http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/ Atkins Diet and Low Carb Diet Support, research and free low carb diet recipes. Resources for low carbohydrate diet plans such as the atkins diet and the south beach diet. en Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:21:09 GMT vBulletin 60 http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/images/misc/rss.jpg http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/ http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/314-back-induction.html Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:45:08 GMT I'm tired of fooling around with my weight, seeing it bounce up, but not wanting to come down again.

So, I am starting from scratch, pretending this is my first round with low carb, and doing Induction. So far so good, too. I started yesterday, the first day of March. Let's see what happens now. I plan to stick with it for the entire month.

I'm also making an effort to drink adequate water. I've always had my coffee first, and probably will continue that, but now I'm going to keep a mug of water on my desk, and try to have at least 2 of them each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It's a 20 oz mug, so that should help a lot.

It's been a merry-go-round the past year, with the weight going up and down, up and down, but lately the merry-go-round has stopped, and my pony has been in the high position for way too long. Perhaps induction will get the merry-go-round going and get the pony moving down again, and then stay down for the duration. Or, perhaps the pony will jump off the merry-go-round and go charging downhill! (Like those wild horses on "The Man From Snowy River", a great scene!) ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/314-back-induction.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/251-what-week.html Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:08:42 GMT A week of really horrendous eating!

We had to go to Dallas Monday to be with dd1 & her dh and our dgs, who was going in the hospital for a video EEG to see if any of his seizure activity is localized or if they are all generalized. Sadly, no focal points, so surgery is probably not an option.

We ate out, and ate some really, really high carb stuff. I never ordered dessert, but ate the bread with the meal, had sandwiches, Chinese food with all the sweet sauce, noodles & rice, breaded you-name-it. Ate too much, couldn't seem to get enough, got really uncomfortably bloated and gassy, and probably drank way too much coffee.

We got home Thursday late afternoon, got back on plan, and by Friday afternoon, our tummies got back to normal. We both felt so much better just having a couple of on-plan meals. Low carb is amazing! :thumb: ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/251-what-week.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/232-i-sound-like-broken-record.html Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:27:13 GMT Yes, here I am again, harping about needing to get back in focus, get back to my plan, being stricter with my eating.

I know I'm getting too many carbs each day, having too many things I probably shouldn't. I'm not gaining, but I'm sure not losing, either.

So, how do we fix this problem? By beating myself up over it? All that will do is bruise my tender ego. By sitting down and evaluating my eating? Perhaps.

Some of the things I know I need to do:

1. Read over my plan, again, and make a menu. I am going to go back to the original Atkins plan. It's what worked for me in the past, it's simpler to follow, and I felt better when I did that plan.

2. Get back on my St. John's Wort. I know I suffer from mild depression, and this takes care of it. How do I know I suffer from mild depression? Because when I'm not taking SJW, I have feelings of self-doubt, I look to my faults instead of my strengths, I start to not care anymore. I find excuses for eating stuff that perhaps I shouldn't eat. No, I don't go all out and eat cookies and cake and such, but I do over-indulge in some legal foods, so that the carbs really do add up in a hurry.

3. Try to not have too much of the foods on hand that I might over-indulge on. Kind of hard to do when DH wants to have some of those things around. But, getting back on the SJW will help to resist such things.

4. Remember to put together my supplements, have them ready to take each day. And then REMEMBER to take them!

5. Take time each day to look at my good points. My weight is not a good or bad point, it's just a number on the scales. It's not the sum of who I am, it's just what I weigh.

6. To not judge myself harshly - to be honest with myself, but not to pass judgment, not to consider myself good or bad because of what I eat - or don't eat.

I might be rambling a bit here. After all, it's Monday morning, I could use another couple hours sleep, and it's been a long time since I've blogged. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/232-i-sound-like-broken-record.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/179-back-focus.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:23:09 GMT So, I've had 2 out of town events that caused me to go way, way off my plan. Funny thing, though. I gained maybe 3 lbs. That's all. I can easily gain 3 lbs even staying on plan, so this is really weird for me.

