middle of week four ....

I can't believe that I started on this weight loss journey almost four weeks ago.  Time has just flown by ... first time I have said that during a diet.  It is still just that simple and easy.  I remember before that the days would get longer and harder as each day passed in the "Diet World".  Not with this one ....

With other diets I would make a million excuses for slipping and eating something that I wasn't suppose to eat.  I can say .. .that I haven't done it on this one.  I have the Lord to thank for that ... I really haven't missed anything. 

We went out to eat for my daughter's birthday .. O'Charleys .. oh and how I love those rolls .. they just melt in your mouth.  I DIDN"T have ONE!!!  And I can honestly say that I didnt' want one either.  Now, before I would have eaten at least five .. maybe more .. then ate my very bad for you meal.  

I like the way that I am feeling ... my clothes are getting really loose.  I have found shirts in my closet that I can actually wear now.  It isnt' going to be too much longer and I am going to have to go and buy new jeans.  They are sagging, but I want to wait just a little longer.  I won't know what to do when I dont' have to buy Plus size anymore ... not there yet .. but I am on my way. 

This weight has been a burden to me for so long and I just cant' stand myself that I am actually losing weight and am loving the plan that I am on.  I can really see me doing this for life.  The MM plan is the BEST DIET ever!!!!   Not only am I losing weight but I am feeling so much better too.  Gosh at the energy ... that I something that I use to have to take in spells and not too many at that ....

There is so many more things to tell .... will try to check in more often.  Just been so busy reading more and more on this plan and learning all that I can learn. 

samples of meals ...

I wanted to share a couple of meals that I have eaten while on the MM plan.  Two of these are breakfast and one is the lunch I just got through eating.  I just wish I could express how good they were ... oh my gosh!!  I didnt' even finish my lunch.  I couldn't eat it all!! 



Grilled Gordon's Fish - sauteed 1/2 zucchini & med. squash with 1/2 Roma tomato and just a little shredded Parmesan cheese!!! 

This lunch only took just a few minutes to cook.  I put the fish in the oven for 20-25 minutes.  The last 5 minutes I sauteed the veggies with a little bit of butter.  With all of this food, I ate NO CARBS!!  And I didn't miss it at ALL!! 



1 slice of low carb bread w/ low fat slice of cheese - 1 fried egg - 1/2 roma tomato & 2 slices turkey bacon

 
This breakfast I cooked for myself over the weekend.  Another really easy meal to fix.  I put a slice of cheese on the bread and put it in the oven on broil.  While that was cooking, I fried my egg.  I put the cheese toast on plate, then egg, then tomato and slices of turkey bacon. Oh yea, I cooked the bacon in oven before I started the other. 






This is the same as above but without the turkey bacon.

I just wanted to include a picture without the turkey bacon.  You could cook it every morning, but I don't.  I kind of treat myself on the weekends.  I love cooking the above for breakfast.  It is sooo very good!!  And it really fills you up. 

Hopefully this will show you how easy this "diet" - plan is to follow.   I will try to take more pictures of my meals and share them with you.  

One week down ...

It is really hard to believe that it has been just little over a week since I started on the Metabolism Miracle plan.  I really thought I wouldn't be able to do it .. to stick with the plan.  Just like all the other times.  I never thought that I would be able to walk away from carbs ...ME?  Seriously??? 

BUT I have and it has really been easy.  I don't have carb cravings anymore.  I use to want sweets ALL the time, especially after eating a meal.  I almost always had to have something sweet.  I seriously don't have them anymore.  Really ....

I have really been tempted this weekend to fall off my  plan, and before I would have and not even think twice about it.  Friday night ... was high school football game. I give the band bus ... I was surrounded by all kind of good food .. well fattening foods.  And my friend brought really sweet hot chocolate!!  I only ate a piece of chicken and drank my  water.  NO hot chocolate for me!!  YEA!! 

Then there was Saturday ... college football day.  My family wanted to order pizza.  Helllllooo people I am trying to eat right.  So, I let them order pizza and never had a bite!!  YEA FOR ME!!! 

Oh I am not done yet .... Sunday I had to work my part-time job in the concession stand.  I love french fries .. big weakness!!  I usually eat one all during the time that I am there .. but NOT Sunday.  I didn't have ONE .. NOT ONE!!!!  and in addition to that .. me and one of the umpires has a cheesecake cook-off.  I had made this challenge weeks ago and I didn't want to go back on it.  I LOVE  Cheesecake!!  I only had a teeny tiny taste .. I mean a pea size.  It tasted soooo sweet .. and I really didn't want anymore. 

