Vienna's Viennese Journal

[Vienna]

Oh boy I almost forgot how much I loved Atkins!
Four lunch I had 4 mini sausages wrapped in bacon covered in a pepper cream sauce. Oh yeah! It was good!

Tonight I am having grilled eggplant with a small amount of tomato sauce and cheese baked on top..

DECADENT!! )

[Vienna]

Again down .22 I'm a gun apparently!

Had a really nice night. Went to a local pub and had a little too much to drink but it was nice outside. I've met a woman who lives just around the corner- she's Canadian too and her husband gets along with my DH which is great! Every week she and I meet up for drinks and it is always fun!

Today we are going swimming- on the Danube in the center they have converted an old freight ship into a bar and pool.. It is amazing! It is supposed to go up to 40 C today..

Tonight there is a poker tournament that I playing in- I don't really know how to play so it should be interesting..

[Vienna]

I just had breakfast: 4 mini sausages wrapped in bacon and the pepper cream sauce... wow! I'm full but it was totally yummy. No working out but swimming is great- probably even better! Can't wait to go to the pool! I'm already dying!

For lunch I will probably have a caprese salad at the pool. Dinner- not sure yet? Maybe ribs? Who knows?

[Vienna]

I'm back and I am ashamed that I gained all my weight back. In June I left my job and have been unemployed since.. Out of boredom, frustration, and lack of confidence I started eating off plan...

Part of me thought that I could eat the food I wanted and OD'd on everything.. The problem is that I am so hedonistic when it comes to food that I can't hold back. This is why Atkins works for me.. If it's legal I feel I can eat it and still lose weight..

Well, Last Wednesday I signed my contract- I am starting my new job in January I went through 10 interviews at for 7 different jobs and finally I have one. It was a stressful period but the DH was supportive the whole way through..

I weighed myself finally on Wednesday and almost threw up when I saw my weight. I knew I had gained but not that much..

So on Wednesday I started and am down to 143.4 from 145..

AARRGHH! I can't believe I screwed up so much...

But I am back and I determined more than ever.. I've learned my lesson!

My mini goal is to be 140 by next Wednesday (December 12th)

I can do this!

[Vienna]

My menu today:

B: 1 MacDonald's bunless cheeseburger
L: large cup o coffee with cream and sweetener
D: Pork meat balls.. Super easy and yummy:

a pound of pork
1 egg
zest of an orange
a bit of ginger
a cup of cabbage shredded
some diced green onions
a splash of soy sauce

mix all together and form little balls- you can steam them or fry them.. I think tonight I will steam them- they get a little dry when fried..
For the Dh- egg with rice and the meatballs.

I dip the balls into hot sauce..

Can't wait!

[Vienna]

Poor DH finished an all day and nighter.. He started work yesterday at 8 am then came home at 3 in the morning, took a shower and changed, then went back to work at 5 am and finished at 2 pm... He's now soundly sleeping after eating dinner.,, poor guy. (he's a mechanical engineer with a normal 9 to 5 job but this project had to be finished)

Just finished eating my meat balls.. yummy! Having a glass of wine and gearing up to watch Christmas Vacation in German..

Tomorrow will involve Christmas shopping and cleaning the apartment and then drinks with friends at our expat pub!

Proud of myself today. Stuck to plan and will continue to! Remember to plan!

[Vienna]

Finished Christmas Vacation - stuck cloves into madarins to keep my fingers busy. I've taken up crocheting to also avoid snacking!

Can't wait to get this weight off!

Tomorrow I will most likely have the rest of the pork meat balls and for dinner the grill cheese with a cheese sauce.. Very cheesy!

Time for a little reading before hitting the sack next to the almost comatose hubby..

[Vienna]

Good morning! I am down to 142.5!

Almost a pound down from yesterday.. Tomorrow we are going for lunch at a friend's- a little worried I won't be strong.. The husband's making Coq au Vin so that's fine but the rest..

She's extremely supportive of me on this diet so I should probably call her and ask her to skip the dessert.. hmm..

