The FEAR of LOOSING NOT!

I used to be a very skinny child and teenager and  weighed the perfect dream weight at my wedding....At least I have the photos to prove it as I picked up so much weight the last 18 years of married life. Within the first year of our marriage I all ready picked up a few kilograms. Then within 17 years I picked up a whopping 24 kilograms within having our 3 children......

I have often wondered and asked myself how did I get here? How on earth did I picked up 24 kilograms in 17 years? Who knows.. I probably will never have full answers to these questions.

Another valid question within this topic is: Did I not try within this 17 years to loose weight? Yes, I did try but not with much results. I think I just let it go as the results was so little and the effort was overwhelming. Also just being confused on how to loose weight.

Why is this time around then different?

I think I have come to a point in my life where the cost of being 24kg overweight were just to high to live with... the women and reflection in the mirror is not who I want to be.... I also believe God didn't create my body to be overweight. His dream for me is to be healthy in every way.

I want to be a healthy women, mother and wife. Too much energy daily went into inner conversations and reasoning why I was not that overweight or what could be done about the situation..... or just plain feeling ugly and FAT!

I think I was afraid of failure... The best step forward I knew was to take the bull by the horns, face my fears up front and be accountable in my weight loss journey.  Wooohooooo! That is a biggy! Loosing weight with the whole world watching! I normally shy away from the spotlight. But loosing weight while being under the spotlight: "That is nerve wrecking!" :)

As nerve wrecking as it is I know it is the only way I can keep myself accountable. It helps me to keep chopping... bearing forward knowing that giving up is not an option. Along the road many people, friends, family and strangers have gathered to cheer me on and throw flowers of encouragement...

Thank you for being with me and encouraging me on this journey. I hope through my journey and hope not to give up you will be inspired to keep up your dream and not give in.

The book by Lysa Terkeurst - Made to Crave

was a wonderful encouragement to me on my journey. Knowing that He is for me, with me, alongside me encouraging me along.

ALL ABOUT TODAY AND THE NEXT TEN DAYS:

At least my weight is coming down again..... but I'm not yet where I was before....even if the Queen of England goes into trouble to come up with low carb this and that to treat me: "I'm not going to fall for it again!" It took me three days to work through that piece of cheesecake! It seems like "Low Carb" is relative.

Packing and getting ready to go on a trip to the beach with my family and inlaws for 10 days!
Think of me as this is not an easy task food wise. The good thing is that I get great exercise walking on the beach front and swimming. The sad part is all the carb food and sugar around........ PURE WILLPOWER NEEDED TO SAY NO!

BREAKFAST was two eggs, tomato, cucumber and coffee with cream.

LUNCH was a good portion of the Low Carb Chicken soup and green salad.

SNACKS: had 2 beef jerky/biltong sticks with a quarter cup watermelon and two cups broth from the low carb soup.

SUPPER again was the Soup with salad on the side.

Will weigh in tomorrow morning early and come and track on my weight tracker if I'm down :D

We do not have internet at the house at the beach. I will come and try to come and say hi if we can track down internet somewhere. Hoping for the best in weight loss for this trip. Hoping and wishing you the best for your journey in the next 10 days too.   XXXXXX

REMEMBER: "Take it one day at a time... one meal at a time..... EVENTUALLY it does add up!"

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Nothing new on the scale this morning..... DEAD QUIET!

Was a great day though filled with many food temptations.

Breakfast was two boiled eggs sliced and stacked on cucumber slices with a little bit of mayo and sprinkle of black pepper. Off course coffee and cream on the side.

Lunch was chicken pieces in a curry cream sauce with an eggplant salad with tomato and onion.

THEN I went with my mother in law and friend to a Swiss coffee chocolate shop. Had a mug of coffee and one dark small chocolate spoon THAT WAS ALL!

Supper was a bowl of the FAMOUS LOW CARB CHICKEN SOUP!

Normally when I stall on weight loss I make this low carb soup and eat if for lunch and supper for a few days often with a green salad. It normally pulls me out and get me loosing weight again.

Here is the recipe:

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LOW CARB MIRACLE SOUP

2 chicken breast sliced
1 onion sliced
2 chicken cubes or enough salt to taste
good grinding of black pepper
2 cups broccoli chopped
1 cup chopped baby marrows
2 cups chopped or frozen spinach
one red pepper chopped for color.

Add enough water to make soup for a few days.
Boil for 2 hours on low heat.

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ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Hmf the cheesecake kicked my bud! I was almost a kilogram heavier on the scale this morning..... really tried today to stay on the very to no carb eating with lots of water. Hoping to not go into a stall over this.....

Breakfast was just 2 boiled eggs with coffee and cream and then later in the morning for snacks I had two sticks of biltong/beef jerky Yum!

Lunch was Taco salad with barbecue chicken strips, lettuce, cucumber, toasted peppers, ranch dressing and a bit of tomato with a sprinkling of cheese.

Had about a quarter cup of watermelon, was tempted to have chocolate. I wouldn't even tell what my family and inlaws were eating today.  ;)

Supper was a chicken fillet in the microwave with mayo and lettuce wraps.

Will see on the scale tomorrow morning if it was a good low carb day.....

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Breakfast this morning was scones for my family and I made the "bun in a mug" for me with egg mayo on top and whipped cream and cheese on the other two halves with coffee and cream.

Lunch happened middle afternoon after we got home from church. I had leftover bolognaise red sauce with with melted cheese on top with mock potato salad and eggplant salad on the side.

