Back in the saddle again...decided to finish out the sweet-free challenge.

After a tough week, I am back!

I make no apologies. I will merely dust myself off and start again a much wiser person.

Today I am re-starting my egg/protein fat fast and stay on it until Thursday.

Breakfast: 3 egg omelet, 1/2t of mayo, mustard, spices, green tea
Lunch: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 2 turkey cubes, a small portion of tuna with mayo
Dinner: 2 egg omelet with veggie patty, 1/2t of mayo, mustard, spices, green tea

Plenty of water, too!

Take care!

Ciao!

My sweet free challenge is over...

Christmas. Apple pie a la mode. A very emotional day. Enough said.

I ate mostly low-carb meals. Some good and bad judgments were made. I have no one else to blame but myself. I am my own worst critique.

I'll be in and out the rest of the week. I plan on revamping my blog and perhaps, adding another blog.

I hope you all had a good holiday!

Take care!

Ciao!

Living without TV and the Sweet Free Challenge

2 nights ago, I received a text that the tv had died. RIP tv. I can't say I was upset with that fact. Probably more upset that my boyfriend would not be able to enjoy a football game for a while. Or a DVD. (We were planning to rid ourselves of cable anyway.) On top of that, we have about a foot of snow on the ground as of this morning. It did not stop me from going into work yesterday. Lo and behold the MBTA came through with a few glitches here and there.

With all the stress, it has affected my eating. I am ashamed to say, I've had bread and pasta. Yet, the good thing is no sweet has touched these lips. No danish cookies. No diet soda. No splenda in the coffee. Nada nada nada. The thing that surprises me the most is I have not binged. The amounts were a few ounces here and there. I ate my regular 3 meals a day. My doctor hopes in January, if the low-carb plan suits my needs than I should embrace it at the Life Maintenance level since I am at goal. There is no need for crash diets as in years past. I should find new ways to increase muscle mass and turn the skinny fat into a lean body. I'm going to finish out the 2 weeks sweet free. I wrote here that I would do it and I shall!

Here is what I ate on Friday:

B: 2 eggs with 1/2t of mayo, mustard, spices.
L: 2 eggs with 1/2t of mayo, mustard, spices, veggie patty
Dinner: Buffalo tenders with celery and bleu cheese dressing and a side of linguni w/parmasean cheese drizzled on top.

Saturday:
B: 3 slices of my boyfriend's homemade bread w/butter (5:45am)
L: Garden salad with tuna - basil dressing (12:15pm)
D: Garden salad with tuna(Yes, I know tuna again and about the dangers of mercury), Extra Virgin Olive dressing with Italain seasonings (7:10om)

Take to you all later.

Ciao!

Binge Alert!

Breakfast and Lunch: 2 eggs scrambled, veggie patty, 1/4T of mayo, mustard and spices
Dinner: 1 HB egg, 4oz. of tuna w/mayo, 2 turkey cubes

Ugh! I was still hungry after my workout and had chicken breast and MAC and CHEESE!

I feel sick even though it wasn't that much.

I want salt for some reason. Salt salt salt salt salt salt.

I'm too upset at myself right now.

December 17, 2008 - Wednesday

I have to keep this short since I'm getting ready for work. I was thinking about what my co-worker said yesterday about me not consuming fruit. She disagrees with the entire low-carb lifestyle, yet, she ignorant to it. She constantly eats all day long on grapefruit, apples, bananas, nuts, and seeds. I gotta go. I will post later on.

B: 2 eggs scrambled, 1 veggie patty, 1 teaspoon of mayo, mustard, spices
285 calories

L: Same as B

Dinner: 1 HB egg, 4oz. of tuna with mayo, a few red kidney beans, 2 turkey cubes (350 calories)

920 calories total

Ciao!

The Sweet-Free Challenge Continues....

Tuesday Menu - December 15, 2008

6:45am - 2 eggs scrambled, Whole Foods Veggie Patty, 1 teaspoon of mayo, mustard, and spices
(285 calories)

1:00pm - Same as breakfast. (285 calories)

6:10pm: 1 hb egg, 4oz. tuna with mayo, few red kidney beans, 1 turkey cube
(325 calories)

I had some pepperoni slices and some mozzarella cheese (250 calories) to add more calories and fat.

