Back to work now......

Weighing in at 199.2 :-(

Yep, had to many rainy days inside and that really hurts. But it's back on track for me this week. I've already limited my food and carb intake. Almost back to induction rates. I have to get moving, not only for the challenge, but for Hawaii!!!! Yep, that's coming up soon too. I still want to look good in shorts and a t-shirt in the winter. YIKES. I even want to buy a new bathing suit. Maybe I can find one in Hawaii?

Oh well, thanks to the rain on both weekends we had off of work, it was easy to stuff more food in my mouth. We did (as a family) have way too many parties and I did fine at all of them. I didn't over eat or eat anything bad, I even by-passed the alcoholic beverages. BUT, when I sit at home watching tv or reading I like to snack on crackers/chips and that hurt some. Yep. Back up five lbs. It sure is easy to do. Even with small cheats. New years eve I did have two margaritas, but I used Baja Bob's Margarita mixes and they don't have any sugar in them. I did have some pizza that night too......bad Mo! Well, I don't cheat alot, and it wasn't a fall of the wagon, completely denounce lowcarb, stuff your face cheat! I'd say it was moderate by some means. I will be very hard on myself now as I still want to get down to 145 lbs. I don't have a desired "get to" date, just want to get there, and most important of all - STAY THERE!!!!

So move your big butt over Kirsty Alley, I don't need any packaged food to get me there, or some gal named Jenny, just my common sense and being honest with myself! HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

Ho Ho - OH NO.......

Weighing in today at 198.0 :-( Yep, that's a weight gain again......

Could it be? Yep, it's the Grinch that put on a few lbs. Oh well, look at it this way, I have been going down for so long, would it last. Nope, and I can go back to working really hard next week. Yep! I had my son's birthday, office parties, Christmas, New Years, more birthday parties all in these two weeks going by, than all the rest of the year. I have cheated a few times, but I've mostly stayed away from the really bad cheats. No egg nog or candies. I have had some pretzels and popcorn, and a piece of my son's birthday cake. I haven't felt the pinch in the wasteline on my size 12's, but I'm not going to go there. I have eaten moderately as well. I have not over-stuffed myself, and I have actually not really eaten alot. The things I have eaten alot of are veggies, fish and meats. I am only eating when I am hungry too, no over-stuffing my face with snacks. A friend came over last week and took us out to dinner too. I stayed away from the alcohol and I only had a few tiny pieces of the pizza they ordered. I had the wings instead and a salad. So, back to work as I have to face the music (SCALES) this morning!!!! My husband asked me yesterday if I have fallen off the diet plan. I told him no, but I have cheated a bit. He's on me like a hawk. Of course, he likes what he see's and we are going on a cruise to Hawaii in February and wants me to look my best! Of course he does, he's my best friend! So, back on the plan and keeping on the lowcarb lookout. I won't beat myself up for the gain, just working harder not to let it get ahead of me!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Cheeseburger in Paradise........

Weighing in late this week at 196.5

Well, now, it wasn't a cheeseburger, I did eat really well, but I had some drinks too! I went to Florida to visit with my folks and my brother and sister. We all went down (my husband and my son) as a family, and we had a great time. I didn't really focus on food that much, but my cheat blinders were still locked and loaded. I did navigate on the menus the options that I stick too, and I let in a few I don't usually have at home. I had some wine with my meals and I also had a few carbs here and there. Not the carbs that give you major headaches, mind you. I did ok, as there were many temptations at my fingertips. One of the hardest to resist was my sister's margaritas. Yes, I had two. They were so good, but I did have a slight headache the next morning. Other than that, I stayed pretty true to my original diet schema. Lots of veggies, meats, eggs, cheese, salads, and I took my own candy bars. Yep, that helped too! I didn't have the desserts, just one night I had some sugar free icecream. That was all. So, since Thanksgiving, I've gained two and a half pounds. Yep, back up to 196.5. Now, don't count me out. I'm back on it this week and I will lose this too. Since it dropped into the teens, I'm on the treadmill at night instead of walking and playing ball outside. I will have to invest in some silk long underwear. Since losing the 38 lbs, I can't seem to keep warm outside. I've lost my heavy insulation!!!! So, I guess I'll just have to buckle down and buy some. If I ever make it to 145, what will I do, I'll be freezing in the winters here!!!!!!!!!! Florida was great, 83-85 every day, sunny, warm water. Yep - I did it, I actually put on a bathing suit and wasn't afraid to be seen in it. AMAZING. I think my suit was around 6 years old!!!! Ha ha!!! Well, back to putting together my menus for the week. Take it easy around Christmas and don't beat yourselves up too bad for cheating a little. It happens - Happy Holidays - hope to check in on time next tuesday with better results.

Happy Holidays to you ALL!!!!

Weighing in at 194 today - that's a 2 lb weight loss for the week!!!!

Hey, that's pretty darned good going into the biggest feasting holiday of the year. I am armed with my Pumpkin Impossible Pie recipe and my Chocoperfection chocolates, I should be good to go. We are going to my husband's brother's house and I am bringing the dessert. Of course, one regular pumpkin pie, and one for the low carbers. I am also thinking about bringing the cauliflower and cheese bake, since the vegetables will probably consist of potatoes, yams, peas, corn and the like. I think I'll just be stuck with the turkey and the olives. I won't let that happen this year. Not when I just took all of my size 16 and 14 jeans into the consignment shop this afternoon. Nuh uh! No going back for me, it's going forward full steam ahead!!! I hope all of you have a wonderful Holiday season and I am out looking for a bathing suit to go swimming when I get down to visit my folks next week in Florida. Keep thinking about the long term effects and keep smiling. Don't get overwhelmed by all the food at the table. You don't need to eat it all to survive. You need to eat to live, not live to eat.

