Day 57

OK, yeah, I haven't been doing CAD.  I got off of it for a few weeks and just haven't had the inclination to start again. 

I've been job hunting and to be honest, I'm a bit stressed out over that.  When I'm stressed, I turn to food for comfort.  I know it. You know it. We all know it.  At least I'm aware of what's going on and I'm facing it honestly. 

The good news is I haven't gone completely crazy.  I'm still eating just meals even if those contain carbs.  Not really snacking or overeating like before.  And, the food cravings are still under control. 

My plan is to get back to it once my life settles down a bit.  I've got a few prospects and my stress level is easing.  If I start before the new year, great, but I know the plan is to begin again on New Year's Day. 

So if you've been following me, please don't give up.  There will be more posts coming soon. 

Day 44 (I think)

I've been a bit busy so I haven't posted much.  But to be totally honest, I just don't like admitting to everyone that I'm still not back on the CAD.  I have my reasons (and excuses), the most pressing being both last weekend and this weekend, we've got company. 

I know, there are days between those weekends and yes, I could have gotten back to it but I didn't.  But at least I haven't been going completely hog-crazy.  The good news is my carb cravings still aren't like they were before I started CAD and I'm still not food-obsessed like I was. 

My plan is to start again on Monday.  Things will be settled down again and menus will be a bit more predictable.  Hopefully, soon, I'll have a new job to help me get into a real routine again.

Until then, I'm going to enjoy this little respit and the cookies too. ;)

Day 41-Not So Bad

Today was Weight-Average day and I'm very relieved to say I only gained back 1.5 pounds. I'm sure that will come off this week pretty easily. I was afraid it would be much more.

Tomorrow I begin again.  Never give up. Never surrender!

Meals don't look too bad considering.  Notice I started out good anyway. ;)

Breakfast:  Mini egg omelet with cheese, bacon bits and salsa coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Chili salad made with a flour tortilla, salad mix, cheddar cheese, onions, fat free Catalina, homemade chili with beans, salsa, and sour cream.  A couple thumbprint cookies.
Dinner:  Leftover Pad Thai & panang curry with rice, a few cookies.

Day 40

Please forgive me.  It's been a busy few days and I haven't been by the computer much.

Well, remember I said I fell off the wagon?  I not only fell off, I went running as fast as possible down the lane away from that wagon, over the hill, and through the forest!  Yes, I'm saying I have completely gone over to the dark side.  It's been carbo overload for the past few days. 

It's a combination of stress and holiday planning.  I am aware of what I'm doing so that's a positive note, I suppose.  My plan is to get back on that horse tomorrow.  Begin anew with the new week.

Saying that, I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and are ready for the next round of holiday parties, shopping and excitement.

Me?  I am feeling good and know that I am very capable of returning to my normal eating again.  Guess it's normal for a junky (that's funny...junk food) to have a few set backs.  The important thing is to learn and get back on the program. 

Day 37

Ya know, as much as I do love me some Asian food, the day after leads to puffy fingers.  I guess as I'm getting a little older, soy sauce and salt are starting to affect me a bit.  I don't really like how the excess water makes me feel.  Fortunately, I'm not a huge salt fan to begin with so this is easily fixed.

Body is back to it's new normal.  I didn't wake up hungry.  My hunger kicks in around 10:00 am every day.  Just in time for lunch. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  I'm curious to see how I do.  To be honest, my holiday cravings are never satisfied when I have lunch at the in-laws.  Their menu is significantly different from my family Thanksgivings.  I don't know if this will trigger a desire to snack or if this time, because I will be eating my Reward Meal, if I'll be ok.  In the past, both Hubs and I tend to eat fairly light and then we go out later for dinner.  I know that sounds a bit odd but it's true.  I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

I decided to make some gluten free cookies for my Mohter-in-law.  She makes pies for Thanksgiving meaning she can't eat them.  Here is my recipe for Gluten Free Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies.  I have to say, they are pretty tasty. 
http://tenderfoothearth.blogspot.com/2012/11/cookies-for-turkey-day.html

Breakfast:  Coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Reward Meal:  BBQ Chicken, fried potatoes & onions, baked beans, corn, and an oatmeal peanut butter cookie. 
Dinner:  (don't remember...didn't finish this post due to company)...

Day 36-Doctor Visit

This morning, I went for my yearly checkup.  Since they were going to take blood, I had to fast from midnight last night.  Not a bad thing for someone who went on a carb spree yesterday.

All went well with the doctor.  I really like mine.  He's got a fantastic bedside manner and really listens when we talk.  He's also willing to try alternative ideas to traditional medical practices, which I really appreciate.  I prefer to fix any problems naturally if at all possible and he supports this.  Heck, I even told him about the CAD books and he questioned me in depth and then wrote it down to suggest to other patients.  Yup, got a good doc there!

The Pad Thai didn't turn out very well so I basically ate five shrimp, an egg roll, and 3 steamed dumplings.  Oh, and the chocolate pie.  Let's not forget that.  I'm sure I'll probably end up a bit hungry tonight but that's ok.  To quote one of my favorite fictional characters:


After all, tomorrow is another day!

I just love the smirk on her face!

Breakfast:  None for me today!
Lunch:  Sour creamed chicken and cabbage. 
Dinner:  Reward Meal:  Egg roll with mustard, steamed dumplings, homemade Pad Thai,chocolate pie and Sprite/cherry vodka/grenadine cocktail. 

Day 35-Fell off the Proverbial Wagon

Official Monday weekly weigh-in...drum roll please...lost another pound! That's six total!  WOOHOO!  VERY excited about that!

Yes, today I fell off the wagon.  It was the first day I've been alone since the funeral and dealings with all of that.  Today apparently was MY day to 'lose it'. 

We all have our moments of weakness.  This was mine.  I was feeling frustrated, sad and emotionally drained.  Not a good combo for any type of addiction.  I needed soothing. No ands, ifs or buts about it.  I tried to talk myself out of it but it didn't work.  So, I gave myself permission so it wasn't too bad but still, my carb desire was definitely in the drivers seat.  Here is how it turned out.  As I said, looking at it on "paper", it's not that bad.  But I know the out of control feeling that went along with it so for me, it wasn't good.

Breakfast:  Coffee.
Lunch:  Spaghetti with meat sauce & ranch, garlic toast, cookies, iced tea.
Dinner:  BBQ Pork Chop, fried potatoes, baked beans, peas.
Snack:  Nerds candy, airhead candy, Riesen carmel, pork chop, pasta with ranch & Parmesan.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.  I take pride in the fact that I stayed true to my journey here and told the truth about my day.  If nothing else, I want to show myself and anyone reading that we do have bad days, no one is perfect, but we can move forward, even if it's tiny, little baby steps!

Day 34

This morning, I woke up really early for some reason.  It's kind of cool and dark today.  Just the perfect kind of day to snooze in.  Dang it!

I got up and did my weigh-in and am happy to say the end-of-week average loss is another pound!  WOOHOO!  I was a little worried because of the salty Chinese food I ate yesterday.  My rings are a bit tight so maybe tomorrow, I'll have a happy surprise when this bit of water weight comes off too.  I am pleased that I was able to go though a really hard day and still stay on the CAD. I'm proud of myself for that.

Meanwhile, just working the plan.  It's so damn easy I don't know why I wouldn't!  Not hungry at breakfast again.  Yup, you got it.  10:00 came and so did the appetite.  So I had brunch.  I'm seriously considering Breakfast-for-Dinner tonight.  I've been craving waffles for quite some time.  We shall see. 

Decided today, I just wanted a drink.  Sprite, black cherry vodka and grenadine make a nice one.  Yeah, dinner was a bit carb heavy but I was in need of some good old-fashioned comfort and all these things definitely provided that.  Stayed within my hour of eating so I don't expect much damage.

I think my drinks filled the food slot a bit so I got hungry.  Of course, I ate dinner pretty early today too.  I got hungry again but since I had not had breakfast, I still had a meal available to me.  I think the stress of the weekend as still there too.  So I ate again.  I figured it was better to go ahead and have a meal versus the possibility of going into snack mode.  It worked.  It satisfied my hunger and pacified my feelings.