1,145 calories

Wednesday - December 16, 2008

Breakfast: 2 eggs with 1 teaspoon of mayo, mustard, and spices (195 calories)

Lunch: Same as breakfast but with added Veggie Patty (300 calories)

Dinner: 1 hb egg, 4oz. tuna with mayo, few red kidney beans (225 calories)

Oops! My calories are way too low at 720! Yes, this is starting to worry me and my weight has dropped to 129lbs. Eek! Yet, I don't want to force myself to eat if I'm not hungry and eating coconut oil seems revolting to me.

Today at work my boss brought out a small round tin of Danish butter cookies. Thought I will miss the butter goodness and sweetness of these cookies. They aren't worth breaking the challenge.

I'm going to continue this challenge until my Doctor's appointment in January and then we will be able to sit down and evaluate my eating. Please , folks, don't worry about me. My nutritionist reads my blog and is fully aware of what I'm doing.

Take care,

Ciao!

P.S. - Yes, Vadim, even with low calories, I have plenty of stamina to spare at the gym. ;)

Oy, vey is right!

Checkpoint! - Halfway through the sweet-free challenge!

2 weeks without sweet and still going strong! I avoided the sweets at the Christmas party I went to on Saturday and on Sunday returned to my normal eating. Unfortunately, I wound up eating less calories than I would like. 850 calories.

Here is what I ate yesterday (December 14, 2008 - Sunday)

Breakfast: 9am - 300 calories - 2 eggs, Whole Foods veggie patty, mayo, mustard, and spices

Late Dinner: 5pm - 300 calories - same

Still hungry an hour later - 5oz. tuna with mayo, 2 celery stalks - 250 calories

After that I was full and did not eat anything else.

Green tea and water like always.

I had gone to the gym that afternoon and worked on legs, abs, and 25 minutes of elliptical.


Ciao!

December 13, 2008 - Saturday

My appetite finally surfaced last night at a Christmas party. I worked hard all day and I wound up eating a couple of large sandwiches because I ate dinner later than I usually do. I avoided the sugar cookies and other junky treats like the plague. My total calories for the day? 1,510.

It seems so high to me and though it probably isn't to others. My stomach actually hurt for an hour or so. Good thing we wound up walking home from the train station. I felt much better when we got home. I drank tea and then went to bed.

Are the holidays over yet?

5:45am - 2 eggs with veggie patty, mayo, mustard, spices (300)
12:30pm - Same (300)
Dinner: 2 Chicken Parm sandwiches (tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, chicken breast), on bulkie rolls. (They were good!) - 910 calories

Ciao!

December 11/12, 2008 - Thursday & Friday

Okay, can someone tell me why I'm losing my appetite? I eat about 1,000 or less calories a day.

You know the drill. Same menu as the day before. The thing is I'm not depriving myself. I sleep well and I feel good. Yet, the need to eat is diminishing and it is so startling! I'm not starving myself and my binge-eating is under control. Is this what ketosis feels like? Are the carbs finally out of my body? The DANDR book suggests I am. Though I'd have to pee-pee on a little stick to make sure. LOL....not! Its like the scale vs. how the clothes feel. I'll pick the clothes every time!

Whatever the case may be, I have successfully stayed away from sweet for 12 days. Now tomorrow is a special event involving lighting of a tree, and loads of treats. Ah, another obstacle to my challenge! Cool! I see a cup of black coffee in my future.

Menu for Thursday:

Breakfast: 2 eggs, veggie patty, mayo, mustard, spices - 300 calories (6:45am)

Lunch: Same as breakfast (1pm) - 300 calories

Dinner: 2 hb eggs, tuna with mayo, 1 turkey cube - 350 calories (6:05pm)

950 calories

Friday:

Breakfast and Lunch: Same (600 calories Total)
Dinner: 1 hb egg, tuna with mayo, 1 turkey cube, 2oz. of red kidney beans - (325 calories)

925 calories

See what I mean? Losing appetite. My transition day is tomorrow and I'll add a small green salad somewhere.

Okay, going to bed now. I used up my energy at the gym doing elliptical and abs. I have to work tomorrow and I want to be bright eyed and bush tailed!

