Hot Tamale - Diet Log 19 and 20

Tonight I tried making Chile Relleno Casserole: (not the best quality picture but I tried)

Two 10 oz. cans whole green chiles, drained
8 oz. shredded pepper-jack cheese
3 eggs
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 t. salt
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Grease an 8x8" baking pan. Slice each chile along one long side and open flat. Arrange half of the chiles in the bottom of the baking pan, skin side down, in a single layer. Top with the pepper-jack cheese. Arrange the remaining chiles over the cheese, skin side up. Beat the eggs, cream and salt well. Pour evenly over the chiles. Top with the cheddar cheese. Bake at 350º for 50 minutes, until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

3 net carbs per serving

It was absolutely delicious!!!!!  I'd definitely make this again!!!!!

Tomorrow is 3 weeks - and not once have I gone astray.  I cannot say it has been easy, it's rough.  But, with determination and will power I've succeeded to walk away from temptation.  My drive to fit back into my jeans I have up in the closet waiting on me - is a lot stronger than eating a slice of pizza.

Speaking of Babies

This is my baby, 22 yrs ago.... 

and now he's all grown up, at 6 ft tall and a beard!

Stormy Weather....Diet Log 17 and 18

Yesterday was a doozy of a day... we had a mini-power storm blow through knocking our power out - off and on - but as fast as it arrived, was as fast as it left.  Leaving thick air/humidity, disgusting, bug filled air... ughhh, not my favorite scenario.

At lunch I went to my favorite Turkish restaurant and I had grilled vegetables with chicken.  I had a huge choice of good food to eat - I stayed away from rice, pita, and all my favorites like Hummus, Babaganoush, and Fallafel because I'm not supposed to be eating legumes just yet.

Dinner was two Chicken sausages and broccoli.  Not very exciting - but by the time I got home, after a late night at work, and then the store, I was exhausted.

I have dinner plans with friend I haven't seen in a few months, so here comes the "decisions, decisions" - she wanted to go Japanese.  I don't - too much temptation, too many added sauces, etc.  So Hibachi sounds great, but they are going to add something sweetened, don't want to go there...

I'm thinking of Ted's Montana Grill's Chicken Burger.... and ceasar salad w/o the croutons instead of fries... I could really go for a big burger like that... and they have good chicken burgers.  Then afterwards we can go to Sephora and then check on the new Lush store that is to be opening soon and see if there's any dates posted for the grand opening!  I cannot believe how many years later we are FINALLY getting a LUSH, and two LUSH shops at one time! Very happy....

Proud Auntie - Diet Log #16

My beautiful baby brother has a beautiful baby now of his own; born Sunday afternoon.  This little man was destined to be gorgeous - and he is!!!!  I just hurt inside that I cannot be there to help out or even just hold him once.  Thank goodness his grandmother and grandfather are there!!!  Cheers to my little nephew, welcome to the World!!!!!!

Diet Log #16

Staying true to low carbing ...

Tonight I am making:



Tuna Muffins

I have found some other really delicious sounding low carb recipes to try out:

Greek Chicken Recipe

Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu


Well - I made the tuna muffins and homemade tartar sauce, and they were fabulous....

Monday - Ughhh - Diet Log #15

Today I went to the Mayo Clinic, met with surgeon, who ordered ultrasound for my arm - July 8th.  He didn't seem too concerned about the lump, and gave hope that it is something that won't need surgery.  So, not going to fret over the lump... let it be until July 8th.  I really appreciated his not being surgery gung-ho on my arm...

So busy today at work I never got to get my big cups of water in - only had half a cup of iced tea, half a cup of coffee, and now I'm trying to catch up.  Lunch was a Powerade Zero drink and a turkey burger patty, with mustard, cheese and pickle.  Snack was 5 green olives...

Dinner will be onion/pepper stuffed turkey sausages and broccoli.  

Stuffed - Diet Log #13 and 14

Two weeks into the 21 days of detoxing!!!  One more week and I've met the 21 day Detox Carb challenge!  People ask me if I've cheated at all - AND - my answer is HELL NO!  Why do this and cheat?

STUFFED PEPPERS:

Baked 4 large bell peppers stuffed with onion, peppers, 1 lb turkey sausage, 1 lb ground turkey, mixed in egg..with garlic and Italian seasoning... poured 1 can of the lowest sugar content found of tomato sauce...baked - then topped each one with a slice of cheddar, and baked till bubbly cheese and browning... about an hour...at 375.  Incredible dinner....

That was dinner... for today and last night.  

