Woohoo! I made it through Carb Day unscathed! Of course, this means I'll probably go up on the scale tomorrow. And TOM is "trying" to visit. C'mon TOM, give me a break! This half-menopause thing does not work for me! In or out! Make up your mind!

Week 14: High 194, Low 192
8/2--193.5
8/3--194
8/4--193
8/5--193
8/6--193.5
8/7--192
8/8--193 Carb Day

Week 15: High 194.5, Low 190.5
8/9--193.5
8/10--194.5
8/11--192.5
8/12--191.5
8/13--191.5
8/14--190.5
8/15--191 Carb Day

Week 16:
8/16--191
8/17--
8/18--
8/19--
8/20--
8/21--
8/22--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 eggs fried in coconut oil
2 slices of bacon
A tbsp of coconut oil
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch:
Chicken salad
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Snack:

Dinner:
Steak
Baked beans
Salad with ranch dressing
Mio water

Today's Exercise:
2-mile walk around the track, 3 sets of 12 reps each on 5 leg and hip machines and 3 waist and back machines

Evening all! I've been trying to get ready mentally for the tomorrows start of the school year. I did t get my water in yesterday and I forgot to take my blood pressure pill, a diuretic, so needless to say I was bloats this morning but only up a half pound from Saturday. I've had a liter of unsweetened tea and 2 cans of seltzer water so hopefully tomorrow......

I had a few butter-potatoes for breakfast, leftover from last night's dinner and for lunch homemade salsa and exactly 11 baked chips...yes, I have to count out a serving and put the bag away before I dig in! I made a pepper/eggplant/chicken cajun pasta for dinner....mine was light on the pasta. I will not make pasta again for at least a week..promise! I Don't know about the fingerling potatoes though. I've got loads of them still waiting to be dug up.

Off to get ready for bed

I will report....I was up 2.5 lbs. Could have been worse. I did better yesterday. Mostly low carb, but DH made some seasoned roasted potato wedges and I ate some of them to try them. They were good. He wasn't crazy about them so they won't become a staple in this house. His favorites are fried, mashed, or scalloped potatoes.

Jacqui, I'm not big on dairy other than eggs. I eat from all the other groups, but my portions are usually too big. That has always been my problem. Even though they say you don't need to count calories on low carb, you CAN overeat. My "stop" mechanism is faulty. I stayed in the 190s range for a long long time but recently have slipped back over 200 and can't stay back down. I try to think what changed, and I think it is my protein is up and vegetables are down. I tried to head toward Atkins Induction and that was a mistake for me. I need to keep those low calorie vegetables to give me the feeling of volume.

I bought some sharitaki noodles, but I'm afraid to eat them. LOL They look gross. I think I will try them today.

PrairieQueen, I hope you were able to shed that water weight and the scale went down for you today! : Have a great 1st day of school!

Carol Sue, 2.5 isn't bad! That could come back off again in no time! And I agree, if you like bigger portions, non-starchy veggies are great! I know that even when I don't feel like a having a salad with my dinner, I sometimes still make a small one just for the fullness factor, especially if we are having a meal I really like and I might be tempted to go back for seconds! You'll have to let us know how the shirataki noodles turn out, once you try them!

Holding steady at 191 today!

Week 14: High 194, Low 192
8/2--193.5
8/3--194
8/4--193
8/5--193
8/6--193.5
8/7--192
8/8--193 Carb Day

Week 15: High 194.5, Low 190.5
8/9--193.5
8/10--194.5
8/11--192.5
8/12--191.5
8/13--191.5
8/14--190.5
8/15--191 Carb Day

Week 16:
8/16--191
8/17--191
8/18--
8/19--
8/20--
8/21--
8/22--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 eggs fried in coconut oil
2 slices of bacon
A tbsp of coconut oil
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch:
Field greens and veggies salad with turkey, walnuts, and ranch dressing
Mio water

Snack:

Dinner:
A leftover country pork rib
Field greens and veggies salad with ranch dressing'
Mio water

Today's Exercise:
2-mile walk around the track, 2 miles on recumbent bike, 3 sets of 12 reps each on 8 arm and chest machines and 3 waist and back machines

tomorrow is one month on my plan and I am down 7 lbs. Hoping for another pound tomorrow to make it 8 (*2 a week). That's definitely possible because yesterday I had mexican and while I ate ok foods, it was more sodium than I usually eat and I always bloat after that restaurant.

