Beth's Real Life Journey to Success

[seb]

Good morning Beth. Isn't is wonderful to lose inches? Yesterday was measuring day for us, but we didn't get around to it, so I will measure today. Hope you had a good lunch with your friends.

[Tippy Toes]

Beth, just curious, but what is your goal weight and size?

I gave up on the Rotation Diet cause I felt horrible Sunday when I woke up. But, I have taken the best advice from all my diet books and put together 5 days of custom menus for myself. Sort of carb cycling--some days high fat, others low and with high carbs. We'll see what happens.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Good morning everyone! Sorry I missed you yesterday. We got the boys off to camp. They were excited. I miss them already. I think it is the fact that I won't talk to them all week that gets to me. They don't let them bring any electronic devices to camp. I am sure if they need to talk to me they will call (last time they didn't though).

I don't know if I am feeling down about that or my hormones are getting up. I have been a little snappy with DH lately. Also, my weight went up this morning. It was 134.4. The first time I woke up this morning(early) I weighed and it was 135.2. Then, I went back to bed and slept a couple more hours, got up, and I weighed 134.4. So, I will take the latter one.

It was probably the dinner I ate last night. I didn't really tally my carbs in my head, so I ate more than I should have. I had said that our friends would go eat dinner with us, but it turned out that we ate by ourselves. Oh, mom and dad called a few hours before we left and said they would keep the little ones so we were able to go without them. DH took me to the Olive Garden. I haven't been since March. It was so good! We actually were on a date! (It's hard to ask someone to keep four children on a reg. basis) Anyway, I asked for the Garden Fare menu. There were several selections so I chose the Mixed Grill. Delicious!

I am a little confused over the menu though. The original meal comes with potatoes and steamed veggies and the meat comes in a demi-glaze. Here is the description: Skewers of grilled marinated steak and chicken with a rosemary demi-glace, served with grilled vegetables and Tuscan potatoes.* The carb counts say 19 carbs, 7 fiber, 12 net. Now at the bottom it says...."served with seasoned broccoli in place of potatoes, per guest request." DH said that they were counting the potatoes in the carb counts and then the footnote meant that you could get the brocolli instead of the potatoes. What do you think? I just wanted to be careful that the carb counts weren't for the sub. I know that would make them high but it did have the glaze over the meat so I was suspicious. I asked the waitress to find out for me how they made the demi-glaze. She did and she said it was made with the juices from the meat and balsamic vinegar and it is reduced over and over to get the sauce. It was not watery but like gravy. Balsamic vinegar is 2.3 carbs for 1 T. So, I just counted the meat as 2 to be safe. The rest of the counts you will see on my menu. Just wanted to know what you thought about it. They ended up bringing me the orginal menu with the potatoes because the girl didn't understand that I wanted extra veggies. So, I stared at the potatoes my whole meal and didn't even taste one! Just wanted to know what you thought about it.

Menu from yesterday:

Breakfast: Atkins shake=1/5
Lunch: 4 squares of Linda's Pizza=8
Snack: 1 pk. of smoked almond from the gas station=3/8
Dinner: Olive Garden: 4 oz. white wine(.9), Salad(4), dressing(2), Mixed Grill: Steak & Chicken(2), peppers & onlons(2), 1/2 cup steamed squash/zuc.(1.5/3.1), coffee w/ 1/2&1/2(2) & splenda(1)=15.4/16.9

Total: 27.9N/37.9F

Ketone stick this morning: trace
Water yesterday: 85 oz.
Exercise: lots of walking

[Tippy Toes]

Beth, I would say the counts were for the potatoes. Don't worry about the light gain--we all fluctuate sometimes--especially us women.

[Low Carb Mommy]

You're right TT! I am sorry I posted and had to run. I had forgotten that I was scheduled to get a haircut this morning. I had 30 minutes to get me and the kids ready!

Now to some responses...

TT~we must have been posting at the same time...didn't see you post right before mine. I would like to weigh 120 and be in a size 6? I haven't done the BMI recently but I think they want me to be like 115. I just don't know hard it will to be able to maintain at that level. Good luck on the mixed up diet. You are learning for all of us.

Sue~I guess I wasn't that positive about losing the inches because I was still up from my lowest I measured. But thanks for the encouragement anyway.

Krysta~the jello/cottage cheese was really good. You should try some soon. I want you to weigh 133 too! And you will.



