Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Day 178 Low Carb Daily Menu

Day 178 of my Low Carb Life - My Low Carb Menu for Today

- Pork stir-fry on top of cauliflower rice with butter
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Cabbage and sausage soup with the carrots omitted and extra celery
- Burger with diced onions, cheese, tomato, mayo, mustard and low carb ketchup on an oopsie roll

This soup is a keeper! Very simple to make. I had zero carb Bratwurst on hand, so I just used those and it was a very easy one pot dish to make. I think it tastes like Italian wedding soup and my mom says that it satisfied her craving for French onion soup. I did use some frozen homemade chicken broth, which I think makes all the difference in the world with homemade soups.

Day 177 on the Low Carb Train

Day 177: Low Car

- Shepherd's pie with a little low carb ketchup
- Two hot dogs with low carb ketchup, mustard and diced onions on an oopsie roll
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Two burgers on oopsie rolls with hot pepper jack cheese, diced onions, tomato, mustard, mayo and low carb ketchup

Monday, November 23, 2009

Day 176 My Low Carb Menu

Day 176 Low Carb Daily Menu

- Pork chop off the grill
- Two hot dogs with onions, mustard, low carb ketchup on oopsie rolls
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Pork stir fry over cauliflower rice

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Low Carb Menu: Day 175

Day 175

- Low carb shepherd's pie with a little low carb ketchup
- Pumpkin bake
- Low carb chocolate ice cream with unsweetened coconut and some DaVinci's Dulce de Leche sugar free syrup
- Josie's spaghetti squash casserole with mushrooms & red peppers
- Burger in an oopsie roll with Swiss cheese, tomato, onion, mustard, mayo and low carb ketchup

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Day 174 Now I remember why I don't eat white bread!

Day 174

- Shepherd's pie with a little low carb ketchup
- Too much white bread with butter, side salad with ranch dressing, two chicken strips, three fried mushrooms, two cheese sticks, onion rings and half a slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting

Too much information alert!!!!!

Gross. That is how I feel. I felt sick last night after eating this crap and I felt even sicker all morning long on the toilet. First, it was like extreme cramping, then constipation then more horror. My body is sooooo not used to this crap and I'm proud of that, really.

Sorry to my stomach and intestines... Don't worry, I won't be making *that* mistake again, anytime soon!!!! I really had no idea that when I decided to have a deviation from low-carb that it would be this horrendous on my body.

Forget the scale - I just don't want to feel like shit!!!

Off to the store to get eggs, heavy cream, etc... You know, the stuff my body can actually recognize as food! Not partially digested crap they stuff you full of at a restaurant. Well, if you choose to eat it... as I did. Lesson learned.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Day 173 Low Carb Menu

Day 173 - Low Carb for Me!!!

- Low carb shepherd's pie
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Two burgers on oopsies with all the fixin's
- Josie's spaghetti squash monterey with mushrooms and red peppers
- More shepherd's pie

This shepherd's pie is amazing! I used two cans of green beans instead of frozen. With the help of my stick blender for the faux-tatoes, it was actually quite an easy dish to whip up. Quite tasty, too!!!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Day 172 Low Carb Pumpkin Pie for the Holidays

Day 172 Low Carb Daily Menu

- Albacore tuna salad sandwich with diced onions and a few slices of fresh red pepper on an oopsie gluten-free bun
- Low carb pumpkin bake with home made whipped cream
- Two hot dogs with diced onions, cheese, low carb ketchup & mustard on an oopsie bun
- Two slices low carb supreme pizza on oopsie pizza crust

This pumpkin bake is a winner! It seriously tastes exactly like pumpkin pie to me. If you are looking for a good pumpkin pie recipe for Thanksgiving, I would definitely give this one a try. It's very low carb, especially if you use a zero carb liquid sweetener. I did add a whole cup of "sugar," even though it only calls for half a cup.

This Thanksgiving, I'm going to really use it to count my blessings... I have so much to be thankful for and I'm going to spend this time of year to focus on how lucky of a girl I really am.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Low Carb Daily Menu: Oopsies are a part of my daily living!

