January 2009 Basics Challenge - Day 16

[gitfiddle]

In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.
Author Unknown
Today is HUMP day, right in the middle of January! Have you got your act together? If you've lost sight of your goal, you may be sidetracked by temptations. Let's all NEAN today!

NEAN, as the old-timers know, stands for Not Even A Nibble. It means you make the decision beforehand and when the opportunity arises to have a little bite of something off-plan, you simply don't take it. I think of it as choosing when my mind is calm and rational so that I don't have to when I'm stressed.

Breakfast will be a raspberry/blueberry shake. Lunch will be sausage patties and a salad from the cafeteria. Dinner will be some of the wonderful soup I made last night. I'll eat enough so I won't have to be tempted at the music jam tonight.

Tonight should be the last of the sub-zero temps.

TGIF! I love it! :D

[Feelix]

Good Morning!

It is Hump Day of January. Since I started late in the game, I am feeling like the big "FINALLY!". I did it. Finally. I am doing it. Finally. I have made good decisions regarding food. Finally. I faced the grocery store and bought what I know I should. Finally. I am back. Finally. I'm taking the steps. Finally. No excuses. Finally. I'm seeing results. Finally. Finally. Finally.

I have know this information for years. I have know about PP for a couple of years. Putting this into practice is immediately rewarding!

[Mitra]

Hello Carol, Feelix :). It doesn't feel like the hump day for me - we've been back home for a week. I'd hoped that the extra Christmas pounds would be all water and would disappear straight away once I was back to eating normally. Unfortunately that didn't happen :(. I'm down a pound from last Friday, my first morning at home, but still up 2-3 lbs from before we went away. Still, at least it's moving in the right direction.

The weather here has stayed above freezing for a few days now. At the moment we actually have a little bit of sunshine :eek:.

I'm off to do my exercise now. Staying on track with food isn't very hard for me when I'm at home, but exercise never seems to reach that automatic stage. It always takes effort, and slips away as soon as I relax a bit :rolleyes:.

[BeccainSC]

Morning all. Another day of off-plan eating yesterday. I do great until late afternoon then everything seems to hit and I get a "don't care" attitude. Really struggling to not cave to the "start over next month" that's in my head, I need to start over TODAY not 2 weeks from now, until there's no more starting over.

20 with wind chills in the single digits here this morning. I'm having to taxi DH today as it's much too cold for him to ride his motorcycle and DS needs the other car for a job interview (yipee!). Absolutely starving at the moment, but no time to eat (or drink as breakfast is) as it's nearly time to leave so I'll have to wait til I get home. Off to wash the blender so it'll be ready for me!

Hopefully will have better news to report this evening.


'becca

[Jackie]

Hump day finds me feeling really good. I got into a pair of pants today that I have not worn in three years :eek::eek: YYYYYAAAAAAA for me!!!!
I must be doing something right, even though I am not counting every carb. I am making those choices and following NEAN. I think I have too! Even though it soon going to be 8 weeks on plan, I find the cravings are not there but the temptation is GREAT!!!!

Today will be a shake for breakfast strawberry and one piece of pineapple!

Lunch will be a flatout wrap with lettuce havarti and meat of some kind.

Not sure about dinner yet.

OH and I will take some mixed nuts to work for a snack.

[Ammy]

super busy and no time to read and enjoy this site!!!
but wanted to report that YET AGAIN my weight is 199.5, so I might have really broken through the 2's...
and second I wanted to record my food.
We're having dinner at a friends house, so I'm guess and REALLY hoping she HEARD me when I said I'm not eating carbs...but we'll see.

