Water Retention Thanks To Lots Of Snow & (Some) Wine

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snow

Trying to keep up with the accumulating snow, this was my first of 6 adventures during winter storm Jonas to clear our walkway.

Winter storm Jonas did a heck of a job on us this weekend. We got about 3 feet of snow. Which meant a lot of shoveling — our long walkway, parking spaces, sidewalk, deck and even part of the backyard for the dogs.

The husband and I spend 7 hours total digging out — during and after the storm. As much as I was cursing Jonas by day 2 of the storm, it turns out it was a bit of a blessing in disguise. It was the best strength workout I’ve had in a long time. Yes, I use my resistance bands, but when it comes to heavy snow, you work your tail off a lot more.

Now I know I need to up my game with those bands. I might even take a look at picking up some more hand weights. My current set only goes up to 8 pounds. Maybe I need to get a 10, 15 and 20 pound weights.

Also the husband decided that he is going to start hitting the gym again (considering we’ve got another 8 months on his dang contract, it’s about time). He does so much better when it comes to eating right when he is weight lifting. Read More

2016 – No Resolutions, But Plenty Of Projects

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yarn 1

No, I’m not a yarn hoarder…I just have lots of projects that I haven’t finished or started yet. That changes this year.

I’ve decided against making any resolutions for the coming year. I already have very specific goals for optimizing my health, to improve my chances of IVF success.  So why do I need to add resolutions to the mix?

Instead I have a list of projects I want to tackle this year. Things I’ve put off for too long. I’m ashamed to admit, I was just too dang lazy to make an effort. Heck, for the last couple of months, lazy was my thing. And when I get lazy, boredom kicks in, and that’s when I overeat.

What I like about projects and goals rather than resolutions is you can actually map a path for yourself, identify milestones, make course corrections, and see real progress. Resolutions tend to be too wishy-washy for me, a hope rather than an actual plan.

So what do I have on tap for 2016? Read More

And So I’m Offering This Simple Phrase…

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“To kids from 1 to 92. Although it’s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you.”  No one sings it like Nat King Cole.

Oh, and there’s this one…just because I can!

And of course, no Christmas is complete without my absolute favorite carol – O Holy Night – sung by Eric Cartman.

 

Top 5 Reasons I’m Saying Goodbye To My Microwave

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microwave

Four years ago we downsized the size of our microwave. Now I’m wondering if we really need it.

I’m taking a hard look at my kitchen today to see how I can have more prep space to make my deliciously healthy low carb, high fat foods. After removing most jars, canisters, and machines from my counters, I’m now considering giving my microwave the boot.

From cooking Lean Cuisines, instant oatmeal, “baked” potatoes, to warming up leftover pizza or chicken breast, there was a time when the microwave was my kitchen’s workhorse. But now it seems more like a monument to convenience food. Stuff I don’t eat anymore. And that means it’s taking up valuable counter space!

I don’t mean to imply that since eating real foods I’ve stopped using the microwave. I use it to warm up grilled meat, chili, soup or to quickly melt butter or coconut oil. But I can do that using my range. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: Down 1.3 Lbs.

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Dec 12 weigh in

I’m down 1.3 lbs. this week and lost 7 lbs. since Thanksgiving. I’m optimistic I’ll finally break that 185 pound barrier by year’s end. Maybe by my birthday I’ll finally reach the 170s.

Well my march to the 170s continues. I’m down nearly 1.5 pounds this week and I’ve lost 7 lbs. since Thanksgiving. Woohoo!

I do have a holiday party later today. As I want to keep my momentum up, I came up with a pretty simple plan for tonight:

  1. Eating a late lunch. I’m currently on an 18-hour fast which ends at 2:00 pm. So I’m making myself a mushroom-onion omelette. That way I won’t be starving when I arrive at the party.
  2. Eat only when hungry. I’ll snack on the lowest carb food available. My goal is to eat only when hungry, keeping snacking to a minimum.
  3. Keeping alcohol to a minimum. I’m limiting myself to just a few glasses of wine.
  4. No desserts! When I eat sugary sweets now, I feel physically ill. I just need to remember that when I see anything yummy.
  5. Have fun!! Food and drink are not my focus tonight. Celebrating the holidays with old friends and making new ones is what’s special about tonight…not the food or booze!

The husband is doing the same so we can support each.

What’s your game plan for avoiding temptations during holiday parties?

“As God As My Witness, I Thought Turkeys Could Fly”

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Is there really a better way to kick off Thanksgiving than this classic clip from WKRP in Cincinnati?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Why You Should Ignore The New Dietary Guidelines

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The new federal dietary guidelines are about to come out, but the fight over the bad science used to create them is still raging.

The new federal dietary guidelines are about to come out, but the fight over the bad science used to create them is still raging.

It’s about time.

It seems that every 5 years the federal government rolls out the new dietary guidelines with hardly any criticisms. Sure you’d hear them from the various food special interest groups worried about sales, but very little about whether the recommendations actually work.

How times have changed.

Two articles, in as many days, both from The Washington Post, question the science the US federal government uses in developing the soon to be released 2015 guidelines. Read More

Putting My Kitty On A ‘Kat-O-Genic’ Diet

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After 14 years, Spider still has a lot of attitude in him. But I'm convinced his high carb diet is taking its toll. I'm hoping his new low carb diet is just what he needs to fight off his bouts of pancreatitis.

After 14 years, Spider still has a lot of attitude in him. But I’m convinced his high carb diet is taking its toll. I’m hoping his new low carb diet is just what he needs to fight off his bouts of pancreatitis.

About 6 months ago our kitty became deathly ill.

Leading up to it, he was constantly hungry. And yet, my 8-pounds of furry terror wasn’t gaining weight. In fact, he lost a pound. He became lethargic. Then the vomiting started. I’m not talking about the normal stuff a cat does. I’m talking about the green pea soup scene from The Exorcist. He was in pain and stopped eating.

After a lot of tests and blood work we learned Spider suffers from pancreatitis.

Pancreas – What Does It Do?
The pancreas is part of the endocrine and digestive system. It produces insulin to control blood sugar levels and enzymes that help digest foods. When inflamed, the pancreas leaks enzymes into the abdominal area. These enzymes start braking down the fat and proteins comprising other organs – basically the body starts eating itself. Read More

Don’t Fall For Food Marketing: Always Read The Labels

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CARBmaster sits on a throne of lies! Actually the name implies low carb, but the ingredient list and food label tells a different story!

CARBmaster…Ha! Actually the name implies low carb, but the ingredient list and food label lets us know it isn’t healthy or real food.

I hit the grocery store here in Texas yesterday and I came across a curious product — CARBmaster yogurt. Hmmmm…Could it be? An actual non-Greek yogurt that’s low in carbs and high in fat?

I do love yogurt and added it back into my diet in March. Granted, I eat it sparingly – once every few weeks with a quarter cup of berries and a splash of cinnamon.

In my neck of the woods you can’t find plain, full-fat yogurt – at grocery stores or the local creameries. The fear of fat is so ingrained in Northern Virginia it’s even difficult to find plain full fat Greek yogurt. Fage’s Total is the only product I can find at my local grocery stores. And the stores order so little of it and I have to visit 3-4 grocery stores before I can get my hands on it. Sigh… Read More