Planning to do low carb diet again

Today I had a protein shake, banana and coffee for breakfast

Lunch was a green juiced drink, tomatoes, carrots, beet, celery, parsley
was o.k. , I don't like tomato juice.  But, they had to be used today.


I am doing a detox this weekend and hope to start a low carb south beach style diet
after detox.  Lots of fruit, veggies, protein with limited carbs in my future.

down 8 lbs in almost 5 weeks

Not a ton but still that is something. I only cheated one day out of the 5 weeks.  I have been drinking protein shakes, eating eggs veggies and beans for brunch, have a handful of nuts for midafternoon snack, lots of veggies and meat for dinner. I have a small amount of cheese here and there.  I have wine 1 glass, a few nights a week.  I hope to start seeing a weight loss of at least 2lbs a week sooner than later.

just living the dream

I cheated once for the first time yesterday.  I am back on today. I had 2 eggs, cottage cheese and veggies for breakfast.  I went shopping last night and got lots of meat and veggies:)

still down 8

We got a new puppy yesterday. She is so cute! I may have to upload a pic.  I had a protein shake before we left, stir fry leftovers when we returned and we ordered in thai food for dinner. I got satays of chicken steak and fish and veggies.  Today I had hard boiled eggs coffee and veggie leftovers from last nigh for breakfast. Tonight we are having chicken curry with chickpeas, a recipe from Men's Health magazine.  Not bad!

Down 8 and a little more

Hey there! Doing the south beach/4 hour body and I am doing well. I was happy to see the # go down.  Finally. I hope it just starts doing that consistently per week.  We have been eating eggs, beans, veggies protein shakes, salads, meat and veggies for dinner, a little cheese here and there, a little fruit here and there. A few glass of wine here and there.  Book club last night I got a burger no bun with a salad.  Avoided the bread with ease.  Stir fry tonight with steak.  I am also frying up chicken breasts to have in the fridge since I am taking the wok out:)

down 7.8

Ugh week 3 ends tomorrow. I hope to report some sort of loss.  I had a protein shake for breakfast and lunch Sat and went to a Brazilian steak house for dinner. Great salad bar and lots of meat.  Sunday we went out for brunch and I had a bacon and veggie omelet with tomatoes on the side.  For dinner we had chicken and roasted zucchini and peppers.  Today I had a protein shake, nuts, cheese, and I really need to make lunch still.  Tonight I plan on making fish and brussel sprouts.  Oh I did have my first fruit in 3 weeks yesterday I had 15 cherries and a glass of red wine. Delicious evening snack.

still down 7.5.... waiting for a sudden drop in weight:)

doing phase one still with addition of a glass a wine a few nights a week.
This week we had stuffed porkloin, chicken drummies and salad, salmon and roasted cauliflower 
and tonight i am bakng a roast with veggies.  I have been eating mostly salad, a few nuts and little cheese for lunches.  I did make the mocha ricotta dessert in the book, it  was pretty good! It hit the spot. 
I have added back caffeinated coffee thank the lord.  I have had  a few diet cokes a week on average.  I use to have one a day with lunch so I think that is good.  I went to the gym once this week but did go on a few 30 minute fast paced 2 mile walks this week as well.  TGIF!

low carb diet continued

Well Southbeachers, don't eat chicken wings on phase 1.  Not a good idea. I am down 7 pounds in 2 weeks.  Not bad.  I am sticking to phase 1 more than moving on to phase 2.  I know this is controversial but I have a problem adding back carbs in moderation.  Maybe next week I will add back in berries.  Lots of water. Lots of eggs, veggies, salads and meat.  Hardboiled eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch, Stuffed porkloin for dinner with a veggie on the side or salad, not sure what yet.  Keep it up!

Down 7.5

Last night we did have chicken and salad.

I had a protein shake when I woke up this A.M. Then I took my friend who is moving out to brunch. I got steak and eggs and the restaurant substituted the potatoes and fruit with a great green salad.  For a snack I had some cheese and another protein shake.  I had lots of water today as well.  Dinner is going to be fish and asparagus baked this time (last week we used the steamer).  I am having cravings for bread or any dessert to be honest but I am holding in there.  Week 3 and phase 2 starts Tuesday thank god!

down 7!

