Hello everyone...I fell off my food journal ...so back on today.  It's been a confusing week for me emotionally and busy with furbaby sitting.  I am taking care of my oldest daughters 2 cats for the week...they're fun and they entertain each other running all night long it seems.  So sleep and routine are disturbed which cause me to  not plan my food out well and ran out of time.  Work was more stressful than usual and it got me all stressed  emotionally all this added up to me snacking in the evening once I got home at 8pm;  which I have been very good at NOT doing for a while now.   I was good and stayed away from eating too many sugars (and no white sugar or fruits) just protein and carbs but still.  I don't feel well this morning.

I find journalling so helpful;  when you right it out you can see how things effect you, then you can see triggers to avoid.  If it's just in my head and I think about it I don't see it.  

I did go for a walk with my youngest daughter last night we are getting into a routine of 2 to 3 times a week after work and I also was given a stationary bike  on Tuesday which I have started to use....both of these are helping me get my mobility back and I am hoping to start hiking this summer.

Well as I said back to it...plan my food and pack it!  drink lots of water (starting now ) and right it down and count it out.  Read my lables count my S/C no estimating :-)

Sunday! Finally :-)

Breakfast   (total s/c  3/4)
2 wasa krisp w/ peanut butter and 3/4c of cottage cheese
coffee 2/soy creamer
Lunch  (total s/c  2/3)
Kale w/roasted chicken
organic crackers 13 wheat free
Snack (total s/c  1/2)
Chiaseed pudding  w/protien powder 1/2 c.

Well this is an eye opening experience....it's my day off so since I have been posting my food journal I thought I would sit down and add the whole day; I usually just guestimate my counts on S/C;  yes I know it's bad to do that, I admitted a while ago that is my downfall I read lables yes...I just don't add...LOL.   As you can see above I haven't had dinner yet and my carb counts is already at 8 carbs.  I think I see my problem :)  I have a handle on the sugar I do pretty good at keep that down but the carbs Oh My the carbs!!   Why do I add in my head when I have menopausal brain...I can't remember where I left my phone never mind the food count all day...and no I don't have an app for that because I don't have an Iphone :)   I have been writing down quickly what I ate but I haven't been put the count beside them....I don't know why??  figured I would do it at the end of the day or something or figured I was within the range....well it doesn't work for me obviously.  I have tried gadget years ago but I don't use them.

Posting my food for all to see has helped me allot, your comments have been helpful.   Okay now I have to buckle down and really teach myself this one.  Wish me luck!  You only fail if you give up...Right! :-)

Veggies are green? really  lol  does celery in my salads count? ;-) hehehe.  I did better today I had Kale.  I love the way I do my kale.   Saturdays at work it's just me and my co-worker and we usually make food to share she loves what I do with kale so I brought that today and she pick-up a roasted chicken at the store, mmmm good.

Breakfast 
2 wasa krisp crackers w/peanut butter and coffee w/soy creamer
   I ran out of time this morning making my kale and didn't make breakfast so I improvised at work - that's what      I found in the kitchen :-)  an office full of women you can always find something in the kitchen.
Lunch 
plate full of kale with roasted chicken.
handful of fresh snow peas.
Dinner
chicken salad w/mayo/pecans/celery
tea w/creamer

24oz of water (fell off the water wagon...too busy with customers all day - Saturday's are very stressful at work; only 2 people for the busiest day of the week...go figure)

hmmm eat more??...I will try.   I'm usually not very hungry in the morning but I guess I could find something to add to breakfast maybe try that new muffin/pizza bread of Rosalie's w/fried or boiled eggs..  this set of days off then.  But for now here is my food journal:

Breakfast 
Flaxseed muffing w/pecans and butter
coffee w/soy creamer
Snack
Almonds & water
Lunch
Chicken Salad and zevia
Dinner
Imitation crab salad with seed type organic rice crackers
and I was bad today - sugar free ice cream sandwich.

food done by 5:30pm

48oz of water

Food Journaling :-)


