Laurie's journal - Atkins plan (comments welcome)

[LAinSEA]

It's been a couple of really busy days at work. I'm having trouble remembering exactly what I had to eat - but it was on-plan.

Wednesday: low-carb roll, cottage cheese, brie & salami, tuna salad w/avacado, flank steak, 1 oz macadamias & almonds.

Thursday: low-carb roll, cottage cheese, havarti & salami, pork roast, brocolli & romaine salad w/bleu cheese, 1 oz almonds.

lots of water both days. diet rite

Thursday was particularly crazy - on after Pac-10 basketball. Everything went very smoothly.

Exercise - a big fat 0. DH and I just don't get up in the morning. This will have to change over the weekend and next week.

This is the last week I get to work with our talented part-timers. The new FT graphics guy starts next week - I'm not looking forward to working with him on a daily basis.

Happy Valentine's day to everyone.

 

[DoeWDW]

Laurie, I'm still working on catching up on journals! I'm all caught up on yours, girlfriend and I'm sending a really big your way! You've got a lot going on. I think you're doing well, though, taking things one day at a time.

What type of field is DH in? You never know when one of your DIS friends might have a lead.....

Sorry to hear of your stress at work. Wish I had a magic wand to wave and make things better there. Just keep drinking all that water and doing the best you can....

I hope things calm down and smooth out soon! I'll keep your DH in my prayers.

 

[marsh0013]

hey laurie, hope you had a wonderful valentine's day! and i hope the last week that you have with the part timers will be one that you cherish. sorry that new guy's gotta come in and take over. bummer.

have a wonderful rest of the weekend

 

[Strings]

Hey Laurie,

I'm just checking in on you. The new guy started today, right. I hope it wasn't too stressful. By the way, this Michigan WISHER appreciates all your hard work. I need to know how my Wolverines are doing.

Take care of yourself. You are in my thoughts.
Beth

 

[DoeWDW]

Laurie, I'm stopping by to let you know I'm thinking of you! I hope things are going OK at work with the changes in personnel. I also continue to keep your DH in my prayers.


Doreen

 

[LAinSEA]

Friday - I didn't have time towards the end of my work day to post my meals - all on plan, but honestly I can't remember just what I ate. (I hope DH doesn't take offense - it was all delicious - I'm just experiencing CRS!)

Saturday - Valentines' Day: Slept in - really slept in. DH and I spent the day watching hockey in bed. He has bought me roses, a really pretty victoria's secret chemise & robe set and he made filet mignon & lobster tail for dinner. The Avs beat the Red Wings...DH was very happy!

Sunday - I had cottage cheese for breakfast then we started staining a table and stool set we'd bought a couple of weeks ago from an unfurnished store. The table is kitchen counter height - better to see the TV down in our family room from the nook area in our kitchen (our home is a tri-level). I think they will look great when we are done but finishing furniture is a lot of hard work. (We ordered a pair of 9 foot tall bookcases from the same store last summer and I spent 3 weeks staining and finishing these for our living room on weekends.) Sunday night we went out to TGIFriday's for dinner. I had the Atkins garlic chicken - DH had to get the ribs (OK he still is losing weight and tripling the carbs...I'm sticking to 15 to 25/day and the scale hasn't moved - very frustrating.)

Monday - after getting our hair cuts, we headed up to my folks and we took my almost 90-year old grandmother up to a casino for buffet lunch and an hour or two of slots play. Grandma has short-term memory problems, but really enjoys playing the nickle slots - she always wins! The buffet had a good variety of low-carb options including some sugar-free cheesecake for dessert. DH and I picked up some steaks for dinner on the way home and had those with broccoli & salad for dinner. I was probably over my carb limit for the day but was very careful not to have anything that included sauces or sugar.

Tuesday - back to work. First day with the newly-crowned FT employee. I will try to be cordial.

Doreen - thanks for your prayers. DH worked 16 years for Boeing as a Business Systems Analyst. He has experience with systems and network administration, some programming (SQL, Data base stuff, web), computer support, capital budget planning and managment for computing hardware, software & support, streamlining business practices for better efficiency and project management. He has two BS degrees (zoology & biology) & 40 PB credits in medical technology (he was hoping to go to med school and hit the wait list 3 times without getting in). He taught 100 level biology his last year in college.