Our dear neighbor invited us over for cake and coffee late afternoon.  I talked myself out of the watermelon, home made choc chip cookies and popcorn and then just for me she came up with low carb cheesecake with cherry sauce on top. I felt terrible to say no and just had to eat it oh boy..... hoping that her low carb and my low carb falls into the same category.

Will see on the scale tomorrow morning how low carb it was ;D

Skipping supper to make sure the cheese cake gets good mileage!!!!!! ;)

COMPARISON....a weight loss STEALER!

In the midst of the battle trying all I can and withholding myself from all the temptations and cravings .... I feel like I was robbed of hope! I have never been a big weight loser. I would loose a few kilograms and then pick it all up with more. Loosing weight often is a VERY SLOW and painful process for me. Even giving it my best effort..... IT GOES SLOW!

I have the incredible gift to pick up weight :) You know what I mean..... One bite or one meal could throw me back for days standing still or picking up on the scale.

I become tiered of trying.... hoping and bearing forward. I turn myself to COMPARING... Comparing myself with people I know that can eat all they want and not pick up a gram. Someone smilingly talking about how fast her metabolism is and how she can easily loose a few kilograms a week with little effort..... it can draw me into the ugly place of WHY ME questions....

Comparison steals hope! It steals vision and the energy to bear forward in hope. Acknowledging that I have compared myself feels like the battle half won. It brings light into the dark tunnel of loosing perspective and wondering if I can do it.

Recently on holiday while my family was gobbling down spoonfuls of ice cream and caramel sauce and I was just sitting there sipping my coffee my daughter noted that it must be hard for watching them eat all they like and want. "Yes it is! But I believe I'm learning valuable lessons in my character.... to be content with what I have and learning to endure when I feel like giving up. It makes me stronger..... Teaching me to be able to say no....." I thoughtfully answered.

After our conversation I found a quiet spot in our home and made peace in my heart  with my situation and weight loss struggles again.... I made a decision not to allow comparison to steal my hope. Putting my heart and mind together to walk this narrow path... baring forward against all odds.

Yes there is a price to pay a price to choose to tackle the challenge head on, to endure in hope. This tortoise will eventually cross the finish line smiling!

YOU CAN TOO!

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

I was another 400g down this morning. OFFICIALLY weighing less than my husband now ;) for the first time in 15 years. He is quite skinny but tall...... but hey I'm still weighing less. I'm not the heavy weight any more!

Breakfast was a lovely meal at Ikea with my inlaws and family this morning. I had an omelette with half a spicy sausage. Tomato, cheese, cucumber and olives on the side with coffee. 

It was a brunch at 10 in the morning so I skipped lunch. 

Half way to supper this afternoon I was about to swallow the trash can. I had half a bowl cauliflower mock potato salad. 

Supper was a barbeque. I had chicken, sausage and one ground meat shish stick. I had half a cup eggplant salad and another about a cup mock potato salad. Off course had a glass of coke zero for my treat. 

I'm not finding the time to go exercise but did go walk a bit with my family and the dog this evening. Probably more a stroll. I keep up my water drinking as the weather is sweating hot. 

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

BROKE INTO MY 10KG DOWN MARK TODAY since Christmas last year!!!!!!!!! Lost another 200g since yesterday!

Oeeeee it is going rough with all the tempting food around me cooking for my inlaws.

Breakfast was 2 egg omelette with cheese, cucumber and tomato salad.

Lunch was lettuce wraps with cheese, roasted red peppers, mayo and tomato.

Supper was a chicken fillet with mayo and a dot of sweet chili sauce.

Snacks today was a cup of Coke zero, 2 cubes of 80 percent dark chocolate and half a cup of green grapes. Will see today after the sweets added how it will influence my weight loss.

I have not had time to go and do my speed walking with weights since my guests arrive. Hoping to do some exercise. I know my changes of loosing more weight will be better when I exercise.

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Wow what a day. I was another 300g down on the scale this morning. I'm smiling all the way!!!!!!My inlaws have landed and our culture is all about food! The best thing is the biltong that came with. I just have to side step the chocolates and all the beloved familiar candy.

Breakfast was 2 eggs omelette with tuna salad with coffee and cream for me.  My family had cinnamon rolls and stuffed themselves :D

Lunch was tuna salad again wrapped up on the go in lettuce leafs. My family had fruit salad with yogurt.

Supper was bolognaise red sauce for me with cheese on top and cauliflower potato mock salad, with cucumber and red peppers slices.  My family had lasagna with garlic bread and chocolate mousse for desert.

It is challenging in two ways. The way my family eats now as I make extra treats to bless my inlaws too and I am running around like a mad chicken cooking and baking. Possibly today I didn't have enough protein........ I definitely had enough water and then feels full and forget to eat enough. Not such a problem ;)

ALL ABOUT TODAY!

I'm still riding the 600g off wave! I'm as busy as a bee. My inlaws arrives early tomorrow morning coming to visit for a month. Oeeeee and I'm going to cook up a storm and have to watch it been eaten too ;) It is going for sure be the test of time for my Low Carbing.

Breakfast was what was in the fridge as we came back from holiday yesterday and I only went shopping late morning. I had a few rounds of fried salami rolled up in lettuce leafs with coffee and cream.

Lunch was on the run with cold meat, cucumber sticks, tomato slices rolled up in lettuce leafs.

Supper was tuna salad with cheese cubes, tomato, pickles and lettuce with mayonnaise.

Was such a busy day I didn't have time to snack. Had a nice cup of coffee late afternoon with cream. Was a good day low carbing. It is middle summer here and the weather is very hot. I am drinking lots of water!

