Lighten Up!

[Luvmykidz]

Okay, day 2 of bootcamp done. Plus 3 sets of hoedowns.

Doing the workout first thing in the morning seems to be working for me. That way I have all day uninterrupted for kids and house stuff. I sure hope I don't have jury duty this next week.

[Luvmykidz]

Kind of quiet in here. I guess I haven't been keeping up very well.

Did day #3 of bootcamp. #4 was a shortened version on Sunday. I hope it works, because that is all I could squeeze out of myself. Rested Monday, and today am trying again with the bootcamp workouts. But I may end up just going into the every other day routine. Workouts are becoming more work than fun, and I don't want that to happen.

I don't know what is wrong with me lately. Maybe change of season blahs.

Fall/winter always makes me want to hibernate, and I just seem to have lost all my energy the past week or so.

I ate some regular chocolate and some Ritz crackers this weekend. I don't really feel guilty over it, but am thinking it must be time to start upping my healthy carbs or I will be tempted to eat sugar and junk. That quick boost of energy from the sugar and chocolate seemed to help me feel better, but it isn't the kind of thing I want to be in the habit of doing. After finally breaking the compulsion to gorge on sugary stuff, I don't want to go back. I like my freedom.

----Sugar Season is coming, and I suppose I need to be aware of that, too. It would be so easy to get caught off guard and nibble just a bit here and there with out thinking.

[aussiesarah]

Hey Heather!

Believe me, I've always gained weight over the winter. I think being that winter here was during what is normally summer months for me (June-September) I just approached it differently. Here, Christmas is sunny and warm. I decided that just because it got cold out wasn't an excuse to stay inside and hibernate (although some days that's all i wanted to do!)

Keep up with your t-tapp program. It'll be totally worth it come spring when you are fit and feel great about yourself.

There really isn't a holiday "season" here. There is christmas. And that's pretty much it. They obviously don't celebrate Thanksgiving, and there isn't a Superbowl Party (because NFL isn't very popular here). And Halloween is non existant. So you don't really have that four months of junk food around. Last year I didn't really think about what I was eating, but this year I definitely will. December does have a lot of cakes and pies and sweets, but I'm going to try really hard to avoid all that this year.

Once I'm at goal, I really want to be smart about what I'm eating. I really am starting to be educated about the dangers of such processed foods and transfats (which I've kinda known for years, but are paying attention more heavily too now). So although I may have sweet things from time to time, I'd prefer they were made more naturally.

As far as chocolate goes, lately I've incorporated pure cocoa into my meal plan. I eat it in yogurt mainly, but sometimes in my cappucino. It's divine.

I really want to get T-tapp!! I think it'll have to be a christmas present though. There's not a lot of money left in the budget right now.

[Luvmykidz]

Sarah, hi!

Nice of you to drop in again. Thanks. I will keep in mind the advice to stick with my program.

I know I was moaning about this time of year--I shouldn't, I suppose. It just seems ironic that the time when our bodies naturally want to pack on the fat is also the time that we tend to go hog-wild with junk foods. I get really run down and sluggish feeling when we have shorter days and often catch myself grabbing sugar and starch to help me get back the energy I am missing.

I think I need to go all through our house and replace all the light bulbs with full spectrum, so I can get my daily allotment of 'sun'.

I admire you for taking charge of your health. Staying healthy and trim is harder than getting there, for most people. And it is amazing how many will work their cans off trying to get to goal, and then slide right back into the same bad habits that got them poor health to begin with.

Maybe I will have to try cocoa in my yogurt. That sounds interesting.

Have you read Sally Fallons Nourishing Traditions? It is kind of a combination cookbook/nutritional primer. I really have enjoyed it, and she has some very interesting tidbits about how our modern processed diet (not carb vs. protein so much as processed anything vs. whole and natural) contributes to so much of our current health problems. There are all kinds of recipes based on traditional methods of food preparation, which help enhance the nutritional properties of the foods. She even explains why the traditional methods are superior to our modern ones. Anyway, I found it to be an excellent resource in helping me to clean up my family's diet.

T-tapp is definitely worth the money and wait! But it is a bit spendy, I know.