Thanks for you support Beth; I'm really going to try hard to play nice this afternoon. DH and I both got our degrees from Washington - Michigan has been a great rivalry for the our Huskies.

Marcia - we had a great Valentines day! Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Strings]

We're exactly opposites. We're both Michigan grads. Dh was very grumpy when the Wings lost. My husband would never attempt Filet Mignon. He can't boil water.

I hope your day at work goes well. Maybe this guy new guy will turn out to competent and nice. We can hope, right.

Good luck. You guys are in my prayers.

Beth

 

[marsh0013]

you vday sounded fantastic! how sweet of dh to take care of you so well

that staining sounds like a lot of work, and a lot of time. i could never see myself doing something like that! i'd probably give up after a day . but that's great that you are doing that to make your kitchen look real nice . and sounds like you had a lot of fun with grandma, my grandma loves gambling too. i think it's funny how into it she gets, hehe.

your food choices, as usual, look great. you're really doing a good job staying on plan

hope the first day back with the new ft guy went okay, or that you at least survived it

 

[LAinSEA]

Wow, what a week. Work has gotten so busy I'm hoping from the time I arrive until we finish our late newscast at 10:30pm. The new guy is driving me bonkers (he and I only worked one day a week together prior to him becoming FT). I wish he'd just concentrate on his own work and not hover over me. My other pet peave is he calls his wife constantly - on company phone and literally "coos". If he's going to do that then get a cell and walk outside! The other graphics artist (whose phone he is mainly using) does the best impression of him already!

Foodwise, I've been on track. The newest item is "No-zagna" (noodless lazagna). My aunt is hosting my Grandmother's birthday on Saturday and serving lazagna. ("Dear, I know you and Jeff don't eat this - so bring something you can eat.") So that put DH on a mission to develop a noodless dish that looks and tastes like lazagna. Home-made no-sugar meat sauce, vegetables (zuchini, spinach, chard & mushrooms) instead of noodles with ricotta & parmansan cheese. Tastes so yummy - but it doesn't hold up like the real thing. More like a cup of molten lava after re-heating in the microwave. So he's still experimenting.

Today's he included some fresh/frozen soy beans with chili powder in my cooler.

We got out and walked for 45 minutes this morning in the fog. He kicked the cats off the bed when my alarm went off so they couldn't purr me back to sleep.

I'm so glad it's my Friday...I really need some time off this week and looking forward to a short work-week next week and off to Disneyland with my parents and nieces.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Hi Laurie! I see you've been really busy this past week, especially with the 'new guy.'

Have you maybe thought about another pasta-type dish to take to the party instead of a lasagna substitute? How about spaghetti squash with the homemade sauce you mentioned or a low carb version of alfredo over the squash. I had "spaghetti" a couple of weeks ago and it was soooo good. Just a thought.

Well, it's pretty late and I still have a few more journals to get to. Have a good weekend Laurie!

 

[marsh0013]

hey laurie, i'm guessing you're either on your way to disneyland or getting ready to go? i don't remember you mentioning the specific date.

how'd the birthday party go this weekend? no-zagna turn out okay? i hope so. or at least that you had some other dish you could eat.

i'm sorry about the new guy at work. he sounds totally obnoxious! i hope things get better. maybe he'll mellow out. i really hope so.

have a great trip to disneyland (if i haven't already missed you)! i'm so jealous

 

[DoeWDW]

Laurie, hope you have a wonderful trip to Disneyland! You and DH deserve it!! Enjoy!

 

[Strings]

Laurie,

Have a wonderful time in Disneyland. Say hi to Mickey for me. Enjoy every second!

Beth

 

[LAinSEA]

Saturday: DH said his "no-zagna" wasn't ready for primetime, so we took our trader joe's green beans and were prepared to go hungry...My mother had the "befores" assignment and brought some shrimp, chicken wings (no breading) and vegetables with ranch dressing. DH and I snacked on these while all the family drama played out.

I learned at a very early age (probably by 5) that you don't tease my mother (or my little sister for that matter). She doesn't take it well. We hadn't seen my mom's brother and sister-in-law for the longest time...and what does my already mostly ineibriated aunt do as soon as she sees my mother...start the teasing! Oh brother! My grandmother (whose 90's birthday were all supposed to be celebrating...who has no short-term memory) leans over to me and says "We won't be doing this again for my 100th, I hope!"

