* Lifestyle Change

As far as carbs go I try to have next to none. I allow myself to have 5 grams or less per day. What I'm doing is not the normal low carb style. This does mean that I have cut out carbs and sugar including those in many fruits and vegetables.

This may make you uncomfortable when thinking about your vitamins and nutrients you will be missing, I thought about that and I take 2 multi-vitamins each and everyday. The other concern is of coarse fiber. There are low carb fiber products out there such as Benefiber cystals, I mix it with my protein drink in the morning if I feel I need it. I take a colon cleanse “Super Cleanse” from Vitamin Shop from Friday thru Monday. Let me tell you it works and thats all I'm going to say about that.
I have always thought of diets differently. It was always about what you can't have, and what you limit yourself to.
I have had to think differently this time, this is about all you can have, it just has to be thought about.
I have always failed with counting calories, I guess I just lose count! Counting calories for me was about depriving myself and borderline starvation.
I never understood that I could eat 1000 calories a day and feel good. I was eating the wrong things. I now eat between 1000-1200 per day and 1500 calories Sundays. I keep track by being completely honest about everything and the portions on my sparkpeople page were it adds all the stats up for you each day, but the key is being honest!

One of the coolest things about this is when you step off the plan, it's not about starting over it's about just cutting out the carbs again. No feeling guilty enough to give up for a while,. Just walk right back into it.

The hardest thing has been to educate the people who want to support me about what all this is. And not having the fear to ask for something you want or need in a restaurant. My Mom and Dad still don't know exactly were the carbs are and my Mom is Great cook! That's explains a lot about why I look like this to begin with, and none of us are too keen on the portion control thing! My Dad had to learn a little about carbs and sugar when he was diagnosed with Diabetes and I'm glad he did. He still doesn't stick to the program he should be on, but he has lost a considerable amount of weight. I really want to help him as much as I can. He has seen my progress and now asks questions about the food that he eats and what kind of carbs should he be eating. I love him so much and I want him to be around to enjoy his great-grandchildren as mush as he enjoys his grandchildren now. However they are the culprits, they love to make grandpa the cakes and cookies that he loves. They are the ones I will have to teach. Splenda, not sugar Wheat, soy or tapioca flour, not white flour, smaller pieces and not so many layers!

At the same time my Mom tries to understand, she will in the same sentence ask what I can have and then offer me a piece of 3 layer cake. She always wants to send it home with me. I wish that was the case, that the carbs disappeared on the drive home! I would visit more often!

I am no longer uncomfortable with saying no, I used to be, I never wanted to have to explain it in the middle of dinner with anybody. Now I just look for something I can have, and I have that. In restaurants, I tend to stick to my favorite places, were I know the folks who work there. They are always willing to make me something just the way I want it!

The first thing I had to do when I started going out again was to un-train the bartenders to not immediately put my favorite beer up for me as I walked into the bar!
No more beer for me! This is something I do miss, I always loved a good beer.
Rum and diet coke for me know, yuk but they do taste better the more of them you have! Remember, rum has no carbs, no clear liquor does but it has about 65 calories in an ounce, and they free pour the drinks, they probably have at least 80 calories in them. I have tried the low carb beers but you have to consider even though they only have 2 carbs each, do you only drink one? I don't especially during football season! Thank goodness I just don't like the taste of them.

I only want talk about things that effect real people living a real life. This is about a lifestyle change, I had to revamp my thinking about going out and having fun. I am a social person and I need the interaction with people, I thrive on it. I just have to do it with supportive people and in a more moderate manner.

* Just a Taste of What To Expect

So here's how I usually start my day. I get up early, about 5:30am or so. I put on a pot of coffee, turn on the news and attempt to only imagine how fantastic my day is gonna be. Four days a week I have a high protein drink for breakfast. I use a no carb brand called Isopure. It taste great!                  http://theisopurecompany.com/
( these are also good when you have the urge for something sweet, you can blend with ice and they come out like a milkshake without the milk)

I can change up the flavor every now and then by adding a little coffee or a spoon full of Walden Farms caramel, or chocolate sauce.
Walden farms products are great, well most of them. Their stuff actually has NO calories and NO carbohydrates! I starting trying them one at a time from the grocery store. I eventually went on the web site, checked out the whole line and tried most of them that way. I love all the sauces and syrups. Chocolate, strawberry, apple, blueberry, caramel and marshmallow. All the bar-b-q sauces are great. The mayo and peanut butter “spread” are just not for me. The marinara sauce is good even though it has an opaque paint like look to it. Well that's my Walden Farms review for the time being.
http://www.waldenfarms.com/products/all_products.html

The other 3 days I have a breakfast with eggs and a protein such as turkey bacon, or chicken sausage. You can have cheese as long as it's no carb like cheddar and feta but remember that adds calories. On Sundays I like to make a breakfast with a little kick.

Fritatta with Asparagus (super good)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small onion, thinly slice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound asparagus, tough ends snapped off, spears cut diagonally into 1-inch lengths
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup shredded Chedder cheese
Heat olive oil into a 10-inch oven-proof frying pan over medium high heat. Add onions and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 3 minutes. Add asparagus, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, covered, until the asparagus are barely tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Pour in eggs and cook until almost set, but still runny on top, about 2 minutes. While cooking, pre-heat oven broiler.

Sprinkle cheese over eggs and put in oven to broil until cheese is melted and browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Eat!

This is so laid back on a Sunday morning and it's great for brunch. With a great pot of coffee a paper this is the life. Remember if you drink your coffee with milk and sugar that adds calories and carbs. You should use non-dairy creamer and equal or splenda. I drink mine black, always have.
I'll include this recipe along with others in my low carb recipe section.

I thought at first this would be too difficult to pull off considering I could no longer pick up food on the go, but I have enjoyed cooking again, creating and finding new recipes that fit my new lifestyle. I always enjoyed cooking and entertaining and I guess that's all good if done in moderation, however moderation has not ever been one of my strong points so now I enjoy sharing my low carb creations with family and friends, it has taught me to take a little time for myself in the midst of my busy and hectic life.

I am on the go at work as a lot of people are. I take the foil tuna packs with me for my lunch. These are the best thing since sliced bread, and considering I don't eat sliced bread anymore, well I guess that says it all!
I also prepare homemade tuna, chicken and turkey salad, make lettuce wraps with it and take them. You should make the salads yourself. Manufactures use sugar in their recipes, so you don't taste the preservative they use.

Dinner usually consists of baked chicken or turkey breast. I also love broiled fish 'cause it's quick to make. I get home late I work a long day and the last thing I want to do is think about cooking.

On Sundays I will think all day about cooking, I'm cooking for the both of us and I want it to be interesting and flavorful. My favorite creation is Salmon Cakes. The trick was to figure out how to get rid of the bread crumbs and still have them hold together in the pan.

I use boneless salmon, celery, dill, lemon pepper, salt, eggs and Parmesan cheese instead of bread crumbs. They fry up great and they taste fantastic!

My husband is fine with my new way of life. He doesn't completely understand what it is I can or can't have but he knows I eat a lot of protein “meat” and he's simply ok with that. He looks forward to seeing what meat or seafood I choose to play with on Sundays, he is usually happy as any carnivore would be.