Brunch:  Eggs with red pepper, salsa, spinach & cheese.  And a bit more coffee. 
Dinner:  Reward Meal:  Spaghetti, garlic toast, cookies, Sprite & cherry vodka.
4th Meal:  Tuna and no-carb coleslaw.

Day 33

Today is going to be a long, tough one.  It's the funeral of the young man who passed away earlier this week.  It's going to be emotionally wrenching for everyone.  I'm in a support role.  I'll be there for my friend and her children to lean upon.  Can't say it's something I look forward to but I will be there. 

Woke up a bit hungry today so opted to eat.  I figured with the emotions running high, I need to eat right the whole day.  It will make it easier for me and will keep me from mindless snacking.

Decided I just wasn't hungry enough before we went to the funeral.  It was heart-wrenching.  It was hard to watch his family.  I cannot even imagine the depths of their sorrow.  I'm glad I was there for my friend and her family.  She definitely needed the support and that's what sisters do.  I may not be her sister from birth but I am her sister from choice.  I've known her children since they were very young and have watche them grow up to become beautiful teens.  ~sigh~ Such a terrible thing to see young lives changed forever. 

Breakfast:  Eggs, Morningstart Hot & Spicy breakfast patties, coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Didn't eat.
Dinner:  Reward Meal:  Chinese buffet with fruit & a cookie for dessert.

Day 32

I have to say, it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us again.  Where has the year gone?  It seems like I was just opening the pool and now, it's time to cook turkey.

It's also hard to believe I've been on CAD for a whole month!  Yes, I had a cheat day but it was only one day!  And even then, I didn't go crazy like I thought I would.  That makes me very happy.  I know I keep repeating myself but I am just so amazed by CAD.  No cravings.  No food obsessions.  True amazement! 

I woke up with no hunger again today.  So, again, I am listening to my body and just having my coffee.  I know I'll start to get hungry around 10:00.  That seems to be the norm now.  When I do, I start thinking about what I want for lunch, and then around 10:30, I start cooking and I eat around 11:00.  I normally eat dinner around 5:00.  Hubs comes home starving and right now, I am home so an early dinner works.  When I get back into the job, it will be delayed a bit.

Breakfast:  Coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Sour creamed chicken & cabbage.
Dinner:  Reward Meal:  Fish, loaded baked potato, hush puppies, coleslaw, Pepperidge Farm cookies.

Day 31-A Whole Month!

Today marks a full month of being on CAD.  It's hard to believe.  It has gone by so quickly.  Here is an overview:  It is easy.  I'm amazed I can say that.  CAD is the best "diet" I've ever tried.  It is a lifestyle, no doubt of that.  It's something I definitely can do forever. 

Now for the confession.  As you know, yesterday was a horrible day. Learning from the mistakes of my past, yesterday I gave myself permission to go off plan.  I was very tried and I was emotional.  Not a good combination.  Since we all know food is a comfort for me, I knew I was just setting myself up for a huge failure if I didn't give myself a break.  So I did.  That's the bad news.  Yes, I went off plan.

Here is what I ate yesterday:
Breakfast:  Coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  By this time, I was in need of some serious soothing so what is better than fast food, right?  McDonald's was calling my name. Well, actually, their french fries.  I had a Big Mac meal with a Coke and a cherry pie.  Not the best but it worked it's carby goodness.
Snack:  Here's where I really went off the plan.  I ate the rest of a glazed pumpkin scone. 
Dinner:  Chicken breast stuffed with cheese & a bit of bacon, and again, some carbs, Israeli Couscous.  No veggie.  Wasn't feeling it.   

The good news is this. All in all, even though I ate some extra carbs, I didn't go hog wild and eat all day long.  This morning, fortunately, I am back to my new normal and woke up with no appetite.  Today my plan is to eat the CAD like I have been. 

My weigh in this morning was good.  One day of being "bad" doesn't seem to have affected anything but only time will tell on that one.  I feel pretty confident things are okay.

Breakfast:  Not hungry.  Black coffee.
Lunch:  Two McDonald cheeseburgers (no buns), salad with ranch dressing.
Dinner:  Reward Meal:  Homemade Italian sausage pizza, salad with low-fat Catalina dressing, and a few Pepperidge Farm cookies.

Day 30-The Big Picture

What should be a landmark day for me (30 days on CAD!) has become very insignificant in the grand scheme of things. 

In the wee hours of the morning, I got a text telling me of a tragic event and asking for a phone call when I saw it.  The 19 year old boyfriend of my best friend's daughter was found dead in his bathtub.  No, it was not a suicide.  He had just been released from the hospital that very day for a concussion from a car accident.  No one knows exactly what happened.  I just know that a very sweet, intelligent, good kid is gone from this world.  So very sad.

Needless to say, my friend and her family are in shock.  It's one of those stories that just breaks your heart.  Not many people find the love of their lives in High School but these two kids did.  It was obvious from the very beginning their relationship was something special.  Sure, they had their moments as all young lovers do, but they had a deep bond to one another that always transcended their problems.  They were not officially engaged but it was only a matter of time.  They were planning their future together and taking steps towards that future.  It's absolutely heart breaking to see this happen.

So yeah, today is definitely a mixed bag.  I'm happy for myself and sticking to my diet but ultimately, who really cares if I carry around a few extra pounds.  It doesn't really change who and what I am.  What is important is the people in your life and your relationships with them.  This tragic event is a reminder to cherish every single second you have with those you love and to never, ever take them for granted.

It's just sad that a 17 year old girl had to learn this lesson so early in her life.  Who she is will be forever changed from this moment on.  Time will heal the wound, it always does, but there will be a scare there.  A big one.  

Day 29

Another cool and sunny morning here in Oklahoma.  Love this time of year!  

Woke up without hunger again this morning.  Seems to be a reoccurring situation.

I do remember growing up, I wasn't a big breakfast person.  I would drink Carnation Instant Breakfast (chocolate of course) some mornings but most of the time, I didn't eat.  At some point, I started taking the traditional advice that breakfast is the most important meal of the day instead of listening to my own body.  This definitely works against me.  MY natural cycle is to start getting hungry around 10:00.  This lends itself very well for brunch or early lunch.  Occasionally I am hungry for breakfast and if so, I eat. Go figure.  Eat when you're hungry, don't eat if you're not.

That's what I love about the CAD. It works with my body instead of against it.  Another thing I love is the flexibility.  I eat my main meal when I have the most hunger.  Sometimes it's lunch, sometimes it's dinner.  But the #1 reason I love the CAD is I am no longer chained to my food obsession.  It's day 29 and food is no longer my #1 priority like before.  I no longer wonder right after breakfast what I will have for lunch.  Or after lunch what I will have for dinner.  I don't pour over food porn (those beautiful food blogs) any longer.  I will look up a recipe occasionally but I don't spend hours looking at their other posts.  I rarely talk about food anymore either.  I will ask Hubs for dinner suggestions but I don't dwell on it.  It's a wonderful thing!

Didn't eat a sweet treat at my Reward Meal today. Just wasn't feeling it.  Besides, between the bread & the pasta, my carb desire was definitely sated. 

Since I had no breakfast & a hearty, homemade lunch, I decided to keep it easy tonight and have Breakfast-For-Dinner! Though I would love to have coffee, I'm opting for hot tea instead.  Much less caffeine so I won't be up until the wee hours. 

Breakfast:  Coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Reward Meal:  Pasta with meat sauce, spinach salad with Caesar, garlic toast.
Dinner:  Omelet with cheddar cheese, onion, green pepper, bacon, & salsa and hot tea.

Day 28

Official weekly weigh in is...drum roll please...five pounds!  Yeah!  CAD works!  I tell ya, I'm just so darn excited with this whole thing.  It's just so easy.  It's not like dieting at all!  Amazing! 

I got an interesting lead on a job.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!  I need a paycheck! 

Dinner tonight is creative use of leftovers.  I took my leftover potatoes and "smushed" them together into patties, sprinkled them with garlic powder and rosemary and baked them until they were golden brown and toasty.  Delicious!  There was just enough of the other things to round out the meal.  The sole was a gift from Omaha Steaks.  Yea, fish from a steak place.  It was really tasty!  Hubs said if I had told him what we were having, he probably wouldn't have gotten too excited but he loved the meal.  Yay!