Yipee!  Doing well. I even had a large glass of wine last night.

We had coconut chicken with chickpeas tue.

Wed. we had pork chops with fried onion and mushrooms and a salad.

Today I have had 3 bottles of water, coffee, tea, 2 hard boiled eggs, left over curry chicken with chickpeas for lunch and tonight I am going to bake a chicken over veggies and prob. have salad



I want to lose 6 more pounds this month. We will see if it happens

Week 2

I got lots of great low carb foods at the grocery store yesterday.  I had a protein shake this morning.  I went to the gym for an hour.  I did 45 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes of weight assisted pull ups, squats and lunges and some abs.  I had 2 hard boiled eggs and a small amount of almonds when I got home.  I have had 2 cups of coffee and 3 bottles of water so far. Doing well.  I am going to have a salad with left over chicken for lunch. Tonight we are probably going to have fish and veggies.  Feeling a lot better this week than last when it comes to energy. I still crave carbs at night.

Restart, again.

Well, I have been doing low carb again for 1 week and I have lost 5 pounds.
Wow. I am so happy I am back on a plan. I had a rough couple of months and then
I had 3 weeks of seperate houseguests. Needless to say I am back up to my highest weight
ever.  I lost my dog and my brother lost an arm in a work accident in the same week.
I guess I am emotional eater because I gained back the 15 pounds I had "lost over the
course of this last year.  Well easy come hopefully easy go. I lost 5 pounds last week
by doing the initiation low carb phase. I would say it is South Beach or aitkins or
even The 4 Hour Body.  I did not eat too many beans though.  Let's see what did I eat over the
last week?  I had mostly eggs and veggies and protein shakes for breakfast.  Lunch was
mostly salads and left overs.  I  had chicken and salad one night.  Stuffed peppers (no rice) one
night.  Salmon and asparagus one night.  pork chops and brussel sprouts one night, chicken lettuce wraps with cashews one night and then one night  a friend was in town from Dubai and we went out to a sushi place. I got seaweed salad, avocado salad, fish, spicy chicken... and another night my husband and I got tapas and they had a whole lot of low carb options actually. We had chicken, steak, fish, cheese, salad, olives, pork belly, shrimp, all very good, some of the sauces may not have been awesome but, we got to go out and I still lost weight. Oh for dessert we ordered the bacon wrapped prunes or figs.  I did do kettlebell swings for exercise 3 times this week for 10 minutes each.  I did ice packs (from 4 hour body) once.  I am taking the Pagg stack (4 hour body). I can tell the green tea extract heats me up. My goal is to lose 8 more pounds before Sept. 1rst. We shall see if that will happen.  I am going to the gym at least 3 times this week and sticking on strict low carb plan. I am going grocery shopping today. I plan on buying 2 dozen eggs, 1 dozen to hard boil, chicken, fish, pork loin, steak or lamb, and these yummy premade kefta skewers (lamb and beef mixed) in frozen section, delicious.  plus veggies and salad fixings, bacon and sausage prop. for the weekend as we usually do brunch together, maybe a pre cut veggie tray so there are always snacks in the fridge, refried beans, chickpeas, lemons for water, sugar free jello, pickles for tuna salad on celery or in lettuce wraps (lunch, can be sprinkled with pine nuts for a crunch

starting to blog again

under the 4 hour body but also doing a south beach esque diet if you will

Southbeach/The 4 Hour Body

Down 3.5 pounds. I am eating eggs for breakfast, beans for lunch and meat and veggies for dinner with 1 cheat day a week. I am still doing low carb. I wish I was doing southbeach as this 4 hour body diet does not allow any fruit except on your cheat day. Keep it up! Low carb does work.

