Challenge: September 23, Sunday

[Benay]

Good morning all. I'm still on plan and continue to be frustrated with gaining weight from eating too much protein while keeping carbs under 40 ECC and calories at or under 1500. I walk in my woods and find that 3 turns now take me only 20 minutes where as when I first started my woods walk post surgery one turn took me 20 minutes, so my legs are finally becoming my own again. The closest I came to trying out a new recipe was to get out my two comfort cookbooks (Eades & MacCollough)and nothing appealed that I wanted to try. This morning one of the puppies fell out of the birthing box. They were 2 weeks old yesterday so that is remarkable. Now I have to figure out what to do with them as I can't have them wandering my bedroom and getting lost under my bed. Have a wonderful Sunday.

[gitfiddle]

I walk in my woods and find that 3 turns now take me only 20 minutes where as when I first started my woods walk post surgery one turn took me 20 minutes, so my legs are finally becoming my own again.
Benay, that's wonderful news! I love progress--on any front.

I'm sipping my hazelnut/cinnamon coffee in complete content. Yesterday we completely de-cluttered and cleaned the living area of the house (okay, except for my computer table) which needed it since we were all sick for almost two weeks. It's soothing.

That said, the grandblessing will be here in an hour or so and will stay until tomorrow, so I'm taking in the peace and quiet while I may. My plan today is to process the senior pictures I took yesterday. If I get time, I may make a batch of Randy's trail cookies to use as an alternate breakfast.

Hello to all who are to come!

[hawk]

Good morning Carol and Benay.
I think each person has a carb threshold for losing weight or not gaining
weight. Mine is 20 ecc of carb...And I have to workout.
The walking post surgery is a very good thing. YOur legs are becoming your own again? Doing better , sounds like. What kind of puppies??

I am coming off a proceedure and this morning was contemplating the bike. My lower back still feels like it was kicked by a mule and my recumbant bike has a lumbar pad in the back of the seat. I may be able to move the seat back and put a very fluffy pillow there. I had an epidural for RSD. I need the workout for increasing blood flow to my legs.

Carol..was there a recipie somewhere that I missed for Randy's cookies? I wanted to try them. I am glad your cold is gone and I hope you have a blast with your grandblessing.

[oceanblueLA]

Good morning Carol, Benay and Hawk. Can you believe it's Sunday already?

I am enjoying my Sunday morning news shows, one of the highlights of my week. As soon as they're over... I have them tivo'd... I will head upstairs and hit the treadmill for 30 minutes, then shower and finish my weekend 'to do' list. I love getting stuff done and off the list. It makes me feel lighter.

I'd love to know the recipe to Randy's protein cookies too. Or any recipe for protein bars that I can substitute for a meal now and then. Sometimes you just don't want to eat another meal. At least I don't. The thought of one more egg or piece of turkey just to get my protein can be such a drag.

You all have a good day! Puppies, grandblessings, a potential bike ride... all good ways to celebrate the day.

Blue

[Karole]

Blue, I got a recipe for choc-coconut protein bars somewhere and don't know if I could print it here or not--copyright and etc. But if you go to the recipe section and look under protein bars you'll see several recipes for them that are very very similar to the ones I make.

Last time, experimenting, I used 1 tsp xylitol, a sugar alcohol, for the sweetner rather than splenda--no aftertaste at all. They are gooooood.
Another difference is my recipe calls for 1/4 c peanut butter and in addition to the dried coconut calls for a few drops of coconut flavoring and 1/2 tsp. vanilla.

The recipe makes 6 nice sized bars at about 5 eccs depending on your whey powder. These are so much better than any of the ones I have tried from a store. And easy to make and keep.

[Anniesnan]

Afternoon, everyone!

I am up and awake, but not 100% present. My back has been sore for 2 days - not to the point where I can't do anything, but to the point where I can't forget it. I think it was from all the walking Friday and not being able to relax at ds's house when I was baby-sitting.

I hope I can keep it a YES day today. DH made breakfast and served me a roll on a bread plate. I asked DS to remove it and when I found it on the counter I threw it out.

I mentally sliced it and buttered it, but that's okay, as long as it stays mental:D.

We did some gardening chores and I did some slight picking-up, but I think I'll take an aspirin and try to stretch out.

[Ammy]

Hey Ladies!
I'm up...brunch eaten...meals for the week planned...now I'm off to the store to buy ingredients.

I blew it yesterday. I had popcorn and regular tortilla shells instead of LC. BUT, when I ate the popcorn, I didn't do so right after a big meal, I skipped the meal...I know...it's crazy but I feel okay about it.
Mainly because I didn't go to bed with that "I feel SICK from eating too much" feeling...