Carol Sue you will get back to it

You guys made me hungry talking about bacon fat so I used some that I had saved and cooked my sunny side up eggs in it this morning (that is my latest craze). Thankfully I did not like it LOL - I only like it still attached to the bacon!

I am almost out of my freezer meals which is terrible since school is starting. I guess that means it's breakfast dinner for us tonight!

Today

B: Fried radishes, eggs, green beans and bacon, coffee
S: 1/2 banana with PB
L: Chicken pattie, salad, ice tea
S: yogurt
D: Eggs, ham, Brussel sprouts (yuk)

Learned something about probiotics, I was taking the wrong dose. Based on your age and your guts ability depends on dose and what type. So, I am not taking one with 26 billion (guess I am old!)

Today was a great day, no work, I spent the whole day in my sewing room, thankfully because it was hot and muggy outside. My younger dog has allergies, and I am searching for something that will work, she is at the max level on the medication from the vet. I feel so sorry for her.

Bewildered, sometimes you just got to get your head in the right place, I just got over that problem I got distracted, didn't go off plan, but bummed out about where I was headed and how long it is taking. Think about how great you are feeling with the bad carbs gone, and you will not want to fall backwards. It really is not about numbers, it is about how you feel overall.

Everyone has there own goal, and this forum is so great to help all of us, in different ways. Chin up (it makes it harder to open you mouth for food!!! LOL)

Hi Everyone, Trying to tie up loose ends before Thurs trip. I missed starting my day off on this thread--feels like something is missing We had a couple of hot days over the weekend & an earthquake this am. :

Jacqui If I were a betting woman I would place my bet that your scale will be lower tomorrow I agree about the importance of Carb Day--I'm surprised at what a difference it has made with keeping me motivated. I feel more at peace about food now.

Mary Congrats on 1 month! That's a great loss.

Bewildered I gotta say I was thinking about what I will be eating while I'm traveling. It's really hard to get a lot of veggies on the road. I clicked on a gazillion restaurants--nothing nearly as healthy as I would make at home. I think you may be pleasantly surprised when you are back in your own kitchen.

Week 1 169.9 6/9/15
Week 8 High 167.4 Low 164.6 AVG 165.8
Week 9 High 167.2 Low 165 Avg 165.9
Week 10 High 166.2 Low 163.8
Week 11
Carb Day 169
Aug 16 168.8
Aug 17 165.8
Aug 18 165.6
Aug 19
Aug 20

Yesterday:
B mushroom/broccoli omelet, almond milk & whey shake/coffee
L salad, beans, chicken, evoo
S pear
D chicken, butternut squash, cauliflower, onion, CO
S broccoli, whey shake, iced coffee (black)
2 L honey lavender herbal tea

I decided I am going to start tracking again and recording everything in an online tracker. Although I will always lean toward low carb, I am going to track to count calories. The only time I really showed a good loss was eating low calorie. I kept that weight off for 10 years and maintained with low carb. Since I am apparently a very slow loser, I am probably eating more than I think I am and seeing it in black and white might stir things up.

Chickadeee, you do very well on this plan and I know it gets discouraging when you are doing everything right but not showing a loss, but you are right about feeling better.

Mars, I heard about the earthquake and thought about all my cyber friends out on the west coast. We had a slight earthquake a few years ago which is very unusual for PA. It was a weird feeling.

Your menu made me want to come stay at your house!

B mushroom/broccoli omelet, almond milk & whey shake/coffee
L salad, beans, chicken, evoo
S pear
D chicken, butternut squash, cauliflower, onion, CO
S broccoli, whey shake, iced coffee (black)
2 L honey lavender herbal tea

So many things that I like!!

Mary, when my mother used to cook eggs in bacon grease, she would tilt the pan and get some of it in a spoon and pour it over top of the eggs to cook them on top. I can remember how much I liked those eggs, but don't like the bacon flavor now. I cook my eggs in Pam for easy clean up, but DH uses butter and I must admit, his taste way better than mine. He is the main breakfast cook here.

Jacqui, I am not much of a salad eater at home. There are so many things I like in a salad but don't keep on hand because it would go bad before I ate it all. My favorite salad is from Wendy's....apple chicken pecan salad. I would eat it more often but DH doesn't like Wendy's that much. He likes to eat where you sit down and get served. Otherwise, I prefer hot food, even in the summer. I do know it's recommended that you start your meal with a salad and I know it would help me. I may have to make more of an effort.

