NIC'S LOW CARB MEMOIRS.....

[nicsweed]

Hey gal's is it monday agian.... I'm doing well monet thanx for checking in on me and too all of my other lurking reader's that for some reason dont leave comments; it is ok i only read for months before i got the courage to interact and to introduce my-self to the LC-world; and i'm so glad i did! So when your ready were here and the support is un-explainable!!! Thanks LCF...!!!!-Nic

Menu:

Breakfast: Homemade protein shake
1 scoop of vanilla Pro-Powder, 1 cup of hood low carb milk, 1 tbl of instant hazelnut coffee 'SF', 2 packets of splenda, 1 cup of ice, 1 shot of davinci carmal syrup, 1 teaspoon of english toffee capaccino instant powder-'SF'

Snack: one mozerella chesse stick


Lunch: another coffee protein shake.....I think i'm luving these a little too much.... but they are so good and for 240 calories you cant beat it; and it cure's my craving for starbuck's.....yes~ i admit it i was an SB addict!


Snack Part II- another mozzerella chesse stick.....Humm i seem to be having two of everything today; WTH at least it is all low carb.


Dinner: Grilled chicken salad from DQ- with chicken, bacon, chesse, lettuce, and ranch.

[meeha]

Hey Nic,
Checking up on ya. What is the name of the Protein Powder you use and where do you get it from? I would really like to switch things up especially for breakfast sometimes I am just not hungry for "food" but don't want to NOT eat ya know. TIA

[monet0329]

Good morning ...

I have never had a salad from DQ?.. wow.. guess I always think of DQ for the icecream.... it sounds great though and I so love salads.... and I am out at the moment.... note to self.. buy an extra bag ...

you have a super day my friend..

[nicsweed]

hey meeha- if i'm in a rush i like EAS 100% whey protein; in vanilla flavor; they see it at wal-mart for about 18 bucks;.....But my favorite in the whole planet is called BSN lean dessert- in the whipped vanilla cream flavor; OMG it is so good it tasted like ice cream when you whip it with your milk of choice and ice; but i like to make my own frapacinno creation's anywhoo i order it online at discountanabolics.com for about 20 bucks and it comes in a red tub; and they have all other dessert flavor's live bannaa cream pie; bannana nut bread; chocolate pudding; cinnamon bun.....Yumm so good and they are sweetened with splenda and they have about 6 carbs and 120 calories a scoop and 20 grams of protein; they keep me full even beyond when i would normaly eat lunch!

[nicsweed]

Menu:

Breakfast: Nada woke up at noon; it was lunch time....

Snack: one mozerella chesse stick


Lunch: Homemade coffee protein shake.....


Snack: mozzerella chesse stick.....

Dinner: Grilled chicken salad from DQ- with chicken, bacon, chesse, lettuce, and ranch.

Off to go to the pool....Water aerobics agian.....Ahhh this 3 days in a row thing is killing me!

[monet0329]

[nicsweed]

Menu:

Breakfast: Homemade coffee protein shake.....


Lunch: Taco salad cup's!
ok here is the recipe: ground sirlon browned up with onion powder; garlic power; paparika; and a lil chili powder; to make it taco'y meat! Then i bought the pre-rinsed organic romaine lettuce cups and i stuffed the meat in the cups; then added all the toppings; chesse; sour cream; chives; black olives; and salsa; and a few spritz's of the french salad spritzer and WaLaaa! A new taco creation by your truely!


Snack: mozzerella chesse stick.....

Dinner: more taco salad cups....


Off to go to the pool....Water aerobics agian.....Ahhh this 3 days in a row thing is killing me!Nic

[nicsweed]

I haven't done one of these in awhile so here's my thoughts for the day. Does your menu make sense? I know we low-carbers sometimes get the eyebrow raise from people who are used to eating more carbs in their diet. But if a fellow low carber looked at your menu, would they be shocked? Or surprised? Or confused?

I saw a menu today (not here) that made my eyes pop out of my head! It was a classic example of someone thinking they are doing Atkins (or some other type of low carb) when really they were just eating what I think of as low carb junk food - tons of sausage patties, LC cheesecake, etc. Just because it has no or very few carbs doesn't mean you should eat it and definitely not eat it in excess. Yes, you can eat 6 sausage patties (and nothing else) for a meal, but why would you want to! The sodium level alone is probably a nightmare! I don't think that's what Dr. Atkins or any other low carb diet guru intended.

(and please, if someone can show me a diet plan that recommends eating 6 sausage patties in one sitting - I'll be willing to consider it - but I think it's more a case of sometimes taking guidelines to the extreme).

Sometimes we get so caught up in the numbers and what we CAN eat that we don't focus on what we SHOULD eat. Yes, I could eat a hunk of fat for dinner - it would be 0 carbs. It would probably fill me up. But is that sustainable? Do I want to eat that way? Is this a strategy that I will be able to carry over into maintenance. Am I learning "how" to eat? I am going for quantity or quality. You could probably eat 20 bunless burgers for under 20 carbs but we all know that's a bad idea. Not only would it get old fast, it's not a sensible way to do low carb. You aren't learning how to eat - you're learning how to eat a bunch of 0 carb junk.

