Beth's Real Life Journey to Success

[seb]

O.K., don't scare me so early in the morning. I like the bottom ones. I agree with Lisa that your neck and face look very slim.

I found out last night that too much cabbage is not a good thing for me. Read my journal to see why.

[Low Carb Mommy]

My mom got a new mac computer about a month ago. Those computers are AWESOME. She has wanted one for a LONG time and finally purchased it. When I dropped off DD, we played on it a while. How fun! I needed that good laugh.

We had a good night with the boys last night. We went to a new restaurant out at "The Mall of Georgia" it was called "The Old Millhouse Restaurant". Neat upscale place with great food. We had stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer(mushroom stuffed with real blue crab and topped w/ cheese). For my entree' I had Sea Bass. Very yummy and totally legal. The rest of our crew had steaks. After dinner we went to the movies and then I got some coffee afterwards. It was just nice to spend time with our older boys and be able to give them all our attention.

My house is a wreck this morning. I've got to get it cleaned up. Nana will be here at 2pm. I don't know what we are doing at this point. I am feeling very spoiled! I want to get back on my treadmill this morning so I am going to have to be quick. The scales stayed the same this morning..131.2...which I am thrilled because I made some chocolates yesterday and sneaked some popcorn at the movies.

Menu from yesterday:

B~Flax seed muffin(3.6-added choc. stevia)w/ cream cheese(1.5)=5.1
L~2 homemade chicken wings(2), fried cabbage(5), sour cream(1), parm. cheese=8
S~PMS chocolates=4
D~Stuffed mushroom(2), salad(3), ranch(3), Sea Bass(0)=8
S~2 Handfulls of popcorn(7), coffee w/ splenda & 1/2n1/2(2)=9

T~34.1

Ketone strip this morning: small
Water yesterday: don't know
Exercise: did a lot of walking yesterday

[KrystaLyn]

Thats great that you had a wonderful time! You know, popcorn is totally legal on pre-M and Maintenance, once you start adding back whole grains, so I don't even consider that a cheat. It's nice to know it doesnt affect you negatively.

[monet0329]

Have a good night out tonight Beth...

[Debralynn]

Enjoy your date night! Lord knows, after this week, you deserve it!

Those pix are hilarious!

[Low Carb Mommy]

DH and I had a fabulous date yesterday! It was not rushed and very relaxing. We went to some outlets and did some shopping and had a leisurely lunch. Then, we sat for a LONG time at Starbucks and drank coffee and talked. Later we went and ate dinner and went to see a western movie. If I could describe the date it would be GREAT conversation. It was just one of those intimate moments where we talked about the past, present and future(uninterupted). It reminded me of our younger years where that's all we would do is sit around and talk and enjoy one another.

My eating yesterday wasn't the greatest. There were some oops in there. Overall I ended the week weighing 131.4! Which is a NEW recorded low. The lowest recorded low at this point has been 131.6. So, even though I have seen the scales lower, this is the official low! (Did I make any sense there?) It may catch up with me tomorrow (all the little "cheats" I have been sneaking here and there). We shall see!

Menu from yesterday:

B~1/2 PMS Chocolate candy-1
L~Outback-Ahi tuna appetizer w/ sauce(3),Alice Springs Chicken(2), salad(4), ranch(2)=11
S~Starbucks-SF Vanilla Coffee Misto Grande=10
S~sm. amt. popcorn=4
D~Local restaurant (The Attic)-Salad(4), ranch(2), few bites hamburger steak(0)=6
S~2 PMS chocolates=4

T~36

Ketone stick this morning: Moderate
Water yesterday: ?
Exercise: Lots of walking

[monet0329]

Good morning Beth.. so glad to hear your date went wonderful !!.. thats awesome..now.. you two need to do that at least once a month,,..

congrats on the new low..

have a great day sweetie..

[Low Carb Mommy]

My parents ended up staying over Saturday night. We had some quality family time yesterday. Mom and I went and did some shopping (really some returns) in the afternoon. My brother is coming home tomorrow for two weeks! I can't wait to see him. I'm going to try to have as much time with him as possible since I don't know for sure if we will see him at Christmas. He will be back in Hollywood searching for work.

I would like for everyone to pray for my dad. He is going through some physical and emotional problems. We really don't know what is going on. I think he is having anxiety attacks. There are some other physical symptoms that I think may be leading to these attacks. Nevertheless he isn't himself and it is really worrying me. We are REALLY close. Pray that we can talk him into seeing another doctor. I don't think the one he has is doing a thorough job. My dad is also very sensitive to medicine and if he has a reaction he just stops taking it and tries to get through. We just really need some answers and God's wisdom on what to do. He has suffered for years with headaches and arthritis.

Menu from yesterday:

B & L~Coffee w/ HC(.4), 3 eggs(1.8) scrambled w/ cheese(1), bacon(.2), slice of tomato(.5), bites of pancakes(5), tea w/ splenda(2)=10.5
S~almonds(2), 1/2 square of Lindt chocolate(.4)=2.4
D~2 hamburger patties(0), cheese(1), sm. salad(3), ranch(1), coffee w/ 1/2n1/2(1) & splenda(1)=7
D~PMS chocolate=2 (they are now GONE!)

