Kelly's Journal - Getting back to basics.

[twinmom04]

Kept up with excercise this week - discouraged at feeling bloated when I stick to plan. I didn't weigh this week because the scale is buried in the cabinet in the bathroom getting remodeled - a bit afraid to step on it now that the bathroom is almost done. Feeling annoyed at what feels like very slow progress.

[twinmom04]

Weird - I weighed 184 yesterday and 181.5 today again - so I think it could be the scale but I moved it all over and can't figure it out. Going to stick to plan and try not to eat late at night - also have to get back to more salads and PLAN meals which is always a problem for me. Plus, WATER, WATER, WATER....I want to get out of the 180's...

[twinmom04]

184 today but I am trying to be patient and eat more clean. Going to start doing my menu here as I am thinking of doing a strict meat and eggs to kick start.

B - 2 mini-mock cheesecakes
l - salad with chix and avocado ranch dressing
D - beef mushroom soup

water, water, water

30 minutes on treadmill - running 2 walk .20

[twinmom04]

Cheesesteak Manicotti


*8 Steak-ums/minute steaks
*Ricotti Cheese (15 oz Container)
*1 egg
*2 cups of Shredded Mozzerala cheese
*1/3 cup of Parmensan grated cheese
*1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley flakes
*small pinch of Salt and pepper
*1 Cup of Low carb Tomato Sauce

Preheat oven to 350* Fry up the 8 minute steaks and let them drain on paper Towels. In a medium bowl, combine: Ricotti Cheese, egg, Mozzerala Cheese, Parmensan Cheese, Parsley flakes and salt and pepper.

Lay one Steak-um flat. Place about 3 heaping tablespoons of the Filling mixture on one side of the Steak-um. Roll it up. Place it in a 8X8X2 Glass baking dish. Repeat until all 8 steak-ums are filled and in the baking dish (you will have leftover filling) Pour 1 Cup of Tomato Sauce on top of the Caserole.
Cover with Aluminum Foil and bake for about 25 Minutes.

Remove from Oven and let Sit for a few minutes (for the filling to set)

It's now ready to serve

[twinmom04]

I was craving pizza tonight...I mean REALLY craving pizza! My plans were to make LindaSue's deep dish pizza. I ended up working late and the weather is so bad I went straight home without stopping at the grocery store.
So...I made do with what I had.

The crust:
1/4 c flaxmeal
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp onion salt
1 packet Splenda
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1 tbs grated parmesan
1 egg
2 tsp water

Mix dry ingredients, then add egg and water. Spay a dinner plate with Pam and spread mixture into plate. (Will be about the size of a 'personal pizza') Microwave for about 1 minute 40 seconds.
Slide off plate into a pam sprayed frying pan and brown both sides on high.
Place crust on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread pizza sauce over crust almost to edges. Top with cheese of your choice (I used a moz./jack blend) and toppings of your choice. Pepperoni and mushroom for me. Heat in oven at about 350 until cheese melts and toppings reach desired 'doneness'. Cut into 4ths and enjoy. It looks like pizza, tastes like pizza, you can pick it up and eat it like pizza, has that crunch like a thin crust pizza. I loved it....and wouldn't you know...by the time I finished making it I was hungry and ate it (the whole thing!) without taking a pic!

[twinmom04]

Pizza recipe I found that looks sooo good..

The crust:
1/4 c flaxmeal
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp onion salt
1 packet Splenda
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1 tbs grated parmesan
1 egg
2 tsp water

Mix dry ingredients, then add egg and water. Spay a dinner plate with Pam and spread mixture into plate. (Will be about the size of a 'personal pizza') Microwave for about 1 minute 40 seconds.
Slide off plate into a pam sprayed frying pan and brown both sides on high.
Place crust on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread pizza sauce over crust almost to edges. Top with cheese of your choice (I used a moz./jack blend) and toppings of your choice. Pepperoni and mushroom for me. Heat in oven at about 350 until cheese melts and toppings reach desired 'doneness'. Cut into 4ths and enjoy. It looks like pizza, tastes like pizza, you can pick it up and eat it like pizza, has that crunch like a thin crust pizza. I loved it....and wouldn't you know...by the time I finished making it I was hungry and ate it (the whole thing!) without taking a pic!

[seb]

Twinmom~I make the same crust, but use double the parmesan cheese. I also make a flatbread with it for DD who is low-carbing and takes a sandwich to school with it. I just quadruple the recipe, spread it out on a rectangle baking stone, then bake for about 15 minutes. She gets all sorts of compliments at school about it. Everyone likes it.

The scale is frustrating and bounces around so much, but sounds like you're doing great!