7:30am sau-cau casserole, 2.5oz smoked turkey
11am caesar salad, 1.5 turkey link
3pm iced latte, 1.5oz mixed nuts (if needed)
6:30pm chicken, veggies

Pro: 122.1
Ecc: 45
Fat: 146.4
Cal: 2047

[Puddin]

Hump day? As in over the hump? Actually, I'm enjoying the changes in my nutrition plan! In the morning that bit of coffee cream really gives me a :D. Then the fact that today at lunch I actually ate SAUSAGE with artichokes:D. Tonight for dinner I still have some artichokes to use so I will make a meatloaf with 3 artichokes, 2 shallots, parmeggiano and eggs. Not shabby. I figure that with 10 oz of meat if I add 3 eggs plus a couple tbsp parmeggiano I will have a dinner portion of protein for me plus a lunch portion for tomorrow (that is if my hub doesn't decide that he would really love the other part .

Also was happy to have found some small apples. It is always hard to find them so I picked up a few to have for a few days. Was really disappointed not to find any walnuts from Genoble, France. They are so much sweeter than the ones from the States. Lately, I don't know if you all have noticed it, but that certain label of famous US nuts has been shelling out rather oily tasteless nutmeats.

By the way, can someone give me a site where I can order Stevia or such. It is not on the market here in Italy. Though I have gotten used to not sweetening anything it wouldn't be such a bad deal to have some in the house in case I wanted to do a pudding or such.

Info on those bran flake sticks posted in another thread...did anyone figure out if I can eat them:
40grams= protein 10.6, Carb 19.9 (14.7 sugar), fats 3.8, Fiber 16gr. Would so appreciate it someone could tell me if they're legal.

In about an hour I'm going to make the Revol-Oopsies. Found cream of Tartar so I'm all set.

Have a great rest of Friday...P

[Karole]

Hi, just have a few minutes before I have to leave the house but wanted to check in. Love the quote again today, Carol. Goals are so important in keeping us on track.

You know how I feel about NEAN. Its my tool so I'm with you today for sure !!

Gotta go for now, will check in later on today. Have a good one all.

[maxlharris]

Today is HUMP day, right in the middle of January! Have you got your act together?

I dunno if I have my act together. We will see this weekend how I fare. But the scale moves. We are on the 16th day of the month and my ticker goal is 56% of the way down. Not that that goal is the end of the process or even the beginning of maintenance, but that it is a goal I thought I could do in 45 days or less.

Really struggling to not cave to the "start over next month" that's in my head, I need to start over TODAY not 2 weeks from now, until there's no more starting over.

1- There is no perfect time to start. Life is always complicated.
2- Interest compounds. The longer you are eating to add weight, the more weight you will have to lose later. Doing half LC and half "don't care" is a recipe for adding weight, not maintaining.
3- As the immortal John Wooden asked, "If you don't have time to do something right, when will you have time to do it over?"
Conclusion: TODAY Becca. TODAY!


1- Was really disappointed not to find any walnuts from Genoble, France. They are so much sweeter than the ones from the States. Lately, I don't know if you all have noticed it, but that certain label of famous US nuts has been shelling out rather oily tasteless nutmeats.

2- By the way, can someone give me a site where I can order Stevia or such.

3- Info on those bran flake sticks posted in another thread...did anyone figure out if I can eat them:
40grams= protein 10.6, Carb 19.9 (14.7 sugar), fats 3.8, Fiber 16gr. Would so appreciate it someone could tell me if they're legal.

1- The sweeter walnuts are probably higher in residual carbs. Not a large difference, but if you find yourself pushing 10 a meal and you're doing them, it could be the difference.

2- Amazon.com sells a wide variety of Stevia products and ships everywhere.

3- In Europe, typically, Fiber is subtracted for carbs on the label, whereas in the US, fiber is listed as a component of carbs. So, on a US label, 19.9g carbs with 16g of fiber makes a very nice 3.9g snack. However, 19.9g includes 14.7g of sugar, which tells us it must be a European style label.

If you really wanted them, you could have 1/2 serving as a snack. But 19.9g is for maintenance, not loss, and for indulgence, not every day consumption.

[lisanurse81]

Just checking in... no change in wt.. but better to say the same then gain I guess... Bfst was coffee w/cream, stevia, sausage casserole.. Lunch will be fish with steamed broccoli. Have to go to chuckie cheese's for a b-day party later.... Definately nean-ing then! Dinner is to be decided.. gotta check what's in the freezer...

