Happy Monday

Above is an excellent link to how to make simple Deviled Eggs....  This Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous day... I got up, dressed, and drove the country, back, winding roads to Fresh Market (I think they have the best eggs), and then came home and boiled up eggs - deviled them, and then my son and I proceeded to devour them within the next 24 hours....

One thing I love... Make a Chopped Greek Salad served with a couple of deviled eggs... I start salivating just thinking about it....

Today I get my labwork done - and next Monday I see the doctor... only a week left to find out if I am showing signs of success!  I cheated .... not on my diet... but I visited my grandmother and she checked my sugar levels... they were NORMAL.... and I weighed myself... but, I'm not going to divulge or think about the weight loss until I see the doctor....I have lost weight....

Trader Joes

It used to be I could buy 4 to 5 bags of groceries there for $125 - went there yesterday and bought barely anything, and it was 1 1/2 bags worth - for $65.00... I have to say - they are raising up their prices and I don't like it... :(

I love their turkey meatballs... easy fix when you don't feel like cooking....

I love their cheese prices, but I noticed they were going way up too... they are easily catching right up with Whole Foods.

Well... I find lately that when I go out to eat... I swell, feel bloated, and it doesn't help with weight loss - even though I was very careful to order salads - no croutons, and have just an oil and vinegar dressing on the side.... I think I am just going to skip the eating out for a few weeks... it doesn't seem to be the healthiest choice for "me" at the moment...

I've packed a bag in our office fridge...

Ham, Cheese, Strawberries, Mineral Water

and I am keeping a bag of roasted mixed nuts at my desk for those serious hunger/craving moments.

I have no clue how much weight I've lost, but yesterday I had three people mention to me "the weight loss"... I don't talk to anyone about the "weight loss" part because I still keep telling myself I want to focus on the "health" not the "weight"... So far, I'm feeling fantastic - other than being bloaty and gassy from eating out...

Cooked Out....

Starting with Tuesday night, I was just worn out - a long day at the job, then to the grocery store and errands, clean up the house, and finally - cook dinner... it was after 8 p.m. when I got the chance to make dinner....

So...

I made up a concoction that was inspired by a few more involved recipes... using ingredients I had in the house:

Shredded up the rotisserie chicken
1 can of drained/rinsed black beans
3 cups of Whole Foods Organic Frozen Brown Rice
1 bag of shredded Cheddar Jack cheese
1 container of refrigerator fresh chunky medium heat salsa
1 packet of Spicy Taco Seasoning

Preheated/cooked at 400 degrees in a small square 8X8 casserole dish

I mixed up the chicken, seasoning packet, beans, half the cheese, and all the salsa
Rice in the casserole dish first
Then topped it with the mixed ingredients
Topped the rest with the remaining cheese

Baked it for 40 minutes till it was very bubbly and the cheese was crisping

When served - we topped it with guacamole and sour cream

There were NO Leftovers

I am now craving that dish again.....

Yesterday I woke up feeling terrific... today - I feel even more wonderful!!!!!  No aches, No Pains, No complaints... energy level is high... mood is high.... and I owe it all to taking vitamins, eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and having cut out sugar, starch, potatoes, and junk food...

Snacks have consisted of nuts and berries - I sound like a squirrel!!!

21 Days.....Hypoglycemic Episodes Worsen

It's been exactly three weeks now - I've cut all starchy foods and sugar out of my diet... I've been walking and doing more activities... and I'm taking multitudes of vitamins to help with the deficiency I had... and how do I feel today... honestly?

I did not sleep well because I had had such a Hypoglycemic Episode yesterday, the tremors and the heart beating out of my chest symptoms continued, causing panic attack, and trouble sleeping... so this morning I took all my vitamins before I left for work, then cleaned up a container of strawberries, and ate them for breakfast... they tasted like candy!!!!  I'm drinking a large cup of Iced Tea with a packet of Sweet n Low...

