Low Carb Meal Plan for 11/11-11/17

I need things to be spelled out for me. Please, DO NOT charge me and try to sell me something....lol - Anyone?? ✋So, I'm going to tell you step by step what we are doing. 

Last week, I finally figured out the formula to meal prep success at my house. 🎉We like to be "in the mood" for foods we eat. So, many times I would create a 5-6 meals a day plan and put it on the fridge. But, we only ate half the items and food cravings or laziness kicked in and we went out to eat. Can you say, do not stop bringing me all the tex-mex and mexican food!!! But, I figured out that if I just make a list of the foods we have stocked for the week for breakfast, lunch, snacks and then set up a main meal for each day then we were successful. Going to Costco and TJ and Sprouts to load up is saving us money and setting us up for success. My BFF has been doing Low Carb Keto Living for over a year. 🙌 And has lost over 100 pounds and is still going! She told me about an online market called Thrive Market. Check her out on Instagram @keto_sionmom.  💞 I'm going to start buying a lot of my cooking ingredients and supplements from there. It is suppose to save a lot of $. I will let you know how it goes! If you want to check it out, use my code and it will save you 25% an I will get $25 to spend. http://thrv.me/mEiy7y

Also, were tracking our food intake and carbs on the app called Carb Manager. It is super easy and efficient. Plus, you determine your own macro goals and it sets them up for you. 😀😀 (Macro was always a bad word to me prior to this app but now I just follow it blindly and stay in the allotments for Calories, Carbs, Protein and Fats it gives me.)

Here is the plan for this week with links to click to some recipes and the way I'm preparing everything we are consuming. 

Morning Starts with downing a 32 ounce cup of water (gallon goal daily) and having coffee.
MCT Coffee 

Breakfasts:
Baked Eggs
Egg Bread
Bacon & Scrambled Eggs
Cream Cheese Pancakes
Sausage Balls

Lunches: We have to have quick and easy. I do a Costco run and Trader Joes run keep these items in the fridge. We throw together salads, wraps or a quick low carb veggie/protein with a healthy fat like avocado.

Costco foods: 
Chicken Skewers
Florentine Chicken Burgers
Kielbasa Sausage 
(Right now I have the regular but I want to try the Jalapeno beef like pictured)
Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Sauerkraut - Trader Joes


Dinner:

Meat Monday – 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake 

Taco Tuesday – 

Bison Tacos and Avocado Salad  

(Bison is cheaper and fresher at CostCo)

 

Recipe & Directions for tortillas

Whitefish Wednesday – 

Bacon Wrapped Tilapia and Blackened Brussels Sprouts

Traditional Thursday – 

Eggplant Parmesan Casserole

Festive Friday – Pizza with Salad

Salad Saturday – 

Low Carb Keto Cheeseburger Salad

Sandwich Sunday - 

90 Second Keto Bread Turkey Sandwiches & Keto Crackers

Snacks - 
Cheese Sticks
Keto Bread with Butter
Crunchy Garlic Keto Crackers (so yummy with Bacon Ranch Dip)
Turkey Pepperoni
Celery and Almond Butter 
Boiled Eggs

Desserts -  
Raspberry Fat Bombs
Keto Cheesecake

If meal planning is easier for you....meal by meal. I am happy to send you a copy of the one I created by email. It looks like this......(Email me at amberdawnwelsh@yahoo.com to request a copy.)

Low Carb Foodie Pattootee

Raise your hand if you LOVE food! ✋✋✋✋ Listen ya'll, I grew up in the Midwest Southerny feel part of Oklahoma. On the dinner table was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn with hot rolls. Breakfast was my Mom's yummy homeade biscuits with chocolate gravy and breakfast gravy with cheesy scrambled eggs. And midday was sure to be white bread sandwiches with potato chips and french onion dip or something of the like (special days was ALL the ceaser's pizza with ranch dressing)! This diet was the norm for me. I knew nothing different. And, I loved it. I learned early to love eating high sugar, low nutrition, high carb, high (bad) fat foods. In all honesty, nobody except weirdo ate much different where I grew up.