[Gabriel Guzman]

We're back from our trip and in full gear now. It's never very good to go on a vacation trip after we just started with our effort again... I paid the price :(

But I'm now back on track... after all, falling of the horse is not the problem... staying off the horse is!!! So, I'm riding again! :)

Have a great day everyone! I have my first milestone goal set at Feb 21!! ;)

[Mitra]

Have you seen Dr Mike's blog today, about why it's harder the second time (http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/low-carb-diets/why-is-low-carb-harder-the-second-time-around/)?

[Gabriel Guzman]

Have you seen Dr Mike's blog today, about why it's harder the second time (http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/low-carb-diets/why-is-low-carb-harder-the-second-time-around/)?

:o I was one of those that suggested a blog on that very issue... I think his post might as well have started "Gabe... this is for you..." :)

Thanks for the heads up!

[LBJ]

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen just got back from the gym had my protien shake and ate lunch. Now im just going to play around on the computer for awhile and make some coffee its so cold here coffee sounds pretty good right now. Becca hang in there just tell yourself you can do this but do it for you and your health. After about 2 mos. of this woe most of your cravings will be gone and by all means plan 3or4 meals ahead if you can that will help you stick with it.

[Mitra]

:o I was one of those that suggested a blog on that very issue... I think his post might as well have started "Gabe... this is for you..." :)

You certainly aren't the only one :).

[blueriversam]

gitfiddle: I know you post every day, but thank you so much for posting today :) I needed a boot. I came here very worried about how tonight will go. I am meeting up with the girls from my college equestrian team for dinner in Saratoga Springs tonight. I am just so worried about going off plan and eating dessert, then not being able to help myself!!! But, I will just keep this all in mind and have a really delicious salad for dinner.

[blueriversam]

You certainly aren't the only one :).

:) Aye! But now I have a different attitude, for sure--NO BEATING UP ON MYSELF! I can't help what I did yesterday. It's gone, done with, finis!

[Mitra]

:) Aye! But now I have a different attitude, for sure--NO BEATING UP ON MYSELF! I can't help what I did yesterday. It's gone, done with, finis!

That's the way to view it: learn from your mistakes, then leave them behind.

Have fun at your dinner :).

[lisanurse81]

Thanks for that link to doing pp the second, or third or fourth time! That is EXACTLY what I've been experiencing, but I will cling tenaciously to the plan, and it WILL work.

Here's the final score:
Calories 1,983
Fat 134.3
Carbohydrate 52.5 (ecc 32)
Dietary Fiber 20.5
Protein 141.1

[Karole]

Just reporting my totals for the day. Protein 141 carbs 39 fiber 9 ecc 30 (if I have that glass of wine later on tonight.)

[Ammy]

Bad day.
Breakfast at 7am....nothing else until 3:30...that's too long to go without eating.
then went to a friends for supper...who served me pizza :suspicious: i don't EAT pizza...haven't for 10year now...
UGH...

i just had two mcdoubles with only one bun 1/2...I'm finally feeling better.

Pro: 106.9
Ecc: 40
Fat: 126
Cal: 1715

[sagebrushsara]

We had friends over for dinner tonight. Felt the need to serve them come carbs, so it was roast pork loin with oven roasted potatoes, cheesy cauliflower and a nice tossed green salad to start. They brought rolls to share and I even made dessert (that banana cake). I ate some roast beef and mozzarella cheese for breakfast. Wasn't hungry until dinner, (and I was busy too) So I had roast pork for dinner with a salad and cheesy cauliflower. For dessert I had a 1/2 cup serving of lowcarb chocolate ice cream. No potatoes, no rolls, no banana cake for me, NEAN! Drank my water, took my supps.

Totals: 87g protein, 14g ECC, 101g fat, 1364 cal

Bring on the weekend. I am so ready.