We had our annual Texas Housing meeting this past week. We stayed at the Hilton. Boy, it was not cheap! I never can figure out why the expensive hotels charge for everything (internet access would have been $10.95 a day; we stay at a cheap little motel and get free access, paying half for the room we did at this hotel, even at the convention rate).

We had 2 meals in the hotel restaurant - the rest of our meals were provided. I ate a sandwich the first day (a grilled cheese with swiss, provolone and cheddar, tomatoes and avocado, and quite yummy). And I broke down and ate the sweets provided, numerous times. And thoroughly enjoyed every bite, too. I figured with all the carbs I'd had, I'd be up 5 to 10 lbs, but no. Just 3.

Today I'm back on plan, focusing on eating low carb. This morning I made a mock danish and added a bit of my hot cereal mix in it. It was very good, very filling.

My younger daughter started induction Monday. We are splitting a cow, should get it next week, so we are going to have plenty of beef to eat. I guess I need to share some recipes with her. She was very successful losing before she got pregnant, but gained back her weight and then some. And my older daughter is talking about getting back to low carb. So perhaps we'll have our own little support group. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/179-back-focus.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/147-why-we-let-life-get-way.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:43:21 GMT How many times have we fallen off the low carb wagon, made unwise food choices, lost our focus, and our excuse is that "life just got in the way"?

I'm guilty. I've said that very thing. But it's just a flimsy excuse, isn't it?

Our angst and trials and tribulations in our daily lives really shouldn't affect our food choices, should they? Just because we've had a particularly lousy day doesn't mean we should go ahead and have that doughnut sitting on the counter in the break room; or that fully-loaded burger and fries at the convenient drive-thru; or the Twinkies we bought for the kids for a treat.

I know I've been guilty of making unwise food choices because I was too tired to cook, it was just too easy to get some take out. And I'm finding that, if this happens very often, I'm just causing myself to, at the least, stall in my losses, but more often that not, I actually gain weight. Not only do these foods have too many carbs, they also usually have way more sodium than I'm used to having, and then I swell up like a sponge sitting on the beach at high tide.

The solution? I suppose to be more diligent in planning meals, having more quick-to-grab foods that are on my plan that don't require much preparation, for those times when I just can't face the stove. And making sure that every meal and snack provides good, solid nutrition. Which means sitting down at least once a week and making some menus, looking for recipes that are quick & easy, and adding enough variety to our meals.

I really ought to insist that dh make at least one meal a week. (snort! chuckle! guffaw!) Those would probably be hamburgers and green beans! That's ok, I like them! LOL!

So, I'm going to really try to stop making excuses for backsliding, for cheating, for making unwise food choices, and make myself more accountable for what goes into my mouth. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/147-why-we-let-life-get-way.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/133-a.html Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:08:18 GMT Lately I've been in a funk, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's the natural letdown after having had a nice vacation, and then having to get back into the usual routine, and finding out that the routine has been disrupted due to things beyond your control. Or, perhaps it's just the fact that summer came early this year, and I don't really like hot weather. Or, that I can't seem to focus on my eating, and have been guilty of some mindless eating, even though it's been low carb.

Anyway, I just haven't felt much like coming here to LCE and posting. Had all weekend to do so, but waited until late last night. I love reading the journals, visiting newbies, playing that word game with Henry, but lately, I just haven't wanted to do much except what I have to, and playing some computer games, or watching tv. Sad, isn't it?

Well, today I tried to catch up on journals, peeked into some newbie postings, played a few rounds of the word game, and now I'm here at my blog, so perhaps the funk has passed.

And, I have decided to take Dr. Eades' advice, and try eating only meat for a few days, to see if the weight will start nudging downward again. Of course, I won't stick with it for more than a few days, it would be just too boring! And, when I start adding in veggies, it will be just salad to start, for a few days, and then a few more veggies after that. Step by step. If it works, I'll let you know. Oh, and I'm trying to increase my water intake, too. It's one of me weak points, drinking plain old water, and exercising, too. Sigh. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/133-a.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/115-calories.html Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:02:58 GMT I was drawn to low carb because there was no calorie counting involved. But now I'm finding that I do better eating fewer calories while keeping my carb level low.