Low carb can be dangerous (mentally) for people who overeat. Because many low carbers count carbs not calories, some feel it's a license to overeat. But you've just switched from one compulsion - overeating everything - to another compulsion - overeating low carb foods. You aren't learning to change the habits that got you fat in the first place. You've just transferred them onto a different set of foods. Sure, you may not gain like you did when you overate carbs, but you probably won't lose as well (if at all) if you are overeating low carb foods. You are still overeating!

In the end, I think you'll find more success if while you are low carbing, you are also learning what a normal portion is and what foods are good for you and what are better choices. Let's be real - most of us will eat carbs later on in life - even if we are watching them now (and maybe still watching them if not counting them in maintenance). Getting a hold on the overeating (both carby and non-carby), learning to make balanced, healthy meals, and learning to make good choices will go such a long way both now for losing weight and later on once we get to maintenance.

[monet0329]

Nic...

I so loved reading this today and it so applies to me....lol

but really.. I have the Dr. Atkins VHS and he does say we can have all the "bacon" or what ever meat we want.. but I agree with what your saying..
I on some days "pig" out on my bacon ( pun intended) ... its not good for me I know.. so I am working on it...

it is terrible.. either its cookies.. cake and ice cream.. or bacon...

when I eat I don't think about it.. but when I sit back and think about it.. it makes me about it.. I need help..

anyway.. thank you for posting this.. it was an eye opener for me..

love ya girly

[nicsweed]

Monet; i'm glad that post helped;

I do also still eat bacon; but only a few peice's; because if i overeat even on LC foods; i will not lose or even gain; i tracked calories for a while and on any given LC day; i could easily eat over 3,000 calories a day! So now i just try to back back here ot their; you know a little less chesse; sour cream etc;.....one thing i have to always remind myself is to: EAT SENSIBLY, no matter what the case if it is low carb or choclate cake, eat sensibly; that will carry you through the rest of your life!-Nic

[meeha]

Hey Nic,
Love, love, love the post and yes it is soooo true. I have found myself over eating on low carb food as well as trying other "drastic low carb methods".

What I realized is if doing it by the book was working why tweak it? Why practice the same behavior (binging) with new food that I was doing with old food? It doesn't make sense.

Thanks for posting

[nicsweed]

I'm so glad this is inspired many other's; this is the way I live; my outtake on life that's all; I wish figured this out 10 years ago! But if I can touch one person than it is worth it; I have learned so much and been inspired by my low carb mentor; Becky she is the greatest!!! Thanks Everyone for reading my random thought's that pour straight from my soul~Nic

Eat sensibly.

Stick with it.

It's not the diets that have been failing you. For a diet to work, you must stick with it. Not stick with it for a week, eat bad, then try something new because the other thing "wasn't working". Pull out your favorite plan (whichever it may be). They all have sample menus. Follow that FAITHFULLY for at least two weeks. DO NOT deviate from what's in the book. Screw the cakes and the pizza and the alcohol - you don't need them right now and if you ever want to get to goal, yes, you will have to give those up for some time. But that time will be much shorter if you stick to a plan. It's time for some tough love and it's tough to watch the same people start over again and again and again. It's even tougher when I see people who were doing good on a plan switching from plan to plan because John or Jane Doe was doing it and losing X amount. They abandon the sure thing (instead of maybe checking to see if they need to make more adjustments) in favor of the unknown. It's like watching people with steady good jobs quit and run to the hills in search of gold. Yes, some may make a fortune but the others who come back have to start from scratch. Ok weird analogy but it's early!

Stop doing someone else's diet and figure out what it will take to stick to YOUR diet. You will be so much more successful in the long run if you really do the self-analysis to figure out what you need to keep you on plan. Jumping from diet to diet will probably give you an initial whoosh of weight loss because you're all excited and you stick with it for the first week, but when the newness wears off and you get bored with eating [insert plan food here] so you cheat, then you gain weight, then you go searching for the next new diet. If you hadn't cheated, you'd probably still be losing!

I know it's hard, especially when it feels like you have been dieting forever and you just want to be done and you want the fastest point from A to B, but jumping from diet to diet is actually taking the long route. You take 2 steps forward and 1 step back.

ahhh i have to get ready for work. I don't want to sound like I'm picking on people. There's more than a few who this applies to! As frustrating as it is for me to watch, I'm sure you're frustrated too. You can do this! Just stick with something! Anything!


- eat in a way that is EASY for you.

Think about what foods YOU enjoy and then think about how to incorporate that into a plan that will also help you reach your weight loss goals.

Think about what foods make you feel good physically - I cant imagine anyone here being able in all probability to say that they feel really good after they have eaten 3 slices of pizza, or a family pack of chips or 6 cookies. Most people I gather will have some sort of reaction - your guts will hurt . . . you may be dehydrated the next day from too many chips . . . I dont know anyone who eats highly processed food and can say that it gives them more energy and makes them feel healthy and happy.

Do what works for you and for your body.

