New and would like a buddy

[MI CHICK]

So here we are at the 23rd already...WOW!!! These hours are just sucking up my life!! This next week is good as I have Christmas Eve/Day & New Years Eve/Day off!!! And both food situations are not bad in either place as none of my family does the huge overeat thing & the place we go to each new years weekend they are health nuts & the little food you do get is all low/no fat no cholestrol no flavor no taste stuff so no chance of over doing there LOL!!! So after work today I am free for 48hrs. My db & sil are flying in from WY tonight. So the next 2 days will be very busy but fun.
Kathleen I've seen the Rachel Ray show several times now at my clients house (on full volume....ouch!) & she uses the ww pasta all the time now. Talks about how the ww nutty flavor actually improves the flavor of your dishes. I thought that was interesting. I am making 2 big pans of lasangna for Christmas & am using half regular & half ww cause that's what I have in the cupboard.
Glad that you are home Teresa!! Things mainly seem to flow more smoothly at home! Hope your dh is feeling better!
My dh has a job & will start Jan 2nd. So we are happy with that. It's not all he wanted pay wise but the benefits are good & in MI you are just happy to have a job. Odd thing to me is that they get paid once a month???? What's up with that?? So Jan will continue to be tight as there will be no unemployment & no work pay checks just me.....will be difficult to get the hang of that in ones budget....
well gals I must run. You have a very nice Christmas with lots of family & friends surrounding you!!!

[Teresa3]

Well, here it is after the holiday and I'm wondering how y'all are doing? Hope you gals had a very nice Christmas. We had a very quiet one, spent the day reading and sitting by the window, then went out for dinner by the water. It was very nice, and I swore it was the last meal where I ate dessert and other carbs. Now I really have to suck it up! And that's going to be hard because we have various relatives visiting all week and will be having lots of dinners out again. But it has to stop somewhere! I have just gained back too much!

So I went shopping today and loaded up on meat and cheese and did okay today even tho we ate out. I have gained back more inches than lbs. and my feet are acting up badly again, so I think it's the carbs that are causing part of the inflammatory response, and/or the weather. I felt better in Palm Springs, but I guess I have nothing to complain about compared to what you're getting back in MI Corrisann! Hope you're not freezing!

Glad your dh's job begins soon; that is unfortunate (and strange) that they only pay once a month! Hope he likes the job! And hope you are surviving the long hours, Corrisann. How was your visit with your db and sil--had it been awhile since you had seen them?

Kathleen, how did your Christmas go? I imagine you had all the family there? It must have been fun with the little ones! Are you ready to get back to LC yet?

Do you all have plans for New Year's? Cheers, Teresa

[Teresa3]

Hey, Gals--

I know everyone is still busy with the holidays, but I just wanted to report that I have successfully made it back to induction, more or less, and the weight is starting to come back off! Yay! Which is amazing, since we've had visitors for 3 days, and more coming for the next 4 days and we've been eating out constantly. Fortunately, they are not big eaters, non dessert eaters, and that really helps! And I am relearning how to just say no to bread and dessert!

Hope you all will be rejoining me soon! Get started before New Year's--ha-ha! Teresa

B - egg, lox, cream cheese, sliced tomato
L - salad, chicken, cheese
D - steak, green beans
S - cheese

[HoneyBera]

Hi. I am VERY new and I would like a buddy/pen pal, so is this were I should come? I have been on Atkins since the day before Thanksgiving 2007. I have done very very well on it, and I am thrilled, but it's sort of lonely out here. My stats: 304.6/278/140+/- Yes, I have lost a LOT!

Please help me. I don't know how to even list my stats or show my picture yet. NEWWWWWBIE!!!! Well, we all need to start somewhere, and I'm a quick learner.

HoneyBera

[Teresa3]

Welcome, HoneyBera! Good to have you with us! And congratulations on your amazing weight loss in a little over 1 month!
Wish I could do half as well! We've all been off plan a bit since the holidays began, but we're getting back into it now. I gained back 7 lbs, but have gone back to induction the last few days and have got some of it back off.

Is this your first time on Low carb? Are you still on induction, or what plan are you doing? We find it helpful to post our menus most days; it helps us stay on a plan, and encourages one another. When we all get back into it, we do a mid-week weigh-in on Wednesday, to keep us accountable. Of course that flew out the window with the holidays! But we will all be starting back again after New Year's I'm sure.

