FINALLY - back in the game ....

I tried getting back early Nov - but just couldn't seem to get it going - constantly falling off the wagon ... it was so hard.  Maybe it just wasn't time yet.

Anyway, have been back on phase 1 atkins (low carb - no more than 20net carbs / day) since Monday.  It is now Thurs.  Happy to say - it has not been too difficult this time around - feels more like the first time - when it was actually pretty easy as well.


Thankfully that "atkin's advantage" i've read about is kicking in ... i'm starting to feel full easily and don't get very hungry.  Sweet cravings are very minimal.  Usually my second cup of coffee w/ truvia sweetener is all i need to get over it mid day.  If it arises again, I can have 1/4C greek yogurt ( 2.5g carb) w/ 1/4C strawberry slices (fr frozen bag, then microwaved for 20sec) 2.6g carb + 2 walnuts - 0 carb -sweeten all that w// 1 pkt of truvia and it really feels like a cold, creamy (dare i say ice cream like) dessert.  Gotta love it for about 5g net carbs! i know that's not on the phase 1 plan - more of a phase 2 item but hey, i don't think it'll hurt too much about every other day ... we'll see, i'll nix it if i have to.

I will do the keytone strip test tomorrow and see if ketosis is setting in ...

...been REALLY rough going ....

ok, tried to get back on board ... it was pretty easy last time around and the weight dropped quickly.  But this time - i barely made it past the first day!!! ugghh ... so thought about just easing back into it ... so i did drop the starchy carbs for the most part ... mornings and early afternoons were easy to stay on track, 3pm on - not so.  I did cheat really bad on several occassions - cupcakes, banana puddin, ice cream ...  I still lost some tho from not having starchy carbs with meals tho.  And now I'm sick - AGAIN - cold / flu like symptoms.  Weather is starting to change so many have the runny nose, slight cough going on.  It's probably that plus a combo of dropping carbs .... so I've not felt the best lately.

So now, half the month's past and tomorrow's Monday the 15th.  Time to start anew.  I can't handle the "atkins induction flu" thing.  Gonna just do phase 2 and hope I still drop pounds, if not, will have to revert to phase 1.  Also, this has been so costly (the cage free eggs, meats & quality veggies).  I'm gonna see how doing something like this works for me:

Meal 1: 
2 egg omelet w/ veggies & cheese
bacon or sausage
coffee, w/ cream & truvia

Meal 2:
1/4C Greek Yogurt
Homemade protien bar (protien powder, craisins, nut butter, oats, flax seed meal, powdered milk)

Meal 3:
4 - 6oz meat/fish
Vegetables (broccoli, squash, cucumber or other)

Meal 4:
babybell mini cheese round
12 almonds, raw
protien drink

Meal 5
4 - 6oz meat / fish
Leafy veggies (spinach, romaine, tomato, etc)
oil / vinegar dressing

It's been awhile ... resuming now

It's day 1 for me (again :)

had to take a break .... personal drama .... got OFF track ... we had to postpone the wedding and I was so down for a bit ... had my pizza & ice cream pity party for a few days - maybe a week?  so i gained a few back i'm sure.   i really need to work on my coping skills huh. 

so ok, new month, new day ...
it is what I make of it

thought it'd be best to lose it all now BEFORE the new year, which is completely doable IF I do the plan which is the plan :)

Fiance has really inspired me ... i dealt w/ having to postpone our day by going back to eating higher carb foods but he dealt w/ it by workin out like a fanatic and making better food choices.  He went from like 323 (yes, he's a big guy) to 303 in just over 2 weeks.  I'm soo proud of him.  He dropped his 20 (tho he still has a ways to go), now it's my turn to finish what I started! 

still not feeling well ....

am convinced this is not just a case of the "atkins induction flu" but a  combo of it ALONG with a real bug that i've learned has been going around (sore throat, coughing, flem, etc).  I went to hula practice today and one of the other ladys has it and today my fiance came down w/ it....

so haven't really been able to stay on plan with being under the weather ... ate mostly lean pork, small svg brown rice, pinto beans, red & green bell peppers today so was probably ok.  Dont think I'm gaining any back but definitely am not in full ketosis.  also, food supply is dwindling so options are really limited ... wont make it to the grocery till late tomorrow (small grocery) and wont be able to do a full grocery till closer to the end of week. 

guess it doesn't really matter so much now as i fit my wedding dress perfectly and more weight off may not look as good for the dress sake ....

I feel horrible ... but look much better ...

dunno what to make of all this.  I've been feeling really crappy ... coughing, weak, not myself at all, clammy at times.  I rarely get sick so this is not cool at all.  thought i was starting to feel better but feel weaker today.  I got off track w/ the nutrition a bit .. felt maybe i did need some carbs to get me thru this sick period? also was so weak at times just didn't have it in me to prepare something smart and just grabbed whatever ...   my dear friend has advised me that this is normal and just my body adjusting to going into ketosis ...

good news is that this stuff is working ... i've rec'd so many compliments when folks who haven't seen me for a bit.  They immediately comment how I've lost some weight and am looking great :)  also, i actually got into a size 4 jeans (they run big tho, i think it's closer to a true 6, it's VS brand which runs big) I got last summer I think ... that I planned to slim into but never did  ... well, now I did !!!!

i think i'm gonna go to the atkins site and see what it says about not feeling good while during induction ...