Southbeach, switching to The 4 Hour Body, still low carb

Well I am down 2 pounds since doing the Southbeach. I kind of messed up for a week there.
I had pizza and pasta.  For the superbowl we had lasagna. I have major issues let me tell you.
I just finished reading The 4 Hour Body by Tim Ferris. I saw him on Dr. Oz and The View.
It is a low carb diet but, you get 1 cheat day a week. Which I like.... a lot!  You write down what
you are craving like french toast, pizza, ice cream all week and on your cheat day, you can go nuts
and eat 3 cheat meals, not breakfast though. He recommends a 30 gm of protein breakfast.
So, I am going to continue eating low carb much like the southbeach, no fruit and no dairy except a little cheese or cottage cheese...... Plus you can have coffee, diet coke and wine. My favorite things in life.  He also recommends eating legumes or beans with most of your meals.  Which I think is a great idea.  So, I am doing a low carb diet but I am adding a cheat day and also lots of beans.

South Beach Continued!

Well, there is such a thing as a slippery slope, let me tell you.  I made whole wheat spaghetti and ate the appropriate amount for dinner and then for lunch the next day and then for dinner as well. I love pasta. So, I think I learned I better just say no.  I also had a 6 inch Subway club on whole wheat the other day.... delish but, I am now craving sandwiches.  Who wants a salad when you can get a sandwich?! Seriously. Seriously.  But, I am trying.  I recently read a great book, The 4 Hour Body by Feriss.  It was really interesting. He recommends a clean low carb diet with 1 cheat day a week.  He also recommends cold showers.  Interesting. This guy is a freak but his book is really good and I find it comical but, I am not sure it is supoose to be.  Men are just so odd!  But anyways,.... low carb is going o.k.  It is hard for me to portion carbs and then not crave them once I have them.  I am thinking about going back to the 2 week induction and staying away from break and carbs. I am not losing weight but I think I am eating too many carbs.  I have oatmeal with berries, sandwiches, meat and veggies for dinner mostly.... Except when I make spaghetti! Lol.  But I use ground turkey meat and whole wheat pasta.  I have been going to the gym 3 times a week doing 50/50 cardio and weights with 10 minutes of abs 2 days and yoga the other.  I need to step that up.

yippee chocolate covered strawberries!

I love fruit. I have been trying to follow his phase 2 meal plan.  Day 1 was awesome.  Fruit and oatmeal, snack was a egg, lunch was salad, snack was pear with cheese, dinner was salmon and veggies, dessert was 4 large semi sweet chocolate dipped strawberries and a glass of red wine ahhhh..... amazing.  I also have had berry smoothies, chicken, tomatoes and cheese, steak and mushrooms with asparagus, dessert of cantaloupe and ricotta was pretty good.  I am not losing weight that i see but, I can eat like this. That is for sure.

Down 2

Well I have been slowly adding back the carbs. 1 piece of toast here. Some berries there. Yogurt for snacks. I need more breakfast recipes. I still find myself eating veggies and eggs most breakfasts.  I have been working out and have added protein smoothies with berries.  Very yummy!  I forgot how much I love a berry smoothie.  Weight is not dropping... maybe I will stop eating a handful of nuts everyday.  They are pretty high in the calories.  Sorry I missed a few days. I had a friend in town.

Day 15, down 3.5 pounds in total

Not bad.  So if I am understanding this right, we can add back 1 fruit, 1 starch/grain, and 1 dairy serving like yogurt a day.  So, I plan on having fruit with eggs for breakfast, yogurt with lunch and whole wheat pasta for dinner.  I guess I will need to watch my portion size on the pasta for sure.  But, sounds great! Lots of veggies and protein still but a fruit and a grain serving a day sound spectacular at this point. Lol.  Working out was easy yesterday.  I did 40 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of weights/abs.

Day 14!

Ooops missed a day.  I am going to weigh myself tomorrow. Tomorrow is my last day on phase 1! Yipee! I am going to re-read the next phase today and tomorrow. I know I get to start adding carbs back in.  That will be nice.  I am so sick of eggs for breakfast.  I am also sick of salads and meat and veggies for dinners.  I know I need to avoid all of those processed foods and white flour and sugar for my health but it sucks!  I also need to lose 20 pounds and weight loss takes a lot of work and dedication.  I think that this program has helped me lose weight and think more about my mental food cravings and old eating habits. I need to start some new ones. Eat to live don't live to eat!  So today I had 2 hard boiled eggs and cottage cheese for breakfast.  I plan on having a turkey burger with avocado for lunch. Last night we had steamed salmon and asparagus for dinner. Lunch was nuts, cheese stick and cucumbers with humus.  I have been having a handful of nuts for a snack most days of this phase one. I think I forgot to mention that before.... I had ricotta for dessert last night and sugar free jello the night before. I can not find sugar free pudding in Toronto Canada. Which I find very odd.  I did find some sugar free hot chocolate though!