I hate counting calories. It just seems insane. But, if I go above about 1700 or 1800 a day, my weight stalls, even at a very low carb level.

The calorie culprits are the wonderful fatty things, such as cheese & cream cheese, heavy cream, and of course, fatty meat. I don't believe in limiting fat, but it seems that the best way to limit the calories is to cut back some on the fat.

How does anybody balance this? Do any of you have some good tips that might be of help to me? Especially those of you who have had good successes in losing.

I know some of you do consider your calories. So what do you find to be a good level of calories for you to continue to lose? And while you are considering your calories, what carb level do you need to lose?

I wonder if anyone has looked into the ratio of calories to carbs. Yesterday I had 1500 calories and 15 net carbs, so 100 calories per carb. It seems that when I have about 20 carbs, the calories are about 2000. Is it just coincidence, or is this what generally works out for everyone? (BTW, it does seem that my intake was a bit low yesterday, but I had a tummy ache that required eating less last night.)

Anyone have any insight, comments, opinions that they would like to share with me? ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/115-calories.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/107-just-grousing.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:10:28 GMT My weight has gone up, and now it's just sitting still.

For a person to give up bread, potatoes, rice, macaroni (even the Dreamfields), and all sugar, and still not lose weight, is just plain frustrating. To see the scales climb up is even more frustrating. And it all seems to be belly weight, too.

I've never had such a long stall, or had the weight creep back up, while being careful about what carbs I eat.

Today I just feel kind of low, sorry for myself, boo hoo, poor me. I guess we've all had those days, haven't we?

It doesn't help that arthritis has decided to come back with a vengeance. My knees were doing so well, and now they think that a daily reminder that the arthritis is still there is a necessity. And the hands, too.

Don't mind me. I'm just using my blog as an outlet for my frustrations. I know that tomorrow is bound to be better. Who knows, even this afternoon might be better! I just needed a place to grouse and complain, that's all. This is as good a place as any for that. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/107-just-grousing.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/92-exercise.html Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:25:50 GMT Exercise - I am not an exerciser, never have been. I was always the slowest runner in my classes at school, wasn't good at any sports, don't even like sports.

So what's a dyed-in-the-wool non-exerciser to do? I have a Gazelle that's gathering dust, a Bean that sits inside the Gazelle gathering dust, dumbbells that might as well be paperweights, and a resistance band that hangs on the closet door. I'm all set, but I lack motivation, and organization.

I know I need to set aside time to just do the exercise. I actually did for a few months a couple of years ago, got up early and just did it. I know I could do it now, but that warm bed just doesn't want to let me go in the morning, it hugs me and caresses me, and tells me that I really need to stay with it and slumber a bit more.

So, if I stick my neck out here and declare that I WILL exercise, whether it's the Gazelle, or weight work, or whatever, will that actually motivate me to set my alarm and get up early and do it? I really don't know, to be honest with you.

I know the benefits of exercise, as far as improving heart health and stamina. I know that resistance training is wonderful for low-carbers, helping us to burn fat faster and build those fabulous muscles that I've never had. And I know that exercise makes aging easier, which I'm all for.

So what's holding me back? Laziness? Having to work with a degree of pain? Boredom? (I have a tv & dvd player, and a vcr in that room, so that's not really a good excuse, and I have lots of music to listen to, so the time will go by easier.)

(Just had a heart-racing moment. While I'm sitting here typing, a small lizard crawled up the wall behind my computer monitor, giving me quite a start! Since he's harmless, he's very welcome to share my office with me.) (Now, if he tries to crawl up my pants leg, then I will definitely be getting some exercise in, right here in the office!)

I will declare, right here for all to read, that I will make an attempt to begin a regular exercise program, no fewer than 3 days per week, beginning tomorrow morning. If I miss my morning workout, then I will try to do it after work that same day, but will preferably do it in the mornings before breakfast.

