Did you get bored?

[Bess]

Hi
I'm been on and off protein power for over a year. I am getting bored ....any one else finding it hard?:yawn:

[Shadow01]

Hi, Bess :) . No, I am not bored. What exactly is "boring" you? Is it what you're eating, how you're accounting for what you're eating, life in general, your exercise routine (or lack thereof), something else or all the above? I am sure whatever it is, it can be changed once you pinpoint the exact source.

[Bess]

Shadow....
I guess it is the food.... I am not a very good cook and find I am in a rut of foods that I know are OK for carbs and with not wanting to screw up on the hidden carbs I have become a little bored with my food. Some times recipes are hard to convert and I have a household not on LC like me that want the usually foods....hamburgers, hot dogs, lasagna, sheppard's pie, stew etc... So to come up with a LC version was beyond me. I then tend to just cook a piece of chicken or fish and eat a salad to avoid the double meal. As a result, I am bored with the food and at the same time tempted by what is around me.
I was great for a while but not sure my will power is big enough to continue this way. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance

[Shadow01]

Bess - Don't be discouraged :) ! It takes a while to learn to "think outside the box". If you're like me, you've always had "XXX" with hamburger, "XXX" with stew, and so on - to the point that you've stagnated on being creative and coming up with options.

My first suggestion, is that if you don't plan your family meals in advance, try planning ahead. That will give you an idea of what you'll have available (hamburger, vs stew meat, vs chicken, etc). Then, cruise the recipe forum to look for things that would appeal to you. For example, say you're making stew for the family. Put aside some of the cooked stew meat and broth. To this meat and broth, you could do something simple like boil it with cabbage (or cabbage & carrots if you have the carbs available) or you could add some onion, mushroom and sour cream and have more of a stroganoff. Or if you're in the mood, take plain beef and fry it up in olive oil with garlic and onion - or spices of your choice. For that matter, if you want, you could pull out stew before thickening it and have a beef soup with the same ingredients.

Secondly, keep in mind that a lot of dishes can be frozen. So if you take a little extra time here - you'll save a lot of time there, see what I mean? For example, if you make meatloaf for your family - bake one (low-carb friendly, of course) at the same time and freeze the leftover portions for a quick reheat some other time.

Third - Don't be afraid to experiment and to fail. That's how you'll learn to adapt to cooking the low-carb way for one. It takes patience and perseverence, but you can do it :thup: ! It's like learning or adapting to anything else, it just takes time :). And there's always the recipe section to post questions on. You may want to surf the Tips and Techniques thread where there's a lot of great information on low-carb cooking.

Hopefully this has helped some! Unfortunately, work is hectic here and I must go. It's taken me all afternoon to just get this done! But hang in there - I'll try to think of more suggestions soon :) !

[Bess]

Shadow....
Thanks for such a great reply. First, I hadn' t found those forums you mentioned yet (I'm new to this computer forum thing too). I am going to look for them after posting this!

I didn't know you could do some of the things you mentioned. You are right about looking out side the box. I see what you mean by that with the way you approach it. I definitely am "creatively challenged" in the kitchen! Maybe that is the biggest problem. Probably why I never tried new product too.

Your approach has given me pause to re-think things. For example... I have hamburgers defrosting for tonight. Usually I would just eat mine without the bun and put everything that I would normally put on a burger on top. But maybe if I look in the other forums you suggested I might find something else to do with that plain burger!

Thanks for opening the box....I'll try looking outside.... any more helpful hints would be appreciated. You sound like a good cook! :thup: I think that is helpful with this plan. :idea: Thanks for the ideas!:idea:
Going surfing now!:wiggle: hope to talk soon.

[Shadow01]

Hi Bess :) ! You are certainly welcome for what little advice I gave you! It is very daunting trying to adjust cooking for one to this WOE, especially if you don't have a background in cooking. But don't lose hope - you'll be a whiz in no time :) .

In case you didn't find the recipe thread on this forum, it is here:
http://forum.lowcarber.org/forumdisplay.php?f=2

Also, the Protein Power recipe thread is here:
http://bbs.eatprotein.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=4

There is a "search" function on both web sites so if you have something particular in mind - like hamburger - you can just put that in and it will pull up all recipes that mention hamburger. I'm not computer savvy by any means, but if you need help with these sites, or searching, or finding your way around, just let me know and I'll see if I can help you :) .

Let's see if I can come up with a couple more tips for you:
- When you try a recipe, make note of any changes you have done to that recipe (like substituted a spice you like for one that you don't like). That way, the next time you make it, you'll know what you did.
- When you first try a recipe and taste it, make any notes on the recipe of things you'd like to change or try the next time. For example, if a recipe calls for cheddar cheese but isn't quite "right" when you try it - try swiss or another cheese the next time. Obviously, if you like it the first time around, don't change anything :p .
- As with any recipe, make sure you read all the steps involved and ingredients needed before making. I find the less steps involved, the more inclined I am to try it.
- There are so many recipes available - one mistake I have made is trying a recipe and not caring for it - then forgetting to get rid of that recipe. Then I end up making it again :rolleyes: .
- Start with simple/basic things and work your way up from there. Experimenting with meat and veggies is a lot less risky, for example, than baking.
- You'll find for pretty much any recipe on this forum or others, there will be variations others did to that recipe. My suggestion is to make a recipe as close to it's original form as you can the first time. Once you know what it should taste like, it's texture should be, and how easy it was to make, you can then start to experiment and change it. If you do the note-taking suggested above, this will be easy.
- Almost all recipes (baked goods being the biggest exception) can be made in smaller portions. Just divide everything out equally. But keep in mind, if you're pretty sure you'll like it, go ahead and make the whole thing and freeze portions for later use.
- Stock your kitchen with basics (veggies like cauliflower and cabbage, sour cream, cream cheese, cheese, heavy cream) so you have them on hand. Obviously veggies don't last forever, but usually the dairy products have a long shelf life.
- And finally, never be afraid to try! At worst, you'll end up eating something you won't want to try again :lol: - and at best, you'll have a new recipe to add to your collection that you'll look forward to making again.