Weight loss UPDATE for my ten day SUMMER HOLIDAY

I have lost 600g the last ten days away!!!! HI HO HI HO HI HO! I was hoping for more weight loss but rather loosing a bit than picking up a few kilograms.  The weight ticker now standing at 9.5kg down!!!!!!!

Surviving skills with my TOTALLY THIN family ON HOLIDAY

Was it easy? NEVER! I was on my own..... fighting of my mind, taste buds and nose that could talk me into many reasons why I could eat caramel ice cream with toffee sauce or barbeque corn chips etc. and ETC! Or even my family feeling sorry for me and "blessing" me with something to eat. My family love to snack and on holiday they have a license to do so. My wonderful husband is dead skinny and has the metabolism of a race horse and has a tremendous sweet tooth. I think you get the idea......

I had to come up with ways to find alternatives to enjoy eating on holiday but stay low carbing. This was actually my first summer holiday low carbing and I knew I had to stand strong.

-I packed a jar of ground almond and flax seed meal so I could make the bread in a mug when I felt like a sandwich. Which turned out to be great with cacao and cinnamon and a squirt of cream for a sweet treat.

-I packed tins of tuna for that extra protein kick when my family enjoyed pizza. I had the tuna then with lettuce leafs as wraps.

-I actually bought a jar of granulated artificial, no carb Stevia sugar. I could sweet up my coffee or a bit of whip cream on my bun in a mug.

-I made sure there were enough salad vegetables for me to use as dips in cream cheese or ranch dressing.

-My sweet husband surprised me with Coke zero to enjoy when we barbecued  or to enjoy in the afternoon when I felt like something sweet.

-I took along a 80% dark chocolate and I knew I could eat a cube or two a day.

-A friend gave me a few packets of chocolate protein shakes. They had 5 carbs in the whole packet and I made these up into frozen ice cream lollies to enjoy. What a treat it was in the heat of the afternoon when my family was eating bowls of ice cream.

-When we watched movies in the evening and my family would pull out a bag of chips I would cut up some salted sea weed and nibble on that or chew on a hand full of salted almonds or cashews.

-I always made sure I had a good solid breakfast to keep me going all morning on the beach.

-I would pack frozen bottles of water and enjoy a nice ice cold cup.

-I made sure that I had an abundant all ready washed and dried big lettuce leafs in the fridge. What ever my family ate protein wise I would fold into the leafs and enjoy.

-I made sure I didn't eat too much of the high carb vegetables like tomatoes and carrots or over ate on the proteins at the barbecues. I kept reminding myself that being on a family holiday does not mean I could eat all I want.

-I would make sure there were always side vegetables I could eat like eggplant, peppers, baby marrows and cucumbers.

-In the evening I would drag the kids and the dog down to the beach for a long brisk walk and me with my 1 kilogram hand weights.

-I kept my goals in sight. I wanted to weigh 75 kilograms after the ten day break at the sea. I knew that I had to loose 1kg a week!

-I recognized and kept an eye on the pathetic "poor me" attitude as soon as it would stick its head out ;) I chose not to fall for that lurring me along to eat a whee bit of something and then beat myself up afterwards.

-I would make myself great filter coffee and treat myself with a dash of real cream and cinnamon on top.

Like I said it was not always easy but I have a good sense of going on holiday now, having a great time and stay Low Carbing all the way. I did take a few licks of ice cream here and there and probably ate too much from time to time.

I'm looking forward tomorrow morning to get on the scale and see what the results will be. I'm hoping to have reached my 10kg down mark!

Going on a BREAK TO THE SEA!

Hi dear friends. Another 200g down this morning. Just wanted to say I'm not going to be writing on the blog for about 10 days as our family will be going on our summer holiday. Hoping to keep up the weight loss and Low Carb Eating.

Happy Low Carbing!
Karin

ALL ABOUT TODAY!

I'm doing jumping jacks :) Another 200g down on the scale this morning. Keeping my goal in sight to weigh 75kg when my inlaws come to visit. Another 2kg to loose in the next two weeks. As a family we will be going on a trip to the beach for 10 days - as it is summer holiday here. Normally it is very hard on holiday to say no to all the ice cream and all. But I'm going to give it a good try and smile at the end about the 2kg lost! At least I'm weighing 8.7kg less than last year on the beach ;)

Breakfast was the usaul 2 eggs with peppers, tomato, a sprinkle of cheese and a cuppachino with lots of froth  made by sweet Melika.

Lunch was another big treat as my dear friend came over with two baked eggplant halfs filled with ground meat, tomato, garlic and mushroom. Was so yum! Had a salad on the side of lettuce, cucumber, onion and a bit of tomato.

Supper was a steamed chicken fillet with 2T of ranch dressing and 2T of a cooked salad of eggplants, garlic, red peppers and olive oil.

I went to visit my Turkish neighbor and wow was there temptations from great cake to fried donut balls. I nicely said no until she popped out of the kitchen with Turkish coffee. I had to drink it and it probably had a t of sugar in it. Couldn't say no then as she would have been offended.

My Biggest Struggles LOW CARBING and what I do ABOUT IT!

I wish I can say it is all just a big party, like ice cream and cake, going smooth as butter or even NO PROBLEM! No in every way it has been a challenge for me. As much as I want to loose weight, look thin and cute, wear the clothes I like. It was been an intense long fierce battle!

I love to eat and cook, experiment in the kitchen with new recipes etc. I'm a total social eater. Every event according to me needs some thing to eat either it is just a meeting.

