AROUND THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK AGAIN!

I'm reading the title of this blog with a grim smile....A LIFESTYLE! Maybe not yet! On the other hand I have been doing this for a year now without cheating much at all. This two week break from eating strictly LOW CARB has been a good but devastating break.

GOOD - I had a good time just celebrating and eating things that I normally crave and drool over. Was such fun to eat Kentucky fried chicken with my family. I did not just freely ate everything in front of me but ate some cookies and chocolates from time to time as a treat.

What really kicked my bud was the ginger cookies I baked and frosted with my kids. Oh! Oh! it was just so good and I found myself at every crave to just dig in and eat another one. The terrible thing about sugar it is grabs you by the neck and you fall into more cravings and feeling terrible and then it is a vicious cycle..... of craving and eating.

BAD - I have picked up 2kg in ten days! That is so hard to see. I reflect on how long it took me to loose that 2kg and it breaks my heart.

On the other hand I feel, yes I had a bit of a "break out" and I'm not going to stay there but coming back and going forward.

I want to reach my goal of weighing 65kg this year! It might take a while but I'm going for my goal.

THE BEST PLACE TO START:
-Reading the Atkins book again and going on strict INDUCTION for a week and then go from there.
-Making sure I eat enough protein and carbs. Keeping my carbs under 20g a day and my protein at about 70g a day. (not the grams on the food scale but actually the grams of protein within the protein itself).
-Drinking enough water - this is actually a tough one for me.
-Trying to incorporate more exercise into my day. I walk my son to school and back every day but I need more than that. I do good walking the dog. I have a walking route with him and aim for 3km plus a day.
-Being accountable on this blog and my facebook page. Nothing like to come and tell the truth on what I ate :D

I'm back on this blog the first of January again. Now you all know what I'm going to do the next few days ;) No! not eating CARBS and ginger cookies :) but reading the Atkins basics again and planning some menus and great food ideas. Preparing my heart and mind to do this! Pulling myself out of a sugar hole and getting into healthy eating!

COME ON JOIN ME! There is no hole to deep that you can not get out of!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL ABOUT TODAY, CHRISTMAS UNTIL NEW YEAR!

THEN AND NOW!!!!!!!!!

I'm looking back today: Christmas last year I decided this is enough I'm going to loose 20kg this next year. Now it is almost a year ago and I have lost almost 17kg. I wish it was 20 but it just didn't come easy.....

It was a hard road for me. I think I was tested to my limits....... Also I had to decide if I will continue or just be at peace where I am and what I have accomplished. I would like to go on and reach my goal weight of 65kg come what will. It may take a while to get there but the new year is ahead and I'm taking it head on.

Tomorrow our family is going to take our holiday break from school and work. I'm also going to take a break from the blog and will be back the FIRST OF JANUARY to take the new year with stride.

I want to wish you a BLESSED CHRISTMAS and WONDERFUL WEIGHT LOSS NEW YEAR ahead!

Thank you for your encouragement and just being here on the blog and my facebook page. You feel like dear friends cheering me on. I could not have done it without your support.

MANY BLESSINGS see you on the FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR!

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 18 December

Found some batteries for my digital weighing scale at a watch store today! A bit nervous getting on the scale after a week of not weighing...... ;D

BREAKFAST was tuna, egg quiche leftovers from my family's supper last night with a tomato sliced. Coffee and cream.

Midd morning coffee and cream with a T of coconut oil.

LUNCH was cauliflower soup. Just one bowl this time!

I was out this afternoon looking for Christmas gifts for my family..... I was starving when I got home. Had half a piece of tuna pie to carry me over to supper.

SUPPER will be home made chicken schnitzel (mine is well dipped in egg with very little crumbs) with oven baked vegetables - eggplant, bit of carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

Was a good food day. Hoping to see as good news tomorrow morning!!!!!!!!

Keep going!!!!!!

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 17 December

They always say that stress do not encourage weight loss. Wow I have been really experiencing loads of stress about my teenage daughters school for next year. It is also a good opportunity for me to learn to trust God knowing that He cares for us......
I have been very surprise knowing that in the past when I get stressed out like this..... I run to eat and nibble constantly on food.... I can see that I have grown in this area this last year. I am so grateful for that.........

BREAKFAST this morning was half a bun in a mug with half a tin of tuna with mayonnaise, coffee and cream.