Hopefully by now you've found something good to do with your hamburger! If not, a couple simple suggestions to change it from the same old thing:
=Add some taco seasoning and serve it with sour cream &/or cheddar cheese
=Add some bacon and optional mushrooms - top with swiss cheese
=Fry it up with some onion and tomato plus spices of your choice and eat that way or add a little beef broth and you'll have a beanless chili

Best of luck to ya! Keep in touch and let me know how it's going! :wave:

[Bess]

Shadow...
loved your post....
I have definitely tried recipes and forgotten and tried them again even after disliking them the first time! You made me laugh when you mentioned that!:lol:

I looked around the forums.... really liked the recipes that people posted the best. Like you mentioned, not many ingredients and steps so they look like something I will try. I loved your hamburger suggestions but didn't see them until this morning....maybe next time I have one I will try one of yours. Didn't find any other recipes for hamburgers yesterday so I ended up eating a salad and two burgers with mayo and mustard for dinner. Boring but I am encouraged more than I was a few days ago about this being less boring....:thup:
For instance , tonight I am cooking scallops at home! Never done that before. I found a recipe that says to cook them in butter and lemon with some lemon pepper. Sounds good eh?! Going to try that! Looking forward to something different. I order scallops all the time in a resteraunt but never have tried to cook them myself.

I found a recipe for a cream sauce that sounds great too. Can't wait to make it and pour it over chicken for a change of pace!

It's a start!:roll: Turning my way of looking at things up side down! Maybe if I make it and don' t tell my son and husband, they will like it too and eventually I will have less double meals!

Thanks for all the hints! My attitude has take a change this week. I credit you and this site! I was creeping up and this week I have stuck to it and I am down 2 lbs already. Feel less bloated too!
I appreciate you taking a "cooking challenged" person under your wing!
I come from a family of 6 and it was my sister who learned how to cook. I learned how to dust and vaccumn!!:lol: Not that I like doing that! My husband still blames my mother for my lack of cooking skills but maybe there is hope for me yet!

Talk soon....let you know how the scallops go!

[Shadow01]

Bess - It is great to hear you so excited about meal plans :D!! See - I knew you could do it! Now that you've opened the box, the possiblilites are endless :thup: ! And I'm so glad I'm not the only one to repeat a recipe I didn't like the first time around :rolleyes:!

Actually, your hamburger sounds good to me with just mayo and mustard - but I know you need a change now and again. By the next time you have it, you'll have had more time to search around. I've also used allrecipes.com and meals.com for meat searches - those recipes are usually easy to modify to low-carb.

Wow - let me know how your scallops turn out!! I have never made scallops. But I'm sure they'll be just wonderful :). I think, especially with entrees, that you could sneak quite a few in and your family would be none the wiser - but you'd have a lot less work to do :cool: !

And congratulations :yay: :Party: :clap: on the 2-pound loss!! That is absolutely awesome :D! Keep up the great job!

There were only 3 in my family, but being the youngest, I learned the dusting and vacuuming too! In fact, I didn't really learn to cook until after my divorce ;)!

Hang in there - you're doing great!!! Keep me posted on how you're doing :)

[m1whowaits]

One of my favorite hamburger ways is a bed of lettuce, the hamburger, salsa or taco sauce, shredded cheese and sour cream on top!! If you can have more carbs, you can throw a few refried beans in there too!!

[Kristine]

Hi Bess. I do a lot of double-cooking, too, but I try to keep things as similar as possible. Stir fry is an example of a healthy, quick meal that you can easily cook in two batches. The variation in meats, veggies and sauces are endless. My current fave is to cook it in butter, ginger, garlic, and a tad of Asian hot chili sauce. :thup:

Shadow offered great advice. :thup: The one thing I'll add: flavorful sauces are a good way to add variety to boring ol' pork roast, roasted chicken, or burgers. If you don't want to make the sauces, Kraft makes excellent dressings that are good for marinating. Roasted Red Pepper and Parmesan and their Greek Feta are my two favorites. :thup:

Bess, I have a challenge for you: buy and serve a vegetable this week that your family has never tried before. :D Perhaps jicama, daikon radish, belgian endive...

Enjoy! :cool:

[Bess]

Hi everyone!
Thanks for posting all the helpful hints!:)

Just an update.... the scallops were great! I got the frozen ones. I put them in tinfoil and added butter, lemon & lemon pepper (spice). I wrapped them up and BBQ'd them on the BBQ with a small steak! It was surf and turf night. My family had steak and baked potatoes and I had my scallops instead of the potato. Love it. Very light and easy.

As for your challenge Kristine... I think I already fail because I have no idea what those things are ...let alone know how to cook them!:daze:

Shadow... & m1whowaits....
I have saved your posts to refer back to the next time we have hamburger! They all sound better than the mayo/mustard to me right now!
It is good if it you don't have time to cook.
:)

I have a question that I hope someone can answer......
How do you calculate how much Carbs you are getting in a serving with a new recipe that doesn' t tell you the amount per serving? Can you just add all your ingredients and divide by the number of servings and be accurate enough for the diet?

