Week 4, Day 3, Diet with Dianna

SORRY about posting twice in one day. Blogger was down.

Today, I was able to exercise after missing one day; It felt really good to swim again! Even though the water was a balmy 98 degrees, it was refreshing, because the air was so cool and crisp when we got out or the water. I had to grab a towel to fight off the shivers. Today, was a good day.

I got to make breakfast for my daughter and husband. We ate together and enjoyed the morning, without distractions.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:

Well, I've noticed another good phenomenon as a result of this diet. This is a biggie and sort of personal, but I am going to share this with you. Since eating more fiber in my diet, I am more regular going to the bathroom and I haven't had any issues, NONE, with hemorrhoids. I know it's gross to speak of such things, but it's a great thing to know that just changing my eating habits for the better has improved my quality of life for the better in many, many ways.

Breakfast:

 

 One fried egg, two slices of bacon and half a Oroweat whole wheat sandwich thin; Coffee with 1/2 & 1/2 and one packet of Stevia in the Raw

Breakfast S/C Total: 1/1

Snack: None we were on the go, taking people to work and running errands. 

Lunch:

By the time we got Wade and Britt to work, stopped to pick up lunch for them, and running the errand, it was nearly 1:30 before we ate lunch....I was very hungry and ready to eat. Fox and I ate lunch together.

• Half of a 8 ounce sirloin steak, (I brought the other half  of the steak home for Wade's lunch on Thursday) 
•  a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette (It was a good thing I tasted it before I dumped it all over my salad because it was very sweet so I only used a sparse amount), 
• a grilled vegetable skewer (I didn't eat the tomatoes). 
• I ate one hot buttered roll - It was so delicious but I was able to control my urge to eat more. *Pat, pat, pat*

Lunch S/C Total:1/2

No Afternoon Snack and No Dinner too full from lunch.

P.M. Snack

1 cup of microwave popcorn and cup of coffee with half & half and 1/2 a packet of Stevia in the Raw.

P.M Snack S/C Total: 0/0

Daily S/C Total: 2/3

Very, very light day...I was full after dinner until I went to bed. NICE FEELING!

Week 4, Day 2, Diet with Dianna

I didn't sleep well last night and finally went to sleep around 4 a.m., I slept until 9 a.m.  Sometimes that just happens. I'm tired tonight. I had two meals out today; the only homemade meal was breakfast. I am beginning to regret my dinner choice.  I did enjoy eating with my husband, it was sort of a date night...unofficially.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
With each new day and each pound lost, people begin to notice a difference in my appearance. They aren't quite sure what is different, but they can see something...or the lack of something.  My family knows that I'm dieting and because they are with me every day, they don't see the change like someone who only sees me once a week.
Today was different, my daughter said that she could see a difference in my skin...it looks healthier and my thighs look smaller. This is good! If they are starting to see a change, then I'm finally losing enough weight to notice.
When people notice, it's like a B-12 shot, it give my emotions a boost of energy. It is encouragement for me to keep going. No matter how tough a day or even a moment might be, I need to keep going. Every little word of encouragement is appreciated and inspiring.

Exercise:
None today. Didn't have my swimming buddy so I took a day off. Tomorrow, I'll swim.

Breakfast:

Half a slice of Oroweat whole wheat sandwich thin.
1/2 cup of Malt-O-Meal, with four blueberries, and one packet of Stevia in the Raw.
One Turkey sausage patty.
Coffee with half & half, and half packet of Stevia in the raw.

Breakfast S/C Total: 1/1

A.M. Snack

Sugar Free peanut butter candy (less than 3 carbs and no sugars) FREEBIE!

Lunch:

Chick-Fil-A three chicken tenders and a small side salad (removed the tomatoes, no croutons, no sunflower seeds because they are sugar coated) and lite Italian dressing.

Lunch S/C Total: 2/2

A.F. Snack:

A few cashews (less than a handful) I'll count as 1 sugar and no carbs

A.F. Snack Total: 1/0

Dinner

Mexican food restaurant: Fajitas 1/2 chicken and 1/2 steak (shared with my hubby).

Did not eat flour tortilla but had one corn tortilla.

a few bites of Guacamole

lettuce & cheese 

and a few bites of the onions -- so sweet.

No rice...no beans...

more than a few corn chips and a bit of salsa... I splurged tonight! ICK!

Dinner S/C Total: 2/3

P.M. Snack

Sugar Free Jell-O Chocolate pudding cup

P.M. S/C Total: 0/0

Daily S/C Total: 6/6

Went over by one carb serving....I hate being over by one....I must do better tomorrow! I will to better tomorrow.

Week 4, Day 1, Diet with Dianna

Wow-wee! Fourth week, already. Time has gone by quickly. I am doing well and adjusting almost as well. I am starting to get the hang of this diet, now. I don't have the numbers memorized for all the foods I eat, so I have to refer to the book, most of the time.  This part of the diet takes time and I can see how someone with much less time than me would get frustrated and give up, just because of the counting and converting carbs into servings. It might be easier to just allow 30 carbs per meal and 10 carbs per snack which equals 120 carbs a day... That's just my personal opinion. The sugars are counted (even though sugar is counted separately, your body stores them as carbs) at face value, and this diet limits sugar grams to fifteen a day. Easy as pie; sugar free pie, that is.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
After three solid weeks of sticking to this diet, food wise, time management requires more practice, but I have noticed a significant detail. My hair; I see less of it in the drain cover collector, by a HUGE margin. I have also noticed that there is less hair left in my hair brush. This is an enormous change for the better. My hair and scalp are actually loving this diet. Less sugar, less carbs and more fiber and better foods! Amazing! I don't think I'm growing more hair; just keeping more of the hair on my head. Good knowledge; positive change.

