My Food Scale “Is No More. It Has Ceased To Be.”

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My little food scale finally died on me today after nearly 4 years together.

My little food scale – one of the most important tools in my weight loss efforts — finally died on me today after nearly 4 years together.

Sad news this afternoon. My trusty food scale weighed its last grams of kale. After trying three 3 different batteries, I’ve finally accepted that my food scale is no more.

Out of all my kitchen tools, gadgets and appliances, the only two I’ve used more than my food scale these last 3-1/2 years are the refrigerator and stove.

That’s just how I roll.

I picked up that little Weight Watcher’s scale at the start of my journey in 2012. Too bad it couldn’t make these last 20 or so pounds.

Tossing it in the trash seems like a dishonor. After all we’ve been through a lot these last few years. Perhaps a viking funeral is in order. That’s certainly better than this (NSFW).  Actually, the Pythons have the best send off:

An Old Fashion Workout

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A glorious morning chilling with my favorite Old English Sheepdog. Today is shaping up to be an awesome day!

A glorious morning chilling with my favorite Old English Sheepdog. Today is shaping up to be an awesome day!

It’s such a beautiful day. I spent this morning lounging on our deck, sipping coffee, writing and hanging with the dogs. These mornings are rare in Virginia. Usually it’s hot and steamy. Not today. Just beautiful.

I know I should go run or workout at the gym. But I’ve changed my priorities today which affords me a chance for an old fashion workout.

Cleaning Out My Office

Yep, it's time to organize my office while turning it into a temporary bedroom for Dr. Mom! Lots of lifting heavy things. Plenty of squats, deadlifts and presses today!

Yep, it’s time to organize my office while turning it into a temporary bedroom for Dr. Mom! Lots of lifting heavy things. Plenty of squats, deadlifts and presses today!

Dr. Mom is making the move from Texas to Virginia and I’m helping out. She’ll stay with us for a few weeks until we find her a rocking new home. So my office is transitioning into a bedroom for her. That means lots of packing up books, cleaning out of the closet and doing a little painting (which I’ve put off for far too long).

So I’m throwing open the windows to let in the amazing breeze, listening and dancing to awesome 80s music from my high school years, and packing.

That means lots of lifting heavy things. Or more specifically a chance to practice squats, deadlifts and presses. A perfect weight training workout in the making…and no dumbbells required!

Who says you need a gym to get in a great workout!

I’ve Lost 60+ Inches…Now What To Do With All This Extra Skin?

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Broke out the measuring tape this morning and discovered I lost 2.75 inches in nearly 3 months! Image courtesy of FreeDigitalphotos.net and zirconicusso.

Broke out the measuring tape this morning and discovered I lost 2.75 inches in nearly 3 months! Image courtesy of FreeDigitalphotos.net and zirconicusso.

Over the last 10 weeks I’ve lost nearly 3 inches from my body, for a grand total of 60.25 inches since I started my quest to get healthy over 3 years ago.

Not too shabby. No wonder I can now fit into size 14 jeans.

This recent loss came from my hips, thighs and chest. No change this time around for my waist and arms.

While I’m excited about losing the inches, I’ve noticed one part of my body not shrinking — my loose skin. In fact, it’s getting worse. Read More

Make Stress Your Friend

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Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and David Castillo Dominici.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and David Castillo Dominici.

Working on a project yesterday, I started feeling a bit stressed out. I stepped away from the computer and took a little walk. Within a few minutes I felt better and came up with a solution to my problem.

It’s a far cry from when my only stress-busting technique was a walk to the nearest vending machine. And even then, it was just a quick, short fix. Soon after munching on Doritos, not only would my stress return, but also guilt over eating crap. Which prompted a walk to the soda machine. Ugh! Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: Weight Loss, Wine & July 4th Food Musings

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Seems as if avoiding wine this week got the scale moving again. I'm down a pound for a total loss of 141 lbs.

Seems as if avoiding wine this week got the scale moving again. I’m down a pound for a total loss of 141 lbs.

Saturday was a very happy Independence Day for me! The “No Wine!!!!” pledge got my weight moving again. I’m down a pound. I have no idea if I’m in ketosis yet, but it feels like the weight is starting to reflect the changes in my waistline again.

I thought about picking up some low carb beer for Saturday’s cookout before we set off our fireworks. But then I realized that my July 4th menu didn’t taking a holiday from how I normally eat, so why break my pledge with crappy light beer?

So my “No Alcohol” pledge continues. Until… Read More

Happy Indie Author Day!

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My indie author husband's first book, Kick. He's about to publish his 4th book next month.