T~22.3

Ketone stick this morning: Moderate
Water yesterday: Need to start keeping track again
Exercise: 1 mile mostly run on treadmill

My weight went up slightly to 132 but I wasn't surprised. It will start to go down again starting today since I have gotten through this weekend and all the eating out.

[monet0329]

Aww.. I will be sending prayers up for your dad for sure !!

glad you got to spend time with your folks.. thats always great!!.... Is your brother an aspiring (sp?) actor?... I wish him the very best and hope to see him on the ig screen if so....

have a good day Beth

[KrystaLyn]

You only went up a half a pound! That's nothing. You'll be back down in no time

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I will definitely pray that things work out for the best with his Drs and meds, etc. I know you will have a great time with your brother in town. Have a great LC day today!

[seb]

Good morning Beth. What a nice time you had with DH. Sounds wonderful. Lately DH and I have had more alone time together, which is so needed. It seems like we hardly get to really talk because there are so many other things to do. Those times are very precious.

I will be praying for your Dad. DH's uncle was diagnosed with bi-polar when he was in his 60s, and it was a real struggle to get the meds right. I'm not saying that's what your Dad has, but know that these things can be hard to figure out. Wow, headaches and arthritis, lots of pain to deal with.

Congrats on your new recorded low. That is very exciting.

[thriftygirl]

Hi Beth,

I am new to the board and enjoyed reading your journal. You have done an amazing job getting down to the 130's. My goal is 135 and it seems so far away. Not so far, now that I 've read your journal and know it is posssible.

I'm praying for your dad and hope things are resolved quickly.

Have a great day.

My journal is Thriftygirl's Journey, if you are interested.

Thriftygirl

[Low Carb Mommy]

I got an email with these tips. I thought I would share them. Although they aren't particular to LC they have some good advice.


Women's Health:Top 10 Weight Loss Tips



Get stuck on gum
Before you grab a snack, think twice about whether you're really hungry, or just looking for something to put in your mouth. By chewing gum you can burn 11 calories per hour just by moving your jaw up and down -- that's one pound a year. And that doesn't even include the calories you're cutting out by ditching the snack.


Tie the knot, loosen the belt
Marriage is all that -- and a bag of chips. The average number of pounds newlyweds gain within the first 2 years of tying the knot is 6 to 8 pounds. Create a healthy living plan with your spouse so you can both look as great as you did on your wedding day, anniversary after anniversary.


Drink smart
If you're trying to lose weight but still want to have fun at night, a vodka and diet tonic is your best bet. Clear spirits like vodka or gin have the least amount of calories, about 80 to 90 per shot, and diet tonic water or club soda is the lowest calorie mixer you will find.


Fly fat-free
Airports don't always offer the most diet-friendly snack choices. But, at any newsstand, if you can find snacks that are high in protein, fiber, and fat all in one package, you've found an acceptable snack. Opt for a trail mix or SunChips, both filled with protein, fiber, and fat that will keep you satisfied for the entire flight.


Talk away your fat
Research shows that women who diet in groups lose more weight and have less stress than those who attempt it alone.


Wake up right
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; eating whole grains and protein in the a.m. will start you on the right track. Whole grains give you fiber, which slows the rise in blood sugar, and give you added energy. Protein boosts your alertness and keeps you satisfied until lunchtime.


An apple a day
Not only will a Delicious or Macintosh keep the doctor away, but it will also keep the pounds away. Apples have a high water content, which means you'll feel full on fewer calories compared with most other afternoon snacks.


Devilish diet soda
Diet soft drinks don't help you lose weight; instead, they actually may promote weight gain, according to a study at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Diet soda can rouse the appetite by teasing your taste buds into thinking you're eating sugar, but leaving your stomach feeling empty and craving real calories.


Shake it off
Meal replacement shakes can severely cut the calories, and pounds. Shakes usually provide your body with plenty of protein and fiber to keep you satisfied as if they were a real meal. A lunch shake has about 200 calories, whereas a typical lunch meal has 500 calories. Just stick to one shake a day and don't become too dependent on them as meal replacements.


Got the needs for cheese?
Do you feel the need for cheese? A low- or reduced-fat version of your favorite cheese is the only way to go if you're looking to lose weight. Compare one ounce of regular cheddar, with 114 calories and 9 grams of fat, to its low-fat version, with only 50 calories and 2 grams of fat.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Sue~I pray we can just find out what is causing all this and get it straightened out. I know what bi-polar looks like...DH's dad had that before he died. It was horrible. Thanks for helping me pray.

Thritygirl~Thanks for taking the time to read my journal. I KNOW you can do it!! You are around the same weight I started with. Just have to realize that you didn't gain the weight overnight nor will you lose it overnight. You have to just keep doing the right things and eventually you get there! I look forward to reading about your journey! Keep coming back here, OK!

