Menu for This Week & other food stuff

Amy wants me to go back to doing the menu by days ~ so I will give it a try ~

Sunday night we had homemade Chili with grated cheese
Monday was Pork Roast (cooked in crockpot), cooked broccoli, carrots, green beans
Tuesday ~ spaghetti
Wed. ~ fried ham slices, baked sweet potatoes, a green vegetable
Thursday ~ Tortilla Crust Pizza's
Friday ~ Bacon Burgers (venison), mashed cauliflower, cooked broccoli
Sat. ~ Chicken Enchiladas (low carb tortillas)

We are gearing up for Honduras.  This time the team is about 10 people and we will be doing Bible School/Backyard Bible Clubs, or whatever you call them.  We will be eating breakfast at the motel ~ packets of oatmeal or grits or something similar, sandwich lunches out in the ministry areas, and dinners out in town.

We are trying to figure out our food situation ~ we can control it at home, and we can control it when we go out to eat here.  Down there is going to be trickier ~ so, do we carry our atkins stuff for breakfast, lunches, and snacks?  Do we eat a packet of grits for breakfast (ok carb wise but not great)? Or do we just eat what everyone else does and not worry about it for a week? The last option would be by far the easiest.  But whats easy is not always whats best.  We are going to carry our peanut packets and some bars for snacks.  We can get diet drinks down there~ don't know if they make Diet Mirinda (my favorite Orange drink, and its made by Pepsi down there) but since I only get Mirinda there I am going to risk that! 

We haven't decided what to do yet.  We are both stuck weight loss wise ~ maybe eating regular and then starting over when we get back would jump start the weight loss again.  We've still got days to decide ~~~~~

2nd Goal Accomplished!

I am so excited that my 2nd weight loss hurdle has been met ~ 50 pounds!  The pounds between 45-50 jumped around like a jack in the box....not fun.

So I have a little advice to share ~
*Stick with it ~ don't give up ~ you can do it
*Have plenty of acceptable snacks & munchies on hand (carry them with you when you are out so you aren't tempted)
*If portion control is an issue ~ premeasure the stuff into Ziploc bags or little containers
*drink LOTS of fluids ~ water, tea, diet drinks....lots and lots is 80-100 oz a day
*read how others have done whatever diet you are doing (we are doing Atkins now)
*Pinterest has tons of ideas & recipes for free
*Try new food items that are permissible (mashed cauliflower is pretty good!)
*If you are heading out to eat ~ check the rest. menu online and see if they list the nutrition facts ~ so you know what you can eat
*Have a co-dieter to go on this journey with you...Greg is my best cheerleader (Mom & Amy too!)
*It would help not to have a daughter who is a baker ~ but I do, so I leave the room, sometimes go upstairs and shut the door
*get a free account with "my Fitness Pal.com" to track your progress, inches lost, food diary, etc.  Did I mention its FREE"

Enjoy your success!  Have fun shopping for new clothes.  Clearance racks are awesome, black Friday sales were very helpful too!  Donate the old ones.

Now onto the next 50!  Ready or not.....here I come! 

Total between Greg and I is now 120~  whoo hoo!

A funny to share ~ I requested the New Atkins book to read & review & was accepted ~ I can write/share the review next week.....how funny is it that the book will be released on Christmas Eve?  I think its hysterical ~ releasing a diet book during one of the biggest munchy times of the year!

Book Review for Net Galley

I just finished reading "The New Lean for Life" by Cynthia Stamper Graff & Reginald Allouche.

I was interested in reading this book as it fits in with our current low carb lifestyle.  The book is written in "days" instead of "chapters" with each day representing the progression of their lean for life program.  The book does a good job of explaining how your body reacts to certain foods, why you should change your eating habits, how to make it through the plateaus of the weight loss journey & how to not go back to old habits.  It also addresses those days when the numbers on the scale creep back up a pound or so & how to address this.  There are also many testimonials of folks who have lost significant weight using this program.  It seems to follow along the lines of "Atkins" & maybe "South Beach" in it approach to carbohydrate counting/watching.

