Wisdom from the Second Week of My Diet

Lisa's Blog
31 Comments

So far January has been rough.  I am on the second week of my diet and I’m starting to dream of chocolate.  I need something chewy….anything but lettuce and ground turkey.

I’m salivating just thinking about it.  Yesterday I was rummaging through the pantry hoping there was some hidden gem in there like an old Tootsie Roll or maybe some unused chocolate chips.  Sadly I went away with nothing.

It’s pitiful really.  But the thought of eating more oranges today makes me want to run screaming to the nearest mini-mart for a Snickers.

I can say that even though the cravings are causing me to have weird thoughts of chewing on a pencil for comfort, I have lost weight.  My goal is to lose 50 pounds this year.  That’s about a pound a week.  Surely I can manage that.  My plan is to watch my diet, exercise 3x a week and watch “The Biggest Loser.”  If that doesn’t work nothing will.

The hardest part is finding something to eat when I am on the go.  Like yesterday, some of the kids and I were going to meet some friends an hour away.  I was running late so I needed to eat my lunch while I drove.  This is hard to do with a salad.  What am I supposed to eat in the car?  Or when I’m in the middle of school and don’t have time to stop and cook something.  I need suggestions.  And before you answer keep in mind that I am not eating many carbs and I’m watching fats and no sugar.  See?  I told you it’s hard.

I’m going to focus on the good things.  Like the rain.  We had a torrential downpour last night  It’s the first big rain we’ve had in a year and I am just so grateful for it!  I love lying there on a dark morning and listening to the sound of rain on our metal roof.  It’s a sleep late, relax, cuddle kind of day.  Plus it’s Hope’s birthday, so we will all be enjoying a relaxing day of playing games and talking about when she was a baby and how far she’s come.

And I will be watching the kids eat cake while I chew on a celery stick (not really because I hate celery, I just thought it sounded noble).

As if that’s not enough fun information for the day, I also can tell you that I’ve started planning my January project.  I am going to help Grace redo her room and w are online shopping for bedding.  She has a daybed and needs a new cover and dust ruffle.  Once we find that we will pick paint colors and build some shelves around the top of her room.  She is a bookworm and has books in stacks all around the tiny room, so we need to get them off of the floor and  have decided that the only way to go is up.  It will be a pain for her to try to actually get the books down, but we’ve got to keep our priorities in order.  Like the good book says, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

Have a great week!

And don’t forget those quick meal suggestions.  I need them before I start building shelves in Grace’s room.  Man can’t live on oranges and broccoli alone.

31 Comments

  1. We are on the South Beach. We are loving the lost in lbs but I dream of bread. Lol.

    What good book are you referring to? I know you better than that to say that is in “the” Good Book. Lol. You must be referring to the Lana version, as my kids say. 😉

    Good job! Don’t bite pencils! You are doing great!

  2. No carbs? Really? Wow…that’s just crazy talk! How about lettuce wraps on the go? I did Weight Watchers to help me lose 40 pounds but I had carbs. There are {at least in our stores} low-carb tortillas and bread. I bought that for my hubby when he was on his low carb diet kick. We still eat it cause it’s low calorie – Delightful Bread. That way you could make a sandwich. He would eat a burger with lettuce as the “bun”, too. It’s really all about self-control. You’ll just need to pray and ask God every time you want to eat something you shouldn’t…it will cause you to lean on Him 🙂

    Becky B.
    http://www.organizingmadefun.com
    Organizing Made Fun

  3. I have to second Becky’s comment. And have you seen how much weight she lost! That girl is my “hero”! Do you want an accountability partner? If so just let me know as I am so up for this! I have to admit I’m not going to concern myself with how much I lose but rather getting in shape… and cutting out the snacking especially before bed time and by eating more good fats as they are filling. I do love brown rice and other whole grains so they are being added back into our regular diet. I’ll be praying for you!