Day 13 of 15.. since I cheated once...

I had a great egg muffin breakfast this A.M. I got the recipe at Kalyn's blog http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/
They turned out great.  Lunch I had chicken ceasar romaine lettuce wraps with Parmesan cheese. Yum-O!  I had ground turkey meat taco salad for dinner with guac and salsa.  Very yummy.  I plan on making the mocha ricotta tonight for a dessert.  I am doing well and I think I have lost weight but I am waiting to weigh myself until day 15.  I am craving dark chocolate and red wine. Is that bad? Lol.
I guess it is my comfort food I turn to while watching T.V. at night. 

12

Doing better!  I am getting my energy coming back and my carb cravings are now substantially decreased.  I am feeling thinner and my belly seems flatter.  I am not weighing myself till day 15.  Yesterday I had cucumbers topped with cream cheese and flakes of smoked salmon for lunch. Dinner was chicken and a large salad with tomatoes, mushrooms, scallions, basil and mozzarella. Breakfast today was real bacon, ha ha, and scrambled eggs with mushrooms, tomatoes, scallions and cheese.... sounds like my salad last night huh?  I had sugar free jello with some redi whip (which is actually low carb.)  It was only one squirt on top, I swear! Lol. 

Day 11

Did not weigh myself this A.M. getting annoyed with just eating eggs and meat :) Stuffed peppers are yummy!  I had celery and hummus for lunch.  This a.m. I am having scrambled eggs with spinach and feta cheese.  Lunch and dinner.... who knows. Probably baked chicken and salad.  I am still more sleepy than usual and I am craving dessert. The sugar free jello is o.k.  I have not bought sugar free fudgesicles like the book recommended.  I ran out of ricotta for the other desserts. Gee, I have to go to the store!

Day 10, only 4 left! I may do 5 since I cheated one night

Pot roast was good last night.  Still have not lost a pound but, did go to the gym mon-wed every day.  So that is good.  I may go this evening, we'll see.  I had eggs and fried tomatoes this a.m. with some salsa. I am going to make stuffed peppers tonight. I got the recipe off of facebook.  Oh, yesterday I had a disgusting lunch, lunch meat and a cheese stick. I just could not be bothered. Lol. You have to prepare most all of your foods on this diet.  I am going to find a recipe for crock pot chicken. 

Day 9, cravings gone. Weight stable.

I did well yesterday and I went out for book club.  I got a coffee rubbed sirloin burger (no bun) with a salad instead of fries and a diet coke. It was great. First time I have had red meat in a month or 2.  I have been trying to have red meat just once a month and I found it easy to cut out.  I think that is another reason I went with the South Beach Vs. Aitkins.  Though, I think the aitkins is great for people who need more structure. Once I can have fruit, I will eat it every day.  Same with bread.  So, we shall see.
  For lunch I had a chicken Caesar salad since I had romaine lettuce in the house, no croutons.  Today I am making a crock pot, pot roast.  I am making it with potatoes but I am not going to eat any of them.  I promise!  Breakfast, eggs, cheese, coffee.... lame. I could make something spectacular but, I am getting sick of eggs and turkey bacon.

no weight loss yet, day 8

Mmmmm.  Well, last night we had ground turkey meat tacos in romaine lettuce leaves... yummy!
Lunch was a grilled chicken salad. I am drinking lots of water and tea.  I think that 21 pounds in 21 day detox i did really helped me get rid of all the quick weight-loss already.  But, I can't imagine I won't start losing weight soon eating like this.  I am having 2 hard boiled eggs and a handful of nuts for breakfast. Snack is a protein shake before my weight lifting aerobics class at 11.  I am really mad at myself for having drinks and a piece of pizza!  Grrrr.

back to normal

Not much to report... just have been having eggs, chicken, meat, cheese and veggies... decaf crap.... ugg, I hate phase 1 and I even had a break!  I think by cheating restarted the carb cravings back in full force.  It was hard yesterday and so far this morning. I feel hungrier than usual.  So, back to being good.  Learn from me, it is not worth it!