Breakfast
Chicken Salad (celery/pecans/mayo)
10oz water
Lunch/Snack
Flaxseed muffin (chocolate with few frozen raspberries)
coffee w/almond milk and benefibre
...then off to work; when I am on the late shift 12 to 8pm my food goes a little wonky but today I managed to get my lunch in before I left which is good then I can have some almonds and coffee for a snack the eat my dinner later  at 6pm  depending how busy it is at work.
Snack
Almonds & water
Dinner
Spaghetti squash

total water today 50oz

Just quick to keep up the food journal:

Breakfast
Flaxseed muffin w/cheese and 1/2c intimation crab salad
coffee w/ almond milk
Lunch
Starbucks Tuna melt  (1/2)
water 16oz
Dinner
chicken salad w/celery and mayo
tea w/soy creamer

Home now after working till 8pm water and herbal tea

Thanks for the suggestions :-)  I will adjust accordingly.  I do find I am not as hungry as I use to be when I had sugar in my diet, and sometimes I am uninspired, but today is a good day :)

Breakfast
Flaxseed muffing with walnuts, coffee w/soya creamer (.5 sugar)
Lunch 
Spaghetti squash bird nest
Snack 
Handful of Almonds and coffee w/soya creamer
Dinner
Spaghetti squash bird nest (again I know, but it's good and I don't mind :)
Plus I made a batch so I will eat it before it goes yucky.  Next time I am going to try to freeze the batch to see how it works.

...forgot my water today :(

Evening I will probably just have water and herbal tea.  I have been pretty good with not eating past 7pm

Thanks for the comments,  don't worry I don't take them wrong way I know all of you have been there done that ..and have experienced where I am at :)  I appreciate your support.

I have to say after blogging just once and getting the support of all you wonderful women I see how important blogging is to my success.   We are really helping each other!  I was really feeling alone in my journey, I was sticking to things avoid sugar,  which I am proud of myself for doing; but the attitude was suffering and taking a dive.  Accountability, support, and a wealth of great ideas is what I get here.

Here's what I ate today...

Breakfast out with my daughter :-)
2eggs, 2link sausages, fancy red potato (small) and fried tomato, coffer w/cream

Lunch
Ice cream bar 5/2 (sweetened with Maltitol )  this also has some sucrose to it?

Dinner
Spaghetti squash egg nest..mmmm good

plus 2 Zevias and 16oz water

Oh my it's been a while since I blogged...my weight has been bouncing up and down by 3lbs very discouraging :(  I haven't given up though.  Still keeping the sugar down to below 15grams a day.  

Yesterday I started with: 

Breakfast  - Flaxseed muffin with walnuts w/butter and a coffee w/cream

Lunch - 4 wasa krisp with swiss cheeze

snack/dinner - 4 turkey sausages

drank - lots of water  (48oz)

Wasn't feeling to inspired to cook today I think I am feeling the effects of the big "M" word and since I am blogging at 1:00am because I can't sleep.  The poor sleep patterns are not helping me with weight or  with my attitude either.  Never had a problem sleeping before it's strange...figure it was best just to get up and do somethings and go and try to sleep again in a while.  But the bad attitude has been all day and most of this month.  I have things happening that challenges me but don't we all :)   Just wish I would pick myself up and get going...push through it somehow.  I read everyone's blog and you are all such strong women, I know I can do it too.

No change...but I understand why :-)  Saturday night I indulged and had a few too many cabs and sugars...red wine! and 7 layer dip with chips!  I thought I would indulge with a glass or 2.  Had a great time and I didn't reduce this week...but I didn't go up either!!!  Yeah.  Back to it without a beat.  I am doing great.  I remember before when I would fall off the wagon, that would start a week of just one more thing and one more thing than next you know you're back to eating junk and bad food choices and its been a month and you have lost all motivation.   It's so different this time;  I find this way of eating so much better for me that I simply make better food choices and I like the way I feel.  Breakfast will be a flaxseed muffin and coffee which I am looking forward to, then I will put my snacks together and head out for the day.   