[Vienna]

Just talked to my friend.. She's great. Her husband is making huge potato pieces so I can pick them out

I offered to make a low carb cake so that sorts things out for now. After the lunch we are going to the famous Sacher hotel for coffee!! I've always dreamt of that!

Had the pork meatballs for breakfast. yummy and filling! Yippe it's Saturday. Christmas markets and Christmas tree shopping!!

[Vienna]

Oh wow! Whoosh fairy visited last night! 140!! Yippee!!

[Kissa]

Hi Vienna, I must be psychic! I was looking at Pups travels and decided to see if there was any action in your Journal and there you are!

Well done on getting back on track so well.

[Vienna]

Hi Kissa!!

It's great to hear from you!! It's a bad few months diet wise.. And the job search was horrid. So many interviews so many rejections but finally I found something. I start January 7th- I can't wait!!

It's good to be back. I realise I can't eat carbs.. It just doesn't work!

Yesterday was a great day! Went to our friends place for a great lunch- coq au vin.. Made Linda Sue's Chocolate Truffle Cake. TO DIE FOR!!

Then later met her and her friends at the famous Cafe Central.. It was lovely. It walked down the Graben and saw the beautiful Christmas lights..

We have our tree up now and it looks great. My parents and brother are coming for Christmas.. Should be an experience.

Tomorrow my friend is coming for cookie baking- I'll be good.

And on Wednesday some ladies are coming over for eggnog and hot chocolate.

Sending the husband to play tennis.

Didn't weigh myself this morning- ate legal but late and knew there would be a slight rise.. So I will wait until Wednesday to check.

Yiippee! Christmas time!

[Kissa]

And you get Pups next!

[Vienna]

Hopefully Pups makes it here in time for the Christmas markets!

What a hectic afternoon. How to go to a shopping center south of the city to Toys R Us to buy the DH his Christmas present a remote controlled plane.. Soo many people and children and ugh.. So tired now.

I think I am in ketosis now.. not very hungry. Had a cheese burger for breakfast and then in the afternoon heated up some fondue cheese and ate it with a fork.. I love fondue..

Tonight I am making beef fajitas. Should start to make them now but I'm being lazy.. Just vacuumed the whole apartment and put away my clothes (I have the awful habit of letting them pile up in the middle of the bedroom )

Tomorrow I will work out and finish up some Christmas gifts for friends. Some are getting Christmas mugs with spoons, others are getting olive oils with garlic and sundried tomatoes (self made) and some are getting hot chocolate mixes in jars.. Too many people to think of!

So glad I am back on my journal.. I missed being here! I have some mini goals too-

February 9th - I'm attending a ball at the Hofburg palace and I want to look good!

Next December the DH and I are having an official wedding with family and friends (we eloped almost 4 years ago and I have dreamt of having a wedding forever!!) So should be in maintenance by then and at my goal weight!

Better go and make dinner...

[Kissa]

Oh a ball and then your very own wedding!!!

What wonderful goals to look forward too. I love fondue cheese too. I must do some and I will use some GG crackers to eat with it. (Maintainance treat!)

[Vienna]

Where do you get the crackers from??

I use halloumi as my bread for fondue.. Love it!!

Last night the fajitas were great.. My stomach is slowly looking flatter.. it's always the first to lose.

Today I will finish cleaning up the apartment for my hot chocolate and eggnog ladies night tomorrow. Should be about 10 of us! Can't wait!

I have to finish Christmas presents- I think I will do that today! And I will watch Christmas movies to get in the mood!

Not sure what I will have to eat today. I think I will have the rest of the fajitas and maybe an omelette for dinner- pasta for the DH..

[Vienna]

Just finished lunch- had tomato soup- approx. 13 carbs.. A little high for one meal but tonight I am having eggs so I will be at my induction level at least.

Going to work out soon and then have to melt chocolate onto spoons.. Ugh.. That will be hard to resist a lick but I can do it..