Don't get me wrong, growing up I dieted. I tried Weight Watcher over summers with my Mom. I even remember my friend and I attempting a baby food diet (the calories are much lower when you only eat tiny jars of baby food.) 😕😄 Ok, and Adkins, and starving myself, and I even took something to make me throw up a couple of times. My psyche really wanted to stay focused on being healthy and rejected the tradition eating disorder attempts, thanks to God's hand of mercy. Although, my food addiction grew with lightening speed. 😈 Enter earlier adulthood and a car accident that put me in a hospital bed for 3 months and weight gain beginning to flare its unhealthy head at the age of 18. Hey, the first thing I asked for when I was opening my eyes from the coma was mint chocolate chip ice cream and a dr pepper. Priorities! Priorities! lol

Over the years, there really is not any diet or way of eating untapped by Your Chubby-Thinking Highness. Everything from prescription pills to 500 calories and injecting myself with hormones. I've done it. I've spend 3-4 hours in the gym 6 days a week in the past which doing the Body for Life program. 💥 I've seen results but always gained it back and maybe and extra 5-10 along the way. So, I get ya, do you get me?!

During the journey, my goal is to fuel myself with foods that balance my health. On the last blog post I shared a few items I'm working through. Breast Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, High Blood Pressure, Stroke, and more all run in my family. 👎I've seen diseases on both sides. I want to break the mold of my family heritage. I want to teach my family there is a different way. My desire isn't only based on weight loss but health. Surely, the last half of my life will be even more vibrant and laced with healthy days than ever before in years past.

Most of the recipes I have been playing with are ones I find on the www. and adapt to our likes, tastes, and what is in my pantry. In order to play the healthier food game it is essential to do a pantry overhaul and buy items that seem super weird. But, trust the process. I'm learning to recreate some of the favs in the house with ALL the healthier options. If this is going to be a lifestyle, and it is, then my husband must have bread. I've deprived myself of the luxury of soft and fluffy bread for years. Who am I kidding.....I have deprived and then gone to Olive Garden and eaten a whole basket of warm buttery bread sticks because .....YOLO! 😛 Because, although my body had a major inflammatory reaction to gluten I have given into my flesh instead of stayed under spirit control.

As I go, I will share ways I'm setting up my mind, soul, spirit, pantry, and taste buds for success. Because, I know well that we only live once and how we live will either be in a mindset of prosperity and health or lackadazy living and illness. Bon Appetit Foodie Pattottees! 😍

Time to plan my menu for this week! Meal Prep Sunday sets me up for success.

New Start AGAIN #THATKETOTHANG - 5 years later - Time to REBLOG

It's been a while! I've been distracted by LIFE! 👀 Thankfully, I've got my journey recorded by photos on Instagram under #alwaysamberdawnfitnesspost. (Be sure to follow me @always_amberdawn and like my facebook page called Extraordinary Wellness to keep up with me and find tips and tricks to being the best at overcoming food.)

Honestly, without the photo journal and established facebook page, it could seem like I went totally under and food took me over. That is only a little bit true for part of the time. lol 😅One truth in this journey is I have now abandoned the HCG lifestyle you see I was on previously. I blogged through it and I know some are still doing it or starting so I want to leave it as a reference.

I began with an excellent line of products from Isagenix a little over a year ago. 💓I'm utilizing the gold lining of several of the superior nutrition items offered throughout my keto journey. My pantry is now fully low carb/high fat (LCHF) ketolicious! I'm going hardcore for 1 year. I want the foods I'm creating to be a lifestyle for my family. And, I'm happy to say that currently my husband and daughter are gobbling up everything. Over the last month, I have made everything from 2 carb tortillas to flax seed crackers and even pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese icing. The journey has been a total blast. On this chilly Saturday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas, I am attempting my first try at a keto bread that is suppose to be fluffy and delicious. It is baking now after rising for the last hour.