My Low Carb Lifestyle: Day 171

- Albacore tuna salad with diced onions and a slice of Roma tomato on an oopsie roll with swiss cheese
- Two hot dogs stuffed with hot pepper jack cheese & diced onions, mustard and low carb ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Josie's spaghetti squash casserole with mushrooms and roasted red peppers
- A slice of supreme pizza on oopsie pizza crust
- French toast, made from oopsies with low carb pancake syrup and two pork sausage patties

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

My Day #170 Low Carb Menu

Day #170

- Low carb peanut butter fudge
- Two hot dogs with mustard, diced onions and low carb ketchup on an oopsie bun
- Pizza on oopsie pizza crust
- Josie's spaghetti squash with mushrooms & red peppers added
- Burger with tomato, diced onions, mustard, mayo and low carb ketchup on an oopsie bun

Monday, November 16, 2009

Day 169 Low Carb

Day 169 Low Carb Life

- Burger on an oopsie roll, deluxe
- Mixed veggies w/ a little cheese sauce
- Two hot dogs with diced onions, ketchup and mustard an on oopsie
- Spaghetti squash with Alfredo sauce and hot pepper jack cheese
- Low carb peanut butter fudge

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Day 168 - When romaine lettuce is so sweet....

Day 168

- Grilled pork chop with BBQ sauce
- Spaghetti squash with Alfredo sauce and hot pepper jack cheese
- Big, fat burger on an oopsie roll with all the fixings
- Mixed veggies with butter
- Three thin sweet potato fries - not low carb, but I couldn't resist
- Low carb peanut butter fudge

At the restaurant, my sister in law's sweet potato fries were looking unbelievably good! She was not going to finish them, so finally, before the waitress took away her plate, I asked her if I could try one. I remember when I tried them before (at the same restaurant), they were only okay, so I had no idea why I wanted one so bad.

When I finally gave in, they were so SWEET and delicious! Of course, sweet potato fries are going to be sweet, but these were really sweet. I think that going without sugar has made my sweet-palette much more sensitive to sweetness. Before, when I tried them (in my days of eating the Standard American Diet [read: high-carb]), they were almost sweet in an annoying kind of way... like they weren't really sweet, if that makes sense.

I think I mentioned before, I crunched into a stalk of a piece of romaine lettuce and it tasted unbelievably sweet! This is the former Miss Little Debbie addict, finally enjoying the natural sweetness of natural things!

Have any of you noticed things tasting ultra-sweet and really being able to detect that now that you are sugar-free??

Saturday, November 14, 2009

BBQing without Carbs - Grilled food just tastes better!

Day 167 Low Carb

- Ham
- Cabbage/zucchini/onion stir-fry
- BBQ Pork chop off the grill [I used Walden Farms Thick and Spicy BBQ Sauce]
- Two grilled hot dogs with onions, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie bun
- Low carb cheesecake
- Burger on an oopsie roll with mustard, diced onions, tomato, mayo and low carb ketchup on an oopsie roll

Friday, November 13, 2009

Too many low carb desserts!

Day 166 Low Carb

- Tuna salad with diced onions on an oopsie roll
- Low carb peanut butter fudge
- Low carb cheesecake
- Hamburger on an oopsie with onions, tomato, mayo, mustard and low carb ketchup
- Spaghetti squash with meat marinara sauce
- Low Carb Chocolate Sundae: Breyer's Carb Chocolate Smart ice cream with Walden Farms' Low Carb ~ Sugar Free Caramel Sauce and almonds

The problem with experimenting with low carb desserts is that somebody around the house has to eat them... and it's usually me that ends up putting in in my mouth... er - hips. My sweet tooth had a sweet tooth! I usually don't even like chocolate ice cream, but I have admit, I do not regret eating any of this.... It this was incredible!

For me, it's too dang easy to justify the extra dessert (or dessert at all) if it's low carb.

Now, I do like to have a low carb option around for desserts... but this is just ridiculous!