I read up on these episodes... seems it is normal for someone who is either Insulin Resistant (which I have PCOS, and I have been for a long time) and Pre-Diabetic (which I am), to have these huge blood sugar drops when beginning a Low Carb diet... and that it is recommended to have Glucose drinks or tablets on hand to help.... so today I will be picking up Glucose tablets from the pharmacy when I'm on my lunch break... 

Yesterday I did not eat enough too... which probably also didn't help.

I had a piece of crustless spinach quiche

Strawberries

5 Mini Dill Pickles

A small bowl of cauliflower mixed with cheese and a fried egg on top...

I don't believe that is enough food... I'm going to have to get stocked up on nuts, healthy small snacks... 

One thing I don't know if they really tell you when you go on these low carb diets...

1.  If you are really sticking to it - you'll be up all night peeing your brains out

2.  You HAVE to drink water and eat high fiber veggies - maybe even some figs though they are high in sugar (but natural) because you will become seriously constipated... and uncomfortable.  Mirolax and any of those fiber cures don't work for me... they cause me more pain, bloating and misery than just eating some figs or high fiber veggies and drinking lots of water...

An Eggy Weekend Spent....

Craved Fried Eggs this weekend - major craving.... and very edgy for something sugary, fattening, like CAKE.... What does one do....

I went and fried up two eggs with a piece of Low Carb Whole Wheat/Grain Bread toasted... then ran to the grocery store and bought a flat of strawberries and a small container of fresh blackberries... and got over the cake craving... I DON'T even crave sweets - I normally crave things that are full of starch like pasta or bread or something really salty like chips....

I got over it.... and moved on.... and made an incredible crustless Spinach and Caramelized Onion Quiche.

5 eggs
1/2 c. Half and Half
4 c. shredded cheddar and monterey jack mix
1 bag of frozen spinach, thawed/squeezed out all moisture
1 onion - caramelized with a pat of butter and olive oil  sliced in rings
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. Herbs du Provence
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven at 375 degrees

In a greased pie dish, put in spinach, then top with caramelized onions, cheese
In a bowl whip up eggs, half and half, and seasonings, salt and pepper into a custard and pour over evenly the ingredients in the pie dish, I then mix it around so it's down to the bottom, and will cook evenly everywhere...
Bake for 45 minutes or until center is cooked through - let it sit for about 10 minutes, and serve....

Some people use cottage cheese rather than the Half n Half - your choice...

I'm going home at lunch to have a piece that is leftover with a side of some strawberries....

Jalapeno Popper Chicken

Last night I decided to try a recipe called Jalapeno Popper Chicken...

2 chicken breasts - pounded flat and patted dry with paper towel
1/2 a block of softened cream cheese
1 t garlic powder
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
2 jalapenos, deseeded/cleaned, and minced
4 slices of bacon
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven at 375 degrees

Pounded the chicken flat, seasoned both sides with salt and pepper to taste
In a mixing bowl - combined the cream cheese, jalapeno, garlic powder, and cheddar cheese and mixed till well blended
Spread the cheese mixture on the chicken breasts, thickly and evenly
Then rolled the chicken up, used toothpick to hold secure
Wrapped each breast with two pieces of bacon
Placed in a 8X8 casserole dish and baked for 45 minutes - till bubbly brown
Then turned the broiler on high - and broiled it till bacon crisped up - about 10 minutes

It was yummy, but my son loved it more than I did... he ate his chicken breast, and then turned and ate the half that I had left on my plate... and told me he loved it...

Today I am not hungry... I know I should eat a snack or something, but honestly... I just don't want anything and feel like I'd be miserable if I forced something down.  So, I'm drinking lots of fluids, water and tea...

Full of energy - woke up to a gloomy gray foggy morning, but didn't matter --- didn't affect my mood or energy level.  I hope my energy remains up this weekend, as I plan to keep very busy... going to stock up on fruit and vegetables... tomorrow I am trying an Eggplant Pizza recipe...

