OCTOBER 14 Living a Low Carb Lifestyle ------- OR AT LEAST TRYING TOO!

December this year I will be LIVING A LOW CARB LIFESTYLE for TWO YEARS! I have lost 17kg and have been losing and picking up some of it through the last year..... I am hoping to reach my goal of 70kg.....Wow it has been an amazing journey as I have learned so much about eating healthy, loosing weight and perseverance.

I have been blogging here on this site about my daily "ins and outs", what I eat, my highs and lows and living a low carb lifestyle in a world of carbs not being a low carb angel at all ;)

After much thought I have decided I will come and write on my blog only occasionally.

My facebook page: "Low Carb Karin" (please feel free to join) will be the place where I will be posting heaps of recipes and sharing great articles on Living a Low Carb Lifestyle.

I have gone through a LOW CARB WAR the last few weeks..... Indulging in too much protein at first and then falling into a sugar groove...this has not helped my weight loss journey. I have gained a bit but has lost the bulk of it the last few days sticking to the basics.

My birthday is middle November and I have a goal to reach! Hoping to weigh myself into the 73kg range and then being 70kg by middle December when we leave for a three month visit to South Africa OH YES! Cheer me on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOW CARBING

I'M BACK! We had a great time away as a family. I WAS NO LOW CARB ANGEL ;) It was really hard to be at a buffet for three meals a day and snacks in between and stay on low carb....... I really did well the first few days and then I sneaked a bite of this and then a bite of that...... YES and then I was eating it..... I had bits of dessert and way toooooo much protein.

Today I was back on track at home eating only low carb. It felt like I had a constant low pain headache....... My body is not use to sugar anymore........ I'm for sure not getting on the scale for a week. ;) Making low carb eating a lifestyle is never easy. It can be done......

We are having computer problems and I'm working on an I pad. I find it really hard to type pages of writing with one finger and have to be patient until my husband gets home on Monday. Until then.  x x

All the best and KEEP GOING!

SEPTEMBER 30

The scale is not happy...... all my great treats from America is slowly settling in. I was up on the scale this morning. Could be many things but I'm holding on and out.

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs fried in butter, coffee and cream.

Midd morning had 1 cheddar stick and a bit of beef jerky, coffee and cream.

LUNCH was eggplant slices grilled, topped with ketchup, feta cheese, gherkin slices and salami circles. Was so good.

I was out this afternoon shopping for some winter clothes with my teenage daughter. What a nightmare and that on a very tight budget.

Came home just in time to get a quick supper going.

SUPPER for me was dried pork rinds fried in a bit of butter and topped with ranch dressing and lettuce.

Did not walk the kids or dog tonight. OUr family are going on a week holiday with friends and I am packing and getting things ready in the midst of school etc.

SEPTEMBER 29

It's a new week LOW CARBING..... I weighed in this morning in at 76.5..... Last night my husband came home at around midnight. He was on a study trip to America and came home with so many treats...... I got myself into some mini salami's A WHOLE PACK OF IT...... At least it was not the reeses pieces peanut butter chocolate I got myself into.

He also brought a love packet from my dear Low Carb friend in New York. She blessed me with a whole lot of the no carb noodles, stevia drops, now sugar jello/jelly, no sugar coffee creamer, real bacon bits and salami sticks etc. OH WHAT A BLESSING to me this is as none of these things we get here in Turkey.

BREAKFAST was 2 fried eggs in butter, coffee and cream.

I had a few pieces of "pork rinds" it is a bit dry but goes down like chips. What a treat and it is carb free. I also had a few pieces of beef jerky.

Midd morning I had another coffee with cream.

LUNCH was a lettuce salad with tomato, cucumber and ranch dressing.

Midd afternoon I enjoy coffee and cream - with a few "pork rinds" My dear friend send me some flavored sugar fee jelly powder. I took 1t of this and mixed it with 2T of cream cheese. Wow it tasted like strawberry ice cream! Can just imagine when I freeze it................

SUPPER was chicken soup with a cup of the "no carb noodles", broccoli and cauliflower. Delicious.

I had a good deal of water today and going to go on the elliptical walker for 20 minutes.

It was a good LOW CARB DAY!

SEPTEMBER 26

DOWN only a hundred gram this morning DOWN TO!!!!!! 76.1 Wish it was in the 75's. A few weeks ago I was down to 75.2 when my sweet husband came back after a two week trip. He brought me back these honey coated dried pork patties. OHHHHHH yes I picked up almost 3 kilogram eating it and had to pack it away so he can eat it on his marathon running. I just can not handle the sugar in it. ....... Now I'm back to 76 and he is getting back this Sunday AGAIN from a trip to America...... I better remind myself  TREATS ARE DANGEROUS.......