  4. Oh boy…. good for you. I feel your pain, because I truly reckon I’m on the point of being obsessed with food. I truly think of food ALL day. I’m only 5ft tall…er, small, so I *really* have to watch the pounds. I have to lose 7lbs, just cos my clothes are just a wee bit too tight and I sure amn’t gonna buy new stuff 🙂

    Lisa, go for it… I will be following you all the way and cheering from across the Pond. All the best!

  5. Yes Lana, I was just kidding about the good book. My family always said that when I was a kid, that, so it was directed at them.

    Just so y’all know, I’m not on NO carbs…just low carbs. I don’t care much for bread so I definitely don’t have an interest in eating low carb bread. I’ll just do without.

    Thanks! Lisa~

  7. Hi Lisa,
    It’s been a while since I have left a comment, but I still read your blog all the time! I feel your pain on the whole weight loss thing, I myself want to lose about 80 lbs. One thing I’m doing that I actually found on pinterest is the ‘mason jar diet’ It’s all about preplanning and preparing all of your meals for the week and putting them in mason jars in your fridge. They look very pretty and appetizing. That way when you need to rush out of the house, you just need to grab a jar and a fork and your set 😉 (We follow each other on pinterest, so just go to my ‘yummy bites’ board to find a good link to all this)
    Good Luck!
    Hugs 😉
    Erica

  8. I don’t really have any good advice… I just wanted to say I saw that you had posted something new and I said to myself I need a laugh and sure enough you never let me down. I LOVED the part about the tootsie roll or chocolate morsel. I can definately relate!!!

  9. Dontcha just love diets… blahhh… Speaking of low carb, have you watched “Fat Head”? It is an eye opening documentary about the lies we’ve been told all these years about carbs vs. fat, etc. Also, books by Gary Taubes are good. Fat is not the enemy. Carbs are. They are why we’re all fat and have diabetes and heart disease. I’ve lost close to 20 lbs just avoiding carbs/sugar, but I eat plenty of fat.
    For a snack while I’m out, I get a bacon cheeseburger and don’t eat the bun, or just eat the bottom bun. There are not a ton of options. At home, a ham and cheese rollup is good when I don’t feel like making anything.
    Anyway, I’m praying for you!

  10. I am on the South Beach diet and I watch carbs and fat too! Try hummus with sliced cucumbers for an on the go lunch. Or a wrap with low carb high fiber tortillas. Or a little tub of cottage cheese. I have also made a tabbouleh type salad with quinwoa and fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and orange bell peppers. Its really good. If you want more specific recipes you can email me.

  11. I second what everyone else said, especially the planning ahead part.

    Since you are doing low carb and low fat, try lamb. Less saturated fat, more omega-3, more antioxidants, more B vitamins, yada yada yada.

    Here is a recipe for lamb meatballs that we love with steamed veggies. Yes, I realize this is not the quick recipe you wanted, but hey, I’m not perfect!
    But they don’t take long and here’s the thing: although cold meat is usually disgusting, these are actually not bad grabbed out of the fridge the next day for a quick snack. (Of course they are much better hot from the oven!)

    To each 1# ground lamb, mix in
    1/4 c. finely chopped green onion,
    1/2 t cinnamon,
    1 t cumin,
    1 t allspice,
    1 t salt,
    1 egg,
    3 T crumbs (bread/cracker/etc).
    Bake 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

  12. My first thought for on-the-go was wraps! Since that is already ‘taken’ 🙂 I’m going to recommend an apple, a cheese stick, and a handful of almonds. or a Fibar? have you tried those? They are not a snickers but they aren’t 1/2 bad.

    At home..
    Do you like soup? You can have a bowl of vegetable soup or black bean soup or ??? It fills you up and is warm and comforting too. We need comfort when we are trying not to eat chocolate 🙂

    Sometimes I pretend that I’m at a snazzy lunch place and ‘order’ the soup and salad. LOL
    I know I’m pathetic, but it makes the meal sound more exciting. And if you make it really pretty, it tastes better.