Midd to late morning I had the other half of the bun in a mug with the tuna and topping.
With coffee and cream.

LUNCH was tomato circles with soft cheese as a topping, I was not that hungry as I had the bun in the mug late morning.

Midd afternoon I visited a friend and had carrot sticks with a cream cheese dip and a handful of nuts with coffee.

SUPPER is going to be out at an event. Before I'm going tonight  I am having a piece of chicken, a bit of broccoli, a few circles of cucumber and a bit of lettuce as I am not knowing what I would get at the event. I have to take a savory bread dish (off course not what I can eat from ;) I will probably not have anything to eat there as it is a potluck and salads are scarce at these places.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 16 December

BREAKFAST was 2 left over boiled eggs from yesterday's family breakfast. I mashed it with mayonniase and made a salad. Coffee and cream.

Midd morning I had another boiled egg from the left overs (good they are done now :) Also had 1T of coconut oil.

LUNCH was 2 bowls of cauliflower soup, with bacon bits,  parmesan. Yes I made another batch. It is so good and filling and keeps me full. Added a T of grated cheese with a few strips of turkey ham. Lunch at its best!

Late afternoon I had a few cocktail chicken meatballs. Not sure what was in it but probably not all pure chicken. Also had another coffee with cream.

SUPPER was stir fried cabbage with bacon bits. A chicken thigh with mayonnaise and spicing. Cucumber and tomato circles for salad.

Amazing after yesterdays chocolate pig out I do not have sugar withdrawal today. Maybe I'm still running on the chocolate ;D

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 15 December

So this picture above is a good message for me today! My daughter gave me one of these chocolate chips boxes with the compartments....... 2 chips have have 4 carbs. So from time to time.... actually a long time ago last...... I take two when I feel like it. Well today I felt like it and something in me screamed: "IN TEN DAYS ITS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!" So I ate the whole thing!!!!!!!!!!........... Oh well!!!!!!! TOMORROW I go on again. I have been doing really good with no cheats for a long time......... That "TOM" etc.

BREAKFAST was the bun in a mug for me with two eggs mashed with mayonnaise on top.
Coffee and cream. I really enjoyed my breakfast and my family's waffles with strawberries and cream was not at all a problem ;)

We came back late afternoon from church and I ate a few peanuts in the car back home I was starving.

SUPPER was chicken pieces with moyonnaise and cucumber circles and a T of coconut oil.

AND THEN THE CHOCOLATE for Christmas ;D

Looking forward to this week and going strong eating Low Carb. I want to make sure this week that I eat about 100 grams of protein a day and keep my carbs under 20 net carbs. Also to make sure I keep my fats up. It is quite the art!

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 14 December

Hope there is no shocks on the scales tomorrow morning!!!!! :D

Was a day at home with many visitors.

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs with feta cheese fried in olive oil. Coffee and cream and another and another cup.

Was nibbling midd morning on some cucumber, tomato and a bit of carrot sticks.

Had a bowl of the last cauliflower soup at around midday.

LUNCH WAS AT 2 THIS AFTERNOON I was starving by then. Was baked chicken in the oven with stir fried broccoli and a lovely salad on the side was eyeing with desire the lovely turkish rice my family was enjoying with their meal. But no I had none.

Had some more coffee with our guests. I skipped supper as I felt so full from late lunch still. Had 1T of coconut oil.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 13 December

Just got home a bit ago. Was a long day.....

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs with feta cheese, coffee and cream.

Had someone over this morning and for lunch at our home..... for sure being busy helps keeping me from getting into trouble with CARBS ;)

LUNCH was 2 bowls of the Cauliflower, parmesan and bacon bits soup.

I had to attend an event at the Turkish school. I was asked to bring a massive bowl of popcorn and I knew there was not going to be anything low carb.

I ate a little bit of bulgur tomato and onion salad out of being a good "foreign citizen" if you know what I mean, my plate was dished for me and then I had to eat something.... I thought that the bulgur salad would be the least damage. At least I could skip the cakes etc.

SUPPER was out with my family and it was a difficult choice for me. I decided on 6 chicken wings. They were just fried without a coating.

Today was sure not the best Low Carb day. I think tomorrow I want to eat more vegetables and salads. My body is craving some vegetables. Now its too late here to get eating on what I missed out today ;) This time of year it is hard with all the functions going on to stay on track....... I'm doing my best to stay on track.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 12 December

The scale is SOLIDLY STANDING...... but I'm persevering I'm not climbing in weight but not loosing either it is a bit up and then down.........!!!!!!!