Breakfast:  Coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Sauteed sour cream chicken with mushrooms, green pepper and onion over mashed cauliflower.
Dinner:  Crab stuffed Sole, baked smashed red potatoes with sour cream, green beans, cranberry sauce, Oatmeal bread, honey butter, gingerbread cookie.

Day 27-Another One Bites the Dust!

I woke up early to the sound of rain.  It's dark and cool and just right for snuggling.  Good way to start the morning.

Also a good morning for a weigh in.  Lost another pound!  Yes, I lost another pound and I get to eat desserts, fried foods, real sugar, whatever I want.  Of course, I'm eating my veggies too. 

I've been awake long enough to be ready for some breakfast.  And of course, coffee.  Delicious, rich, hot coffee.  Yeah, I have a thing for coffee.  In truth, it's all about the taste, not the caffeine.  I'm pretty sensitive to caffeine so I have to limit my coffee consumption to about two cups.  I like iced tea too, but I can't drink it too late in the evenings either. It will keep me awake.   A shame, really, 'cause I like both. 

I made tuna salad tonight with mayonnaise and no sweet pickles and guess what?  It was delicious!  Yes, I am a die hard Miracle Whip & sweet pickle gal.  It's that Southern coming through again.  Sweet and sweet.  OK, I confess.  I doctored the mayo up a bit with some vinegar, dash of yellow mustard and some artificial sweetener.  It was just enough to give me the flavor I wanted. 

And if you're wondering, I usually drink plain old water with my meals unless I note something different.  I'm one of those people who actually likes water. I drink a lot of it.  Always have. 

All in all, a really good day.  :)

Breakfast:  Egg scramble with green peppers, onions, salsa, and cheese with a side of bacon. 
Lunch:  Reward Meal:  Schnitzel, potatoes with sour cream, green beans, cranberry sauce, herb stuffing, brown gravy, potato chips and dip (craving them), and 2 cookies.
Dinner:  Tuna salad with celery sticks.

Happy Vetrans Day!

Day 26

Went to the Farmer's Market this morning.  We are absolutely addicted to the milk.  I also got cheese curds, mozzarella (yeah, not making my own today), pork steak, hamburger and fresh turnips with the greens.  One day this week, I'm going to have a good old fashioned Southern dinner of beans, turnip greens, & cornbread. Yum yum! 

Decided I was hungry when I got home so I had brunch. 

Hubs and Stepson went to t-ball this morning then straight to GranC & GramP's house.  Yes, you read that right.  GranC and GramP.  The other paternal grandparents are Poppy & Nana Jan.  He also calls his mother Mom Mom.  I used to call my paternal grandmother Mom mommy when I was little.  Kids. 

Hearty German food is calling my name.  Weiner Schnitzel to be specific.  The rest of the meal is pretty American.  And yes, that is cranberry sauce you see.  I love cranberries!  I always buy extra bags during this season and stash them in the freezer.  I make my own cranberry sauce and it's so good.  I eat it with chicken, pork, turkey and occasionally fish. I've spread it on toast like jam.  My favorite sandwich?  Smoked turkey, maple bacon, smoked cheddar cheese, onion, leaf lettuce, & cranberry sauce on herbed ciabatta. What's not to love? 

Breakfast:  Not hungry. 
Lunch:  Omelet filled with cheese curds, spinach, onion, green pepper, tomato and mushrooms, coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip and sugar free chocolate syrup.
Dinner:  Pork schnitzel, red potatoes, brown gravy, herb stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and a strawberry oatmeal bar. 

Day 25

I have an interview in one hour.  It's for a temp agency but still, gotta look my best!  It's been awhile since I had to dress up and wear heels.  Gotta say, even though they are pretty, they are not my favorite thing.  Bare feet.  That's my favorite thing but alas, most employers frown upon this concept.

Needless to say, not really hungry this morning.  I'll eat when everything is done.  Keep me in your thoughts!

Interview went well.  Looks like they'll be able to set me up with something.  Afterwards, I was STARVING!  Decided on Chinese again.  Just sounded good.  As always, I start eating and in a matter of minutes, I'm already feeling full.  Not that I'm complaining.  I just find it somewhat fascinating.  Me, the woman who used to out eat pretty much anyone.  Always ate seconds and frequently, thirds!  And dessert too!  Amazing!

Reality:  More lettuce, much less of everything else.

It's Taco Bueno night at our house.  We have it on Friday nights when we have the Stepson.  He absolutely loves their bean burritos.  I decided to give the taco salad a try.  I did not eat the big fried crunchy flour tortilla bowl it came it.  Oddly enough, I really didn't want it anyway.   It was tasty and filling and I didn't have to make or buy something special to share a fun meal with my family.  Yup, I like CAD!

Breakfast:  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch. 
Lunch:  Reward Meal:  Crab Rangoon with sweet & sour dip, Spicy Hunan chicken with fried rice, and one chocolate cookie.
Dinner:  Taco Bueno grilled chicken taco salad (grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, sour cream, & a tiny bit of ranch.  

Day 24-Hopeful!

Uggh!  For some crazy reason, I woke up at 4:50 this morning and could not go back to sleep.  I made the best of it and read for a little while.  Now the sun is coming up and it looks to be another beautiful day.  Not a bad thing.

Think I'll have a bite of breakfast today.  And coffee.  Lots and lots of coffee!

Keep your fingers crossed for me.  I applied for a new job at a local school this morning and they are already checking my references!  Sounds hopeful!  I also have an interview tomorrow at a temp agency.  Figured at least that would be a paycheck until something full time comes my way. 

Today's eating went well.  My tummy is definitely starting to shrink.  I used to eat at least three pieces of pizza.  Now, I'm down to 1-1/2 at the most.  Very happy about that. I also have no hunger between meals or after dinner at all either.  This CAD thing definitely works.


Breakfast:  Omelet with cheese, green peppers, onion and a smidgen of salsa, coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Creamy steak over mashed cauliflower. 
Dinner:  Homemade cheese & black olive pizza, spinach salad, chocolate biscuit (cookie) and some Sprite.

Day 23-Sleepy but Happy

Good morning, America!  The country cast its votes and diversity seems to have gained a bit more ground!  WOOT!  Our politics are starting to look like our country.  No matter who you voted for or what issues, I want to thank all you who got out there and made your voice heard.  That is what makes our country great. 

Whew!  It was a long night last night.  Yes, I am one of those idiots who stayed up until 1:00 am, following the political news.  Hubs & I just couldn't go to bed until we learned who won and listened to all the speeches. 

I am proud to say, even though I did get a little hungry, I didn't snack my way through the evening!  That was a biggie for me.  I made a cup of ginger peach tea and enjoyed it's warm goodness.  I woke again this morning with no appetite.  Seems to be how things are going now.

I know the traditional wisdom is to eat a hearty breakfast but I look at it this way.  If I'm not hungry, why would I eat?  That just reinforces exactly the habit I have been breaking.  I've thrown out all the old dieting arguments and am sticking to the concepts in CAD.  It's working for me and that's all the evidence I need!

Here is another reason to be happy today.  When I put my jeans on this morning, the waist was not tight!  Talk about a motivator!  Yup, I'm smiling like a fool! 

Breakfast:  Yup, coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Reward Meal:  Chicken strips, honey mustard, green beans, roll, jalapeno poppers with ranch, gingerbread cookies and unsweet iced tea.
Dinner:  Chicken sausage with brown mustard, sauteed cabbage, spinach salad.

Day 22-Don't Forget!

Another beautiful Fall day in Oklahoma.  Sun is shining, the breeze is crisp.  Wonderful.  Just the right kind of day to stand in line and vote.  No matter what happens, today will be a turning point in American politics.  Don't worry, I'm not going to get on a soapbox.  Just a little reminder to go vote!

I'm a tiny bit hungry this morning.  Getting ready to have my coffee and then I will decided if I want to eat breakfast or not.  It's also Tuesday, which means I'm on my own for dinner.  Typically, I use this day to have something I like that Hubs just isn't into.  Not sure where that will lead me today.  I can't say that I'm really craving anything in particular. 

OK, craving kicked in and it was...the envelope please...Chinese!  I haven't had any in quite awhile and it definitely fills all the flavor slots (sweet/sour/spicy/salty).  There is a little Chinese drive-through just down the street.  I've lived here three years and I've never tried it.  It's one of those tired looking places that's been around forever that you just sorta notice but don't really look at.  Well, today was the day.