Exercise:
Swam for one hour around 7 p.m. this evening...I really enjoy swimming in the hot summer months. Better than sweating while walking, and my dog enjoys swimming too!

Breakfast:
1 cup of plain Cheerios, half cup of Almond Breeze Vanilla (non-Milk) drink, half a packet of Stevia in the Raw sweetener, half an Oroweat whole wheat sandwich thin, and two slices of bacon. Finally, one cup of coffee with half & half and the other half of the Stevia packet. OH! So Good!

Breakfast S/C Total: 2/2

A.M. Snack

About five cashew pieces

A.M. Snack Total:0/0

Less than one ounce eaten therefore these are freebies!

Lunch:

1 cup of homemade pork barbecue (no sugar added) only made with 2 teaspoons of Stevia and canned tomatoes and seasonings.

1 slice of Dark Rye bread

1 cup baby spinach, mozzarella cheese, and Newman's Own Light Oil & Vinegar Italian dressing

Lunch S/C Total: 2/2

Snack: 

One S.F. Thumbprint cookie - homemade 

A.F. Snack Total: 1/1

Dinner:

 1/2 cup homemade pork barbecue,

1/2 cup mashed potatoes,

4 steamed Brussels sprouts,

1/4 cup mac and cheese.

Dinner S/C Total: 6/2

P.M. Snack

Jell-O S.F. chocolate pudding cup

P.M. Snack Total: 0/0

Daily S/C Total: 11/7

Way under the sugar grams count and two over in the carbs...I'm doing really great! Could do better on the carbs...must be careful not to go over tomorrow. I'm still losing weight.

Week 3, Day 7, Diet with Dianna

Okay, I measured twice and I have barely moved any down on my waist measurements, but I am down by a total of six pounds from where I began three weeks ago...that is an average of 2 lbs. a week.  I can see it in my pants, around my stomach and abdomen. I desire much faster results; I need to cool my jets, let it happen slowly and continue to stick to my diet plan.  It is working. I am very excited....

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
This is a big one. I have seen that my will power has gotten stronger and more stubborn. When I think about how I can blow a good day of dieting on one food item, that sets my time table back to reaching my goal. I do not want that happen. I am impressed with my new and improved will power.  My will is conforming my mind. I find it easier to refuse a food and to push away my plate when I'm full. NOTE: It is okay to leave food on a plate. I don't have to eat everything...This is a bizarre but nice feeling. Give it a try, I think you will like it too! Also, I have a great support system in my family! I am very blessed!
I am nothing without God and my family.

Exercise: Today, I swam...not hard, but for one hour. IT was great fun and very refreshing, even in the 100f degrees. The water was warm, but when I got out the breeze was awesome and I was almost chilled. That was great!

Breakfast: (10:30 a.m., Ate very late, today because we all slept in...)

One and a half waffles w/ whipped cream, three strawberries, and four blueberries,  I only added one teaspoon of Vermont Sugar Free syrup, One fried egg and two pieces of bacon; coffee with half and half and one packet of Stevia in the Raw. 

DELICIOUSLY GOOD!  (I was hungry for fruit.) I only added one teaspoon of Vermont Sugar Free syrup. Amazing how sweet fruit tastes now that my taste buds are more sensitive to sugar.

Breakfast S/C Total: 4/2

 No A.M. Snack

Lunch:

Homemade pork barbecue, one slice of toasted dark rye bread, spring mix lettuce, two midget dill pickles, some white corn tortilla chips and a small bit of cheese dip....Oh Dear! TOO MUCH FOOD! I passed it off on other hungry people, who were glad to eat it. 

Dinner:

Didn't eat dinner, but instead had a few cashews and a sugar free thumbprint cookie.

Dinner S/C Total: 2/3

No Evening snack

I am going to bed fairly early, for me. I'm too tired from this past week and weekend'd wedding activities... Good night and tomorrow starts week four!!!! Amazing! I will succeed!

DAILY S/C TOTAL: 6/5

Week 3, Day 6, Diet with Dianna

Oh My Dear! What a long day! We finished up with the wedding for our friends. Tomorrow I can get on a great schedule. I'm making pork barbecue. Today, though was really tough. I started out GREAT. Had breakfast and lunch with my husband then we dressed and dashed about an hour away to the Castle where the wedding was held. We had to leave early to get through traffic. We stopped after we got to the town where the wedding would be and stopped for coffee just to relax before all the festivities.
We finally ate dinner around 7:45 pm. After the wedding, around 10 p.m., on the way home we stopped for gasoline and grabbed a bag of chips and diet sweet peach tea.
This was a horrible day for the diet, but on a positive note, I did not eat any cake!!!!!

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Weddings reek havoc on a diet. Extremely busy days also make it nearly impossible to stick to the three hour intervals between meals. Thankfully, when I did eat, I stuck to approved foods; just didn't eat enough of them.
Also, Breakfast can be the most important meal of the day on hectic schedules. I am grateful that I took the time to eat breakfast and lunch, otherwise I would have just gone hungry. I'm not upset about things I cannot control and my diet is still intact. Flexibility and mercy are on the menu for  busy days!
Tomorrow will be a normal and much better day.

Exercise: NONE for the past two days. I can tell. I am ready for a long swim.

Breakfast:

Waffles, eggs, bacon, whipped cream, three strawberries and my usual coffee with half & half and half a packet of Stevia!