If you click on your name, then go to the user control panel, and "edit profile" you can enter all your info you want to share and your stats and avatar (picture). Great having you on board! Teresa

[MI CHICK]

Welcome HoneyBera!!! Hello Teresa! Glad to hear you are getting back on track!!! I'm doing terrible still & am out the door to work again.....I'm letting all these long crazy hours be a crutch for bad behavior. Am off for the new year week end so I'll be back. You gal's have a good lc day!!
corrisann

[Teresa3]

Hi, Corrisann--good to hear from you! Sorry things are still not going well, diet-wise, but I bet you'll re-enter the diet stream after New Year's when things have settled down. We mustn't give up or we'll be right back where we were last summer--no, no!

I am pleased to report that I have taken off 3 of the 7 lbs. I regained since Thanksgiving, since starting induction 4 days ago! It helped that I went to the store and brought home a lot of lunch meats and cheeses, to be sure I had sufficient snack food on hand. I thought I was sick of eating so much protein, but once I got back into it, it's OK, and actually, I'm starting to feel better, more energized and my shoulder and arms aren't hurting as much.

HoneyBera--How are you doing, today? How's it going on induction--what are you eating?

Kathleen, how is the new job? You did start already, didn't you? Is your lodge having a New Year's party? Hope you are doing well. Teresa

[Teresa3]

Forgot to include today's meal plan--

B - lox, cream cheese, egg
L - salad, shrimp enchiladas w/cheese, no tortillas
D - pork chops, green beans
S - cheese

Go Low Carb! T.

[HoneyBera]

Hi Teresa and Corrisann! And thanks so much for the warm welcome! I feel like I'm in the right place.

And congratulations on your amazing weight loss in a little over 1 month! Wish I could do half as well! We've all been off plan a bit since the holidays began, but we're getting back into it now. I gained back 7 lbs, but have gone back to induction the last few days and have got some of it back off.

Thanks! I am a bit amazed myself!

I haven't been "off" the plan since I started! I went in for my yearly physical for work (bus driver: Commercial License) and FAILED the test! I had a +1 sugar and a +1 protein in my urine, and they will not issue a Medical Card if those readings are present. The doctor performing the physical informed me that I had two weeks to change this finding and lower my blood glucose to under 200, and to get those results verified by my own physician, OR ELSE they would be forced to notify my employer and revoke my driver's license! And that is my livelihood! And I'm the only breadwinner in my home! A home with a mortgage!!! I was told to go home (I was on vacation the next week) and see my own doctor and get the sugar (and protein) under control, and I had but two weeks to do it.

This was the day before Thanksgiving (11/21/07 Wed.), and I was at work (I live at work during the week and then commute 100 miles home on the weekends). I was so bummed out that I just sat there at work, paralyzed with fear, through Thanksgiving and the next two days, my entire (and now inappropriate, high carb) dinner defrosting in the front seat of my pickup truck. I couldn't even have the cranberry sauce! But I also remembered that I had heard somewhere that Atkins can help lower blood sugar, so, in total desperation, I began Atkins, or at least "Atkins" as I remembered it when I tried it in 1974. First off, I had some eggs and cheese handy, and so made myself an omelet. Yum. And I got a Protein Style at In-N-Out Burger! And there's always rotisserie chicken at the store! I was a person grasping at straws!

When I got home a few days later, I immediately got online and began to read everything I could get my hands on on the internet re: Atkins!!! I needed to understand just how to do this!! Induction, OWL, all of it!! Was I doing it "right"?!! I got the book off Amazon. I ordered Splenda Liquid off EBay. I have even bought ThickNThin not/sugar and not/starch from netrition. I can hardly wait to try them tomorrow when I cook ahead for the next week! If the "gravy" is half as good as the Liq. Splenda, I'm in heaven!!

I only get home once a week, and otherwise I live in a travel trailer [albeit a nice one] AT WORK for free, but with no running water or electricity [that I don't provide myself]. I hand-carry the water and run my generator for electricity. BUT I still managed to fry up the best darned pork chops ever last week and nuke my vegies. And I'm buying a portable Weber gas BBQ so I can grill right in the back of my pickup at work, sort of like a tailgate party. My fellow bus drivers who also "camp" at work will probably plotz when they smell the wonderful aroma of my "diet food" cooking over the flames! I do alright!

