our guests will be friends of ours who originally talked me into starting a low carb lifestyle so there won't be any high carb temptations around. Everyone is bringing something, my part will be bacon wrapped shrimp, chicken kebobs, artichoke dip w/ toasted high fiber flatbread, a big spinach salad and a big marinated sirloin steak salad. Good low carb food, but not boot camp fare!

Sunday I'm gonna try eating only meat,eggs and green leafy veggies for a couple of days. No cheese, nuts or low carb ice cream. See if it jump starts my weight loss.

Today's Menu -
B- coffee w/ cream, 1 scrambled egg, 2 slice microwave bacon
L- leftover chicken wings, iceberg salad w/ ranch, tea w/ splenda
S- coffee, handful of protein fiber cereal
D - probably steakums stir fried w/ some onions, peppers, celery and squash. I'm gonna try and skip the tortilla tonight, just eat it with a fork and a side of raw spinach.
S- sf popsicle, gonna leave the ice cream alone for now

[catwings]

Teresa, owning a bookshop is a somewhat romantic occupation, but it comes with headaches like any small business. I haven't had a vacation in eleven years and I work pretty much six days a week...but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! The store has been in business in my small town (10,000 people) since 1979 and I've owned it since '96. For a description of what we carry and pics, go to -
http://www.bookmart.blogspot.com/

Scroll down to the bottom to "About." It needs updating, my last pics were in the fall, gotta get the summer butterfly garden up!

I love to read and write. My writing is mostly limited to a twice monthly book review column in the local paper and a historical article now and then but I'd like to work on a book one day.

What do you all enjoy doing? Any readers?

Polly

[Teresa3]

Thanks for sending the info on your bookstore, Polly. I really enjoyed reading your review, and seeing the pics of the store! It looks like a cozy library, with the fireplace and the comfortable reading chairs. How nice you are filling a niche with "Floridiana," I imagine a lot of people appreciate that resource for Florida history and culture.

I used to belong to a bookgroup but dropped out because, typically, most of the ladies didn't read the book, and it was more of a social group. Of course, social groups are fine, but I wanted to talk more about the books! I don't seem to have a lot of time to read now; I tend to watch TV more than anything, because at the end of the day...you all know how that is! But there are a lot of good TV shows and movies out there, too. If either of you has read anything you really loved, let me know.

Cheryl, I mean to post a picture--I've just got to bite the bullet and read those 300 pages of instructions that came with the camera so I can figure out how to get one onto the computer! I am definitely not computer literate!

Polly, it sounds like you have a great plan for your husband's birthday! And to lower the carbs for a couple of days. Good to have low carb friends, too. None of mine will go for it--it's hard to eat out with them; they always want to have bread and dessert, but I'm learning to just say no or haul out a piece of lc chocolate from my purse.

Hope you all have a great low carb evening! Teresa

[catwings]

Our friends that have been on low carb for seven years are really an inspiration for anyone wanting to get healthy. Neither one of them were obese, just 20-30 extra pounds. But the husband was diagnosed borderline diabetic and he didn't want to go on meds and his doc recommended this diet. He got on the diet, started riding his bike to work and his sugar is normal. Losing weight was a side effect and once his wife saw how slim and trim he got, she jumped on and now, at age 43, she looks like she did when she was 20. It's been about seven years ago since they started so that proves it is something you can stick with. The husband never cheats because he sees himself becoming a full blown diabetic if he does and the wife...well she looks so HOT she doesn't consider going back to what they call "the dark side." They do drink on occasion and eat whole wheat pasta and brown rice in moderation but it's done conscienciously.

I didn't weigh this morning, I'm going to wait till Monday weigh in.

Hope everyone has a happy weekend!