Bacon Bacon Bacon... I broke down and bought bacon... mmmmmmm ... the butcher's style, thick thick slices.  Tomorrow my son is making Jalapeno Poppers - stuffing jalapenos with cream cheese, then wrapping in bacon and cooking in oven... I found him 6 beautiful jalapenos.

Iced tea has been staple drink today - a delicious Iced Chai Tea...

Day of rest... relaxation... tomorrow I head to Mayo Clinic for the tumor in my arm.  Not excited.

Low Carb Bangers & Mash - Diet Log #12

I've been looking all over for good Low Carb Recipes, and I found someone who has made an absolutely wonderful website of nothing but fantastic ideas and recipes!!!

LINDA'S LOW CARB MENUS & RECIPES

Tonight's Dinner:

Bangers & Mash - Low Carb Style

Chicken sausage cooked in the oven till nice and crispy on the outside, served on  Mashed Cauliflower that has been whipped with some cheese, butter, sea salt and ground pepper (creating faux mashed potatoes).

My Lunch:

Ate 1/2 if not 1/4 of a

Greek Salad at The Loop

*mixed seasonal greens, feta cheese, roma tomatoes, red onions,

pepperoncini and calamata olives tossed in balsamic vinaigrette

(and sans the croutons)

My Breakfast:

Oops was so busy, I had a coffee, a 32 oz. Powerade Zero, a Green Tea... and didn't even realize till lunch time that I had forgotten to eat a bite... I was so not hungry.

Mood:  Ecstatic that my top and skirt look fantastic together, where 2 months ago they didn't fit right/too small and made me look like a lump.

Lunch - spent it with co-worker going over memories of our trips to Belgium, France and Germany... and then she threw in the kicker, she had been to Monaco and Cannes, I've never been - and would so love to go one day!

Ego Boost.....Diet Log #11

This morning a co-worker said "WOW that skirt you are wearing is already getting too big on you in the tush/hips"... 

21 lbs. weight loss total today.....I need to not weigh until next week...

Today's lunch was a chef salad sans anything carby ... at my favorite hole in the wall lunch place that makes their very own Ranch dressing.  It's so rich and thick from the fresh buttermilk, that all I do is the dip the fork into the dressing, then stab at the salad... great diet trick.  The nice thing is, I went to lunch with 4 other co-workers and they all had the same salad.  

I find that I'm filling up on less and less food.  I don't snack often at all - usually a little something between lunch and dinner - like a slice of turkey and cheese or even a pickle or the allowed 10 green olives.  I'm pretty much eating three meals a day - but I'm eating smaller and smaller portions.  

Tonight's dinner is White Wine & Garlic Stuffed Chicken Sausages from Fresh Market, with Scrambled Eggs (cooked with some mushrooms/green pepper/red onion and parmesan cheese shavings).

I'm just not a big meat eater, so I feel like a lot of things are "repulsive".  I know that eggs are going to end up being gross, chicken is going to be gross, I'm not a red meat eater, I don't eat pork (well, sorry - I'll eat bacon, but it has to be super crisp/burnt/crumbly and not sogging in grease), and I'll be switching to fish, shrimp, etc. soon...which is expensive. Once I get this detoxing - 2 more weeks to go, then I'll slip on over to where I can eat beans,  nuts, some occasional fruits.  But I'm not going to go over to whole grains until I have lost the major part of my weight.

Retro Fun - Diet Log #10

Well, onto Day #10... Eating Sliced Turkey and Cheese here and there, and then for lunch I had a chicken taco salad sans chips/shell - only thing is I did have a tiny bit of beans ... I left off the pico de gallo and just used hot sauce for flavoring.  Already have had 64 oz. of water, and 1/2 cup of coffee, and getting ready to go make up another 32 oz cup of ice water.  Love crushed ice.... 

As for energy - really low on that.  I have not slept well this week.  Between stress about car and health and finances (finances because of car and health), new eating habits, and the absolute Gosh-Awful HEAT & HUMIDITY, I could so easily just sleep... sleep... and sleep right now.

I love Vintage Ads and pictures...

Healthier - Diet Log #9

Today I went for a follow-up visit with the doctor (re: my hospital stay late April/early May).  

Drum Roll Please........................

I've lost 20 lbs. since weighed in at the hospital on April 28, 2013.  Picture 4 "Five" Pound Bags of Sugar... 

That's what I've lost - in 8 weeks.  My Blood Pressure was significantly better, a few more pounds gone, and it will definitely be completely normal/average as it should BE.  My lungs and heart all sound good, even though I'm sneezing/allergy issued, my sinuses are good, ears good, no temperature, you name it - I'm back to normal... now if I can just get really, really HEALTHY and lose some more bags of sugar!  I have 30 lbs left for my FIRST goal... Yes, I have a lot of weight to lose, and this is the first big crunch.