You may hate me. Oops I cheated. But, just up .4

For lunch we did well, we had chicken lettuce wraps.  For dinner, fish and broccoli.  Then, I went out for girl's b-day and I had a couple drinks and at 2 A.M. I got a large piece of thin crust veggie pizza.  Shoot!  I was weak.  I blame it on the alcohol. Ha ha.  Well, today I am just starting over.  What can you do?  I don't go out dancing but once a month or every other month so, I won't be too hard on myself.  This A.M. I made a green egg dish. Sounds gross but it was delish.  Scrambled eggs with green onion, green pepper, spinach, basil, and mozzarella cheese with a half of an avocado on the side.  Decaff coffee.... lots of water...back on track I would say.  Going to do some pilates here at home today and walk the dogs like usual.  Keep it up low carbers!

Day 6, back to normal weight

Thank goodness I lost that pound I gained. I think eating more salt caused that 1 pound weight gain.  I am feeling better.  Though doing zumba for an hour was exhausting but, I made it through in some style :)  Today we slept in and had a great brunch.  We had bacon and a veggie omelet.  Yummy!  I had some decaf. coffee and a large glass of water with lemon.  Last night I made a bunch of chicken breasts sauteed in olive oil.  I have lots of chicken in the fridge to make lettuce wraps and maybe dinner or chicken chili... lots of ideas here. 

Day 5, still up 1

I am feeling better so far. I had to get up early and bring my husband to the subway today so I stopped at Mcdonalds and got a coffee, scrambled eggs and 1 sausage. Delish, fast and $3. Though, I kind of now have some gut rot..... maybe only go there if you are in a rush.  Yesterday I ate some weird things... lunch was a whole green pepper cut up with some feta olive hummus and a cheese stick... dinner was a lot of broccoli with spicy bean dip (only 2 carbs! refried beans, sour cream, guac, peppers (red and yellow), onions, spices..... very yummy.  Then I made the mocha ricotta cream dessert. I was in heaven.  Very good.  It hit the sugar spot or sweet spot i guess.  I am going to the gym and taking a 1 hr. dance Zumba class. Should be fun.  This teacher always does the M.J. thriller dance at the end which is super fun. Yes I am nerd.  I am feeling less cravings and seeing yummy food commercials during Grey's Anatomy was easier last night.  Good luck!  Oh, I am going to have a 100 calorie 6 carbs protein shake before I hit the gym at 9.

 I just want to add that I am making my own low carb menu using page 126, foods to enjoy and then page 127 foods to avoid. I did this diet for 9 months 4 years ago. I think I followed the 2 week diet in the book the first time I did this diet.  But, I am just going to eat low carb food.  After looking through the menu, I am eating a lot of what they recommended per day just a breakfast from day 6. snack from day 5, lunch from day 8 etc. etc.  Sorry if you are following the menu to a T and reading my blog and thinking "What the F!" Ha ha.  I am doing a low carb phase 1 as the book recommends.

Another thing, I guess The South Beach is suppose to be more of a low glycemic index book but I associate it more with a low carb diet.  Phase 1 is the almost the same as Atkins 2 week induction phase (granted they don't recommend bacon).  I personally like the South Beach Diet more than The Atkins Diet because it allows you to start adding back low glycemic index foods quicker.   But, generally speaking, low glycemic index foods are low in carbohydrates.  I like fruit and getting to have berries quicker is a winner of an idea. Granted, being more leniant is sometimes hard for people who need more structure (like me). 