The payoff? On 11/26/07, the Monday after Thanksgiving, I went in to see my doctor and throw myself on his mercy! To my absolute shock, I had lost 7 lbs!! 7 LBS!!! I was THRILLED! NOTHING BUT NOTHING had worked before. It was almost too good to be true!

Then I went in to the doctor's office on Dec. 23rd just to weigh, and I weighed in at 278.9, down from 304.6!! And that is from eating chicken WITH the skin and the fat on the steaks and chops!! Plus I love vegies! I am eating spinach with hamhocks and hot sauce and losing weight! How could anyone not love this diet!??

Is this your first time on Low carb?

Nope. I tried Atkins for about a week in 1974, as I said, and got myself into ketosis. Then it sort of fell by the wayside, but this time is different. It feels like when I quit smoking 19 yrs. ago after having smoked for well over 30 yrs. This was the last time; it was just plain over!! And I haven't smoked since. This has the same feel to it. And I feel in control this time. I know I can finally do it! REAL BUTTER on my vegies w/salt and pepper! What's not to like!?

Are you still on induction, or what plan are you doing?

Atkins, all the way! I LOVE IT! Even Induction! I am doing my OWL now, slowly adding carbs, but keeping my carbs at about 20-30 each day. And brother, is it WORKING!!!! I had to buy a new belt for my old uniform pants, and I just got a new pair in the next smaller size! HAZZAH!!! It's just that I was getting a little bit lonely with all that success and few to tell it to! So here I am....

We find it helpful to post our menus most days; it helps us stay on a plan, and encourages one another. When we all get back into it, we do a mid-week weigh-in on Wednesday, to keep us accountable. Of course that flew out the window with the holidays! But we will all be starting back again after New Year's I'm sure.

That's great! I don't own a scale (threw mine out on a permanent basis during my stint with the Anti-Diet crowd), so I am ok with weighing at the doctor's office maybe once a week (or two). They have agreed. Heck, they were sizing me up for gastric bypass <shudder/shriek!!> , so a little weigh-in to assist me instead of the bariatric surgery option is welcomed by all there. Tell you what. I will give you the stats on my weight as soon as I get them.

I also use FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal as a place to post my menus (daily and religiously!!) - it helps me to see just what I've been eating, and in some cases, not eating, like enough fiber or whatever. I find that if I just eat when I'm hungry (not starving), and eat until I'm full (not stuffed), I end up eating about the right amount of calories. So I shoot for about 1400-1800 kcal/day. And again, about 20-30 carbs. It has been working wonders for me so far. I can try to let you guys know what I have been eating per day, but only after entering it on fitday. Hope that's ok.

If you click on your name, then go to the user control panel, and "edit profile" you can enter all your info you want to share and your stats and avatar (picture).

Thanks a million! And consider it done!

Great having you on board!

Thank you!! Great being on board! I hope you will still think so when you all realize just how long-winded I can get! LMAO!!

BTW, unless something dreadful happens, I plan to slip over to the doctor's office tomorrow and weigh in, so I'll give you all the results then. The quick loss has to slow down sometime, so I'm prepared somewhat, but my body is saying, "I'm still losing like crazy!" We'll have to see what the scale says. <drum roll please>

HoneyBera

[Teresa3]

Well, that is just an AMAZING story, HoneyBera! Congratulations on being so motivated and doing the right thing! I believe Atkins will reduce your blood sugar, and get you healthier without having to resort to surgery. It may not be easy, but in the long run, it'll be better for you. You are one courageous lady! Good luck at the doctor's on your weigh-in. Maybe it's better that you don't weigh in too often anyway, then you'll get more used to looking at this way of eating as a lifestyle instead of a quick weight-loss diet, and you know, we can never go back!