BREAKFAST this morning was 1 egg fried in olive oil with a sprinkling of cheese and bacon bits.

1T of coconut oil midd morning and about 3 cups of coffee through the day.... WAY TOO MUCH!

LUNCH was the bun in a mug with flaxseed sliced in two with butter, marmite and cheese. Stir fried vegetables cabbage, broccoli and carrots.

Felt like an orange so I had little pieces of orange peel about 2T.

SUPPER was a chicken piece with mayonnaise and broccoli.

Not such an exciting day food wise but we had people over and I had to host and had to prevent myself from eating the absolutely divine Korean noodles ETC!!!!!!!;D

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 11 December

BREAKFAST this morning was a 2 egg omelette in the microwave with a bit of ground chicken left over from supper last night, tomato, cucumber, sprinkle of cheese.... COFFEE AND CREAM!

Mid morning I had cucumber, red cabbage and carrot spears dipped into a ranch dressing for a snack.

And today I had way toooooo much coffee about 4 mugs! It is bitter cold and snowing very unusual for our city.

LUNCH was 3 bowls of cauliflower, green onion, bacon bits, onion, garlic, and parmesan soup. Was so delicious.

Had a T of coconut oil midd afternoon.

SUPPER was 4 miniature hamburger patties with eggplant baked in the oven with olive oil and lettuce as the crunch salad.

Looking back today I did great on the carbs not so much fat and I think too little protein so supper was more heavier on protein.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 10 December

This is probably often how we feel after a CHEAT MEAL!!!!!!! ;D

Today I started looking more into the food that I eat and how much protein it has. All my proteins today came to 123g. For me to be able to loose the kilograms I have to keep my proteins under 110g and my carb count under 20g. I do not count my carbs because I try to eat as little of it as I can. I was surprised today when I looked up some innocent vegetables like eggplant that has 6 carbs for one cup...... that is high. I think like we all know the secret is to keep full with the low carb vegetables like cucumber, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, green beans etc. Not my favorite but hey there is always a price to pay to look good ;)

BREAKFAST was half an avocado pear with a tin of tuna and mayonnaise.

LUNCH was with a group of friends at our home. I turned out to eat shredded cucumber with spicy sausage chopped into my salad dressed with mayonnaise. Won't say what everyone else had......

Midd afternoon I had 2T of coconut oil and 1 1/2T of grated cheese for a snack.

I had a chicken fillet late afternoon with a bit of butter.

SUPPER is going to be mexican food  with salad and tortillas for my family. As I had my chicken late afternoon I just made up a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, ghurkins and a slight sprinkle of feta cheese for me.

The little bits of that and this the last while is not helping my weight to come down. Making a new commitment to try to loose some more weight before Christmas but first getting back to where I was.........

I'm not doing too well exercising. It is not something I really enjoy doing... it comes purely out of discipline. The weather is cold and rainy outside..... I know the excuses can go on and on. I made peace that in the winter I play polar bear and stay inside...... ;D

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 9 December

Just got home!

Today was a full BLUE MONDAY in every color. I am a home schooling mom...... today was a hard day and I must say after many years of home schooling I was ready today to throw in the towel....... Tomorrow morning the sun comes up again! ;D

I just saw a new side of my eating..... Out of frustration today I just grabbed a chocolate cookie and ate half of it..... Wow food is for sure a comfort for me..... I have a long way to go still...... As I always say a good time to look at where I have come from.....

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

LUNCH was half an avocado pear with salt and pepper, 2 Turkish ground meat kebabs left overs from the barbeque yesterday and a bit of chicken with salad and mayonnaise.

I had a bit of beef jerky a friend dropped off here cleaning out their pantry leaving..... I just love that stuff!

SUPPER was a bit of a mixup. I attended a ladies event and had to take something. It is really hard taking something low carb with for a crowd and stay within budget. I had to make the best of what ever food was there and stay with Low Carb eating....I had a few stuffed mushrooms, carrot, cucumber and pepper sticks dipped into ranch dressing and a decaf coffee with peppermint cream. Was a big treat.