Breakfast S/C Total: 2/2

No A.M. Snack 

Lunch: 

Homemade chicken salad on a bed of spring mix lettuce, 1 slice of dark rye bread cut in wedges, three midget polish dill pickles.

Lunch S/C Total: 2/1

Dinner: 

Failure to eat much of anything.

The wedding served horsdoeuvres, chicken & pasta, quesadillas, fruit, cheese and other things. I ate several squares of cheese: pepper jack and cheddar, one bite or guacamole, and left the rest on my plate when the dancing began.

Dinner S/C Total: 0/0

Snack on the drive home:

Half a bag of chips and Sugar Free Sweet Peach Tea.

Late Snack S/C Total: 1/1

DAILY S/C TOTAL: 5/4

Week 3, Day 5, Diet with Dianna

Wow-wee! What a day! Fun filled and extremely busy. Our family is attending a good friends wedding. Four of our family members are in the ceremony. I was running before my feet hit the ground this morning. Got up, ate a quick breakfast. Thankfully I had leftover homemade waffles from yesterday's breakfast. I practically swallowed the waffle whole, and chugged down my coffee, said goodbye to Britt as she was off to have her nails done for tomorrow's wedding festivities. I threw on my clothes faster than a fireman, and was off to the grocery store, in a blaze, to re-stock on eggs, almond milk, low carb tortillas, get some last minute wedding stuff...and a bunch of other necessities. Got home in time to get it all put away and do some photo-shopping on the rehearsal pictures and copy them to a dvd. I had 25 minutes left to shower, dry my hair, put on make-up, and dress for the rehearsal dinner. We had to get across town, through Dallas before Friday afternoon rush hour, otherwise we would sit in bumper to bumper traffic for hours...in hundred degree temperatures.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
 On very busy days, major pre-planning will get you fed every three hours. I did not plan well. I did have a fairly good breakfast, but didn't have time to snap a photo...so look back at my blog for the picture of my waffles and that is what I ate. Remember to be flexible and do your best to stick to foods that are low carb and low or no sugar. It is really easy to find something you can grab at the store and keep moving. If you have to eat something that higher in carbs and sugar, only eat small portions to keep your metabolism up, and save the rest for the snack, later. IT works!

Breakfast:
Toasted leftover waffle, Vermont Sugar Free syrup, coffee with half & half and one packet of Stevia in the Raw. No protein...forgot. Oops!

Breakfast S/C Total: 2/2

Lunch:

I grabbed a hot dog - no bun and packet of mustard and a bag of Parmesan cheese potato chips and bottle of water. (I also grabbed a wooden stir stick from the coffee shop and put my beef frank on the stick like a skewer. Easy to eat without the mess.)  Good and quick. Sorry, no photo...couldn't get my cell phone to cooperate-use your imagination.

Lunch S/C Total: 0/1

A.N. Snack: 

Two pieces of Cabela's No Sugar Added chocolate covered peanuts clusters.

A.N Snack S/C Total: 1/1

Dinner @ BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse for Rehearsal Dinner: 

One half slice of pepperoni pizza, mixed dinner salad with light Italian dressing, and two grilled chicken pieces and two broccoli florets.

Dinner S/C Total:1/2

No P.M. Snack

Daily S/C  Total: 4/6

Not bad for not planning and winging it on the fly. Praise God!

Week 3, Day 4, Diet with Dianna

Starting today and through the weekend, my family is part of a wedding ceremony. I am the only one not in the wedding. All three of my children are attendants and my husband is officiating the ceremony. Eating at exact intervals is tough, as I found out today. It will be this way until I start in a normal schedule on Monday.
Today, I made breakfast for everyone. It's the only normal meal we had all day. Lunch was "everyone for themselves". I wasn't hungry and there wasn't anything really that I could eat that was leftovers, except the breakfast leftovers. The others had pizza from the other night. I have been so busy that I have not had time to go to the grocery and shop.  It's tough being the only person with weight management issues. My entire immediate family is trim and healthy. I cannot trouble them to be careful around me, since I am the one with the problem. IT wouldn't be fair.  They don't understand the struggles I have. I wouldn't want them too.

They don't understand the temptations or the way I feel. I am jealous because they can be carefree and not half to worry about sugar and carbs. I feel like an I'm being an imposition because I eat special foods around them. I don't want their sympathy and I hate having to tell them, frequently, "I cannot eat that". I guess I could just say, "No thank you", and not make a big deal about it.  I don't want them to feel bad, either.

It's a pain in the rear to remind them that I have to eat every three hours. They are not on the same schedule as me. This has been the most difficult part of my diet. I really hate having to say, "Please let me stop to eat something because I have to eat now". Instead I just skip the meal...even though I am not supposed to do that. I am grateful for the days that I can stay on the eating cycle and I hope for forgiveness on the days I cannot.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Have tougher skin. Don't get offended when others don't have the same issues as yourself. Be kind and don't bring attention to yourself. Just say "no thank you", and don't tell people all the time that you are dieting. Don't give people a list of things you can eat and cannot eat. Just go about your activities as if they were normal. Enjoy the moment and the people. Food is only for survival. Enjoy the people you eat with and be grateful for the food that you can eat. Don't make the people around you uncomfortable or self-conscious. Just be happy.

Breakfast:

I made regular waffles for my family and "special diet" waffles for myself.  They each turned out delicious. Mine were great and low carb and low sugar!
I don't like scrambled eggs, but I want everyone to be satisfied and happy, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. I made scrambled eggs, I just didn't want to have to cook two different kinds of meals and it takes so much longer. I ate the scrambled because it is so important to have the right balance of every type of food.
Low Carb, High Fiber, Low Sugar Waffles 1/2
Sugar Free Vermont Syrup (1 teaspoonful and whipped cream) 1/0
Bacon 0/0
Eggs 0/0

Breakfast S/C Total: 2/2

No Snack

LATE Lunch/Early Dinner: We stopped around 4:00 p.m. and ate at On The Border.