Ciao!

December 9, 2008 - Tuesday

Sweet free and feeling good! I'm not missing the sodas or sugar one bit.

How's my eating? Very repetitive and after reading Vadim's comment, not very much either. Eating fat helps fill my increasingly shrinking stomach. I can barely get up to 1200 calories in.

My food is the same, eggs, veggie patties, mayo, avocado and extra virgin olive oil (for cooking eggs), fish, turkey, lettuce, and spinach.

Oh, I've had cravings. Don't get me wrong. I am in no way perfect. I wanted to eat some walnuts and pumpkin seeds last night. I know my stomach would bloat up to such a degree I'd be airborne. It isn't worth the extra calories to be uncomfortable. I drank my tea and went to bed. Another thing is, I have to go to bed earlier to avoid those cravings in the future. Otherwise, I'll become a binge-monster!

So here's the menu:

Breakfast: 3 eggs, mayo, mustard, spices
Lunch: Same
Dinner: 2 hard-boiled eggs, a small dab of tuna with mayo, 1 turkey cube.

956 calories (ugh!) - Now I know why I wanted walnuts and pumpkin seeds!! Far too low! Yet, I wasn't hungry after my workout.

(I love Lambert's on Tremont Street, Boston) - They have the best salad bar! I go there every day after the gym. I questioned the manager about calorie content, so I will know exactly what calories I'm getting in!!

Ciao!

December 7, 2008 - Sunday

Oh, my! I'm too tired to post anything more than my menu. Sorry!

Breakfast: 2 eggs, veggie patty, 1T of mayo, mustard, spices (300)

Lunch: Iceberg lettuce wedge with bleu cheese dressing, bacon bits, and tomatoes (I didn't eat the tomatoes nor the bacon.) 1 bowl of seafood chowder (I scooped the potatoes out). (Both items were too salty.) I checked calorie content for both items. 800 calories total.

Workout was 20 minutes elliptical, legs, and abs. - I worked it hard! LOL

Dinner: Same as breakfast

Water and green tea.

1400 calories total for Sunday. Not bad.

Ciao!

December 6, 2008 - Saturday

After existing on the same menu for the entire week, I enjoyed something different last night. I had a salad with tuna, shredded carrot, and four slices of vegetarian cheese. Oh, my, I ate up to 1300 total calories! I have to remember to eat slower, too. I will less likely binge during the weekends.

B: 2 eggs, veggie patty, mayo, mustard, spices
L: Same
Dinner: 2 cups of lettuce, shredded carrot, tuna with mayo, red vinegar, black pepper, bite of a jalapeno popper (disappointing - since the green chili was flavorless with no heat.), 4 slices of vegetarian cheese. (The cream cheese of the popper made me a little ill as well.)

Take care and enjoy your weekend!

Ciao!

Thank the Troops from Xerox!

This is a great idea! Simple, free, and means a lot to our troops. Support them.

Pick a specially designed card from one of the children, put your name, hometown, and a message. Send it! See wasn't that easy?

Here is the link: Give Thanks and Joy!

Also, my menu from yesterday. Wait, it was exactly the same as yesterday! LOL Same calories, too. Why do I keep eating the same thing? I have no idea. LOL Tomorrow, my menu will change as it usually does over the weekend, but still committed 100% to the Sweet-Free Challenge!

Ciao!

Sweet Free - Day 3 - Dec. 3, 2008

I have a leftover jewel yam sitting in the vegetable bin and I can't eat it because it is high in sugar nor can I eat the leftover turnips and squash either. Who would ever think I'd be craving a sweet potato or red beets? I committed to the challenge and I will stick with it. I can deal with not consuming sugar, splenda, and even a piece of fruit for the entire month. I guess I hate the thought of throwing away good food. At least there is one bright spot. We compost and grow plants and vegetables all year now.

Here is my menu from yesterday:

Breakfast and Lunch: 2 eggs with veggie patty, mayo, mustard, spices - (600 calories total) - Same times.

Workout at 5pm: biceps, triceps, abs, and 15 minutes on the elipitcal

Dinner - 6:20pm: 2 small hard boiled eggs, tuna with mayo, 2 cubes of turkey meat. (450 calories)

1,050 calories

Ciao!