So, this weekend alone, I have had 5 temptations.  And I passed the test!!  I know it may not always be so easy, but I think the longer I am on this plan then the easier it will be to just walk away.  I won't have to talk myself into NOT eating something.  I just keep telling myself that it isn't worth adding another day to the program.  It is NOT worth stopping everything that I have worked for and am still working for ... to be healthier and to lose weight. 

This MM program .. I find it really strange and wouldn't believe it myself .. but I am not hungry and I am not craving crabs.  I can tell that I am feeling better, but I know that I further to go.  I AM SO EXCITED TO GET TO THE POINT!!  This is a journey that I am loving each step that I am taking ......

Day Four ....

Well it is officially day four in my new journey, on the Metabolism Miracle (MM) Diet.  I don't like using the word diet, because I am changing my way of life.   It makes things sound bad when you say diet. 

I will admit, I have been perfect until today.  I wasn't really going to start on Sunday, I didn't think I had enough foods at my house to get me started, but I didn't want to wait another day.  I have been waiting on something like this to come along for many years.  So, I started on Sunday ... had a couple of slip ups but nothing really bad.  Then Monday I got a bad stomach virus and was down for two days.   I did stay on the plan except for the chicken noodle soup and the two sprites that I drank.  I also didn't get to exercise either of those days. 

But I am feeling much better today and seem to have a little bit more energy than normal.   I have been following the plan by the book today.  I even went to Wal-mart to pick up some of the items that I need to help me stay on the plan. 

There are still a few things that I need to figure out -- you have to eat 5 grams of carbs every 5 hours.  My schedule is crazy, esp. when I am on the bus, so I have got to figure up my eating schedule.  I think when i get this done, it will be easier. 

My oldest son, is suppose to be making me a work-out schedule.  I have to work out 30 minutes - 5 days a week.  I would love to do cardio plus either weights, Pilate's or yoga the rest of the time.  I got to have a plan so that I will stick with it. 

So ... so far I am loving this MM plan.  I am not hungry and am feeling great today.  I am so excited to see what the future holds.  Thank you Jesus for this plan and for giving me the willpower to see it through. 

Until later ...

On a new journey ....

I am excited and scared all at the same time.  Have I lost my mind this time.  Can this really work and be this simple.  That is what I am going to find out.  Let me explain ...

As  you know I have been wanting - struggling to lose weight since I was in college.  I have tried just about every diet, but just couldn't stay on them.  Some of them are off the deep end - in expectation of staying on it for life.  I watch Big Loser and sit and cry.

I have been praying about this for years, in hope that God would tell me what I was doing wrong and how to fix what I was doing wrong.  I would keep reading and searching for answers.  Well, I think I have finally come across the answer to my question. 

I have known for years that my metabolism is all out of whack.   I am sure partly due to my yo-yo dieting since high school (even though I was not fat back then - I still went on diets) and probably from my not having a thyroid.  The book is called "The Metabolism Miracle" by Diane Kress, RD, CDE.  I started reading it Saturday and couldn't put it down.  The things she describe in the book is sooo me!!!  WOW!!  It is like she knew me and what I was thinking and have been going through for years. 

She explains how everyone's metabolism is different - therefore, everyone can't eat the same or exercise the same.  There is A and B metabolism - and I have B.  The one that doesn't work or is sluggish. 

Here are a list of clues to metabolism B -  if you identify twelve or more than I suggest you go to her website and get more information http://www.themetabolismmiracle.com/ - she has a test that you can take to see what metabolism you are.

* You tire easily & frequently feel fatigued, even upon awakening.
* You feel mildly depressed.
* You feel an energy slump in the late afternoon.
* You frequently feel anxious.
* You crave carbohydrate foods, such as bread, chips, sweets, or pasta.
* Your midsection has a roll of fat.
* You gain weight easily and find it difficult to lose weight.
* You have trouble sleeping.
* You are often forgetful and worry about your short-term memory.
* You have racing thoughts.
* Your sexual drive has declined.
* You find it difficult to focus and concentrate and are easily distracted.
* Bright light or headlights at night bother you.
* You are irritable and have a "short fuse".
* You have increased sensitivity to aches and pains.
* Your eyes frequently tear up and at other times feel dry and irritated.
* You have frequent dull headaches.
* You feel slightly dizzy, flushed, or "weak in the knees" after even a little bit of alcohol.