Today's meals:  Sliced Turkey/Cheddar Cheese, Iced Green Tea, Water, ICE Sparkling Water, 1/2 a cup of coffee (taking smaller and smaller amounts in...), and I need to drink at least another 64 oz. of water before the day is out - and - dinner will be fancy chicken sausages and scrambled eggs again like last night.  Going to Fresh Market to get their fresh chicken sausages... trying to stay away from the pre-made/pre-cooked/pre-packaged ones that taste oh so good, but the fresh made ones at the butcher counter have got to be healthier.

My favorite beverage: ICE Sparkling Water - I actually mix it with San Pelegrino and lots of ice to cut the sweetness... No Carbs, No Calories, and has B-Vitamins, Vitamin D, and Green Tea Extract... 

I Love Rabbi Shmuley - Diet Log #8

Another day being Carb Free.... I've been researching for advice and recipes, and have been saving some up... Dinner tonight consisted of two chicken sausage links and scrambled eggs.  It was actually darned good!!

I drank THREE 32 oz cups of water today!!!  It's so miserably hot here - it was super easy!  I'm now in the habit of filling up my 32 oz cup when I take a walk around the office... at lunch I grabbed a co-worker and dragged her to Super Target where we walked the entire perimeter of the store, etc., then went back to the office and ate my lunch meat and cheese roll ups I made, drank some Iced Green Tea... and I'm pretty proud... a good start to my 2nd week.

I love Rabbi Shmuley (I'd marry him if he weren't already married with kids! Though I don't believe he'd feel that I was marriage material for a Rabbi!).

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/No-Holds-Barred-Peter-Beinarts-attack-on-myself-and-Cory-Booker-316820

Smellin' Like Roses - Diet Log #7 (past due)

Lunch Meats, Slices of Cheese, Broccoli and Cauliflower, Salads, Chicken Sausages, Chicken Thighs, Rotisserie Chicken, and eggs - have been the meals for this weekend.  Nothing exciting, actually I found myself being my own Naysayer this weekend.  I just could barely get myself to want to eat dinner because salad and meat is starting to disgust me.  I am not at the stage where I'm allowed cottage cheese yet.  All I wanted last night was cottage cheese and some diced tomatoes/scallions/peppers... just sounded so fresh/clean and healthy.  BUT, instead we had chicken sausages that were Zero carb and salad that my son and I chopped up and tossed together.  Totally beautiful dinner, but totally unappealing to me... Then came the "What am I going to do next week when I'm totally turned off by this staple diet of gross meat and fat?" - I am not a big meat eater, I could easily live off of veggies and fruit and pasta - yep, there it is - Pasta.  See how my mind is trying to trick me into my drug of choice, Pasta... Seriously, I don't drink, I don't do recreational drugs, I'm clean... except for CARBOHYDRATES.

But my excitement today - I got my birthday gift (belated purchase) of Eau de Cartier, Goutte de Rose, 6.75 fl oz bottle - it's huge!  AND I'm so HAPPY HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have Cartier Perfume, Baiser Vole, which is absolutely wonderful, but I don't want to use it all up - so now I have this to add to my collection.  I'm the best smelling person I know!!!  

Hades - Diet Log #6

Day #6:

Went out in the horrible heat and got cases of water, sparkling water, Powerade Zero, and some flavored diet sparking water called ICE. Friends came over and went through my Goodwill and walked off with a shopping bag of clothes - which was a good feeling for me that they got some nice "new" clothes to wear.  Now I'm starting a whole new bag for Goodwill - and they'll have to come over next week and go through it.

Meals consisted of - slices of cheese, lunch meat, some olives, and rotisserie chicken and steamed broccoli.  Not very exciting - too hot to really be interested in food.

I will admit I had a big battle of the wills.. I wanted something sweet - and there were cherries in the fridge!  I resisted all temptation!!!  Phewwwwwwww

Just so hot - the heat just melts me, gives me a headache, I ended up sleeping in the middle of the day with my fat cat wrapped in my arms - she and I are napping buddies.

Got to go finish my projects.  

Pinwheels, Painting Furniture, and Country Chicken - Diet Log #5

I made Smoked Salmon Pinwheels for breakfast and shared with friend.  The Cold Smoked Salmon is going to be a staple now - as long as I can find really nice fresh cuts at Fresh Market.  Add a little thinly sliced red onion and a thin slice of cucumber, and you are in HEAVEN! (if you like smoked salmon)

Lunch is Sliced Turkey Ham, Cheese, Hard Boiled Egg and a  Starbuck's Unsweetened Green Iced Tea.