Day 4, still up a pound

Gosh, I remember losing 12 pounds in 2 weeks the first time I went low carb.  But, even without a pound lost I am dedicated to this diet.  Though, weight loss really motivates more weight loss IMO.  Yesterday, I had eggs for breakfast, a tuna burger no bun with a small avocado, handful of peanuts, 1/4 rotisserie chicken with caprese salad (tomato slices, mozzarella slices, basil with a splash of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.  I had caffeine free diet coke and decaf herbal teas and some water through the day.  I may need to up my water consumption.  I still feel foggy and sleepy.  I am going to the bathroom a lot.  What else?? Oh yes, still craving carbs.  I bought some ricotta cheese to make the desserts per the south beach diet book.  I can't wait! 

Day 3, up 1 pound....still

Well, this is not how I remembered the diet working compared to last time... But, I am not cheating! I had chicken and a greek salad for dinner, lunch yesterday I had a whole cucumber cut into circles with a can of light tuna made into tuna salad with celery and miricle whip.  I had a bit of cheese as a snack.  Lots of water too.  I had cheesey scrambled eggs with decaf green tea this a.m.  I bought avocados at the grocery store for later this week as they are still firm but, that will fun!  I love avocado.  A lot!  Well, I hope you are dropping weight!  I think the detox I did in December helped me shed the water weight you initially lose on this diet.  Hopefully I will see my weight return back to where it was and then trend down.  I went to the gym and walked 4.0 on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then I did a full body weight lifting circuit.  Surprizingly I could have added more weight for my lower half exercises. Only my upper half is sore today.  Good luck!
Oh, I should add I am more tired and working out was harder than I remember.  I slept 1 hour longer than usual as well.  I had some carb cravings yesterday. I wanted chocolate and waffles oh, and pizza too.  LOL, this diet is good for me.  Maybe I am a carb addict.

Day 2, up 1 pound?

Well, I totally blocked out the fact that I can not have caffeine for the first 2 weeks. Oops.  I guess I will be switching to herbal tea and decaff. coffee today. Good thing I finished off the diet coke yesterday :)  I had 2 hard boiled eggs and celery with 1 laughing cow cheese wedge with water so far today.  I am going to the gym today.  I have no idea how I gained a pound but, I recently came off of a detox so, it could be the salt from the Canadian bacon?  I woke up starving today. Still foggy too.  This too shall pass.  I hope. 

Day 1 of The South Beach Diet!

Happy 2011!  Today is the first Monday of the new year hence, the start of eating right. I want to lose 20 pounds and get back into a size 8 jean.  Currently I am wearing a size 12.  I recently lost 20 pounds doing the 21 pounds in 21 days detox.  And after almost a week, the weight is staying off.  I did a Atkins/South Beach diet 4 years ago for 9 months and lost 25 pounds.  My husband lost 40!  It was a great diet! We could even go out eat, which we love to do, and still lose weight!.  We both read the South Beach Diet and Atkins Diet books in the past. Yesterday I refreshed my memory and skimmed through The South Beach Diet book by Dr. Agatston, a cardiologist.  I also recently read an outstanding good called Living Low Carb by Bowden.  This book reviews (and grades) 30 low carb diet books plus it states great reasons to live low carb.  Everything in the book was backed up by tons of scientific peer-reviewed studies.  I am sold! I bought ketone strips at the drug store and plan on checking to make sure I am in ketosis a few times a week, especially when I add back fruit and "good" carbs.  Ketones show up in your urine if your body is burning fat for energy.  And that is my goal.  Burn my fat off South Beach Diet!  So today I have had eggs, Canadian bacon, coffee, crab salad with veggies, veggie "juice" and wheat grass shot from juice bar after the gym (only 14 net carbs according to nutrition book).... snack will be laughing cow cheese and celery, dinner will be meat and veggies of some sorts... lots of water and tea to drink.  I made hard boiled eggs today.  I cut up celery and put it in the fridge for hummus and laughing cow cheese wedge snacks.  I got cucumbers and a bag of sugar snap peas for snacks as well.

Update, the day is winding down. I felt sluggish all day and was treating these feelings with caffeine and lots of water.  It did not help.  Ugg!  We ended up having shrimp salad with veggies for lunch.  For a snack I had sugar snap peas and humus.  For dinner we had pork chops and brussel sprouts sauteed in butter and garlic.  I feel sleepy!