I do understand how a wedding can put you in a pinch financially, too, but I expect it will be lovely. You will make a stunning bride! Hope you will share a picture or two with us

My Aussie SIL was amazed at American glutt-fest when she came over. To be honest, it wouldn't break my heart to toss Halloween (all the scary stuff that is advertised traumatizes whoever my youngest child is that year, and the candy that is offered for sale isn't even the 'good' kind ----just pure sugar and chemicals). My husband has worked through most Thanksgivings and Christmas Days for the past 10 years so I don't really miss the big celebration that those days might otherwise be and we are pretty rural, so there isn't a huge call for holiday parties in our area. New Year's is just another night for me, as I have seen midnight enough times in my adult life, I usually opt for going to bed. And I don't care a bit for foot ball. Easter is what I officially consider the 'end' of Sugar Season.

I think the thing that irks me most is that Halloween junk shows up in the store aisles in September, and then right after Oct 31, Christmas stuff hits ( and hangs around for 2 solid months) and then, all the 'clearance' carts sit around until the middle of January when Valentines Day candy comes out. Then, of course we have Chocolate bunnies and jelly beans crowding the aisles for the next six weeks or so. It is insane! I understand no one holds a gun to anyones head forcing them to buy, but sheesh...You tell someone often enough that they really do want something and very few people are strong enough to resist for that long.

I don't really mind a few sweets in connection with a celebration. I know others around here would strongly disagree, but having a special treat ( made with real sugar and white flour) is not unforgivable, in my opinion. I have a killer chocolate cake recipe, and make great cheesecake and a few different types of cookies and pies. And I have never found a low carb substitute that is as good as the real thing. It isn't for lack of trying, either. I still like those things and I will not pretend I am 'over' junk food just because I went LC.

But I have found a freedom from being controlled by my desire to stuff myself with those things. And I have become MUCH more picky about what kinds of junk food I will eat. Most chips, chocolate, ice cream and all boxed baking mixes are out, now. I can literally taste the cheapness of the ingredients in certain foods, and will not waste my carb allowance on that sort of thing. It is interesting how good a fresh peach or strawberry or pineapple can taste when your taste buds are not gunked up with refined sugars.

One piece of pie or chocolate or cookie or ice cream cone or bowl of buttered popcorn is not going to make me get fat again or ruin my health. That is not where I went wrong in the first place. I get fat when I get pregnant, and my hormones are going nuts and I feel crummy and turn to my 'comfort foods' which happen to be mostly chocolate and ice cream. And during the pregnancy, I tend to eat quite a bit of those things--fully believing the lie that since I am pregnant, it is okay to gain 40 pounds. After four times, I hope I have learned to recognize that , and if I end up having another baby, I intend to cut that off before it starts.

Hehehe, just get me started in a direction. I am full of opinions!

[Luvmykidz]

Well, it is time to quit sitting on my tail and get serious about the last few pounds. Although I have 140 posted as my goal weight, I really should lose down to 135. Once I add back in some carbs, I know the wt. will rise a bit and I want to be able to maintain at 140.

Actually, that could be a bit misleading. I don't really care what the scale says as long as I can get my measurements where I want them. Historically, when I maintain around 140, I can measure around 38-29-39, and I am comfy there. 135 would also give me room for that 5 pound monthly bloat I seem to experience.

So, now I am revamping my program again. PP has served me well, but I really need something a bit more strict, now, I think.

The Shangri-La program is interesting, with using a tablespoon of oil an hour before eating to control appetite. I thought it sounded weird at first, but I think I will try it just for grins. Also, I have been looking into blood type diet, and think I will try to incorporate those foods as my carb count rises. I don't know that I buy the idea that a certain blood type should only eat the recommended foods (according to Dr d'Adamo, I am supposed to practically be a vegetrian who never touches red meat! Uh. right. ), but I do see benefits in eating more of the foods that have proven to be beneficial for my blood type. Actually, Scarsdale is very much similar to the recommendations for my blood type. So, I am looking into it, but I think I will have to modify it in order to get enough fat (perhaps Shangri-la plus Scarsdale?). And I really believe in keeping my calories high enough to support workouts, so i definitely need to watch that I don't drop under 1300-1400 cals.

So, there I have it. All my jumbled thoughts.

this morning I had

7 am 1 scoop of fiber supplement

8 am 1 tablespoon of olive oil

9 am 1 HB egg plus 1/2 grapefruit

and 5 Garden of Life Perfect Food caplets. Large mug of hot green tea.

Came out to about 7.5g protein 23g carbs 10g fiber 18.5g fat 290 calories.

So far,it feels like a good ratio and it is sustaining me and I feel pretty good.

don't want to obsess, though with counting. After figuring proportions for a couple days, I plan to just plug and go for a couple weeks.