[Vienna]

Well, I avoided the ginger bread cookies my friend made.. They smelled (correct?) heavenly.. Then I got baked cheese I won't weigh myself tomorrow.. I managed to cut a lot of the breading off but still.. I'm a lot better then I've been the last few months.. I'm gonna wait until Friday to weigh myself..

Time to veg on the sofa with the DH..

[Kissa]

You are doing great Vienna! I get the crackers at Holland and Barret health food store. I just googled them and asked where they sell them in the UK.

I have cold and I am feeling sorry for myself today.

[Vienna]

Thanks Kissa! Hope you feel better I'm the self pity queen.

Suffering from insomnia Last night about 7 ladies came over for spiked eggnog and hot chocolate and cookies and hors d'ouevres. It was a lot of fun and I stayed on plan

I had hubby run out to MacDonalds so I could eat after the party poor guy.

Tonight is a punsch event at a Christmas Market (I am a moderator for an online expat community and we have meet and greets once a month)

It's also my close friend's bday so I have to drop by with gifts.. I crocheted her a scarf- she better like it

So much Christmas shopping to do!! The panic!

[Kissa]

Thanks Vienna.

Sounds like you are getting into the Xmas spirit. Thank the Lord for MacDonalds sometimes. I love Burger King but I guess it hasn't arrived in Vienna yet.

I have made a huge pan of soup for us this evening. Very good winter food.

KUTGW

[Vienna]

Hi Kissa! We have Burger King but it's too far away!

i had bread tonight- let me clarify- my bestfriend is Croatian and it's her birthday- she made an Istrian dish- toasted bread soaked in red wine, olive oil, pepper, and sugar.. I had several bites.. It was wow in terms of alcohol.. I am no light weight but this was

Anyway, the first part of the night was spent with my expat friends at a Christmas market drinking Gluhwein which was lovely, later on I went to my best friend's place in the center. She has two roommates and they had friends over.. They are all single and in their 20's (like me) but I felt like an alien. They couldn't believe I have been married for 4 years.

They were playing drinking games and being silly and I felt so out of place (don't get me wrong, I enjoy drinking- but I don't need a game). But to juxtapose the situation earlier in the day: my other friend is 8 weeks pregnant ( a year or 2 older than I am) and she is at a different stage. I just feel confused.. Where am I?

I can't talk to my older sister (7 years older) with 2 babies.. I can't talk to my mother.. I am at a loss..

I start my job in January which I am so excited about.. but I hate the fact that I have to categorize myself.. I don't want to be just a "career woman" and I don't want to be just "mom".. I thought that by this time things would be clearer..

This has nothing to do with dieting so I apologize.. I just have to work this out.. There are days where I get the urge to just have a child but at the same time I want to see what my potential is in general in terms of career.. I had a great job in Toronto.. with so many opportunities.. I have been here for 3 and a half years and now I have my foot in the door and I can't wait but what is this self doubt about.. Urgh..

Enough babbling.. I think I should try to sleep but even that isn't certain..

[Vienna]

Oh boy.. Please ignore above post-.. A couple of glasses of wine and I self analyze

I'm not going to weigh myself today. Scared of what I'd see- especially after the bread and drinking last night. Will wait til Sunday..

[Kissa]

I remember my 20's!

I had 2 babies at 21 and 6 weeks old, but believe me I was still agonising over who I was and what I wanted out of life for years.

I turns out, now that I am 60, that there is no clear answer to any of it! It has been quite a lot of fun finding that out though...

Your 'bread and wine' sounded amazing. You'll be fine.

[Vienna]

Thanks Kissa.. I think things were cleare when I was 5. I wanted to be a princess and that was it!

Feeling better this morning.. Especially now that it is snowing a little bit

Lying on the sofa and crocheting.. What a slug I am today.

[Vienna]

Had a really nice and quiet night with the DH.. We watched trash TV and headed to bed around 10.. He's still in bed but I think he's pretending to be asleep..

I was thinking about getting acrylic tips done today- never have done it but I want to look good for when I start