I was pleasantly surprised.   The food was good, the prices were great and wow!  Do they ever pile it on!  The egg roll was almost a meal in itself.  It was huge!  Lots of leftovers.  Glad I took the chance.  I'll definitely try some of their other menu items.

Breakfast:  Coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip
Lunch:  Veggie egg roll with hot mustard, Spicy Chicken Kung Pao, Sweet & Sour Pork, steamed rice, and a fortune cookie.
Dinner:  Cottage cheese with bacon bits, garlic powder and pepper. 

Day 21-Is It a Habit Now?

I've always read that if you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit. Today is that day!  WOOHOO! 

Today was also my weekly weigh in.  I lost another pound.  According to the CAD weigh-in process, I lost 2-1/2 pounds this past week.  Total weight loss is 4 pounds.   Not too shabby considering I get to eat whatever I want once a day.  And believe me, I do!  I eat whatever I want.  No restrictions whatsoever.  I do try to stick close to the 1/3 meal concept but in truth, I always pretty much eat like that anyway. 

1/3 low carb veggie+1/3 protein+1/3 starch=Delicious!

I am so thankful that my family taught me good eating habits. We always had at least two veggies with dinner and salad of some sort too. My mom wasn't big on fried foods so even now, they aren't something I really crave.  OK, occasionally I do want some McDonald's french fries but hey, they are really good!  We had desserts but a lot of the time, it was something as simple as the 1-2-3 jello stuff or no-bake cheesecake.  We even had fruit salad as dessert occasionally.  Very well balanced meals were the staple for us.  Again, I am so thankful I grew up eating this way.



Brunch:  2 egg omelet loaded with cheddar cheese, red & green peppers, onions, and spinach and topped with a bit of salsa, coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.

Dinner:  Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, my Honey Oatmeal Seed Bread, butter, and a Russell Stover dark chocolate coconut cream pumpkin. 

Day 20-Fall Back

Don't we just love the time change?  No we do not!  I hate the first few days.  I always wake up with the feeling I'm late, which I loath!  It makes a stressful beginning to the day.  Oh well. ~shrugs~

It took a few hours to get hungry again this morning so I opted for brunch instead of breakfast &/or lunch.  Seems like a good compromise for a lazy Sunday morning. 

I'm in a weird place emotionally.  I learned another thing about myself.  I always thought I didn't really use food as an emotionally crutch but I was wrong.  Way wrong!  I guess it is such an ingrained habit I never even noticed before.  Now that my body is free of the carb addiction, my mind is learning the new habits. 

It's been interesting from a observers prospective.  I have found that since I don't obsess over food, my mind is free to think about other things.  I know that sounds a bit odd but it's true.  So here's the rub.  What do I fill that blank space with?  I realized that is why I have felt 'bored' the past week or so.  There is a void that needs to be filled.  This is freeing but a little scary for two reasons.  One is I have to learn to use different tools to deal with those emotions (anger, frustration and boredom) and two, I need to figure out what it is I really like to do.  Sounds easy but it's not.  I've spent the past, ohhh, 40 years of my life ignoring this and now it's time to rediscover this neglected area of my life.  I figured I would look to my past interests as a child and young adult and see if any of those things still inspire me.  It should be an interesting journey. 

Had a nice dinner date with Hubs at Trapper's tonight.  He wanted somewhere cozy and semi-quiet.  I wanted a nice sit down meal.  We both agreed Trapper's had the perfect atmosphere. 

Yes, that is taxidermy.  It's Oklahoma, people!

The food is always delicious and the service is great.  I did eat some of everything but I didn't completely stuff myself.  I am decidedly full but not stuffed.  It does take much less to reach full now though.  I'm very happy about that!

Brunch:  2 egg scramble with green peppers, salsa, spinach, and coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Dinner:  Coconut shrimp with orange marmalade sauce, French bread & butter, Caesar salad, blackened tilapia with blackened shrimp, scallop and brown butter sauce, with a side of garlic smashed potatoes, Swamp Water, and some bread pudding with whisky sauce.  Oh, and one hush puppy. 

Day 19

I'm awake...sorta.  It's one of those 'must have coffee' kind of mornings. 

Ahhh.  Now that's better.  Working on my second cup and now, the world looks rosie.  One of these days, I'm going to invest in a real coffee grinder and try my hand at roasting my own coffee beans. It looks like a pretty simple process and I love the idea of having my own personal house blend.  I may have to make a trip to the local whole food stores.  I'm sure one of them has raw coffee beans.

Speaking of beans, it's about time to make a big ole' pot of white beans, cornbread sticks, and a mess of greens.  Can you tell I have Southern roots?  Although I was born in the North, both sides of my family come from Tennessee.  This is why I am addicted to sugar!  We put sugar in everything we cook.  Green beans?  Add a pinch of sugar.  Greens?  Add a pinch of sugar.  Iced tea?  Add a lot of sugar.  Desserts?  The sweeter, the better!  Amalgamation Cake, Cobbler, Chocolate pie, Pecan pie, date nut candy, fudge, divinity.  It's in my blood. 

Man, I don't know what happened but around 3:30, I became ravenous!  I mean absolutely must-eat-NOW hungry.  My stomach was literally growling and gnawing.  Yikes!  So I ate an early dinner tonight.  Inhaled might be a better description.  I don't normally get like that so it was a bit odd for me.  You could have set hominy and Lima beans (both foods I detest) in front of me and I wouldn't have balked. It wasn't low blood sugar because there was no shaking or feeling odd.  Just overwhelming hunger.   Weird.  I'm chalking it up to hormones.  I really can't think of any other reason. 

Breakfast:  One egg omelet with cheese and green peppers, Morningstar Hot & Spicy sausage patties, and glorious coffee with cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Steak Umz and creamy cabbage stir fry.
Dinner:  BBQ Pork sandwich, potato chips, French onion dip, salad with Ranch dressing, and a pumpkin Pop Tart.

Day 18 Aunt Flo Comes a knockin'

I know. Over sharing!  But this is an important subject for women and weight loss. 

For me, it usually means a few days before, I am starving, then the first day, I want to eat light.  Neither thing happened.  I wasn't starving this past week and really had no particular cravings at all.  I was a bit more hungry for dinner last night but I had a light lunch and I did 2-1/2 hours of physical labor so of course I was hungry.  Maybe it's the CAB that has balanced things.  I'm not sure.  Only time will tell on this particular issue.

I do know one thing.  I promise to give myself a break this week.  In the past, I've obsessed over the weight fluctuations that come with this.  Not this time!  I will weigh daily, record my weight, and let it go, remembering to have faith in CAD and my body.  It will continue to lose weight because I am following the 'rules'.  It's as simple as that.

If any of you are on this journey with me, give yourself a break too.  Our bodies are wonderful and mysterious things.  We, like nature, don't follow some rigid plan.  Our bodies respond to so many things.  Hormones, weather, moon cycles, emotions, diet, exercise.  All those things influence how our bodies respond.  Be kind and gentle to yourself.  Treat yourself like the magnificent being that you are!

I wasn't hungry again this morning.  I chalk that one up to a pretty filling dinner last night.  Homemade pizza is pretty hearty.  Well, the way I make it anyway. 

Apparently, today is all about Cheddar cheese.  I had some with my soup for lunch and I want more.  So, I'm going to have some on my 'burger' tonight.  Not sure what that's all about but okay.  It could be worse.  I could be craving cookies!

Breakfast:  Cuppa Joe with Cinnamon Cool Whip
Lunch:  Cream of cauliflower soup, Cheddar cheese
Dinner:  Morningstar Griller burgers with grilled onions & mushrooms, sharp Cheddar cheese, and Durkee Famous Sandwich & Salad sauce, steak fries, and a Russell Stover chocolate Carmel marshmallow. 

Day 17

I don't know why but I woke up really early today.  I saw Hubs off to work and went outside.  It's a crisp, clear Fall morning.  The Sun has yet to rise but the Moon is shining brightly and the sky is full of morning stars.  The day feels full of possibilities.  Yes, Autumn is definitely my favorite season.

I've been up for a couple of hours so my tummy is just starting to rumble.  Looks like breakfast is on the menu this morning!