[Luvmykidz]

Okay, did my t-tapp instr. #1, plus a set of hoedowns.

Plan on doing OIP/HF before lunch.

I'm thinking luch will be

6 oz tuna

3 cups salad greens,

1/2 grapefruit and

1 tsp lemon juice over greens.

1 tsp cod liver oil

mug of green tea

so that gives me 42g protein 13.5g carb 2g fiber 6g fat 306 calories

[Luvmykidz]

Dinner was

5 pm 1T of olive oil

6 pm 3 eggs, scrambled in 2 tsp olive oil

1 1/2 cups steamed broccoli

1/2 cup buckwheat pilaf with mushrooms

I barely made it over 1100 calories today. I just was not hungry. Wondering if the olive oil thing really works after all?

Drinking the remainder of my water allowance this evening.

[Luvmykidz]

Huh. Scale dropped from 145 to 143 'overnight'. I don't think I will do a happy dance just yet, but this is interesting. Maybe dropping my cals to 1100 for a day kicked my metabolism into burn mode again?

Yesterday's protein was adequate (but way less than normal), fat was about 2/3 what is normally is, even though I was eating olive oil straight up, and carbs were low. Today, I am really going to try to get the calories up a bit. maybe a touch more protein and a few more carbs?

Oh, and I am using cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, which has a pretty strong flavor, but I am plugging my nose, swallowing quick, then wiping my tongue and rinsing my mouth before I breathe. I can't see how refined oils are good for us, so for now am experimenting this way.

[Luvmykidz]

7am fiber supp.

7:45 am 1 T olive oil

8:45 2 hb eggs

1/2 grapefruit

5 GOL Perfect Food caps

mug green tea

17g protein 23g carbs 10g fiber 23g fat 360 calories

[Luvmykidz]

Lunch:

1 cup steamed green beans with tabasco sauce and little sweetener

1/2 grapefruit

1/4 cup natural almond butter eaten with spoon

Kind of weird, but, as part of my experiment, I am trying to eat more of the foods that are supposed to be good for, or at least not harmful for my blood type.

[Luvmykidz]

Well, I had to get me some light olive oil, as I can not handle the strong stuff. Hope the fact that it is refined is not going to be a problem health-wise.

Dinner

5pm, 1 T olive oil

8:30 6 oz baked chicken breast

2" piece of banana

half a bottle of diet 7up
Was out doing errands, so I took my oil before I left and then grabbed a piece of deli chicken and finished my baby's nana while I was running.

Daily totals

83g protein 65g carb 24g fiber 75g fat 1277 calories.

A little better than yesterday, but I think I need to go just a bit higher on cals. still. 1400-1600 really seems healthier to me. But, I guess I can try again tomorrow.

[Luvmykidz]

So, I guess I should leave myself a reminder of the influences in my current dietary experiment. (No particular order of importance)

1. I still base my minimum protein requirement on the Protein Power recommendations. I like to hit 65g minimum per day. Also, my net carb allowance is between 30 and 55, which is also based on PP.

2. The Shangri-La diet, with its touting of a tablespoon of flavorless oil one hour before meals. I am doing 2 T per day at breakfast and dinner. Sounds just weird enough it might be for real. At any rate, I have made it through the past 2 days with very little to no noticeable hunger.

3. Eat Right for your Type. I am trying to eat more foods from the list that is recommended for my blood type. I find it fascinating that some foods will act like a medicine in one type, but a poison in another. And then there are in between foods that apparently just act like food. I want to see if including more of the 'medicinal' foods into my eating will make a difference in the way I feel, and in my general health. But I am not obsessing about it. (Here, I also have to give a nod to the Scarsdale Plan, because the foods it allows seem to be very similar to the ones my blood type is supposed to do well on. Larger amounts of fruit and veggies, moderate protein and little fat. Although, I am eating far more fat than either of these two diets allow. )

4. Although I am tempted to try incorporating BFFM's eat 5 meals a day rule, I am at this time opting for Jay Robb's rule of 3 adequate meals, no snacks. He claims food is better digested and utilized with this method. So far, it has worked for me the past 2 days. I also like his method of high carb/low carb day alternations in order to keep from overconsuming carbs (I'm not to that point yet, though) And his awareness of the importance of intestinal health and maintaining good bacteria through eating large quantities of yogurt or using probiotics. I think I see a lot of yo in my future.