So much to do, so little time.....

Weigh in 196.0

Hello, I have been so busy here at work and at home, I haven't had any time to write! I've had a bunch of new software rollouts at work and numerous requests for projects and of course, I'm off in a few weeks. I've been super, super hard at work at home too. I did make that Impossible Pumpkin Pie recipe last night, and instead of the Splenda, I added a half cup of DaVinci's sugar free caramel syrup. The pie was good, but not a sweet as I would have liked. I did add some sugar free whipped cream to it, and it helped a bit. I'll have to modify it the next time to suit my sweetness. I just don't like using the crystalized Splenda. I wish I could find the liquid kind. It bakes better.

So, how did all of you do? The holidays are coming. I have stocked my shelves with goodies for the sugar/carb busters. I bought a mix of choc chip cookies from Big Train and also some mocha frapachino too from them. I also have my back up choc bars from Chocoperfection! Thanks Jimmy for all the great hints on the "I feel like I'm cheating" snacks!!!

I've been kind of low lately. My cat was hit by a motorist in front of my house and had to have her tail removed. I've been doctoring her up these last two weeks. Plus the weather is nothing short of dreary and damp. I also lost (what I thought) was a very healthy baby rabbit the other night. I found him out of his nestbox a bit stiff. It's tough to be a breeder of any kind, you have to suffer numerous defeats, Mother Nature can be so cruel. I've also not felt on top lately. I had to go to a viewing on sunday of my husbands cousin. He passed away at 55 from a long battle (four years) with a brain tumor. Wow, sure makes you appreciate all the rest of the days that you have.

Well, back to working. I'm going to try and lose more before I leave for Florida on the 30th. My parents won't recognize me when I get there. I didn't tell them I've lost all this weight, I wanted to surprise them.

Fall foods - Fall forward.......

Well, with the recent time change and all, and the cold nip in the air, thoughts are turning to Holiday foods. I just recently found a great recipe for Impossible Pumpkin Pie. I'll have to list it here in my blog. I thought it would be a good one to try as it makes it's own crust. No need to try to put nuts in it and spoil the whole thing (I'm not fond of nuts in sweet things). I also wanted to tell everyone that even though it gets dreary and dark and cold out, light a fire, walk on the tread mill (if you have one) pick up some weights (or canned food) and do some arm curls. But don't get caught sitting in front of the t.v. with thoughts of snacking. I have plenty to do, since I raise rabbits and have a barn full of critters. I'm always out there, working, cleaning or just enjoying the animals. Be creative it'll help you get through those long winter days!

I also am excited today, I went to my favorite consignment shop and bought two pair of nice pants, both a size 12 and three wonderful looking sweaters - mediums!!!! I am so psyched!!! I just want to put up three way mirrors in my bedroom now........before I didn't even want to PASS one!!! It's so great to go from a size 18 to a size 12 - what an ego booster that is. And the clothes!!!! Wow, there is so much more to be had as a size 12. They don't know what fashion is when you're a size 18 - sad. I feel on top of the world, thank you all for the encouragement to succeed. Well, enough said - here is that recipe......

This smooth, spicy pumpkin pie makes its own crust! Delicious with whipped topping or Breyers Carbsmart vanilla ice cream. Yields: 1 - 9 inch pie Ingredients:

2 cups pumpkin puree
1-1/2 cups Hood Calorie Countdown milk
1 cup Splenda
1/2 cup Carb Quik baking mix
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch pie pan. In a medium mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, sugar, baking mix, melted butter, eggs, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, until mixture is smooth. Pour mixture into pan. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, until set in center. Allow to cool before serving.

Trick or Treat?

Checking in at 200 lbs. 2+ weight gain this week. ;-(

Well, I received my treats in the mail yesterday! I ordered the Chocoperfection bars and boy are they wonderful. I think I will be substituting these for my icecream this winter. I'm not much on icecream in the winter time, so these bars may actually help me get over the sweet tooth/chocolate cravings. I also am looking for a low carb hot-chocolate mix. If anyone out there knows of one, tell me please!!!! Well, this week was a gain week as I have had nothing but heartburn and acid stomach problems. Don't get me wrong, it's not from doing this diet. It's probably stress/work related as well as eating too many of the tortilla chips and cheese. I sometimes overdue them as they are my snack favorites. I have eased up on coffee and fried foods and also the chips. I did add more yogurt and I bought some of the Hood Calorie Countdown (used to be called Carb Countdown) choc milk. I drank a glass a day for a while until I got over this acid problem. I did gain two pound and I'm back up to 200 again. Oh well, back to the drawing board. We had a pig out day at work today for Halloween, but I picked at the fruit and the cheese/meat tray. I did have a small piece of tortilla wrapped with cream cheese and some meatballs, but I won't be eating much for dinner. I am taking it easy on my stomach. I have also started to walk/jog on my treadmill down in the basement at night. The weather has been too nasty to walk outside and it rains off and on now. Well, trick or treat everyone - Have a safe and Happy Halloween.