I actually checked off ALL of them.  Now you may be thinking that these could be signs of other things such as: menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome, midlife, and even a high-stress job. But at the end of eight weeks on Step One many symptoms from the checklist will disappear along with weight because the symptoms stem for untreated Metabolism B.

I started Step One yesterday - I have cut out almost ALL of my carbs including sugar.  The first couple of days is suppose to be the hardest - but I am determined to make it through.  Of course I really prayed over this and that God will give me the desire and willpower to make it through the first eight weeks and especially the first three days.

I will keep you all posted as I journal about my journey down this road to not only losing weight but to finally FEEL BETTER!!!

setting schedule

Well, I have been working on a daily schedule for myself.  I have so many different part-time jobs, then cleaning house, family stuff and well you know the list goes on and on.  So, I have been thinking and working on how to break things down so that I am not overwhelmed all the time. 

I first took a list of my jobs and wrote them down.  Then a list of other things that I wanted or needed to get done.  I looked for calendars to see if that would work .. nothing jumped out at me as being what I needed. 

It finally hit me ... I just simply used the way that I break down my house cleaning.  Hey, it worked for it, why can't it work for other things?  So, that is what I did .. and so far is it working quite well.  Now, remember, these are just suggestions and there are times that I have to adjust my schedule and/or change things around.  But it gives me something to work with ...

Here is what I came up with ....

Monday:
Publix - grocery shopping
Strip beds
Clean windows/ mirrors
take newspapers to recycle bin
water plants
vacuum all rooms

Tuesday:
Bank -Post Office - (If I have deposits)
Bi-Lo (if sales)
empty all trash
clean out fridge/freezer
clean baths & wash rugs
sweep & mop baths

Wednesday:
Ingles/ CVS
check sales papers
menu for next week
sweep front porch

Thursdays:
Boynton Work - bills/payroll
Concession stand paperwork

Friday:
Bank - post office
Kim's office for 2nd signature
Office room -
    - file papers
    - balance checkbook
    - clean off desk

Saturdays:
sweep & mop hardwoods
mop kitchen
Football games

Sundays:
REST

One thing I have noticed more than anything is I have to put God first each and everyday.  I have to make time for God or my days and weeks just won't work out.  So somewhere in your day .. make time for GOD!!! 

Sunday Pot Roast

I have to give the credit for this recipe to The Pioneer Woman.  I got the recipe from her.  I have cooked Pot Roasts for years and they all seem to be ok.  Well, they never was anything left, but I was always hoping to find a better recipe.  I have found it!! Her recipe called for cooking it in the oven, which is fine, but I put mine in the crockpot and cooked it all day.  It fell apart -- there were NO left overs!!!

**This recipe is for the crockpot.  Will give oven options at the end.**

1 whole (4 to 5 pounds) chuck roast
2 Tbsp olive oil
Butter
2 whole onions
6 whole carrots
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups (up to 3 cups) beef stock
3 sprigs of thyme
3 sprigs of rosemary

In an iron skillet, place olive oil and butter.  While heating up skillet, chop onions into quarters and chop carrots into quarters or thirds.  Place onions into skillets and let brown, don't over cook, you just want to brown them.  Then do the same with the carrots.  While these are browning, put salt & pepper on both sides of roast.  Then you will brown both sides of the roast. 

While you are doing all the browning, get your crockpot ready.  Turn on and put in almost all the beef stock, put some aside to use at another time. 

After roast is browned on both sides, put into crockpot.  Then put in onions & carrots on top of roast.  Take the small amount of stock, that you put aside, put into skillet.  Use this to de-glaze any brown pieces that were left on the bottom on pan.  Then pour into crockpot.  Now put in the sprigs of thyme & rosemary.

Put the setting on low, put lid on and leave alone.  Don't fuss over ... just let it hang out and do it's business.  Let cook for 6 to 8 hours on low.  You really want to let it cook at a slower time.  I think this really makes the difference. 

To serve:  Cut up roast beef, spoon over onions & carrots and some of the wonderful juice that is left. 

** To make in the oven **

Use a dutch oven pan.  In the dutch oven pan you want to brown the onions, carrots & then the roast.  Use a small amount of stock to de-glaze the pan.  Then add the rest of the beef stock, roast, onions, carrots and then springs of thyme & rosemary.  Place lid on pan and put into oven.  Cook  at 275F oven for 4 to 5 hours (4 to 5 pound roast).  Again, don't fuss over or bother .. let it hang out and do it's thing. 

I promise this will be the BEST pot roast you have ever eaten.  You won't even have to cut it up .. it will fall apart.  Hope you enjoy!!!