Spring Fever....

I started to slow down...crash... not going to let that happen... so... I drank a glass of water, a glass of unsweetened green iced tea, and just did not sit down... I found the tiredness was flushed away... I worked a 9 hour day, came home, vacuumed, dusted, swept the kitchen floor, scrubbed down the counters and kitchen sink, put clean dishes away, and turned around and cooked up this wonderful low carb chicken dish for dinner... Finally, after dinner, cleaning up from that, I finally - at 10:30 p.m. settled down and got myself to rest.... the energy is back on high - and I refuse to let the Spring Fever get me down...

Creamy Swiss Chicken Bake

 

Ingredients

• 4-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• 6-8 Slices Swiss Cheese (Mozzarella works too)
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan Cheese (divided)
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Pat chicken dry and place in a greased 9x13 pan.
3. Add sliced cheese on top of chicken breasts.
4. In a bowl mix mayonnaise, sour cream, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Spread this over chicken and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake for 1 hour. Serve over rice if desired or serve alone.

Have a Berry Good Day!

My breakfast of champions this morning... ice cold, fresh, ripe blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries....

There's coffee cake in the break room at the office, but I grabbed my berries, and went straight to my desk.... 

I shall reap the rewards of:

1.  The antioxidants in these berries will help my body fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals that can lead to illness.

2.  Help my mind age slower.

3.  Full of Fiber - good for my glucose issues, intestinal/tummy, weight loss...

4.  They will help my heart stay healthy.

5.  Flavonoids will help fight off cancer... 

I made an error and did not eat enough yesterday, so at 5:00 p.m. I was sluggish.  I forced myself to go to the store, cook dinner, and clean up when I really wanted to lie down and sleep and be lazy.  I did stop and rest - and then dinner kicked in and I had a ton of energy and managed to have the energy to do a few chores and be active.  

Dinner was Broccoli and Chicken... no starches whatsoever.

Two Weeks....Improvement....

Absolutely and Most Noticably, IMPROVED....

Eating low carb, drinking lots of water, taking vitamins, moving - exercising, and I have found:

1.  I sleep so much deeper and better, that I wake up feeling like I can take the day on...

2.  Not Sluggish at anytime of the day; I don't stop until it's bedtime.  I wake up early, go to work, afterwards, go shopping, come home and cook, clean up, walk, do things around the house, or go out with friends, and then by 10 - 11 p.m. I am sound asleep... deep sleep...

3.  My allergies are so much better, and that being said right in the middle of Spring - Hayfever season.  Yes, I sneeze and I have had moments of itchy eyes or scratchy throat, but that's it - none of the malaise that also has come with it...

4.  I have SO much more energy, that because of it my mood has been incredible.  I'm so happy to be out and about and doing stuff I like to do, that I don't have time to dwell on an ache or pain, or worry about crap... instead I'm just on the go and laughing, soaking up sunshine, and enjoying my life...

5.  My home is looking better and better because of the energy and mood, I've done some serious spring cleaning and organization.  I have donated bags of clothes I cannot wear and household goods, I have deep cleaned and rid the nooks and crannies of dust and getting to wear I have that wonderful pride in my little home.  I Love it!!!!

Dinners:

I made Cajun Chicken Stuffed with Spinach and Pepper Jack Cheese (left out the breadcrumbs)

I made Low Carb Stuffed Chicken Parmesan that I had found on this blog through Pinterest.

We ate lots of blueberries, strawberries, blackberries... salad with oil/vinegar for dressing... or I just cooked up cauliflower or broccoli and no meat at all... for a snack there's almonds and cashews and macadamia nuts, Beanitos chips with some "fresh" salsa or "fresh" guacamole, or just some olives, pickles, and cheese cubes... lots of Green Tea, Water, Seltzer, a few diet sodas (cutting down on those), and lots and lots of ice water...

I'm not stressing over how many carbs I ate - because the carbs I am eating are from vegetables or beans, things high fiber... and I can feel a BIG difference!!!!!!