For example: Last night I had pork chops in Mushroom soup. With Green beans. So if I calculate: No carbs for pork chops, plus 8 carbs in a can of Campbells Mushroom soup, and 10 carbs in a can of green beans. Since I had 1/3 of a can of beans which counts for 3-4 carbs.
2 pork chops counts as 0 carbs and they were just cooked in the soup I counted 2 carbs
Am I correct to estimate: last night's dinner as 5-6 carbs?

Thanks for the help in advance!:read2:

[Shadow01]

Hi, Bess! I've been wondering how you were doing - so glad you got time to post :)!

As for your supper carb count, I think you're right on track :thup:! You did remember to subtract out the fiber in the green beans, right? And to answer your other question, yes - you are correct on that too. Just add all ingredients and their values and divide by number of servings. Because I'm a control freak, I always portion out a recipe after it's made to make sure I get even-sized servings but that is just being anal and is not necessary :D!

You're doing a marvelous job!!!! Hang in there - and keep us posted on all your new and exciting creations :yay: !

[Bess]

Shadow....confession time!
had a bad weekend. Didn't feel like cooking and made too many bad choices this weekend. On track today. Had eggs for breakfast and chicken salad for lunch. BBQ chicken for dinner tonight!

But with my confession comes a question.....
what about eating out at fast food joints? Help!
Is chicken nuggets a really bad choice? Especially as a quick meal if you are driving??? Salad is just impossible if you are driving?

I would love to have a few choices that are ok if you are in a tough spot! Any suggestions.

[Shadow01]

Hi, Bess! So glad you popped in - I've been wondering how you were doing :)! Don't sweat the weekend - you're back on track and that's what counts the most! If it helps any, my weekend wasn't stellar either ;) :rolleyes:...

Unfortunately, I am a very bad choice to ask about fast food places - it's been years since I've eaten at one. Nuggets do have carbs (the flour coating) and are cooked in transfatty oils. My suggestion is that if you know you're going to be eating on the run, take something that can be eaten in the car. Maybe make a couple of roll-ups with meat & cheese (you could wrap it in a lc tortilla if you wanted), peeled hard-boiled eggs, diced/string cheese &/or cut-up chicken or beef, and a less good option, celery filled with peanut butter or cream cheese (you'll be lacking protein on this one!). Yes, the fingers will be a little messy - but they'd get messy with nuggests too :lol:. You may want to stock your purse or car with beef jerky, pepperoni sticks, or something like that for emergencies. I wouldn't recommend it for a daily basis, depending on what additives and preservatives there are, but it would beat being caught in a crunch. As a worst case scenario - since sugar alcohols cause a lot of problems for some and they are a frankenfood, after all - you could pack along an Atkins bar which would have low net carbs (as long as sugar alcohol doesn't affect you), semi-decent protein and some fiber too. If you're a sweet junkie though, like me, they could become addicting which is NOT a good thing :nono: . If this is a once-in-a-blue-moon occurance, the nuggets won't hurt you too badly - but I certainly wouldn't want them more than once a year if I were you ;)!

I'll see if I can't come up with some other traveling ideas :). Glad you are doing ok and back on the program! Hang in there!!

[Bess]

Feeling Blue today.....Ha Ha! Just ment the colour!:)
I wasn't as good as I thought, I didn't think the nuggets would be that bad but if you are saying once a year! that's not a good choice.
I have done the cheese and pepperettes thing before. That has worked! Never tried the bars and I am afraid to try!:lol:
I got in trouble when I started to add carbs back in my diet and found my cravings are unreal:exclm:
Now here I am up 30lbs and it only took a few months. Less time than it took to lose it! That's for sure.
I like the planning thing but I also think sometimes I will eat it if it is there even if I'm not hungry and that isn't good either.
How bad would it be to skip a meal instead of eating something bad?
I've tried that in the past and found it helped the weight loss but only I tended to plateau shortly there after. The book on Protein power doesn't address these "life problems".

Had a good day yesterday .....except ..... I am tempted to cheat so much. I haven't lost the cravings yet. Guess that is because of the weekend. How long did it take for the craving to go away for you. I think the last time I started it was at least two weeks of no cheating for the cravings to go away. Then the plan got easier. What about you?:exclm:

[Shadow01]

Hi, Bess :)! Believe me, if you've never tried the bars, you probably shouldn't :eek:!!! Especially if you're subject to cravings - cause they can make you have more! I truly wish I'd never tried them!!!

I still suffer from cravings - but like you, it could be from not sticking strictly to the plan this past weekend :nono: .

Ah, just because I eschew fast food doesn't mean you have to :). I just get grossed out thinking of those trans-fats, ya know! Maybe even once a month wouldn't hurt - but I think you're better off with cheese & pepperettes ;).

I think when it comes to adding carbs back in, those of us subject to cravings must be very careful! If I ever go up into Transition, I plan on just having more of what I'm having now - and sticking with low glycemic new ones. I know the Eadeses don't put a lot of store in the glycemic index, and neither do I. But I want the carbs with the least impact, you know what I mean?

Yes, I am well known to eat even when I'm not hungry :(. I think the danger in skipping meals lies in the fact that the next thing you know, you may be hungry - and then have nothing to eat - or nothing low carb available, at any rate. Plus, our bodies can't store protein so we need it throughout the day. I think for me, I would skip the meal if the only option were something off plan - and then find a way to get something (nuts, cheese, etc) to tide me over until I could eat my next meal. I think skipping meals may make the body think you're going to withhold food but I don't know that once in a while it would hurt. Personally, I do ANYTHING I can to avoid missing my meals :D!

