Hey - congrats on antoher pound Raquel. You are halfway to your mini 20lb goal!
I am offto make my favorite low carb pizza recipe! I had a yard sale today and i am beat!! It is so nice to get rid of things!

I really do love my job. I would have a harder time in a deli/bakery job though. I really love salad and am totally in love with cake.... Karen, I feel your pain.

Today I had my slice of cake with barely any frosting.... I am not a big fan of frosting. I only like the homemade stuff. Hubby took the piece with all the frosting.

Thank you Patty. I was hoping to lose 10 pounds before the wedding and only ended up losing about 5. Which was awesome anyway. I made a low carb pizza once, it lasted me a couple of days and was absolutely delish. You will have to share your recipe or tell me which one you use. I was just online looking at ways to advertise my garage sale for next month. I am thinking maybe the 24th. Not really sure yet. How did your sale go? Did you think it was successful? What did you or are you going to do with your leftover items? What were your open/close times? I have never had one so I am unsure as to how I should go about this.

Today was not an on plan day. For my breakfast/lunch/dinner we went to Olive Garden at 215 and I had the broth from the chicken gnocchi soup with 2 breadsticks to dip. Normally of course I don't do breadsticks but the salad they brought out was so disgustingly gross I just grabbed a slice of bread. Again I am not one to use dressing on my salad, so I really need the lettuce to be not only FRESH but I do like to have it CLEAN as well.... otherwise YUCK!!!

Hubby and I got to the wedding at 330 and it started promptly at 4pm. I originally told the bride and groom I would cater their wedding for them as my gift to them, IF they wanted me to, and was thankful that they didn't ask me. (Because it was such a beautiful day I would have HATED to be stuck in the kitchen or even doing clean up on such a wonderful day). Not sure who ended up doing it. I think it was just a couple of family members that brought stuff. There was chicken wings...lol.. Meatballs, Lil' Smokies, a tray of turkey and ham slices, dinner rolls, and about 4 different pasta salads. I wasn't too impressed but there was enough meat there to satisfy my atkins cravings.

Tomorrow is a work day. So back on plan.

Applebuddy

Here is the pizza recipe I use:
http://genaw.com/lowcarb/deep_dish_pizza.html

Let's see - yard sales. I have one every year because our subdivision had an annual sale and so we get lots of people through. I am on the main street heading into the subdivision that helps a great deal. I would put lots of signs up - advertise on Craigslist (there is a section for garage sales). Talk someone into bringing their stuff too so you can state it is a 2 family/3 family etc...sale. Everyplace sells price stickers - that is much quicker for pricing. What is left over can be donated - don't take it back in your house if you really want it gone. Go somewhere where you can get a receipt and use it as a tax write off. If htere aren't worth donating, put at the end of your driveway with "free pile" sign - it will be gone. LOL Bigger items can go on Craigslist too - on your ad list some of the bigger items you have. You may have a cooler with bottled water- that sells when folks are out yard selling and it is hot. Be prepared - if you say starting at 7am, they will be there at 6 am. If fact, I had several peopel the night before when I was just pricing stuff. We usually do 7 - ?? Basically whenever people stop coming - usually we start packing up by 12 or 1. Jewelry sells really well. Clothes usually don't sell real well forme. However- if your son has any name brand stuff, list that on craislist - name brand teen clothes go well too. Borrow tables from friends if need be- things up sell much better. These are my 2 cents worth! Good luck!

Getting ready to eat dinner. I tried breading some chicken with flax meal and then rolled with Sweet Baby Rays Wing Sauce! Let's see if my son notices anything regarding the breading? Him and I are wing fanatics! However - I fixed him noodles and I'll have a salad.

I hear you about putting things up so that they can sell. I have about 7 clothing racks that I will use to hang up shirts and stuff. We were going to open up a clothing type store a few years back and purchased several clothing racks, shelving, glass cubes, and gridwall. So I am set up for a little mini store...lol.... I was also planning on selling a hot dog and can of pop for a dollar. You're right water is a terrific idea.