I also think that because I have been dealing with my emotional stuff too I don't stuff my feeling back down, I let them process.  That has help me get to a place where self care is a  priority now I am putting myself first.  Before I didn't realize how not only did I put everybody before me, being a mom can do that to you... it the nature of the job; but I didn't have me on the list at all.   Well I am on my list now :-)

Thank you to everyone for you support!  That's the other big game changer, it helps me to stay on track and accountable: I read everyone's blog and get great ideas.   

Finally Yeah!

Well it been a difficult week and no blogging...but the good news is my body finally budged on the my weight and reduced 2 lbs.  Lost a inch of the waist.  I am very pleased :-)  I am still having struggles with writing everything down, I will keep pushing through because I am improving.  I figured it is a learned behavior and a valuable one at that, it will give me knowledge of what I am doing so I can make necessary adjustments.  One of my really bad habits is that I guesstimate what I am eating and the counts on them.  Somedays I was really under and some surprisingly over.  It didn't help that I lent my book out for someone to review to see if they wanted to get the book themselves and they kept it...I was just about to go buy another copy when they returned it.  It's a very helpful reference tool, and it made a big difference getting it back.   I am back on track and writing down what I am eating; also if I can remember I write out my proposed food plan for the next day (I find those day better) then I simply check off and put down the count as I do it...my days are sometimes a little messed up due to life's little challenges so I give myself a break and if I do it more than I don't do it I look at that as an improvement and it all good.  

I also have started walking again!  This is exciting for me since I hurt myself last November I haven't been able to walk much farther than my car without my hip and ankle buckling then I can move at all, very scary for me.  My goal is to be hiking by this summer and then my favorite winter hikes.  I love winter hikes in our local parks; its beautiful here in BC and lots of hiking.  My daughter came over and offered to come over everyday after work go with me...what a gift!  She has seen how upset I have been with my injury and needed some help to get better and to get moving...I don't know how far I can go before I get into trouble; now with someone with me I will be able to build back up my strength and confidence.  What a wonderful gift my daughter has given me.

Okay I must confess

I know it's not the Hump Day confessional but I must confess and have not been writing down what I eat.  Looks like I coming up to another week of no changes.  I have always been terrible at writing things down, I have always run into this problem.  I don't know how to change it....but I know it will help me to see how much I eat when, what , how much.   It's some kind of mental block.   The stupid thing is I have the book in my lunch bag it just never comes out at work and I'm so tired when I get home it stays there to the next day and the same cycle again till I get to the end of the work week and nothing.  I feel like I am insane!

I guess I will just have to make myself do it!  That's why I am telling you all.  Starting TODAY I am writing down what I am eating (these 2 days are my days off ) then Tuesday starts my work week.  I am signing off and going to get my book and write down what I have eaten so far today.

Thanks for listening

Still going :-)

I'm still keeping to no sugar and no wheat...even though today one of my business associate brought Krispy Cremes;  it's an offering to us to use their product...hmmmm...strange offering.  They kept trying to get me to have one...I find it strange the only thing that seems to stop them is that I said 'I can't eat wheat or sugar, it will cause me suffering for that little bite'.  I let them draw their own conclusion to that.  I do find people accept 'No Thank You' easier if you say you have an allergy or sensitivity to a food group rather than you are just choosing to eat better, interesting?   No thank you should be enough.

I tried the savory flax seed minute muffin today...hmmmm good, thank you Dawn for that suggestion.  Tomorrow I am going to make bison soup and savory muffin for lunch!  I was missing my bread with my soup but savory muffin is a great pairing for me.   I am starting to notice my pants are getting looser...Yippy Skippy Dippy! :-)

One Month complete NO Sugar

I did it!  I made it over the 30 day mark and I am still eating healthy.  I usually let myself get pulled away from my goal for lots of self sabotaging reasons by this point so I am feeling pretty good about that.  Even though I weighed myself this morning and I am actually up one pound from last week and my measurements are on down one half inch I am still going straight ahead.