HERE IS SOME OF MY STRUGGLES AND WHAT I DO TO SAIL AROUND IT:

STRUGGLE: I crave sugar and chocolate. I think for most of my life I ate some kind of chocolate daily..... probably some addiction :)

DO: I buy the cheapest 80 to 85 percent dark chocolate. I check the label and make sure I do not eat more than 5 net grams at a time. I try not to eat this every day as I know I will want more and more. I probably have two cubes 2 times a week.

STRUGGLE: My family are sugar and carb junkies. I find it very challenging to eat with them. I love them deeply and want to spoil them with good healthy meals. So I have to come up with these meals, cook it and watch them eat it. Even if I cook healthy there is carbs and having to sit at the same table as them and smelling the great food and having to eat my food it often discouraging.

DO: I try to come up with some food in the same range as what they eat creating it for me without the carbs. When they have toast and egg I will make the bun in a mug with egg. When we eat hamburgers I just eat the inside without the bun and have more salad on the side. I will make them lasagne and make a baby marrow and eggplant lasagne for me.

STRUGGLE: Going out for meals and my family and friends enjoy cake and ice cream and I have to smell it, and see them fully devouring it.

DO: When our family have ice cream like Magnum's (doesn't happen allot) I  then have a small bite from each. I have made a decision not to have one of my own. Telling myself this is it.

STRUGGLE:  Often hard to handle is when I land up somewhere at a party or a meal at someone's home.

DO: I try to stick as far as I can to low carb food. Sometimes I have to explain how and why I eat if they insist dishing for me. If I was asked to bring something to share I make sure it is something I can eat.

STRUGGLE: Going on a road trip with my family. They love to eat carbs!

DO: I pack boiled eggs (I know it sounds totally old lady :) and eat it with cucumber sticks or lettuce leafs. I always have a packet of nuts in my handbag. I stock up on almonds and cashews, and have a few at a time when I'm starving or know I'm going to be lead into temptation by something to eat.

STRUGGLE:  When all around are fully enjoying the birthday cake or cake at a coffee shop.

DO: I order coffee with cream like a cuppachino and sip it slowly.

STRUGGLE: When the scale has come to a halt!

DO: I drink more water. Go for a brisk walk and make sure I get some more exercise on a regular basis. Make the low carb chicken soup and eat it for lunch and supper for a few days. Make sure some carbs is not creeping in somewhere. I look back over the day before and try to figure out what could have caused a gain.

STRUGGLE: When I crave something to eat and its not lunch or supper yet!

DO: I make myself coffee with whip cream inside. If my sugar cravings is out of hand I had a little bit of stevia. I go sit somewhere but not in the kitchen and enjoy my coffee.  Have a small hand full of nuts and eat them one by one slowly.

STRUGGLE: I'm often tempted to just take one bite or one piece or just a bit of something high in carbs. Especially when I'm in the kitchen cooking or baking or dishing up for my family or I'm tired after a long day.

DO: I have made a decision not to taste. Not a bit. Not even a crumb laying on a plate. I know when I taste it is going to be like a shark and I would want more.

There is probably many more struggles with great answers. What are struggles you have and what do you do to solve it?

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Nothing amazing on the scale today. Hoping for tomorrow. It gave me good courage to give it all eating Low Carb.

I have been working on spring cleaning that has become summer cleaning and now I had to do it very quick as we have guests coming soon. I got a good workout today, sweating allot and drinking lots of water. The weather is middle to late thirties and it has for sure effected my appetite. Off course a good thing!

Breakfast was 2 eggs with tomato and cheese. Coffee and cream.

Lunch was a lovely chicken salad prepared as a surprise for me by my sweet daughter. It had chicken strips, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red pepper strips and mayonnaise.

Snack was 2 pieces of dove dark chocolate ;) and had two half mugs of coffee with cream.

Supper was tuna, stacked on cucumber circles with a dot of mayonnaise.

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ALL ABOUT TODAY:

No news on the scale today! I probably should not expect to loose weight every day.... Started the day with interval running and walking from dumpster to dumpster with my 1kg hand weights.

The last few days was hard as my nephew was visiting and I made all kinds of things for him to enjoy like brownies, waffles etc. I'm so use to sitting down with him over coffee enjoying these things as we talk. Had to sit with my coffee and cream and just enjoy the conversation. Went to a friends house for a visit today and she insisted on me eating some watermelon. I just said no thank you smiled and ignored the plate of water melon in front of me. It sounds hard but I have to say no..... and not try to offend doing it.

Breakfast was waffle, ice cream, chocolate spread etc FOR MY FAMILY FOR BREAKFAST! I kept myself busy making the waffles and when all were done eating I made my two egg omelette with leftover vegetables from last nights oven baked vegetables: mushrooms and red peppers with a sprinkle of cheese. Coffee and cream.

Lunch was the last bowl of the Low Carb Chicken veg soup whooo am I glad ;). A few slices of turkey ham with cheese rolled up inside.

Snacks was a few almonds and a few slices of Norwegian dried salami.

Supper was big lettuce leafs with cucumber and red pepper sticks rolled up. I was concerned that I had to much of the Norwegian salami so I just had my vegetables with mayonnaise.

Drinking lots and lots of water!

Running the LOW CARB MARATHON!

My husband Etienne loves running. I feel sorry for him when it comes time to train for a race. He starts with short distances and then go further and further and start running longer times and further. It seems pure agony and when he lays here on the floor after a run... he is exhausted but so inspired and fired up to do it again and again. For me the Low Carb Diet and way of Eating is like practicing for a marathon. I started out slow and then through practice and failure at the end I have been able to loose weight.