So there! ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/92-exercise.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/87-paying-attention.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:33:53 GMT The last couple of weeks I've been eating out of control. It's never carby stuff, it's not in the house, and when we eat out, I do not, repeat, do not, order anything off plan, ever. When they bring croutons on the salad, I pick them all off. The ubiquitous bread is put aside.

But lately I've just had no control over my eating. And I've baked some low carb things that were gone sooner than they should have been, right down my gullet.

Where one should be adequate, I've eaten 2 or 3 or 4, of low carb foods, but when added up, they become a high carb accumulation. And it's shown up on the scales, big time. Enough to scare me into paying a lot more attention to what I've been eating.

So far the jeans still button and zip, so I'm not doing too bad in that regard.

What has been the biggest problematic foods? Sweets are at the top (my sweet tooth has never gone away, I was born with it, and I'll die with it.) Then cheese, which is odd, because usually I can take or leave cheese, but lately I've been taking it, lots of it! And cream cheese, which is an ok food, but not in the amounts I've been consuming.

Perhaps I need to start decreasing my artificial sweeteners, a little at a time. I use Sweetzfree or FiberFit, so they are 0 carbs, but still, they could be affecting my appetite, causing me to crave more sweets.

I guess the first step is realization that there is a problem, and then analyzing the problem, and figuring out a possible solution. For me, it will be paying attention to what I put in my mouth, to everything I put in my mouth. I HAVE to get a handle on this, before it spirals out of control. :banghead: ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/87-paying-attention.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/72-loving-yourself.html Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:34:49 GMT This is something I've felt for many, many years. In order to be successful with this woe, we have to learn to love ourselves.

It's so easy to slip into self-loathing - I'm too fat, I fall off the wagon too often, I'm out of control, my clothes don't fit anymore, so I must be a worthless person.

Well, our worth isn't measured by the size of our body, or how much fat we carry (or don't!), or what size clothes we wear.

No, our worth is measured in what kind of person we are on the inside. Our kindness toward others, our willingness to help others, our honesty, our love for our family and friends, our good work ethic, etc.

Having eating problems doesn't make us less of a person, it's just something that we need to deal with (or not!). If we cave in at a party and have that piece of chocolate cake, well, that certainly doesn't make us a worthless person. Cheating on our eating plan is minor compared to other types of cheating (like, on an exam in school, on our taxes, on our spouse).

We have to really take a good, hard look at ourselves, each of us, and remember the good things about us. I look at myself, and I see a good wife, good mother and grandmother, a good employee, a person that people like to be around. If they judge me due to my size, then it's their problem, not mine! I refuse to judge myself based on my weight, my size, or my ability or lack of ability to lose weight. I like me just as I am, right now, in the present. If I lose weight, great, I'll be smaller and be able to buy different clothes. Big deal. I'm still me. I'm not much different from when I weighed nearly 350 lbs, just a little older and a little wiser. I can sit in some chairs easier, and I have a lot fewer problems with my arthritis, but other than that, I'm still me. And I like me! :nod: ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/72-loving-yourself.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/69-so-many-newbies.html Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:14:57 GMT Have you noticed how many newbies have popped in here this past week or 2? Some are real newbies, just dipping their toes into the low carb waters, others coming back after slipping backwards for whatever reason, some just looking for a place to get support as they are continuing with their... Have you noticed how many newbies have popped in here this past week or 2? Some are real newbies, just dipping their toes into the low carb waters, others coming back after slipping backwards for whatever reason, some just looking for a place to get support as they are continuing with their journey.

It's really nice to see so many interested in low carb, and I hope they continue their interest and keep coming back.

Now, I wish that some of the oldies who at one time were very active here would return. Some of them were such fun! Others so encouraging. One day they were here, the next, poof! They were gone. Makes you wonder whatever happened to them. I hope none of them just keeled over or had a bad accident, or got awfully sick, or any such thing. No, I hope that they just got too busy, and are still doing well, and are happy and healthy. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/69-so-many-newbies.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/64-cheating.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:46:08 GMT As a rule, I am not tempted very often to cheat on my low carb woe. Well, on our annual vacation to West Texas, it is exceedingly hard to find low carb choices at the restaurants (there aren't a lot of restaurants, and most of them serve chicken fried everything, biscuits and gravy, french fries, etc., hard to resist every meal for 5 or so days).