What is everybody doing for Thanksgiving? Originally, I was going to stick to Low Carb, but I decided that I'm going to have a scheduled deviation from my plan. I plan on going to my brother's house and I'm going to enjoy the meal... I'm going to allow myself to go off of it for damage control for the future, to be honest. Days, weeks, or even months down the road, I do not want to have the excuse that I was deprived of my big, fat Thanksgiving dinner, so I can eat this Large Movie Theatre (refillable) popcorn.

I don't think that going off plan is the problem... It's when you don't get back on track that is!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

My Low Carb Menu - Day 165

Day 165 of my Low Carb Life!!!

- Tuna salad with diced onions, tomato and swiss on an oopsie roll
- Low carb peanut butter fudge

(at restaurant)
- Side salad with cucumbers, purple onion, baby spinach and ranch dressing

- Thick slice of ham
- Pork tips with mushrooms & onions
- Broccoli with butter

- Cabbage / zucchini / onion stir-fry
- Big fat burger, deluxe, on an oopsie roll

The italics above was what I ordered at the restaurant. I ordered what was called the Whole Hog Platter and it was soooo good. For some reason, I did not like my pork chop... at all. I usually love them! What is up with that!? I really think it was raw.

Nancy wrote about eating low carb at a restaurant... Honestly, before I really became committed to low carb, I used to just think, "Hey, I'm eating out... I'm not sticking to that shit..." Now, I think.... "Hey, I'm worth this..." and I politely ask my waitress to leave off the croutons... Simple as that.

Tonight was so funny. I went out to dinner with my mom and my grandma, who is a feisty 80-something who loves her bread. There was this gigantic bread bowl of fresh-baked bread. We were eating out to celebrate my three month anniversary for quitting smoking cigarettes!!!
To get on with it, my mom and I (who are avoiding carbs at all costs) kept placing the bread basket away from us.

"I don't know why, but I've lost my appetite lately," Grandma started, loading her to-go container with the rest of the bread, half-heartedly.

"Well, you did eat all of your redskin potatoes, most of your meat and at least four or five pieces of bread," Mom reminded her.

"Well, this last piece of bread will have to stay here," Grandma was frustrated because she couldn't squeeze another piece in here bulging Styrofoam container.

"Now, who wants the rest of my wine?" She held up her glass high in the air, with about half a sip of White Zinfandel in the bottom.

Day 164 Low Carb Daily Menu

Day 164 Low Carb Menu

- Cabbage / zucchini / onion stir-fry
- Albacore tuna salad on an oopsie roll with diced onions
- Meat lover's oopsie pizza
- Low carb cheesecake
- Low carb peanut butter fudge
- Meat sauce served over spaghetti squash with Parmesan cheese

This fudge is amazing! Wow.... it's incredible.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Day 163: No bread for me.... I'll take an oopsie!

Day 163 Low Carb

- Burger with all the fixin's with swiss cheese on an oopsie roll
- Some pizza made on an oopsie pizza crust
- Cheesy bread made on oopsie pizza crust with ranch dressing
- Zucchini flax muffin
- Low carb cheesecake w/ a tablespoon of natural peanut butter on the side
- Spaghetti squash covered in meat-mushroom marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese

Going to get back on board with eating cleaner. More meat...... more eggs.... more veggies.... The scale will go DOWN!

In good news... I've been exercising! I have my dad's hyper dog who is used to running daily while he rides his bike with her. She has been dragging me along for walks down the road. She insists on at least two walks per day, which is great for me. She is one enthusiastic work out buddy! I'm telling you, she will not let me skip a day and we usually go about a mile per walk.