R4 P2 D5-7

Things are going fantastic this round!! I'm loving how much energy I have. Yoga is a must do during this eating plan. Also, I did my first wrap yesterday. I bought bentonite clay and used it with a sauna suit. Lost 6 1/2 inches during this one session. I have enough for 3 more before my summer Cali trip in June. After I finish this round of HCG I'm going to follow it up with a second BFL round. I'm on day 73 of 90 today of this current round. I'm taking a really great vitamin this time and it really helps my hunger. I'm not really too hungry. If I feel hungry at all I eat a couple of strawberries or apples slices. I have found that it helps me to cut up my apple in the morning and keep it in the fridge in case I need a filler during the day. If I don't then I eat it before bed. The Walden Farms products are saving my booty this round. I love them. The hardest thing for me is doing without condiments. These are zero calorie and everything. The marshmallow cream with a little chocolate drizzle on strawberries is like heaven in a bowl. I'm staying between 500-600 calories each day.

Current loss this round is 6 pounds. I'm not counting the 5 pds I was up after 2 days of free eating (gorge days). That just made me feel gross. I don't eat that way ever anymore.

I'm 24 pounds away from my dream goal! Yippee!

R4P2D4

Last night's yoga class was hard but really awesome. I feel the muscle strengthening and lengthening happening already. I did sweat a lot. More than even in spin class or the sauna. The sweatiness helped me slid right down into almost splits. My goal is to be able to do them by June.

I woke up with quite a headache today. I realized that it is because of sugar detox. This happened a few weeks ago on the juice fast too. Ugh! It has been lingering all day. Am noticing my neck is stiff/tight today. Am headed back to yoga tonight and hope it will help.

R4P2D3 - HCg'ing it!

I'm excited to be back on this journey. After the 10 day juice fast this will not be bad at all. This time I know all the foods I love the most and figure it is going to be much easier. Today, I cooked/prepped 8 meals of the turkey meatballs I love and made my marinara & 3 portions of cabbage & chicken soup. My goal is to stay ahead of the game to avoid hunger meltdowns and/or any cheats.

Goal - 20pds in 21 days, reduction of cellulite with the body wraps, and be ready for swimsuit season in a few weeks. After vacation for 3 weeks in June in Cali, I am going to get geared up for our 5 year honeymoon trip in August. This is the first phase and then the second phase will be in order to be one smokin' hot mama for my hubby on our trip!! Also, I ordered a book/devotional called Thin Within. It is geared to help me reset my way of thinking about food in relation to my body and the way God created it. I also began reading a book called Made to Crave last year. Going to finish it as well.

Am headed to my first "hot" yoga class tonight. It is called Surya Yoga. Hubby is coming with me. I'm really excited about it. Suppose to feel great after you sweat it out for an hour and 15 minutes. Will update how it goes.

Today's Menu

Fresh Hot Cup Lemon water with Stevia - breakfast
Pan grilled Cabbage & Onion with 6 Shrimp - lunch (cherry cola Zevia)
Sliced Apple - Snack
Grilled Chicken with romaine lettuce & Walden raspberry vinaigrette - dinner
Cinnamon Apple - Snack
Water - 96oz
Warm Cup Lemon water with Stevia & Magnesium Calm - Bedtime

Healthy Living Journey Continues in 2013

This year has been a really strong yet bumpy year for my fitness and food journey.

Jan 2013 - I started off the year down 15 pounds from a diet plan I did with my health doctor from Oct-Dec. He had me do a 7 day all protein jumpstart and then eat low carb each week. I was thanking phentermine and felt good through out the end of 2012. Also, I had started taking a ton of natural supplements in Oct to treat adrenal fatigue. I was tired of feeling sick and tired. For 2013, I decided to focus in on my no sugar/gluten/dairy diet plus I didn't like the way the phentermine made me feel at all. Natural is better for me.