 

Chips and Salsa and a few bites of cheese dip with meat and guacamole. I also had several spoonfuls of chicken tortilla soup; careful to only take the chicken and broth. I avoided the rice. I ate the two thin wedges of avocado. YUM. 

My husband ordered a margarita and I  really enjoy drinking frozen margaritas. I was weak and ordered one too. After the icy, frosty, sweet concoction arrived at the table I took one sip and then stopped. I WILL NOT ruin all my hard efforts by blowing it on a sugar filled drink. I passed it off to the others at my table. Instead I splurged on a diet coke with lime!!!!! It was so tough, but I did it! 

Yeah Me!

Meal Total: 3/3

NO Evening Snack...we got home too late and I had some an upsetting situation happen. I missed the window for eating a snack. Blah! The issue was very emotional for me and I have a tendency to eat for comfort under emotional stress. I will try to fight these urges to rid the freezer from the gallon of Blue Bell, Made in the Shade.... *Sigh*.

Week 3, Day 3, Diet with Dianna

Today was my volunteer day working in the church offices. During the night we had a fierce Texas thunderstorm and I didn't get a lot of sleep. I usually carpool with my husband but 4 a.m was too early after only three hours of sleep--I slept in. My daughter fixed my breakfast! I was taken out for lunch, and I fixed a quick meal for dinner. Not a well planned day for menus. I did well, despite all of the above.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Yeowee! Swimming works out a lot of muscles. The workouts during my late afternoon swim has gotten a little bit more intense. I gave my body a harder push last night and my body is yelping, today. I am very sore. Sitting at work, today, I could feel the muscles in my back tiring sooner and I had to change positions, frequently.  Note to self...try not to overdue the exercise routine. Over-zealousness is not recommended. Try to get a good workout without fatiguing the muscles!

Breakfast:

Prepared by my beautiful and thoughtful daughter:
Special K Protein - 1 cup w/Unsweetened Silk Soy Milk & half packet of Stevia in the raw.
1 slice of bacon
1/2 Oroweat 100% Whole wheat sandwich thin - toasted w/1 teaspoon of butter.
1 cup coffee w/ half & half, 1/2 packet of Stevia in the Raw

Breakfast S/C Total: 1/1

No A.M Snack - I got a late start and then met my husband for an early lunch...only three and a half hours past between breakfast and lunch.  I wasn't real hungry, but I ate something, anyway; just a small portion.

Lunch:

"Cure" burger. (1/4 lb. double meat, fried egg, bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, Hold the mayo, and huge poppy-seed egg bun.

Great date lunch with Wade. We went to one of our favorite hamburger joint - Bottlecap Alley Icehouse Grill. Good food and great music. 

NOW, I only ate about 1/3 of the burger - no bread, I requested NO mayonnaise (I really do not like Mayonnaise!!!!), and removed the tomato, even though it would have been alright for me to eat, I just didn't want it. I also ate about five french fries -- they are pretty decent size. That was it! I got full fast. Wade enjoyed the rest of my hamburger...he works out every weekday morning for one hour - weight lifting. 

Enjoyed the company! Love ya, Sweetie! ;)

Lunch S/C Total: 1/1

A.N. Snack: 

Two homemade sugar free thumbprint cookies.

A.N. Snack Total: 0/2

Dinner:

1 cup spring mix lettuce w/ 1.5 teaspoons balsamic vinaigrette dressing, shredded Italian cheese blend sprinkled on top. 1 cup of Mission white corn tortilla chips and two tablespoons Tostito's queso.

Dinner S/C Total: 2/2

Evening Snack:

Coffee w/half & half and 1/2 packet of Stevia in the raw, 1 cup of microwave popcorn.

P.M. Snack Total: 0/0

DAILY S/C TOTAL: 4/6

I went over by one on the carbs! It was the french fries at lunch. I ate them because the smelled and look very good. Still, I only went over by 1 serving (20 g carbs). Excellent Day!

Week 3, Day 2, Diet with Dianna

I hope you are having great success with your diet!

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Don't get discouraged when you don't lose as fast as you would like.  I feel that way, today but I have to tell myself, "Dianna, you took thirty years to get overweight; it is not going to take thirty years to lose it--Thank God!"
Today I put on a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to button for some time. It is encouraging to take every milestone, no matter how small.  Count every blessing--rejoice in small victories!
Keep with your plan. If you fail--don't beat yourself up but start right now; don't wait until tomorrow to begin fresh.
I want to pass along a scripture from the Holy Bible that helps me get through tough times...no matter what I'm going through.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength.
Have a successful day!

Breakfast: Some days I just don't want to cook; I want an express meal. Heat and Eat!

One whole wheat Fiber One pancake (I made a big batch last week and saved in the refrigerator for a quick breakfast --  These can be frozen, too. Just pop in the microwave to thaw and heat.), topped with whipped cream and one strawberry.
Two slices of Hormel pre-cooked bacon - 15 seconds in the microwave.
A cup of coffee w/half & half and one packet of Stevia in the Raw.
OH! Breakfast was filling and delicious! ENJOY!

Breakfast S/C Total: 2/2

I ate a few cashews, but not hungry for them.

Lunch: 12:45 p.m.

My beautiful daughter made me a half a chicken fajita wrap and chips for lunch. She spoils me! Thanks Britt, you are a great cook. Delicious.