Cravings as I said have been bad for me too, lately. So you hang in there - and I'll hang in there with you! How's that sound? I think if we both behave for a couple of days, we'll be just fine ;)!

Ok - work is calling so I must run. Have a wonderful evening!

[Shadow01]

Hey Bess :). I saw this thread on the general forum and thought of you :heart:. Hopefully in it you'll find something acceptable to order at fast food joints. I didn't read it, but hopefully there'll be some info in it for you the next time you face that decision. Have a marvelous day :D!

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=108677

[Bess]

Thanks for thinking of me Shadow!
I'll go check it out right now!
Let you know!

[Shadow01]

Hi Bess :)! Just wondering how you're doing! :wave:

[Bess]

Hi Shadow.....

Life has interfered in letting me get on here! I have been doing ok!
I am trying to cook old favourites in a new way. Bought a George Formen to cook on this winter. Should be able to cook with less grease and quick. I recently had a trip around my grocery store and found interesting frozen burgers with extra stuff in it like cheese and bacon and the carbs are reasonable. I did some of them on the "George" and even my family loved them. ( of course, they ate the buns)
Tonight on the menu is homemade Stroganoff! Made with hamburger, Campbell's cr of mushroom soup, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, sour cream, pepper, and a little grated cheese. I figure 1/6 of the pan is 8 carbs! Should be filling too!
What do you think?
:) I am actually cooking!:dazzle: Hope I haven't screwed up the carb count!

[Shadow01]

Hey Bess - am I invited to supper :yum: ??? My that sounds awfully tasty (with the exception of the green pepper :lol: )!

Sounds like you're being quite successful at getting variety in, finding foods that are quick and easy to prepare and that your family will eat with you, all while staying on the plan - way to go :cheer:!!! Just think of how far you've come in such a short time!!! What a fantastic job you've done of getting it all together :clap:!

I've looked at the GF grills, just haven't bitten the bullet yet. But, since I like to reheat roast, chicken, etc in olive oil, it probably wouldn't be that good of an investment for me ;). I rarely eat hamburgers, pork chops, things like that. I have problems swallowing so when I eat meat, I need oil or sauce of some kind. I'm just bizarre I think :p! But there are times even I think it would come in handy so I'll probably break down and get one at some point. What's one more kitchen gadget, huh :rolleyes: ?

And - fantastic job avoiding the rolls!!! Actually, those hamburgers sound mighty good with bacon and cheddar. Gosh, I can tell we're coming up on supper time here! I'd better quit talking about food now ;)!

Hang in there, Bess, and keep up the wonderful job you're doing!!!! BTW - I'm sure you did just fine on the carb count, too :).

[Bess]

Shadow...

I have a question.... I have had a couple of confusing days. I have been really good with my diet and I have put on 2lbs and then stayed there for 3 days. Could it be the BC pill. I was losing really well during that time of the month and then I got to the week I started back on the pill and that's what happened.
Do you think that is the cause?
Or is it possible that you have to keep decreasing the level of carbs as you lose weight to keep losing weight.
I am puzzled????:cry:
Thanks in advance for the help!

[Shadow01]

Hi Bess!

While I'm certainly not an expert, my first guess would be to think this is caused by the pill. Years ago (decades, really ;) !) I remember gaining weight from it and I think that's pretty common. You might try searching the medical forum here - I'm sure there's most likely threads pertaining to the BC pill from other frustrated souls. If you can't find anything, let me know and I'll surf around for you :).

What carb level are you at now? There is no advantage to going below 30 carbs per day. Have you increased your carb level above that? Are you spreading your carbs out at each meal? Are you getting in at least your minimum protein at each meal? If you've gone higher in carbs, you might try cutting them back some and see if it helps. Some people do have to stay pretty close to 30 for a long while or have they set backs.

Just keep in mind, going below 30 carbs a day doesn't help. Keep those 30 carbs and make sure they're nutritious carbs as much as you can. No need to cut out the good stuff (like veggies) when I'm sure they're not the culprit.

Hang in there - and let me know if you need me to search or what you've found out if you are successful in finding something!

And don't despair :)! You're doing great and it will all come together!!!!

[Bess]

Thanks for posting so quickly Shadow....

Glad to know to not go below 30! I usually eat 3 meals per day and have 10 at each meal. For me I don't seem to lose if I snack! I have also found that if I am a little above 30 I definitely have problems. That's how I gained back the weight. I got within 10Lbs of my goal weight and started to try to gradually add some carbs and I just couldn't handle it. Craving came back and I lost it!!!!:nono:
But I never have really had plateaus before and I also think sometimes it is harder to lose on a diet the second time around. Can your body get used to it and tend to put fat on quicker with even a slight change ....like meds or a few carbs over at one meal?

I will go searching now....let you know what I find! Thanks!

[Bess]

Shadow...
just off the side of things....
I see you are from Wyoming! When I was in High school I went on my last summer vacation with my parents. We drove from Toronto (where I grew up) to Vancouver and back. But on the way back we drove thru the states instead of Canada. Loved Wyoming! It is one of my fondest childhood memories! We took the trip in July. Beautiful sunsets and country.

Just wanted to tell you that. Every time you post I think about that trip. I was 14 then.

[Shadow01]

Bess - Hello again :D!

That's great you got to see big, beautiful Wyoming! I am a transplant (from Pennsylvania) but have been here 13 years and can't imagine a day I'd ever want to leave! This has become "home" in my heart - much to the chagrin of my family :lol:! I'm glad you got to see and enjoy this state that I love :)!