I gotta get to bed, but have another great day low carb day tomorrow--look forward to sharing this journey with you! Teresa

[MI CHICK]

Good morning ladies!!!
I have the next 3 days off & I am sooo happppyyyy!!!
Well your story gave me back the excitement I felt when I did lc 3yrs ago Honeybera. Was just amazed at how great I felt physically/emotionally, & how satisfied I felt eating all that real food!! In the first 3 months I lost 29lbs. Then I finally had my first stall. Got several lc cookbooks (I love to cook....)& started making all these new dishes & trying all the "frankenfoods"--which seemed to keep me in the stall. But I was keeping the weight off for the first time ever!! When I had my annual dr's check up I was one of the folks Atkins talked about whose cholesteral #'s
went way up....so I started playing around trying this that & the other being confused with what to do now. Long story short I ended up back in the same old place with all the weight back on plus a few lbs more. My 2 big concerns now are that at 53 I'll never get this under control & will be in big trouble at 60 or will end up diabetic which is a horrible mess to be in. We were all doing pretty good here til the last couple months & I think your enthusiasim will help us get back on track!! Just listening to you talk about all the good food made my mouth water & sent the carb cravings away LOL!!!!
We will be gone away to friends for this weekend. But they are the die hard healthy eaters so it is lowfat/lowcholesterol/no flavor/no sodium etc foods & you are not tempted to over eat anything that they offer....LOL!!! So it will be a good purge of my sytem so that I can get back on track on Tues.
Will you have no computer access every other week Honeybera??
Teresa congrats on losing so much already & getting back on track!!!I love the protein so that has never been a problem for me, but I know you struggle with getting enough eaten. My hands are starting to bother me so I know what you mean about your shoulders & arms!
Hey Kathleen---time to get back in here girl!!! The holidays are mainly over & you should be done with the kids & back into your regular schedule & settled into the new job so NO MORE EXCUSES
Well I'm off to have my coffee at my leisure instead of in the car buzzing off to work!!
corrisann

[HoneyBera]

Originally Posted by Teresa3

Well, that is just an AMAZING story, HoneyBera! Congratulations on being so motivated and doing the right thing!

Thanks! I couldn't be happier about it. I am actually grateful that I got that shocking news the day before Thanksgiving, that it scared me so much, even that my Thanksgiving was "ruined". I am grateful b/c it got me off my duff, put everything into crystal clear perspective for me, and showed me where my issues really were. I was having a hard time letting go of my obesity b/c of emotional reasons (and valid ones), but there is nothing like having your very life and livelihood threatened to snap you out of it!

I believe Atkins will reduce your blood sugar, and get you healthier without having to resort to surgery. It may not be easy, but in the long run, it'll be better for you.

Oh, no kidding!! This is the best thing that ever happened to me, albeit not the gentlest! I really don't want that horrid surgery. The lady bus driver who parks next to me at the yard in her RV had that surgery, as have many other drivers. We tend to be a portly lot. I have watched her progress closely, and have noticed that it's results are not "all that"! She is such a nice lady, but she is ill all the time, in and out of the hospital for this and that problem, she never did lose her tummy (which was the entire point of the surgery, she told me), and her face is sallow and drawn looking. She really didn't have that much to lose, but now she has tampered with (on a permanent basis! - she got the staples!) her all-important gut and digestive system! I was going to be a nurse at one time (long story - not yet), and I know how important that system is!! I have been blessed with a cast-iron stomach and lower digestive tract, and I just don't want to mess it up by hacking away at it so my stomach is the size of my thumb, for Pete's sake!! And oh! the diarrhea! Lordy! The trouble is, I didn't see any alternative until I tried Atkins (in total desperation) again. And thank God for that desperation!!

You are one courageous lady!

I don't know if it's courage, or intelligence enough to recognize the handwriting on the wall! I was having a terrible time "losing weight" b/c I just could not let go! I felt my fat protected me, and frankly, it DID!

Good luck at the doctor's on your weigh-in.

Thanks!

Maybe it's better that you don't weigh in too often anyway, then you'll get more used to looking at this way of eating as a lifestyle instead of a quick weight-loss diet, and you know, we can never go back!

Oh WOW!!!! You have hit the nail on the head there!!!!! That is exactly what I think, too!! I am amazed by ppl who "go off" this. After my Thanksgiving epiphany, there is no "going back" b/c there is no "back"! To what?! I ate so many carbs without even knowing just how bad it was for me! I thought that my Super Colon-Blow Uber-Whole Wheat bread (5 gms. fiber per slice) purchased at Costco was somehow doing me wonders! But now, instead of that, I can have bacon and eggs and/or pork chops! AND lose weight! Doesn't take an Einstein to figure that one out!!

I gotta get to bed, but have another great day low carb day tomorrow--look forward to sharing this journey with you!

Yeah, I have to go now, too. I have to get the groceries for this week, and do all my cooking for the week plus my laundry. Then it's back to the grind. But I just set up a brand new Dell computer in my trailer with an internet connection, so I can be here (online) all week! Very satisfying proposition!