Both DH and I had our green beans, green salad with Italian dressing and a 1/2 cup of the lazagna served. DH also had a small slice of birthday cake. I didn't have any or the ice cream. But both of us noticed a distinct increase in appetite before bedtime. I had an oz. of macadamias and some cheese - he had some cottage cheese to put the hunger pangs away. DH also confessed to buying some california rolls last week while he shopping at the store. (They have a sushi counter at our TOP foods). He said it was the first time he's experienced the "skin-crawling" effect of too many carbs when you've been off them for a while. (I had this happen at Thanksgiving.)

Other than the 1/2 cup of lazagna, our only other "cheat" was some shared popcorn on Sunday evening. Not techically over my carb limit...but at least I don't experience the "sugar rush" from eating it.

Exercise: walked Saturday & Sunday and cleaned carpets and mowed the lawn over the weekend as well. Pilates Saturday and Monday.

Coming in March, DH signed us up to take the West-B test, first step in getting a teaching certificate. I've been brushing up on my algebra and geometry. We leave for Disneyland Thursday morning and I will convey all your greetings to Mickey himself. (He's my favorite.)

I haven't been back on the scale - but I feel I've stalled out on losing both pounds and inches for now. Got to up the exercise and probably cut the carbs way back after our vacation. I'm going to try to make very good choices while we are down in So Cal and show my father he can survive on a low-carb diet too.

 

[marsh0013]

ah, gotta love the family drama . glad you survived it though. you did a really good job not giving in to the food at the party, even though you were hungry later. at least at home, you had legal snacks to stop the hunger pains

i know you'll do just fine in disneyland, even if you do need to cut the carbs way down after getting back. that's really awesome that you want to be able to show your dad that he can survive on low carb. not only is it healthy for you, but for him as well

i'm sure once you get back from vacation, cut down the carbs, and up the exercise, you'll be right back to losing pounds and inches

hope you have a great day today

 

[DoeWDW]

I agree with Marcia, Laurie! Enjoy that trip and teach your father what he needs to know to thrive on low-carb while out and about.

You'll be right back in the groove when you get back!! So Cal sounds like such fun!

 

[Strings]

Have a wonderful trip. I know you'll make great choices, but you are on vacation. ENJOY IT!

Beth

 

[LAinSEA]

Tuesday: I'm having a very hard time wanting to eat - I feel like I've been eating all day - but still haven't gotten to my dinner salad. We are quite slow at work tonight (late Detroit show was pre-empted), there is a big gap between early and late NW shows. I think the less regimented schedule is fooling my appetite.

We need to be up at 4am and on our way to the airport by 4:50am. I'm not a morning person and I still need to pack my bag when I get home tonight. I'm wondering if sleep if such a good idea, if at all. Our flight is at 6:20am - the 2 hour rule seems like such a joke to me. You'd think they'd have come up with better security solutions at the airports by now.

So far today - I'm on plan. DH didn't want to cook anything new this week that would sit in the fridge while were gone - so everything is leftovers for the most part.

The biggest worry while we're gone is our almost 18 year old cat - he's been a complete "pill" since the cat sitter came last week to pick up the key and get the rundown on taking care of he and his "brother" and "sister". Horatio is pretty much down to fur and bones but still hungry (always hungry), active, and "in your face" about what he thinks we should be doing. He also suffers from IBS and is on meds for an autoimmune problem that causes sores in his mouth. The medication - a drug they give to human transplant patients - keeps the sores from coming back, but convincing Horatio to take his "squirt" is challenging. Our cat sitter is also a vet tech but she will have her hands full while we are gone. Tilda and Nicklas will probably just hide and hope that Horatio doesn't eat their share of the canned food before the sitter leaves. Horatio will meet her at the door and probably give her the third degree about "what took her so long" to get there.

Well, I'm off to Mickey's house. See you all next week!

 

[marsh0013]

have a great time laurie! can't wait to hear trip reports when you get back!

hope the cats did okay too...let us know how they survived your absense

 

[DoeWDW]

Laurie, I know you're at Disneyland. Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you and hope you're having a wonderful time!