I Dream of Poblanos

Last night I went to Whole Foods and bought some beautiful Poblano Chiles, organic black beans, Monterey Jack cheese, fresh salsa, and a small package of chorizo... went home and roasted up the  chiles, then stuffed them with a mixture of salsa, cheese, black beans, brown rice, and chorizo... baked them for 40 minutes, and they were mighty tasty.  My son loved them...  I liked them the other night with chicken better....

Lunch was a vegetable omelet... and sadly I never had a chance to have breakfast.  I'm trying to set a goal to have breakfast every morning - just half a grapefruit, something...

Today I'm having a small cup of oatmeal with artificial sweetener just to get something in my stomach.

I've also set a goal to drink lots of water... well, my aversion to water isn't helping.  I probably got in about 4 12 oz. cups - goal is 8.  I prefer white or green tea, or a Diet Sprite... the latter I want to make sure is limited... if I could get off all diet sodas, that would be wonderful.

Seltzer is probably going to be my source of water... the carbonation will help me get it down...

Today - MIGRAINE... our weather changed from gorgeous and warm/dry - today - is WET, gloomy, and extremely HUMID... a combination to bring on a headache ....

Why You Shouldn't Weigh Every Day....

Well, I learned why... because it fluctuates every day... and I made the mistake of weighing yesterday and feeling on top of the world with a 5 lbs. weight loss, then today, it was back up 3 lbs... and yet, in my mind, I got exercise and I ate right... where did the pounds up come from?  I'm not going to weigh myself ...I need to put the scale away... because it causes a total mind set, a depressed one... a disappointed one...

Yesterday for lunch I had a Chef Salad - no croutons and I only dipped my fork into the dressing, and then grabbed up salad... a weight watchers trick learned years ago...

Dinner:

Low Carb Pizza Chicken

Pounded 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts till they were very flat
Seasoned chicken with Italian seasonings and some ground pepper and threw them in a pan and browned them
Put the chicken in a glass casserole dish, topped them with some marinara sauce (they say use pizza sauce), garlic powder, parmesan cheese, mozzarella and turkey pepperoni slices and put in oven for 35 minutes at 400 degrees.

It was delicious.... the chicken was so moist and juicy - it did not get dried out... so a new recipe to add to the list of "Yes"...

One thing I did do yesterday that I probably shouldn't have - skip breakfast, as well as, I had two servings of Triscuits with cheese and salsa... should have limited myself to 6 crackers tops... instead I had 12....

The First Weekend...

It's been a week since I saw the doctor, and a week when I began eating a low carb, more healthy diet, taking vitamins, and trying to get more exercise.  I succeeded in the exercise, that is for sure... Saturday night I got very little sleep because every time I moved, my muscles and joints screamed from being over used after so little use for a long time.

My exercise consisted of Spring Cleaning... I scrubbed high and low, walls scrubbed to prep for painting, scrubbing tubs, floors, surfaces, carrying stuff up and down stairs... my friend that was helping with the painting asked what I had taken because she had not seen me move so much in at least 5 years... I hadn't taken anything... I felt good, I wanted the house to be decluttered and clean... but Oh My Gosh, the pain, the agony... thank GOD that's passed today...

Eggplant...

Peeled/Sliced Eggplant
Container of Feta Crumbles
1 bag of shredded Mozzarella/Parmesan/Italian Mix Cheese
1 Onion and 1 Bell Pepper- sliced and diced
1 T. Minced Garlic
1 Can of Crushed Tomatoes
Seasoning (Italian) to your taste/Salt/Pepper

I sauteed the onions and peppers, then took a casserole dish, spread out 1/2 the layers of eggplant, topped it with the onions/pepper and 1/2 the can of tomatoes, the garlic, and then evenly spread out the feta, topped it with the rest of the eggplant, remaining tomatoes, seasoning, salt/pepper, and topped with the shredded cheese (I only used 1/2 the bag)... I baked it for 2 hours covered at 375 degrees in the oven... served it with brown rice and quinoa mix...

