NO FOOLING AROUND APRIL CHALLENGE

[TuscanGirl]

[CindyCRNA]

Buffy, you have a window of opportunity when it comes to cats. Kittens who are not handled much before 8 weeks are always a bit wild and not really lap cats. In shelters, they have volunteers come in and hold and pet the kittens so they will be loving pets as adults. So what I'm trying to say is, if you need a volunteer to come to Texas to pet those babies, I'm you woman!! haha

Carolyn, I am being careful not to let my fat drift below 60%. I just read an article on one of the reasons some people's cholesterol went up on Atkins was that it was because their fat intake was too low. The article stated that 60% was the minimum fat intake and for diabetics and those with insulin resistance, fat should be 70-80% and protein should be limited to 1-1.5 grams per kg. Doesn't say whether that is based on current weight or lean weight but I am assuming it is lean weight.

My energy levels are through the roof! I feel about like I did when I was 30. I am curious which component of my BHRT is responsible. I'm thinking it is the testosterone. As long as I don't get male pattern baldness!!

Cloudy and rainy here the rest of the week but my flowers are all in so let it rain. I planted 2 tomato plants and entered "tomatoes, raw" into my ****** custom foods in anticipation. A little premature as 1 plant has 1 small bloom but I am hopeful!!

[sjl330]

Hey, Cindy, was than an online article you were reading? I'd be interested to read that too.

My week so far has been great and the scales are showing it, thank goodness. I'm sure I'm going to show a gain for the month but at least I'll be in my "safe bubble", lol.

My DD came over here last night to use the oven since hers is broken and she baked Amish bread!! The smell was divine. She left a huge hunk of it here for her dad and I was so proud of myself. I didn't have any!!! I went in and ate a leftover pork chop instead. I'm thinking by today all my cravings should be gone so it'll start getting easier. She and her DH are having a big BBQ bash Sat. and I have to bring 'tater salad, per DD's request. They love my tater salad and I hate making it when I can't eat it. I'll be honest, Sat. will be a giant struggle. I sure hope I win it!

[Buffy45]

Morning!
Cindy, yes, I know. In the past when she had kittens, we were able to hold and pet them when we found them, usually at about 4 weeks which is about what I think these are. But, once we find them and touch them she always hides them somewhere we can't get to them. When she first brings them out, about 6 weeks they are scared but once in awhile I can still get a hold of one, but after that, they are scared to death of us. I had hoped that since she was more used to us that she would not move them after we touched them but no such luck. We have fed her for 2 years and still can't get close to her :-)
Ate very few carbs yesterday so was very restless last night, carbs certainly make me sleep much better but not good for me in other ways of course.
Pulling together all the travel docs we will need to go out of country. And, watching the news on the flu, geez, scary stuff.
Rainy here today and supposed to be off and on for the next week.

[Buffy45]

I'll tell you to do as I say, not as I do Sandy! Don't carb fest on Sat. It will be hard though, I love a good potato salad.

[TuscanGirl]

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

I planted 2 tomato plants and entered "tomatoes, raw" into my ****** custom foods in anticipation. A little premature as 1 plant has 1 small bloom but I am hopeful!!

Now that's hopeful!!

[Lise]

Gorgeous kitties Buffy.

I'm down 1.5 more pounds to 202.5........Onederland here I come for good

and have a great day
Lise

[ebheffernan]

Hi all, I'll post the coconut bread recipe tonight, my brain is too fuzzy right now. As predicted, not so good between midnight and 7 AM, I already ate 1400 calories, 56 grams of carbs and only 20 fiber (the percentages are good, but too carby in grams) and now I have this evening at work till midnight to try and keep it to 200-300 calories *sigh* ugh-well, first night back is always the worst so it's over! Yes, I"m a L&D nurse, will be going to day shift in a month after 6 years of nights (!!) I"m excited, and hopeful it will help in my dietary efforts
Becky

[jem51]

hey, eb, i'm an L/D nurse...although i haven't worked in three years.
i have to say that it almost killed me!!
at this time i am applying at the VA so do not plan to go back to OB.
we nurses used to say that if you put enough creamer in your coffee you could say you had a meal.
my last job in SW WA was the best....they were well staffed so we actually got breaks (usually) and we usually went home on time (unless the delivery was at that time which changed things a bit).
anyway, for you and cindy, i can relate to how difficult it is to stay healthy doing this type of work.

[CarolynF]

Good morning everyone..

Gosh..another rainy day in SE Kansas..We are hoping that there won't be any flooding around the area..

I feel safe with all these "nurses" around, don't you ladies?

Cindy: I'm glad your energy has kicked in.

Buffy: It is very scary traveling, but I don't think the Dominican Republic has any incidents of the SF,do you?

I love real tater salad, too..Sandy..

MKay: Duh..how could I forget your ds16? I was thinking he was older than that..When will he graduate from highschool?

Lise: Onederland is right in your grasp.. Congratulations.

Hi to everyone....

Kirstie Alley is going to be on Oprah today..

[CindyCRNA]

Aahh, Carolyn, I'm glad you reminded me of that (Oprah)!! I wanted to watch that.