At the park with hubby right now, so I will post more later. The battery on my phone is almost dead.

AppleBuddy

So Sunday evening we went to the local ballpark to take batting practice. Todd pitched to me and I got to hit the ball. When the rest of the team showed up they ended up scrimmaging with another team. It was a slaughter. Those poor guys didn't realize that our team is about 2 levels higher than them. We didn't keep score but we batted the lineup twice within the first 3 innings. I even made them only take triples instead of in the park home runs. My guys are horrible huh??!! Actually only one guy is the all or nothing type player. Oh well when he has kids he'll learn really quick what good sportsmanship is all about.

Monday I picked up a shift. It was a morning shift and I was there most of the day. I think I finally got done at 330. Todd and I had subway for dinner. I wanted to try that new chicken salad but the ingredients listed raisins and cranberries.... not a big fan.

Tuesday I had only one meal and that was a Sant Fe Chicken Salad with chipotle chicken instead of the teriyaki chicken. It was a huge salad. I didn't get home from work until 1030 that evening. Todd came in at 1020 and joined me we just sat with a friend while she ate just to keep her company so that she wouldn't have to eat alone.

Yesterday morning we had a meeting at 900 and then I started work at 1030. I got done at 230. Todd took me out to lunch/dinner... we had Mazatlan. I had the Pollo ala crema. Talk about YUMM!! I had it with a low carb tortilla. When we got home we took a nice long nap. Bedtime wasn't too far behind. I think naptime was 4-almost 8 and then bedtime was around midnight to 630. I've been awake ever since.

I worked on a friend's order this morning. She's getting her boyfriend an embroidered hoodie and hat for father's day and I am doing another one for another friend for her hubby's father's day gift.

Next month I am finally going to go clothes shopping. I am hoping I will finally be able to button up those size 8's. We'll see how far I get.... I am going to be in desperate need of clothes soon. Belts are not helping....lol... I guess that's a good thing. I am so cheap though I am having a hard time even purchasing underwear. I am pretty pathetic aren't I?!! Well next month will be my closet overhaul. I will get the basics and start dressing a little bit smarter. I actually have several silk suits and dresses in a size 8 that Todd bought for me awhile ago....lol.... guess what... I am finally fitting into them...yay me!!! I figure about 5 more pounds or even 10 more pounds.

I have to really watch what I spend my money on for the next few months. It's official we are going to Las Vegas instead of Detroit. I won't be going for my birthday either... we are going earlier than that. We are going in August. YIKES!!! Only two and a half months to save up some money.... I am thinking I won't have enough for my purse....lol.... but hey it's Vegas. This time I will hit a pawn shop or two. I'll post more tomorrow night.

AppleBuddy

Hurray for fitting into clothes! How satisfying.
And no, it's not pathetic at all. I'm frugal to a fault, so I understand the feeling.

The trip still sounds like fun, but too bad about the purse. ( )

Take care!
~Alexis

Wow! I can't believe that the stress is piling up on me right now. There is so much I need to get done right now and I don't have the energy or gumption to do anything.

Hubby and I had a wet and miserable time at the park on Saturday. We did BBQ for a bunch of friends in the rain that day. A friend of ours that has our tent had lost it last year. So we just stood out in the rain most of the day. When we got home I fell asleep and woke up around 6pm so I slept about 4 hours. I woke up because a friend of ours wanted to watch A-Team. Yes, we saw it again. And it was still as funny as the first time.