BREAKFAST was 2 poached eggs in the microwave with feta cheese. Coffee and cream.

Midd morning had another coffee with cream.

LUNCH was 3 cups chopped lettuce with a small cooked chicken breast, 6 black olives, 2T olive oil and 2T ranch dressing.

Coffee with 1t flavored sugar free coffee creamer. 1T of macadamia nut butter.

SUPPER is home made pizza for my family and I am having a cheese base, mushroom, spicy sausage circles and cheese pizza.

The kids, our friend from SA and I will be traveling to another city nearby with the bus for a visit tomorrow. We will be back Sunday evening again. I will not have my computer with me and will not write tomorrow night or Sunday and will weigh in on Monday morning again.

Have a great weekend dear friends. All the best LET'S PERSEVERE AND GO FOR GOLD!

SEPTEMBER 25

Was weighing in at 76.2 this morning. Was happy for not picking up any weight. Was hoping for a loss though........

BREAKFAST was 2 fried eggs, 5 black olives and a sprinkle of grated cheese. Coffee and cream.

Had coffee and cream midd morning just before we left for the bazaar.

My friend and I went to the big open air fruit and vegetable bazaar in another town WITH THE BUS! It took forever....... But what a treat the sight of all the beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables were.

We missed the bus home and we had to sit and wait for an hour..... LUNCH WAS REAL LATE!

LUNCH was three cups of chopped lettuce, a few circles of fried spicy sausage, 2T of olive oil. Ranch dressing, a bit of cheese and 2T of chopped red pepper.

Had a wonderful coffee with cream at home just sitting ;) and 1T of fresh hot peanut butter. Probably not the best low carb choice but so tasty. Hope I'm not paying for it tomorrow morning on the scale.

SUPPER will be Korean kimbab rolls. I made all the ingredients separate and each person have to assemble their own little sushi rolls. I will have seaweed sheets, broccoli stir fried with garlic, a bit of carrot sticks, 2T of tuna fish, cucumber sticks and mayonnaise.

The kids and I will take the dog for a 4 kilometer walk - last night was their turn at the soccer field and tonight they walk with mama ;)

I have stopped using coconut oil as an extra fat supplement in my diet...... I'm not sure of this but I think it stalls my weight. I will leave it out for a few weeks and then will bring it back again and see. I really enjoy it in my midd morning coffee.

SEPTEMBER 24

The good news on the scale this morning made my day. Weight loss these days come in 200g packets. Was another 200g down this morning. Weighing in now at 76.2!

BREAKFAST was 2 fried eggs, coffee and cream.

Midd morning another coffee with cream.

LUNCH was a small chicken fillet fried and cubed in a 3 cup lettuce salad, slices of tomato, 4 black olives, cucumber, red pepper strips, olive oil and mayonnaise.

After lunch I had a coffee with 1t flavored coffee creamer for dessert.

Midd afternoon I had a T of the macadamia nut butter. It was so delicious almost too delicious to be LOW CARB ;)

SUPPER was 2T ground chicken spiced with taco spicing on top of zoodles (zucchini strips) stir fried in olive oil with garlic butter and lots of black pepper.

Went with the kids to the soccer field but did not do my usual walking I sat and talked to a neighbor..... was the better thing to do at that moment...... Tomorrow evening I will take the kids for our 4km walk.

I had a good amount of water but it does not feel enough - the weather is turning cooler and I need to remind myself to drink more as in summer I was constantly drinking.

SEPTEMBER 23

What a day.... but a good time! The good news was on the scale this morning with a 200g loss since yesterday. yes! I'm hoping this will continue tomorrow too ;)

BREAKFAST was 2 fried eggs, coffee with cream.

I left home early this morning to take a trip to the airport to pick up a friend visiting for three months from SA. I took a coffee on the road with a bit of flavored coffee creamer.

LUNCH was midd afternoon I was starving but knew all the meals at the airport would be costing a fortune and will be carb filled..... I waited till we got home  and I had lettuce, tomato, cucumber and cheese salad with olive oil and black pepper.

Our dear friend from South Africa brought along the most amazing NUT BUTTERS:  Dark chocolate macadamia nut, almond macadamia and a pecan macadamian. Oh my my total weakness. I had a T of the DARK CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA nut....... TO DIE FOR!

I had coffee and cream - by this time of the day I DESERVED IT!