We are 3 months into our journey and this does correspond to many of the things we are doing.  And there were some good tips in the book to help us & great motivation to keep us going.

I was given this book by Harlequin Publishing (on NetGalley) for my honest opinion of this book.

Donna Jackson

Closet Purging!

Normally, seasons changing brings about swapping out some clothes in the closet.  It was time to put away some very summery items and get out the cooler/colder weather clothes. 

I am thrilled that as I tried stuff on ~ it didn't fit ~ because it was way too big!  I've got a sizeable pile of clothing to donate to a local charity & bless someone else!  I've got a pile to be altered...mostly some tops to be shortened since I am about 5'2".  I've got a couple of baggy sweatshirts to store in the rv for emergency coldweather clothing.  And I've got some blouses that are being saved to make a quilt with.

I told Greg after we lost weight, I wanted to cut up some of our favorite shirts and make a quilt ~ kind of a reminder of how far we have come and what we've been able to accomplish....through lots of prayer & the Lords guidance and strength. 

So far ~ I've lost 39 pounds and he has lost 59 pounds!  To say we are thrilled would be an understatement!  My fair commission check this year is going to some new clothes!  I need some nice sweaters/tops for church & some warm everyday sweatshirts.  Plus I would love a pair of boots.  Greg has to purge his part of the closet next ~ we don't know what he needs yet.

I am ready for the Thanksgiving sales & for our new local Outlet Mall to open ~ just 15 minutes from the house! 

Happy Fall Y'all!

Happy Monday!

Went to the dr. this morning and lost 3 1/2 pounds last week!  AWESOME!  So right now, their scales and mine are the same.  We really need to toss ours and get new ones, but that's an expense we don't need right now!

Celebrated by going to Kroger and buying a bunch of sugar free jello~yep, livin' high on the hog here. 

Last night I made homemade Chili for supper ~ just left out the beans.  And was it yummy!  And a really easy recipe....

Chili

1 pound ground beef (browned & crumbled & drained)
1/2 chopped onion cooked with ground beef or couple of tbsp. dehydrated onion
1 reg. can tomato sauce (no sugar added)
1 reg. can diced tomatoes (liquid and all)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt

Dump into pot. Simmer together for 20 minutes ~ top with cheese & enjoy!

Makes 4 servings

This is the recipe that was published in the Harvest Gooseberry Patch cookbook last fall!  Today I bought some ground turkey to try in place of the ground beef for lower the fat content some.

We have signed up to sell goodies at 2 craft fairs this fall ~ crocheted dishcloths, embroidered aprons & towels, hand scrub, smocked dresses, etc.  Amy is also going to have a cupcake table at both to sell/advertise her business.  The embroidery machine has been busy sewing all kinds of wonderful stuff!

Sat. may have been my last pool day.  While the weather is still HOT (90 +) the water is not, which is quite unusual.  I got in there to swim & exercise, there was a refreshing breeze, but that made me cold.  After just a little bit, I ended up floating on my chair ~ yesterday, I just stuck with the treadmill. 

We did another sign language class after church yesterday & our next one at the deaf school is tomorrow night.  Amy & I can kinda muddle our way through signing the "Jesus Loves Me" song.  We are teaching Greg some signs too, so he can talk to Lauren also!  Lauren may look at all of us and think we are crazy, but hey, she is 3 and just learning herself!

Wills got a full week of work this week.  Amy & I are finishing up fair projects.  My friend Angel is turning them in for us since we will be in Atlanta for Allen & Jennifers wedding.  Gregs got a full week at work!  We've got lots of household projects to complete ~ sometime!

Hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Our Success ~ So Far

Its been a while since I reported on our weight loss journey ~ everything is going great!  Greg is at 43 pounds and I just hit 30 this morning!  Yippee ~~~~ confetti, streamers, balloons, & coke zero!!!!!!!