Tonight's dinner:

Chicken "a la Provence - Sabrina Style"

2.5 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Chopped Onion
Chopped 2 stalks of Celery
Chopped 1/2 Green Pepper
Diced up skinned/peeled garlic cloves
Olive Oil
Healthy amount of Herbs du Provence
Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper

Preheat oven at 350 degrees; Going to brown up the onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic; then add the chicken in to brown up some too - all in my casserole-dutch oven pot; put the lid on the pot and put it in the oven to cook for about 45-60 minutes, until the meat is so moist it can be cut a part with a fork.

Serving this with a salad of:

Spring Mix Greens
Chopped 2 tomatoes
Sprinkle of thinly sliced red onion
Chopped 1/2 bell pepper
Mustard Vinaigrette (White Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil, Ground Sea Salt/Black Pepper, and a tsp. Course Deli Mustard or Dijon - shaken/blended till creamy)

I can't wait to go home and get the house to smell like a Country French Kitchen ... My neighbors will be standing outside their doors sniffing ... 

This will be my first "weekend" in the Detox phase.  My goal is to keep very busy.  I have two projects that must be finished this weekend:

1.  I am refurbishing my armoire in my bedroom; I am painting the piece Henrietta (Lilac); Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint.  I am going to do before and after photos.  

I made the mistake of not getting any for the little cheapo old side table I had - which now is sitting pretty in my bedroom.

The After Picture

2.  Finish organizing my closet.  Again, forgot to do a before picture, showing the absolute disaster and almost the look of the beginnings of a hoarder.  I've purchase some very pretty, matching storage boxes for my shelves, and I've been working to eliminate junk, old clothes, and put everything into it's rightful place, organization, organization... 

Diet Log #4 - Ketosis

Tonight I went out and purchased a bottle of Ketone Sticks to find out if I was in Ketosis.  I immediately tried them out - and I was in Moderate zone... Jumping for joy... Not getting on the scale for a week, so have to have something else to use to appease my OCD.  So, it will probably take the whole 3 weeks of detoxing from carbs to get to the max Ketosis.  But, for eating this way for 4 days and already meeting the middle mark - it's fantastic!!!  

Ketosis

Ketosis is a state at which the body has an extremely high fat-burning rate. Even the brain runs on fat, via ketone bodies. These are energy molecules in the blood (like blood sugar) which become fuel for our brains after being converted from fat by the liver.

To encourage ketone production, the amount of insulin in your bloodstream must be low. The lower your insulin, the higher your ketone production. And when you have a well-controlled, sufficiently large amount of ketones in your blood, it’s basically proof that your insulin is very low – and therefore, that you’re enjoying the maximum effect of your low-carbohydrate diet. That’s what’s called optimal ketosis.

One of my co-workers brought in her Atkin's book for me when she over heard someone mention that I was eating  Low Carb now.  I read a part in the book that a good breakfast to start the day is sliced smoked salmon with some cream cheese rolled inside... So, I have packed for tomorrow in my lunch bag - slices of Cold Smoked Salmon with Whipped Cream Cheese.  

Today:

I forgot breakfast - again... not good.

Lunch - Chicken salad 

Dinner - Deviled Eggs and Greek Salad with a Vinaigrette (homemade)

 Snack -- Turkey ham and Ultra thin slice of provolone

Roasted Brussell Sprouts - Diet Log #3

Healthy eating... and reading... and cooking... I'm not craving carbs today.  Not saying that when I get home tonight I won't start hallucinating (DTs) that M&Ms with Peanuts are invading my home, or that a cupcake isn't sitting behind the shower curtain waiting to jump out at me and scream Eat Me or that my bed has turned into a giant bowl of Linguini.

I love Brussels Sprouts - I really love Roasted Brussels Sprouts!

I buy a bag of fresh sprouts, wash and clean/trim/cut in halves, then put them in a zip lock bag with olive oil, garlic powder, ground black pepper, sea salt, and shake them all up so they are coated; throw them in a pan/baking sheet and cook them in the oven at 400 degrees - for 45 minutes - turning them over until they are all browned and crackled and cooked through.  

Sometimes, when I only have frozen baby brussels available, I do the same thing, but throw them in the microwave oven - and cook them for about 10-15 minutes on High and they brown up just the same.  Though cooking in the oven is healthier than the microwave and more flavorful with the longer cooking period.

Tonight's salad: (an antipasto type of salad)

Spring Mix Blend Bag of Salad
2 Tomatoes, chopped
Peeled, cored/seeded, diced cucumber
Sliced red onion
Chopped Bell Pepper
Cubes of Provolone
Chopped pieces of Turkey Pepperoni
and using up the rest of the Homemade Salad Dressing I made the other night....