I am definitely PMSing today. EVERYTHING is getting on my nerves. My kids are driving me CRAZY! They really acted out in the beauty salon. I was so embarrassed. Everyone was looking at me like "what are you going to do about it!" I have taken away TV for the day (of course, that punishes me too). Please pray for me. I just want to go and eat a brownie!

[Tippy Toes]

Aww, Beth, PMS is tough but a brownie will just make you madder later. Hey, I tried your jello mixed with cottage cheese today and you were right! Was like having fruit mixed in! YAY!

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks for telling me the real truth TT. I would be firing mad at myself for doing that! I am glad you liked the jello/cc.

[Low Carb Mommy]

I am trying to change my picture to one my mom gave me that she took a few weeks ago. It is turning out too small to show my whole self. I don't know if I like the waist up or not either. Oh well, I may change it back. Here is what I was going to put as my avatar.

[seb]

Beth, you look lovely in that picture. Cute strappy shoes. DD love strappy shoes.

Sorry about the kids getting on your nerves and "The Incident At The Beauty Salon." Us mothers could write a book. Hope your day gets better.

[Edwards20]

It is a good sign you are hot instead of cold as being cold is a sign of slowing metabolism.

TT - that's good to know.

Beth, thanks for taking and posting the pics. I don't think Nell took but 2, and I haven't even decided which bag to unpack and find the camera.

You are truly a beautiful person. I am blessed to have met you and have you in my life. You are worried about your appearance and you need not be. I am serious about all the guys and girls asking what YOU were doing in a weightloss group. Imagine my amazon feeling standing next to you.

Be proud, because you look awesome !!

I was just reading through envisioning you scarfing down the yogurt w/flax. It was good huh ? I don't think you have to stay on the induction again that long, I would move back up rapidly. But that's me.

I am glad the party went well. A taco feast is a great them, and workable for everyone. Such a smart lady you are.

I think you will do fine at the appt. You probably weighed there with all your clothes on and in the afternoon before, but I do hope they know how much you really have lost. I am thinking of the same thing when I go back.

Loved the slideshow and the music.

JournalJack (I liked that) -- Phil, I bet you did get some points for that concert.

Good for you for not eating the potatoes at Olive Garden. I don't understand a lot of nutrition info from restaurants, nor do I trust them. I opt for PLAIN items if I can't decide. And, I would watch those 4 lovely children for you ANYTIME. I can't imagine that they were really "bad" at the beauty salon.

I hope your day gets better ..... and STEP AWAY FROM THE BROWNIE !!

I love you girlie !!

[Low Carb Mommy]

Candy~Enough with the amazon woman comment! You were not that huge next to me! You looked terrific. And you were much prettier than that stuck up lady that thought she was all that with her weight loss!

As far as staying on induction...not doing that anymore obviously! I just figured up my carbs for today and they were 25N/31.5F. I think I missed my coffee counts too and I just had a couple of T. of the yocheese I made. So add some more! I am bloated and miserable. I feeling like I could throw up any moment. What has gotten into me. I thought I was going to gradually add back! I am hormonal and disgusted! I couldn't sleep good last night...had weird dreams. Hope things are easier tonight. Wish I had some Pamprin!

[seb]

Hope you're feeling better this morning, Beth. This shall pass, you'll hit a new low in a few days and feel great. I'm sure of it. My sleeping lately has been awful (see, I'm up at 4:00 this morning), but hope you got a better rest last night.

[Tippy Toes]

Beth, just think about after TOM and the bloat all dropping, and perhaps even taking a few of its "friends" with it! You are in for a new low--you'll see! Sometimes cravings and wanting to over eat are a sign of fat leaving. I think its the bodies way of trying to hold on to the fat. Don't give in too much. Your reward is right around the corner...

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks ladies! You make me feel so much better. I am so thankful that you are in my life.

Well, the scales stayed the same this morning (134.4). I even took a direutic last night hoping that would take care of some of the bloating. I do feel a little better. Plus, there have been some issues in the plumbing department that have gotten worked out this morning. Hallelujah! I guess it wouldn't irritate me so much if I didn't have my doctor's appointment on Thursday. I was thinking of trying to eat lighter, so I didn't feel so miserable. I am forced to this morning because I am out of shakes and eggs. I guess yogurt w/ flax seed will be for breakfast.

Plans for today.....grocery store and exercising. I NEED to exercise!