Polly

[catwings]

Teresa...I am no computer expert but I get by, mostly with trial and error experimentation. If you have the cord to your camera, try hooking it up to your computer and see what happens. The last camera we bought...it was magically easy to upload pics onto my laptop by myself. I just plugged it in and a window popped up and walked me through it. The first camera we had...well, it was not that easy and frankly, I couldn't do it and had to request help from "Mr. Science." (what I like to call me husband)

Today's planned menu - (I'll post if I go off of it!)
B - coffee w/ cream and a spinach fritatta (no cheese)
L- salad w/ leftover steakums on top
S - not sure
D - chicken cutlets and wilted spinach
Ever notice how a boneless chicken breast cooked at home doesn't taste like one from a resturant? Here's a recipe/cooking method that will rival any "grilled chicken breast" on a resturant menu-

Place a thawed boneless chicken breast in a gallon zip lock bag, pound thin. the protective layer of plastic will keep the grunge off your meat mallet and the breast a uniform shape.

Sprinkle and rub in Italian dressing into the breasts. Sprinkle with your fav spices, I like paprika and garlic salt.

Heat butter in nonstick pan until very hot. Slam a chicken breast (only cook one at the time) in the hot pan and immediately put a smaller size flat lid on top of the breast and press it down. Cook two minutes. Take the lid off and turn it over, then replace lid, cook another few minutes. Then put the breast onto a cookie sheet, sprinkle with grated parm cheese and put in a warm oven while you cook the others. Writing it down it sounds involved but this is very easy once you do it a couple of times. Once I get all the cutlets in the oven I cover them w/ foil and make a simple lemon or cream sauce with the pan drippings but you don't have to cause these babies are good with no sauce.

I'll be busy tonight cleaning and cooking for saturday so hopefully snacks will be kept to a minimum!

Polly

[KirbyTris]

I’m getting very discouraged. I hopped on the scale this morning and it showed a 2 pound gain. Now I’m up a total of 3 pounds since Monday. Yuck! What a difference from last week. I think I may know the culprit. This past Friday, I started a new medication (arthritis medication). I looked it up in one of my Atkins book. It’s one of the top medications which hamper low carb weight loss. I can’t stop the medication, so I’ll just keep low carbing. Just think…..if I wasn’t low carbing, imagine how much more heavier I could be. I am just so thankful that my appetite is under control.

Teresa...I’m also not a computer expert and don’t have much patience, but it was so easy for me to take pictures, plug in the cord, and download pictures to my computer. Good luck!

Thanks for the grilled chicken breast instructions, Polly. I eat a lot of chicken and was getting very bored with how I was preparing it. How long do you bake them in the oven? Thanks for sharing the pics of your bookstore. It looks like a great place. I’m not much of a book reader. I do spend a lot of time reading magazines.

To answer you question, Polly (What do you all enjoy doing?)…..I don’t really have anything specific that I do for enjoyment. Thankfully, I’m very happy with my life. I just need more hours in the day to have time to do more enjoying things. I do have a ½ hour commute to work. That totals 1 hour of travel time a day. I work full-time as a secretary at a small private college. Several days a week, I go to my gym to work out. The other days, I run errands or shop on the way home. I usually don’t get home until after 7:00 p.m. By the time I make dinner and eat, there’s not much time left over for laundry, cleaning, bills, ect. The weekends seem even busier.

Instead, the question should be: If you had the time, what would you enjoy doing? I would just enjoy getting things accomplished off of my big to-do list. The fun things would be to do some scrap booking. I’ve put a fortune into supplies, but don’t have the time to work on it. I’d also like to have time to walk everyday.

Yesterday’s outcome:
B: Vanilla Protein shake with added fiber
L: Large bowl of beef veggie soup
D: Lots of broiled chicken; large salad with a little cheese
S: none
Water: 8 cups
Exercise: ½ hour treadmill; 20 minutes bike

[Teresa3]

Hi, Guys--
Thanks for your suggestions re the camera; I'll just try plugging it into my laptop and see what happens. If nothing, my daughter who is great on a computer is going to be visiting this weekend, and I'll ask her to help, so hopefully I'll get you a picture soon!