News Flash Update ~ there is a dress I wanted to wear for Allens wedding...its been hanging in my closet for several years and I just didn't want to get rid of it even though it didn't fit ~ but now it does!  I am doing a happy dance!

Its been interesting to use Pinterest to find no/low carb ideas for dinners.  I will go ahead and confess ~ we do eat at least one meal a day.  We just weren't happy with no food, but there are tons of ideas out there and some have been downright tasty!

We all love pasta at this house and that's a huge no-no.  I found an alternative recipe to use and we tried it Monday night.  This recipe called for using broccoli slaw instead of noodles.  Their instructions were to spray a skillet with non stick cooking spray, add the slaw, and 1/4 cup water and sauté until the water was evaporated ~ then top with your spaghetti sauce and serve.  I used 1/2 cup water because a 1/4 just didn't look like much.  Greg liked it ~ it was ok to me.  But part of the ok was from the broccoli still having a crunch to it.  Next time, I am going to boil it.  Honestly, the broccoli didn't seem to change the taste of the sauce too much.  So that was a success!

We've got some other ideas for things to try that I will report on later!

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Its just 22 days till our next family wedding! 

Low/No Carb Funny

 

Ramblings........

The weather here can't make up its mind ~ which could happen for the next 3 months or so.  Yesterday was hot ~ 90's hot, today so far is cool, cloudy & rainy!  Which is a good time to sew or quilt!

Speaking of quilt ~ I spoke too early last time, I wasn't on the last side.  But it "appears" that I now have 3 blocks left to complete!  I am so ready for this project to be done!  While in VA and driving home last weekend, I finished hand quilting a baby size quilt for the fair ~ its a cross stitch zoo animal one like I made Robert last year.  And we got Allen & Jennifers quilt professionally machine quilted last week.  It was worth every penny!  Now, I have 3 quilts to trim and bindings to sew on ~ not too hard but it it tedious.

2 of our sons now have new jobs!  We are thrilled for them.  Allen is going to work for a "locating" firm ~ they locate all the sewer/water lines for road construction, new building, pipes, etc.  They are contractors for the county in GA.  Jennifer works for the same company.  This will mean a pay raise for him....which will be awesome, especially since he is getting married the end of Sept.!  Rob has been searching for a job also and got one working for a plumber.  He worked for one several summers ago, so it won't be totally new to him!  Amy Kate finished her internship with Target and is now in the training phase of the job.  Unfortunately, she can't train at the store she will be employed at, so she is training on the coast and Andy is in Hattiesburg in school.  Just 6 more weeks and then they will be past this phase of life and together again.

On the diet front ~ we are still losing!  Over the 2 weeks we didn't get to the dr  because of travel...we lost 9+ pounds together!  Total we are over 50 pounds ~~~ in 6 weeks!  We've bought a few shirts and were able to get smaller sizes.  Greg took some shorts to the lake that had been too small and now they are too large!  Exciting!  One discovery I have made is that diet Orange Sunkist tastes very similar to my favorite drink in Honduras, orange Mirinda.  Yum!

We are starting to clean up some drawers and cabinets in the kitchen.  I've got so much stuff in there that is never used.  I am going to put most of it in a box, stick it in the garage pantry and see if I need any of it between now and the spring.  If not, its all going into the church garage sale!

Enough for now!  Time to get something done!

Busy, Busy!

We've had some busy days here and then some wonderfully long, slow, relaxin' days.

Amy had 4 cupcake order for this weekend.  So she was baking 1 batch of each....lemon with lemon icing, chocolate with chocolate icing, vanilla with vanilla, and a new one...peanut butter with pb icing!  These were for 3 birthday parties and a shower for my new daughter in law (got married in March).  I washed lots of dishes, pans, and mixing bowls for her & resisted the temptation to lick the chocolate icing off my finger and wash it instead ~ Donna 1 / icing 0!