Chicken fajita pre-cooked fajita strips, in a Mission Tomato and basil tortilla (only half a tortilla), spring mix lettuce, mozzarella cheese, and 8 slices of Turkey pepperoni by Hormel.

Bottled water.

Mission white corn tortilla strips. 

Lunch S/C Total: 1/1

My portions are getting smaller because I just cannot eat that much food, but I am still full by the next meal or snack time.

No A.N. Snack...had a water overflow issue with my washing machine and didn't eat breakfast 

until 9:30 a.m.

Dinner:
California Pizza Kitchen, Cheese, Half of a small individual pizza.

Dinner S/C Total: 1/1

(Really that was all I could eat, I got full. This is such a funny sensation to eat so little and stop. I didn't know that this could happen. I am so amazed at the portion sizes and that my stomach would shrink so, and I wouldn't get hungry between meals.)

No P.M. Snack I was too full and it was too late to eat.

Daily S/C Total:  4/4

Wow! Today I am surprised that I am under on both. Wow!

Week 3, Day 1, Diet with Dianna

AMAZING! I measured my waist this morning and I am down to 41 inches! That is down by 5 inches since I began this blog two weeks ago. I must be doing something right!  I am also down by five pounds! I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but I am losing more than a pound a week and that is FANTASTIC! I am so grateful. If I'm losing and not gaining, I am happy! YIPPEE!!!!

Breakfast:

Something different, slightly. Special K High Protein, (low carb-low sugar), one turkey sausage, 1/2 of Oroweat whole wheat sandwich thin, 5 blueberries, Silk No sugar soy milk, coffee w/half and half.

Breakfast S/C Total: 2/2

No mid-morning snack...not even the slightest bit hungry...not going to eat. I still feel full.

Lunch: 

Had to run errands today, out past lunch time so we picked up lunch at Sam's Club. I didn't eat any vegetables. I only had a half a hot dog with mustard and a few chopped onions. I ate the bread, too. I had a diet drink. Not really a well balanced meal, but I did eat protein. It just wasn't possible to get the things I needed for lunch.

One Nathan's hot dog in the bun with mustard and a few chopped onions.

Lunch S/C Total: 2/1

No A.F. Snack: Not hungry, Too full to eat any bites of anything. Not even one cracker or piece of cheese. Blah!

Dinner:

Half a ground chuck burger patty, one cup of mixed garden mix salad with balsamic vinaigrette, cheddar cheese chip, half a slice of Swiss cheese, and baked sweet potato fries. Oh, and Best Maid Kosher Dill midget pickles.

Dinner S/C Total: 2/2

P.M . Snack:

I was craving chocolate. I had a single serving cup of Jell-O Chocolate Mousse Pudding cup.   

P.M. S/C Total: 0/1

Daily S/C Total:  6/6

Well, I think I did rather well, today. I went over by one on the carbs, but I think I counted too high on the hot dog bun...I only ate half of the hot dog, but Oh well. Not a big deal. I did excellent on the sugars. GREAT DAY!

Week 2, Day 7, Diet with Dianna

This is my second post for today. I didn't have any time yesterday. Sorry.
My day was unsuccessful in sticking to eating every three hours. Today has been equally hard. The weekends are busted! I really don't know how to make this work. When the entire family is together and there are so many activities AND a holiday weekend, to boot.

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Weekends are a bust. Sticking to a three hour eating regimen has been impossible. I cannot sweat the small stuff. If that means I lose less weight, then that's just the way it has been. I will praise myself for sticking to my diet food! GOOD for me! I will have to improve on sticking to the the three-hour schedule.
I also believe that I am going to have to cut back, again on my helpings. At the beginning of this diet, I thought that the helpings were skimpy. I thought I would be hungry and not satisfied, but I have been proved wrong.
This week, I am going to try smaller serving sizes.  Really, I am not hungry. I am not trying to starve myself; I am just too full when the third hour rolls around.  I hope I can find a good median.  I like being slightly hungry but not starving.  A slight hunger is a good feeling. When you drink lots of water, that also slows the emptiness feelings.

Breakfast: 
No photo of the food, DUH!, I forgot during the Father's Day Celebration. We had a big breakfast at Cracker Barrel restaurant and what a fun place to eat and shop.

I did get a family picture, though.

Breakfast Menu: Two fried eggs, two turkey sausages, one slice of pork bacon, one low-carb, whole wheat toast, coffee w/half & half.
It was delicious!!! *burp*

After breakfast, we went to the movie to see Green Lantern. It was the Father's Day gift from the kids to their favorite father! I didn't eat or drink a thing. Too full from big breakfast.

Breakfast S/C Total: 1/1

Snack: None. Again, forgiveness and mercy.

Lunch:

Didn't get out of the movie until 1: 30 p.m.  NOT HUNGRY!  We went shopping for computer stuff.

Got home and ate a few cashews pieces, (three to be exact). Cup of coffee with half & half and 1 pkt. Stevia in the Raw.

Afternoon Snack:

My husband got Espresso malted balls as a gift. I ATE ONE! REAL SUGAR IS REALLY SWEET. TOO SWEET! I am going to count the carbs and sugars! 26g carbs/20g sugars for 1/4 cup, these were huge, over-sized pieces, too. I would say that 5 or maybe six would fill a quarter cup. 26/4=4, 20/6=4

A.F. Snack S/C Total: 2/0

Dinner:
One beef taco w/ lettuce and cheese. No salsa, no tomatoes. That's all I wanted; and that was after I went swimming.