5. Teresa Tapp's God Made/Man Made plan, that allows all foods, but cycles 2 days of eating whole, natural, non processed foods with 1 day of less than healthful choices. This is another concept I think is interesting, and I am looking into incorporating this philosophy into my maintenance program.

6. Various natural health books containing info on the benefits of sprouted (living) grains, lacto fermented foods, whole foods and organics.

7. A couple of books that examine the Old Testament Biblical rules for eating. Not because I want to strap myself with OT Biblical Law, but because it is interesting how the Jewish rules for eating certain foods also naturally created a safer and healthier food supply for them.

8. Various assorted bits I am looking into on how to help control the levels of various hormones in the body. Hormone imbalance can be responsible for a lot of health issues but can be helped through diet, exercise and adequate rest.

Well, that is about it for now.

[emijan]

Originally Posted by Luvmykidz

7. A couple of books that examine the Old Testament Biblical rules for eating. Not because I want to strap myself with OT Biblical Law, but because it is interesting how the Jewish rules for eating certain foods also naturally created a safer and healthier food supply for them.

Hi heather, I am originally from Israel so I know OT - do not forget that they didn't have refrigrators or freezer....You are ding good. How can you eat olive oil straight? Brrrr

[Luvmykidz]

Originally Posted by emijan

Hi heather, I am originally from Israel so I know OT - do not forget that they didn't have refrigrators or freezer....You are ding good. How can you eat olive oil straight? Brrrr

Thank you, emijan! I am forever using myself as a guinea pig when I get some new idea on what might be healthy. One of the books I am using is Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions, and she talks a lot about traditional storage methods for foods. Particularly the lacto fermentation. I made pineapple chutney and gingered carrots a bit before while pre LC. And the sourdough bread is really good if you like very heavy textured breads. And kefir was a regular when we were milking our goats. But some things have changed, so I think we will be giving up the goat milking.

It appears that the Israelites would have eaten more eggs, yogurt (instead of fresh milk) cheese, nuts, lentils, poultry and fish (if living near water) than the typical American. Red meat would have been more likely goat or lamb than beef (maybe because it is easier to eat up when there is no way to store leftovers? Or because it is easier to raise goats in that region than cattle? ) I am also thinking they would have been eating more of certain vegetables and whole grains--which were freshly ground daily, rather than picked up as week old loaf of bread or three week old bag of flour from the grocery. This isn't part of their law, I realize, just something I found interesting when reading a bit about the culture.

The ex virgin olive oil was really hard to take. Even plugging my nose I still felt it 'burn' the back of my throat. It must be good stuff! I will save it for cooking.

The lighter stuff is much easier. I still plug my nose, and swallow quick. It isn't nearly as thick and slimy as I imagined it to be. It is kind of like taking flavorless cough syrup. But then , I also did the Colonix program, and I suppose if I could swallow a glassful of the fiber mix without it returning, the olive oil isn't that big of a deal.

Say, are you heading back to the middle east? Is this the 'out of country' experience you have been talking about?? Nosey me.

So, this morning, I weigh in at 143. No loss, but it looks like yesterday's loss gets me a new low! That is something. Actually, I would be a little worried if I lost again so soon. I want to do this in a healthy way, not drop 10 lbs in 2 days and then suffer health consequences later.

TOM is lurking around here somewhere, but I think I have a week or so before. I forgot to count days this time, so I am left guessing again as most PMS symptoms have become practically non-existent for me. However, hormonal boating seems to have become a pattern. I have regularly gained (but then lost) 5 pounds of water weight the past 3 months. So, I still have that to look forward to.

[emijan]

Yes, my DH is driving me to Seattle sometime today (from Redmond Oregon 7hrs) as I am flying out Monday morning. I will be gone for 2 month. My family do not belive in God at all and so since my grandma is experiencing deteriorating memory I have felt led to visit (last time was exactly 2 years ago) in case you are wondering I am a proud new-born believer! I have been saved for 14 years but my family harbors annimosity (well, mainly dad and his wife). I am ready for a spiritual battle, I can smell it from here...
You are doing so well on your woe....How old are your kids? My girls in the picture are 10 and 9.

[emijan]

p.s. Do not forget that the Israelites in the desert walked alot....