[Debralynn]

Sending up prayers for your Papa! My Dad is having similar issues. Mom finally changed his Dr., and this one is a real "tell it like it is" guy. So far it looks like it's having an impact! I pray the Lord to open up his mind and seek new opinions. SOMBODY out there WILL have the answer he needs. He just has to search for it (and he will not have to go it alone!).

Here's to a calm, sane week!

[seb]

I hope they find out soon. Not an easy thing to live with, and not for your Mom either.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thank you ladies for your prayers. I talk to my brother yesterday on the phone and told him about what was going on. He was a little upset and said that when he got home we were going to sit everyone down and talk about it. He isn't going to just sit back and let daddy not go get some answers.

I was reminded this morning of a prayer book that I had where it takes the word of God and puts them into prayer/confessions. I got it out and started using it to pray for my dad. I came across a prayer for those overweight. I thought I would share it with everyone. This is from "God's Creative Power Will Work for You" by Charles Capps.

"I don't desire to eat so much I become overweight. I present my body to God, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which dwelleth in me, I am not my own, I am bought with a price therefore, in the name of Jesus I refuse to over-eat. Body settle down, in the name of Jesus and conform to the Word of God. I mortify the desires of this body and command it to come into line with the Word of God"

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.

1 Corinthians 6:19,20
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your won; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

Although I have come so far, I realize that I am still in a daily struggle for health. Now, things have become easier, but I know that they could go right back to the way they were if I don't show control and discipline. I am thankful so much to the Lord for showing me a better way and giving me the strength to follow this road to health. I am amazed when I go into the health store just how much knowledge there is out there for people to have regarding taking better care of their bodies. I am reminded of a verse right now that says, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). God has given us the knowledge but will we use it or ignore it? I am asking him to teach me and show me more in this area of health.

Menu from yesterday:

B~Blueberry Green Protein shake (1/2 cup almond milk, water/ice, LC blueberry yogurt, vanilla pp, spinach, 1/4 cup frozen blueberries)=7.5
S~macadamia nuts=2
L~Chicken w/ seasoning(2), 2 cups raw spinach(.5), 1 T. watered down ranch (.5), Arizona Green Tea(1)=4
S~2 squares of Lindt chocolate=2.5
D~8 chicken wings(8), celery(.8), ranch(2)=10.8
D~Atkins Endulge Bar=2

T~28.8

Ketone stick this morning: trace-small
Water yesterday: 64oz.
Exercise yesterday: just running around

My weight went down a little this morning...131.8. I was really surprised. I had too much salt going on yesterday. So, today my plan is to get my water intake back up, cut out the "sweets", and get in some more exercise. I have just become lazy. I need to get control over this before I let my weight creep back up. For some reason I am just craving the chocolate after I eat. I don't know if I have just gotten into a habit now or what but I need to cut it out!! Might just have to throw out the chocolates. I think the extra stress is having a play in it as well. Not a cop out....just making myself aware.

[seb]

Again, you have given all of us a lot to think about. Our bodies are the temple of God, and we need to treat them accordingly. Thank you for the scripture and quote from the book.

I'm glad your brother wants to deal directly with the problems you Dad is having. I know that it will be a blessing for you all when he comes. Will continue to pray for your family.

I am feeling the chocolate cravings also. I really should not make those PMS choc PB candies. I made a new batch yesterday but used unsalted butter and chunky PB, and they were to die for. I think I'll have to put them in the freezer in the garage because they were calling my name yesterday. They should be saved for those emergencies when I have to have something or I'm gonna cheat.

[Low Carb Mommy]

I heard a song yesterday that was sung by the American Idol contestant Mandisa. It is a beautiful song....here are the words:


"God Speaking" sung by Mandisa on her album True Beauty

Written by Ronnie Freeman

Have you ever heard a love song
That set your spirit free
Have you ever watched a sunrise
And felt you could not breathe
What if it's Him
What if it's God speaking
Have you ever cried a tear that
You could not explain
Have you ever met a stranger
That already knew your name
What if it's Him
What if it's God speaking

Who knows how He'll get a hold of us
Get our attention to prove He is enough
He'll do and He'll use
Whatever He wants to
To tell us I love you

Have you ever lost a loved one
Who you thought should still be here
Do you know what it feels like
To be tangled up in fear
What if He's somehow involved
What if He's speaking through it all

His ways are higher
His ways are better
Though sometimes strange
What could be stranger
Than God in a manger

God is speaking
I love you

[seb]

I love those words. I believe that God reveals himself to every person sometime in their life, even if they have never heard about Him, to draw them close to Him. They just have to respond.

[thriftygirl]

I hope you have a delicious low carb day!

[monet0329]

Beth.. a few months ago, I was changing channels trying to find something to watch and there was Mandese .. she sang this song.. and I agree.. its lovely

[KrystaLyn]

I have been REALLY lazy this week too. I know i need to get some exercise in and I need to really break the sweet tooth I developed over the weekend

I really hope your family can work things out where your dad is concerned. Its good to have a family that communicates with each other.