Journey to less of me

Creative Low Carbing Blog

2009-01-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

Need some recipe ideas and inspiration?
I have another blog where I post my recipe ideas and little tips. I need to up date my website with a link to it. In the mean time here is the link. http://creativelowcarbing.blogspot.com/
I am trying to post photos of some of my favorite low carb recipes. This one is for a easy breakfast bake all the info will be at the other blog. Hope you will book mark both of my blogs and check in from time to time.

105 Days On / 64 Off /1 day back

2009-01-28T15:19:00.000-08:00

Well I was doing really well for 105 days and I let myself get talked into taking a low carb vacation for the holidays. So I am now faced with getting back on track. I have noticed my body has a limited tolerance for high carb eating. I have now hit that point my stomach hurts, my lower back hurts, I am having trouble staying mentally focused, my clothes are on the tight side. All signs that it is time to get back on track.
Today is day one. I had a cup of coffee and regretted that, I had scrambled eggs with chopped chicken for breakfast, for lunch I had tuna with mayo and a cup of plain yogurt. (I would not normally have yogurt as part of my low carb plan but given the current up set stomach I decided a bit of acidopholis might be helpful.)
My current plan for about a week is to pretty much stick to protein. Why I do that is because when you are first starting your decision making ability is challenge because of the sugar still in your system. I find if I keep it really simple I get past the first days of feeling lousy and the sugar cravings. I also must get off the coffee which means a few days of headaches. So I will be drinking lots of water.
So my first week rules are pretty simple drink lots of water, if I am hungry eat protein. Keep it very simple. After that I will add in lots of fresh vegis and will keep my carbs at 20.

While taking a low carb vacation is not a real great idea - I am glad that I am at least familiar with the drill and know very well what I have to do. I am glad I got back to wanting to turn things around after only 64 days. In previous years it has taken me much longer.

In hind site I realize I might have been able to navigate the holidays had money not been so tight. Probably a lame excuse. There were low carb treat options that would have gotten me through and kept me quite happy baking and happy in the various holiday gatherings.
It all started as just taking off Thanksgiving day - I should have known better. Then there was a Christmas party and a pot luck and a family gathering and before you know it January has come and almost gone. Cheating leads to more cheating. So here we go again, this is not a new years resolution thing for me, it is just simply a way of life that works best for me. I feel so much better when I am eating fresh and eating low carb. I also still have weight to loose but that is more of a bonus rather than a goal the goal is feeling good.

I've learned I have to make this a way of life.

2008-09-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

Sadly I look at my last post when I when I weighed 177. It is now September and I have been back on track for about 20 days so far. I allowed my weight to get as high as 205 again. Rather than beat my self up I have returned to the low carb way of eating and have already seen some of the pounds fall away. I am currently hanging out at www.stellastyle.com It may not be quite as quick as what I was doing before. However I have come to realize that this simply has to become a way of life. There is no going back to the old way of eating. I have proved it yet again. I go off low carb and I gain. I stay low carb and I loose. To loose faster I have to cut calories too.

Anyway I am currently at 197 having re lost 8 lbs. I am feeling great and glad to be back on track. I have been posting regularly on my blog at the Stellstyle.com site. I will see if I can copy some of those post over here.

Mock French Toast Omlett

2008-03-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

Today I made a wonderful omlett.
I used 3 eggs
2 packets of Splenda
1 t of Cinnamon
1 t of Vanilla

Cook like you would and omlett.
Plate and spread 1 oz of cream cheese in the middle.
Top with Walden Farms no calorie no carb Pancake Syrup.

It reminded me a lot of french toast - of course with out the toast.
I should start taking photos.

March 08 Photo -177lbs

2008-03-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

So here is a lovely current photo - taken by me in the mirror March 6th 2008. I also took my measurements. I've lost a total of 10 inches so far probably more I just did not get my starting measurements on Feb 25. I took them on March 1st after I had lost 5lbs. Oh well....