  13. My church is starting The Daniel Fast this week. 21 days of only things God made (nuts, legumes/beans, fruits and vegetables). no meat, carbs, dairy, etc. The pastor kept saying “it’s not about the food, it’s about GOD!” Snacking on almonds of a trail mix (without those pesky M&Ms) are a good snack. Dinner (vegetarian chili, all veggie soup with cabbage. My FAVORITE is to make a fruit salad of one banana, one orange, one apple and one box or raisins. chopp it all up and squeeze the juice from orange piece sections all over the rest of the fruit. Shake it up good to coat all the fruit. It’s sweet, tart, crunchy and the raisins are chewy. All the senses are satisfied. I LOVE it.

  14. Here’s my take on diets….they don’t work!! What works is a life style change, and with that I mean eating, exercise, drinking water and rest! When you deprive your body of anything, especially something that you love(chocolate/sugar/soda/bread, etc.), it will crave it more. This is a proven fact!!! We changed what we were buying. Swapped out things like mayo, butter, salad dressing for low fat/low carb. Started walking every day and exercising 3 days a week. Cut back on soda and replaced w/water and started to go to bed 30 minutes earlier than normal. When we needed a chocolate/sugar fix, we took it. Small doses! A pudding cup, those small bites size candy bars. Believe me it was hard some days to know that there was a bag full of that nummy chocolatey goodness in the cupboard, but I would grab a few carrot sticks/pretzel sticks and find something to do! After a few weeks of making changes, it got a lot easier!! It’s second nature now. Sure hope that you make it through the next chocolate melt-down, but if not….it’s all gonna be alright!! Just get back at it!!

  15. Find a copy of Why French Women don’t get fat- its fabulous and when I mentioned it to my Dr she actually said it is the book that she recommends to anyone needing to lose weight, its not about what you eat so much but the amount and balance. I always carry a bottle of water and a small container of nuts and seeds with me in my handbag for those emergencies. Add some mint, lemon and cucumber to your water- it tastes fabulous!

  16. Have you tried Lara Bars? They are made with fruit and nuts. That’s it, nothing else. They are gluten and dairy free. I have one when I am craving sugar. As for lunch, I love lettuce wraps, soup, and a burger patty topped with avocado, tomato, and onion (which I know is not easy to eat on the go, but thought I’d throw it in there). And, I second what someone else mentioned about salads and such in the mason jars. Quick and easy!

  17. I know exactly how you feel!! 🙁 I did a reboot with mom and dad a week ago and that is how I felt. I totally recomend prayer it helped me soo much!! I didn’t realizae how much I enjoyed food until I started the reboot. But as far as food’s going hummus is definetely really yummy! It goes good with a ton of different veggies but if you don’t like hummus you might want to try premaking this yummy snack…

    1- to how ever many tomatoes you would like
    blasamic vinegar
    olive oil
    italian sesoning a.k.a rosemary, basil and oregeno
    just slice your tomatoes into a tuperware container and drizzle some balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top. Then sprinkle the intalian seasoning on top.

    This is soo delicious and really easy to prepare ahead of time. Low carbs and lots of flavor without much effort and its great for on the road. 🙂
    I’ll ask mum if she has any recipe recomendations.
    😀

    Oooh and try dark chocolate almonds yopu can find them at Sprouts. They are so good and the dark chocolate isn’t bad. They also help satisfy your sweet tooth which I get often. 😛

  18. P.S. Doing the reboot really hepled me to in my spiritual walk. I had to learn self control and I would pray and the Lord was faithful… let me know if you want more info on the reboot thing which is TOTALLY awesome!! 😀

  20. Taco salad with blue corn tortilla chips. Taco soup with lots of beans and hominy to fill you up. Real old fashioned oatmeal in the mornings. Boiled eggs. Sautéed apples in a touch of butter and dab of brown sugar. Garlic Green Beans with grape tomatoes are one weight watchers point for the whole pan and we love them. Chicken salad bulked with apples egg celery pecans and less mayo. Beans and brown rice. Stir fry. Almonds. Almond butter. Apple sandwiches with granola and almond or pb an. Apple nachos. Fruit salads. Fruit Parfaits of yogurt, fruit, granola. Cucumber and tomatoes drizzled with sea salt and a sPlash of vinegar. Baked sweet potatoes are a favorite around here. Bobo’s oat bars. Water, almond milk, hot teas. You can do it!!