Day 162

Day 162 Low Carb

- Zucchini flax muffin w/ butter
- Burger with all the fixin's on an oopsie roll
- Low carb almond ice cream bar
- Cocoa roasted almonds
- Oopsie cheesy bread w/ ranch dressing
- Pizza made on oopsie pizza crust
- LC cheesecake with natural peanut butter as garnish

Eating like this... no wonder I am afraid to get on the scale! I need to quit eating so much.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Day 161 Low Carb

Day 161

- Just like velveeta casserole
- Oopsie roll with butter
- Two low carb zucchini flax muffins with caramel dip
- Double cheeseburger on an oopsie, deluxe style

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Day 160 Low Carb Zucchini Muffins

Day 160

- Just like Velveeta casserole
- Two zucchini flax muffins with Walden's No Carb Caramel Dip
- Hot pepper jack cheese
- French toast, made from oopsies with Walden's No Carb Pancake Syrup
- Hot ham, swiss, tomato and mayo on an oopsie bun

The zucchini flax muffin recipe called for caramel extract, but I do not have any, so I swirled in a small spoon-ful of the caramel dip into each muffin before baking! They are excellent! I baked them in my muffin top pans and they taste like nice little lovely cakes... sweet and satisfying.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Day 159: Emotional Eating

Day 159

- Oopsie french toast with Walden's sugar free pancake syrup and sausage patties
- BLT on an oopsie roll
- Meatloaf
- Cocoa roasted almonds
- Two SF fudgsicles
- Just like velveeta casserole

All day long, I wanted to order a pizza along with cheese sticks or go to the Chinese food buffet and just eat everything in sight. I was having fantasies about it. Sick, really. I think a small part of it is dehydration.... but I'd say that the lion's share of my hunger was because I was in the mood to do some emotional eating. You know, eat to cover your feelings sort of thing. I felt like a recovering alcoholic, dying to get drunk.... Knowing I could go to that place where I eat so much that nothing hurts at all.

The good thing is me noticing the emotional eating and allowing myself to do so, using low-carb alternatives. Of course, I could have had a better day, but I can't beat myself up about it too much knowing my history.

I have been thinking about putting this blog on the back burner, but really, I need the accountability and I need to track my food or else I eat way too much...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Day 158 Low Carb "Rice"

Day 158 Low Carb

- Mashed cauliflower with butter
- Burger with all the fixins on an oopsie bun
- Hot ham, hot pepper jack cheese, tomato & mayo on an oopsie bun
- Cocoa roast almonds
- Pork and shrimp stir-fry, over riced cauliflower*

Oh em gee! Wow, this was so good! I think the cauliflower works best for "rice" when you make it in the microwave. For a 16 oz bag of frozen cauliflower, use about two tablespoons of water and cook it for 7-10 minutes in the microwave, shaking the covered microwavable bowl after five minutes. Drain well in a strainer and grate it with a cheese grater. Do not try to use a food processor (unless the cauliflower is raw) or you will end up with mashed cauliflower.

Once grated, add butter, salt and pepper (or your favorite rice seasonings) and serve. This holds up well as leftovers, but I've never tried to freeze it.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Day 157

Day 157

- Burger on an oopsie with all the fixin's
- Meatloaf
- Peanut butter cheesecake
- Ham and hot pepper cheese on an oopsie with mayo and tomato
- Slice of Deluxe American cheese
- SF popsicle
- Cocoa roasted almonds

I've been craving sweets, all day long! I still am craving them...

Day 156 Low Carb

Day 156 Low Carb

- Mashed cauliflower
- Meatloaf sandwich on an oopsie roll
- Pork and shrimp stir-fry
- Meatloaf sandwich on an oopsie roll
- Peanut butter cheesecake

Monday, November 2, 2009

Day 155 Low Carb Meatloaf Madness!

Day 155

- Mashed cauliflower
- Hamburger with hot pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, mayo, mustard & ketchup on an oopsie
- Buttered broccoli
- Low carb meatloaf**
- Meatloaf on an oopsie sandwich with hot pepper cheese & mayo
- Low carb peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream

**I have found that you can make any meatloaf recipe low-carb by subbing out the breadcrumbs for Parmesan cheese. Most of the time, I only put about 75% of what it calls for, but lots of people sub it cup-for-cup.

Soo... make Mom's meatloaf, just leave out those breadcrumbs!!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Day 154 Low Carb

Day 154

- Pizza on oopsie pizza crust
- Cheesy bread on oopsie pizza crust
- Mashed cauliflower
- Hamburger with swiss cheese, tomato, onion, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Low carb peanut butter cheesecake