SUPPER was mexican tortillas wraps for my family. I cut out the chicken fillets from the chicken bones for the meat for the tortillas and fried the bones with some meat on for Mama bear in a bit of butter. I enjoyed this with ranch dressing and a bit of lettuce and tomato. Didn't feel like anything more to eat.

For sure didn't drink enough water today or even ate enough. On busy days food is the last thing I think of........ Hoping it will work well on the scale tomorrow morning.

SEPTEMBER 22

A good day on the scale:  76.5 I think it is a good start to the week. The scale was smiling.

BREAKFAST 2 eggs fried in butter, a sprinkle of cheese and coffee with cream.

Midd morning I had another coffee with a t of cream.

LUNCH: I read on an article about weight loss and low carbing last night that it is better to eat the majority of the protein for the day for lunch and breakfast. So today lunch was a chicken fillet chopped up to accompany my 3 cups of lettuce, olives and 3 slices of tomato. Two T of olive oil and a tiny bit of mayonnaise.

Had coffee with a t of cream for my afternoon treat.

OH AND THEN ANOTHER COFFEE REAL LATE AFTERNOON!~ This was just too much coffee for the day....... Not a good thing in weight loss....

SUPPER was hamburgers for my kids and I had 2 patties with lettuce and tomato with a bit of mayo. Was so good!

A FEW "JEWELS" ON LOW CARB EATING:
-Stick to the basic food groups.
-Make sure you know the amount of carbs in everything you eat. I know it is a drag but it will serve you well.
-Log your daily food at a place like "fat secret" so you know what amount of carbs you are eating.
-Do not be afraid of eating butter, coconut oil, olive oil and the fat on the meat. 
-When you fall get up. It is not on whether you fall or not it is on getting up again.
-Drink at least 1 1/2 liters of water a day.
-Try to exercise. I walk the dog and kids at least 4 times a week for 4km. It does make a difference on the scale.
-PERSEVERE! Even if there is nothing on the scale it will kick in eventually.
-Be careful with dairy it could stall your weight loss. I eat very little of it but enjoy cream in my coffee.
-Be aware of "carb creeps" a little bit of sugar here a bite there - IT ADDS UP!
-One wrong meal like a piece of cheesecake could set me back for 2 weeks with the needle on the scale climbing. IT IS NOT WORTH IT!
-Get "buddies" or a group doing low carb. It is encouraging and it keeps a person going.
-Take a picture of yourself when you start. My pictures keeps me going when I feel like giving up. I have come a long way.
-I find when I snack all day it halts my weight loss. Most low carb specialists suggest only eating 3 solid meals a day or even 2 meals a day. I go with 3 meals and coffee in between.
-You can low carb in a family not low carbing. It costs planning and tweaking meals. I have a very picky carb eating sugar loving family and a vegetarian friend staying with us in my home.
-Low carbing does not have to cost an arm or leg. You do not need fancy this and that. I have lost 17 kg eating just basic food as we live in Turkey and low carb this and that does not exist. Our family are on a very tight budget and I make it work on tinned tuna, eggs, bits of cheese, chicken etc.
WILL GIVE IT SOME MORE THOUGHT THERE MUST BE MORE 

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SEPTEMBER 21

Thinking of the week ahead...... I'm doing a menu planning for my family and how to tweak their meals to fit my LOW CARB LIFESTYLE.

Also I'm reviewing how my weight loss went last week. Last week was not a good week losing weight, I'm struggling  being in a weight loss stall.... I'm having to persevere to really keep going.

This weekend went well persevering in LOW CARB EATING. The challenge is always on how much is enough and how much is too much..... Going to log my food at "fat secret" again this week as this helps me to know if I'm eating too little carbs, fat, or protein or too much.

I was thinking and considering going on an "egg fast" this week BUT there is just too much going on. We have a student come living with us for the next three months.... she is a vegetarian. So meal planning is serious juggling on this side. My husband is also out of town for another week...... this makes a big difference. I'm not taking on a challenging this week food wise too.

I'm LOW CARB EATING, she is VEGETARIAN and I have a PICKY FAMILY - talk about cooking up a storm! Maybe not a good week to do an egg fast ;)

BREAKFAST - I always try to make Sunday morning breakfast special for my family and myself. I had 2 slices of the Flaxseed bread, about half a cup of guacamole on top of that and 2 boiled eggs. Coffee and cream and felt like a Princess!

I went to church and had a black coffee there. I took along some pumpkin spice muffins and was drooling over them..... They looked so good but I stood my ground ;)

LUNCH was back at home. I had UNUSUALLY for me -  strips of chicken skins fried sprinkled on top of a  lettuce salad and a good grinding of black pepper on top. Was something new and it was really tasty. I looked up the carb count in chicken skins and it is zero. I will for sure do this again. Off course my family was appalled. Can just imagine what my mom would say about this ;D

I had 2 cubes of dark chocolate for dessert. Coffee and a bit of cream.