BUT...today I'm on track. Off to buy groceries!

[Benay]

Hawk, puppies are German Shepherds. Never had them crawl out of the box at just 2 weeks of age before. Adorable as all babies are.

[oceanblueLA]

Thanks Karole! I'm going to the recipe board right now to check it out. I'll definitely try the choc-coconut protein bars with your twist. Except for the coconut flavoring, which I don't have at the moment. I just got done with my exericise so it's time to plan and make a few of the coming week's meals. Protein bars will be a welcome addition.

[gitfiddle]

Carol..was there a recipie somewhere that I missed for Randy's cookies? I wanted to try them.
Lynn, this (http://www.proteinpower.com/forum/showthread.php?p=49513#post49513) should get you to the recipe. He's updated the thread a bit and added pictures. There are lots of others I haven't tried yet. I plan to experiment with different flavors. Did the pillow help on the bike?

Benay, they do sound adorable.

(((Agnes))) Hope it gets better!

I'm working on photos and the phone just woke the munchkin. He went potty and didn't want to go back up to his bed, so I tucked him into a chair with an afghan and am hoping he'll drift off again. He was only down for an hour and a half. With any luck, I won't have to play cars just yet! Shhhhh!

[Karole]

Shhhh I'm typing very softly just for you Carol. Hope it helps.

Two of my dgd and three dggc (ages 4 to 1 year) came over this pm and I am exhausted. I had to play horsie plus play ball and generally rough house with them so my arm muscles and leg muscles feel like cream puffs. but good exercise.

Blue, I hope you found those recipes for the protein bars okay. Several of the recipes are very similar aren't they. I really do like them and everyone I have given them to for a taste test has liked them too.

Hope your back gets back to par really quick Agnes. I know how that is. No fun at all. And boy, you did good with the roll--just mentally buttering it. I do miss home made rolls an awfully lot. Love to smell them, love to eat them so I just nean on them or I would pig out for sure.

[hawk]

Yep the pillow helped. I am walking a little better. I work all day tomorrow. That will be the test for me. I am walking all day. I wll take every opportunity to sit in the rooms while I talk to the patients.

My back feels alot better today. As long as nothing touches it.ie a chair back, the waist band of jeans.

[Karole]

Hope you have some loose clothing for tomorrow Hawk. Do you wear scrubs? Maybe it will settle down soon.

I have a yes for the day please and thank you.

Protein 101 ecc 29

[Anniesnan]

Evening, all

back is mostly better - aspirin did the trick.

Unfortunately, I am a NO for today. Not a horrible No, but a no.

It will be the last no for September.

I spent part of the afternoon working on this scrapbooking program I bought. It's nice, but I keep hitting bugs either in the program, my 'puter, or me:rolleyes:. After the first scrapbook, when I lost 45 minutes worth of work, I learned, save, save, save;).

I bought matte finish photo paper and this worked out perfectly for the scrapbooks. Now, I have to find nice ways to "bind" them.

[maxlharris]

I made something new. Mashed up garlic, thyme, salt and pepper until it was like a paste. Coated two sides of steaks with them, rib eyes, pan seared on both sides, then oven roasted. Finished with a tablespoon and a half of the sweet, aged, syrupy, balsamic style vinegar I got in Italy. You discover that garlic, seared with high heat, gets kind of caramelly. And you find out that the aged balsamic (the recipe called for reducing about 1/2 cup of the thin new stuff to about 3 tablespoons, I figured, I have syrupy stuff that's been reduced by time, why bother messing another pan), brings out the fruit of the garlic. Was a very great flavor. Not completely novel, but it was something I made from a new recipe, so I'm counting it. The lamb continues to lie in stasis in my freezer. Someday.

[Ammy]

Yes for me...recovering from the salt-overdose from Saturday so wasn't very hungry today.

But I got in what I needed and left out what I didn't...therefore...YES

Oh, I'm up to 10 lifts, 3 reps on the 5lb weights each night, but I have to admit...I get VERY tired...like the third rep is exhausting-I hate the third rep. I'm such a weakling when it comes to my shoulders/arms!!! Darn car accidents!

19/29

[gitfiddle]

Shhhh I'm typing very softly just for you Carol.
Oh, Grandma Karole, you are so funny! It worked. He dozed until Daddy and Grandpa came home and they got to deal with him. He's darling, but a very high-energy four-year-old. I wouldn't want to have him in multiples! My hat is off to you.

Max, the garlic steak sounds wonderful! I'm back to say you can give me a YES for Sunday.

Hawk, I'm glad the pillow worked and Agnes, I'm glad the aspirin worked!