Jenn's Journal - It's a Low Carb Life

[Cruise04]

Just checking in to see how you are doing and it looks like you are doing well!!!! Good job!

Has turned into a rainy day here too - dropped down from western WI, eastern MN and we didn't have any rain in the forecast. So it's nice to see it here. Has kept the temps down some too - I just checked weatherbug and there's a big blob of stuff to the west of us hopefully heading our way!!!!!

Hope you have a good day and rest of the weekend.

Keep on
Chris

 

[Mykelogan]

Saturday, July 23

bfast - two slices deli summer sausage. Didn't have anything around and wasn't hungry, but I had to eat.

Grocery shopping and Target on the list of to do's today. Taking DS to McD's again for lunch so he can run and play - it's looking like a very hot and rainy/stormy day today.

Hi Jenn!!
Hope you are having a good one and staying cool on your hot day!
Mike

 

[pearlieq]

Just stopping by to see how you're doing. I hope you stayed cool during this outrageously hot weekend!

Have a great day!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Jenn,

Just wanted to stop in and see how things are going?

Hope you stay cool, not sure how hot it is going to get....we finally have a cool down!!!! Thank goodness!

Have a great, healthy day!

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Jenn! Just wanted to stop in and wish you a wonderful day. Hope you are staying cool and comfy!

 

[Storygirl]

Hi everyone!!!

WOW what a weekend!!! We had a storm come through before we left to run errands on Saturday that wiped out trees and such all over the city. We were out of power from 12:30pm to midnight and thought we'd be out until tonight...so we were thrilled when it turned on 48 hours early...!

However.... my stressful week finally caught up with me and alas, I have to start over on my 100 day challenge. I did well until we were hot and tired and cranky without power and it had all caught up with me. But I learned some things and I think this was a good experience:

Saturday...we went to take DS to McD's anyway, but their power was out. So we went to Famous Daves for lunch andI decided, to h*&^ with it...I'm getting what I want. Now normally that means a sandwich, fries, corn muffin, and split dessert with DH and DS. It's like, "if I'm going off, I'm going OFF!" But I realized that I don't have to go carb crazy to indulge! I ordered the Devil's Spit burger with no sauce and a side of green beans. I ate half the burger with most of the half bun and gave the other half to DH (I added a different sauce so did have sugar there). I was really proud of myself though. I didn't have the feeling to eat everything, and I really enjoyed the burger. In fact, it would be yummy without the bun too so now I have another item for my lc choices.

Dinner was a cookout at my brother's house with my family. It was a blast! I had a beer brat and a hamburger (no cheese...they don't make cheeseburgers...to me that is just weird . I grew up in the same house as this man and hello?? Oh well) with no buns and I had a bite of the strawberry cream cheese pie we picked up to donate to the party. Then after we got home, I had potato chips and french onion dip. We still didn't have power and I had a craving. Naughty, but yummy.

Then yesterday, I had lunch at McD's (had to take DS there) and I ordered a small cheeseburger for me and a cone. I had a bite of DH's sandwich and while I was off carbwise, caloriewise I felt good. And I enjoyed the break.

After errands, we stopped at a small dairy store and I got a small strawberry ice cream. Yum!

Then I ran to the grocery store without the boys and bought everything I'd had on my list from Saturday...all wonderful vegetable and protein low carb choices. I am so happy to have all that in the house. I also bought Oreo's for DS and a box of 6 Krispy Kreme cream filled chocolate doughtnut for me, because I wanted a last night of splurging. I won't tell you how many I ate over the course of 3 hours but I didn't eat all 6. Okay. I ate 5. I am so proud . And 7 Oreo's. But it wasn't mindless eating - I gave myself permission and I kept all that lovely grease and fat and cream and chocolate and love down. I did eat some cheesy potato chips earlier and that was total mindless eating. Boy does it feel different when I choose to eat, versus needing to eat.

Dinner...two grilled cheese sandwiches on lc bread and a medium portion of shells and cheese.