Dinner S/C Total: 1/1

P.M. Snack:
Snack size bag of lite kettle corn by Orville Redenbacher

P.M. Snack S/C Total: 0/0

DAILY S/C TOTAL: 4/2

Week 2, Day 6, Diet with Dianna

Well, I am posting two blogs on one day. Saturday was, OH WOW, busy. I finally went to bed around 2 a.m., just to turn around and get up at 6:45 a.m. for Father's Day celebrations.  Got a lot of shopping done on Saturday (the day this was supposed to be posted). Ran more errands, went to church, came home and went to exercise. Kids came in late from a pre-wedding party. Whew!

My entire family had canned cinnamon rolls and orange rolls. They smelled so good, looked even better and I didn't dare eat one. No way!  It was most difficult. I took a shower and hid out in the bathroom until they were done eating. It was just too tempting. YIKES!
I did not eat every three hours, again. I am finding it so very difficult to stay on schedule being out and about and not at home to prepare and cook. I don't know how people do it. I have to figure this out. HELP!

Exercise:
Climb the stairs four times at church. Not officially REAL exercise, but these are huge staircases with large landings. We also park way out in the parking lot. Our church is huge. The auditorium seats 4,000. The parking lot is equally large and requires a long walk in and back out.  I count everything, because everything counts...carbs and steps.

Breakfast:

I had two eggs, bacon, toasted sandwich thins (Oroweat), and hashbrowns. I added something new. You see?

Breakfast S/C Total: 1/2

No Snack: Not hungry! I couldn't force down anything, either. I drank a cup of coffee. 

Lunch:

Didn't eat lunch until 1:30 p.m. Lunch today is leftovers from Friday night dinner. I had one beef taco w/lettuce and cheese and a few corn tortillas and salsa. Yummy, even for leftovers.

Lunch S/C Total:2/3

Dinner: 

I am going to have to get forgiveness and mercy on this one. I am not suppose to skip meals. BUT I have to say that I was not hungry. I didn't even get a stomach rumble. After church I drank some coffee w/half & half and Splenda ( I forgot to refill my Stevia packets).

No night snack: Not hungry and I cannot see why I have to feed my self when I am not hungry. I know it has to do with metabolism. I just was not hungry.

I think it has to do with the temperature getting up to 105f degrees. It's hot here in North Central Texas.

Today's S/C Total: 3/5

Week 2, Day 5, Diet with Dianna

T.G.I.F. It's been a great day. I've been busy. I baked sugar free cookies, today. They turned out well; better than I expected. They taste pretty good, for sugar free. Since they are really what I can have, now, they will do just fine.  Of course I would like to have the kind with real pure cane sugar in them. *sigh* Oh well!

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Be flexible and be prepared. I have to say that preparing a head of time has taken some time to get used too. It now takes me just one hour to prepare, when last week it took me way over two hours to figure, compare, and calculate.  There is a learning curve whenever you begin something new, but with repetition and practice, I have cut my time in half! I have to be patient with myself and not get frustrated and angry at mistakes. I can learn; I will learn!
Also, did you know that swimming does two things: Cardio and Strength at the same time? Yep, it does.  Maybe it isn't lifting weights at the gym or running 2 miles, but it is beneficial and refreshing!

Exercise: 
Swim for one hour: Laps on my stomach, then back, then each side. WHEW! If I weren't in the water, I would be as wet as if I were after this kind of workout. When I'm finished I just float around and enjoy the water. FUN! FUN! FUN! If I have to exercise, this is my favorite kind. (I just need a pool in my back yard.)

Breakfast:

 Egg Sandwich: with one turkey sausage, one scrambled egg, and extra-sharp cheddar cheese.
Coffee w/half & half and 1 packed of Stevia in the Raw

Breakfast S/C Total: 1/1 

A.N. (After Noon) Snack:

My new recipe for Sugar Free Thumbprint Cookies, I had three!!!!!!

A.N. S/C Total: 1/1

Lunch:

NONE...I just could not eat...I was too full from breakfast and A.N. snack.  I know it is frowned upon to skip meals, but I just could not eat anything!!!!!!!!!!!

Dinner:

 

Out to eat at Mexican Inn -- Date Night with my favorite husband! *kiss-kiss*

One ground beef taco w/ lettuce, diced tomato, and cheese!

1 corn tortilla wrapped around the outside of my crunchy taco shell...It works and it is so tasty, too!

4 bites of Mexican rice

3 bites of Guacamole

Corn Chips w/salsa

Coke Zero w/lime

(Again, after I began eating, I quickly got full and had to stop!)

Dinner S/C Total: 3/5

NO P.M. Snack! I'm just too full from dinner. I cannot force myself to eat when I am not hungry, especially when I am feeling full!

DAILY TOTAL: 5/7

Week 2, Day 4, Diet with Dianna

Today was a great day. I woke up and waited half an hour before making breakfast. I cooked for myself and my beautiful daughter. The rest of my day was excellent, too. I had a lot of energy. I sat most of the day working on book edits with my son. I felt like the food wasn't digesting as fast because of sitting so much. I must remember to move more...

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE:
Exercise is an important factor. I know that most overweight dieters hate the thought of doing any type of physical exercise. If we can just get over the aspect of doing some sort of physical movement for at least 30 minutes a day, it would really magnify the results of diet. I know that cutting way back on sugar and carbs, adding protein and fiber are an excellent start, but it is vital to put forth the effort of doing some kind of exercise. You have to think outside of the box and find something that will make you happy.  I like to walk but I dislike walking in the hot humid weather. I am blessed to have an aunt and uncle with a swimming pool and they graciously offered their pool for me to swim laps. I agreed and now I can still get the heart rate up and at the same time get in a little resistance work on my muscles. I can still exercise and beat the heat!