Did serious physical labor this afternoon.  We haven't closed our pool yet and yes, there are lots of leaves in it.  Well, there are less now.  I spent 2-1/2 hours dipping leaves.  At least it was an absolutely beautiful outside so it made it much more pleasant than it sounds.  It's not really hard to do, just time consuming.  It needs to be done methodically and slowly.  Tomorrow, I will dip the other half, then correct all the chemicals and next week, we'll put our baby to rest for the season.

Goodnight, sweet Pool.  You will be missed.

Breakfast:  2 egg-white omelet filled with cheddar cheese, onion, green and red peppers, mushrooms and spinach, coffee.
Lunch:  Cream of Cauliflower Soup
Dinner:  Homemade Italian sausage pizza, salad, Coke, and a Russel Stover S'more. 

Cream of Cauliflower Soup
Makes 2 servings
1 cup steamed & mashed Cauliflower
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 tablespoon Onion, chopped
2 cups Water
2 teaspoon Knorr Chicken Bullion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 tablespoon real Bacon Bits
1/4 cup Cream
shredded cheese (I used Parmesan because it was already shredded.  Use what you have)
nutmeg

Steam Cauliflower in microwave then mash with potato masher.
Saute onions in olive oil in a deep saucepan until onions are translucent.  Add water, bullion, garlic powder and nutmeg.  Bring to boil and boil for 2 minutes.
Add cauliflower and bacon bits.  Simmer together for 2 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, blend cauliflower mix until very creamy. 
Add cream and return to heat and gently boil until mixture is to the consistency you desire.
To serve:  Ladle into bowl and sprinkle with shredded cheese and nutmeg. 

Day 16-Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween/Samhain everybody!  Should be a beautiful night for Trick or Treating since the moon is still almost full.  Hope you get more treats than tricks! 

My neighborhood is mostly elderly folks.  This will be our third Halloween here and I've never had one child ring the doorbell.  I hope in the future this changes.  I miss seeing the kids all dressed up.  At least I got to see my Stepson excited about it this year.  He just turned five so he understands the concept now.  He is going to be a yellow crayon.  Costume is cuter than it sounds and he's a red-head so it goes well with his hair.

I don't miss having the extra candy hanging around though.  That was always a temptation since I always gave out chocolate candy bars & I love chocolate.  Do any of you remember the days when people actually gave out homemade treats?  I used to love getting popcorn balls.  It wasn't something we made at home so when I got one, I was ecstatic.  They never made it back to the house.  Of course, I lived in a very small town (population 350) so we knew pretty much everyone.  It's a shame kids today don't get to enjoy those simple treats.

This morning, I'm semi-hungry so decided to have breakfast.  Definitely having the coffee and Cool Whip.  It's a cool morning so warm sweet cinnamony goodness is demanded. 

Forgot to get candy.  I like to have it just in case we do get a stray kid or two tonight.  Asked Hubs to pick some up and he came home with a huge bag of sugar stuff.  You know.  Jaw breakers.  Lemonheads.  Swedish Fish.  That sort of thing.  I was a bit surprised.  I figured he would get a bag of candy bars.  He said he got this because he knew neither one of us would eat it.  I typically get something I know we'll eat.  I guess I should have to be more specific. 

Breakfast:  Morningstar Hot & Spicy breakfast patties, ketchup,  fried egg, & coffee with Sweet Cinnamon Cool Whip.
Lunch:  Spiced Up Cottage cheese, celery, cup of Veggie Soup.
Dinner:  Leftovers Night.  BBQ Pork sandwich, potato chips & dip, Mexican rice, coleslaw, mac & cheese, bites of cookies and 1/2 package Swedish Fish.

Day 15

Before I say anything else, I want to send my prayers and thoughts to the thousands who were and still are in the path of Hurricane Sandy.

I have several East coast friends who were in the brunt of the hurricane and have seen their updated pictures throughout the evening and early hours this morning.  It's bad, people.  Very bad. 

I had a difficult time sleeping last night.  It was a full moon and obviously, the weather systems are a bit wonky.  Yeah, I'm sensitive to those sorts of things. 

Why do I mention this?  Because I know from personal experience that when I'm tired &/or sleepy, I tend to snack throughout the day, and those snacks are not healthy ones.  I crave things like candy bars and cupcakes.  This will be a test for the CAD and for myself.  I'm looking at it in a positive light.  Knowledge is power and if I'm going into this with the knowledge of my former responses and that CAD works.

I was a bit surprised that I wasn't hungry again this morning.  I decided to just go with it and just had a cup of coffee topped with Cool Whip Season's Delight. 

Have you seen this yet?  My store had two flavors.  Sweet Cinnamon and French Vanilla.  A serving has 25 calories and only 2g of carbs!  WOOHOO!  Yeah, I know.  It's full of all sorts of chemicals but sometimes, you just need some darn Cool Whip!  Cool Whip also has a new line of frosting in chocolate, cream cheese and vanilla.  Sounds like the start of some very easy cool desserts this Summer! 

Good news with this one. It didn't trigger any carb cravings.  YIPPEE!  I also had no problems at all with cravings due to being a little tired.  I tell ya.  CAD is a real lifesaver!

Breakfast:  Coffee with Cool Whip Season's Delight Sweet Cinnamon topping.
Lunch: Reward Meal:  Pasta Bake (leftover spaghetti baked with peppers, onions and cheese), mixed salad with Ranch dressing, garlic toast, 1/2 peanut butter cookie, 1/2 spice bar and 1/2 cocoa chew. 
Dinner:  Crazy Good Low-Carb Soup, sour cream, cilantro.

Day 14-Heading into Week 3

I'm Free!
Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/pware/6940494136/

Going into Week 3 is exciting for me.  I don't think I've made it this far on a 'diet' in a long, long time.  By now, I'd be so fed up with measuring and starving that I would have had a least one cheat day.  I'm still in the 'amazement' stage of CAD. 

Although the CAD book says to weigh daily and then average those weights, I still like to see my Monday weekly results too. CAD say I've lost an averaged weight of 1-1/2 pounds. My weekly weight shows a 3 pound loss. Either way, I'm losing so I'm a happy gal!

The weight loss is wonderful but something just as wonderful is not obsessing over food.  I know I've said it before.  It's just such a relief to feel 'normal' when it comes to food.  When you've spent your whole life with an addiction/obsession, it feels so freeing when it's gone!  If you even think you may have issues with carbs, go to your nearest store and buy this book.  It really will change your life!

Breakfast:  Wasn't hungry so didn't eat.
Lunch:  Crazy Good Low-Carb Veggie Soup
Dinner:  Spaghetti with mushroom meat sauce, mixed salad, garlic toast, Tidal School Oklahoma Sweet, and a coconut macaroon.

Crazy Good Low-Carb Veggie Soup
1 stalk celery, minced
3 tablespoon onion, chopped
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
3-4 chicken tenderloin breast pieces, cut into 1' pieces
2 cups Chicken Broth
About a cup of Water
1 can Hernandez Salsa, hot
1 Zucchini, cut into chunks
2 cups Cauliflower, separated into small bite-size pieces
1 cup Cabbage, shredded and chopped
1 cup Mushrooms, sliced
1-1/2 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Oregano
Sour Cream
Cilantro

Heat olive oil in a saucepan.  Add celery and onions and cook until tender.  Add chicken and brown. Once chicken has browned, add the rest of the ingredients except mushrooms. Bring to a boil and then simmer until veggies are tender.  Add mushrooms and simmer till they are tender.
To serve:  Ladle into bowl and top with sour cream and cilantro.

Day 13

Today was weight averaging day.  I lost 1/2 pound.  According to the CAD book, 1/2 to 2 lb. loss is what we're aiming for. 

Woke up later this morning.  Hit the shower, feed the birds, and did the morning chores.  By the time I started getting hungry, it was so close to lunch, I called breakfast a wash.  I don't normally skip meals but I do occasionally.

Both Hubs & I were really hungry so I made lunch my Reward Meal again today.  I seem to do really well with this as my main meal.  It seems to keep my appetite in check for the rest of the day. 