Even myself in the morning when I go out for exercise all down the street my mind speaks all kind of reasons why it is not a good time or good thing to do ;) I know if I'm not going to take short distances of exercise I'm never going to get to a point where I could go further and further pushing myself to exercise more.  Hard but true Low Carb Eating and Exercising go together as a great team to loose weight.

When I started out with Low Car Eating I didn't know a thing to loose weight and make it a lifestyle, or rather I tried so many diets and ways of dieting that I didn't know what was the right thing to do. I have failed so many times over years to loose weight that I lost motivation and courage in myself to be able to do it.

I have read the Atkins book and read more on the diet but I was confuse in many ways to apply it to my daily life. I didn't know how to feed my family, sidestep all the temptations they eat and loose weight at the same time. How to live a life in a world of CARBS!

My first best step was to join a few websites with forums where there were old timers, well peppered and experienced Low Carb loosers. People that have lost even 50 to 60 pounds over years. It made me feel they know all the answers, have walked the path and learned all the tricks. I hanged around and read their daily posts on what they eat and studied their recipes.

I started collecting low carb recipes that were realistic for my way of life but also my way of eating. I started this brown covered note book that says "Low Carb Recipes". When I'm not sure what to eat I go there and find something interesting.

Then I realized these Low Carb "specialists" on these blogs often know how many carbs are in each fruit, vegetable etc. That they only eat a certain amount of food a day from the high carb group. Through questions and much errors and gaining on the scale I discovered that 5net carbs at a time and 20 net carbs a day is my limit.

I bought a second hand book from a basaar on low carb food counting and will go back and forth often to make sure how much I could have. I know this sound agonizing... but it is part of the race. Sugar drags me in like a monster I can not just eat one cube of dark chocolate... No! I eat the whole slab EASY! When I discovered that a whole slab of chocolate could have up to 45 net carbs! Hallo!!!!!! That is not loosing any weight for a few days. I went back and forth with my cravings for sweets for months. I allow myself a bit of chocolate ones or twice a week.

I joined a few blogs and facebook pages where people were struggling but loosing weight with the Low Carb way. I was so encourage with people's hearts to answer my nitty gritty questions. The internet is a great place to find answers by just searching the question I have.

Slowly I had to make peace that my family was not going to give up their cake, ice cream with sauces and great tasting food. I had to give up what they eat and just cook on the side for myself. I cook for myself and make the best of it. When they have toasted cheese sandwiches I have the ham, cheese wrapped up in lettuce leafs. When they have spagetti bolognaise with pasta I have the sauce in a bowl with cheese over and a salad on the side. When eating out at a restaurant I try to stay with salads or ask for the main dish without pasta or rice. Not always nice and often I have to be persistant.

What turned me totally from going back and forth over months.....and what stopped me from eating a magnum ice cream, snacking on cookies and eating chocolate was when I read a book on Diabetes and shockingly discovered that I was probably insulin resistant struggling to loose weight. After trying for years on different diets and just loosing a bit with a lot of effort. Thinking of myself in a life where I was battling DIABETICS and probably will struggle with it in my old age gave me a good opportunity  to re evaluate my life goals.

I decided this is enough I'm going to loose weight. I was so tired of looking in the mirror and be discouraged or fitting something new on and it just looks terrible with fat bulging out over the edges. Pounding myself with bad head talk on how ugly I was. Walking past a mirror looking with disgust at my bulging big stomach. Seeing myself on photos and being shocked on how fat I look.

My getting going and running this race started six months ago and I have only lost 8.5 kg. But I know I really want to do this. That the cookie or chocolate are not worth it.

Having people cheer you on when you run is the best thing for a tired athlete in a marathon to get new vision and energy.  Writing on my blog and facebook page sharing with my friends in this race with me is great ACCOUNTABILITY! Having to come and write my weight keeps me saying NO! to those temptations.

I am very new in eating Low Carb and tasting success. As I go along I learn daily about cooking and eating for best weight loss. I will try as much as I can to come and post here what I learn to encourage you and make it practical. It is very overwhelming in the beginning but as I live like this and eat the Low Carb way it gets easier and I gain confidence as I loose more.

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Was another 300g down today. Now altogether 8.5 down!

My nephew is visiting with us so it is hit and run and terrible appealing food hanging around.

Breakfast was two egg omelette with cheese and tuna.  Coffee and cream off course. I decided to have my big salad for lunch.

Lunch was cold meat wrapped up in lots of lettuce, with tomato, cucumber, mayo and cheese.

Supper was very tempting as my family was having enchiladas! I steamed a chicken fillet in the microwave had oven baked vegetables like eggplant, peppers, baby marrow and mushrooms. Had more lettuce leaves and cucumber with mayo.

For snack I had a whole avocado, half of it was bad so more half an avocado. They are so scarce here and I found one. Sat down and ate it ;) I made peanut butter for my family and I had a t spoon of it.

The weather is so hot here so it goes well with drinking allot of water.

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

SUNDAYS are great. I find it very easy with food on Sundays as we are normally out and about at church and not much food around.

Breakfast was 2 boiled egg salad with mayonnaise served on the "bun in a mug" with cucumber and bits of tomato, coffee and cream. Was so good.

Lunch was midd afternoon as we barbecued. I had a large chicken fillet with 1 link of spicy sausage. I wrapped pieces of meat in lettuce leaves and had mayonnaise with it. Had 1 piece of dark chocolate for dessert.