2 wonderful ladies gave this shower for AmyKate at church last Sunday.  They did an old fashioned "pounding"....where the bride is blessed with many pantry items & staples for her kitchen.  The timing was perfect because they will be moving into their new apartment tomorrow or the following day!  AK and Andy were blessed with giftcards, canned goods, paper products, storage containers, spices, plastic wraps, baskets, clothes detergent, baking products/mixes, etc.  I appreciate my church friends for blessing AmyKate and Andy.   Now they have lots to fill their cabinets with!

I've got several projects I have been working on for Jennifer and Allens shower this weekend at my moms.  As I told Allen yesterday ~ I have some awesome gifts for you.....none of which are on your gift registries ~ and the best thing is, he won't be able to guess what they are.  And just on the off chance that he may read this blog post ~ I can't share with anyone!  I am excited to see his reaction to these gifts.  All will be very special to him!  And I've got goodies for Jennifer too!  Now I just have to safely get these treats to GA.

Greg and I are still doing great on our diet!  I've lost 19 now and he is right at or above 30.  Personally, I don't think its fair that guys can lose faster and more than gals ~ just my opinion!  The dr. said after 5-6 days on this diet we would get energy and feel better.....honestly, it took a good 3 weeks for me to notice I had energy.  We've been swimming for exercise and yesterday, we dusted off the treadmill and got to walking.  We could walk outside....but its 97 degrees with 100% humidity ~ its hard to walk to the mailbox and back in that.   We did get an emergency food list to use on our travels next week.........I am most excited about the green beans and carrots on the list!  Yum!  Just the anticipation is enough to keep me going right now!

I've got lots of pictures from this weekend....but can't download them.  Honestly, does any like Windows 8? 

Update.....I published this, got out of all my programs and HEY, there is the screen to download my pictures.....this is so confusing!  Here are some shots of the goodies and fun!

Amys cupcakes are GORGEOUS!

Bluebelle came into visit ~ the back of her hutch was falling apart and Greg built a new backing!

Cupcakes for the shower

Goodies for AmyKate and Andy!

beautiful table setting by the hostesses

Tie Dyed flowers made of marshmallow fondant

2 squirts!  Ragen and Kaytee Beth!  Love these girls!

bucket of spices from Greg and I

canning jar lotion & soap dispensers!

Apron made from some of Andys great grandmothers fabric.

baskets/bags of blessings!

Successfully Cheating

What a title ~ but I guess that accurately describes us right now.  This all liquid (except for sugar free jello..does that count as chewing?) is getting to us ~ big time.  I can successfully make it all day...till about dinner time.  I am not really hungry ~ but just feel hollow...so we have cheated, a little.

We have bought 2 salads from Subway on 2 different days.  They contain lettuce, spinach, bell pepper, a little tomato,  turkey & cheese.  Each salad is 110 calories & we split them...so 55 calories each.  We do our own dressing with is sugar free, carb free, cholesterol free, etc....and amazingly not taste free.  Or we do the red or white wine vinegar.  We've also baked some fish and split the fillets.

So with all that being said....this last week I lost 4.8 pounds.  Added to the previous week and what I lost before we even started, I am up to 16.8.  Whoo hoo....throw the confetti....pop balloons or whatever!  So that's the total for the month of July ~ I pray August is just as successful~

So far, so good!

Just stuff!

We are plugging along here!  The temps are a little cooler than normal for the summertime ~ but that's ok with me....its still in the 90's just not the 100's.

I guess our bodies are adjusting to the diet.  We seem to have a bit more energy and for the majority of the time, we aren't hungry.  It was a bit discouraging yesterday to step on the scales at the dr. office and their scale only showed a 2 pound drop.  But, it was late morning and I had already had my morning shake, 20 ounces of water, and a coke zero.  Next week, we are going at 8...this is too hard to be discouraged by a scale.  But our scales at home show a 12 pound loss since the end of June! 