I have decided this is the way I will eat no sugar and no wheat ( my body can't digest wheat well )  there are so many things I can eat and this is a learning process.  My body is also peri-menopause so weight loss can be a challenge and takes determination.  I feel all premenstrual so that is probably why no real change this week.

I have notice that I have been going back to my old ways of forgetting to eat, last week Monday I even prep'd all my food put into containers then sat down and had a cup of tea then went off to bed.  Then realized the next day I forgot to eat my dinner ...I was so focused on making sure I had my food ready for the week I didn't eat when I was cooking it  I had breakfast that day and a small snack but that was it.  That's what started me down this road years ago...skipping meals!  yikes!  I use to get out of bed running and didn't stop until 2 or 3 in the afternoon for food...then a bad choice usually a latte and a so called healthy muffin...lol.   So this week I am going to take my book with me everywhere I go and write down what I am eating.  I am hoping this will do two things for me.  First help me learning the values (carbs and sugars) of my choices and second to make sure I am eating regularly.   The note book is also necessary do to brain fog, which I am hoping will lift completely soon :-)  I started taking the Reslina and I have noticed my energy is increasing.

Well off to make breakfast :-)   Flaxseed muffin...today with walnuts and a mapleline ( it's maple extract ) I love the combinations of flavors.

Feb 27, 2012

Yeah!  my Monday morning weigh is 235.5  I have reduce by 11 lbs.  since I started Feb 6 and reshaped by overall 10" (arms, ribs, waist, thighs).  I am totally excited.  I have my food prepared for the upcoming work week.  I roasted 4 chicken breast and cut them up cooked my Kale and brown rice for the next couple of days meals, boiled 1/2 dozen eggs got some almonds & walnuts I am good to go!! :-)    Plus I have the fixings for Chicken salad on Minichicks blog ...it looks delicious.

Next Monday I will have completed a whole month without sugar, I am feeling very good about getting to this point.   One day at a time!  I feel strong and prepared.  Does 21 days make a habit?

Sugar Begone!

Feb 26, 2012

Thank you Everybody!!  for your support and ideas, boy did I need it :-)

I just made the Flaxseed muffin it took me 2 tries first effort I forgot the egg LOL.  Then the second turn out and I sat down and had it with my coffee with a benifiber...mmmmm..good really I am not being sarcastic I love it.   The next one I am going to use the coca and frozen raspberries.  I guess that was a pretty fiber filled meal :) my tummy full.  I know most people would consider it snack but that is the way I eat little bits at a time.  I also love that I don't crave sweets after I eaten anymore....my craving were out of control and the evening eating was nuts; battle field number one.   I am enjoy the sense of control over my appetite,  getting the sugar out is a big step and finding this blogging group has been the second!   The first month is the hardest for all of us I am sure; and for me I haven't been able to pass this milestone in years.   I am so grateful for the help, one more week and I am there!  I may not blog daily or leave replies to your blogs due to my schedule but I always find time to read and get inspiration from all of your blogs I don't watch TV anymore so this is my sit down time to have a tea or ?? and read before I head out to work in the mornings or at the end of the day.

Sugar Begone!! Yeah!!

Feb 25, 2012

Hi Everyone

It's been a rough week I think I hit the sugar and caffeine withdraw stage; I felt easily irritated and short with people, so I took some homeopathic remedy that made me smiley again.   I didn't realize I was cutting back on caffeine too till I looked back at what I was eating and since I don't use milk any more I don't drink my tea...I am a total tea granny it's my Irish heritage :-)  ... and I might have a coffee once every two day or less. So I think that was making me a bit growly too.

 I feel totally disorganized and having a challenge get my recipes on the go.  I am hoping this set of days off will give me a chance to get a couple of quick recipes in my go to head space.   I work full time and my energy is still low...I have notice my energy is improving but I still have a ways to go.   Then I have to get all my chores done in 2 days it's just not enough time. I pick up the ingredients for a couple recipes now I just need to make them a couple of times and I will be good to go! 

