Ash Wednesday

So yesterday was Ash Wednesday and for us Catholics that means a time to prepare for Easter and it also means no meat.

B-Ricotta cheese pancake w/25g blueberries (I ate this with no sweetener and no butter...it was pretty good)

L-5 oz drained tuna w/mayo & mustard, 2 Kavli 5grain Crisps, 12 spears asparagus, 1/2 orange

D-1/2 cup small white beans, 1/3 avocado, 1 cup broccoli with 1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Totals: 738 calories, 60g carbs, 28g fat, 68g protein, 1616mg sodium

Bento Giveaway...Happy Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras everyone! What that meant for me was a day off from work YAY!

So, one of the Bento blogs that I follow (a fellow Louisianian, at that) is having a Bento giveaway. Visit Not Exactly Bento to see for yourself! I love the set she is giving away.

Menu for Fat Tuesday:

B-Coffee only (I am finding it hard to eat breakfast on my days off)
L-Eggplant dressing mix, strawberries w/cream, 2 bloody marys
D-3 oz pork steak, low carb coleslaw, eggplant dressing mix (no rice), walnut halves, SF chocolate chips, 1/2 banana, cool whip

Totals: 1157 calories, 46g carbs, 68g fat, 64g protein, 16656mg sodium

Time to get serious...

So in reviewing my menus over the last few days, I see that I am letting more and more slide (read: onion rings, York peppermint patty, not eating breakfast, etc.). So I am tightening up again. My weight is stalled once again, despite eating under 1200 calories and exercising 4 times a week.

So, Ron Sebol (who runs DSM-L, a diabetes list) has been helping figure out my meal doses, etc. and he did a weight analysis thing (which I won't even pretend to understand) that pretty much says that I'm not normal (go figure). Something about "calories per pound average was about 1/3 of what is normal for her age and activity level. I concluded that she likely has a hormone abnormality and that it is the root cause of her not losing even on a strict 1200 calories per day". I have struggled with my weight since...forever and to be honest I eat 1200 or less because if I eat more than that, I GAIN weight. So, when I see the doctor I'll ask for some additional tests.

Anyway, Monday's menu:

B-2 boiled eggs, 1 small tangerine, coffee
L-4 oz chicken breast, Oriental Style Blend veggies w/parmesan, 1/2 orange
D-6 oz Polynesian Pork (from recipe), Homemade low carb coleslaw, broccoli, strawberries w/whipped cream

Totals: 1233 calories, 53g carbs, 55g fat, 72g protein, 1166mg sodium

Weekend Catchall

Friday

B-Homemade Sausage patty, SF syrup, 1 slice WW toast, coffee
L-Tuna salad over spinach salad w/cucumber, tomato & banana pepper rings
D-Hamburger (no bun), onion rings (not good!!)

Totals: 1029 calories, 47g carbs, 56g fat, 49g protein, 1267mg sodium

Saturday

B-Coffee only
L-Fajita salad w/salsa, 4 tortilla chips (yes, 4...I am trying to get to 0), 1 mini York Peppermint patty
D-Homemade low carb chili, strawberries w/walnuts, unsweetened coconut and whipped cream

Totals: 1033 calories, 60g carbs, 67g fat, 47g protein, 2149mg sodium

Sunday

B-Coffee only
L-Homemade Swiss Meatloaf (from recipe), walnuts, SF choc chips, whipped cream
D-Homemade Swiss Meatloaf with onions & mushrooms, 1/3 avocado, 1/2 tangerine

Totals: 1192 calories, 50g carbs, 79g fat, 86g protein, 338mg sodium

Thursday

I keep hitting these plateaus in my weight loss, like every two or three pounds. It is beyond frustrating. Then I read on one of the sites that I follow that an insulin regimen sometimes can make you gain weight. Is that what is happening. I am consistently eating healthier and working out with very little progress. I know I said I want to lose it slow so that I don't put it right back on and I feel very strongly that I can maintain this way of eating, but a little boost of a loss now and then would do much to make me FEEL better. Food wise, I really don't miss much (except Dr. Pepper) and even that is fading as I consistently deny myself. I WANT to exercise so I don't foresee me slacking there, so I guess I just keep fighting the fight and quit worrying so much about results.