Back to school stuff is everywhere ~ I think its funny that in the middle of the aisle of back to school supplies is a huge display of candy.  Lets pump them full of sugar and then expect them to listen....that isn't going to end well for the teacher or the students!  Here in Miss., school got out in May and will resume in 2-3 weeks.  I just think it was much easier when we were little....we got out the Friday before Memorial Day and resumed the day after Labor Day.  We are slowly cleaning out some of our homeschool supplies and gifting others.  But there is lots more to clean!

We've got another wedding on the horizon ~ the end of September.  My Allen & Jennifer are getting excited about their big day.  2 more months and I will have another daughter!  I'm working on some projects for them, but can't share any details yet.

My hand quilting is coming along.  But I really think those squares are multiplying and dividing overnight ~ everynight.  The quilt only has 4 sides...but everytime I "think" I am finishing a side and about to start the last one...it isn't the last side.  So at this point, I am going to be shocked when its actually done!

Time to go get something done!

Eating Low Carb

So eating low carb is going to be our new way of life, after the "diet" portion of this weight loss journey ~

Greg found these recipes online and shared them with me ~~~~~

 

 Fake Big Mac   

 

Description:	Craving a Big Mac? I was too, this did the trick!
Ingredients:	1/2 lb hamburger 2 cups shredded lettuce 1 tbs dehydrated chopped onions 10 dill pickle slices (chopped) 2 slices american cheese 3 tbs low carb Thousand Island dressing
How To Prepare:	Place dehydrated onions in a small cup of warm water to rehydrate. Place lettuce and pickles in a bowl. Brown hamburger over medium heat. Drain, leave in a little of the grease, then stir in cheese until melted. It should coat the hamburger. Immediately pour hot hamburger over salad and stir. Drain chopped onion, and stir into salad. I like to microwave my salad for a minute to warm everything up. Stir in Thousand Island dressing. Enjoy!
Number of Servings:	1-2
Carbs per serving - include all nutritional information if known:	4
Preparation Time:	10 minutes
Effort (Easy, Average, Difficult):	Easy

 

 

AND

 

Fake Potato Salad  

 

Ingredients:	3 cups cooked cauliflower 3-5 cooked,chopped eggs 1-2 cup mayo 1/2 cup diced dill pickles 2 TSP diced onion 2 TSP pickle juice Yellow Mustard to taste Salt and pepper to taste
How To Prepare:	Cook the cauliflower and eggs then drain, then add all the ingredients and put in the refrigerator overnight. This recipe tastes so good, you will have a hard time believing it is not the real thing!
Number of Servings:	4-6
Effort (Easy, Average, Difficult):	Easy

So how come they both sound good?  Even though I haven't gotten a Big Mac in years & years and I don't even like cauliflower?

 

Oh well~ this is an interesting journey....all 5 days so far ~ and many, many more to go!

 

Who knew that sugar free jello could taste so scrumptious?  Or all the flavors they have now.....lemon, lime, black cherry, strawberry, orange, cherry, etc. 

 

Tips to help with this journey ~ have lots of variety on hand of what we can eat, or drink, the powder mix-ins for water are wonderful, and I unfollowed all my "food" or "recipe" boards on Pinterest. 

 

 

 

 

So What Do You Do?

Greg took off from work, the first 3 days of our new lifestyle ~ which was great!

We've had our ups and downs, have been tired, have drunk gallons of water, swam/floated in the pool, read books, worked on my quilt, clipped some bushes, walked the dog, washed all our cups/spoons/bowls from our liquid nutrition.  Oh, and lost weight.  I am up to 8 pounds now (since returning from the mission trip) and Greg is up to 18 (I think!) ~ motivation to keep going! 

We've also amassed a large collection of sugar free jello, been through the grocery store reading labels, cleaned out the fridge, rearranged all the fridge shelves to be Greg/Donna friendly, and put our blender through a workout. 