Most definitely - YES - the second time around is harder. I have read that from so many people - that's enough incentive to (hopefully) keep me on the plan forever and keep me from straying! I was just reading another post today on the PP forum from a woman who compared her first time on PP and her second. The rules were all different and it took her a lot of work to figure out how to get it to work the second time around. I know I've seen posts here too about it being harder the second time around.

And no, don't drop below 30. It won't help so you can just avoid that aggravation ;) ! If you want, I can give you a link to that post I saw today. Just don't lose hope - you'll get there! It may be a more difficult journey this time than before, but you will succeed!

Hang in there and keep me posted :D!

[Bess]

Thanks for posting again Shadow....

You can alway seem to help me feel better. Funny how you feel something and just having someone "agree" helps a lot.

I will go searching for the posts about doing the plan the second time around and let me be your warning to not slip. It isn't worth it. I have been exceptionally counting everything this time and it IS harder. It would have been much easier if I hadn't let it get so out of control!!! I am glad I got back on it now before the holidays....
Although, next week is Thanksgiving in Canada. So it is turkey time. I will be hunting later this week for new and fun veggies instead of the usual potatoes, yams and corn! All Bad, right!

What about Turnip? How is it?
Talk soon! Keep posting!

[Shadow01]

Hi Bess :)! I'm so glad I can make you feel better! It's always nice to know we're not alone.

Okay - I will take your experience as a warning to not fall off plan :nono:!

Turkey :yum:! It's just the other stuff that needs rearranging! Eat lots of turkey first and that will help fill you up. I've never tried turnips but a lot of people use them. 2 Thanksgivings ago I tried the mock mashed potatoes but wasn't thrilled with them. (However, I saw a post later by Karen about how to get them to come out right and taste well - hopefully you can find it). Last year, I was into low carbing long enough that I was just content with turkey on a large salad. The thing I missed the most was not having succotash - that was always my favorite :(. Didn't miss the stuffing - gave that up years ago for low-fat dieting so at least that wasn't a hardship either. I've seen lots of holiday recipes, though, so you should be able to find something to help get you through :). I always make the pumpkin pie - but again, I'd made that crustless and sugarless for years so it was not sacrifice - but now since low-carbing, I get to add real whipped cream which is a bonus :yum:!

The key is preparation - and if you have any trouble coming up with good substitutes, let me know and I'll search around and see if there's any good info to give you from other sites :)!

So glad you're hanging in there. And don't sweat the holidays - with the right mental preparation, you'll make it through just fine :D! Keep me posted on how you're doing :heart:!

:wave:

[Bess]

Shadow...
I really want your crustless & sugarless pumpkin pie recipe! Please!:dazzle:
I haven't had pumpkin pie for a couple of years and can't even imagine how you can make it crustless and sugarless?:exclm:
I would love to have desert like everyone else this year!
I may be going to my in-laws place for Thanksgiving so I may be limited about what I can do. But I thought I could maybe bring a vegetable and my own desert! Or even, have my desert when I get home!

Desert would actually make it "thanksgiving".
I hope you will share: looking forward to hearing from you.:)

[Shadow01]

Bess: Unfortunately, there's no special recipe for what I make. I just follow the Libby's label and sub AS for the sugar and heavy cream for the evaporated milk. Baking is the same except you don't have a crust edge to tend to :). This year I will experiment with xylitol in place of the sugar or most likely a xylitol/splenda mix but in the past I just used pourable equal.

There's a recipe for it also at: www.lowcarbluxury.com. They normally have a holiday recipe list there to make old favorites low-carb friendly and soon will have their monthy e-zine dedicated to holiday cooking.

This year I may make a "crust" out of almond meal and butter, but most likely not. I enjoy it without the crust at all so why add needless calories when I'm sure to get my fill that day :D! But Karen also has a scrumptious sounding brazil nut crust that I may try one of these days :yum:!

Having the dessert is a definite plus and will help keep you from feeling deprived :thup:! I think taking your own veggie and dessert is a wonderfully good plan. If you don't take your dessert, you may be pressed into the "one piece won't hurt you" thing - and it will be more tempting if you don't have your own dessert there to compensate for when everyone else is digging in ;).

[Shadow01]

Good morning, Bess! I'm messing around here at work and happened to stumble across a link that Karen posted for holiday recipes! I'm gonna go back and check it out myself, but immediately thought of you. So here it is in case you haven't had time to look :heart:!
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=104837

[Bess]

Shadow....
I just wrote you a big long post and I lost it somehow!!!!!
Guess I'm tired. So I will try again tomorrow. Lots to ask.....
Thanks for all your help.
Post you tomorrow!
Hope you get this!!!!!

[Shadow01]

Argh - I just hate losing posts!!! And it always happens on the long ones :rolleyes:! Hope you got some rest last night :). Ask away when you're ready - hopefully I'll be able to help.

[Bess]

Hi Shadow.... I'm back!
A little less tired but with a sick kid at home today so I have to make it quick.:exclm:
I just want to remind you I am challanged in the kitchen & I have a stupid question!
How do you make the pumpkin pie like the recipe without a crust? How do you bake it? In what & for how long?
Now that you have probably stopped laughing.... I had written you a nice thank you note for all your help and added that I agree the desert should come with me.