I know! Let me tell you the week's menu! It is yummy!

1. Curried Chicken with Cauliflower and Tomato (that just sounded good to me last week as I was driving my bus around)
2. A large pot of this Hamburger-Cheesy-Cabbage-Rotel stuff called "CJACK1's Main Dish". I got it off a recipe site for low carb, but I got all "ladeedah" and threw in 8oz. of Smokey flavored Fontina cheese. OMG! SOOO GOOD! It's my breakfast every day (1 cup + vegies on top + a sprinkle of shredded cheese) , heated up in the driver's room and eaten on my first break on the road at 7am in the driver's seat (and now, with coffee, Liq. Splenda, and about a ¼c. of heavy cream (yes, I count the carbs)! Sell my shoes, Ma, I've died and gone to heaven!!).
3. Roasted Turkey Breast WITH Homemade Cranberry Sauce! WITH "gravy"! (no/starch) Who says you have to do without on Atkins?? I will have this with broccoli and/or zucchini b/c gravy is good on that, too.
4. "OK" Vegetable BEEF soup/stew - probably "stew" due to the fact I now have my no/starch! YIPPEEE!!!! (that is, HEAVY on the BEEF part, with a rich broth, but with no peas, potatoes or carrots - I will use a hint of onion, sautee it, add celery, and then tomatoes, add spices and bay leaf, slow cook it, and spinach, zucchini, and whatever vegies added at the end.)
5. Bringing back frozen fish fillets AND individual packets of frozen chicken breasts for my freezer at the trailer. I just nuke them. They turn out great, and it's quick, too. I use a lot of herbs (like, for example, dill in olive oil for the fish or this special Italian herb mix for the chicken) to top them. Oh man, they are SO GOOD that way! And I can chop them up and add mayo and celery for a Chicken Salad over shredded lettuce!
6. My Uncle Burt's recipe for Tuna-Pasta-Noodle (Dreamfield's) Salad done with Rotini, olives, red onions, celery for crunch, pimentos, Beau Monde seasoning, and REAL (Canola) MAYO! Oh drool! I know I need to go sparingly with this, but oh, man, is it ever good!
7. The Dreamfield's Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce I forgot to take with me last week. (Although I may eat that today.)
8. And of course, my currently frozen pork chops. They are my mainstay. I MAY attempt to make Liq. Splenda applesauce to accompany them, IF I have time.



Wow, with this menu, I'd better get busy! It's 10am already, and I have to leave to go back to the yard by 7pm so I can get some sleep tonight! Bedtime is 9pm! And it's about a 2 hr. drive. TTYL and have a great LC day!! I know I will!

HB

[HoneyBera]

Hi again!

I forgot to mention for all who have a WinCo grocery store near them...

I found a delicious root beer named Teddy's Root Beer (diet) sweetened with Sucralose!! It's only 72 cents for a 1 liter bottle, and as far as I can see, it's ok for Atkins (no caffeine). Does anyone else know about Teddy's? It claims 0 carbs, 0 calories, and it tastes GREAT! Try it with some heavy cream in it and poured over ice or blended with ice! WOWWEEE!!!

HB

[HoneyBera]

Hi! Back from the doc's! 276.8 lbs!! That's another two off!

One thing though, I was surprised by the way I got disappointed over "only" losing two pounds in a week. Weighing isn't good for me mentally. I obsess over the scale. It's why I don't have one here at home. I mean, what's the point? Why am I weighing? To see if I've gained? Or to make sure that I don't lose to the point of anorexia? Fat chance! (No pun intended!) If my clothes/uniform become tighter again, or if they are falling off me (like now), I will know that that means I'm gaining or losing. It's not such an obsession like "weighing in" is. I will weigh in maybe once a month or so, just to see where I am, or whenever I have to see the doctor, but every week wouldn't be a good idea for me, I think.