Father's Day turned out I am sure everything my hubby would have wanted out of the day. We woke up around noon. We had Mazatlan for Lunch. We went to the mall and went window shopping. Hubby and son helped me look for a nice pair of boots. We didn't find anything that I liked. We came home and I took a nap. Hubby watched TV until I woke up, unfortunately, I woke up for all of 2 minutes and went right back to sleep. I finally woke up around 7. Hubby and I went out to dinner. He said it would have been perfect if Mike bought him The Hangover. Mike got him a blue tooth. So now he can talk on the phone when he drives without having to worry about using his hands or getting a ticket. With him being a truck driver he is one of those people that have to be able to use their phone. Not really as a necessity, but, his boss and their customers do have to keep in touch with him for his deliveries.

I have to work this evening and then maybe go to The Ram later on. Oh man, I can tell that atkins is in full force and has total control of my body.... talk about yucky breath. And I think I have gone to the bathroom every couple of hours since I woke up this morning. I have probably had half a glass of water so far.

Breakfast will be Bacon and eggs today. In fact in a few moments.
Lunch will be chicken wings and celery sticks.
Dinner will be ..... good question.... I'll figure it out later. If I am still at work it will be a Santa Fe Chicken Salad.
Snack will be broccoli with a bit of mayo....yumm!!!

AppleBuddy

Sounds delicious! Good for you.

Wow I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since I last posted. It has been one helluva 2 weeks. I have been trying to pick up shifts left and right. Vegas, vegas, vegas.... actually I am trying to have all my bills paid up before I leave so that I won't have to worry about anything when I get back.

Besides having my porters in the evening (3-4 times a week) I have stayed pretty much on plan. I have had a horrible eating schedule though. I have also not been able to sleep more than 3 hours each night. Todd and I both got home at 330 yesterday and he automatically wanted to snuggle. He said that when we snuggle I fall asleep within a couple of minutes as opposed to sleeping on my side of the bed when I fall asleep a couple of hours later. So last night he pulled me closer and snuggled me all night long. I was VERY thankful that he took the time to notice how hard it has been for me to fall asleep and for him to actually help me do something about it.

Our nap was 4 hours long. We woke up at 730 and headed to the ballfields for Todd's softball game. They won 15-2. When we got home I watched a bit of TV while Todd worked on a customers order. Last night I slept from 1100-630 this morning.... wow I felt great!!!

Breakfast this morning "pancakes" with sf syrup. I had some bacon at work other than that I have yet to make lunch. I got home about an hour ago and haven't figured anything out yet.

I have decided to sell my wii fit... I am just not liking it as much as my firm dvds. If anyone here is interested let me know send me a message and I will send you my number.

I am down another pound. I haven't been as diligent as I normally am but have had alot of things going on lately. I am hoping to lose 10 pounds within the next 2 months.... we'll see how that goes. I would really love to see the 150s before my birthday in November. Here's to hoping. I know that's 20 pounds away but I can at least come close.

Have a wonderful 4th of July.

AppleBuddy

Hey there, Raquel! Hoping that you're still going strong. Your plan sounds like it has you losing slow and steady, which is the way that will help it really stay off.

Enjoy the summer weather!

~Alexis

Hi Raquel- I'll bet you make your goal!

Oh man what an amazingly quick couple of weeks that have gone by.

I have been sooo busy. I didn't even get a chance to have my garage sale that I am so in need of having. I have been picking up shifts left and right to make sure I have all my bills paid by the time vegas comes around.

My diet has been going slow. I snapped the tendon in my elbow.... not really sure how the doc described it but basically it's a sprain. Working has been really hard, I am supposed to wear a wrap on it but the one I have is so bulky. I just don't like it. So no working out for awhile. I have been doing a slightly modified version of the Firm. It's going.

The diet isn't going so badly. I still have the occasional sushi but that is few and far between and make sure that I am well under my count. I also have been walking a minimum of 6 miles a day. I am maintaining which is cool but would like to see the scale show a little bit of movement before our trip to vegas. Oh well. We'll see how everything comes about.

