Speaking of Hardcore ...

I had a nice picture in my head of you enjoying some cake! Bet you haven't had anything like that in quite some time, so I'm sure it tasted divine.

Speaking of hardcore, I have been truly hardcore related to carb intake. No wine, no sugar free sweets, not a single cracker or piece of bread. I am determined that I will be hard core for the entire month of June. I can't seem to crack my metabolism, but I am going to stay strong.

For the last week, I have been well below 20. If I don't know how many carbs it has, I don't eat it. Even for Brian's birthday dinner at Bonefish ... no bread, no key lime pie. Only grilled shrimp, zucchini and asparagus, and a small salad with bleu cheese. Here's my week ... the variation is only in my dinners.

Breakfast: eggs and bacon, coffee with heavy cream 0 carbs
Lunch: celery and pimento cheese 5 carbs
Dinner: salad or meat and veggies (only green) for Monday/Tuesday

Starting Wednesday, I was out to dinner with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Pedro who were down to get Grandmama's things packed that they have in storage. We went out some nights and ate here others:

Wednesday: grilled brisket (no bbq sauce), small salad with bleu cheese 4 carbs
Thursday: brisket, broccolini 4 carbs
Friday: Grilled shrimp, scallops with lemon butter, asparagus & zucchini, small salad with bleu cheese. 6 carbs
Saturday: Boiled shrimp, cheese (snacking before dinner), balsamic chicken, brocoli with cheese sauce 5 carbs
Sunday: Miyabi - shrimp and steak, grilled vegetables (including onions), salad with ranch. No rice at all ... asked the chef not to put it on my plate. 10 carbs

So I have been below 20 carbs for the last week and that's where I intend to stay. I have to break through the current number on the scale.

Must stay focused and upbeat ... I feel better when I eat this way, so that's a plus. When I eat carbs, I feel bloated and puffy. My ankles swell. So this is better for me in more ways than weight. The Atkins book talks about plateaus and I must be in one. Says it can happen for 4 weeks or longer, so I must be patient.

Will report on today later! Eggs and bacon for breakfast, as usual.

Love you!

You're doing so good, Mom!

Keep it up and don't lose faith.  I'm really proud of how well you're doing!!  My prediction was, in fact correct, and both Bill and I fell off the wagon on Saturday at the bar-b-q.  Hardcore.  I had cake.

We started again on Monday, so here's the rundown (or at least, as much as I can remember):

Monday
Chicken Ceasar Salad (3 carbs)
6 Kalamata Olives (3 carbs)
Marinated Chicken (4 carbs)
Sauteed Zucchini and Mushrooms (3 carbs)
2 Tblsp Chunky Peanut Butter (3 carbs)
Total: 16

Tuesday
McD's Sausage Egg & Cheese (1 carb)
Jimmy John's Unwich- roast beef, cheese, avocado, tomato, mustard & bacon in lettuce wrap (6 carbs)
Olives, Veggies & Dip (3 carbs)
Dill Pickle (0 carbs)
Ribeye Steak & Asparagus (0 carbs)
2 Tblsp Chunky Peanut Butter (3 carbs)
Total: 13

Wednesday
Brie & Almonds (3 carbs)
Salad w/Grilled Chicken (3 carbs)
2 Tblsp Chunky Peanut Butter (3 carbs)
Marinated Pork Chop (4 carbs)
Broccoli (3 carbs)
Total: 16

Sigh

Yesterday was a good day ... still no movement on the scale, though. Here's the rundown:

• coffee with heavy cream zero carbs


• scrambled eggs with salsa 2 carbs


• low carb thickburger (no ketchup, no onion, no pickles - meat, lettuce, sliced tomato, cheese, mayo, mustard) 9 carbs


• 6 ribs of celery - did you know that these are .8 each? 4.8 carbs


• chicken salad (chicken, mayo, bacon bits) 0 carbs

total carbs: 15.8 carbs

Starting out today with scrambled eggs, bacon & coffee with heavy cream. Here's to a low carb week AND some movement on this @#$%$#@!^%& scale!

Saturday AOK

Had a late brunch at about 12:30, so I know I should have eaten sooner. Here's the rundown:

Coffee with cream 4 carbs
eggs, bacon & sausage 0 carbs
roasted chicken (dark meat) and green beans 0 carbs, think
sugar free candy 15 carbs (yes, I ate 5 of them at 3 each)

Went to see Pirates of the Caribbean and I had the munchies, so I ate the candy instead of popcorn. Could have been worse!

