low carb lowdown

• I lost a couple more pounds this week after an accidental derailment at O'Charley's last weekend. I ordered something that I thought would be a good low carb option, that turned out not to be. So I would say that I am officially 25 pounds down.


• Last night's low carb lasagna was so yummy. Just make your favorite lasagna recipe without the noodles and the lowest carb sauce that you can find. I prefer it the day after, straight out of the fridge. I was so excited that Toby ate some of it including the spinach! It has been hard to get him to eat anything besides PB and J or crackers and sometimes bananas for about a month. He chooses not to eat lots of times.

I guess that's it! Have a happy Friday and a lovely weekend!!!

low carb lowdown: low(er) carb tamales

Since we learned how to make them, we usually get the craving for tamales about once or twice a year. We use this recipe, halved, and this year since we are low carbing it we subbed 1 and 1/2 cups soy flour in with 1 and 1/2 cups of the masa. It was just the right amount for half of the recipe. It cut the carbs per tamale down to just under 4 and a half. I searched online for a low carb tamale recipe and couldn't find one, so here is my contribution to anyone who might search for such a thing. There was no discernable difference in taste or texture. Hurray for tasty tamales!

I demolished these like it was my job.

Low Carb Lowdown

a terrible picture of our new "in home gym" ha!

This is my assessment of the low carb diet I have assumed since Feb. 12:

The first week was constantly searching, what can I have to eat? Open fridge, shut fridge, go to pantry, back to fridge, finally give up, or eat cheese and nuts.

The second week was a little better. I knew what I could have and anticipated for the next meal a little more.

the 3rd week was the best because it was grocery shopping week, so we knew exactly what to get.

Here is a typical day of meals:

Breakfast- 2 string cheese

lunch- salad with chicken and bacon, almonds, cheese and ranch

supper- taco salad without the chips (salad, cheese, taco meat, taco sauce/salsa)

snacks include strawberries, nuts of all kinds, a couple tablespoons of cool whip (1 carb per tbsp.), more cheese...

The things that have made it easier are:

1. low carb tortillas. we use them in place of buns, biscuits, chips, and pizza crust.

2. fitting in a treat every day.

3. diet mtn. dew. I know that it is so bad for me, but if I lose as much weight as I am planning to and diet mtn. dew can help, I'm willing to choose this vice (for a time) over sweets, bread, and pasta.

4. the fact that my parents, sister, and brother-in-law are all doing the same thing. When we go to my parent's for a meal we don't have to worry about a bunch of high carb temptations.

What makes it harder is that:

1. it takes forethought and preparation.

2. I can't have sweet tea :( (at least not the kind I am used to)

3. our restaurant options are somewhat limited, and in our small town, there aren't any good out food options. Which leads me to say...

Last night I ate chinese and dark chocolate. It was delicious and indulgent, and now I am right back on track this morning.

In total I have lost about 15 pounds and have been stuck there for several days. I believe this can work for me, and it's the first time I have ever had short term and long term weight loss goals. My husband and I are introducing yoga and cardio to the program too, so who knows? Maybe this can be a lifestyle change, like my mom keeps saying, instead of just a diet.