Yesterday? Wow. Not a good carb day. But I walked on the treadmill and I actually jogged for one minute spurts and it felt great. I knew that I'd be eating sugar and I compensated by exercising.

So did I have a stellar weekend? Heck no! But I enjoyed the carbs and am totally back on track today. Normally this is my critical day, but I have lunch packed, had a protein bar this morning, and have dinner bought and planned. And the WISH board. I can't forget those!

Normally, following a week like I've had, I would have eaten everything in sight and would still be eating carbs today. Instead, I thought about what I ate, ate what I wanted (except those darn cheesy potato chips) and still exercised. I'm actually feeling pretty good about the weekend and not shot in the foot like I normally would.

I am craving Mexican though, so I am going to decarb some things this week so I don't get tempted to go to a restaurant. Thank goodness for lc tortillas!!

Jenn.

Oops! I had a few pieces of banana bread too. Forgot those...YUM!

Lunch - antipasto salad with caesar dressing and cucumbers.

and more water.

snack: cheese

dinner: pork stir fry, no rice
lc ice cream bar

bowl of lc ice cream later

 

[Cruise04]

OMG - you made me so hungry just reading your post

Glad you had a good weekend and were able to eat what you wanted and not beat yourself up over it. You have to do that once in a while, as long as you can get back on track. And you worked out so that was also good.

Keep on
Chris

 

[Storygirl]

Thanks Chris!!!

You know, it was actually harder to choose to cheat, so to speak, this weekend because of the knowledge that I had to come here and post. I know no one is holding a gun to my head, but I keep telling myself "if you aren't honest, you're just wasting your time with this..." . Plus it wouldn't seem like an accomplishment if it wasn't true (staying on plan).

This journal does more for me than I ever imagined.

 

[Mykelogan]

Hey Jenn!!

Wanted to pop in and say hi!! I am glad that you are staying honest to your journal and to yourself. That is great! Remember, it's not all of us you are staying accountable to, it is yourself! That is awesome!!!

I hope that you are having a great night!
Mike

 

[Storygirl]

Tuesday, July 26

Had a talk with DH last night about budgeting and we have a huge payment coming up on the 6th next month which was depressing. Except it's the final payment to Disney for our September trip and that made it better. Until I realized that this means we are well within the 60 day mark until we go and that made it almost painless! I really can't wait!

bfast: one slice lc bread, peanut butter and butter

I am feeling super water retaining today. Like I ate an entire salt lick yesterday. The odd thing? I'm not really retaining that much. My rings are slipping around on my finger and that never happens. TOM is on the horizon. At least it better be. I don't want to consider the alternative right now...

Hope today goes well for everyone!

 

[Cruise04]

How exciting that your trip is on the horizon!!!! We are under 5 months now and it's hard to believe that 8 months ago I never thought we'd get to this point!!!!

Hopefully your water retention will leave soon - that is kind of strange though!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[eeyore25]

Hi Jenn,

That is great that you can come and be honest about what you did. Way to go. I don't think that you fell too hard though....

Under 5 months for your trip....how exciting. We are just about a month away from ours and I am getting so excited.

Hope you are having a great day!

Keep up the good work!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Jenn!!!
I hope you are feeling better!
So exciting that your trip is so close, count me among the jealous!

Have a happy & a healthy night!
Mike

 

[Storygirl]

Wednesday, July 27

Okay - so DS has this thing he says when he isn't being a good listener..."Can I try again? Please? Can I try again?"

Today, that is me. I am trying again.

So yesterday (forgive me for the personal info here) I was knocked over with TOM (PCOS can make it worse) and was almost sick with cramps. And cravings. So I went out for lunch and had Mexican. And then went to Fazoli's for dinner and fortunately there kept the intake to a minimum...is it just me or does their food really suck?? But once again at home, I binged out on sugar. Yes, it was good. But today? I feel so tried and awful. I would swear that I was sick, except I know better. It's my body trying to get rid of the sugar, but not able (thanks, PCOS). The cure? Exercise, and watch carbs.