Exercise:
Swam for one hour. Some laps and some treading water, constantly moving my arms and legs. Fun and refreshing!

Breakfast:

Malt-O-Meal - 1/2 serving (a whole serving is entirely too much) and I added a teaspoon of butter, teaspoon of Vermont's SF maple flavored syrup and topped it off with four blueberries, and whipped cream. I also ate a half slice of Oroweat whole wheat sandwich thin, two slices of bacon, coffee w/half & half sweetened with a half a package of Stevia in the Raw.

Breakfast S/C Total: 3/2

Mid-morning snack:

Five cashews and a big glass of water.

Snack S/C Total: 1/1

Lunch:

One all Beef Frank (no bun) and a teaspoon of plain yellow mustard, two cheddar cheese chips, ten corn tortillas, half cup of leftover sugar snap peas, and mixed salad with balsamic vinaigrette. This ended up being too much, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

Lunch S/C Total: 3/2

Dinner:

Again, life steps in a throws me a curve. There was a water main break and the water was shut off on the entire street, one hour before dinner. We didn't know when they would have it back on so we went out to eat. My beautiful thawed beef for homemade hamburgers, salad, and baked fries was thwarted.

My family wanted to go to Schlotzsky's. I was bummed and didn't really want to eat just a salad. I opted for an Original but instead of them putting it on all that bread, I had them put it in a tortilla. When the thing came out it was HUGE! Oh My! I only ate half of a half and gave the rest to my husband for his lunch, tomorrow.

I also ate about 7 Jalapeno chips, one dill pickle plank and drank unsweetened iced tea with a wedge of lemon and sweetened with a packet of Truvia (That I just happened to have in my purse!).

I have looked online for nutritional info and there isn't anything like what I ate. So I am going to try to break it down and give you a reasonable and realistic number, I hope!

Dinner S/C Total: 2/3

Evening snack:

Sugar Free chocolate pudding cup. Yum-Yum :D

Evening Snack S/C Total: 0/0

Today's S/C Total:  9/8

Boo-Hoo on the carb servings. I went over by three! I know that I haven't sabotaged my diet by slightly going over, but I do think it will slow down my weight loss. I don't think it will stop the weight loss, I just won't lose as much this week as I could if I held the carbs down to 5 servings.

umph!

Week 2, Day 3, Diet with Dianna

I really dislike not getting to stay on a schedule. Life interrupts, as usual. I wasn't able to get back home in time to fix lunch. Errands ran much longer than I had hoped. I ended up waiting in line at that giant warehouse club, for a very long time; Grrr! Then a man is injured in the food court and I stop to offer assistance. Tick-tock...tick-tock...
Anyway, my three hour window shuts; then four hours have sped by, and I am hungry. Unfortunately, I was not prepared. I did not carry any life (diet) support food. It makes me feel like a hoarder...I suppose I can get used to it, but do I really want to? Yes, I will do it, hoping to make this diet a success. I will concentrate and plan even better...I hope?

Revelation Knowledge:
In life, I shall expect the unexpected. Plan as I may, I haven't planned well enough. I will keep moving forward. I won't dwell on the goof-ups and learn from my mistakes. In the process I will become a better person.

Exercise:
If you don't know it, Texas can be a hot, sweltering place in the late spring and all summer, and even lingering a while into mid-fall. Since it was hot AND humid, today, my thoughts were on the uncomfortable sweat that would drench my body as I walked, even at 10 p.m.  My daughter had a brilliant plan; go exercise in the swimming pool. Yes! I called up my uncle and invited myself over for a lingering swim, as well as a healthy way to exercise and stay cool at the same time.  One hour of treading, back stroking, and crawling is very good for my heart and muscles. I was pooped and I know that I will sleep great tonight.

Breakfast:

 I ate the last of my pancakes with sugar free Vermont maple flavored syrup. (Now I can eat something different in the morning!) In addition, I ate two slices of bacon, and my usual coffee w/half & half and a partial package of Truvia.

Breakfast S/C Total: 2/2

Lunch: 

(Cry a tear for this sad story.) One hot dog, and half the bun w/ mustard and a glass of diet soda.

I can hear the boo's and hisses! Sorry folks. If it makes any difference, I only ate half of the hot dog. I was too full to finish. Besides, the serving sizes are monstrous.

Lunch S/C Total:  3/0

Snack:

Six Whole grain crackers, gluten-free, made with rice flour. 20g of carbs, 3g protein, 2 g fiber, 0 sugar grams for 30 crackers! I only ate six! Remember, anything under 5 g carbs is a FREEBIE! My total was 4.2 g carbs.

Snack S/C Total: 0/0

I found these crackers at Wal-Mart. Delicious! Very crunchy! I must get more!

Made by Crunchmaster 

Dinner:

Pictures can be deceiving;
Luncheon size plate: 8-3/4" 

Ground turkey tacos with lettuce, cheese and picante sauce. Side dish of mashed potatoes and peas.

YUM-YUM-HOORAY!

Dinner S/C Total: 5/3

Evening Snack: 

Caramel Mousse Sugar Free pudding cup.

Coffee w/half & half, one packet of Stevia

Evening Snack Total: 0/0

DAILY S/C TOTAL: 10/5

EXCELLENT! GREAT! HALLELUJAH!

