Carb Fast Day #2

I forgot to write last night.  I had taken Mr Middle school shopping and I also took him out to eat, which just happened to be the food court at the mall....

pure. torture.

But, I stayed strong, I got a salad at paradise bakery, their cobb chicken with avocado salad.  BUT, I still had like 300 calories to eat once I got home.  I ate some cherries and then some fruit salad and string cheese.  I am missing peanut butter.  I think I'm going to add that next week.  What do you think?  I was going to add legumes and quinoa next week and also a cheat day on Saturday.  I think a cheat day is the only way I'm going to make it on this diet, but that's a WEEK from THIS Saturday.  No cheats this week. :)

I didn't have any video workouts.  But I did do "fitness testing" with my kids, I gardened for about 20 minutes and I did "Just Dance" for 20 minutes.  BTW, Just Dance 1 seems to be a LOT less responsive then the later versions.  Princess P literally sat on the couch and beat Mr Middle who was actually trying... Mr middle wasn't too pleased about that. :)

Eating was alright.  Sometimes I stare in the cupboard for inspiration and I think "I could have some wheat thins." then I hear that giant gameshow-like buzzer saying "ERRRRR"....

I hear day 3 is the worst.  We've got some plans so that should help.  I need to figure out something tasty for dinner.  Maybe steak and mushrooms...

Yummmm....

Food Diary -- keyword: Losing

Carb Fast Day #1

Well, here I am as the day is dying down.  Somehow, through the graces of God -- my kids decided to play outside.  Thank you.  Thank you for the tender mercies.

Because, not only am I starting the carb fast, but it's the first day of marching band season and I took the kids to the library and we have two more weeks of summer.

I'm beat.

And kinda ornery.  Not too bad, except when everyone was talking about what dessert I was going to serve them after family home evening.  That wasn't particularly pretty. :)

Anyway, here's my food diary -- you can get in with the password "Losing" (capital L).

I started the day out with the NYC ballet workout.  Just a half an hour, but man that first half out KILLED my abs.  I need to make time to do the full workout, it's one of my favorites, but today wasn't that day.  I also went out and gardened for a half an hour.  Not my regular walk around and pull a few weeds.  I turned some compost (nothing more tasty then steaming compost when it's like 90 degrees outside -- today was a cool day), ripped out a tomato plant, all sorts of fun.  Anyway, between those two I was close to 400 calories from working out.

Myfitnesspal says that I should be eating 1200 calories PLUS what I burn working out.  We'll see how that works out.

I started out with a hard boiled egg and some avocado.  About 10 o'clock I had some grapes.  I felt kinda sick after the grapes.  I don't think I can do JUST fruit.  It's weird.  Does anyone feel like that?  I have weird blood sugar fluctuations so I'm thinking fruit may be out before lunch.  I just made a bowl of fruit salad and I feel fine now (but I did mix in some Greek yogurt).

I am currently just over 1400 calories eaten, it says I'm supposed to eat 117 more calories.  I'm not really hungry, but I made a lot of fruit salad, so it's an option.  BUT, I am going to try to stop eating 2 hours before bed.  So, that gives me about an hour to feel out my hungry-ness.

Thoughts on my carb fast?  Does it make you want to do one?  It sure doesn't do that to me! :)

Hobbies

I kind of think that hobbies are a good weight loss tool.  I tend to get really caught up in what I am doing, so much that I leave behind other cares.  Like swimming in syrup.

I see so many yummy ideas on pintrist.... I just need to get to the store and buy the stuff to get going on a few.

But then I think of the scrapbook supplies, just sitting there waiting to be transformed into pages.  And then I feel tired.  It would feel good to get some of those pictures done and I do love pretty paper.

Gardening is a great weight loss tactic for me.  I get so enveloped by my beloved drip system and planning it all out, I don't think about food.

So, what distracts you from food?

Working out can be a great tactic, but you can't do that all day.  You might kick your 3 year old with one of your fancy tae bo moves.... :)

Plans for Protein

I'm not just done to jump into things.  I have to give things a great deal of thought and preparation.

I've been thinking about the protein aspect, and what I have in my freezer an how that can be turned into dishes I like.

Steak -- I love steak, and I think in moderation it can be a good meal.  It has a lot of iron and frankly it's tasty.  I love it with mushrooms on top!

Pork chops -- These are pretty stocked in my freezer because they've been so cheap lately!  I like to cook them with a little balsamic vinegar.  Yum.

Shrimp -- I don't know if I have any, but they are such a great snack.  Just need to find some cocktail sauce that is without sugar.... which I have done before.

Sausage -- I love the chicken sausage from sprouts.  I am hoping we'll have some tomatoes from the garden and I make a sauce out of those and combine with the sausage for a yummy meal.  Maybe add some roasted cauliflower... yum.  I can also make some pasta for the kids.  I'm not a huge pasta fan, more of a sauce fan -- so if I put that over the cauliflower and I'm 90% sure I'll be just as satisfied. :)

Eggs -- I love veggie fritatas.... love finding what's in the fridge and throwing it in.

The problem with a no-carb diet is the fact that cheese is totally in-limits and I'm going to have to be careful with that one.  I love my cheese.  I mean, L-O-V-E and I don't think that a low carb diet is healthy when you're using cheese and pork rinds as substitutes.

What about you, what do you like to eat when you're emphasizing proteins?

Thoughtful

I've been thinking a lot about making a "comeback" really focusing on what I want to be as a person, which includes being more healthy, active and not as focused on my love of food.

Because I do love food.  I went with a friend and had breakfast on Saturday and it was SO delicious.  The french toast an the candied bacon.  Yum.  Delish.  I think about it often, I want to swim in the syrup.  It's just part of me.  I really liked food.

And frankly, I don't think anything's wrong with that, but I do need to mitigate it.

I am 98% behind a carb fast starting a week from today.  I've already thought of protein and veggie filled dishes that I really like, so that I won't feel like I am starving myself, or that my life lacks luster because I can't eat this or that.  I did a kickstart once with my friend Lara where we could only eat low fat proteins and cantaloupe.  I was pretty sure I was going to kill my family by the end of that.

I do want to feel like I have control over my body though.  I don't particularly, at this point... but I want to.

It's more then just the food though.  I tend to get up early and get all my jobs done and then collapse on the couch at about 2 pm and watch TV until the kids come home and sometimes beyond that point.

Frankly, I don't think there's anything wrong with an actual lunch break where I sit down and eat something and enjoy something that is just mine, but then I need to get up.

I need to find a hobby or something.  I'd like to make some of those ideas on pintrist a reality.  So many cute things to make for P.

Anyway, I'm wanting a life makeover.  Not just eating or health.  The whole she-bang.  Drew is heading back to work on Monday and my regular job life will return with just working once a week or so.  I always feel so invigorated at the beginning of the school year (which is crazy early here in AZ, darn it!  BUT my kids are tired of the heat, it'll be nice to have them occupied in an air conditioned building).  I can do this.  Who wants to support me?  What would you like to change about you?

Do you think it's possible?

Carbs

I, for the first time ever, am considering a carb fast. Good idea? I just hink I need to find some self control. And, that is all. :)

Thoughts?

Vacation

Headed on vacation at some point this summer...

I just need to remember to stay active.  I think I'll do fine as long as I really enjoy the food that I'm eating and I stay active.

what do you do on vacation?