Jem and Becky, your the ones who keep me up all night!! I'm a CRNA! I work at a hospital with a level 3 NICU and we have a busy OB department. About 300-310 deliveries a month. OB nursing is hard work. Those patients don't sleep all night!

Sandy, all right, here goes. I wish I could post the link but I don't know how so let me tell you how to find it. It is not on this forum.
1) go to "Active Low Carber Forums"
2)Scroll down to the "Paleolithic and Neanderthin"
3) Find the thread "Paleo Critique of the Optimal Diet"
4) Go to post # 171 and click on the suggested website www.ptbo.....
5)The whole article is interesting but the 60% part is 3/4 of the way down the page and you'll see a heading, "Diabetes - Atkins Diet and Glucose". Talks about why some Atkins people see and increase in blood sugar and total cholesterol.....it is due to too high protein and not enough fat. Good article. I had this marked a while back when i was looking at the higher fat "Optimal Diet" by a polish doc. Moderate protein like EFGT but fat is closer to 70-75%. Worth taking a gander at and reminded me to keep fat at at least 60%. I hover about 60-62% right now.

[sjl330]

Thanks Cindy, I'll check that out. I was also reading a thread here about a new book called The Metabolism Miracle by Diane Kress. It sounds pretty interesting too, but of course, all the "new" books always do.

I have 2 crockpots going right now. One full of chicken breasts (Hyvee had them for .88 a pound) and one full of stew beef with tomatoes and green chilies. I'm trying to keep fatty meat on hand so I have no excuses. I'm going to try the hot chicken salad with part of it and turn some of it into chicken and noodles for my dad. And maybe just have some cold chicken in the fridge for snacks. I'm making 8 split breasts!

Did I tell you all I finally decided on my countertops? I'm getting the Granite Transformations and decided to get the backsplash too. I get it 2 weeks from today! I sure hope I like it, lol.

My WOE has been good this week. And I've dropped back to 147. So still up for the month but not as bad as I thought it would be.

Great job Lise!!! You are doing so well. I think you've found exactly what fits you, don't you?

[CindyCRNA]

Sandy, there is a thread started about this book. I don't know if it is under main forums or what but i just read it yesterday. It JUST came out so I'm not sure what you will find on it but there was some lengthy discussion on this thread.

I kinda had an epiphany today. Calories do count. No way around it. This isn't a free for all but depending on whether you are diabetic, insulin resistant or just want to lose weight on a satisfying diet is going to define your ratios. I think moderate protein is VERY important for the diabetic and insulin resistant for blood sugar control. Using myself for example. I am neither however, I eat 20-30 net carbs per day and ever since I let my protein creep up to about 100 grams per day, I couldn't turn a ketostick any color but beige. Carbs haven't changed. What did change was protein. I am definitely turning protein into glucose and that is preventing ketosis. Is this a bad thing? I don't know if I am doing harm as I am neither diabetic or insulin resistant. My weight loss is directly related to calories and my craving are directly related to carb levels. This much is true FOR ME. I keep my fat at least 60% but if I eat too much protein, I have to compensate with more fat and that makes for more calories and that is where i get into trouble. Carbs over 30 grams makes me start thinking about more carbs so I am prudent to limit them. I am technically on a ketogenic diet in that I eat few carbs but at this protein level, I stay out of ketosis. This much protein would cause a diabetic BS problems. What works for one can be bad for another.

[TuscanGirl]

Sandy -what time should I stop by to eat??
It all sounds wonderful!

Cindy - I'm not sure what's up with me this week - I'm heavier than my "top" number!

[CindyCRNA]

Sandy, look in the main lobby under "New Book Out-Anyone Heard Of It". They talk about the Metabolism Miracle.

MK, I always think one thing....water weight!

[sjl330]

Yea, that's where I read about the book yesterday. I've looked up the author and looked a bit at her facebook about it, but I haven't had time to really delve into any of it. I'm actually pretty satisfied with EFGT as long as I actually do it, lol.

[ebheffernan]

OK girls, here is the coconut bread recipe! It's great stuff, my family (one of whom is GF but the other two eat everything) love it

6 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup sifted coconut flour
1 tsp baking powder
(the original recipe called for honey, but I used no sweetener at all and it turned out slightly sweet tasting anyways-you could use AS though)

Mix well, pour into buttered loaf pan, bake at 350 for 40 minutes.
Total readouts for this bread
739 calories
48gms fat
54gms fiber
66gms carbs
61gms protein
I sliced mine into 12 generous, thick slices and got 1 gm net carbs per slice.

I am going to take the dog on a nice long jog this afternoon before work, nothing like exercise to make me feel good about myself-and that way if I do creep up to 2,000 calories today at least I worked some extra off. ****** says I burn 2700 a day with a moderate activity level so at least I will still be under that. It's crazy, I KNOW my clothes are looser, but the scale actually weighed a pound heavier than last week?! All I can think is that I'm retaining water and/or muscle weight is changing my numbers from the exercise I was doing that was a bit more than what I had been doing. Ah well, I'll keep my calories between 1500 and 1700 per day with good ratios and see what happens next week
Becky

[CarolynF]

Hi kids,

Calories do count unless you are 21. or run around all the time...or have big muscles..