I also have a cooking question....
I want to take an existing recipe and calculate the carbs to see if I can use it for my vegetable on thanksgiving!
My recipe:
Turnip Puff:
cook whole turnip and cube it. blend it together with 2 tbsp flour, 4 tbsp brown sugar, 2 eggs, and 1/4 cup butter, and 1 tsp baking powder.
put mixture in casserole and bake 350 for 1hour. What do you think the carbs are for the whole casserole? How many do you think for 2-3 tbsps of it as a side dish? Or maybe you could at least tell me how to calculate it myself?!

Any help is greatly appreciated
:)

By the way ...I lost the last long post trying to add a smiley face from the list! figures, eh?! There I go being Canadian again ....sorry about that!! LOL

[Shadow01]

Oh Bess - I hope your child is feeling better!

It is the thought that counts - and just knowing you were trying to thank me is enough :)! FWIW, I've lost posts too trying to put smilies in :rolleyes:.

And believe it or not - I didn't laugh. The first time I tried it I was worried since I didn't know how it would turn out. I've done it several ways - the easiest is to bake it in the pie pan you would normally use - just spray or coat the pan to keep it from sticking, pour the pumpkin in and bake like you would a regular pie. Now, I've noticed for some reason it tends to dry out somewhat but since I like LOTS of whipped topping, it's never bothered me so I haven't tried to find out why. I think part of the problem is losing the moisture provided by the crust. I think this year, instead of spraying my pan w/ one of the cooking sprays, I'll coat it well with butter which should help. I may even cover it for a little while. Just keep an eye on it - it should be just fine as long as you take care to not overbake it. I've also baked it in mini pie tins too. I've baked it in mini loaf pans. Just depends on my mood and how much oven room I'm going to have. Does any of this help? I might try a pumpkin/cheesecake recipe this year that looks awfully simple. Anyway - I agree that you are best off taking your own dessert :).

Now, for the turnip puff, here's what I came up with (and it isn't pretty) -
turnip - 8.11 carbs
eggs - 1.2 carbs
brown sugar (packed) - 53.52 carbs
baking powder - 1.11 carbs
flour - 11 carbs
Grand total: 75 carbs (entire recipe)

Never having seen this, I have no idea the quantity it would make and therefore how much of the entire thing 2 - 3 T would be carb wise. I guess it would depend on if you're really going to be able to limit yourself to that small amount. And if you think it's going to cause cravings - I could see brown sugar being a big trigger there.

What *I* would do would be to make a more carb-friendly version. If nothing else, I would substitute the brown sugar. I don't use Brown Sugar Twin (the American version is horrid :eek: but I understand Canadian brown sugar twin is very good :yum:. Have you had any experience with it? I'm sure there's info on Karen's thread on it since she's Canadian. I know I've seen brown sugar subs in some of her recipes - she mixes the Brown Sugar Twin w/ splenda. Might be worth checking out to save yourself a bunch of carbs :). I know it would vary volume-wise. Maybe if you posted a question on Karen's forum or under Techniques and Tips, someone who knows a heck of a lot more than I do could answer before you need to know :).

Or, if you think you wouldn't like it made any other way, you could think of something else that would please you but have fewer carbs. Not much help, am I :rolleyes:?

I'm sorry I don't know the answers - looks like its time to expand my cooking skills!

Have a great evening, Bess!

[Shadow01]

Bess - I hope you don't mind, but I went ahead and got some links to pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake. I think the first time around doing anything its simpler if you have a recipe (I'm sure you remember our discussion about this) :). So, here are some recipes you might want to check out:
Basic pumpkin pie:
http://bbs.eatprotein.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=002206#000000


Pumpkin cheesecake with pecan crust:
http://bbs.eatprotein.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001456#000000


Pumpkin pie cooked in custard dishes:
http://bbs.eatprotein.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001378#000000


Simple pumpkin cheesecake:
http://bbs.eatprotein.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000507#000000

I still feel terrible that I can't help with your turnip puff :(. I am assuming its a Canadian standard? Let me know what you try and how it turns out :).

[Shadow01]

Hi Bess :). Just wanted to pop in and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving :D! I hope you had enough time to get your menu squared away. Let me know how it goes :)!

[Bess]

Shadow...

Thanks for the help with the turnip puff! I was shocked on the amount of carbs as I guess you were too! It makes a medium size corning casserole dish full. Enough for a crowd of 20 or so to have a tbsp or so each! But like you said, that would still be alot of carbs. My judgement was to "Can" that idea!!!!
I had french style green beans instead! Much easier!!!:)

For desert I had your pumpkin in tart trays! Loved it! Will do it for Christmas too!
So glad I asked!

Planning ahead was a great Idea. I didn't feel deprived at all! Lots to be thankful for ! The turkey is the best part anyway. I have been having turkey salad ever since. Lots left over.

I will look into the recipes you posted and check out the cheesecake for sure. My husband loves cheesecake so that would be one we could both eat. Love to do that. One desert for everyone!

Happy thanksgiving.....a day later for me and a month early (or so) for you!
:)

[Shadow01]

Bess: I'm so very glad the day went well for you :thup: :D!

The green beans sound like they were a better option than the turnip puff ;) and I agree - the turkey's the best part :yum:! Yes, I was horrified to find out how many carbs that puff had :eek:! And to think I used to eat things w/ brown sugar in and thought it was "good" for me :rolleyes:!

So happy you liked the pumpkin :cool:!

Now, if only I can be as well behaved as you, come my Thanksgiving Day ;)!

Okay - I must get going now. I'm so glad you popped in - I was wondering how your day went :heart:! As always, it was great to "hear" from you :p!

[Bess]

Shadow...
just wondering how long you have been on the program?
you are so helpful!

:dazzle:

[Shadow01]

Hi Bess :D! I started "clean eating" (no flour, sugar, trans fats) 2 years ago. Then I started PP a little over a year ago.