My son said it was fabulous ...

For breakfast every morning this weekend, I made a three egg omelet with a slice of cheese, and cut it in half and shared with my son - served the omelet on a piece of Whole Grain Nutty Bread Toast...

This morning I weighed in... I've lost 5 lbs.  this week...

Energy Found....

I've been lethargic for so many months now, and all of a sudden, yesterday was like a complete turn around... my old self was coming back - the one that hates to sit down, that's always doing something...  I worked a full day of work, went home on my lunch hour and cleaned my kitchen, went home after work and scrubbed down bathroom walls (we are painting it), did laundry, cleaned up-some more housechores, and turned around and made an incredible dinner... the only thing about it - I was sore after all that movement I haven't done in months, and I got the shakes really badly (I'm guessing my blood sugar dropped and I needed to hydrate)... I ate a few strawberries and drank down a lot of water - it helped.

Dinner:

Stuffed Poblano Chiles

2 c. cooked brown rice (Not Instant)
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup of chopped onion and bell peppers
1cup of finely shredded cheddar/monterey jack mix
1 can of Hatch Red Enchilada sauce
3 nice sized Poblano Chiles, sliced in half and seeded
1 cup of finely shredded cheddar/monterey jack mix

I broiled the chiles till the skin was bubbling and browning, then put them in a casserole dish like little boats

In a bowl I mixed the first 5 ingredients together, and then with a large spoon stuffed the peppers till over spilling.

Then I topped the peppers with the enchilada sauce and the remaning 1 c. of cheese and baked till bubbling all the way through - about 40 minutes at 400 degrees... and that was that... the most filling, healthy, delicious meal I've made in a long time....

My son licked his plate clean and said "You can make that again!"....

Meals and Vitamins and Snacks...

So far this week, I've made the following meals:

Turkey Meatballs Parmesan with Steamed/Mashed Cauliflower

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Brown Rice

Chicken/Broccoli Crustless Quiche

For Snacks in the house:

Mixed Roasted Nuts
Strawberries
Beanitos - Bean Chips
Sweet Potato Chips (Need to not get these again... need to get away from "chips")

Tonight's dinner will be:

Stuffed Poblano Chile Peppers (stuffed with cheese, brown rice, salsa, chicken and black bean mixture)

I've been drinking:

8 cups of water a day
1 Vitamin Zero Water with my liquid vitamins in the morning
and
Unsweet Iced Green, White and Black teas... my favorite is Earl Grey with Lavender and Sweet Ginger Peach tea by Revolution... and I love Orange Green Tea and Berry White Tea....

The Beginning....

WAKE UP CALL:

I was given the news that I am in the "Pre-Diabetic" stage, have high blood pressure, and my cholesterol levels are raising, as well as, I have several vitamin deficiencies.  I think it is obvious that my health is not what it should be, being that I'm overweight and out of shape.  But, somewhere in my mind I hid away my fears of such illnesses and bad health and made excuses to cover up my lack of concern for my health.

STRATEGY:

Now that I know what is wrong, it's time to work on turning things around BEFORE it's irreversible. 

I am on a low carb diet plan and taking vitamin supplements with exercise being added into my daily routine.

Vitamin B12 - 1,000 

Vitamin D-3 - 5,000

Vitamin C - 1,000

And I've been prescribed Potassium pills twice a day and a high blood pressure medicine.  

WEIGHT GOAL:

I would like to lose 30 lbs in the next 3 months; and then at least 5 lbs a month until it starts getting tougher, then 2.5 lbs a month... and then I'd like to hear the doctor tell me that my blood work is beautiful, that my weight is NORMAL, and I'd like to look in the mirror and see someone full of vitality and good health.

So on we go.... First re-check with the doctor and new labs to see if I'm hydrated and full of good vitamins is in 4 weeks.