[Puddin]

Good afternoon from Italy! Had a wonderful morning out with a friend. Took breakfast on the train - a oopsie filled with my wintersquash ricotta pudding - sort of weird but quite filling. It also is sticky on your fingers so I really had a wonderful time licking the tips. Obviously didn't have any wet ones:rolleyes:

Lunch was oopsies (2) with cream cheese and lox. I think I ate the right amount cus with 2 oopsies (made 4 from 3 eggs- so I figured 2 would be 2 proteins ) lox 2 protein and cream cheese 2 oz...soooo confusing. Anyhow I only had the carbs from the philly and 2 cloves of garlic...

AM I DOING THIS RIGHT? help

Dinner will be planned later cus I really don't know what to take out of the freezer...maybe shrimp?

Anyhow it's coming along. No work in the olive grove today. Today is wood cutting day. We have some sawing and hauling to do in an hourish.

Have a great rest of the weekend...

Equestrian group? What kind of riding do you do? In my green years I was into jumping and dressage...oh so long ago tralalalala!

[gitfiddle]

Puddin, the simplest way to figure your food value is to make a list of what you plan to eat and then look up the protein and carb counts however you can. It's all math at that point! The package may have them, or check the internet because there are many nutritional counting sites. I think most of the recipes on this site have the counts per serving. Did I answer your question? If not, keep asking until you get what you need.

Sorry I was out of touch yesterday! So many wonderful posts and so little time to respond! Now I'm headed off to start up the weekend....:)

[Anniesnan]

Carol - you've been doing terrific as moderator.

great quotes and positive feedback.


all I needed was one more gentle kick in the pants and boy did Dr. Mike's blog fit the bill.

Lucky enough for me, I never liked the low carb brownies - but, I started off way too soon using the Dreamfield's and low carb mini wheat pita'[s.
I think I should just eliminate those manufactured products for 2 weeks and stick to getting my carbs from veggies and an occasional fruit.

Not that I'm doing badly - I've lost, but I'm still feeling the cravings.

[maxlharris]

First me:
Food for Friday:
Protein: ~150
Carbs: ~15
Total cals: ~1500 (sounds low, but when I adlib on this and eat to satisfaction rather than stuffed, this is where I typically wind up.


Lunch was oopsies (2) with cream cheese and lox. I think I ate the right amount cus with 2 oopsies (made 4 from 3 eggs- so I figured 2 would be 2 proteins ) lox 2 protein and cream cheese 2 oz...soooo confusing. Anyhow I only had the carbs from the philly and 2 cloves of garlic...

AM I DOING THIS RIGHT? help

Maybe, but you would never quite know.

Might I recommend trying out either Fitday.com or Thedailyplate.com? You enter your foods (use the browse function on Fitday until you get comfortable with the syntax) and it tells you your counts.

I'm unclear on what 2 proteins are. This sounds like a different diet, one that uses exchanges or something to simplify. PP is many things, but it doesn't simplify counts. 3 eggs are typically about 21g of protein. So, 1/2 of 21 is about 10.5. Call it 11 if you used large eggs, 10 if you used small ones. Also, 1.5 carbs in 1.5 eggs. Then, the cream cheese and the CoTartar. Piece by piece, entered into Fitday, you wind up with your counts for the recipe and then, per serving.

[Puddin]

MaxlH, thanks so much for the info. You too Gitf. It is really so difficult for me to calculate all this stuff because I am using the ECC counter from DRS Eades and though it is really complete I am sort of swamped by new info.
I must eat 34 protein at each meal so I assume that all I have to do is, for example, read the PP lifeplan table which gives protein quantities for 34gr and choose. Then the problem is figuring out how to put the carbs together with it. Didn't know eggs had carbs.

I actually think that I am eating too many eggs...just that ours are so good...

Other problem I have is that many of the cheese products I use are not listed in the ECC book.

Anyhow, thanks so much for your patience! Eventually I will crawl out of the swamp.
Read Dr. Eades's article about starting up the second time. How true it is that the II° time around is tougher. My body is not reacting at all, but then can't pretend too much after only 4 days. Will keep enjoying PP though !

[Karole]

Didn't manage to get my counts for Friday--got home late.