I also changed my mind about my weekly menu once I got to the store. They had these little steak pinwheels rolled up with spinach and cheese and roasted red peppers and, at 30% off, I got 4 of them. All you do is bake them (which I can do here) for 30 min. @ 350ºF and eat 'em or take them with me! My kind of last minute meal! Plus the Rotel Main Dish. And I got some blueberries and raspberries and All-Bran Buds - that + heavy cream + liq. Splenda = :-9

I also had an entire beef roast (on sale and with lots of nice fat for flavor!) cut up into stew meat and got couple of soup bones. That should make a nice rich broth! AND I also bought a turnip! For my stew. Interesting. I have never eaten nor cooked a turnip! I'm going to cook a couple of strips of bacon, and then in the grease left, brown the meat and then the vegies (a bit of onion, a carrot (just one), celery - you know, a mirapoix, the aromatics), and then simmer that for hours with a bay leaf and some seasonings, like thyme. At the end, drop in some turnip, lots of cabbage, a can of Rotel tomatoes, and after that simmers a while, a handful of spinach leaves. And voila! "OK" vegie soup! Or thicken it for stew with my new toy, no/starch! I'll see how it looks at the end and decide then. But I may have to shelve the entire thing until next weekend due to running out of time...

I also got some sausages ON SALE! They are 0 carbs! I am taking the Basil/Garlic ones this week. I'll cook/nuke them over there in my trailer next week when I'm ready to eat them. Plus I'm taking "Egg Boats" (aka Deviled Eggs). I love those things! MMMMm!!! Or maybe just Egg Salad - there isn't much difference, really, except for ease of transport. I forgot to get salad (lettuce in the bag), but the grocery stores over there by work have lettuce, too. I won't starve to death!

Got to go now...I love my lc life!!

HB

[Teresa3]

Happy Sunday, Gals--

Wow, HB! You have got some really fab menus going there! You must enjoy cooking; of course, we all enjoy eating, or we wouldn't be here, eh? It is incredible to eat creamy, cheesey, high protein and lose weight, isn't it! I got into trouble this fall by starting back to eating bread and dessert, and then cereal, and it sent me into a 6 week binge, that's how I gained back my 7 lbs. That doesn't sound like a whole lot, but it is when you're short, older, and small-framed, and it took a long time to lose.

Low carb is the only way of eating that I've ever been able to lose weight on, so I know I have to stick to it forever! And it really lowered my triglicerides in the past, plus increased my HDL, and helped lower my elevated liver enzymes. What with controlling blood sugar, why would we ever go off of it!

So glad you're really enjoying the food, HB. And it's so great you're planning ahead preparing meals, that will be a tremendous help. What kind of a bus do you drive?

Corrisann, glad to hear you got a few days, off--you deserve it! And good thing you're going to be with those who are health-concious; that will give you a good start to the new year and getting back on track!

Kathleen, hope you are having a great time and that you'll join us for our new year's restart! We can get this done!! Teresa

B - eggs benedict, no bread
L - salad w/ chicken, cheese, and avocado
D - going out - probably fish and lc vegs
S - cheese

[Teresa3]

Hi, Gals--

Happy New Year's eve--I imagine everyone is gearing up for tonight. It may be hard to stay lc this evening, but I hope we all manage to do it, and still have a good time. We really don't party, but do have relatives here for dinner. Dh is talking about getting some crabs, and we'll have some salad. I just have to avoid the french bread!

Corrisann, HoneyBera, Kathleen--Here's to our success in the coming year! Cheers, everybody!! Teresa

[HoneyBera]

up: Happy (almost) New Year!

Wow, HB! You have got some really fab menus going there! You must enjoy cooking; of course, we all enjoy eating, or we wouldn't be here, eh?

Thanks! I LOVE to cook!!! And garden! I have some new and very rare Saturn or "Donut" Peach trees coming soon (bareroot). I hope to be able to have one every so often, right off the tree in June. Maybe I'll can or freeze the overflow harvest of them with the liquid Splenda for enjoyment all year long, or make a smoothie with the frozen peaches and silken tofu, or homemade peach ice cream using liq. Splenda and my KitchenAid (with the ice cream maker attachment)! The cream and eggs would be ok. I wonder how I could do that...? If I only had a little nibble of the product, eating it with a tiny spoon (I love to do that), like make only a small batch, stick it in the freezer and have just a tiny scoop (like ¼-½c.) count as a serving, savoring every tiny bite! No TV, no distractions. Just me and the ice cream. I've been able to do that here lately with obvious success. And the trees probably won't even produce until 2009-2010, so I can just cross the "Homemade White Peach Ice Cream w/ liq. Splenda" bridge when I come to it. It's WAY off down the road! And I will probably have a lot more carbs allowed to me by then.(whispered: "Yippeee!") And after all, ½c. heavy cream = 3.5 carbs! I'll be working more on this one! =9

I ordered these trees before finding Atkins. These white "donut" peaches are so sweet, are only 7.5 carbs each, and peaches have 4 fiber, so 3.5 NET CARBS per peach...not too bad. Safeway carries them only in late June, but man oh man, is it worth the price. I think they have organic over at Whole Foods, but we are talking really pricey!($5-6/lb!!) And from what I understand, home grown organically are just the best!