Hope you have a great day!

[Bess]

HI!
I was really disappointed about the scales this morning. I have been very very good for the last 2 weeks and I am definitely stalled! Can't get below my current weight. I have found this week especially difficult and I am at the point where I need to do something positive or I may do something really negative.

I went and checked out a forum on stalling and one of the chats was about "refeeding". The theory is that sometimes when you are on the diet you stale due to a change in your system and that if you shock it by eating carbs for one meal that it kicks your system into weight loss again.

Recently, a girl on that forum was stalled for 3 weeks and ate 2 meals off LC and now is down 5.9 lbs in a little over two weeks!!! Awesome.

I am thinking about trying it??? Or I could journalize and see if there are problems with my eating .....but truthfully I don't see how there is problems with my diet. We have chatted here about that and I seem to be doing great that way.

What's your thoughts on it?

[Shadow01]

Hiya, Bess!

Okay, first of all....2 weeks of no change is not a stall. Frustrating, yes - a stall, no. A true stall or plateau is absolutely no change in weight OR measurements for at least 6 weeks.

The body needs time to adapt to changes. So, you've lost weight and now your body wants to get comfortable with the new weight before it moves on. While two weeks seems like a long time to you, it is not to your body. You've undertaken a new WOE for it to adapt to and now you've lost weight for it to adapt to. It just takes time.

Now, just to clarify for you - what these people are doing are not "refeeds". They're cheats, plain & simple. A refeed is part of a very strict bodybuilding plan and there are absolute rules about what to eat before, during and after a refeed as well as when to eat it and the types of workouts done.

And, for every one person who says a cheat caused weight loss, you'll find another person who says it caused them a huge weight gain and brought back the carb addiction, cravings, and severe physical side affects (lethargy, headache, bloating, etc).

I think once you've reached goal, a higher carb meal is a great idea to keep things interesting and your metabolism guessing. You may want to re-read the part about visiting the Honey Tree in your book. But I don't know that it's wise before then. However, this is all just my opinion :).

Here's something to consider... "Recently, a girl on that forum was stalled for 3 weeks and ate 2 meals off LC and now is down 5.9 lbs in a little over two weeks!!! " Who's to say that if this girl had simply perservered under the guidelines of her plan, that she wouldn't have lost that weight in that same 2 weeks' time? And, how much of that 5.9 pounds was simply lost water weight that she had gained from the carbs she indulged in? Just a couple points to ponder :).

The bottom line is - it's something only you can decide. And whatever you decide, I wish you well!!

If it were me - and believe me, I've had weeks with not changes - I would be patient a while longer. The better you treat your body, the better it will treat you ;).

HTH :heart:

[Bess]

Shadow....
I'm glad I checked back this afternoon. I think you just gave me a kick in the butt and I think I needed it:).

After reading your post, I understand that 2 weeks isn't that long but when you are going thru it, it seems like forever. I think, because I never really had this happen the first time, that I just want the weight loss to be like last time.
Maybe this is just part of the same problem....second time around!

Since I feel the need to do something, to have some control back ....
I think I will try journaling. Maybe then someone will see if I am really screwing up!

Thanks

[Shadow01]

Bess: I am much relieved at your decision :thup: :)! I will pop over and look at your journal and see if there's anything I can suggest.

And, while I know that 2 weeks is really not a long time, I also know it IS frustrating! I certainly understand that :). But, since this is your second time around, all the rules are going to be different than the first time.

Have you checked your measurements?

Hang in there, Bess! I know it can be difficult when you're not seeing consistent results. But you're doing a GREAT job so don't lose hope, okay? The results WILL come, honest :)! :heart:

[Bess]

Hi Shadow....
Sorry for not posting for a few days.... Life happens!
I have a young lad in Hockey and I have spent the last few days running back and forth to the rink with him. We Canadians love our hockey!!! and my boy is no exception. He had tryouts.

Back to LC....
Still holding at 192~
But still following the program. Now I am wondering if it might take the month!!!
Didn't really get to the journaling like I had hoped. Got to run right now but tomorrow will be better for that. Try to fill in a few days tomorrow! Talk soon

[Shadow01]

Bess: So glad to hear from you :D! I was going to raise an alarm yesterday but got too busy here at work. I've been wondering how you were - glad you're just busy right now :).

Personally, after looking at your journal, I think if you up your low-carb veggies and water intake, you'll kickstart the weightloss. Sorry if you're already getting your water and I just missed it ;). Also, are you taking a multi-vitamin? Once you get a couple more days in your journal, I'll pop back in and see if I can spot anything. Remember to get at least your minimum protein, get those low-carb veggies in, drink that water and take your vitamin ;).

You'll see results soon, I am sure of it :D! Hang in there!!!!

[Bess]

Shadow...
Glad you posted. I just update my journalizing. It does make you think twice about what you eat knowing you are posting it!!!

I have been taking a multivitamine everyday and just forgot to write it in!

What about you? Do you journalize? Sometimes it might be helpful to see how someone else eats on a daily basis. I was just going to go looking thru them but I thought I might get someone who refeeds and that wouldn't do me any good.
Plus since you have reached your goals..... success may breed success!!!

Talk soon :dazzle:

[Shadow01]

Hi Bess! No, I don't journal. Well, I do at home - just not here :). Afraid my journal would be very boring - I tend to stick to the same old stuff day after day, week after week. It's easier to figure out that way :p! Actually I will soon have to come up new things to have since we're heading into winter so it's time for new and different things than I've been having all summer.

