Less than a week until the big man comes but.....Who Cares!?! Tonight....the Tooth Fairy is coming!!!!


Okay, so that was actually last night but it was just so adorable! She was sooo excited! lol

I've had an up and down kinda week. I got as high as +5.4 LDW with stress eating. It can be really frustrating in and of itself! I'll be doing great all day and just after supper it hits me. I didn't get this stuff done or that thing is coming up. I don't think I consciously know what all the stressors are (I call it life!) but I know they are there when I gravitate towards the pantry. What ticks me off is, it isn't like I'm at a social function with tempting foods around me. Quite the contrary! I just did my baking yesterday! I'm actually searching for something and usually end up eating way too many mixed nuts and cheese. Chocolate is in there too but usually in the form of a protein bar, lol.
Thank goodness I'm able to channel some of it through my activities. Yesterday, I set myself to task! I did a top down cleaning of my house including load after load of laundry. I also shovelled our driveway (cough parking lot cough cough).
I picked up the kids after school and we started baking (insert snacks and supper with this) right up until bedtime routine. It was Thursday so hubby was out at game night with the guys for his 'day off'. Tubby and story time was all mine. Just before tubby I let the kids sample some of our sugar cookies. Well, I swear! They were not hard but there's Kaylee...tooth on her shirt! Lol Once she came to terms with what had happened she was all good. Not to mention excited!! The tooth fairy pays $5 a tooth these days...yah know.
I finished up the baking and laundry after the kids were in bed. I stuck to M1W1 foods for the most part. Yes I had a few cookies but my calorie burn for the day was huge and I knew it. This morning I was down 3lbs! Woohoo!!!
What a relief! Christmas time is the hardest time of year for me. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself!
Cheers
CAT

Well I had a run in with some bronchitis but I got some meds and I'm on the mend! Today I'm +1.8 LDW which is about where I've been sitting for a couple weeks now. Feeling stable :) Couple more days and I should be good as new!
The count down to Christmas is on! I'm about half way through shopping. We're trying to keep it low key. With me no longer working the budget is a bit tighter than what we're used to! It's all about family time anyway!!! We finally got our tree up and decorated the house. I love the warm feeling it brings!

Cheers
CAT

Day 2 of being sick :( The whole family has it so not much sleep happening for anyone. I've increased vitamin C for us all and hoping this doesn't last too long. I was short on calories yesterday. Really short.
I tried to just tough it out and decided to hit the pool for a couple hours. Felt good to get an hour of laps in but then I had a bunch of running around to do. Then I lost my wallet! Good grief. After spending even more time retracing my steps I came home exhausted. At least I found my wallet (nothing missing, yay).
This morning I was up 0.2. Not bad debating all I went through! Sitting right on 144.
Today was even worse for calories. I made a big omelet for breakfast but barely got it down. Lunch was a protein bar and I've since had a mandarin orange. That's it! I'm soo nauseated that I don't see anything short of tea and water to finish the day.
Someone send me the flu fairy to take this away!!!
CAT

I just spent the whole morning writing! It felt great!!! It started out as a post for here but before I knew it I had completed my opening chapter for my book. It was just too long and too juicy to post as an everyday blog entry. I don't do anything in 'proper' order. Most of my essays were written body first with the conclusion and introduction done last. Really, most of the time I have no clear idea what I'm writing about until I've written a bunch of 'stuff'! Based on what I've just said...this means I'm getting close to finishing! Woohoo!

So, sorry I don't have an enlightening blog post for you today....how about a soup recipe? Will that make you happy?