Mid Jan, I came down unbelievably sick. Started off with a migraine and didn't stop there. My neck and shoulders hurt so bad and I had no energy. The doctors said it was a virus. After an ER visit and visiting a friend in the hospital diagnosised with Viral Spinal Meningitis I decided that was what I must have as well. After 4 weeks of sickness I finally began to feel stronger and stronger every day and kept taking high levels of Vit D/C and a Mulitvitamin. Getting back to my workouts and eating right was tough after a month of illness. At this point, I had gained 10 pounds (again).

February - This was a steady month of eating healthy and workouts. Was feeling good and decided to do a 90 day Body for Life Challenge. It began in March.

March - For the beginning of my 90 day BFL challenge I took front and back photos. I noticed a large bump on my back and could see it was considerably unsightly in my swimsuit. Decided to go to the doctor to have it check out. Started out strong on my challenge and kept the workouts strong. Was 40 pounds my goal weight and wanted to be ready for summer vacation in a few months. After the doctors investigated the spot on my back it was determined that I had a seemingly benign tumor. If my scar and back was to heal well before swimsuit season I had to proceed with surgery ASAP.

April - Surgery was set and happened around Easter the very end of May so recovery took place this month. It took me a couple of weeks to recover to the point where I felt like exercising other than a walk around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I got discouraged because of this second setback of the year and this one during my 90 day challenge. This was the month I decided that happiness is not defined by anything except my faith and mindset. My mentor group began gearing up for a juice fast and I decided to jump in on the 10 day juice only cleanse for a reset towards my ultimate goal. It was invigorating! My hubby did it with me. I was able to keep my fitness level up the whole time. Bummer thing is the week after it ended I put 5 of the 10 pounds lost on it back on immediately. I didn't do it to lose weight though. I did it to reset. The results was glowing skin and I felt fantastic!
 
May -  It's another round of HCg living for me. We leave in June for Cali and I'm not where I wanted to be. I'm going all out, full force for 4 weeks. My intensity includes hydrotherapy colonics, home body wraps with benetonite clay, yoga, light weight & cardio workouts, & 21 days of HCg. I bought my injections through http://nuimagemedical.com/hcg-diet-program/. I learned of it through Gutless in Seattle and went though his site for a discount. I'm anxious to see how this round goes!!!

Day Forever of Month Forever - Starting Again

I'm back! Today is another day of the forever overcoming food temptations life I live. I really want to be ultra fit and healthy BUT I struggle making the right choices and staying on track. So, I have to ask myself, "how bad do you really want this?" I say I really do and I think I really do but if I really do then doesn't that mean that I would DO it??!? It feels like every where I turn there is someone or some reason for me to splurge or pursue food as comfort and fun. My desire is to overcome this and focus in on taking my body to the next level.

Last year, I finally got down closer to my goal weight than ever before. I did it using the hCg diet through my doctor. It did work to take my weight off but keeping it off has been a different story. My husband says I really eat healthy but I know that honestly I slip in way to much cheese dip and chips and other guilty pleasures. Toning it down to where I do it only once a week is my goal. I'm in this for the long haul. I just checked to see how long it would take me to get to my ultimate goal if I followed 1200 calories a day plus exercise additional calories. myfitnesspal says I will be there by April 2013. Ok, I'm good with that because I really do want to make this a forever thing.

I have 44 pounds and 21.5% Body Fat to lose to be at my personal goal. This would put me into the category of many of the NPC competitor gals weight and BF. It will be a journey but I know I can do it!!! Getting back on a regular routine is the most challenging. I will be setting my goals again soon for fitness and foods.

BFL Day 27 of 84 - Hit a Road Bump but Moving On!