Thursday Menu
B-Homemade sausage patty, WW toast w/spreadable fruit, coffee w/Splenda and cream
L-Last of the leftover Pizza chicken, 1/3 avocado, 8 black olives, 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
D-Homemade chili w/half a serving of corn chips, cheese, strawberries w/whipped cream

Totals: 1169 calories, 63g carbs, 65g fat, 86g protein

Tuesday/Wednesday Menus

Tuesday:

B-Ricotta Cheese Pancakes, 1/3 small banana, coffee w/splenda and cream
L-Salad w/grilled chicken and 1/2 orange
D-Fajitas, 1 serving tortilla chips, Salsa, guacamole, cheese (I will never lose weight if I keep eating the chips!!!)

Totals: 1304 calories, 62g carbs, 86g fat, 76g protein, 2023mg sodium

Wednesday:

B-Ricotta Cheese Pancakes, 1/2 small banana, coffee w/splenda and cream
L-Leftover Pizza Chicken and salad
D- 3 oz. brisket, 1/2 cup white beans, 75g strawberries w/cream

Totals: 799 calories, 56g carbs, 29g fat, 82g protein, 799mg sodium

Today's charting...

2:30 am 134
6:00 am 153 (Fasting)
7:00 am B-1 slice WW toast w/spreadable fruit, 1 egg, coffee w/splenda & cream
11:30 am 115 (5 hr after breakfast dose)
12:00 pm L-Salad (spinach, 4 grape tomatoes, 8 black olives, .40 avocado, .2 oz banana pepper rings, 1 tbsp bacon bits, 4 oz chicken breast, vinegar & pepper) 1/2 orange
4:30 pm 103 (5 hr after lunch dose)
6:30 pm D-Pizza Chicken (6 oz chicken breast w/turkey pepperoni, onion, mushrooms, banana pepper rings, black olives, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese), Salad (romaine, celery, cucumber, tomato), Walnut halves, SF chocolate chips, whipped cream
9:15 pm 87 (post 45 minutes aerobic exercise)
10:30 pm 125 (5 hr after dinner dose)

Totals: 988 calories, 54g carbs, 57g fat, 75g protein, 1741mg sodium

So, except for the fasting, I am making progress! Actually, even fasting is lower than usual, so progress there too!

Weekend Wrapup...

Menus for the weekend:

Friday
B-Coffee only
L-Tyson's Anytizers Boneless Chicken wings (9 pieces!! Way too carby), celery, ranch dressing
D-Leftover spaghetti over zucchini slices, 1 slice WW bread, strawberries and whipped cream

Totals: 783 calories, 56g carbs, 38g fat, 53g protein, 2753mg sodium (!!!)

Saturday
B-Sausage patty w/SF syrup, coffee
L-Chinese Food (meat/veggies, 1 crab rangoon, 1 rib-no sauce, 1 breaded shrimp, some sweet & sour sauce)
D-leftover Chinese (meat/veggies only)

Totals: estimated 1400 calories, 44g carbs, 83g fat, 80g protein, 3223mg sodium (!!!)

Sunday
B-Coffee only
L-Homemade chicken/sausage gumbo (no rice) w/2 boiled eggs, Bloody Mary, homemade low carb carrot cake
D-Leftover homemade chicken chili, 5 tortilla chips, .25 cup shredded cheese

Totals: 852 calories, 39g carbs, 49g fat, 43g protein, 1988mg sodium

Let's just say the weekend was no where near a success. Must. cut. down. on. sodium. Must. eat. all. calories. protein. and. fat.

Thursday Menu

B - 1 slice WW toast w/butter and spreadable fruit, 1 egg, coffee with splenda and creamer
L - Skimpy toppings off of 5 slices of Cici's Pizza, side salad of lettuce, black olives, bacon, 3 cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, oil and vinegar (was starving an hour later)
D - Homemade Chicken Chili, guacamole, 10 small tortilla chips

I'd have to guess at my totals today since I have no idea what the counts were for the pizza toppings, but I'd say that I was under on all numbers. My current goals are 1300 calories, 40-65g carbs, 79g fat, 81g protein and under 2400mg sodium.

You've come a long way baby...

Imagine being a complete needle phobe. One of my earliest memories (I was probably 4 or 5) was being at the doctor's office and being brought to the back because I was sick with yet another ear infection, and as I am walking down the hall, I can see into the open doors of the other exam rooms. Suddenly I see my favorite nurse, Nurse Charity (seriously that was her name...she had other sisters, named Faith, Hope and Joy) jabbing a needle into some kid's arm. I freaked out. Since that day, I could never watch a shot being given or see a needle go into my skin. The older I got the worse it got. I've passed out while iv's were started. I've been turned away from giving blood because I panic so badly about the thought of the needle stick that when they check my blood pressure it was sky high and my pulse rate was rocketing. Suffice it to say that I was a BIG wimp when it came to needles.