I will skip supper tonight as my lunch was big. For the rest of the day I will have water and hoping for the best on the scale tomorrow morning.

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Yay! Yay! I was 300 grams down on the scale this morning my weight loss standing now at 8.2kg total! It is a great high for me..... the lowest that I have been in weight for years. I'm so encouraged seeing that really sticking to a Low Carb Lifestyle does have results.

Breakfast this morning was a two egg omelette with stir fried vegetables (bit of carrots, eggplant, peppers and baby marrows touch of ground meat) with a sprinkle of feta cheese. Coffee and cream.

Lunch was the Low Carb Chicken soup (which I wish would reach its bottom now :) with a green side salad.

Supper was 4 stuffed green peppers (photo), with cheese and  the same stir fried veg. and ground meat mix (which is leftovers that my family is tired of and me too by now :)

Snacks was biltong/beef jerky about half a cup a real treat. 

I 'm drinking lots of water! Hoping to flush out all that fat :D

Eating Low Carb on a BUDGET!

I often hear comments like: "How can you afford eating low carb?" Is it not expensive to eat like this?"

I personally think it is not more expensive than living a modern life living from packaged and boxed food. Processed food is so expensive even snacks like crackers, chips, cookies turns out to work a grocery bill very high.

I think the place where the buck stops is with meat and vegetables. Yes meat is very expensive!

-Where we live in Turkey red meat is unaffordable. We never buy steaks or even mini steaks. We sometimes buy a half kilogram of ground meat on special and then I make it more with dried soya mince. I use it sparingly in stews, soups or sauces. Sometimes turkey meat can be a great buy and it does not taste as different ground up in dishes.

-Yes, eggs are expensive too but it is high in good protein and I fall back on it time and again for my meals.

-My big treat is tuna. When the tins of tuna are on special I stock up and use it for extra flavor in my salads or on the "bun in a mug". Steamed fish or other tinned fish can be a wonderful meal with vegetables and salad too.

-Chicken turns out to be the best source of protein for the best price. I watch out for good specials on the chicken fillets and the breastbone cut with the two fillets on the side works out very economically. I normally cut the fillets away from the bone and use the bone in my Low Carb Soup.

-Low Carb fruits which are mostly the berry family turns out to be very costly. When the strawberries are in season I will eat a few a day. Blueberries or raspberries does not exist where I live, but on special they could be a lovely treat. I just eat a slice of apple or a slice or orange or little cuts of fruit available at home.

-I love cheese and I know that really hits a budget heavy. I try to cut back on yellow cheese as it can influence weight gain in the Low Carb diet. I buy a tub of feta cheese and use that sparingly with my eggs and salads. A bit goes a long way. I look for specials on the cream cheese and use it for dipping celery or cucumber pieces.

-I love ham and turkey ham slices. I use it often to roll salads and cheese in for a snack or meal. I buy a cheap brand and only eat a few slices at a time.

-I buy little bits of nuts on sale and keep them in glass jars in the fridge for snacks or invest in a good 80 percent dark chocolate for a BIG TREAT.

-Vegetables turns out to add up on a budget. It is not cheap to buy a lot of vegetables. The best way for me is to try to stick to low carb vegetables and to buy them in season. I try to combine salads and low carb vegetables at every meal. It makes the meal bigger, stretching the protein and add needed nutrition and vitamins.

-When I find a certain low carb vegetable on sale I buy more and freeze it so I can use it for soups, stews or cooked dishes.

MY BIGGEST BUDGET ADVICE IS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE!  Stay with the basics and stay away from extra low carb "that and this" in packets or boxes, it is normally  highly processed and totally over priced and has no nutrition and often triggers sugar cravings. :D

Yes it can all add up on the grocery bill but imagine the doctor's medical bill on the long run.........

LOW CARB MENU IDEAS

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbmenus1/Low_Carb_Menus.htm

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Jumping jacks... I was 200g down on the scale this morning! Now I'm the lowest in weight I was in years! Feels good! Almost eight kilograms down.

Went for my regular interval running and walking working out with 1kg hand weights.

BREAKFAST: Had a two egg omelette with tuna and a touch of feta cheese, coffee and cream.

LUNCH: Ate the Low Carb Chicken Soup. It was my second day today having it for lunch and supper. Had a small green salad on the side.

SNACK: Was starving by midd afternoon and had a cup of eggplant, carrot, baby marrows and a touch of ground meat stir fry left overs folded into a few squares of seaweed.

SUPPER: Had more of the Low Carb Chicken Soup. Had 2 squares of dark chocolate for dessert. I made sure the carb count in the chocolate was 1 1/2 per square.

What food to eat on a Low Carb Diet

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/What_Foods_To_Eat_on_a_Low_Carb_Diet.htm

Why people are not loosing on a LOW CARB DIET!

http://authoritynutrition.com/15-reasons-not-losing-weight-on-a-low-carb-diet/

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

The last few days I was really trying to get back into seeing the number on the scale coming down. I'm not sure what caused the plato and slight gain of weight, I have a few ideas but I'm not totally sure. Monday night we went with friends to eat at a restaurant and ice cream afterwards. I had slightly breaded chicken strips it could have been that, or the small scoop of ice cream that probably had corn syrup in.... bad news for weight loss! Or the coconut oil in the "bread in a mug". I find it very discouraging that my weight is so sensitive...... Another very interesting situation is that I have noticed a previous time when I have used coconut oil that I have gained weight suddenly and then it took me a few days to start spiraling down again.