This weekend I enjoyed my free day. Hubby and I didn't go crazy and we actually worked out for 2 1/2 hours on Saturday morning. That night we went for Mexican food and enjoyed every minute of it. Sunday we took the kids to Hurricane Harbor. The temptations were almost too much but we both stayed on track. To help curve the anticipated snack desires we had lunch on the way. We had packed our bag full of waters and I put some sliced turkey and cheese sticks in the bag for a snack. I was starving when we left so when we stopped to get the kids Wendy's I ordered a side salad to suffice until I got home. I left chicken cooking in the crockpot with water chestnuts and a mango sauce on top so we could eat it with some baby carrots. I was so glad I thought ahead because being in the sun all day made me too tired to cook.

Monday and Tuesday have been full of cravings for me. I'm staying on track but it is hard. I made the mistake of weighing this morning and was up .6 pounds. That bummed me out BIG TIME! I am doing everything right but the weight isn't budging. This morning I was so tired that I didn't get up for the gym. I almost skipped today but pulled myself out of the rut and had a kick butt workout tonight. I get a pat on the back for going to the gym in 108 degree weather. Actually, I was shocked at how many people were at the gym at 6pm at night. It was motivating! But, I will, I WILL get up in the morning and not put myself through that heat again. I did 20 minutes of HIIT on the treadmill and worked my legs. I'm excited to see major definition. Since I wanted to get the most out of my evening workout I did supersets of the exercises. Tried some new things tonight like V-squats and increased my lunges to using weights while doing them. If only I can get over the weight obsession in my head. Hubby told me today that he thinks I'm looking great and he sees major muscles popping out in my shoulders, legs, and back. I know I expect a lot of myself and need to accept slow and steady will get the longest term results. I was pep talking myself today at the gym that I'm not in a race for anything or with anyone so I need to enjoy the process. I'm gonna work on this as a new mental goal.

I did one little splurge tonight. Today on the radio I heard the DJ say that it is National Ice Cream Sandwich day. All I could think about the rest of the day was having an ice cream sandwich. So, while stopping to pick up a few last minute things for vacation next week I checked the freezer section. I found Almond Dream bars that were 100 calories. After I ate my taco salad tonight I went for a second walk to try to burn a few extra calories before splurging. It isn't like the scale is showing my progress anyway but I'm not going to make this a regular thing. I can't!

Moving On Past My Splurge and Scale Battle,
Amber

BFL Day 23 of 84 - Focus, Fitness, & Fun!

Focus on your goals and what you really want. When you focus on something it really does create a bubble of determination and dedication around you towards what your working towards. Working out is often a catch 22 situation. People are tired and don't feel like working out but when you work out it gives more energy and stamina. Ironic how that works. It is about baby steps until you can at least walk and/or run your way into more fitness. I think back to where I started from and am amazed that I have the drive and stamina I do now have in the gym. This morning when I was doing the bench chest press I was thinking how I use to not even be able to lift the bar a couple of times by myself. It is nice to see progress and yet have a goal your headed towards.

I added in my cardio to training today. It was chest/tri/abs day. I did three exercises for each muscle group. My training is in pyramid style which means I start low for 12 reps and build up weight but end up at 6 reps on the heaviest weight. Today, I began ending each with 12 reps at a light weight. My plan is to mix up my workouts and keep muscle confusion going since that is suppose to assist in progress rather than plateau. Since it took 70 min to get through training and my hubby had to get work I came home and cycled the neighborhood for 20 min. Adding in cardio on training day is tough but I'm focused on doing it in order to see greater progress.

Just a bit of encouragement for you....NEVER, EVER, EVER, GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS! You can make your focus fun whether it is fitness or whatever your working towards. One day at a time eventually will create a lifetime!

The Battle Plan is Adjusted - BFL Day 22 of 84

I'm so pumped! You can officially call me a Re-committed Gym Freak! I get so attached to my love for fitness that the gym becomes my obsession. Been there, done that, back again!

