Happy Pre- Halloween

We each carved half the face of out pumpkin and then covered it so the other couldn't see. Then at the end we had a big reveal. Somehow the mouth and nose always match up :) Hooray for jack o' lanterns!

And We're Back !

On Carbs that is. Chris and I both got to the point where we would rather not eat at all than eat the food we were allowed on the Atkins plan. We've decided to instead make healthier choices and we joined the gym. The plan is to work out 3 times a week with an optional Saturday. Oh, and we're exercising at 5am! I didn't think i could do it, especially since i can barely wake up at 7:30, but i was suprisingly alert :)

I think we both feel a lot better now that we're eating a more balanced diet and variety really is the spice of life. But i know i learned a lot of important lessons while on Atkins that I will remember:

1. Don't be lazy. There are a lot of hidden sugars and carbs in prepared foods. I want to take the time to prepare meals using ingredients in their more "natural" state.

2. Read the labels. This goes along with no being lazy. I was just grabbing things off the shelf based on price or if it was a brand i liked. Now i take the time to read the labels and choose items that will be of the best benefit to our bodies.

3. Planning out all the meals for the week leaves less options for eating out. By having something on hand for all 3 meals a day, and listing them out so they're easily accessible makes it easier to avoid the "we don't have anything, let's order something" trap.

4. Jello is your friend. Sugar free and a variety of flavors is the perfect treat. Also Reddi Whip in the can is only 15 calories a squirt and is made of real cream. Hello! Whip cream makes all desserts better :)

It's been a lot more work for me, but making sure we get a balanced menu makes me feel good both as a wife and as a person who is just looking to be healthier :)

You'll never get away with it

Chris and I were watching one of our favorite TV shows, Castle. This show is about a writer that follows around a homicide detective as "research" for his books. It's totally hilarious BTW. In the most recent episode, we find out at the end that the lead suspect killed a woman because she threatened to expose a secret about his family and of course, he thought he could get away with it. When his wife found out, she was understandably shocked and outraged. For some mysterious reason this triggered the following conversation:

Blaire: Chris, if you're ever going to kill someone, don't do it cuz' you'll never get away with it.

Chris: I'll just tell you first if i'm going to kill someone.

Blaire: Don't tell me, just don't do it, you won't get away with it.

Chris: Really? Shouldn't you say 'that's bad Chris! you shouldn't kill people.' "

Chris: (mockinly in a blaire voice)No chris don't do it you'll never get away with it!

Blaire:(laughing) Oh I guess the morality of the situation didn't really occur to me.

Sometimes I don't know what makes me say the things I say :)

Inconcievable!

Today is only Wednesday - day 3 of our Atkins diet and already we're seeing results. I've lost 3 pounds and even though it's been a struggle, I'm starting to think this is totally going to be worth it.

To be honest, Chris is doing better than me at facing reality and not cheating. That's one thing I really admire about him. I told him the rules of the diet and that it would only work if we followed the rules. He has been sooooo good about being committed and if he's not sure if something is allowed, he'll ask. I on the other hand feel like I'm barely holding on sometimes. I really want to cheat (But i haven't!) and my desire for cake, cookies, bread and SUGAR are at times almost overwhelming. I'm hoping that will fade as time goes on and I'm making due with an Atkins approved treat - almond balls. Here's the recipe if you want to try it. Only 2 carbs per serving, which i think is 2 :)

2 T shredded coconut
1/4 t almond extract
3 T almond butter (like peanut butter except with almonds)
1 T marscapone or cream cheese - which ever you can find
2 T artificial sweetener

Mix the coconut, almond extract and 1 T of the sweetener in a bowl
In another bowl, mix almond butter and cheese and other 1 T of sweetener to make a dough.
Form the dough into small balls (approx 1/4") and then roll in coconut mixture
Place on wax or parchment paper and put in freezer for 10 mins to firm up
Enjoy 1 or 2 if on Atkins diet. If not, eat as many as you want :)

Farewell to Carbs

Although I've never taken much stock in diets that promote anything other than a balanced diet which includes items from all the food groups, the time has come. What I mean is that the whole balanced diet thing hasn't really gotten me anywhere. I've tried writing everything i eat down in a journal. I've tried counting calories. I've tried diet & exercise and guess what? Nothing, acutally i guess it's more like almost nothing.

Earlier in the year i made a goal to slim down, and i did. I lost 6 lbs, but recently i found them again :( I just can seem to keep momentum and get to that goal - and in the mean time i found a couple of extra pounds too.

So Chris and I decided that we would diet together. My dad talked us into doing the Atkins diet which has recently helped him to lose 25 pounds. That sounded pretty good to us, so we made a goal of doing the Atkins diet for 30 days. If it's not working for us, at that time we'll re-evaluate what we want to do. If it is working, then we'll keep on going.

Coupled with walks around the neighborhood, we're hoping to drop those stubborn pounds and get a jump start on a healthier life style while also reaping the benefits of having looser pants :)

And so, this weekend we bid farewell to some of our favorite high carb foods. A last supper if you will. Goodbye pizza. Goodbye pasta, Sniff. Goodbye mashed potatoes. Sniff, sniff. Goodbye Bread, I'll miss you most of all. Au Revoir, Auf Viedersen, Adios, Farewell to my dear sweet carbs.