Now imagine being told that not only will I need to have a shot of insulin every day, but that I'll have to give it to myself. I literally sat in the doctor's office sobbing. All I could see was Nurse Charity jabbing that needle into that kid's arm. I was a basket case. The first shot I attempted took me nearly an hour to actually break the skin of my thigh. (I couldn't even begin to imagine sticking that needle into my belly). I sat there holding that needle over my skin, crying, while my husband sat there getting more and more aggravated with me. He just wanted to stick me, but I knew I had to do it. It probably took about 2 weeks before I could just stick the needle in without hovering over my skin and agonizing over the prick (knowing that the prick really wasn't all that bad, but still...). That was almost two years ago. This morning my daughter laughed at me and said "mom, you sure have come a long way" while, on the interstate driving 74 mph, I started steering my car with my knees, pulled up my shirt and jabbed my 8 am Lantus dose into my belly during my hour commute to work. She is right...I sure have.

Edited to say: I draw my Lantus at home before I get behind the wheel. I literally just have to "jab" it into my belly. It takes all of one to two seconds. I don't even take my eyes off the road. And, I still have one hand on the wheel. I would never willingly put myself or my daughter in any danger. :)

Back on Track...kind of

So, I didn't let yesterday's cheat weigh me down as I would have in the past. I feel great about that. Having said that, today I just didn't eat enough food. My numbers were a little elevated all day until just before dinner. Today's menu:

B-1 egg, coffee w/splenda and cream
L-100g gyro meat, 1/4 cup Hummus, side greek salad, sauteed mushrooms
D-Homemade spaghetti sauce w/ground beef and sausage, 1 cup zucchini, 100g strawberries with whipped cream

Totals: 922 calories, 52g carbs, 61g fat, 48g protein

Yesterday...I goofed

Well, I had an awesome day since I started a new basal dosing scheme and my numbers were wonderful until I decided to change that by eating something I shouldn't have after I had already dosed, etc. etc. etc. so I ended up going to bed 40 points higher. My first real cheat of the year. I'm disappointed in myself, but no way am I sitting here and stressing on it. I woke this morning newly motivated. I am going to screw up along the way...that is a given. What I am not going to do is use that to make excuses to go back to making wrong choices on a regular basis.

Tuesday Menu:

B - 1 egg, 1 slice WW toast, 1/2 tsp spreadable fruit, coffee with cream and splenda
L - Beef Jerky, 100g cucumber, 8 black olives, 6 asparagus spears, 1/4 cup pineapple chunks
D - 6 oz steak, 1 small cucumber, .4 cup beets, 1/4 small cantaloupe

My Turn Day

We interrupt our normal broadcast...


My kids and I will be visiting the nursing homes to read to the elderly. It's YOUR turn! Visit My Turn Day.

Another Bento Lunch Day...

Another Bento Lunch day today. Leftovers again: Chicken/Ground venison, tomatoes, avocado, cucumbers, black olives and some cheese sauce. Will edit with today's full menu later on.

Menu for today:

B-WW toast w/butter & spreadable fruit, cheese slice, coffee with cream and splenda
L-See above
D-2 pork ribs, 1 cup Low carb coleslaw, 100g frozen strawberries, 2 tbsp whipped cream

Totals: 1142 calories, 48g carbs, 70g fat, 77g protein, 1510mg sodium

Up and Down Weekend

Friday

B - .75 oz steak, 1 egg, 1 slice WW bread, spreadable fruit, coffee w/cream and splenda
L - 6 pc Tyson boneless buffalo wings, 1 stalk celery
D - .15 cup rice, 4 oz. chicken thigh in homemade tomato sauce, yellow squash

Totals: 816 calories, 47g carb, 37g fat, 71g protein, 2146mg sodium

Saturday

B - coffee only (woke late)
L - 2 zucchini nut muffins (homemade low carb)
D - 50g chicken breast, 1.5 oz ground beef, Homemade Salsa cream dip, 12 tortilla chips, 4 tbsp salsa, .20 avocado

Totals: 771 calories, 33g carb, 52g fat, 45g protein, 885mg sodium

Sunday

B - 2 eggs with mushrooms, coffee with cream and splenda
L - 2 zucchini nut muffins (homemade low carb), homemade chili, .3oz corn chips
D - 8 tortilla chips, 2oz BS chicken thighs, 65g ground venison, 1/8 c cheese sauce, 1/3 small avocado

Totals: 1148 calories, 40g carbs, 80g fat, 75g protein, 1051mg sodium

Bento Thursday...