End of Week 1

I'm so glad to report I had a successful first week.  I'm defining success as me actually working the plan, not cheating and staying on it.  Yea, I only lost a pound or two but it's ok, I've always lost weight very slowly but I hope the process speeds up or allows me to loose at least 2pds / wk. 

I'm still basking in the freedom that I don't have any unbearable forbidden food cravings ... fries and toast still look good and I'd love to have a homemade oats & protein bar but it has been very manageable.  I hope it keeps up.  However, I am getting a little bored with veggies / meat.  I'm a "foodie" - I enjoy all the smells, textures, variety and appreciate all the intricacies and different methods of cooking. If I don't start really dropping this fat, I'll have to stay on Phase 1 past the usual 2wks  and not get to add the variety I want :(  

It's Monday .... made it thru the weekend :)

I was in and out all weekend so wasn't able to always fix my food at home which is easiest - so simple - grab a meat, grab some veggies ... i ended up having to eat on the go with the kids.  So for lunch - Steak and Shake chicken salad which was pretty good and then later some McDonald's 6pc chix nuggets with mustard ... ok, i know it was breaded so that's kinda not the plan but closest i could do for under 2bucks.

Generally, I am really liking this induction plan.  My energy level is fine, not thru the roof but really stable.  No mood swing stuff going on.  And best of all - NO UNBEARABLE CRAVINGS.  I can't believe I can watch my kids eat hot fries and not wanna dig in myself ... or watch them eating fresh fruit.  This is the ONLY plan where I haven't felt COMPLETELY COMPELLED to cheat and for me that what I most love about low carb induction.

Looking in the mirror I can't really tell if I'm getting any smaller but my pants sure do fit better.  Fiance says enough is enough as my booty is shrinking and he's not liking it!

Starting Day 3

ok, i started to feel really fatigued yesterday late last afternoon but woke up this morning feeling great :)  about to start making my yummy breakfast omelet.  oh - and guess what i found:

Induction Friendly Faves Recipes

Day 2 ...

it's about noon time now ... am feeling good.  No real drop in energy or anything or cravings that are overtaking me ... altho I do miss my daily fix of a spoonful of almond or peanut butter and raw almonds ... but they'll be allowed in about 2wks (i think?).  I don't think I'll hit boredom too bad with this cause I've got such yummy food now: zucchini & summer squash, spaghetti squash (yes, i like squash), brocolli, cabbage, romaine, tomatos, celery, bell peppers, onions, garlic, green onions (i like onions too).  Think omelet with green onions, bell pepper, celery, cheddar - yummm.  ok, gonna do some food prep now (cutting veggies) to stay ahead of the game ... so far i'm up to 7 net carbs

I Survived Day 1

It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be ... ate a bit too much for breakfast but it kept me full for like 5hrs!  I was able to go to the grocery tonight and have my veggies stocked and cooked enough chicken to last a while ...

update ... start date delayed ....

just realized i have a big butternut squash that has to be cooked and eaten before i can really start - can't see it go to waste ... between Dean and I, it should be gone in like a day .... one cup of that squash has 22g carb so it will definitely not fit into the induction plan .... (an neither will peanut butter) as i've come to find out ...

just printed off the induction friendly foods ... so have to make some adjustments ....

Meal Planning

Meal Planning here for me and the kids for this week ....

It's Labor Day .... enjoying my last day of freedom ....

went to a cookout - ate ribs (soo good) and "coon" (yes - as in wild caught racoon, this was in the country) and it was actually really good .. lol ... and chocolate chip cookies w/ ice cream ...

Have decided i have enough allowable foods to be able to start tomorrow.  Fiance says he will do it with me :)  here's the plan:

Breakfast:  eggs w/ feta & green onions, scrambled & sausage patt

Lunch:  baked chicken thighs with spinach (will melt down a pat of butter, a teaspoon of EVOO and a garlic clove and wilt the spinach in it)

Snack: spoonful of peanut butter

Dinner:  baked chicken & brocolli with cheddar cheese

Just getting mentally prepared

ok, i'm getting ready for our big day ... marrying the most wonderful man for me ... and wanna look my best (plus i've been trying to get this last 20 off forever)

I'm reading up on how to do this low carb thing - have NEVER done it before ... i've done slow carb and lowered my carb intake to like 90 - 100g / day but this time ... i gotta keep it under 20 / day - YIKES.  Fortunately, i have the most wonderful coach who's gonna help me along ... http://www.lowcarbmoms.blogspot.com/

I'l l do grocery shopping on tuesday or wednesday ...

Must take some pics either tomorrow or no later than tuesday ...

i'm so excited but anxious too ... weight loss comes sooo slow for me the way i've done it ... i really don't wanna go thru that again ... if i can drop an average of 1.5 - 2pds / wk that would be wonderful .. i'm excited to see what kind of results i get ...