Cheryl, I'm sorry to hear you have arthritis. The meds definitely cause water retention, and may slow your weight loss a bit, but hang in there; it still can be done! I've been on prednisone for over a year now for my spondyloarthropathy, and gained weight from it. It made me hungry all the time, and now I find that with Atkins, I don't have that desire to gorge all the time. Aleve made me retain water, too, but probably, after your body adjusts to the meds, and you stick to the plan, you'll start dropping again.

As you've said--think how much we'd be gaining if we weren't eating low carb!

Polly, the chicken recipe sounds very good. I tend to eat more beef, so I should try some chicken for a change. I think I'll have a chicken caesar for lunch; that usually gives me a 1/2 lb. loss if I do everything else right. My weight was up 1 lb. this am because I had a couple of tostadas last night from the neighborhood taqueria. They're salty, and I ate late. So I got to drink fluids today and be strict!

Sounds like all the housework will be your exercise for the day! I'm sure your party will be a lot of fun. Have a good one! Teresa

[KirbyTris]

Good morning, everyone!

I hope you are all off to having a FABULOUS weekend!

Thanks for the great words of advice, Theresa.

I got to go! My weekend is jammed packed with lots of stuff to do!

Enjoy! (But not too much.....remember that Monday is our weigh-in day).

Cheryl

[Teresa3]

I got a picture into my profile, holding my dog Gena, in our back yard. I don't know how to get this into my replies, unless it's going to put it there automatically. But it should be in my profile for you to see.

Today's been very busy for me, too. My daughter and two granddaughters are visiting from San Diego. I'm trying hard to stick to the food plan while they're here! Done OK so far.

Cheryl, hope your busy weekend is a good one, and Polly, I bet you're having a wonderful, happy party for your husband right now! Later! Teresa

[catwings]

There you are! Cute dog...and is that a butterfly garden? The climate of Santa Cruz must be an interesting place to garden.

Our party last night was fun...although my husband was mopey beforehand he perked up later. He must think since he's fifty he can act grumpy now. I don't think so. We had some excellent low carb food...the hit of the evening were Denise's biscuits. She made them with a low carb mix she got off the internet (I'm gonna find out the name today) and just mixed it with water, dropped them onto a pan and baked. They were small, but delicious and only had two carbs each. I also noticed they did not cause any cravings because we ate around 7:30, then later, while we were cleaning up and putting the food away, I didn't eat another bite. All and all a good day with staying busy and eating on plan.

Today's Menu-
B -leftover bacon wrapped shrimp
L- spinach salad w/ feta cheese
D- gonna grill a steak, saute some squash and make a salad.

Ya'll have a good one! Looking forward to weigh in tomorrow.

Polly

[Teresa3]

Hi!

Sounds like the party was a great success! Bisquits w/only 2 carbs, and tasted good--amazing! 50 is a big one for everybody--that's why you need a big party! After awhile, you forget about it and before you know it, you're looking back and wishing you were still just 50!

We live near Natural Bridges State Park, which is a habitat for Monarch butterflies. They return in October, and leave in March, so in the winter we see a lot of them here. We do see other butterflies in our yard, because we have planted a variety of flowers which bloom year round. We have a number of hummingbirds because we have fuschias and other pink and purple plants they like.

Santa Cruz is a great place to garden because the climate is temperate. We have a few things we can't grow because we live a block from the beach and get a lot of fog. Right now we're growing dahlias, which I love, gladiolas, petunias, begonias, iceland poppies, daisies, roses, and many other things I don't know the names of! We have a small yard, but we try to fill it out, and we plant things in pots and barrels. I love my succulents in my pots--they greet you at the front door--such personality!

What are your favorite plants, and what are you growing?

I haven't lost any weight the last few days, so I've got to eat less I think. It's hard when we have company and eat out a lot. But I am grateful I'm not binging on the weekends like I usually do--you guys are helping me to stay on track! See you for Monday weigh-in!

Teresa