Today I started reading through Dr. Bernstein's "The Diabetes Diet". I'm not diabetic, but the principles he lays out applies to anyone following a low carb eating plan.
:writethink:
I just had to quote him. Many of his patients find it hard to resist high carb foods, but once they start feeling better, it becomes easier. Here's what he says, "My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." It means his health and well-being to not eat carbs, it's what's kept him healthy for so many years, when statistics show he should have died years ago from complications of diabetes.

I want to adopt this same attitude. It doesn't matter what I'm tempted with, even if I'm starving and the food choices are limited, I'm going to make every attempt to eat only low carb, so I'll maintain reasonable health, and be grateful that I'm alive and can smell that food, even if I can't partake of it. I'm not going to drool, or pout, or make a fuss because "I can't eat that!" No, I'll just choose the best that I can, as wisely as I can, and let someone else have the high carb stuff.

Yes, there will probably be times that I'll eat something I probably shouldn't, but I'm going to do my best to make that the rare exception, not a regular occurrence. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/64-cheating.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/63-pondering-local-news.html Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:44:23 GMT This has nothing to do with low carb, but it's something that has disturbed our little town for 15 years, and we're hoping there is some closure soon.

In 1993 a local rancher found the body of a baby girl in a plastic garbage bag. A newborn. The town wept for that baby, donated money for her funeral and burial, talked about how her mother could just throw her away.

They took fingerprints off the bag, but no matches, so they were put into the state system. Then four years ago they got a match. The woman denied having any connection, but agreed to a DNA test, which showed that she was, indeed, the mother. Her counsel is saying that the baby was stillborn. So it would be a misdemeanor. This still has not gone to trial, there have been various delays. We just wish there would be a ruling so this town can put some closure on this horrid event.

Just think, if this child had lived, she would be 15 years old now. A young lady in the bloom of youth, perhaps with aspirations of becoming a doctor, or a teacher, an astronaut, or, if she wanted, to be a kind a loving mother.

Right now I don't care if that baby was stillborn, her mother had no right to throw her body away as if it was just garbage. She deserved a decent burial. And, due to the kind and loving people in my little town, she got just that. So much love and affection went out to that poor little girl, but, sadly, after she was gone. How many people would have given up fortunes to have the opportunity to raise a child such as she might have been. ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/63-pondering-local-news.html http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/61-phooey.html Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:12:46 GMT Or, as Nero Wolfe used to say, "Pfui!"

I waited a week to weigh, was up a full pound, weighed again this morning, was up another 4. This tells me that I'm in my SpongeBob mode, retaining water. I always do this when I've eaten prepared brisket, either from the grocery store or one of the local bbq spots. It never fails. I've always been this way, since my pregnancies. Salt can cause me to swell up, making my fingers looked like stuffed sausages, and my feet and ankles to look huge.

Have I learned my lesson? Probably not, I'll most likely buy brisket again, or ham, or some other salty meat, and then gripe and whine when the scales bounce way up. It's my own fault, but I suppose that if I remember what caused the scales to go up, it won't bother me nearly so much. It's just that I was really looking forward to at least a little bit of a loss from the week before. Perhaps next time.

One of my tenants told me she didn't recognize me because I'd lost weight. It's only been a month since I've seen her. At first I thought, "What a nice compliment!" Then I remembered that this is a quite senile little old lady, and perhaps she doesn't remember what I looked like last month anyway! :crazy:

Actually, I've had several people ask me if I've lost more, I usually tell the, no, not really, because it's been too small of a loss to even mention. But it sure makes me feel good! :nod: ]]> QueenMama http://lowcarbeating.com/low-carb-diet-support/blogs/queenmama/61-phooey.html