This morning I went to the gym and met with a lady who is a Fitness Competitor. She was full of information and helped talk me through all of the info I have been researching and what I have in my head to do/try in the gym and kitchen. With my fitness binder in tote (has my meal plans, workouts, and before (the bikini pics)/after (the first 40pds)/where I'm going pics in it) we looked over it all. My plan is solid but I realize a few areas I need to tweak to ensure the best results. I'm going to add in more cardio and do 6 days of 20 min HIIT or 40 min of regular cardio. I like HIIT because I get more bang for my buck of time. This morning I powered it out on the treadmill. I'm getting to a place where I can jog on a higher intensity and for up to 2 1/2 min then walk two min and cycle it the entire 20. It's exciting since my knee hasn't been able to sustain the impact before now and the more I'm building them in my leg workouts the more I can run. I'm also going to add in a day of weight training and move from 4 to 5 days. The other change is I'm cutting out all complex carbs except sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and brown rice. I have been sticking to keeping any and all carbs to 3pm or before so I'm going to continue with that schedule. Here is an example of what I'm eating like daily and my upcoming workout schedule.

Meal 1 - Protein and Complex Carb
Workout - Weight Training
Meal 2 - Protein Shake
Meal 3 - Protein, Complex Carb, Veggie
Meal 4 - Protein & Veggie
Workout - Cardio
Meal 5 - Protein & Veggie
Meal 6 - Protein Shake
Making sure I drink a gallon of water a day. It is essential to my results. I'm sure of it!

Workouts - At gym for 5 min warm up on treadmill at 6:30 am M-Fri.
Monday - Shoulders & Abs (20 min HIIT)
Tuesday - Legs (20 min HIIT)
Wednesday - Back & Bi's & Abs (20 min HIIT)
Thursday - Chest & Tri's & Abs (20 min HIIT)
Friday - Legs & Abs (20 min HIIT)
Saturday - Intense Cardio (50 min spin or equivilant)
Sunday - Rest

Here is an example of what I am eating today.
Meal 1 - Almonds/Drink a Spark (Found out I need to do oatmeal and egg whites)
Workout - HIIT cardio 20 min.
Meal 2 - Protein Shake (I use almond milk - Fitness Chick uses only water. I'm gonna try it.)
Meal 3 - Baked Chicken with 1/2 sweet potato and 1 tsp hummus
Meal 4 - Shaved Turkey with 1 weight watchers cheese stick. (I'm only doing white cheese, if any)
Meal 5 - Turkey Sausage with broccoli and a huge salad. (Am hoping I can keep up my 1TBS of low fat thousand island dressing but if I don't get faster results soon I will cut it out.)
Meal 6 - Protein Shake

I found out something that is disappointing but I'm not surprised. (through research today)
The HCG diet leaves open fat cells because of the fast loss. It is why most gain some initial weight back right after the maintenance phase 3 on the diet. I'm praying for those cells to be closed and believe that now that I'm re-balancing my results are going to come fast. Prayer is a huge part of this journey for me. Today, God spoke to my heart in my quiet time and said that dedication and unwaveringly persistence are key to my success. I'm seeking to reshape my body but my spirit and body have to be surrendered to righteousness!! Party on!

The Road is Long but Steady - Week 3

I'm on week 3 of my challenge. Things have been good and steady as I'm kicking off this 12 weeks of fitness. The workouts have been awesome. We get up at 6am on Mon/Wed/Fri and hit the gym to rotate push/pull/legs and on Tues/Thurs we get in 20 min of cardio and Sat is a cardio/next muscle group workout. I'm excited to say I am quickly seeing definition and moving up in the amount of weight I can lift. Our weightlifing regimen is 4 sets of increased weights and decreasing reps. Our cardio is interval cardio called HIIT.

The biggest thing I'm finding myself overcoming is hunger. I'm doing 6 small meals that contain a protein, complex carb and veggie but eating little to no carbs in the late afternoon/evening. I am not sure if I am not eating enough or not eating the right things. I have a friend who is living with me for a few weeks and I'm finding it very hard not to splurge in the evenings by having a drink with her and hubby. I did a weigh-in on Tuesday and had gained back the 3 pounds I lost the 2nd week. Maybe it is become TOM is soon to come but whatever reason a gain is BAD, NOT COOL. I realize I'm reshaping but I want to see quick results. It is a struggle because on HCG you weigh daily and see it drop fast. On this plan it is a steady but solid long term plan for long term results.