[twinmom04]

183 with TOM around the corner - annoyed that I am not lower but working on it. Trying to eat more clean...and have to get on my treadmill tonight. Tired and feeling bloated...I am so ready to say goodbye to the 180s.....

Sue - I am going to take your advice and double the parmesan - making it tonight and I can't wait. Bought flaxmeal for the first time today.

[seb]

It is an awesome recipe and a very legal way to eat pizza.

If you've read through my journal, it looks like we are going through the same thing as far as discouragement with the scale. Look on the last page. Low Carb Mommy posted something today for me that I really needed to read about the fat cells holding on to water. I know I've read that before, but I needed to read it again today to remind myself that there are a lot of things going on internally that I don't understand.

[twinmom04]

Thanks Sue - I checked out what she posted in your journal and it was great.

I finally got out of the 180's today and weighed in at 179.5....it is so NICE to finally see the 170's. 180 was my first major goal and I can't believe I reached it. I am so happy and feel good about my persistance....I have stuck with it. I find that I get a whoosh after TOM. Hopefully, I can stay in the 170s...

[twinmom04]

Sticking at 180 and bouncing to 179....I need to buckle down and get serious again. I have had a great 30 pound loss but don't want to get complacent.

Need to get back on the treadmill, back on the water and back on consistent meals...

[twinmom04]

180 - no treadmill as my nanny had a crisis. Will do aerobics tonight as I have to work the rest of the day....

Need to get on my menu planning.

[seb]

Popping in to say hi

30 pounds is awesome. It is a journey, though, and lots to learn through it!

[speedymagee]

I just read your question on the ML. I'm sorry I don't have any words of wisdom. I just wanted to say WTG on the 30 lb loss!! I hope you get your mojo back.

[twinmom04]

I haven't posted in so long - still at 180 and a size 14 - haven't totally cheated but haven't been doing strict low-carb. Now, this week I am back full force and WANT to lose the 20 pounds I have left.

[seb]

Hey Kelly, I just saw your post! Glad you're back. I haven't budged for a couple months, but sure would like to start losing again soon.

[twinmom04]

I am back and trying not to be annoyed at myself - not that excuses are justification but I lost my closest friend to cancer in November and spent most of Sept/Oct rushing back and forth to see her and take care of kids, work, etc. The one thing that went right out the window was working-out and my LC eating - bad idea as my weight today was 196. I knew things weren't good in December but choose to take the month and eat junk all month for the Holidays - the result - I felt yucky, bloated and craved sugar all the time....it was not WORTH it. So I back full force and am committing myself this time. I am trying to find a good challenge to join also.

Today - walked 1 mile/ ran 1 mile on the treadmill

Breakfast - two cream cheese muffins - coffee
Lunch - taco salad
Snack - 2 slices salami - 2 slices cheese.

[seb]

I'm so sorry about your friend, Kelly.

I lost my dad a little over a month ago, and with all the running around, then major flooding that brought in tons of mud and some property damage, I got derailed myself.

Don't be mad at yourself, though. Life happens, things get out of control at times, but you're back here and ready to get going. It's good to have you back.

[twinmom04]

Thank you Sue and so sorry about your Dad and the flooding!! Let's hope 2008 brings better news.

[twinmom04]

Down three pounds - I love low carb. I feel better already, I am not bloated, I have more energy and I have no sugar cravings.

Ran 1.5 miles - walked .5.

Also asked a friend if she was up for a treadmill accountability fitness challenge today - at least 2 miles on the treadmill three days a week, 3 miles for 2 days and then one day off. It's the best I can do now with 3 year old twins, a business and nine million other things to do.

[seb]

Isn't that great, waking up to being so much lower on the scale. You're a busy mom and I think the exercise you're getting in is just right.

[twinmom04]

Sue - Thank you for the encouragment - I tried a new recipe tonight and didn't like it. I am going to start posting recipes I find here in my journal for easy access.

Recipe By : Dana Carpenter 500 low Carb recipes

Serving Size: 6

Categories : Soup



Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

-------- ------------ --------------------------------

2 pounds ground chuck

1 cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 Large can tomatoes with green chilies -- 14 1/2 oz can

1 Large can tomato sauce -- 8 oz

4 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons cocoa powder (sounds weird but its good)

1 teaspoon paprika

Brown and crumble the beef in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pour off the grease, and add the onion, garlic, tomato's and chili's, tomato sauce, cumin, oregano, cocoa and paprika. Stir to combine

Turn the burner to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Uncover and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until chili thickens a bit. Serve with grated cheese and sour cream, chopped raw onion

Description:

This is very yummy.