SUPPER was a typical lazy Sunday supper. I ate circles of fried spicy sausage mounted on cucumber slices with a bit of mayonnaise.

Not walking the kids and dog tonight but went last night for 4km and played soccer with them. I have been running around and forgetting to drink enough water. Filling up my liter jar early tomorrow morning and putting it next to the coffee pot to make sure I get a good reminder to drink enough water.

SEPTEMBER 20

I just love Saturdays! Today was a busy day with lots of guests and filled with many temptations..... FROM THE KITCHEN!

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs, coffee and cream.

We had friends over midd morning for cinnamon rolls and coffee. I enjoyed a lovely mug of coffee and a bit of cream.

LUNCH was a tuna salad that my daughter made for us (BUT it had corn in it) I didn't want to offend her.... so I ate it :D with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, feta cheese and a bit of olives. The corn was not a good decision but it was the best I could do....

Midd afternoon I had another coffee with a touch of cream.

SUPPER was late afternoon I had a few sheets of seaweed spread with mayonnaise wrapped around spears of spicy sausage. It is Saturday and I did not feel like cooking ;)

It was a challenging day especially with the cheesecake squares. My total weakness.... I had 2 cubes of dark chocolate for dessert instead.

SEPTEMBER 19

Not getting on the scale before MONDAY! I'm giving my weight loss stall a few more days and then I'm going to do the soup fast for a few days. This was one thing that I never bargained for in Low Carb..... WEIGHT STALLS. Normally 2 weeks without the scale moving is considered as a weight loss stall. Monday will be only a week..... I'M SO IMPATIENT :D

BREAKFAST: 2 fried eggs, half a cup sliced cucumber and 5 olives. Coffee and cream.

Late morning I had coffee with 2T of coconut oil. I fried circles of chorizo and ate it on circles of cucumber for a midd morning snack with a dot of mayonnaise.

LUNCH was a bit of leftover chicken from last night on top of my salad. I ate 3 cups of chopped lettuce and 3 slices of tomato. 2T of olive oil with a bit of mayonnaise to round it off.

Had a delicious coffee with 1t of low carb caramel flavored coffee creamer.

SUPPER was my food on the picture at the top of this page. I stir fried some cauliflower with garlic in butter and fried in two eggs and added chinese five spice spicing and stirred in a bit of left over ground peanut chicken from last night. Topped off with a bit of red pepper circles and a squeeze of lemon. Was a brilliant very tasty Friday evening meal.

SO LAZY TONIGHT: not going to walk the dog and the kids... was a rough busy day I feel tiered..... I probably should go then...... Taking a bit off tonight.

Weekends are normally a very difficult time for me low carbing ...... There is for sure more temptations around. Tomorrow we have a group of friends coming over for a visit. I would not even tell what is on the menu..... The best to do is to keep my head on and eat what I can eat and enjoy coffee with a bit of cream etc. ;)

All the best LIVING A LOW CARB LIFESTYLE!

SEPTEMBER 18

CHANGED THE BATTERIES ON THE SCALE..... NO! that was not the problem  Logged my food on fatsecret (it always gives me a good idea of what my macros are) and staying away from dairy and nuts AND REMINDING MYSELF THAT THE NUMBER ON THE SCALE DOES NOT PORTRAY MY VALUE! But man oh man I have a goal to reach! 

After I logged my food at fatsecret I realized that I have been eating too little. It is either too much or too little. Today I am trying to eat according to my logged in data on fatsecret. 

BREAKFAST 2 eggs fried in butter with half a cup of sliced cucumber. Coffee and 1t of cream only. 

Midd morning I had coffee with 2T of coconut oil blended. 

LUNCH was 3 cups of chopped lettuce with half a cup of tuna and 2T of olive oil, 3 slices of tomato black pepper and a touch of pink salt. 

Had coffee after lunch with just a touch of cream. 

SUPPER is a feast with friends coming over. The one person is gluten intolerent and the other one a vegetarian and I'm low carbing. I decided on a black bean salsa salad (which I would be skipping) then a roasted pumpkin salad on a bed of lettuce with feta cheese and pumpkin seeds. I will have a bit of this. Then broccoli stir fry with garlic and pasta and rice which I will be skipping and ground chicken with peanut butter and chinese five spice. This is my treat! MY FAVORITE is the cheesecake bars - - - - - - I will for sure not have any. But it looks divine. 