My indie author husband’s first book, Kick. He’s about to publish his 4th book next month.

OK, so it’s not a post about weight loss, working out, or physical health. Mental well-being is just as important as the physical. And reading is an awesome way to work your brain! So, Happy Indie Author Pride Day!

Besides, I’m married to an independent author who’s about to publish his 4th book.

I love the fact that technology allows talented people to bypass the gatekeepers.  Let’s face it, my weight loss journey was much easier this time because I found like-minded folks via social media. There is a wisdom and talent in the crowds that traditional media keeps down. Well no more!

One of the best books about the low carb dieting is a self-published book — The Art & Science of Low Carbohydrate Living! Thanks to indie publishing, I was able to figure out how to change my way of eating.

So here is to all you Indie Authors! Enjoy your day.

#IndieBooksBeSeen

#indieprideday

“If You’re Afraid Of Butter, Use Cream!”

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I'm discovering the wonderful recipes of Julia Child. After 30+ years of listening to the low-fat nonsense, I'm taking my healthy eating to a new level of awesomeness! Image source: www.foodrenegade.com.

I’m discovering the wonderful recipes of Julia Child. After 30+ years of listening to the low-fat nonsense, I’m taking my healthy eating to a new level of awesomeness! Image source: www.foodrenegade.com.

As I continue my quest for that ketosis sweet spot, my greatest challenge is getting enough healthy fat each day. I’m aiming for 75% of my daily calories to come from fat. With my low carb way of eating, I average 65% fat each day (for the uninitiated, that doesn’t mean I’m deep-frying foods!). Scanning lots of low-carb, high fat (LCHF) sites, one name kept popping up over and over:

Julia Child. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: No Change

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I'm not ready to admit my weight loss hit another plateau...not with the empty wine bottles in my trash can. So this week, no alcohol to jump start the scale.

I’m not ready to admit my weight loss hit another plateau…not with the empty wine bottles in my trash can. So this week, no alcohol to jump-start the scale.

No change on the scale this week, but I’m confident I’m not stuck in a plateau. Why? Wine! During the week I enjoyed vino 3 times. I’m doing everything right to get into ketosis, except for the wine. So wine is off the menu for the week.

If the scale is still stuck at 187, then I’ll need to go into some plateau busting moves, like adding a very high carb day, upping my workout (I’ve slacked off a bit) and staying more active all day.

Packing More Action In My Day
Actually, I’ve already started the “staying more active all day” bit. Lately I’ve been a bit of a slug. Sure I do my scheduled exercise – primarily long walks and running. But once I’m home I park myself on a comfy chair or exercise ball and start researching, writing or watching those blasted cat videos. Not great.

Now I’m looking to cut my sitting time. I’m trying to do more errands on foot, like mailing a letter or picking up a few items at the grocery or pet stores. This morning I set out on foot to my dentist for a cleaning. Read More

Looking For The Ketosis Sweet Spot

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Yummy! Ordered my first batch of lard and beef tallow. Next month, I hope to actually try rendering unprocessed lard and tallow from local farmers.

Yummy! Ordered my first batch of lard and beef tallow. Next month, I hope to actually try rendering unprocessed lard and tallow from local farmers. Getting into ketosis will be tasty fun.

I’m in the final push of reaching my goal weight and I’ve determined how I’m eating now will not get me to goal. I need to recalibrate how many fats, proteins and carbs I’m eating. Time to kick myself back into optimal ketosis.

I found a nifty little keto calculator that helps you decide your best food intake levels for weight loss with a ketogenic way of eating (WOE).

Lately my micronutrient breakdown averages to: 62% fat, 28% protein, 10% carbs.  I’m planning to make a slight cut in both my protein and carbs to become a fat burning machine. Read More

“I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss”

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A pretty tame photo of a woman eating chocolate compared to the stories the press ran on a fake nutrition study (reporting as truth, of course!). Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and photostock.

A pretty tame photo of a woman eating chocolate compared to the stories the press ran on a fake nutrition study (reported as truth, of course!). Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and photostock.

Here’s how easy it is to fool the media: with a fake nutrition study about accelerating weight loss by eating chocolate every day.

You’d think science reporters would ask probing questions about how the study was created (research criteria, how many subjects, diversity of subjects, food tracking, controls in place, etc.). How about interviewing scientist not affiliated with the study for their opinions? Or at least a Google search to confirm that the Institute of Diet & Health actually existed.

Of course not.

This is what “fact-based” journalism looks like, my friends. Just reprint a press release, then add a sensational headline with a dash of erotic photos of women eating chocolate.  Heh! I must have missed that class in Journalism School. Read More