Feb 20, 2012

Monday morning weigh-in  238lbs.  Wow!  I feel awesome.   My measurement shows me shrinking and the scale DID move after all.  I guess my body need that extra day.   Yesterday, I even went out for lunch with my girls and didn't choose poorly,   I had an appy of dry ribs and tea and enjoyed visiting with them.  I am just keeping my focus on choice one at a time.  By summer I will be able to know what I can have anywhere I go.  It's a learning experience.

Feb 19, 2012

Well tomorrow is my official weigh in day but of course I couldn't wait and I stepped on the scale to find I was the same weight as last Monday.  I didn't get discouraged though (that in itself is amazing for me) so I went to do my measurements and what a surprise I got;  my waist is down 3" from when I started !!  I have also been measuring my ribs in addition because I carry allot there too and my rib measurement was down 4" in total.   Wow!!  that shows me I am on the right track.   If you are just starting out or researching read http://purplerosy.blogspot.com youtube message to newbies, good information there.

I have to say that doing this blog and the blogging group has given me an accountability (as was suggested in the above mentioned blog link)  I have missed in my past attempts at getting a handle on my health and weight.  I have done things before i.e. with friends and/or weight watchers for accountability but this time is different,  anyone have ideas why this is different??

I did amazing this week because I really struggled at night and during the day to continue to stay away from sugar...daytime I work in a office that has bowls of chocolates out, I am not kidding large bowls of bite size chocolates and candies right there just take one it easy and I didn't take one!  and then when I got home it was such a rushed week and I am learning what I can and cannot eat that I sometime just had a piece of cheese with deli meat so I don't think I ate enough.   So this week I am going to pick 2 recipes from the blog groups...everyone is so wonderful to post their recipes...Thank YOU!!  and go get my ingredients and try them out.  I want to learn new and easy ways to make meals and you all have tempting ideas, I am looking forward to it.

I have decided this is not a task with an end goal but a journey of learning and self discovery.  I love the fact that I have not had sugar since February 2, 2012 this is a HUGE accomplishment, and I want to keep it that way for myself.  Each time I mindlessly go to sugar or I am tempted usually because I am emotionally down or physically tired.... I tell myself I don't want that poison sugar in my body; I have work hard to get it out!   I just need to keep it out one choice at a time.

Sugar Begone!

Feb15/2012

Feeling good!  I am on my way....I decided to only weigh-in & measure once a week and keep an eye on how my clothes fit.   I went shopping today at the local Thrifty Market (a local BC grocer) and found some Quartet Muffins 0/1 & Buckwheat Bread 0/1 per slice to try they are both Gluten & Yeast Free which I do have to keep an eye on since I am sensitive to wheat & yeast. I am a little concern with the Quartet Muffins labeling as they say the sugars are "0" but I notice in the ingredients (now that I have my glassed on and can read the fine print at home) that they use "agave syrup" which  Jorge Cruise mention as  a belly bad sweetener with 15/1...so I am little confused on the product labeling. Well I will just put those in the freezer and do some more research before eating those.  But the Bread is a go!  Also picked up some "Reser's" Hash Browns I thought I would fry or bake them up with shredded cheese as a side dish with some protein and a leafy green veggie.
I love cooking Kale, spinach or any green leafy veggie I find a the local produce market;  I start by quickly blanching them in boiling water then bring onto the cutting board and cut them up into bite size pieces and then get the fry pan ready with a generous amount of olive oil, garlic and onions, and add the green veggie a large handful at a time into the fry pan, season with some herbs and a splash of rice vinegar, a shake or two of blue label 'salt free' spike, and oyster sauce (watch the labels look for the low sugar one!) its all to taste.   I use just about anything in my spice drawer and whatever sauce inspires me.  It's only in the fry pan for a minute or 2 then to the plate.   My favorite combo is Kale, brown rice and a hard boiled egg...a quick meal and good for you!

Sugar begone!  I love it!