- if the scales do not move for a week and you are really serious about a lifestyle change . . . falling face first into a vat of ice cream isnt going to get you closer to your goal. Stick with it. The weight has to come off - there is no other option. Track what you are eating - you will be suprised when you do log it into fitday that you may be eating more than you think. The only way to be certain to stall your weight loss is to go off your plan. I do not mean that you cannot make a conscious decision to 'eat off plan' - you can! But know what the consequences are and make that choice consciously.

- Most of us do not have issues with food. We have problems in our lives and we eat to deal with that.

I would spend some time working on the emotional reasons for eating rather than looking at the food as the sole cause. That means . . . when you get home from work and you are tired and you find yourself with the fridge door opened and you just want a little sumtin' .. . what is the reason for that:

- did you let yourself get too hungry?
- did you have a bad day at work and you really just want to vent to someone?
- are you simply exhausted after a long day at work and you dont know WHAT you want to eat?
- did you already have dinner but you didnt enjoy it so you are looking for something more?

You can lose weight WHILE you are working out what your issues are. It seems at times that we wait for everything to fall into place before we 'start' to lose weight (i know I did that for many years). There will never be a perfect time. You may as well eat well and start to lose weight (and consequently start feeling better about yourself and your food choices) while you wrestle with your emotional demons. Its not often fun, but DEALING with life rather than eating through it is a lot more rewarding in the long term.

[KimmerJ]

Nic what a smart gal!!! Then I noticed you are a Texas Gal, so it is a given you would be smart!

I'm like you, I've been fighting the weight for years, be glad it only took you 10 years, it's taken me 20!!!

I totally believe that any plan works as long as you stay on it and if it is the right plan for you. It has taken me a while, but now I know I need to concentrate on getting healthy for me first. So I'm changing choices that I make and sticking to the 8 minutes book by Jorge Cruise. It just fit with me. I've checked out that book more times than I can count, but for some reason this time it "clicked" ! Amazing right?

Just wanted you to know that I do pop in every now and again and read your words of wisdom.

Thanks Nic!

[nicsweed]

Hey thanks for stopping by thats why i'm here!

[Meekness29]

Hey Nic !

Just stopping by to show some "luv".

[monet0329]

NIC..

Now post that at least once a week.. Mondays would be good..

you are a smart cookies.. well maybe I shouldn't use cookie.. but you know what I mean..

Your wonderful my friend..

I have never looked at it like this.. the job thing.. If I quit my job every other week.. where would I be ??.. and I use tough love on my kiddos when need be.. why not myself??

you have givin me and I am sure a lot of others something to think about and now when/ if I get the urge for that vat of ice cream.. I will stop and think of this.. THANK YOU!!..

love you!!!

[nicsweed]

Awww! Monet! ur the sweetest!

[nicsweed]

Hey girl's! I'm still here plugging away; i have not seen the scale move much lately; i think when you lose a great deal of weight your body kinda stall's out and has too get used to that set-point; and then if u hung in through the plaeteu u will start too lose once agian; so i really need to keep a watchfull eye out on calorie's; not just carbs because i have tracked before and in one day ate almost 1,000 calories in chesse; thats right chesse! So keep an open eye!-Nic

[monet0329]

That this so true.. when I first lost my 80 pounds.. it was months.. and nothing happened.. I gave in .. thinking I would "kick start" it again.. went 2 weeks during Christmas.. and had the hardest time getting it together.. over a year.. .. so please what ever you do stick with this!!.. I have read others who have this problem.. but have stuck with it and they do start the losing process again....

love the avi.. cute

[nicsweed]

Thanx monet! That was sweet!

[monet0329]

Originally Posted by nicsweed

Thanx monet! That was sweet!

have a wonderful day

psssssssssssssst.. where is Layla.?

[ForLife]

Hi Nic,

Said that I'd stop by. The plateaus are so so difficult. What has worked best for me is (to the extent that I can - and clearly easier said than done) is to record my weight, execute the plan precisely (most important part), disregard the "plateau" and trust that my effort will pay off.

Without fail, if I execute the plan during those ugly days, and most importantly stop thinking about the fact that I have not moved on the scale, I get up one morning and have a surprise drop, of quite a number of pounds. I also measure and weigh everything and don't trust portions to visual estimates because I see that that is when I have the most problems.

Hang in there and be diligent. Again, much easier said than done.

[nicsweed]

Thanx

[behind_the_mask]

Originally Posted by nicsweed

You can lose weight WHILE you are working out what your issues are. It seems at times that we wait for everything to fall into place before we 'start' to lose weight (i know I did that for many years). There will never be a perfect time. You may as well eat well and start to lose weight (and consequently start feeling better about yourself and your food choices) while you wrestle with your emotional demons. Its not often fun, but DEALING with life rather than eating through it is a lot more rewarding in the long term.

Nic~ Thanks for commenting on my blog and sharing some of your story with me.

This last part of your journal hit home for me right now (well, all of it did, but especially this). In getting back to this woe, I know that I still need to figure out the "why's" behind my life-long struggle with being overweight. So many times I have heard that a person can't lose until they have dealt with the real reasons they are eating too much. Well, Im not even sure what my issues are... but I want to figure them out and deal with them as I become an all-around healthier person!