My son ate all the hard boiled eggs AND the deviled eggs that were leftover, so I just bought him his very own Freshly Laid Yesterday Eggs from a friend's little farm.  She brought in a carton with the most beautiful brown and blue/green eggs!  Now he can eat to his heart's content, because strangely enough I have an issue with "eggs" - I want Jumbo Brown Eggs from a Store - though I know her eggs are better for you than the store bought!  

Lunch today:  Newk's Chicken Salad

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 serving (1oz)
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 58.5 Calories 78
% Daily Values*
Total Fat 6.5g		10%
	Saturated Fat -
Cholesterol 16.3mg		5%
Sodium 200mg		8%
Total Carbohydrate 0.5g		0%
	Dietary Fiber 0.14g	1%
	Sugars 0.2g
Protein 4.7g

Diet Log #2 - Psychological

I had the most boring salad at lunch time when I went to a cafe with friends.  Very disappointed ... while they ate giant deli sandwiches that made my mouth water - I had to just focus on the plate and tell myself - they will be jealous of my success in a few months, and not having that sandwich was the better choice.

June 24th I have an appointment with the Mayo Clinic because I have a strange lump on my upper arm (crossing my fingers it is just some kind of cyst or a Lipoma) - I am counting on the scale being friendly - I will be happy to see that the scale shows me lighter than two weeks ago when I went to see my physician... he is the one that said - You have got to stop eating sugar and starches - You have to lose weight or you will never be healthy again.  I spent the first week of May in the hospital very sick... it was a definite wake up call.  Since he said that I've already lost 8 lbs., but now I'm getting serious.

So...

Accidentally missed breakfast

Lunch - Boring salad

Dinner - 2 Organic Chicken sausages stuffed with sundried tomatoes and mozzarella with a couple of slices of Ultra thin Provolone.

Lots of Water - forgot to count
2 16 oz cups of Unsweetened Iced Green tea
1 Coffee - cut down from numerous cups to one - hopefully soon can cut it out completely
1 16 oz Powerade-Zero

Every hour at work, I got up and moved away and walked around the building a couple times.

I did not go straight home, but instead went from work to a friend's and have hung out with her this evening.  Rather than going home and sitting on the computer or in front of tv or even lying there reading a book.  Trying to become more active and away from home - rather than at home where I could get bored or in trouble...

Diet Log #1

Today's lunch - salad with pico de gallo as the salad dressing...

Dinner, I made a huge chopped salad for the kid and I....

Chopped up Baby Bib - Butter Lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pepperoncini peppers, kalamata olives, turkey salami, and feta cheese, tossed in my own salad dressing made of garlic, Tuscan Spice blend, White Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil... with deviled eggs.  Outrageously tasty and delicious and not to mention filling.

When the kid gets home from his class, he's going to go hog wild on that salad and eggs.

He and I decided to go low-no carb eating to kick start some hard to lose weight that has been packing on - due to health issues and life-style humdrums.

After I began cleaning out my closet, I was sad to see so many beautiful clothes I have that I CANNOT fit into - even two dresses and a top with tags still on them - so I packed up a storage box with the nicest ones, made a huge Goodwill bag, and then tossed the junk.

My goal - to fit back into the clothes I just put in a storage box at the top of my closet.

I wanted to go swimming tonight - but sadly a storm cell came through ruining any chances of getting out and swimming.  Not for laziness, but because of elements.  :(

Beverages through the day:

1 cup of coffee - no sugar, a little milk
32 oz. of unsweetened Starbucks' Iced Green Tea
16 oz. of Powerade Zero (per doc's orders re: Potassium issue)
16 oz. of Ice Water

Still got more time to get some more water in....I am not drinking enough.

Coq au Vin

This weekend I found my travel scrap book and saw pictures of my son and I in Paris.... and it reminded me, of course of food, that on one of those trips we had this incredible dinner of Coq au Vin at a little bar on the Ille St. Louis.  They called it "Country Chicken", but it was Coq au Vin and it was out of this world.

Last night I pulled out my new casserole pot that was a Christmas gift from my best friend and followed the recipe I found on the PBS website - and I think Julia Child winked at me from the Heavens.  It came out wonderful!!!!!!  Even though I improvised - I only had dry herbs, boneless-skinless chicken thighs, and I had turkey bacon - not pork bacon.  BUT, only meant it was a little lighter/healthier on the arteries!!  It was delicious... at least that was the consensus between myself, my best friend, and my son.