I've been doing the Bento thing for a while, nothing fabulous or even creative so I never take pictures. I only have two sets, well three if you count the Fit & Fresh container that I bought. I have a few more on my wishlist, which will have to wait until I get the new HRM (one that calculates calories burned since my Wii Fit doesn't). Denise over at Plain Ol' Food posted about it on the Diabetes Daily board and her blog and she encouraged me to post pictures even though I have none of the cute, fancy accessories (I really want one of the little boiled egg shapers and some sauce containers) just so that other low-carbers can see. So here goes. Quality is not great since I had to use my cell phone as I didn't have time to take a picture this morning when I packed it. And, of course today's lunch is leftovers...so very boring :D



As you can see, I couldn't find one of my kidney shaped containers this morning so I had my orange slices in a baggie. The avocado and asparagus stay in the fridge at my office as I usually eat 6 asparagus spears and 1/2 small haas avocado everyday for lunch to cover part of my veggie and my fat. There is chuck roast in the round container with mushrooms (cooked in the crockpot yesterday) and about 80g of sliced cucumber in the other container. All in all, 17grams of carbs.

Here is today's menu:

B-Sausage and cheese omelet, coffee with splenda/cream
L-3.3 oz chuck roast w/3 mushrooms, 80g cucumber, 6 asparagus spears, 1/2 small avocado, 1/2 small naval orange
D-4 oz pork chop, 182g cucumber, 100g strawberries, 2 tbsp whipped cream

Totals: 1202 calories, 35g carbs, 80g fat, 85g protein, 1272mg sodium

Hump Day

Feeling better today and it definitely shows in my numbers. Tomorrow I'll get to get back on the Wii Fit. My meals and numbers today:

Fasting: 142
Breakfast: 1.7 oz pork sausage crumbled, 2 eggs, coffee with splenda and cream
2 hr PP: 158
Lunch: Steak fajita (about 4 oz. meat), about .20 cup of sliced onions and half of that of the bell peppers, about 1 oz. cheese and about 8 tortilla chips (I know I should have skipped these)
2 hr PP: 133
Dinner: Chuck roast, 79g (about 1/2) cucumber, 1/2 small avocado, 100g strawberries, 3 tblsp whipped cream
2 hr PP: 143

Totals: 1130 calories, 36g carbs, 73g fat, 69g protein, 811mg sodium

Still a bit high, but no where near as erratic as the last few days.

The scale is still stalled. I am going to start working out 4 days instead of 3 per week to see if that helps.

Sickday Monday/Tuesday...

Stayed home from work sick on Monday. Dealt with high readings all day, of course. Here are my meals:

Monday
B - just coffee
L - Homemade chili, 8 tortilla chips (definitely not planned)
D - Homemade chili, 1 slice WW low carb toast w/1 slice cheese

Totals: 774 calories, 41g carbs, 42g fat, 59g protein, 1342mg sodium

Tuesday
B - 2 eggs, 82g (1/2 medium) orange
L - 3 oz. tuna w/1 tbsp mayo and 1 tsp mustard, 6 spears asparagus, 4 strawberries, 2 Kavli 5 grain crispbreads
D - 1 chicken tender, 2 oz mixed nuts, celery sticks, 4 grape tomatoes, 1 cauliflower/1 broccoli floweret, 1 LC coconut bar (homemade from recipe)

Totals: 1146 calories, 49g carbs, 76g fat, 67g protein, 1249mg sodium

Superbowl Sunday

So I woke to numbers in the 200s again. I decided that I would attempt to correct today. I have no experience with that, but I knew I didn't want to stay above 200 again today. So here is how today looked.

Fasting: 208 (YIKES!!)
Humalog: 7.8u (6u + 30% correction)
Breakfast: 50g Jimmy Dean ground breakfast sausage, 1 egg, Coffee w/splenda and cream
2 hr PP: 200
Pre-lunch: 206
Humalog: 9.3u (6.2u + 50% correction)
Lunch: 15 oz. boiled crawfish, homemade crawfish dipping sauce
2 hr PP: 167
Pre-dinner: 191
Humalog: 14.8u (11.4u + 30% correction)
Dinner: 6 strips celery, 6 jumbo black olives, 8 green olives, 3 grape tomatoes, 3 oz roasted venison, 1.5 oz. lettuce with one cherry tomato and 3 cucumber slices, Diet 7-up and 3 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
2 hr PP: 134
Bedtime: 138

Totals: 1300 calories, 20g carbs, 63g fat, 111g protein, 2710mg sodium