I also grow these little mini-tomatoes (about the size of grape tomatoes) in my garden. They are a very pretty orange color, and so sweet and non-acidic! I eat them right off the bush while I water the rest of the garden. My house is in the hot-in-the-summer Central Valley (San Joaquin), so the tomatoes grow like crazy! Everything does, really. My house is where an orchard used to be, and my dad (a farmer himself) gasped when he saw the dirt my tract house sits on! He said, "My God! That's Hanford loam!! That's the best soil there is!!" So I feel fortunate indeed. Now if I could just get my son (who lives at home) to water when I'm away at work for a week at a time... I may just put in an automatic watering system and permanent raised garden plot along with the peach trees. I CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING!!!!

My brother owns 40 acres of almonds, and farms more (does it for a friend)! When he harvests, they always take "samples" for quality (didn't this year, darn it, but his wife got after him about that [she likes the almonds, too]), and he assures me that next year [Fall 2008 ], he will save some for me. I can make my own "almond meal" or "flour" in the blender or food processor. And I could also make some snacks for work - homemade, of course. I can glaze them using liq. Splenda and/or not/sugar.

I'm toying with all these ideas for later when I have my recumbent trike (isn't it cool?) landstrider trike.jpg up and running on a daily basis (now it's just too cold and rainy) plus walking daily for 30+ minutes back and forth from the bus and light rail, and hence, have more carbs to "spend". By next Fall, I should be getting closer to a normal weight. Wow. That will be amazing!!

It is incredible to eat creamy, cheesey, high protein and lose weight, isn't it! I got into trouble this fall by starting back to eating bread and dessert, and then cereal, and it sent me into a 6 week binge, that's how I gained back my 7 lbs. That doesn't sound like a whole lot, but it is when you're short, older, and small-framed, and it took a long time to lose.

I can appreciate that! In fact, I just bought some cereal that was recommended, All-Bran, but I got the "Buds". I got it all the way over here to my trailer, read the label (again, but more thoroughly than I did in the store), and the 2nd ingredient is flippin' SUGAR!! Well, nuts to that! (no pun intended!) THEY EVEN HAVE THE HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP IN IT!! I'm telling you, I'm not going to eat it! Period! I'll give it to my son instead when I get home. He's young and can handle it. And he'll be the "cleanest" kid in town.

So glad you're really enjoying the food, HB. And it's so great you're planning ahead preparing meals, that will be a tremendous help.

Well, this week it's all about, "the best laid plans of mice and men"! My plans all went astray last night. My dear son (bless his pointed head!) didn't clean the kitchen up very well during the week and the ants came in. I can't cook in a kitchen with ants in it. UGH! So everything went into the freezer for now, I nuked a couple of herbed b/s chicken breasts, baked a few steak/cheese/spinach pinwheels, brought some 0 carb basil/garlic sausages over to cook later...and I've got veggies here. So I'm still ok. I also bought some blueberries and some red raspberries. YUMMY. I ate one of each last night. Something has been happening to me that pleases me, but confounds me as well. My tastes are changing. Not in "choices", but in "flavor"! My tastebuds are doing a jig - especially with anything even remotely "sweet". I bit down on a grape tomato the other day and ZOWWEE!! Like CANDY!! A tomato now tastes like candy to me??? Very odd. And the single red raspberry and the single blueberry PLAIN were just so nice and sweet! I used to inundate them with tons and tons of sugar just to be able to eat them. I have a feeling that fresh strawberries in the spring will send me to the moon! WITHOUT added sugar! But how odd is that? Has this happened to anyone else?

What kind of a bus do you drive?

A big 40' transit bus over in the Bay Area. Yes, Teresa, we are practically neighbors!

I'm going to take a nap now. I've only had less than 5 hours of sleep and I've been driving since 3am! 8 hrs. behind the wheel already. I'm pooped. I'll check in later. NO WORK TOMORROW!

HB