I'm taking a few supplements. The protein shakes were using are called Spirutein and are sweetened naturally and not made with Whey. I'm thinking whey is causing me bloating so I'm laying off it for a little while. I use almond milk to avoid the lactose as well. I'm taking an Omega 3, Amino Acids, and Multivitamin daily. I also discovered a great booster drink called Spark, it is through a company called Advocare. It is awesome to drink first of the day during my workout and I get that extra mojo for my training session. Today, I bought some CLA from a Sports Nutrition store by the gym. I've been reading that it helps transform belly fat into muscle. Since my belly is my #1 problem area I'm hoping it helps. I have found no evidence that it will help with weight loss but it will help me transform. That is my goal...total transformation!

Body for Life Challenge 7/7/2011 (12 weeks)

That song On the Road Again is going through my head right now. I didn't fully get off the road but I took a downward slide the last few weeks. Knowing that the next 12 weeks are going to be intense and focused on reshaping my body I decided to act as through food was my friend and had no calories.....um, it does and it lied like an enemy. The scale reminded me of that this morning at my weigh-in.

Soooooo, here I go with my hubby in tote and we are facing the next 12 week journey together. The plan is to get up and do 6am workouts. We will train 4 days of weights and 3 days of cardio for the 12 weeks, at least. Our meals will be 6 small meals a day and our goals are set towards winning this challenge. I'm focused on my long-term desire to be a bikini model in my 40's. Since I'm 3 months away from my 37th birthday and since I started this journal on my last one I figure each b-day will be a day of re-evaluation and dedication to my next goal.

~ Current start on my BFL is 28% body fat at 159 pounds. That means that I've gained back 14 pounds from my bottom weight of 145 on my 3rd round of HCG. : (
This battle is torturous but I will win. I WILL WIN!

~ My goal is to be at 140 and 15% body fat. I'm happy to say that I fit into size 5/6 pants and 2/4 skirts. (I started out in tight 12/14's) I'm not going to focus on the scale though because I really want to be fit and whatever the scale says doesn't determine if I am healthy and fit. But, my dream is to drop 19 pds and 13% body fat.

Okai...here goes - 7/7/11 -9/29-11 I'm going to be focused on reshaping myself into a lean, mean, fighting machine!

Feb 3rd to June 2011

Yes, I fell off the face of the blog world but no worries, I was still in motion towards Overcoming Food! : ) So much has happened in that amount of time. First of all, I ended up in the hospital with intestinal issues. I believe it is from not eating enough and being regular enough on my second round of HCG. I discovered food allergies to lactose, sugar, and some wheat. But, that didn't stop me. I went back on a 3rd round of HCG for 21 days in April/May. It was rather foolish. Yes, I lost an additional 15 pounds and I also began losing hair....and lots of it! NOT COOL! I also lost muscle. The doc said I was in a state of ketosis. After being told that I looked it up and figured out it meant my body was eating up the muscle and was stressed. I got weight loss greedy. I'm sorry to say that inspite of results I didn't keep that 15 pounds off. It is disappointing but true.

The end of May-June, I went on a trip to Africa. It was life changing. I realized the importance of so many things. One thing we/I take for granted is nutrition!! I have been on a long road so far and am happy to say that I'm a solid 45 pounds lighter than I was in Oct 2010 but now it is time for me to hit my next phase and get fit with muscle. I really saw a lot of muscle loss on HCG. I wasn't at the toned level I was in 2007/2008 when I worked out with a trainer but still has some muscle memory. I think my memory collapsed when I was losing so much weight so quickly. Starting in July, I'm going full force on the Body for Life program again. It is going to be awesome!

R2 P2 D28-32 - If I can do this, anyone can!