One big accomplishment.... I think I mentioned a while back about a client that owed us $400 bucks almost a year ago. He had written a check on a closed account. Well, I FINALLY got him to pay me. He paid $300 last Thursday and is paying the final $100 in two weeks. Hubby had given up... I just couldn't give up. I contacted the client and let him know that writing checks on a closed account was fraud and a federal offense. I was planning to file charges that Monday unless he provided assurance that he would have his bill paid. At that point he sent me a text that said he would pay it that Thursday. I met him at the Mariner's game. He was volunteering there and he gave me the money. He also gave me gas money ($20) for the inconvenience of having gone to meet him several times with him being a no show. I told him that all he has to do is just keep us informed and we would have been ok with him losing his job and his players not paying him their dues. Since he didn't, it came down to almost filing charges. Get this, he asked to purchase more hats since he is creating a new team. I just laughed at him and told him sure with a money order BEFOREHAND....lol. He said No Problem....lol.

Well that has been my life recently. I am hopefully able to be back in everyone's ear again.

AppleBuddy

Let's try putting up my menu for tomorrow ....

Breakfast:

3 Fried Eggs
3 Slices Bacon

Lunch:

Taco Salad: Seasoned Ground Beef, Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Salsa.

Dinner:

Grilled Chicken .... I saw that everyone was talking about some from KFC. I'll have to check out the counts for that. Otherwise, if I can't get away from work or hubby is unable to drop dinner off for me then I will have the Garlic Herb Chicken from Applebee's. With no Herb sauce.

Tuesday is a Double.

Breakfast: Will be really early..... 3 Fried Eggs 2 jalapeno sausages.

Lunch: Chicken Caesar Salad (sans Croutons and Dressing)

Dinner: Not sure what time this should happen....long night...lol... I think I'll do Asiago Peppercorn Steak (sans Potatoes) with Broccoli and maybe a couple slices of cheese or maybe some cucumbers.

I am having a hard time with being hungry lately. My appetite usually is non-existant. Lately I have been wanting 3 full meals and a couple of snacks in between. I am really not sure what is up but hopefully after today that is all taken care of. I had a protein shake for breakfast and 3 LC tacos for dinner. I had nothing else in between. I kind of forced myself to go hungry. I am not normally the type to go against what my body wants but something weird is going on. I feel just fine right now and should be in bed by 11pm. With my extreme low carb meals tomorrow I should be back on track.

Sometimes it's always good to shake it up a little bit.

AppleBuddy

Hey Raquel - good for you for chasing the guy down who owed you money. That will certainly help towards your Vegas trip! Cool! I have a side business I run from my home and I make people pay me in cash. Good to hear fro you! However - I was a bit surprised - no wings lately???

Hi Patty- actually that night for dinner I did have wings. Lol I have had a pretty rough couple of days. My eating schedule has been all over the place. I worked 20 hours in 2 days. For a server that is a LONG time on your feet and smiling.

The first night was hellish. I woke up that morning, worked out, took an almost 6 mile walk and then walked another 3 miles in to work an eleven hour shift...yikes. I got home at almost midnight. Last night I got home a little after 1 (this morning). No work for me this morning, a coworker picked up my shift so that I can work all weekend.

Eating has been on plan. Exercise has been horrible. Todd and I have both been working late the last few days which is always horrible. Today he is getting done a bit early so that we can go to a supplier's annual picnic. It should be fun. The Seattle Seahawks QB will be there signing autographs. Free beer, wine, food and lots of games. This should be a good day to hang out with my hubby since we will not be spending much time with each other this weekend. When I told him what my schedule was for this weekend he actually looked and sounded pretty bummed. It was kind of cute. He still keeps asking if I have someone working for me so I can go. I keep telling him no. I am not really trying to give it away.

I should make really good money this weekend. Two 10 hour shifts on back to back days, should make enough to pay for our hotel room in vegas for 4 days and the gas to get down there...... next weekend I'll have to earn the money to get us home.....lol...... and food while gone.....

Hope everyone is on plan and big "losers".

AppleBuddy