Going to bed soon and will drink a big glass of water. I have been much bettter at water and will try to drink even more.

Here's to a great low carb Sunday!

Love from Mamacita.

Alcohol ... The Low Carb Menace

It is so true about alcohol ... it plays a siren song that taunts, "Wouldn't a chip taste wonderful with this cocktail?"

Wednesday last week ended with the other part of the steak for lunch. So Wednesday was good.

Thursday was very good until I got to Book Club, where I drank 2 glasses of red wine (generous glasses). But I resisted the dessert: cinnamon ice cream served in scoops that had been rolled in something decadent.

Thursday
Coffee with half & half 6 carbs (I am going to the Pig to get cream today)
Fried Eggs zero carbs
Peanut Butter (2 T) 4 carbs
chicken pesto (chicken with mozzarella, pesto) zero carbs
3 glasses wine 12 carbs

22 carbs

Friday
coffee with half & half 6 carbs
scrambled eggs
Peanut Butter (2 T) 4 carbs
sugar free candy 6 carbs
sugar free candy 3 carbs
grilled shrimp & fish, salad with bleu cheese zero carbs
19 carbs

It's now after 11 on Saturday and I have been cleaning, so I haven't been eating yet. Will go and toss down something.

I'm a bit depressed because the pounds are not coming off and I'm resisting all the bad stuff. I've also been walking. Guess that older metabolism just doesn't want to cooperate.

But I will soldier on. Glad that you and Bill are doing so well! Have a great, carb free weekend.

TGILCF! Thank God It's Low-Carb Friday...

God this week has dragged on into eternity.  I'm so happy it's almost over!  Bill and I have been amazingly good this week, and I'm so proud.  He's been a real champ, and has made it through what I think is the hardest part.  I'm so used to the diet by now it doesn't bother me, but he's pretty new to it so I think he's done very well.  We have a cookout to go to tomorrow, and I'm nervous because it seems like everytime I am exposed to alcohol, I cannot resist the carbs.  They call to me...

Friday:
Cheese & Walnuts (1 carb)
2 Tblsp Chunky Peanut Butter (3 carbs)
Chicken Ceasar Salad w/ Kalamata Olives (4 carbs)
Soda & Coffee (0 carbs)

Wednesday & Thursday

Wednesday
Scrambled Eggs (0 carbs)
Chicken Ceasar Salad (3 carbs)
6 Kalamata Olives (2 carbs)
Marinated Pork Chops (6 carbs)
Zucchini (4 carbs)
3 Tblsp Chunky Peanut Butter (4)
Coffee, Diet Mountain Dew, Whiskey & Coke Zero (0 carbs)
Total: 19

Thursday
Colby Cheese (2 carbs)
Coffee, Tea (0 carbs)
Chicken Ceasar Salad (3 carbs)
6 Kalamata Olives (2 carbs)
Ribeye Steak with Bleu Cheese (1 carb)
Fresh Baby Spinach, sauteed w/olive oil (2 carbs)
2-3 Tblsp Peter Pan Chunky Peanut Butter (4 carbs)
Total: 14

Twirling in Low Carb Heaven

Although this weekend was something of a bust, I came back strong. Friday was a low carb day, but Saturday (graduation day) included dessert (about 3 bites of apple crisp with vanilla bean ice cream). My thighs said thank you thank you thank you. My brain said, "Have you lost your mind?"

Anyway, Sunday was a great carb day and the rest of this week has been very good as well. Here's the rundown:

Monday

• Coffee with cream (6 carbs - 2 T per cup)


• eggs with salsa (2 carbs)


• celery & pimento cheese (6 carbs)

Tuesday

• Coffee with cream (6 carbs)


• scrambled eggs & bacon (0 carbs)


• ribs with rub (don't know carb count ... no sauce, though)

Wednesday

• Coffee with cream (6 carbs) ... still out of heavy cream (sigh)


• eggs & bacon (0 carbs)


• steak - very yummy for lunch (4 carbs from half & half in the drippings)

I see that a delightful man has joined the group. I don't know what an unwich is, but I want one immediately!

Went for walk on Monday and today ... it was very good to get out and stretch. Walked to dinner on Monday night (across the street). Very nice to eat and then walk. Perhaps my exercise gene that has been dormant for years is now waking up.