This morning on the scale it was going down again! YAY! I'm not where I was four days ago but I'm hoping it will be tomorrow morning.

Breakfast was a treat as I got it made for me by sweet Melika. It was a two egg omelette with cheese, cucumber, olives, coffee with milk froth.

Lunch was a bowl of the Low Carb Chicken soup here on the blog. I decided to give it a few days for lunch and supper to spark extra weight loss.

Supper was the soup again with 2 strawberries for dessert.

LOW CARB SOUP RECIPE

LOW CARB SOUP:

-I make a pot of LOW CARB CHICKEN SOUP and eat that for lunch and supper for a few days. That normally gets me going again. 

RECIPE:  

2 chicken fillets cut into bits
3 liter water
2 chicken stock cubes
2 cups chopped spinach
2 cups sliced baby marrows
1 cup chopped red pepper
1 cup sliced mushrooms
black pepper to taste

Boil for 2 hours on low.
Eat when you are hungry for lunch and supper.
Drinks lots of water in between.

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

Nothing great on the scale but hoping tomorrow morning to see a change. Knowing that in the weight plato's I learn to persevere and aim for the goal.

I went running/jogging this morning with interval training. Really didn't feel like it but afterwards I felt so good.

Breakfast: was two eggs with cucumber, tomato, cheese and off course coffee and cream.

Lunch: was taco meat leftovers from last night with salsa on top with a sprinkle of grated cheese melted in the microwave.

Snack: was a mug of black coffee and a few frozen grapes.

Supper: I made the Low Carb Chicken soup and had two bowls, it was yummy!

Hitting a Weight Loss PLATO - FLYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The biggest discouragement in weight loss is when you do all you can to loose weight and then the SCALE WOULD NOT BUDGE a bit! It is when it takes all your energy to reason with yourself to keep going and what could be done about it. Off course I can not expect to loose 300g every day for months! But it would be nice ;) I suppose it falls into the same category as an athlete running a marathon. Having to be head strong and taking it step by step and moment by moment.

WHAT NOT TO DO!!!!!

-Go into a pity party and grab everything you can find and eat that.

-Beat yourself with a stick mentally and become discouraged.

-Get of the Low Carb bus and decide it is not working.


WHAT CAN BE DONE?????

-Look back at how far you have come......

-BE REALISTIC:  The 20kg gained didn't happen overnight but it gathered over years. It will take time to loose.

-Normally I would start to exercise or try to walk more. The worst  in a plato is that I just do not want to do it because the results are so little or nothing.  To get up drag myself out the door, SMILE and go for it!

-Drink more water! To pour my 2L jug and make sure I drink it through the day.

-Looking at my daily food:

 Asking myself is there an intruder in the form of CARBS that have sneaked in slowly?

Have I been eating too little or too much? I have realized there is a thin line to eat too much or too little. If I eat too little my body goes into starvation stall and then I don't loose.

-I go reading on blogs and the internet on advice for weight loss and stalling.

-I look at the "time" of month (if you know what I mean) Normally then my weight goes up a bit for a few days. 

-I make a pot of LOW CARB CHICKEN SOUP and eat that for lunch and supper for a few days. That normally gets me going again.

RECIPE: 

2 chicken fillets cut into bits
3 liter water
2 chicken stock cubes
2 cups chopped spinach
2 cups sliced baby marrows
1 cup chopped red pepper
1 cup sliced mushrooms
black pepper to taste

Boil for 2 hours on low.
Eat when you are hungry for lunch and supper.
Drinks lots of water in between.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a few LINKS TO WEBSITES with great advice on what to do during a weight loss plato:


http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips008.html


http://www.marksdailyapple.com/weight-loss-plateau/#axzz2XyYArVfY


THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:     D O N O T G I V E U P!!!!!!!!!!!

Bread in a Mug!

Discovering this recipe has changed my low carb life! I use this batter for pancakes, pizza base, hamburger buns and base for a muffin.  It only has 6 net carbs for the whole batch.

Here is my lunch yesterday:   I stacked the "bun in a mug" with tomato, tuna and cucumber and mayonnaise.

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

The small scoop of chocolate ice cream I ate last night kicked my bum! :) Probably the breaded chicken strips too! This morning the scale was up a few hundred grams...... :(  Oh well, just another reason not to give up and go on. I was hoping I could break into my 8kg lost mark. Lets see tomorrow morning. I'm amazed at how sensitive I am to carbs. I read on a block that a high carb meal could put a person back a few days, meaning for a few days there will not be weight loss.

I had a good time running/walking with weights this morning. Hoping that would work some muscles to burn more fat.

Breakfast this morning was 2 eggs, cucumber, feta cheese, coffee and cream. I find when I eat eggs for breakfast I really have a good dose of energy for the morning and can go until midday without a snack and then enjoy lunch.

Lunch was the famous "bread in a mug" with tuna, lettuce, cucumber and a few good slices of tomato topped of with mayonnaise. Yum!

Supper was Mexican tacos for my family. I swopped the flour tortillas for lettuce leaves and enjoyed the toppings of ground meat, ranch dressing, grated cheese and salsa wrapped up. I had to remind myself to go slow on the salsa as I had tomato slices for lunch too and the carb count can add up.

Snacks today was a handful of frozen grapes. Happy eating!  x x

There is a HEALTHY BALANCE

After many years of trying different diets, loosing weight and picking it back up all again.....  I have been so disappointed and discouraged. All I knew was that I did not want my health to suffer in the process of me loosing weight. That I did not again want to be at a place where I give up, in, huff and puff and feel like I can swallow the trash can and eat the kitchen sink from frustration and hunger.