Sweet Free - Day 2 - Dec. 2, 2008

My Thanksgiving dinner and of course, the homemade bread I keep raving and writing about. :)

I am trying to get my co-worker to get involved with at least eliminating at least one can of diet soda. "I'm no fun.", he says. Okay, if you want to play Russian Roulette by smoking cigarettes, drinking large coffees with cream and "splenda"?? that isn't my business. I am not the boss of you. Yet, he isn't the boss of himself since he's a slave to sugar, flour, and tobacco. As a friend, I would like to help. I don't know what to do.

Ranting for a moment, but what is up with processed garbage such as Lean Cusine, Smart Choice, Healthy Choice, Weight Watchers, etc., being touted as being healthy? I'm not saying all frozen entrees are bad. I love Ethnic Gourmet's Palek Paneer. I even like Linda McCartney's and Amy's Kitchen Vegetarian Frozen entrees on occasion. Yet, I prefer buying my own vegetables and preparing my own meals without preservatives. The entrees I listed above aren't even that cheap nowadays either. With proper planning, low-carb and even a low-carb Flexitarian lifestyle can be done on a budget.

Okay, rant over. Here is what I ate yesterday.

Breakfast: 2 eggs with veggie patty, mayo, mustard, spices (6:45am) - 300 calories

Lunch: Same as Breakfast (12:30pm) - 300 calories

5:15pm - upper body sore from chest exercises and decided to do 20 minutes of elipitcal and 15 minutes of abs only

Dinner: 2 small hard boiled eggs, lots of tuna with mayo, 2 cubes of turkey (Salad bar) (450 calories) - 6:10pm (Guesstimated calories with help from Dailyplate)

1,050 calories - Not weighing myself until next week. Scales can lie! :) Clothes are loose though!

Have a great day!

Ciao!

Sweet Free Challenge for the Month of December

Sweet, eh? This chick isn't a chocolate or pastry eater. I'm a lover of bread. I told the man of the house I am on a challenge! Make the pastas, the pies, the cookies, the breads, and the red meat for yourself! (Yes, Vadim, my man loves to eat and he uses utensils on occasion! LOL) I can stop drinking the diet sodas and since I keep a list of their ingredients at work and what they can do to the body and mind this really will be easy to give up for not only a month but a long time.

I had no sweet yesterday so I can say I started already! Yeah, me!

Here is my menu from yesterday:

Breakfast: 6:45am - 300 Calories
2 Eggs with veggie patty, mayo, mustard, spices (cayenne pepper) - Makes me sneeze! :)

Lunch: 12:30pm - 300 Calories
Same as Breakfast

Dinner: 7:20pm - 300 Calories
Same as Breakfast

Went to the gym at 5pm - 20 minutes of elliptical, 30 minutes of chest exercises, 10 minutes of abs. It felt good to get back into my routine.

I'm not especially hungry after the gym. Maybe the carbs are working their way out of my system? By Wednesday, I'll be starving and adding snacks. Unless I go into ketosis or something. I don't waste time and money buying sticks. I go by my appetite. I got to go to work! Talk to you all soon!

Ciao!

November 30, 2008 - Sunday

Breakfast: 2 eggs with veggie patty, 1/2T of mayo, mustard, spices (liberal use of Cayenne pepper!) - 300 Calories

Lunch: 3 Egg omelet with tomatoes cooked in ghee (clarified butter) - 450 calories

Dinner: Turkey tetrazzini (penne pasta with mushrooms, peas, mushroom soup, cheddar cheese), 4 slices of homemade bread - 720 calories

1470 calories - 136lbs. :(

I think I'll go scale free for a while. LOL My weight is creeping up from all that darn bread!

Back on my egg/protein fat fast rotation for the next few days to get rid of this excess water weight!

I am actually glad to be back at work with a normal routine! I eat better when I do because I bring my lunch from home. I also prefer eating 3 square meals a day, too. Strange I know.

I'm trying to persuade the man of the house to do the 7 fishes for Christmas instead of roast beef. I do not eat red meat! LOL I'll keep you updated.

Ciao!