Week 2, Day 2, Diet with Dianna

WOW! Today was NOT a normal day. The only meal that I ate at home was breakfast, and that was leftover pancakes. Leftovers so soon, you say. Yes, I must eat the food that I have prepared before it spoils. I do not wish to let good food go to waste, therefore I ate leftover pancakes, warmed in the microwave. Lunch and Dinner were eaten out at restaurants. I am proud to say that I was able to stick to the diet without hardly any difficulty. I am amazed and extremely happy!

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE: If you don't have a lot of time to cook, I suggest that you cook a larger amount and use the leftovers for quick, on the run, meals. This is exactly what I did today since it was going to be a jam packed day.


EXERCISE: Walked for 40 minutes at the mall. It wasn't my usual brisk walk, that I normally do, but some is better than none, I say!

Breakfast:

Three leftover whole wheat (Fiber One mix) pancakes and Vermont SF Syrup 2/2
Bacon; coffee with one package of Truvia and half & half. 0/0

BREAKFAST S/C TOTAL: 2/2

NO SNACK...FORGOT! OOPS!

LUNCH:

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Strips 1/0

Sabarro Greek Salad w/ 2 teaspoons of Lite Oil and Balsamic Dressing: 1/1

Tea with 1 package of Truvia 0/0

LUNCH S/C/ TOTAL:2/1

LATE AFTERNOON SNACK: HANDFUL CASHEWS: 1/1

DINNER:

My hubby and I ate out at the local cafeteria.Oh My! There was entirely too much food. I barely ate anything because I just was not hungry. I got a To-Go box and brought it home for Wade to take to work for his lunch tomorrow (lucky guy). I ate way less than half of the chicken, about three bites of the salad, a couple of bites of the cooked spinach...(yes, and I didn't notice, until I sat in my chair, that I had doubled up on the spinach. Duh!),  and only a three bites of the zucchini. I took one small taste of the roll and quit eating. Drank all of my tea w/lemon, though! I counted half of the total points because of the little bit I ate.(I am from North Central Texas and we like sweet tea almost as much as they do in the Southern states.)

BLACKENED CHICKEN 0/0

SPINACH SALAD:  BALSALMIC DRESSING: 2/1

ZUCCHINI: 1/0

WHOLE WHEAT ROLL: (DIDN'T EAT SO I DIDN'T COUNT). 1/1

DINNER S/C TOTAL: 1/1

EVENING SNACK: 

SF Pudding cup: 0/1
Coffee w/half & half, half a package of Truvia

EVENING SNACK S/C TOTAL: 0/1

DAILY GRAND TOTAL S/C:  6/6

Well, well, would you look at this? I didn't go over on the sugars and exactly correct on the carbs! Congrats to me!!!! If I made an error in counting...I don't want to know...let me bask in this, even if I'm wrong. :D

Diet with Dianna, Week two, Day One

Today was the start of a new day and a new week of my diet.

REVELATION :  I can see that this diet is more work than I had originally thought. I am having to do a lot of planning of meals and made several trips to the grocery store for more ingredients. Some of the items I have already depleted, like eggs, cheese, and bacon. All those ingredients are the easiest to prepare so I use them up the fastest. As I get better with calculating sugars and carbohydrates, the planning will become easier, I hope! As with anything new, it requires time, effort and a learning curve.
I have also noticed that some of the sugar free items like Truvia (sugar made from the stevia plant) is much more costly than the other sugar substitutes.  I have been using less, and I am getting use to less super sweetness in my foods. I can actually taste the food and I am being creative in using other seasonings. So far, everything I have cooked has been delicious.

FRUSTRATIONS:

Shopping for truly sugar free foods has been bothersome. Just about everything that we purchase has some form of sugar content. There are only a few foods that are truly sugar free.
Sweeteners: his diet discourages the use of artificial sweeteners, except that from the Stevia plant, and Xylitol.  Sadly, very few stores carry these special items.
I haven't done much baking of desserts because of not being able to find "tasteful" alternatives to flour (high in carbs). I purchased whole wheat flour and spoon-able Truvia. later on in the week I would like to try baking some cookies.

EXERCISE: Did not walk today. All the family was out. I did however do a lot of cleaning. Today was my house cleaning day. I got a lot of exercise climbing a ladder to clean the fans and high shelves. I did the laundry, mopped the floors, and cleaned the bathroom, which worked up a sweat. It's not walking, but I was active for several hours, continuously.

MENU:

BREAKFAST:

ONE FRIED EGG, ½ PIECE OROWEAT SANDWICH THIN W/ALMOND BUTTER – TOASTED, BOWL OF CHEERIOS W/SF SILK SOY MILK, ½ PACKAGE OF STEVIA, CUP OF COFFEE WITH HALF & HALF

BREAKFAST TOTALS: 1/2

SNACK: CASHEWS.  

S/C/TOTAL: 0 / 1

LUNCH:

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN MARGHRITA PIZZA (2 SMALL SLICES), SPINACH SALAD W/ BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE.

LUNCH S/C TOTALS: 2/4

DINNER:

PASTA BAKE: LEAN GROUND BEEF OR GROUND TURKEY, BASIL- FRESH, JACK & CHEDDAR CHEESE, PARMESAN CHEESE. SIDE DISH ASPARAGUS, ½ PIECE OROWEAT SANDWICH THIN WHOLE WHEAT WITH GARLIC AND BUTTER.

DINNER TOTAL 4/ 4

 SNACK TIME: SF PUDDING CUP;

S/C TOTAL: 1/0

DAILY S/C TOTAL: 7/11

I am still too high on my sugars. I am, eating way less, by far, but I am going over in the sugar grams. This planning meals and getting it balanced so that the sugar and carbs are at the right amount is most difficult.  I will try again tomorrow. Peace and be a happier, healthier you!