Chicken Tomato Soup

1 Tbsp evoo
1 chicken breast (mine was about 250g)
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup EarthPure tomato sauce
1 cup riced cauliflower
Marinara spice (epicure makes a yummy one)
1 Tbsp cream

Heat oil on medium and brown chicken on all sides. Add just enough water to have about 1 inch on the bottom of pan. Cover and lower heat to simmer. Simmer 20 minutes flipping chicken half way through time.
Remove chicken and dice. Add remaining water, tomato sauce, finely diced (or riced) cauliflower, and spice to taste. Bring to boil and then lower to simmer again. Once cauliflower is just tender you can toss the chicken back in along with the cream. Stir and heat a couple minutes longer and done!
I'll come back and edit this post to include nutrient values! I killed my battery with all that typing this morning, lol.

Cheers
CAT

I was reading labels (a common pastime at this point) and wondered why potassium and sodium had earned special ranks up at the top of our labels. Why weren't they down with the rest of the vitamins and minerals?? I had to investigate!
It turns out there is a pretty special relationship between sodium and potassium. I am not one who hides the salt shaker. As a child my mother would complain that it looked as though it snowed on my steak. I also have never had any problem with my blood pressure. So I assumed that sodium just wasn't an issue for me. I have however had dry skin, acne problems, chills, depression, muscular fatigue, and a few more symptoms associated with low potassium (though recent tests showed all my levels except vitamin D to be excellent, yay). These past experiences have me thinking though!
Sure I can handle the salt just fine but unless I keep my potassium up to the same degree I will lose cellular balance. I've got a pretty good ear for listening to my body now so I think it is no coincidence that I have 'happened' upon this information today. For the last week I've literally had banana cravings (which I totally complied with one a day). I hear yah body!!! I'm all over this!
I need to watch more closely what combinations I'm doing (along with my vitamin d supplements) to ensure that I'm getting about the same amount of sodium to potassium each day. While it no longer snows on my steaks and frozen banana yogurt is always on the menu, I will still be keeping an eye out for ques to keep me on track.
A little aside: when a box says "source of 7 essential nutrients" do you know what they mean? They are referring to the fat, sodium, potassium, carbs, fibre, sugar, and proteins. I'll leave that statement as is for you to decide how you feel.
I'll also leave you with a link to a great description on what I've touched on today:
http://www.naturalnews.com/024539_potassium_sodium_diet.html

Cheers
CAT

R6M1D18 +1.6LDW
I've been at the same weight, basically, for the last week now. I'm 5'7" and at 143.6lbs my daily calories are about 1800-1850. So far, the only exercise I have added is 1 1/2 hours of gymnastics on Wednesday mornings. I think I got this! 24 days until Life Phase but really, besides adding back in a few favourite carbs like rice, pasta, and bread...this is how I normally eat anyway!
I am feeling pretty emotional this week. Tom arrived the other day, I finish up with the support group tomorrow, and my son has his specialist appointment on Friday. It feels like a count down is on! I'll update as I know more but don't be surprised if I'm missing for a little bit this next week. I just need some time to regroup and to get my house in order for the holidays.
Did I mention my grandpa is coming this year!?! He has never spent the Christmas holiday with us! Pretty excited and emotional about that too. He is in his 80s so this might be the one and only time. Keeping it real!
My recipe hunt has turned up many potentials. I look forward to having my mornings to work on them. Enough gathering!!! Time to put them to the test! I just have to be careful which ones I pick to do. Last week I did a flourless, sugar free cookie recipe but ended up eating 10 (which was obviously 9 too many). Steak fixed me up but now I'll proceed with caution. ;)
Cheers
CAT

I know, I know....I'm supposed to be testing out some dinner dishes to post for you all but....today I just HAVE to share this pudding recipe!! There are like a gazillion versions of this if you google it but this one is mine that I modified from about ten different ones. Since I'm still avoiding sugar right now, I chose to use xylitol this time (stevia did not work at all to sweeten in this one). Later, I will try it with either honey, maple syrup, or raw sugar.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

300g avocado (or about 2 ripe avocados)
1/4-1/3 C cocoa powder
1/2 C milk (almond, coconut, or any organic dairy)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3-6 tsp xylitol
8 drops vanilla stevia
1 Tbsp 18% cream or half and half (optional)

Makes 4 servings

Blend all together well! Enjoy!
The Tbsp of cream is only needed if you accidentally did too much cocoa for your taste.