Today I feel defeated and determined. I am not feeling any progress from three weeks of being dedicated to watching my carbs. Yes, it is TOM and that doesn't help. Yes, it is only 3 weeks. And yes, it will happen. But today I feel fat and squashy. And tired. But I had a high protein breakfast and I have a good low carb lunch waiting in the fridge from yesterday. And I have plenty of groceries at home that will make dinner easy to plan and stick with. And a trip in 53 days to keep holding out as my mini goal.

I have discovered something though. I don't want to eat. The "cravings" aren't hunger related or ever wanting the food. They are emotional. Work hasn't been that bad. I've been letting things that normally stress me out at work and home roll off my back. And then? I eat. I'm not letting it roll off my back, I'm eating the stress. Last night, I even sat there watching tv and I literally did not WANT to go eat a chocolate chip muffin. But I did. I couldn't figure out why. I didn't want it. I wasn't in the mood for it. But I ate it. And I didn't even savor it - I just ate it.

This week is end of month. It's a killer week. So I'm going to have a killer week and deal with it and not eat my weight in doughnuts.

I'll try again.

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Jenn!

I definitely do know what you mean about feeling "emotional cravings" for foods. Especially those fun carbs! I do think though that how you described your eating the muffin is in line with the carb craving mechanism that a low carb/controlled carb plan controls. You have said you have been eating a good amount of sugar which would put your insulin levels off which we know will lead to more craving of sugar/carby foods. If we could all fight these cravings it would be simple! You know what you need to do as you are getting yourself back on track with your breakfast and lunch today. Remember that after having a good amount of sugar, it can take a day or two for the carb cravings to fade again. (At least according to all the reading I have done! hehe)

I think you are doing well though by trying to identify where your cravings are coming from. That way you will be able to know, am I hungry really? am I "emotionally" hungry? or is this a sugar craving?

We're here for you this "killer" week!! Post away if things start to get rough and you need to vent!

Have a happy & healthy day!
Mike

 

[Cruise04]

Look - you realized what you are doing when you are eating and why you are eating. That is a good thing. Now if you can just stop on your way to getting the food, or reach for something healthier you'll be doing good. I know that it's got to be easier said than done.

Hang in there - the TOM is what sucks!!!!!! (I do like Fazoli's bread sticks - almost better than Olive Gardens)

Keep on
Chris

 

[Storygirl]

Yikes. What a week!

Last night went much better - I was able to think things out before I ate and only ate things I really wanted. I also walked twice with VBF - once in thr morning for a mile and once in the afternoon for half mile (we had a meeting to get to so didn't have time for the full walk). Then I weeded like crazy when I got home and used muscles I forgot about in my legs. The exercise really made me feel better. Not physically, per se, but I always feel better emotionally when I do something exercise related.

Today so far has been good. Had two pieces of string cheese for breakfast and lunch was 1/3 cucumber with salt and pepper and a PB and butter sandwich on lc bread. Not sure what's on for dinner. VBF and I did our mile this morning and we have another scheduled for 2:30. I might walk with DS to the DQ tonight (oddly, not a temptation for me) which is about a 1/2 mile from our house.

Work is crazy. And I just found out yesterday that I will be taking over half the responsibilities of the other manager who is leaving. So now I'll have all my department goals to meet WITHOUT having replaced my employee, plus half the duties of a manager who has 28 employees.

<------me

On the other hand, I'm on vacation in less than 8 weeks. Thank goodness.

 

[Cruise04]

Wow - work does sound crazy. Just don't let it get to you foodwise. And good for you for walking that much - good job!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[pearlieq]

Keep up the great work! You can do it!!!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hey Jenn!!!

Glad things went well last night food wise and getting your exercise in!! Go you!!!
I can definitely empathize with you getting more work dumped on you!! Lets see if we can find ourselves one of those huge golf umbrellas!

Hope you have a great night!
Mike