So far we like the chocolate shake (my fave), the vanilla shake (Gregs fave), the hot chocolate (both of us like this), the cheddar broccoli soup, the cream of chicken soup, and Greg likes the lemon pudding.  There is also a chocolate pudding and its ok ~ the first night it was nasty, the second night I added some of my Honduran Vanilla and that made it better but still not quite good.  We can add spices to stuff as long as we read the labels and keep up with carbs/calories etc...so we added some of our homemade taco seasoning to the cream of chicken soup ~ yum!

Oh....we've also been texting/talking to our kids at Street Reach ~ they are having a great time!  Mondays afternoon project was The Senior Center, Tuesdays was playing outdoor games with the kids at one of the sites, and yesterdays was the community center.  Last night was their free night for fun so they went to play lazer tag and went out to eat dinner.

Friday morning will be their last day at the site.  And after lunch they will head home. 

Happy Thursday!

The Journey Has Begun

I blogged Friday about us starting our weight loss journey!  And I appreciate the supportive comments very much!

Monday was our blood work, counseling, dr. appt., etc.  We had to "fast" for the bloodwork...which was fine but our appts. weren't until 1 pm.  That made the morning just a little rough.

We got there filled out everything and had all our sessions with everyone. Oh, they did an EKG on each of us.  First I have ever had done. They tried to do Greg's bloodwork but his veins were not cooperative ~ at all.  My bloodwork went well.

We got all our liquid nourishment packets and headed to the car.  This diet is liquid meal replacements.  Shakes, puddings, and soups.  Its all formulated to give you all the vitamins, minerals, carbs, etc. that you need for a day. 

We had bottled water and Coke Zero in a cooler in the car.  We immediately set to mixing our first shake in our handy dandy blending cups.  By this time it was 3 ~ first anything we had all day and it was yummy! 

Then we have 10 carbs we can "add" on our own...along with a list of ideas.  I am very thankful that iced tea sweetened with Stevia is a "free" food.  After not chewing anything at all since Sunday night ~ I have thoroughly enjoyed my piece of Trident gum and my sugar free jello! 

We went back to the office today and got Greg's bloodwork done.  So we are done with bloodwork for 2 weeks!

After a week or 2, there are some meal bars that we can add and not have to just drink everything. 

Every week we go weigh in, get our meal packets, and see a nurse.  Every other week, we will have bloodwork done along with the other stuff...and see the dr.

And speaking of the dr. ~ turns out she has been on mission trips with our family dr. and she & Greg were on the same team in 1996....small world!

We are going to use this blog as our journal, of sorts.

Heres to liquid meal replacements!    CHEERS!

A New Journey

Greg and I are embarking on a new journey ~ one we are excited about, apprehensive of, nervous about, and many other emotions. 

This will be a journey that will hopefully, prayerfully result in a new Donna and a new Greg. 

At least appearance wise ~ healthwise too.

Our weight loss journey is officially beginning on Monday.

Why wait till then?

Because we both have dr. appt. for lots of blood work and tests at a local hospital before we join their program.

We went to an orientation last night ~ there were 3 of us in there (I would have preferred just the 2 of us and the counselor/cheerleader).  We listened, we read the material, we brought the sample meal replacement things home and "fixed" them for dinner.  The #3 person came and left with the assumption she was going to do the lap band surgery.  She didn't seem at all interested in the diet part.

We both have health issues that are necessitating these changes.  Mine would include but at not limited to osteo arthristis.  Also, blood sugar, cholesterol, acid reflux. 

We set a goal ~ mine is high!  Reaching these goals would mean we would weigh much less than we have in 30 years or so. 

Where won't be a weight given (that part is personal!)!  But I did install a tracker to keep up with pounds lost.

What I need ~ prayer, encouragement, excitement. 

What you may hear over the coming months ~ my excitement, some sharing, and probably some moaning and groaning! 

Oh, this is all through a local hospital, is going to be medically supervised (dr. nurses, and labs).  And we are doing it together ~ our own support group!