Edited to add: I didn't have the 14 1/2 oz can but had 2 of the 10 oz. can's of tomato's with green chilies. My tomato sauce was 2 of the 4 oz can's.

[twinmom04]

I am going to try this one - have always wanted to and I think I may do it for lunch tomorrow....

You just brown ground beef (or ground chicken) in sesame oil (it's very important that you use sesame oil because of the flavor). I normally use anywhere from a pound to a pound and a half of ground meat.

Then, I drain (depending on the fat level of the ground beef I've used) and add shredded cabbage (for the 1.5 lbs of ground beef I used last night, I added 1/2 large head of shredded cabbage - basically I just cut into strips and then cut those in half).

I added a little more sesame oil for flavor, hot chili flakes to taste, garlic powder to taste and low-sodium soy sauce, to taste.

[seb]

Those recipes sound great. I love sesame oil; grew up in Korea where it is used a lot. I make a Korean version of ground hamburger, just for patties or to fry. You add about 1/4 C soy sauce, a little more than a 1/4 C Splenda, 1 T sesame seeds, 2-3 green onions, chopped, 2 cloves of pressed garlic, and sprinkle sesame oil on it to taste. These make wonderful patties on the grill.

[twinmom04]

Sue - thank you for that recipe - I am going to try it. I just discovered that I love Sesame Oil too - I loved the recipe I did yesterday for lunch.

I did three miles on the treadmill - bounced back to 194 but I know that is water fluctuations. Hoping to do three miles today when the kids nap - I have a girls night out tonight but I know how to stick to plan....

[twinmom04]

Did the three miles again yesterday - felt good.

Menu on Sat.
coffee with cream
breakfast out with kids- mushroom/cheese omlet
crackslaw
dinner out for girls night - one low carb beer, steak, small caesar, lobter tail.

lots of water.

Recipe I would like to try:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is one of my favorite breakfast things. I hadn't made it
in a while, so I pulled it out..They are wonderful and if you
make it with liquid Splenda or a sugar alcohol, you can get
the carbs down to 2..otherwise they are about 4..because of
the Splenda's filler..or you could probably use the little packages
3=the sweetness of 1/4 cup. This recipe is from Aussie LC Gourmet..

Pastry portion:

3 extra large eggs, separated (reserving 1/2 yolk for filling)
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 cup granulated Splenda or 3 pkgs. of Splenda..or other
sweetners
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 Tbs. ricotta cheese or sour cream

Filling:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 egg yolk (from above)
1/4 cup granulated Splenda or 3 pkgs, etc.
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
you can add lemon, almond, orange, raspberry flavorings,
if you want to this filling-about 1/4 tsp

Pastry directions:

Separate eggs, putting the whites in a large bowl and the
yolks in a medium bowl. Take 1/2 yolk out and put it in
a little dish to reserve for filling. With your electric beater,
whip whites and cream of tartar until very stiff.

Add sour cream or ricotta, cinnamon, sweetener to the yolks
and beat well until smooth

Gently fold yolk mixture into the whites, using a big spatula,
being careful to get it all blended well. Then Spray a cookie
sheet or muffin top pan (the best way), and plop 6 equal
mounds of batter to make 6 Danish. Make an indent
on each mound and fill with filling. Bake about 25-35 minutes
at 300 until golden brown. Remove, cool and enjoy

Filling: Microwave cream cheese until soft. Remove and add
the 1/2 egg yolk, sweetener, extract, and flavoring. Fill pastries.

[twinmom04]

Three miles today and yesterday each on the treadmill - eating great, on plan and a bit frustrated that the scale isn't moving - I just really want to get below 190......

[twinmom04]

Did three miles today again - weighed in at 191.5.....hoping for the 180's soon. I ate on plan also.

breakfast - cream cheese muffins (2)
lunch - salad with chicken, cheese and sour cream
dinner - hot wing and small salad with blue cheese dressing

[twinmom04]

Okay I had to read my posts on my journal to realize I am a slow loser or that I bounce before I see a good, solid loss - I was so so annoyed when I saw 194 on the scale. I am doing everything right - everything and that annoys me but I can see the loss in the mirror and with my clothes. Doing 3 miles when my nanny comes - I have to be patient.

My major goal is 170 by June - so 20 or so pounds. I really need to do it and my new mantra is 3 miles a day on the treadmill and nothing less than 6 days a week. I have to do it....

[twinmom04]

My weight is bouncing and its making me crazy - was 194 today and thought about throwing the scale out the window. I am working really hard to stick to plan but I may start the A72 plan - I have to do more reading - I need to kick in gear. A few things I know I need to do or stop doing.

1. Drink more water
2. stop eating after 7 pm
3. Have a good breakfast
4 portion control!
5. slow down on cheese.