I'm feeling great - lots of energy - I'm doing well at sticking to my plan on 20 or less carbs. I have been recording daily in my note book what I have eaten and I am watching both carbs and calories.
(Measurements listed below for March 1st and March 5th)

March 1st
Weight 180
Bust 40
Stomach 39
Hip 44
Thigh 24.5
Calf 16.25
Upper Arm 14

March 5th
Weight 176
Bust 38
Stomach 37
Hips 42
Thigh 23
Calf 15.25
Upper Arm 13

Cooking for my family

2008-03-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

I have a husband and two boys ages 7 and 10.
How I deal with my food plan and my familys food plan.
Since I eat mainy real, fresh foods my family eats those things too. I do add for them side dishes with carbs. I do try to avoid buying or making things that are particulary tempting to me. There is usually a fruit bowl, they like to have oatmeal for breakfast, and like to make Ramen noodles. They eat yougurt and seem to get plenty of sugar from birthday parties at church or Awanas. I have my kind of snacks when they are having their kind of snacks. I don't like to feel left out so I have come up with substitutes that work for me and keep me from wishing I could have the snacks they have.
I have been low carbing for many years - so they have gotten used to the things I eat and cook an like a lot of it.

Day 8 - 9 lbs lost

2008-03-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hi it is day # 8 and I am happy to say the pound a day trend contiunces. I'm down to 176 it is not new territory yet as it is the weight I re-gained. So I am really gald to see it going away so swifly.

As of yeasterday I actually started recording in a note book my carbs and calories for every thing I ate. Much as I'd love to use fitday, its not in my kitchen. I know for me recording and keeping track has to be super simple. I cleaned out a drawer next to the frig. In it I have a note book, a pen, a calculator, and a book that lists foods and their nutrition facts. I also have my little scale and measuring cups and spoons.

Cat Fish Breakfast Bake:
I have really been enjoying cat fish. I bought a box of frozen cat fish at Wallmart and measure 4-6 oz of the frozen fish into a pan sprayed with pam. I add a 1/4 cup of spinich and 1/4 cup of Okra. I like better if it has some liquid. I have been adding a 1/4 cup of white wine. Most of it steams off in cooking so I don't think it adds much in the way of carbs or calories. I suppose water would also work or vegitable broth.

Today for breakfast I had the above but after it was mostly cooked I put it in a small baking dish and topped it with 2 scrambled eggs. I broiled it for a few minutes and then let it bake at 350 for about 15 min. It turned out quite yummy.

I generally start my day with tea with cream and 1 splend. Today I subed out the cream for Hood Calorie Count down milk and cut half the calories.
I usually have some sort of egg bake. I spray my small skillet, put in the goodies like the meat and vegis and saute' them while I mix up 2-3 eggs. I could cut this calories here more by using 1 whole egg to 2 egg white. Which I will do if I hit a stall. For now I'm using whole eggs. I pour the eggs into the pan let it cook just the bottom and then pop the whole pan under the broiler for a couple of min. The whole thing puffs up and browns and is a wonderful filling way to start the day.

For lunch I usually have thin sliced lunch meet and cheese rolled up together.
Some times I wrap it all in a lettuce leaf.

I try to have about 2 cups of salad greens along with what ever protein I have for dinner. I use either the wish bone spritzer or the Walden Farms dressings. I have to order the Waldens Farm dressing, barbque sauce and jelly on line at netrition.com

For snacks I have Dannon lite and fit carb and sugar controll yougurt.
or I make an Evil Protein Cookie. (Recipe can be found at www.eatinglow.com
There are many other great recipes and a nice support forum.)
I might have a meat and cheese roll up or a whey protien shake.

I drink herbal tea, crystal light, water, diet soda sweetened with Splenda when I have any. Diet Rite would be my favorite however I am finding more more sodas that are sweetened with Splenda.

It works because my carbs are kept lower than 20. Under 20 you just are not all that hungry and the cravings stop. You can then lower your calories and not feel like you are depriving yourself. I'm not a doctor and am not telling anyone they should adopt my plan. Its basicly the old Atkins with out all the gee wiz low carb products.
They are nice for maintence but I find that my weight loss stalls out on the bars and shakes, and low carb pasta, bread .... I try as a rule to stick to real foods and very much like the George Stella cook books as a result.

Yeasterday I had so much energy I had trouble falling asleep. During the day I went on a bike ride, cleaned the garrage, orgainized my room and other chores.

This morning before work I organized the laundry room. I have noticed a signifigant increse in my energy in the last 2 days.

So there you have it - If you are following my journey. I hope you find some encourgagement and some tips to help you on your own journey.
I did find the tape measure and did take my measurements - I will try to list them when I have a change to report in measurements.

Day 5 -

2008-02-29T14:06:00.000-08:00

The scale today showed a solid 5 lb loss. Whoo hoo!