Mamacita

What Went in My Gullet

Diet Pepsi is my staple and is keeping me alive. Today is day 2 and not craving anything but sandwiches. Had 2 unwiches with roast beef and horseradish and one with turkey and pesto. I think the pesto is the only carbs I've had. The End.

You also had bacon, cooked for you by your lovely wife!  But otherwise, you are correct and only have a few carbs to your count today.  :)

Um, last weekend doesn't count...

Ok, I've decided that this past weekend doesn't count.  Mostly because I was very, very bad.  How bad you might ask?  Well, I have 6 words for you: pierogies, wine, chocolate chip cookies, and Quizno's.  I did not eat all of these things at once, but regrettably, did eat them over the course of three days, starting on Friday.  I blame Bill.

Monday:
Vitamins (3 carbs)
McD's Sausage, Egg & Cheese (0 carbs)
Ham Slices, Colby Cheese & Celery (0 carbs)
Diet Soda and Black Coffee (0 carbs)
Tea (0 carbs)
Bleu Cheese Turkey Burgers w/Lettuce & Sauteed Mushrooms (2 carbs)
Total: 5, holy crap

Tuesday:
Vitamins (3 carbs)
Bacon (0 carbs)
Diet Soda and Black Coffee (0 carbs)
Bleu Cheese Turkey Burgers w/Lettuce & Sauteed Mushrooms (2 carbs)
Herb-Marinated Chicken (5 carbs)
Broccoli (4 carbs)
1 Piece of Celery w/Peanut Butter (1 carb)
Total: 15

Great Wednesday

I finished Wednesday strong with braised pork chops that were really yummy, so Wednesday was a less than 20 carbs day.

Starting out Thursday with my usual coffee. I am thinking of treating myself to something good for dinner, like prime rib. I may get some cauliflower and make fake mashed potatoes ... I have really become fond of those.

Tomorrow I go to Boca for youngest son's graduation, so I will be challenged to stay true to low carb. But I know I can do it ... going to Maggiano's for late lunch to celebrate ... too early for cocktails, but they have the best roasted chicken ever.

Glad you are home safe and sound, my dear, and I know it went well. Love you, honeybun!

Talk About 'Splainin...

I ate pizza last night.  Seriously.  Bill and I went to a business meeting with the local Chamber of Commerce and it was hosted by a local business man who owns a pizza place.  And he made me a special flatbread pizza and put it right in front of me!!!  I had to eat it, it would have been so rude not to.  But it really bummed me out because I had been so good all week, even while being at a conference in Atlanta!  :(

Wednesday
Pizza (a ba-gillion carbs)
Total: I don't even want to know

Thursday
Gummi Vitamins (3 carbs)
Atkins Breakfast Bar (2 carbs)
Black Coffee (0 carbs)

'Splainin to Do

The train is out of the station and I keep jumping on and off. After my cheese biscuit/fried shrimp/sweet potato extravaganza this weekend, I have battened down the hatches. Here is my update:

Monday

• fried eggs (0 carbs)


• coffee with heavy cream (0 carbs)


• celery & pimento cheese (3 carbs)


• steak with cream/wine (4)

Good day ... 7 carbs

Tuesday

• coffee with heavy cream (0 carbs)


• egg salad - mayo, kalamata olives (3 carbs)


• celery with pimento cheese (4 carbs)


• arugula salad with prosciutto and shaved parmesan & antipasto plate (salami, olives, roasted tomato, artichokes) (4 carbs)


• Now, the bad part ... 2 glassses of cab (8 carbs)

Total: 19 (did not eat the bread on the table ... oooh lala!)

Wednesday

• Coffee with half & half (4 carbs) ... I ran out of heavy cream


• Scrambled eggs with bacon (0 carbs)

When you are in your 50s, it's amazing how one day of screwing up big time (cheese biscuits = big time) can set you back. It will take a week for my aging metabolism to reboot. Onward and upward!

Aack! I'm way behind, business travel will do that....

Thursday
Salad (3 carbs)
Ham & Cheese
Ribs w/Rub (12 carbs)
Creamed Cauliflower (5 carbs)
Many sodas, many coffees (0 carbs)
Total: 20

Friday
Salad (3 carbs)
Cheese (0 carbs)
Tons of soda and coffee (0 carbs)
2 Drumsticks, 1 Breast Popeye's Chicken (14 carbs)
Total: 17 carbs

Saturday (bad)
McDonalds Double Cheeseburger (20 carbs)
Bang Bang Shrimp- Bonefish (22 carbs for HALF, yikes)
Dirty Martini (0 carbs)
Ahi Tuna (0 carbs)
Total: 42, crap...

