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~





Day Four of the Grand Experiment!

As I said yesterday, things are a bit weird.  I woke this morning and didn't immediately start thinking about what I was going to have for breakfast.  I made my coffee, poured a cup, and sipped while talking to a friend.  About an hour or so into the day, I finally got hungry. 

Today's breakfast:  Egg coddled in sauteed spinach with cheddar cheese.  It was delicious and so satisfying.  Easy too.  (Recipes will be at the bottom of the post).

Got hungry for lunch around 11:30.  I'm usually snack-happy around 9:30 to 10:00 so this is a huge improvement!  I had Garlic Chicken with cabbage and cauliflower.  Mighty tasty and I am actually full! 

Reward Dinner tonight was Parmesan Chicken, spaghetti, cauliflower/Brussel sprouts & mixed salad with Ranch dressing.  I amazed myself (and my husband too), when I ended up leaving food on my plate!  And it wasn't that I loaded up either.  I just got full.  I did, however, make room for dessert.  A nice glass of Cherry wine from St. James Winery in Missouri, my home state.  Sweet and flavorful 

Could I have found what really works for me?  Only time will tell. 

Spinach with Coddled Egg
1 large egg
Approximately 2 cups raw spinach
a bit of olive oil
1 oz. shredded cheddar
salt
pepper

Over medium heat, warm olive oil in a small skillet.  Add spinach, salt & pepper. Stir around until very lightly wilted.  Make a small 'nest' in the spinach, drop in egg whole (don't break the yolk).  Cover with lid so it can steam for a bit.  Check in about 2 to 3 minutes.  When egg is cooked, cover with cheese, replace lid, and turn off heat.  Let steam for another minute or so until the cheese is melted.  Enjoy!

Garlic Chicken with Cabbage
1 chicken tenderloin (4 ounces)
1 cup shredded cabbage
3 garlic cloves, minced
olive oil
water
soy sauce-a few splashes
salt
pepper

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.  Set aside.  Put olive oil into skillet with cabbage, salt, pepper and about a few tablespoons water.  Cook cabbage until it starts to get soft.  You may need to add a bit of water to keep it from sticking.  Add garlic, soy sauce and chicken.  Saute until chicken is cooked through and cabbage is limp and has caramelized a bit. 

I Confess!

I've got a dirty little secret.  An obsession that has ruled my life for years. One that I've had since I was a teenager.  One that has caused me to lie & cheat.  One I've cried many tears over.  

My name is Lisa and I am a carbohydrate addict.  There.  I said it.  Out loud for the whole world to see. 

This isn't an easy thing for me.  I like to be in control. I like to think of myself as strong. I am a go-getter who never shys away from taking a risk.  I'm not afraid of change and I'm not afraid of a challenge.  Hell, I welcome it! 

I hate to give even the slightest hint that I may be weak.  I hate the idea that I really am not in control.  I hate trying and failing over and over again.  I hate feeling like I have no will power when I know this is not true!  I once went five days without eating one bite and only drinking water.  THAT takes will power. 

When I eat carbs like a normal person, I go into an addictive cycle.  Eat carbs, feel satisfied, an hour later, start getting ravenous, eat carbs, feel satisfied.  Over and over again. When I'm not actually eating carbs, I'm THINKING about eating carbs. If that doesn't sound like an addiction, I don't know what does.

It is exactly like being addicted to crack or nicotine except for one little thing.  You don't HAVE to take crack or smoke a cigarette, but you DO have to eat to live!  ARRRRGGGGGG!  So frustrating.

Then came The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet by Dr. Rachael Heller & Dr. Richard Heller.  I bought it about six or seven years ago.  I read it.  I thought about it and then I put it aside.  I found it again this past weekend and something inside me just 'got it'.  I decided to start on Monday. 

I am now on Day 3 and it's going beautifully!  Day 3 is usually my 'make it or break it' day.  Typically, it's about this time that I fall off the wagon.  It could just be psychosomatic but it really does seem that I'm not obsessing over food between meals.  Yes, I get hungry but it's not an hour after I eat.  It's more like 3 to 4 hours, which is a huge difference.

I will continue to update things here as I go along.  I will share recipes, thoughts, pictures, menus and if I get really brave, my weight. Yikes!   Recipies will be featured at the bottom of the posts.

Wish me luck!

Dinner Reward Meal:
Mixed Herb Salad with Ranch dressing
Pan Seared Salmon Steak
Asparagus
Gnochii with Sage & browned butter
Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding
I added pecans, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and malt.  Was absolutely delicious. And believe it or not, I didn't eat it all either. Amazing!  No pic. Sorry.  I'll remember to do that.