For breakfast today I had Flan (egg custard)
Tea with cream and splends

For Lunch I had a ham and cheese 3 egg omlett with a bit of okra and topped with a Tablespoon of sour cream.

I think I will make white fish for dinner.

Today I feel really good. I got up at 7:30am rested and ready to go.

I'm not sure why I am seeing weight loss already - the last time around it seemed like a while before I started to see much movement on the scale.

All and all I am happy with how I am feeling, the loss on the scale and that I am not particularly hungry or craving anything,

Day 3

2008-02-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

I am excited to say that the scale today said I had lost 3 lbs. (182 lbs today)
I was not really expeciting to see any progress till next week with it being "TOM" time.
I am feeling much better today - no headache - what a relief!!

I had a 2 egg omlet with a little ham and some okra as the filling. Topped with Waldens Farm 0 cal dressing. I took my vitimins
I have had tea with cream and a glass of crystal light in addition to water.

I'm hungry now and need to have something for lunch.
Lets see Ham and Cheese, or Last nights left over chicken or....

Day 2

2008-02-26T20:21:00.000-08:00

Well day 1 was long mainly because of the lack of carb and caffene headache that has still not gone away all day today. I've done well as far as eating primarily protein.
Yeasterday I had
3 Poached Eggs and Tuna for Breakfast
Ham and Cheese for snack
Roast Beef for lunch
CatFish for dinner
I had 1 evil protein cookie
I took double mulit vit, Biotin and B50

Today I had
2 Eggs fried and cat fish for breakfast spoon of sour cream
ham and cheese for lunch
Tea with heavy cream and 1/2 pack of splenda
Moc Oatmeal for a snack with a spoon of cottage cheese
Chicken and Salad with Walden Farm Blue Cheese Dressing.
Small glass of crystal light
I took my double multi vit, Biotin and B50
Drinking lots of herbal tea and water.

At this point I am trying to eat mainly protien - I've just found it easier to get back on track this way and then when you add in more vegis and a few carbs you really think its a big treat.
I will also begin to pay attention to portion sizes.
I am happy to be almost done with day 2
I am still feeling pretty lousy from the headache and muscles that are kind of sore.
I'm not supprised - this is normal - your system has to detox. The vitamins are really really important. I was not faithful enough with the vitimins and has some hair loss last time.
It eventully stables out and from the reading I've done, is pretty common whenever you have a drastic change in your life. I'd like to try and avoid that this time - it doesn't generally show up till 2-3 months after the drastic change. I suspect the whole thing to be a bit easier as far as I know more what to expect as my body goes through the various stages.

The other thing I learned is you just can't cheat on your plan. When you cheat you just prolong things and feel guilty. Its just not worth it. I also had to find acceptable substitutes for some of my ritual. I'm cutting out the coffee - I substitue tea or tea with cream
Evil protein cookies get me past the desire for treats like cookies or cake or bread. You can get the recipe at www.eatinglow.com Amy has a lot of great ideas for eating low carb /low cal.
The other tip is don't let your self get hungry - Eat protein first it stays with you longer because it takes longer to digest.

Well more tips on another day - I have a little kid with a cold who wants snuggles and a movie.

I have yet to find the tape measure. -

Feb 25 - Time to get back on track

2008-02-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Well it is hard to believe January and now February are almost past. Its time for me to get back on track. Today is Day #1 I have gained about 15 lbs since October. I have eaten low carb some of the time and off the charts at others.
So my plan is to cut out coffee - for what ever the reason it stalls my weightloss.
Needless to say I have a headache today and feel generally lousy but it is day # 1 and expected.
I am for the next few days eating protein - until my blood sugar is stable.
I will keep my carbs under 20 and record what goes into my mouth.
As I get past the initial hunger and craving stage I will then begin to watch calories too.
So it is a several stage process of getting on track.
The biggest things I have found is to realize how incredably weak I am when it comes to dieting and dealing with food. Realizing my weekness - I look to Jesus for wisdom, and resolve. Most importanly I know that He and my family love me irregardless of the numbers on the scale.
For that I am thankful. I know I feel better physically as the pounds fall off. My size 16 clothes are to the point of uncomfortable. Now is the time - I don't want to buy any larger clothes.
Starting Weight: 185 Starting:TOM starting today - so I'm probably retianing water
Breakfast:
3 poached eggs
over a small can of tuna.
With a table spoon of Walden Farms honey mustard dressing.
Today I am drinking Sleepy time Herbal tea.
Today I am avoiding all sweeteners as they tend to send me easily off track.