Not walking the dog and kids tonight. I'm running around like a crazy chicken getting supper ready. 

Here is my log for the day: 

My Food Diary

Today, Thursday 18 September 2014

 

Fat	Carbs	Net C	Prot	Cals
107.53	26.25	14.65	72.23	1350

        

Breakfast 53.40 2.68 2.18 13.86 556

Egg 2 large 9.94 0.77 0.77 12.58 147

Heavy Cream 10 ml 3.73 0.28 0.28 0.21 35

Coffee 1 mug (8 fl oz) 0.05 0.09 0.09 0.28 2

Butter 1 tbsp 11.52 0.01 0.01 0.12 102

Cucumber (Peeled) 1/2 cup pared, chopped 0.11 1.44 0.94 0.39 8

Coffee 1 mug (8 fl oz) 0.05 0.09 0.09 0.28 2

Carrington Farms Pure, Unrefined, Cold Pressed Coconut Oil 100% Organic Extra Virgin 2 x 1 tbsp, 28 g 28.00 260

Add Item

Lunch 33.23 6.90 3.90 28.48 432

Lettuce 3 cups shredded or chopped 0.23 4.90 2.90 1.48 23

Chicken of the Sea Tuna in Oil 2 x 1/4 cup, 4 oz 6.00 26.00 160

Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 tbsps 27.00 239

Denny's Sliced Tomatoes (3 Slices) 1 serving, 2 oz 2.00 1.00 1.00 10

Add Item

Dinner 20.90 16.67 8.57 29.89 362

Chicken Breast (Skin Eaten) 1/2 small (yield after cooking, bone removed) 6.48 24.82 164

Broccoli 1 cup chopped 0.34 6.04 3.64 2.57 31

Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin 1/2 cup, 122 g 0.50 9.00 4.00 2.00 40

Lettuce 1 cup shredded or chopped 0.08 1.63 0.93 0.50 8

Olive Oil 1 tbsp 13.50 119

Add Item

Snacks / Other

Add Item

Day Summary: This is some of what I ate  This is exactly what I ate
79% of RDI* (1350 calories) * Based on your RDI of 1700 calories (04 Mar 14)	Calorie Breakdown:   Carbohydrate (7%)   Fat (72%)   Protein (21%) Set your Recommended Daily Intake

SEPTEMBER 17

This picture was lunch today.

Oh well....... I'm not picking up and not coming down either. Probably a good place to be. I'm hoping my fat cells are getting a great get together and then make a grand fast exit. :D

BREAKFAST was 2 fried eggs with a sprinkle of cheese. Coffee and cream.

Went to an event with my travel mug and added 1t of flavored coffee creamer.
Had a handful of almonds and cashews mixed.

LUNCH was stacks. Sliced tomato slices, cucumber slices with fried spicy sausage circles topped off with mayonnaise and black pepper.

Had another coffee.... wow!  and this time black! I'm trying to cut back on cream to see if it could help maybe a move in the weight loss.

SUPPER will be Korean sushi rolls for the kids. When my husband that hates it is not at home it is the first meal the kids asks for. It is one of my favorites too, but off course it is not low carb. I'm going to use cucumber julienne strips, chicken strips and a bit of mayo and wrap it in seaweed for myself for supper. I could steam some cauliflower and make the real deal but my go is out. It was a long day.........

I'm hoping the kids and dog would forget that we could go for a walk tonight ;) I'm taking a skip walking tonight.

SEPTEMBER 16

This was lunch today. I felt like something different from salad. The weather is turning cooler and I feel like more substance in my meals.

I am such a stable looser ;) even the scale keeps me stable ;) I am stuck now at 76.7.

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs fried in olive oil and half an avocado pear with salt and black pepper. Coffee and cream.

Midd morning I had my coconut coffee blended with 2T of coconut oil.

LUNCH was 2 slices of the flaxseed bread that I have in the freezer with egg salad, mayonnaise and a few pieces of tomato.

Had coffee with 1t of sugar free coffee creamer. I had 2 tiny cubes of dark chocolate for dessert.

SUPPER was stir fried broccoli in butter with lots of black pepper and chicken strips. I'm such a happy camper I found broccoli and cauliflower in the bazaar. I actually bought 4kg of it :D The vegetables here are very seasonal and I haven't had broccoli since April. My kids ask for broccoli every evening now. It is a good low carb vegetable.

The kids and I came to an arrangement, they walk the dog with me for 4km and I go play a bit at the soccer field - it worked well tonight.  Best of both worlds for us.