Today counting my proteins  by grams still seemed very confusing as different websites have different numbers. I wrote out a list of proteins I eat regularly and hoping tomorrow to get more into the go of things.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 8 December

BREAKFAST on this lovely Sunday was earlier than what I have planned...... THE DOG wanted to go out and Mama Bear got up and then just stayed up...

I made 2 scrambled eggs with spinach, cheese, coffee and cream.

I had two more little cups of coffee and cream through the morning.

LUNCH was 2 bowls of the chicken, mushroom and eggplant soup, leftover from earlier this week. Now its done! This is one problem with a pot of Low carb soup.... I HAVE TO EAT IT ALL my family is not much into soup.

SUPPER was midd afternoon a lovely barbeque as a family. I had a chicken fillet and one Turkish ground meat kebab with oven roasted cauliflower, olive oil and garlic. Enjoyed some tomato, cucumber and ghurkin salad.

Had a low carb hot chocolate late afternoon. Was so yum in this cold weather.

Was a good day food wise. I'm looking forward to see what the scale will say tomorrow morning. I have had some time this weekend to read up more about the art of Low Carb eating and weight loss. I think I might eat too much protein at a time. Most sites says to eat 6 ounces/170g of protein a day. I have a little kitchen scale will be looking into this tomorrow.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 7 Decemer

Just got home after a total THANKSGIVING meal today! Food was everywhere and the desserts to die for!  ;D

BREAKFAST was half an avocado pear with salt and pepper. Coffee and I had cream! I had two fried eggs with cheese.

At my friends house late morning there were deviled stuffed egg and I enjoyed a few fully. I also had a few raw green beans I was getting it ready to put in a dish.  I was  getting hungry and the other treats really was tempting so I thought the beans would be a good high fiber filling snack. I had another coffee late morning.

LUNCH AND SUPPER was at about 3 in the afternoon. I had a scoop coleslaw, a t of cranberry jam, green salad with tomato and cucumber with lots of lettuce, turkey slices and a bit of chicken, a bit of beet. I can say honestly I had no dessert. Wow it was my favorites out there apple pie, pumpkin pie, cheesecake, chocolate mousse cake etc.

I had whipped cream in my coffee and slowly sat enjoying every sip. Afterwards found out that the whip cream had a bit of sugar in it..... hoping that it will not make too much of an influence on my weight.

It was difficult being with some of my favorite people in the world enjoying great food together..... I was so tempted. I realized how much of a social eater I am! Also it was so freeing to not enjoy the high carb food and desserts and enjoy my meal anyway. I have so much hope for the Low Carb way of eating becoming a lifestyle for me...... yes it is not easy but possible!

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 6 December

I have lost another 500g hoping to break my lowest point tomorrow morning. It would just be great!
I really miss cheese and a dot of cream in my coffee. I am just again convinced about the the reality of Low Carb - it does work if you stick to the basics....... AND THIS IS A LESSON FOR ME!

Talking about it: Our family is going to visit friends tomorrow to attend their Thanksgiving Celebration....... MHAW here was asked to bring a chocolate mousse cake and starters...... Oh wow! I would have to have a really good breakfast to keep me going until the turkey meal AND pumpkin pie and cheese cake - and my friend knows about baking those.....  I'm going to do my best to stay LOW CARB!

BREAKFAST today was a treat from my daughter she made me a two egg omelette wrapped in lettuce leafs and off course COFFEE.

Midd morning I had half an avocado with salt and lots of black pepper.

Had a small cup of coffee again late morning.

LUNCH was 2 bowls of left over Chicken Vegetable soup from last night. Was so good. Had a few sliced of tomato and cucumber.

Was out all afternoon so I didn't get into any food trouble :)

SUPPER was a piece of chicken with lots of mayo and stir fried broccoli.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 5 December

TO EAT ALIVE! This is my son and his cute dog!

Nothing fancy on the scale but still cutting out cheese and all dairy.

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs with cucumber circles and coffee.

Midd morning I had half an avocado with salt and pepper with about 4 big lettuce leafs.

LUNCH was left over stir fried cauliflower from last night heated up in a pan with a tin of tuna. Was so good.

I had a Low Carb hot chocolate: 1T cacao powder, 1t coffee creamer(couldnt find anything about dairy on the container) and hot water. Wasnt so nice but atleast satisfying.