So if you are following my journey - I hope you will find some tips and inspiration for yours.
I lost 75 lbs last year and I know this works me and works.
I will go and find my tape measure and get starting measurements posted later today or tomorrow.
I think I will make some diet encourgament cards to add to my card shop.

November 07

2007-11-25T21:27:00.001-08:00

So here is what I look like most days when I am making phone calls. This one was taken in early mid November just before we moved.
I am feeling pretty good at this weight but would still like to take off another 30 lbs. The holidays are always a difficult time to try and loose weight so I am not going to be too hard on myself. Particularly since we are adjusting to so many new things as a result of our move.
This whole jouney really started in January with a new years goal making a conscious effort to work on losing weight this year. At the time I really did not know where I would find the will power. It took me till mid February to get going on an Atkins plan and it was not until June that I made some additional discoveries. I found if you cut your carbs to 20 or less and concentrate only on that at first the hunger and cravings ease after about a week. At that point you can begin to make lower calorie and fat choices without the hunger and cravings. So currently I am in a maintaing mode but will get back to a loosing mode soon. Over all I am pleased with the progress I have made this year. I went from a starting weight of 240 and am now at 173 with the 3lb gain during the extra stress of moving in the last month and a half.

Post Move Weigh In

2007-11-25T21:17:00.000-08:00

Amazingly I have only gained about 3 lbs since our vacation in mid October and during our month and a half moving adventure. I do however need to get back on track and get that scale moving downward again.

We had a nice Thanksgiving - I did have some stuffing and a small baked potato.
I am trying to be conscious of portion sizes on the high carb foods.
Now that we are finnally moved I will try to dance around the many holiday temptations.
I need to create some suitable alternatives and post them here. Perhaps that will help me to get re-motivated.

Off Track

2007-10-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

Presently, I am off track probably due to the stress of moving and all the emotions of all the changes. I suppose it is not much of an excuse but it is where I am presently. I am at times in more of a matenance mode and at times I am in down right cheat mode. I know I can not do this for long and I am hoping to find new resolve to continue on this journey as I know I still have a ways to go to get to my desired weight goals. It has not helped that I have been too busy to spend time on the forums where there are other who are walking this daily. I can see that the support and encouagement is a big factor in my being able to stay on track.

Measurements

2007-10-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today I took all my measurements. I have not done this since the end of June.
Since I started in February 18 I have lost
12 inches around my stomach,
13 inches around my hips.
4. 5 inches from around my thigh,
1 inch from my calf,
9 inches in bust, and
2.5 in my upper arm.
A grand total of 42 inches lost.
Current weight is 172 which is a total loss of 73 lbs.

Previous Up Dates

2007-10-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

These
September 18

I am so excited - my sister saw me for the first time in about 3 months and was astounded. She said what did you do with the other half of my sister. My mother and aunt were amazed as well and have just started their own weightloss journey. Low carb/cal really does work. I am living proof. To date I have lost 65lbs and now weigh 175lbs. I am able to wear size 16 pants and medium tops. Can you tell I am excited. I'm not hungry, I eat real food,

August 5th

We have just finished up a week of Vacation Bible School after coming home from 4 days of camping at the Creation Festival at the Gorge in Washington. I was hoping all that walking would pay off and I think it did. However it took several days of being home out of the heat to loose all the retained water from being in the heat. Any way as of today I have lost 51 pounds and weigh 189. Ya hoo!!!

July 17
Back from our trip on the 15th to Mt. Rainier. We hiked about 6 miles actually a lot more if you include the hike to where we had to park the car. It was a beautiful day - only saw the top of the mountain through the clouds 1 time very briefly. My reality shot show I still have a long way to go 79 lbs to get to my goal. I've lost 46 lbs so far and the good news is I feel great - good enough to go hiking in Mt. Rainier.

July 12, 2007

I am now at 195 pounds. I have to date lost 45 pounds I still have 80 to go. I am loosing about 4-5 pounds a week. I am feeling great and starting to fit in to size 16 clothes. Yeah!! The Kimkins plan really works and the support on the Kimkins web site is amazing.

I need to take a new photo. We plan to go to Mt. Rainier this weekend - will try to get Marco to take a new picture.