[Luvmykidz]

Originally Posted by emijan

Yes, my DH is driving me to Seattle sometime today (from Redmond Oregon 7hrs) as I am flying out Monday morning. I will be gone for 2 month. My family do not belive in God at all and so since my grandma is experiencing deteriorating memory I have felt led to visit (last time was exactly 2 years ago) in case you are wondering I am a proud new-born believer! I have been saved for 14 years but my family harbors annimosity (well, mainly dad and his wife). I am ready for a spiritual battle, I can smell it from here...
You are doing so well on your woe....How old are your kids? My girls in the picture are 10 and 9.

Thank you again! I really like having visitors here It must be very difficult to have your family be unsaved. It reminds me of the passage in Matt. 14 (especially v 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword"---in other words, spiritual division between Jesus' followers and those who are not) , where Jesus is telling His followers that the cost of following Him is basically being able to turn our back on everything but Him and His will. T

his is so hard for me. I know it doesn't mean that we are supposed to literally hate other people, but only that Jesus needs to come first--even before family and personal needs and wants. If the choice comes down to Jesus or xxxxx, we are to always pick Him. And, I think the pain of having unsaved loved ones--whether family or friends--gives us a little taste of what Jesus feels when so many of His creations choose rebellion to His heart. Maybe it helps us to feel the urgency of sharing His love with others so they, too, can experience the joy of a relationship with Him.

Your girls are darling in your avi. So sweet!!! My oldest is a boy, who is 11, and then 3 girls-8, 4, and 15 1/2 months. I love them all and hope I never have to choose between Jesus or one of them. It is great incentive to make sure I do my very best job as a mom!!!!!!!!!!! I do have to believe, if I obey God, I won't have to worry about consequences. He already knows the end of the story, and has promised comfort to those who faithfully follow.

Spiritual warfare is no joke and you will definitely need to stick close to Jesus!! I will be praying for you.

p.s. Do not forget that the Israelites in the desert walked alot...

Ah-HA! They had an exercise program, too!!!!!!

[emijan]

You are sweet to pray for me. Please also keep my DH Tom in your prayers as he will be alone for the 2 month.
I just read in Matt. today (I try to open randomly) where he said that no one has left his family to follow Him that he wasn't rewarded through persecution in eternal life with the Father! Yesterday it was Psalm 37: we believer will pervail and the enemy will not.
I understand the scripture to tell us to preach to the unbelieving world but a far as close friends we should keep to believers (Which is one of the reasons I homeschool as even in Christian schols you can find non-believing teachers not to mention kids). I always, when meeting new people which I think will turn out to be a good friend, make sure I confess my savior to them so there is no ??? later. I am sad to say that if my family wasn't family I wouldn't hang out with any of them.
I have a 18 year old brother (dad's second marriage) that is purely a selfish, self centered arrogant horrid human being who has a black unloving heart (sounds mean until you spend time with him) who isthe dircet result of his parents praising him since birth and elevating him to a god status (no chores, extreme tolerance) he has such an underling violent nature (you know the quite sneeky dangerous ones..) that I literally fear leaving my girls alone with him (do not worry - won't happen).
Well, tell me if I am infringing on your space here..

[Luvmykidz]

Oops almost forgot to post breakfast

1 T mild olive oil

One hour later had

2 HB eggs

1/2 grapefruit

3 medium celery stalks

mug of green tea

5 GOL Perfect food pills

13g protein 17g carbs 5g fiber 23g fat 335 calories

I am thinking I will take my fiber before lunch around 2.

so lunch will be 1 scoop of fiber supp.

6 oz chicken breast from last night

other half of grapefruit from breakfast

2 or 3 cup of chard, sauteed in 2 tsp virgin olive oil

Hehehe, maybe I need to toss the Grapefruit Diet a bone as well. I have to admit I am really enjoying eating it with my meals.

I am getting 55g protein, 25g carbs 9g fiber 15.5g fat 461 calories

Definitely will need to watch so I don't undereat calories again at dinner.

Maybe it will have to be ground beef something or other. Red meat is not one of my recommended foods, though--and I have to say, I feel wonderful not eating it. Not tired and grumpy like I thought. Maybe there really is something to the blood type thing.

Oh well, I don't want to make too big of an issue over eating or avoiding certain foods. This is just my public experiment and I expect in a couple of weeksI will have my answers as to whether what I am doing will work for me.