I used the leftover pork from the Smokey BBQ Pork I made earlier this week for Pulled Pork Tacos. The recipes are below. Please forgive me. I didn't take any pictures and the measurements are pretty vague since every pork butt will different in size.  I also didn't measure the slaw so it's all approximations.  Just add a bit and taste it as you go.  This is how I cook most of the time.  Little of this, dash of that.  Taste, adjust.  Did you notice the slaw is on the low-carb food list? 

Hubs wanted hard taco shells, which we didn't have, so he picked some up at the store.  He also picked up a bottle of Mexican Coke for me! 

I am not a huge pop drinker but when I do, I want Coke.  I grew up drinking Coke and it's still the pop of choice in my family.  Unfortunately, several years ago, Coke switched from using real sugar to corn syrup.  When that happened, my interest in pop faded.  I turned to trusted unsweetened iced tea and left the Coke drinking to my dad.  About a year ago, Hubs & I started shopping at our local Latino Mercado. This is where we discovered Mexican Coke...made with real sugar! And they come in glass bottles.  I hate drinks in a plastic bottle!  If you like the taste of old fashioned Coke, get thyself to the nearest Latino store and stock up.  Trust me on this. 

Breakfast:  Skipped
Lunch:  Pulled pork soft tacos, Mexican rice, spinach salad (of course) with fat-free Catalina, Coke, and one chocolate cookie. 
Dinner:  Two-egg omelet with cheddar cheese, onions, a tiny bit of salsa, with a side of bacon.

Pulled Pork Soft Taco
Leftover meat from Smokey BBQ Pork
Ground Cumin
Broth from Smokey BBQ Pork
Corn tortillas
Chipotle Slaw
Monetary Jack or Cheddar cheese, shredded
Onion, chopped
Cilantro
Shred the leftover pork and put in a medium size skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle liberally with ground cumin.  Add a few tablespoons pork broth and stir to combine.  Separate pork and gently warm until the pork has absorbed most of the pork broth.  Set aside.

Heat a small skillet on high.  Add 1 corn tortilla to pan.  Let warm for approximately 30 seconds, flip and warm another 30 seconds. They burn quickly so be alert. Put warmed tortillas inside a folded tea towel to keep warm.  Continue to cook and put in towel until you have the desired number.  I typically eat 3 to 4.  Hubs will usually eat 4 to 6. 

To assemble taco:
Place tortilla on plate, add pork, then cheese, slaw, onion and top with cilantro.  Fold and devour!

Chipotle Slaw
1/4 cabbage
1/4 cup real Mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Rice Vinegar
2 tablespoon Chipotle Powder

Shred cabbage.  Mix mayonnaise, vinegar and chipotle powder.  Add cabbage and toss.  This is better if made a few hours before so the chipotle can really infuse the mayo. 

Day 12-Day Late & a Dollar Short

It's a brisk 31 degrees in Oklahoma City this morning.  This is my kind of weather!  Sunny and cool.  Perfect for a bike ride, walk or just playing outside. Later today, the Fam is going to Spooksville for Halloween.  It's a little festival for the young 'uns.  The weather is perfect for that as well. 

Hopefully, I won't be too tempted by the festival treats.  You know the ones.  Funnel cake, corn dogs, kettle corn.  Fortunately for me, I don't really like funnel cake or corn dogs.   Kettle corn, well, that's a whole different story.  It smells so good and tastes even better.  I am a sucker for the sweet/salty combination.  My plan is to make my Reward Meal lunch again today.  If I have a full tummy, it'll be much easier to turn down those foods.  What's the old saying, "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow"...no wait, that's not it! "To be prepared is half the victory".  I plan on going into this particular battle fully prepared.


Breakfast:  2 egg white omelet filled with green peppers, onions, tomatoes and sharp cheddar cheese with a side of bacon.
Lunch:  Spinach salad with Caesar dressing, Smokey BBQ Pork, mac & cheese, green beans, handful potato chips and dip, 1/2 dinner roll and part of a dark chocolate cupcake. 
Dinner:  Steak Umz Creamy Cabbage stir fry. 

Outfit of the Day

Something new & fun to play with.  I won't post an entry to 'Outfit of the Day' every day.  I don't go out every day (yeah, I am a homebody) so I don't 'dress' every day.  OK, I put clothes on every day but you know what I mean. 

Today, I'm dropping off an application and resume and then heading off to grocery shop.  I need to look pulled together but jeans are totally appropriate.  Here is my choice.  What do ya think?

Whole Outfit

Necklace & Earrings

Ring (clean now)

Bangles

Shoes & Socks

 

 

Day 11-Lessons Learned

Ahh lessons.  Aren't they fun?  No.  No they are not.

Yesterday was a real struggle.  I fought myself all day to not eat.  All I wanted to do was shove food in my mouth.  I wasn't craving anything specific.  I just wanted to eat, period.  A lot!  It was so difficult to fight the urge.  I was so frustrated!  Then to top it off, I got angry at Hubs.  He was a bit, well to be blunt, rude.  Needless to say, anger on top of frustration was not a good mix.  I literally had a little mantra running in my mind for the hours before bed.  "Tomorrow you can eat whatever you want".  I repeated it over and over and somehow, I made it through.

I did learn though a few things though. 

One thing I learned is I absolutely cannot use artificial sweetener.  I started my day with two foods which had sweetener in them and I won't do that again!  I also question if cottage cheese is a trigger.  To be safe, I am going to cut both from my Complementary Meals.

Another trigger for me is anger.  It's obviously a big one.  My first reaction was "I want a cookie".  Talk about a deep, ingrained, bad habit!  Obviously, I use food to soothe myself.  I know this but it became very obvious last night.  I did tell Hubs I was angry and why and he did apologize, which I accepted. I didn't deny the feeling by eating.  I did express it and deal with it.  However, between the stress of being angry and the carb addiction calling my name all day, I still wanted a cookie. Or a cupcake.  Or more BBQ.  Food.  I just wanted food!   Again, my mantra saved the day.   "Tomorrow you can eat whatever you want".  When it was time for bed, I was very relieved and proud of myself for not giving in to this temporary craving.  "Tomorrow you can eat whatever you want" was the last thought before I drifted off to sleep.

Today is a different world!  I've been awake for almost two hours and I'm just now getting hungry.  The horrible obsession to eat is gone and I feel normal & in control again.  I tell ya, the word addiction is spot on.  I can see why people fall of the wagon, be it for carbs, alcohol or drugs.  The compulsion is very strong. 

Breakfast:  Italian Skillet Fry, coffee.
Lunch:  Today's Reward Meal:  McDonald's COB burger, fries, Coke & 3 cookies.  Enjoyed every single bite!
Dinner:  Spinach salad with cucumbers, onions, cauliflower, bacon bits, and spiced-up cottage cheese.  I didn't eat it all because I was still full from lunch.

Nice way to start the morning!

Italian Skillet Fry
One Serving
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
2 tablespoon Onion, chopped
1/4 cup Green Pepper, chopped (Try fresh red peppers or even roasted peppers instead)
2-1/2 cups fresh Spinach (You can also use Swiss chard or kale)
2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Salt to taste (Optional. Cheese & sausage have plenty already)
Pepper to taste
Hot Pepper Flakes to taste (Leave out if you don't like spicy)
1/4 cup Italian Sausage Crumbles (I had this on hand. Use regular Italian sausage if you don't)
Cooking spray
1 egg
1 slice cheese, about 1 ounce (Shredded mozzarella or Parmesan are best but use what you have)

Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small skillet.  Add peppers and onions and cook until both are softened.  Add spinach, garlic powder, salt, pepper, hot pepper flakes and Italian sausage.  Saute until spinach is wilted. Add a bit of water if this mix starts sticking but make sure all of it has boiled off before plating.
Put on plate and set aside.
Rinse and dry pan. 
Spray pan with cooking spray.  Fry the egg to your desired level of done-ness.  I like mine over medium (set white, runny warm yolk). 
Once egg is cooked, cover with cheese, take off heat, and cover pan with lid  to allow cheese to melt.
Put egg & cheese on top of spinach and serve.

Day 10-A Bit of a Trial

As I type, a cold front is moving in.  In the last hour, the temp has dropped over 10 degrees, from a high of 63 to 52.  I think this is the day we really go from Summer to Fall.  I've been waiting for this!