Look how good this looks!

http://www.dietdoctor.com/eggplant-gratin-a-la-lchf

I'm holding steady on the scale. TOM is messing with me, not exactly visiting, not exactly not visiting! Off and on!

Week 14: High 194, Low 192
8/2--193.5
8/3--194
8/4--193
8/5--193
8/6--193.5
8/7--192
8/8--193 Carb Day

Week 15: High 194.5, Low 190.5
8/9--193.5
8/10--194.5
8/11--192.5
8/12--191.5
8/13--191.5
8/14--190.5
8/15--191 Carb Day

Week 16:
8/16--191
8/17--191
8/18--191
8/19--
8/20--
8/21--
8/22--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 eggs fried in coconut oil
2 slices of bacon
A tbsp of coconut oil
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Lunch:
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Snack:

Dinner:
6 mild chicken wings from a local pizza place
Mio water

Today's Exercise:
None

Mary, Happy One Month Dieting!

Chickadeee, love the new ticker! I agree that becoming healthier and feeling good should be our top priorities! Unless there is an underlying medical issue that requires a time frame, there really is no reason to be in a hurry to lose weight. Besides, the reigning theory is that the slower you take it off, the longer you'll keep it off! We'd all like to be thinner quickly, but being healthy is really what it's all about! I'm glad you had a great day off yesterday! Thank you for the information on probiotics. It looks like I'll have to up mine also! Love your menu! And mmm, mmm, brussel sprouts are good and good for you! Lol!

Bewildered, I'm so sorry you are still having trouble with your leg and foot! You really do need to take it easy!

Mars, whew, good thing you didn't bet! Oh, the scale will drop for me again soon. I just have to wait it out! I agree with Carol Sue! Your menu looks yummy!

Carol Sue, if counting calories while watching your carbs works best for you, you absolutely should do it! The online trackers make that so much easier now! I hear you on the veggies going to waste while waiting to make it into a salad. I'll tell you what I do. I shop at Kroger and in their deli section, they have a diced veggie salad already prepared called "Super detox veggie salad," which has kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc., and then in the produce section I buy the bagged field greens salad which has all kinds of wonderful greens in it. I combine those 2 salads in a large Tupperware container and then all I do is cut up peppers and whatever other veggies I might want to add (cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, etc.). But if I don't have time to add the extras, I still have a wonderful salad loaded with healthy veggies ready to eat! It's quick and I don't end up with loads of vegetables sitting in the fridge waiting to be prepared and possibly going to waste! That eggplant recipe does look good! I have to admit, though, I've never had eggplant before. It's one of those foods, like lamb, which I've always heard you have to cook just right for it to be good, so I've never attempted it. That recipe makes me want to try!

PrairieQueen, I hope you like your new students and all is going well!

Rennie, miss you!

When we get too many veggies it is time for hash, chili, or spaghetti sauce...depending on the veggies. We hate about 2-3 lbs of veggies just on hash last night. Crazy big portion but it was good, and then when things got sketchy and stuff stuck at the end, we still had plenty to eat LOL

Jacqui...think 189 thoughts

I am STARVING today. Ok, just really hungry for protein. Not even wanting a ton of junk but I feel like I need protein so I ate it. Starting to think about why and I believe it's mainly b/c my period is right around the corner. Was thinking of doing a little plateau buster BUT what's the point with my period coming?

Even though I did not follow plan today, I am confident that I am still within calorie count to maintain weight and today is 1000 times better than what I did before trying to lose weight. I need to go to the grocery store tonight and get some meat because the eggs and beans are getting old and IMO not as filling (at least texture wise not as satisfying).

Today

B: Taco omelet, salad, coffee
S: Almonds (very small (almost tiny) ice cream cone)
D: Mock Mac and Chezz, hot dog, green beans

Last day off work, DH was off too, just worked on our hobbies, nice easy day.

Everyone is doing good, Jac, you rock at usual. Carol Sue I made Eggplant last week, and I got addicted to it til it was gone, spaghetti sauce goes great with it. I have one on my counter right now waiting to be fixed.
Back to work tomorrow for me, catch up day for sure. Better take extra food with me, I will probably need it.