Cheers
CAT

So, 'tis the season here in beautiful BC. I've been drooling over the egg nog in the stores and thought I better do something about it! I haven't tried this yet but will be making it today. I sure hope it works!! If not, I'll try some other recipes and get it right at some point. :) Let me know if you have a good sugar free (that's to say, no artificial sweetener either) recipe.

Egg nog

12 eggs
1 1/2 cups xylitol
1 litre cream
Vanilla
Nutmeg to garnish

1. Bring eggs to room temperature and then separate.
2. Beat yolks with half the xylitol until creamy.
3. Beat whites with other half of xylitol until peaks form.
4. Beat cream until stiff (don't over do this as you'll end up with butter instead).
5. Fold all together and add vanilla to taste.
6. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
7. Serve with a sprinkling of nutmeg.

Adapted from recipe Alcohol free basic egg nog by Mirj on http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Alcohol_free-Basic-Eggnog-Recipezaar

Cheers
CAT

Down 1.8 from my egg day :)
Speaking of eggs...yes, that is what I'm having for breakfast today!
This is my basic go to breakfast and can easily be changed up for variety. I've posted before on how I do an omelet during P2. This is my M1W1 omelet:

2 t evoo 80
3 eggs 214
1/3 C chopped fresh mushrooms 7
1/2 C chopped bell peppers 23
2 T chopped green onion 2
S&P

326 calories, 24.3g fat, 7.2g carbs, 2g fibre, 5.4g sugar, 20.7g protein -based on my Loseit app.

Easy peasy! I just toss the veggies and a pinch of salt in a bowl, add my eggs directly and give it all a gentle whisk (don't over whisk, it's just meant to coat everything). I use a fork, poke each yolk to release the yum and give it all a couple turns in the bowl.
Heat pan to medium heat with evoo on stove top and turn oven broiler on high. I usually move the rack up a couple. Once the oil starts to gather and moves easily in the pan it is hot enough. When cooking with evoo you want to stay in the medium to medium-low heat range. No smoke shows please!
Pour mix over the centre of pan and give the veggies a little shove around for an even distribution. Sprinkle on some pepper and allow omelet to cook to mostly done.
Transfer your oven safe pan to the oven and WATCH CLOSELY. It will take under a minute and you don't want it to burn. As soon as the top is turning brown, you're done! Oven mitt on and get it out of there!
Enjoy!
Once you've perfected the basic omelet start to add things like cheese (Mmmm) and not just regular cheddar (though that's a delicious place to start)...but look and see what else you can try. Feta is awesome with eggs!
Other complementary additions can come after the cooking too. Guacamole and salsa, for example!

I'm sure I will post many more egg recipe ideas over the next while. Those chickens of ours are doing just awesome!!!

In the mean time....I've got 2 recipes in the works ideal for make ahead meals and both with M1W1 in mind! One is a cabbage soup inspired by the classic cabbage rolls. The other a goulash of sorts. I've adapted both from an Anna Olson excerpt that came in the mail (thanks Home hardware!). Since celery (allergies), rice, and wheat flour are off the menu right now, I'm interested to see how my chosen substitutes will work!

Cheers
CAT

Pain!!! I'm in pain!!! Okay so it's not THAT bad. ;) But I am pretty sore today!
I did eat all my calories yesterday so I'm assuming that I have water retention from the workout. Up 1lb. This did put me just over so I'm doing a correction day regardless of the reason for gaining. I figure I better get back my wiggle room so that I'm in a better position by next Wednesday.
My search is on for all the information I can find on diet and nutrition while building muscles. Lots of interesting theories out there and just like weight loss there seem to be many ways to do this. I'll find what works right for me....and of course I will share it all!
Cheers
CAT