In honor of the coolness, I tried out a new breakfast this morning.  I broke out my muffin pan and made Carbohydrate Addicts Complementary Light & Airy Muffins.  This is a recipe in the CAD book.  The ingredients sound a little odd but I needed something a little different for breakfast.  They definitely were a little bit different.

They lived up to their name as 'Light & Airy'.  I made the Spice Muffin version. I guess I'm good at folding ingredients into egg whites.  They didn't break down much. The recipe said it made eight muffins. I ended up with ten.  Not a bad thing.

My house was filled with the warm scent of spices as they baked.  Nice thing on a cool, dark morning.  Between that and the scent of the brewing coffee, I was in hog heaven. 

Fresh out of the oven.

A serving is two muffins but since mine were lighter, I treated myself to three smeared with salt-free sweet butter.  Pretty tasty.  The texture was a bit like a souffle.  They were very airy and had a nice spice flavor with a hint of sweetness.  They definitely make a good light breakfast.  Not super filling so if you're really hungry, I'd suggest something else.

Would I make them again?  Yes, probably.  I think next time, I will try making them savory instead of sweet.  Maybe add a bit of shredded cheese, chives, and garlic powder.  I think that would be pretty good.

I noticed today, I've been getting hungry and having cravings.  This hasn't been a problem over the past days and I think I know the culprit.  Artificial sweetener.  Both the muffins and the syrup have Splenda in them.  I also did a big no-no and tasted the sauce for the BBQ.  It has sugar and molasses in it.  I should have known better.  It wasn't much, just a taste but I guess I'm sensitive enough to carbs that it affected me.  Darn! I also have been a little less diligent on my Reward Meals the past two days.  Not really paying attention to my low-carb veggies and going over the 1/3 proportions.  I think between these two things, I set myself up for a problem.  Fortunately, dinner isn't too far away and I know I can wait until then to satisify my hunger. 

 

I have learned my lesson!  Tonight's Reward Meal will be truly well-balanced.  Yes, I will have some macaroni and yes, I will also have some lemon cupcake, but just 1/3 carbs as recommenced in the updated CAD.  I like not being hungry, I like not having crazy cravings and I like feeling in control.  It is totally worth being a bit more strict in following the 'rules'. 

Following 'The Rules'

Breakfast:  3 Light & Airy Muffins with butter and coffee with Torani sugar-free chocolate syrup. 

Lunch:  Creamed sauteed cabbage with Steak Umz and mushrooms. 

Dinner:  Spinach salad, Smokey BBQ Pork, Very Creamy Mac & Cheese, green beans, and for dessert, a lemon cupcake (shared, of course, with sweet Hubs).

 

Carbohydrate Addicts Complementary Light & Airy Muffins
Makes 8 to 10 Muffins
1/4 tablespoon vegetable oil (Used Pam instead)
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar (I didn't use this)
1/4 cup regular or low-fat cottage cheese (I always use full-fat dairy)
2 tablespoons soy flour
1 package artificial sweetener (I used a scant tablespoon full)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Coat muffin cups with vegetable oil (or Pam spray)*.
Separate eggs being very careful not to get any yolk in the whites.
Beat egg whites until frothy with mixer.  Add cream of tartar (if using) and beat just until stiff peaks form.
Combine egg yolks, cottage cheese, soy flour, and sweetener.  Gently fold this into the egg whites.
Fill muffin cup 2/3 full. 
Bake for about 30 minutes, until muffins are golden brown and spring back when touched.

VARIATION:  Spice Muffins.  Stir 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon cloves into the soy flour mixture. (I used 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, & 1/4 teaspoon cardamon). 
*Nex time, I will use paper liners.  They tend to stick a tiny bit. 

Day Nice...I mean Nine

It's 7:32 am.  I've been awake for about an hour and guess what?  I am not the slightest bit hungry yet!  Impressive.  In the past, I was starving about 10 to 15 minutes after I woke up.  This low carb works!

Went for a trip to the store in search of soy flour.  There are a few recipes in the CAD book for 'bread' and 'muffins'.  I'll admit, I miss french toast or a muffin with my coffee.  I didn't eat them a lot but it would be nice for an occasional break from the typical egg breakfast. 

I went to the local little health shop and unfortunately, they did not carry soy flour.  I found it odd because they had pretty much every other kind, even coconut!  I did get some Dr. Bronner's Magic soap in lavender.  Smells heavenly and they are 100% organic and certified Fair Trade. 

Speaking of heavenly smells, I had to visit Ingrid's Pantry which is a small version of Ingrid's Kitchen, one of my favorite eateries in Oklahoma City.  Their food is delicious but I'll be honest, I go there for the baked goods. OK, and their Wiener Schnitzel plate. 

Today I came home with their famous Thumbprint cookies (rick butter cookie with a glob of dark chocolate frosting, absolutely addictive!), a spice bar, a lemon cupcake and a chocolate cupcake. Hubs will be thrilled with the cookies. 

Look simple, taste sinful!
 

Now tell me, what other diet on Earth allows you to have any of those?  Oh sure, you can eat them on Weight Watchers but you couldn't eat much else in the day.  CAD, you can eat and not starve.

I finally made it to another store and found my soy flour! WOOHOO!  I'm going to 'bake' tomorrow morning.  I'll let you know if it's worth the time and effort.

Breakfast today: 2 egg white omelet with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, bacon bits, and Monterrey jack cheese and a splash of hot sauce. 

Lunch:  Mixed greens, cauliflower, and shrimp with Caesar dressing. 

Dinner:  Homemade Italian sausage pizza with black olives, salad with Ranch dressing, Mexican Sprite, and 2 thumbprint cookies! 

Day Eight

Ohhhh, I do love me some coffee!  Truly nectar of the Gods. 

Today's breakfast:  Mexican Omelet.  2 egg whites, green and red peppers, sharp cheddar cheese, a bit of hot salsa, garlic powder and cumin.  Pretty tasty!

Since today is my 'free' day, meaning I can have whatever I want as Hubs has dinner out with Stepson, I was feeling Arby's.  I decided to try lunch as my Reward Meal today instead of dinner.  I got my food and brought it home.  I had a Super Arby's (sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, and 'red ranch dressing' which is really just Catalina dressing), potato cakes, jalapeno poppers with Brocho Berry sauce, and a chocolate and a cherry turnover.  Yes, two turnovers because I just couldn't decide which one I wanted.  Oh, and unsweet iced tea to drink.  I enjoyed every single bite of my appetizer, sandwich, and potato cakes.  When I got to my turnovers, I will admit, I was getting pretty full, but I did eat some of both.  I left the table completely satisfied but yeah, I know I ate a bit too much.

Did I stick to the rules of CAD perfectly for this meal?  Well, yes and no.  I guess it depends on which version of the book you have.  The one I have says eat whatever you want.  The updated versions has a few more rules.  1/3 protein, 1/3 allowed veggies and 1/3 carbs, including drinks and desserts.  I know that this meal was pushing the limits a little but that is the exact reason I love this plan!  If I have a crazy meal occasionally, it's okay.  It doesn't blow my 'diet'.   I normally eat healthy, balanced meals so it's nice to know I can do this occasionally with no guilt, & no regrets.  THIS is how normal people eat! 

I also like the fact that I am no longer absolutely obsessed with food!  It's not the background conversation running through my brain all day.  I eat my meal, I'm full and satisfied and I move on.  It's a wonderful sense of freedom!

When dinner time rolled around, I really wasn't very hungry.  I ended up eating about 1/2 cup cottage cheese and celery sticks. Yup, that's it.  I did spice up my cottage cheese with Canadian spice blend and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.  It was cool and refreshing and honestly, food was the last thing on my mind.  I probably could have easily skipped dinner altogether but I know that is not a good habit to get into.  All in all, CAD proved again to be the right way to eat for me.

Day 7-Beginning Week 2

Weighed in this am and yes, it was still a pound less than last Monday! WOOHOO!  I thought the salt from last night's Chinese food might do me in but no.

Breakfast this am was sauteed spinach, red pepper, bit of tomato, garlic powder, salt, pepper, 1 whole egg and 1 egg white covered with 1 slice Munster cheese and a splash of Louisiana hot sauce plus 3 small bacon slices.  Oh, cannot forget the coffee!