  21. Hello there!
    I love your blog! I was feeling your pain when I read this post! I recently did a no sugar, no fat, no carbs diet. HARSH. But, I lost a pound a day and have kept most of it off for almost two years. My on the go lunch (which I still eat on busy days running errands or crazy homeschooling days) is a THINK THIN bar. I can’t remember where I heard of these, but I think it was on Gwyneth Paltrow’s blog. They have tons of protein, that makes you feel full for a long time. They also have some great-tasting snack bars. I also would sometimes drink a PURE PROTEIN shake. (That’s the brand name) I found both of these at the grocery store. I hope these help!

  22. Weight Watchers is the way to go….I was skeptical, but lost 23 pounds last winter. My sister is a WW leader and encouraged me all the way! With WW you are free to fit anything into your food plan..yep, plan ahead! You even get extra points that you can use for treats!~ You also earn extra points for exercise and other things. I really can’t say enough about it….it couldn’t be easier! Also, check out their website, as well as Hungry Girl’s. They have great tips, recipes, motivation and food reccomedations. Don’t set big, long-term goals, set short term goals that you can achieve and CELEBRATE! Remember, “success will never be a big step in the future; success is a small step taken just now.” (WW) I also pray for strength to make good food choices and the ability to forgive myself and get back on track when I don’t!

  24. I just want to say how much I’m loving these comments! Great ideas. I’m stealing some 🙂 Apple Nachos sounds intriguing.. what goes on top?

  25. I don’t know if you like coconut, but Atkins has a great bar that tastes like Mounds. It is dark chocolate and coconut. I love them. It makes me feel like I am getting a treat, but is actually low on calories and carbs and you can eat them on the go. I feel your pain. I have about 50 I want to get rid of myself……..such a daunting task, but I know we both can do it!!!

  26. @Pam- I saw this on Pinterest. Drizzle peanut or almond butter, honey, granola, chopped bananas, chocolate chips, coconut, cinnamon, possibilities are endless!

  27. Raw cashews for a snack. For quick lunches: hardboiled eggs with a bit of salt or seasoning. Kidney beans with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Yoghurt with sliced banana. Plus flax seeds or raw sunflower seeds if you want to add some crunch.

  28. My go-to quick meal is a protein shake. There are lots of low-carb options. I’ve been making mine with Almond milk and it’s quite tasty. I can sympathize with you…I’m trying to cut out salt, sugar, milk , you know, everything that tastes good. Between trying to get my blood pressure down and trying not to consume anything that will upset my nursing baby’s tummy, there aren’t a lot of options left.

  30. Oh,I can so relate to not wanting to stop and fix something to eat during the day, so a lot of times I make a quick smoothie with whey protien powder, good for home and on the go. Also always having grilled chicken into strips on hand is a great quick lunch, throw it in a container and you can eat and drive. I also make mini meatballs and keep those in the frig. to grab quick because they can be eaten cold or warm. I also like homemade raw nut and cranberries in a baggies. Also protien bars are great, I always take these to the park. My husband and I are coaches for BeachBody and we really like their Peak Performance bars and shakeology.
    https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart_Detail.asp?PriceID=152474&Cat=Nutrition%20and%20Supplements|Sports%20Performance&AddToCart=

    http://www.teambeachbody.com/nutrition-shake/shakeology
    Shakeology is expensive but the nutrition that it packs is amazing. I hope that helps–just stay the course and you will be successful–Thanks for sharing your family life and experiences with us, I have been following for a few months and enjoy your personable nature.

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