Sunday
Eggs, Sausage and Roast Beef at Brunch (0 carbs)
Crustless Cheesecake (no clue, but must be bad- 25 carbs)
Steak and Veggie Shish-Ka-Bob (0 carbs)
Sm Side Salad (1 carb)
Total: 26 carbs

Monday
Salad from Potbelly (3 carbs)
Whitefish, Turkey and Veal Piccatta (buffet- 6 carbs)
Salad (3 carbs)
2 glasses Merlot (8 carbs)
Total: 17 carbs
Tuesday
Scrambled Eggs w/Ham, Mushrooms and Cheese (1 carb)
3 Strawberries (3 carbs)
Salad (3 carbs)Ham & Cheese (0 carbs)
Burger w/No Bun (0 carbs)
2 Fried Green Tomatoes w/Goat Cheese (10 carbs)
Atkins Bar (2 carbs)
Total: 19 carbs

Love you and miss you, Mom!

I can beat licking a roll ...

At the conference last week, I didn't eat cake ... but I took a bite of carrot cake and then spit it out. There was residual yumminess that was truly marvelous and I was pathetically excited about it.

Fortunately, I did not do this in the view of my colleagues. Perhaps I should have.

Mama Is Back!

After an absence that's too long to justify, I am back. During my hiatus, I was really very good. I was gone to a company conference the week of April25 and I was extremely well behaved. Not one single dessert, although carrot cake (vegetable?), chocolate (niacin?) and a variety of other cakes were at every single meal. Not one dessert, though. No cookies, either. I had a stash of Russell Stover sugar free candy and, although some people scoffed, they became believers once they tried them.

During college graduation weekend, I was also pretty good ... until Saturday night Euchre and several bourbon/diet cokes. Once everyone left the room, the bag of chips beckoned. Sigh.

Now back in the saddle. Here is the rundown for the week:

Monday:

• Eggs, bacon, link sausage (0)


• peanut butter (14)


• Pork chops with cream gravy (heavy cream) (0)

Tuesday:

• coffee with heavy cream (0)


• 3 fried eggs (0)


• peanut butter (14)


• pork chops with cream gravy (heavy cream) (0)

Wednesday:

• coffee with heavy cream (0)


• scrambled eggs with bacon (0)


• tuna with mayo (0)


• steak (0)

I'm sure I should have some carbs, but I am trying to shock the system into metabolism.

Thursday:

• coffee with heavy cream (0)


• sausage patties (0)


• low carb thickburger - Hardees - (8)


• ribs with rub, no sauce BBQ sauce (5, assuming the horseradish sauce has some carbs)


• will have celery later ... so I'm probably too low today.

I don't seem to be making headway based on the carbs I am eating, but I think I need more water.

Tomorrow will be hard ... women's night at my place, but I can stick to martinis or to bourbon & coke. TGIF!

I can't believe it...

I just licked a roll.  Seriously.  I got take-out from the restaurant next to my hotel and there was a yeast roll in with my steak and veggies.  And it was staring at me.  And I could smell it.  It smelled delicious.  So I ate all my food and before I threw away all my trash, I took the roll out... and licked it. 

How sad is that, seriously...

Wednesday
McD's Sausage Egg & Cheese Muffin- no bread (0 carbs)
Gyro, No Pita- lamb, tatziki sauce, tomato & feta (2 carbs)
Ribeye Steak w/Mushrooms (2 carbs)
Broccoli (3 carbs)
Almonds (6 carbs)
Total: 13

Time To Catch Up

OMG, I've been away for too long!

Sunday- very bad.  Felt sick and actually asked Bill to make me waffles.  Which he did.  And I ate them.  Sigh...

Monday
Gummi Vitamins (3 carbs)
McD's Breakfast- sausage, egg & cheese only (0 carbs)
Almonds (4 carbs)
BW3 Naked Wings & Ranch (2 carbs)
Red Lobster Shrimp, Crab & Lobster (0 carbs)
Total: 9, wow

Tuesday
Salad- ham, mushrooms, egg, cheese, veggies & ranch (3 carbs)
Sooo Much Coffee (0 carbs)
Diet Mountain Dew (0 carbs)
Ribeye Steak w/Grilled Shrimp & Horseradish sauce (0 carbs)
Broccoli (3 carbs)
Glass of Merlot (5 carbs)
Almonds (4 carbs)
Total: 15