I am trying to get all these print-outs of recipes that I have copied and stacked sorted(if you are like me when you see a recipe you print it out and let it sit there). I bought a binder to put them in, but haven't had time to sort them and finish the job. I want to try so many new recipes. Some I forgot I had until last night. I am going to fix it like a cookboook, and make notes on the recipes if it was good or not. When I find something good, I will post the recipe. I posted a new recipe in the Recipe Room last night of the salad I made. I know Sue was on the thread about the 7 layer salad. Well, I made a 10 layered one. SOOOO GOOOOD! The only thing was it was hard figuring out how many carbs were in my salad. I just had to guess. Most items I just went with an oz. on. Who knows. But I had a "don't care" attitude going on last night.

Menu from yesterday:

Breakfast: Atkins shake=2/6
Snack: Cheesestick=1
Lunch: 6 Tyson Tequilla Lime Chicken wings(5),batter of PB cups(1), 2 homemade chocolate peanut butter cups(4)=10
Snack: Taste of Yocheese w/ coffee davinici's= .5
Dinner: Layered Salad-2 cups lettuce mix(2.5/3.5), chopped celery(.5/.9), chopped onion(1.8/2.2), chopped tomato(1/1.2), chopped cucumber(.5/.6), crumbled bacon(.4), 1/4 cup cheese(1), chicken (0), Dressing: Mayo(1), parm. cheese(.2), pk. of splenda(.5)=9.4/11.5 (guessed at amts.)
Dessert: Coffee w/ HC & DS=1

Total: 23.4/29.5

Ketone stick this morning: trace (which last night late it was moderate)
Water: 46oz.
Exercise: None

[seb]

O.K., I didn't make that layered salad the other day, but today is grocery shopping day, and I'm going to make it.

I have a binder that I put all my LC recipes into. I put them in page protectors to keep them clean as I'm a messy cook.

Glad your plumbing problems were worked out.

I exercised yesterday and will go out after shopping. It's just too cold and foggy out right now. It's going to warm up to 70 today, so a perfect temp for a walk. Hope DD will go with me.

Don't worry about the scale. You're bloated and when you lose that, your weight will drop. It just doesn't always do it when we want.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks for the tip of the page protectors. I will add those to my list. I wish it was just 70 here. Oh, that would be nice! We got a little bit of rain yesterday so it will be better today. I heard the temp in California where I am going the end of this month is 100+.

By the way, I just did my exercise tape!

[Livywilltim-mom]

Beth,
LOVE the picture you posted and the cool sandals!
I, too, need to organize my recipes...I am forever printing them out, but with these 3 darlings and 2 jobs...I am so crazed sometimes!!

Can't wait for school to end Thursday so at least my day job will lighten up.

MY BABY IS GRADUATING FROM KINDERGARTEN TOMORROW...YIKES!!
I am a bit weepy about it...

Hugs

[Low Carb Mommy]

It has been nice so far since the kids are out of school. No deadlines of when I have to be out the door! Take some pictures at graduation. I will have some graduations in a few years too.

[KrystaLyn]

I know this is a great topic to comment on, but as for the plumbing issues...I am having major ones right now! I always seem to right before TOM and then as soon as TOM starts, its like everything wants to leave my body at once! Wierd. (I know, WAY TMI!!!)

At least you are holding steady in the weight dept. Thats better than going up!

I also keep a LC cookbook. I started one last time around and still pull it out and use the recipes from it. I am always editing and improving the recipes, however. I want to re-do it and make one of just THE BEST LC recipes...the ones I make all the time.

[Low Carb Mommy]

I don't care if we talk about poop around here!We all have those issues! I would rather have everything leaving today than staying put! I was sooo miserable last night. I couldn't decide whether to take a diuretic or MOM.

And yes, I am glad the scales didn't go up again!

Wouldn't it be nice if we lived closer and all of us could get all of our recipes together and make one book of the best???

[Livywilltim-mom]

Wahhhhhhh, I want to hang out with you all!!

[Low Carb Mommy]

The more the merrier!! We all have to meet some day!

[KrystaLyn]

Originally Posted by Low Carb Mommy

Wouldn't it be nice if we lived closer and all of us could get all of our recipes together and make one book of the best???

Who says we have to live close to do that? We have the internet!

[Low Carb Mommy]

Let's do it then!!! Everyone get their favorite 5 or more recipes together, and we will figure out where to post them. (So we won't take up each other's journals) Cool!