Making Progress

2007-10-03T14:41:00.001-07:00

I finally got around to putting together a progress report composit photo. While I have not yet reached my weightloss goal of I think about 130 I am making progress. I enjoy cooking and eating low. I watch my carbs and try to make lower calorie and fat choices as much as possible.
I also try to eat fresh foods and avoid foods that are processed.
I am finding a lot of support at the www.eatinglow.com forum. It seems to be a resting place for many of us who have left the Kimkins plan due to much of the current controversy surrounding Kimmer and some concerns about people taking the plan to un healthy extreems.
For me the plan was simply a more calorie and fat conscious version of the original Atkins diet before the net carb revolution. Which as you can see from the above photo has worked very well for me. All in all I feel great - I have experienced some hair loss but then I have before when I have lost signifigant weight. I am confident as in times past that this will stabalize.

So my current goal is to get back to keeping track of exactly what I am eating each day. I admit I have gotten quite lax on this but have stuck to consistently eating portions and foods that I know are low. I have probably been a bit more lax on the fat lately putting me more in line with the Atkins plan.

The Mosaic Process

2007-09-26T22:59:00.001-07:00

This ia a close up of one of my larger pieces that I call "Waiting Angel". It won 3rd place in the Delphi Glass Festival. It stands about 4 feet tall. Since I do not do mosaics full time it took me about 3 months of working a couple hours most every day to complete.

I work with the same glass used for stained glass. Some nights when I am not feeling very creative I just nip glass into tear drop or leaf shapes for use in later projects.

I start by drawing my idea on paper and then enlarge it with my copy machine to be transfered to the working surface. I usually prepare the surface by paining it white so the glass looks more colorful. Then I transfer or draw the design on the surface. From that point I begin kind of painting with glass. I often will have a lot of glass pieces just sitting in place. This allows me to try out different colors or glass shapes. Once I am happy with a section I start to glue it down.
I use the clear liquid nails on all my projects. The last step is to apply the grout. It is like a cement that holds every thing together. Grout is not my favorite part and most of the time my husband Marco will grout things for me. Grout comes in lots of colors and the color can greatly change the look of the piece. Most of the time I use one grout color on Waiting Angel I used several grout colors.

Anyway I have been doing mosiacs now for about 3 years. In doing them I find hope that no matter how shattered or broken our lives may become, in the hands of the Creator, the master artest, it becomes full of new possibilities. He can take our brokeness and make something beautiful. Isaiah 61:3...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and the garment of prise instead if a spirit of despair.

Runner

2007-09-25T10:11:00.001-07:00

This is a photo of me Apri 15th 1978 I was 17 years old - I was a runner!
Oh I'm in white and we got 3rd place in the 2 mile relay.

Today I ran - well I ran and then walked, ran and then walked to the park and back.
It is drizzly out and I did not let that become an excuse for putting it off.
Considering that there is now 70 pounds less of me - it felt pretty good.
My friends over at www.eatinglow.com are running so I figgured I might as well get out there and beat the streets too. It is good to have some accountability particularly when one struggles with consistency as I do.

So I am reminded of an old song by Twila Paris

RUNNER

Courier valiant, bearing the flame
Messenger noble, sent in His name
Faster and harder, run through the night
Desperate relay, carry the light
Carry the light

Runner when the road is long
Feel like giving in but you're hanging on
Oh runner, when the race is won
You will run into his arms

Obstacle ancient, chilling the way
Enemy wakened, stoking the fray
Still be determined, fearless and true
Lift high the standard, carry it through
Carry it through

Mindful of many waiting to run
Destined to finish what youíve begun
Millions before you cheering you on
Godspeed dear runner, carry it home
Carry it home

Ok so my run today did look quite like the runners in the song. What it does remind me is that to accomplish Gods larger purposes in my life - I do need to get in to shape both physically and spiritually. My own will power or good intentions are not enough to carry me through this journey. I know that I do not on my own have the resolve or the consistency

Well if you are reading this - welcome!
I am going to try to be consistent about posting something at least every week day. So you potential dear reader are my motivation to be faithful to this task.

Not sure what I will write each day but I hope you find with in my posts hope and encouragement for your own journey.
Blessings, Margot

He must become greater; I must become less."

2007-09-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

He must become greater; I must become less."
John 3:30 (Today's New International Version)

So welcome to my weight loss journey. It seems that in the quest for less of me pound wise that I have discovered that there were many other area where less of me might be a good thing.
Certanly plenty of areas where I need to re-examine the excess in my life.