It was a dark, dreary morning so I was craving a 'treat' at breakfast.  Normally, this would have been something like sweet oatmeal or perhaps a muffin.  Something warm, spicy and fragrant.  So instead of giving in to a very temporary desire, I compromised and made flavored coffee.  It's pretty easy. 

Just sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over coffee grounds and then add a splash of vanilla before it brews.  It smells heavenly and has a nice, rich flavor.  I don't even add any sweetener.  It doesn't need it.  Besides, if I don't know how to pronounce something, I sure don't want to eat it!  YUCK!

Lunch:  Braised cabbage with Steak Umz (easy and fast to cook) & side salad with CAD dressing.  Filling and tasty.

I was ready for a few carbs tonight but wasn't exactly sure what to make for dinner.  Hubs said he was tired of Mexican, we just had Asian, and we're having Italian on Wednesday.  I had a pound of hamburger waiting.  I know, homemade Hamburger Helper!

Both Hubs & I just can't tolerate regular Hamburger Helper any longer.  It's too salty and just tastes like a bunch of chemicals.  Since I like to have easy meals, I started messing around with things to come up with my own versions of our favorites.  Tonight, we're having 'Beef Pasta'. 

Dinner was delicious.  We had Beefy Pasta, green beans, salad, french bread, butter and for desert, chocolate cookie with a latte.  All in all,  a good start to week 2.

Beefy Pasta
1 pound ground beef
1/2 box mushrooms, sliced
1-1/2 cups whole wheat noodles
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 package brown gravy mix
2-1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon beef bullion paste
salt
pepper
Sour cream (optional)

Brown ground beef. Add mushrooms and saute until tender.  Add garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley.  Stir.  Then add brown gravy mix, water, bullion paste, salt and pepper. Stir again.  Bring to boil and then turn down heat to simmer.  Cover and cook until noodles are soft.  If sauce seems too thin, bring temp back up and boil with lid off until the consistency is as you like it, stiring often.  Stir in sour cream if using.  I usually just put the sour cream on the table to add to taste.  I love it, Hubs hates it. 

One Full Week!

And a full belly too!  Today marks Day 7 and it's been pretty darn easy.  The most difficult thing has been cooking 3 meals a day.  But ya know what?  If that's the worst, I'll take washing a few extra dishes!

The official weight loss is...drum roll please...one pound!

TADA!  OK, I know one pound isn't a lot but I look at it this way.  I get to eat what I want every single day.  I never have to deny myself anything, be it french fries, chocolate, cake, brownies, pasta, whatever.  So if I can do this and lose one pound a week until I reach my goal weight, I'm a happy camper!

Today's meals were my typical morning breakfast of an omelet with mushrooms, cheddar cheese, onions and Canadian bacon.  Lunch was Steak Ums sauteed with a few 'shrooms, green peppers and red peppers served over smashed cauliflower. 

Reward Dinner tonight was a treat.  We went for Chinese buffet.  I got to graze a bit and I did good.  I got my veggies in there too.  I LOVE the green beans. I also had a little dessert buffet with a couple small cookies and some fruit.  I left feeling satisfied and content.  Can't say that's been the case in the past with other well known diets.  I always left feeling deprived and irritated at not being able to really eat what I wanted. 

Week One:  SUCCESS! :)

Day Six

Today went well.  Got Hubs and Stepson off this am for a t-ball game.  While they were gone, I made my breakfast.  Today I had sauteed green peppers, mushrooms, and spinach scrambled with one whole egg and a side of bacon.  I forgot how wonderful real bacon is. 

Hubs got home and I talked with him while he ate his brunch of tacos.  It was interesting to me that I sat there the whole time and not once did I have the urge to eat one.  Didn't even enter my mind.  I'm LOVIN' this eating plan!

I left to do a bit of shopping when he finished.  I treated myself a bit today with some new hair products.  I have very curly hair and it's pretty fussy.  Too much product and it goes flat.  Too little and the curl get frizzy.  I got some Carol's Daughter products.  I saw something about it a few years ago and filed it away.  When I saw it today, I knew I had to give it a try.  Not the cheapest product around but I like that it's all natural and it supports a woman run business.  I also got some makeup but shhh...we're not going to tell Hubs about that just yet. ;)

After my trip to lady-land extravaganza, I went to the store to pick up a few items.  Finally got back home and made a wonderful lunch.  I know there are recipes for cauliflower 'mashed potato' recipes out there but I just steamed some in the microwave and smashed it up.  I poured what I guess I will call Chicken Stroganoff over the top and enjoyed the deliciousness!

Dinner was Chicken Parmesan sandwiches, chips, a nice big salad with Cesar dressing and for desert, a toasty Pumpkin Pie Pop Tart!  Seasonal Pop Tarts are pretty darn good. 

All in all, it was another day of true amazement at how I'm not obsessing over food anymore.  At this point, I really beginning to believe it's not all just in my head but truly a change in my body.  All I know is that I'm going to keep doing this! 

Chicken Stroganoff
3 ounces chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon onion
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Salt
Pepper
Garlic powder
2 tablespoons Chicken broth
1 teaspoon parsley
2 tablespoons Sour cream

Heat oil and saute onions & chicken together till chicken is cooked.  Add mushrooms, soy sauce, chicken broth, salt, pepper, parsley and garlic powder.  Cook until mushrooms are tender and broth has reduced a bit.  Take off heat and stir in sour cream.  Pour over smashed cauliflower. 

Day Five

Last night, Hubs got snack happy and broke out peanut butter, crackers and Ghiradelli dark chocolate truffle squares.  Normally, watching someone else chow down, especially on chocolate, would drive me insane.  Funny thing happened.  I absolutely did not want any!  Really!  I didn't want any at all.  This was almost a magical turn of events for me because in the past, even if I wasn't hungry at all, I would have grabbed the chocolate and ate it anyway.  Amazing!

Today started out beautifully. I did my daily weigh in and as of today, I've lost three pounds! I'm not going to get too excited because I have to average the week, but it was nice to see. Not too bad for being able to eat what I want every day. 

Breakfast today consisted of a nice egg white omelet with green peppers, onions, tomatoes and Munster cheese, and Morningstar spicy sausage patties.  I was very glad to see the sausages were within the carb limits because I really do like them.  They are low-fat as well so it fits nicely.

I was out and about today when the lunch hunger hit me.  A little research on my phone and I was set.  I went to McDonald's and had 2 cheeseburgers, no ketchup, and a small side salad with the balsamic dressing.  I only ate the meat and cheese of the burgers and only a little of the dressing.  I cannot imaging using all of it. The salad would have been swimming! YUCK!  I also splurged and got a diet Coke.  Not something I drink often but I like a Coke with my burgers.  Was simple, fairly tasty and did fill me up. The thing I really liked was not having to interrupt my excursion to go home and cook. 

One of my stops was to the local liquor store.  Yes, I drink.  Occasionally, I enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail.  Today, I found something I just had to try.  Chocolate wine!  It's chilling and I can hardly wait to try this tonight! 

Also tonight, the step-son will be here.  We typically have Mexican food.  Son really loves him some bean burritos.  Hubs has put in a request for tacos.  I am going to make a kick-ass taco salad, 89er style, for myself.   It's nice to know I don't have to cook anything different or special to enjoy a meal with my family. Different items using all the same ingredients! Everybody wins.

The 89er was a restaurant in Springfield, Missouri.  I went to lunch there many times because I worked in the same strip mall.  They made the best taco salad ever.  I don't think it can really be called a taco salad.  I don't remember there being any chips involved.  It was a flour tortilla, layered with refried beans, lettuce, onions, cheddar cheese, salad dressing, salsa, sour cream and topped with chili.  Absolutely delicious. Tacos...fffttt! I'm having this for dinner tonight

Dinner was wonderful.  Again, I surprised myself by eating about half of my taco salad.  OK, it was a bit big but still, there was a time when I could have wolfed down the whole thing easily.  Then it was time for dessert.  OMG!  The ChocoVine was delicious.  My Hubs called it an Electric Yoo Hoo!  It was about the consistency of rich chocolate milk and tastes a bit like chocolate flavored Bailey's.  I had a small glass with a German dark chocolate butter cookie.  I couldn't finish it all.  Hubs gladly finished it for me.  Yeah, CAD is definitely something I can do!

The cookie matches.  ~giggle~