I wanted to have it all: Loose weight and enjoy eating great tasting food! I know this sounds like heaven, but it is possible to do and not neglect my health to look stunning and thin.

Low calorie eating really drew me in because it is a balanced healthy way of eating from all the food groups and being able to loose weight in the process too. I found that I could eat very little and the food that was freely available on my low carb list was not what I liked to eat. I gave it all for a few months and lost some weight but I was constantly hungry and so grumpy. Also I knew I love to eat and this way of eating could never be a long term lifestyle for me. I gave it up and was hoping to find something more appealing and possible.

I started reading more on Low Carb eating, High Protein High Fat, Ketogenic diets. To be honest I could see High Protein eating in my life but I was concerned for my health on the long run, maybe in short pockets in a day but not for long.  I wanted a healthy lifestyle I could live by. High fat added to the high protein seemed tempting too but even more concerning.

Eventually I decided that a Low Carb Diet where I cut out bread, sugar, cake, high sugar fruits etc. and go slow on the high carb vegetables was a balanced way of eating for me. I love my life and want to live to a long old age! Healthy eating is high on my list of musts. I have been Low Carb eating since Christmas last year. I enjoy it very much. I can't say  that I have arrived fully... but I'm loosing weight eating lots of vegetables, salads and protein and I have been learning how to live a Low Carb lifestyle.

Often people mistake a Low Carb diet for a high Protein Diet. They are so different, where in the one protein is the base of what they eat to where low carb vegetables is the base on the other one.

I printed the Low Carb eating pyramid out and posted it on my fridge as a reminder not just to grab protein when I'm hungry but to look for low carb salads and vegetables to go with my protein meals or snacks. When planning a meal or dishing my food onto a plate I mentally devide my plate into three where 1/3 is filled with protein and the other 2/3ds of the plate with vegetables and salad.

I do miss eating fruits freely on a daily basis. I keep part of my 20 net carbs a day to have a handful of frozen grapes, a few cherries or a small slice of water melon.

Being human I catch myself often and have to remind myself to stick to the Low Carb pyramid where protein is not the base but low carb vegetables are!

Weight Loss and EXERCISE!

I saw a funny quote the other day: "Every day I say the very bad word EXERCISE.... I wash my mouth out with chocolate!" Oh and do I like chocolate! Exercise is not one of my loves... oeeeee it is a hard one for me. I could easily live without doing any ;D

Some people can loose massive amounts of weight without doing any exercise. Then I read about people on diets that say they just can not loose weight without working exercise into their schedule, the weight comes off easier.

Last summer I was on a weight loss journey..... I was hoping to loose some weight. I wasn't eating Low Carb and really struggle to loose weight. Five times a week I would walk about four kilometers at a time. Some of the walking included walking up a long steep hill. The weighing scale was stuck!  I really couldn't see any change in my body either. It was very discouraging to say the least.

I'm a typical woman nothing like a pair of new shoes to get me moving again ;) To give you an idea of my interest in exercise:  I had a pair of trainers/sport shoes for ten years now! The story gets better: "For mother's day this year I got a new pair of very hype PURPLE sport shoes!"  The last few weeks at least 5 days a week I have been getting up in the morning early to go for a walk/run with 1kg weights in each hand. In a street close to our home where every hundred meters there is a trash dumpster. I run to the first dumpster, sprint to the next and then walk to the next one exercising my arms and then go on like this for half an hour. It is pure will power and does not come easy for me. Some mornings I just do not feel like it....... but the pure joy of the vision that can be make it worth it.

Amazingly I have seen flab on my stomach, arms and legs disappear and more definition with muscles coming through. Even my husband comments on how good my legs look :D

I have been reading more on Interval Training. It seems to be the new hype. It is made up of short bursts of intense exercise like sprinting and then lunges, star jumps, sit ups, squats etc. with short breaks inbetween. I'm not yet doing the interval exercises much but I'm hoping to work more lunges, star jumps etc. into my morning routine.

There is always a plus point by adding exercise. It reffs up the metabolism, strengthens the heart, burns fat, builds muscles which in turn burns more fat, works down build up stress, clears the mind and brings a feeling of accomplishment.  The hardest part is to get going.....

I saw a cute but true quote: "You could loose weight and look very good with your clothes on, or you could exercise while loosing weight and look great naked!"

ALL ABOUT TODAY:

The good news is I was 300g down on the scale this morning YAY! Hoping to be at the 8 kilogram mark tomorrow morning. Didn't go for a run/walk as I had an event early morning and just couldn't make it.

For breakfast I had 2 eggs, 2 slices of turkey ham, cheese omelette with cucumber and coffee with cream.

Lunch was on the run with a few pieces of cheese wrapped in turkey ham. Later in the afternoon I had a handful of almonds, cashew nuts and one cup of sliced cucumber for a snack.

Supper was a real treat out with friends but very challenging in food choices. I knew we were going out for supper so I tried to eat less during the day. At the restaurant I ordered a curry cream chicken dish. The strips of chicken was breaded though. The dish came with rice but instead I asked for it to be replaced with a green salad. I splashed out and had a small scoop of chocolate ice cream for dessert.

Was very tempted today with cookies, chips and all kind of things that was served as treats with coffee in meetings. I made vitamin water which is sliced lemon and orange in a jug with ice cold water and had that as a treat instead.