[Luvmykidz]

Originally Posted by emijan

You are sweet to pray for me. Please also keep my DH Tom in your prayers as he will be alone for the 2 month.
I just read in Matt. today (I try to open randomly) where he said that no one has left his family to follow Him that he wasn't rewarded through persecution in eternal life with the Father! Yesterday it was Psalm 37: we believer will pervail and the enemy will not.
I understand the scripture to tell us to preach to the unbelieving world but a far as close friends we should keep to believers (Which is one of the reasons I homeschool as even in Christian schols you can find non-believing teachers not to mention kids). I always, when meeting new people which I think will turn out to be a good friend, make sure I confess my savior to them so there is no ??? later. I am sad to say that if my family wasn't family I wouldn't hang out with any of them.
I have a 18 year old brother (dad's second marriage) that is purely a selfish, self centered arrogant horrid human being who has a black unloving heart (sounds mean until you spend time with him) who isthe dircet result of his parents praising him since birth and elevating him to a god status (no chores, extreme tolerance) he has such an underling violent nature (you know the quite sneeky dangerous ones..) that I literally fear leaving my girls alone with him (do not worry - won't happen).
Well, tell me if I am infringing on your space here..

I will pray also for your DH. That is a long time to be separated.

I agree with choosing carefully who we keep close as friends. Being on different spiritual paths means the things we view as important and our underlying reasons for doing things will be totally different. Even if they look the same on the surface. I actually learned a great lesson in that area on these boards. I really wanted to 'fit in' at first and be accepted by everyone. I do have to be who I am in Jesus, though. And although I have gotten very few remarks I would actually call 'rude', I can tell I have made some people uncomfortable just because of who I am. I would not go out of my way to do this, but in just standing for my beliefs, I can see I am different.

Actually, I will happily visit with any non-believer who is not attempting to be combative. I do feel the need to be honest about my own beliefs, though, as early on as possible. If they still would like to interact, that is fine, because we are to have an influence on the world for Jesus and we can't do that without involvement. Loving the people of the world is not the same as loving worldly things.

I do feel God was getting my attention a while back as well, because I was spending WAY too much time in here reading and posting. And not nearly enough time caring for my responsibilities around home. It was almost like I had switched my food obsession for an online one. The tendency was still there, I just moved my focus onto something else. Now, I am trying to limit most of my time to checking threads I am already signed on to and occasionally posting to a new one if it pertains to something I feel is relevant to my own experience. I just couldn't do the off topic stuff anymore.

Except here.

I homeschool my kids, too, and definitely feel that, as a parent it is primarily my own responsibility to train them. Not the government or even our church. God gave me the kids, so He expects me to tend to their needs while they are children. I think any time we send our little ones off to be taught by someone else, we are inviting satan in to influence their little hearts. It is like falling asleep on the job, IMO. And if I was to send my kids off to school somewhere, I fully expect they would end up paying a price for it. This is just my own belief and I try to be careful to not judge people who believe God wants them to place their kids in a school somewhere. I can't speak for other believers as to what they should be doing. We all stand or fall as individuals before God and I don't want to get in between Him and anyone else. I have enough on my own plate.

That is too bad about your brother. Indulging children is a sure way to ruin them. It just encourages growth of the inherent sin nature. Once I realized what 'spoiled rotten' really meant, it made me very sad. It isn't a joke at all. If meat or fruit spoils it is useless and detestable and we have to either cut out the bad parts (if it is possible) or toss the whole thing. A child who is 'spoiled rotten' isnt much different. Fortunately, Jesus can salvage the person's soul if they allow Him to. No person ever has to be discarded.

It is hard to love and pray for someone who is unlovable. But then, I guess that is the test of real love. Jesus died for me before I was even born. And He died for the sins of each of us. I suppose none of us is lovable when left on our own. We all have issues. Some are just more obvious than others.

It is wise of you to realize that just because your brother is family does not make him 'safe' to be around your girls.

You are definitely not a problem in here and are welcome for as long as you like. You may have noticed there are some conversations in this thread that completely left the LC scene. I love it!!! Just beware, this is where I unload my mind freely, and I will say what is in my heart--no holds barred!

[Luvmykidz]

I added a cup of unsweetened choc almond breeze to my lunch.

So the final count is 58g protein, 30g carbs 13g fiber 18.5g fat 524 calories.

I have about 600-700 calories left to play with, and about 26 net carbs--. I wouldn't have to eat another bite of protein today if I don't want to.

Maybe a nice big bowl of lowfat plain yogurt with sweetener and vanilla for dinner? If I have enough faith in the yogurt exception, I could probably eat around 2 cups of yo plus a half cup of blueberries or some other fruit.

I am thinking the chicken must have had a lot of salt in it. Deli stuff usually does. I feel a bit bloated right now.