Sandy: Are you going to get the Metabolism Miracle? I am a sucker for new diet books..
I have lots of them..I always like to browse through them before I buy. Your countertops will look great, I'm sure.

Becky: Thanks for the coconut bread recipe. I think I will make some up soon..I think this will make good toast, no?

I just realized that our monthly weigh-in is FRIDAY.. Yikes.. I think I'll be up..unless I fast tomorrow.

Think...think..think...of a name for our May Challenge Thread.Oh...I just thought of one..

The Barry Month of May Challenge.. other suggestions are welcome..please.

[sjl330]

That's a good one Carolyn. I vote for it. I'd like to see a pic of the bread if you make it, ok? I'd love to have some toast! I've never bought coconut flour before so I'll have to look for it.

[CarolynF]

Okay..I made the bread..I ate the bread..It was very nommy and moist. My dh took the camera, etc..However, the bread looks like a plain yellowish quick bread. It has a slight
coconut flavor. I think it is definitely a toastable one. I think the next time I make this I will put in some lemon juice/lemon extract and some poppyseeds for a lemon/coconut
poppyseed bread.

Coconut flour is like a sponge. That 3/4 of a cup soaked up all the liquid in the eggs/butter in a minute.

Gosh...Adam was in the bottom 2. I guess I will have to vote for him next week..

[ebheffernan]

Carolyn-Hey that sounds good, let me know how the lemon poppyseed thing turns out! I don't think my kids would be wild about poppyseeds, but the lemon might go over well. Yeah, it doesn't look like much but it is yummy and versatile and I think will toast well, or french toast well. I think if you want to up the coconut flavor you could sub some butter for CO, but I like the butter flavor myself.
Here at work tonight, I did hit 2000 calories total on the 29th but I jogged 3.5 miles as well. I will try for better today!
Becky

[TuscanGirl]

Morning!

I'll have to look for coconut flour too - that sounds amazing!!

Do you keep it in the refrigerator?

Cindy - I hope it's water weight.
I haven't weighed today yet.

[Buffy45]

Morning everyone!
Yes, the bread does sound good, french toast sounds soooooo good. I have been LC again for 2 days, one more day and like Sandy said (I think it was you Sandy) it will be easier. I have been on such a "want, want, want carbs" tirade the past couple of months, I am not feeling very good as a result and it is a vicious cycle, the more you eat carbs, the more you want them. Hopefully a week of vacation will get me out of my slump, if I can only eat right????
This flu thing does have me worried about traveling, not so much our destination but flying and being in airports. And, quite a few of our little ones are going. My Dr. did call in a Rx for tamiflu for me, but the pediatricians aren't doing it for the kids?, even though they told them they are traveling.
One child in the Ft. Worth, TX school system is suspected of having the swine flu and they closed the entire Ft. Worth school district? I hope they are just being overly proactive.

[sjl330]

Buffy, I'll say extra prayers for all of your family while you're gone. How long will you be gone?

[CindyCRNA]

Carolyn and Gem, what brand of coconut flour are you using? I went to Netrition and their coconut flour (Aloha Nu) for 3/4 of a cup has a total of 99.6 carbs and 63.6 fiber for a net of 36 grams or 3 grams a slice if you have 12 slices.

It is pouring here. Everything is planted. My cat is glued to my leg. The fireplace is on (that's ridiculous, it's almost May) My basil is up enough to use some tonight for pizza.

[jem51]

cindy, that's the coconut flour i have. got it from netrition. i posted a muffin recipe from the package last year and that recipe is very versatile, depending on how much sweetener and various flavor. it makes an awesome white cake which is perfect for B'days. it is more like # cake which is what i grew up having from bakeries (southern thing).
the recipe posted above sounds pretty much the same except more. very worth while.

[CindyCRNA]

But is the carb count correct? I get 3 per slice, not 1.

[CarolynF]

Hi everyone..

Drove to B'ville in the rain..The forecast doesn't look too bright..

Buffy, yes, take that hand stuff with ya..Of course, you would have to put a little one in your purse so it would make it through security. Gary is flying back home from Washington State tomorrow..He was at a convention, so who knows what he might have picked up shaking all those hands...

Weigh-in is tomorrow..I know I'll be up..(the Easter fiasco)..But, it's okay and once I get regulated on my thyroid meds, I am hoping to start losing..(something).

I get Bob's Red Mill Coconut Flour, but I don't think it matters. That bread is really filling. I had a piece with some peanut butter on it this morning..

I looked for the Metabolism Miracle and they didn't have it at the little Hastings or the Waldenbooks..Has anyone seen it?

Hugs all around......................

[CindyCRNA]

Carolyn, my understanding is that it just came out this month. Probably no one has it on their shelves yet.

[TuscanGirl]

I looked for coconut flour at the grocery store today - didn't have it - though they had other Bob's Red Mill flours.

jem - do you do anything different to make the bread a cake?

Buffy - be careful!

It's still raining here - and I don't have flowers in yet - it's too wet to even think about buying them!