SUPPER will be a thick vegetable chicken soup. I went to the local fruit and vegetable bazaar and got the nicest vegetables. I added in the soup a chicken breast, onion mushrooms, green peppers, cauliflower and chopped eggplant with 3 chicken stock cubes. It smells divine! Will probably have two bowls of this. ;)

I find myself constantly looking for something to eat. The weather is really cold today I don't think a really cold house helps either with not having an appetite.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 4 December

Was down a kilogram on the scale this morning! I'm not getting to excited about this because it is the naughty kilogram I picked up over the last two weeks. I will get excited once it drops under my hanging lowest point of 69.8! Aiming for that this week.
Cutting out all dairy and cutting back on coffee only 3 mini mugs of coffee a day!

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs fried with slices of cucumber on the side.

Midd morning I had 1T of coconut oil, half an avocado pear and 1 hamburger patty.

LUNCH was a small chicken fillet with broccoli.

Had 1T of coconut oil for a lovely snack midd afternoon :)

I got a great walk in today looking for Christmas material.

SUPPER will be fried cauliflower with lots of garlic topped off with Spagetti Bolognaise tomato meat sauce.

Tomorrow morning on the scale will really tell if cheese an cream was holding me back.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 3 December

HHMMMMMM not a good day on the scale...... I was up and not coming down..... I have been looking over the last few days on what I have eaten. I think some carbs creeped in. The pickles in the salad last night had SUGAR in them..... I think I have been enjoying tooooo many coffees with CREAM...... Maybe my portions is just to big...I'm definitely not eating not enough. Rather the other way around ;)

So today is back to basics. I'm cutting out all dairy for a week and see if that makes a difference. Also cutting back on coffee and just enjoying hot water in a mug (I do not have a love relationship with herbal teas).

BREAKFAST was 2 eggs fried with tomato and cucumber slices on the side. JUST COFFEE!

I had half an avocado pear with salt and pepper and 1T of coconut oil midd morning of and half a hamburger  meat patti.

LUNCH was delightfully different. I stir fried onion and mushroom and stirred in a tin of tuna. WAs very filling and kept me full for hours.

We had an event at our home.... I stayed strong and only had only half a mug of coffee.

SUPPER was a chicken fillet topped with red pepper flake spicing and mayonnaise with a mixed salad.

Had 1T of coconut oil for dessert :)

Hoping to see a breakthrough before CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

Woooooo I really missed the cream in my coffee today..... AND CHEESE! Hoping to see a difference on the scale tomorrow morning.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 2 December

A real MONDAY!

BREAKFAST was 2 fried eggs with feta cheese and cucumber, coffee and cream.

Midd morning was half an avocado with salt and pepper, 1T of coconut oil

LUNCH was a hearty chicken soup, was not enough..... I had 3 Turkish kebabs with mayonnaise. I cleaned the house and needed all the help I could get so I had 2 cubes of dark chocolate.

Some more coffee and cream midd afternoon.

SUPPER was a meal with guests. I made chinese noodles with chicken, broccoli and peanuts. Realized at the end it was not going to work for me to pick out what I can eat from the meal. I got up from the table and cooked 3 Turkish kebabs and enjoyed it with the mix salad on the table and baked eggplant circles. Turned out to be a good meal for me too.

ALL ABOUT TODAY: 1 December

Hmf the conversation in the car on the way to church this morning ended in my husband commenting and asking if I have gained some weight?????????? You can imagine my response....... :D Anyway I did not gain just fluctuating up to a kilogram up and down. Tomorrow morning will be the big test!!!!!!! I must add that I have been craving all the great food, cake and pies laying around....... Making a choice to stand strong and keep my goal of loosing some more weight in sight.....

BREAKFAST was the bun in a mug without the flaxseed with 2 fried eggs topped off with cheese, coffee and cream. Was such a satisfying breakfast. Loved it.

We got home at 16h30 this afternoon. There were great snacks available at church but off course nothing good for Low Carb. I did have a glass of Turkish tea to help me through.

SUPPER was left over turkey meat strips with mayonnaise and and the cauliflower mock potato salad. It is really cold outside and I might just go and make myself the Low Carb Hot chocolate for a treat.

Wow I do find it hard during this season to avoid eating all the great food laying around. At every place and event there is HIGH CARB AND SUGARY things. I have to keep reminding myself that I made a choice to push through until I weigh 65 kilogram.

May you have a great week loosing weight. Know that you are not alone in your battle being tempted by everything great and wonderful. Stay strong.  x x x