R2 P2 D28-32 - If I can do this, anyone can!
The weight is still coming off. It is coming off much slower but I've only been weighing every few days instead of every day. Here is my current loss to date.

Day 28, 29, 30 - no weigh in
Day 31 -.6
Day 32 -1.4
Day 33 -0
Day 34 - 1.8
Total in 7 days -3.8, Round 2 Total -25.2, Total with HCG since Oct 2010 - 42.8

I'm thrilled with the results. I have 6 more HCG days plus 3 more with 500 calories. If I can lose just 5 more pounds in that time I will be 10 pounds away from my ultimate goal. That is amazing! I'm in range for my height on the medical chart now since I'm 5'8". That is exciting! I want to be at 145 but it isn't going to happen this round. But with 5 more pounds I can be 155 and that would be fabulous!

I have been using a willpower of steel to overcome any and all desire for comfort food and boredom eating. We have been forced to stay at home the last 3 day because of ice. Our driveway and the slope in front of the house will not let me leave to go anywhere. It is driving me crazy. I did create a really good ground turkey chili that I have enjoyed as a comfort food during this time. Being unable to go to the store was killing me because I haven't had any apples or mineral water. It is hard to drink Apple Cider Vinegar without the mineral water. A friend was able to get out today and got me 3 apples and 3 bottles of mineral water at the store. YAY! I'm set until Saturday at least. Surely, I can get out by then. I'm going crazy to be able to workout! I NEED THE GYM!

I just now created a page for my photos of the before and after. It's on the side of my page. http://foreverovercomingfood.blogspot.com/p/new-me.html If I'm brave enough at the end of 40 days, I will put the ones with my front, back and side views in my sports bra and shorts...we will see...

If I can do this, anyone can!

R2 D22-27 - My time flies!

I forgot to blog the last few days. I've been fighting a cold and experiencing TOM. Between those things and doing the discipline of the HCG diet I've been pushing myself to accomplish everything. Here are my weight loss results to date.

D23 -.2
D24 -1.6
D25 -.4
D26 -.4
D27 -1.6

Total of -4.2 This brings me to a total of 22.0 lost. I have 13 more injections to go and 16 more days of 500 calories. I can't wait to get to eat cheese again!! Because I was having such a slow few days I researched online and did start eating 3 macadamia nuts each day from day 22-26. Yesterday, I skipped the them and then had a big drop this morning. I've eaten only authorized foods every day with no cheating on anything. I am doing the ACV tonic before each meal now too. I also went back to cycle and sitting 15 min in the sauna yesterday and am off TOM as of this morning. YAY! I had really hoped to lose a pound a day through this round but it hasn't happened. I'm grateful for what I have lost though. Dreaming big if I could just have 10 more pounds off though I would be so happy. Can't wait to get on Phase 3 and start weight lifting and turning myself into a lean mean fighting machine!

R2 P2 Day 22 - Feeling Great!!

I'm feeling great! I only lost.2 on the scale though so that was a bummer. At this rate I will end up needing a round 3. I went to the gym this morning and worked off my frustration. After Spin class, sauna, yoga class, and some light arm weights I was feeling positive about my body. Even if I don't lose the amount I want to lose I know my body is looking better than it has in a long time and I'm certain in the end I will reach my goal. I've been researching ways to lose more weight on HCG. I am going to try drinking Apple Cider Vinegar - 3 tbsp before each meal. Today, I did something new for me while on this diet. I had a vanilla protein shake and added a couple of drops of chocolate stevia. It was good! Tonight, my hubby and I are going to a ballroom dance social. There is going to be an instructor giving lessons. It is so much fun to plan dates and things to do separate from food and restaurants. Makes life more exciting! I'm also considering trying to incorporate some macadamia nuts (3-5) on days when I work out a lot of am stalling. I found several people who tried it and it worked for them. Better run get ready to go. We are leaving in an hour to go to the social. I didn't plan what to wear yet. Everything is big in my closet. I hope I can find something that will work...yikes!