How about if I send you some "success" waves? When I decide to enter Transition, I may start a journal here - you never know :)!

If LadyBelle has a journal, you may want to check into hers. She's now up to 50 carbs/day, I think, but I'm sure you can understand it. I don't think from posts I've read of hers that she would be refeeding - I'm pretty sure she sticks to plan. You're probably familiar with her name - she posts alot in the general forum and is always encouraging and supporting people there.

Have a wonderful evening, Bess! I'll pop over to your journal now :).

[Bess]

Thanks Shadow...
I'll pop over to ladybelle's journal. I think it will help!
I am like you I tend to eat the same things too much and that is another reason to see some elses journal.... they may have food ideas that will keep me from getting into the "boring" food zone!
talk soon

[Bess]

Hi Shadow...
just got back from Ladybelle's journal...
I am surprised at how many meals she eats a day! She also takes one day a week off.... is that because she is on Atkins?
Do you eat that many meals a day?

[Shadow01]

Hmm - I've never looked at her journal. I am assuming she is eating mini-meals. I stick to 3 meals a day - snacking has always been my downfall. I will pop over and find her journal and then maybe I can shed some light :). I didn't know she took an "off" day, but it could because she is heading into maintenance. Will be back in a little while :).

[Shadow01]

Bess - Looks like she is doing Body For Life which is kind of it's own thing. I am sure though that she'll answer your questions for you :). She is eating more I'm sure because some are mini-meals and Body For Life is a very demanding fitness program. Afraid I can't be of much more help, but she seems such a nice and sharing person, I'm sure she'll answer whatever you may ask :). Now I'm curious myself :D!

Hang in there Bess :heart:!

[Shadow01]

Bess - Here's one more reference for you (I mentioned two other journals on your journal page for you to look at). This is from the Protein Power website forum and might be easiest of all for you to follow. The way it's done there, they do "daily" threads where everyone puts their menu (those in Bootcamp, anyway). This way, you'll get the variety of several people all on one page and might be less confusing than the individual journaling here. Anyway, here is today's check-in from there:
http://bbs.eatprotein.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=006820

That might be a lot less confusing than even Rosebud's or DoreenT's journals - although I think those would be marvelous to look at when you have spare time :)!

Okay, now I'll leave you alone for the day - hopefully I haven't overwhelmed you here today :eek:!

Have a wonderful evening, Bess!

[Bess]

Shadow...
Thanks for the links... I've added it to my favourites.
May not be on for a few days and wanted to let you know....
Not feeling well and may have to change meds. That usually screws up the PP program for me. Let you know what I am doing on Wed.
Thanks for the help.

[Shadow01]

Bess - I am sorry you're not doing well :(! Thank you for letting me know - I was getting worried about you. I hope this all goes well for you - I'll be thinking of you :heart:! Please do let me know how you're doing when you can!

[Bess]

Shadow...
Thought I would stop in and let you know what's Up!!!
Not great news about my health. I'm on prednisone (steriods)! Screws up the diet hughly but you will never guess what the scales say....
I'm down to 190!
It is definitely from being sick. Probably water weight. Everything is going right thru me right now but I am trying to at least eat LC when I do eat.
Yesterday was a write off! Check my journal and you will see why!

The drugs are helping some but not totally yet. I have to be on them for a month and the worse part is they cause weight gain as a side effect. That is actually how I ended up at 220 to begin with .... Several years of steriod use and not enough breaks in between. The steriods screw up your metabolism and everything you eat tends to be turned into fat.Then on top of that it eats away your muscles. Exact opposite kind of steriod than what the athletes take to add muscle. Because you lose muscle on these steriods over time you end up decreasing your metabolism even more. It is a terrible cycle. Only way to stop it is to get off the drugs!!!!!
I think the Atkins book even says the diet doesn't work if you are on steriods.

But this is my plan......

Eat PP LC during this period and maybe try to cut the fat some too. Then hope for a low weight gain and maybe if I am lucky just maintain my weight and go hard after I am off the drugs! That's the best I can hope for.
I hope I can still post with you about how it is going. I really enjoy seeing your posts when I check in!
Talk soon.

[Bess]

Shadow...
Just had a stupid question that I thought you might be able to answer....

On the side of the screen where the personal information is I noticed I used to have eggs showing and now I have a chicken leg....you have 4 chicken legs ....
Ladybelle has a lobster....What do these mean?

I know it is dumb question but it is something I just haven't seen anything about on here and I can't figure it out.

Now stop laughing at me and answer my dumb question.....LOL!:)

[Bess]

Shadow ...
Thanks for the other peoples journals you mentioned... I haven't gotten there yet but I will ...tomorrow....I need to get off now....It has been over an hour and I should do some housework today!!!:rolleyes:
Ttyl

[Shadow01]

Bess - I just so enjoy you :)! I would be horrified if you stopped letting me know how you were doing - so please DO keep in touch!

The eggs, chicken legs, lobsters, etc are determined by how many times you've posted. Somewhere there is a thread (maybe in the Newbie section?) that tells how it's determined - like the difference between one chicken leg and two - but I've never concerned myself with it to even notice. I normally don't even look at them unless a buffalo happens to catch my eye - those are major posters ;)!

Those journals will take some time to look at - but they'll always be there when you have time. Sometimes I glance thru them but only in small increments - cause otherwise I'm easily confused :lol:!

Your plan sounds like a good one to me! Have you visited the medical form to see if there is any advice there for you on either the Crohn's or the steroid usage? That may be a better stop for you right now than the journals.

I am really so very sorry you're having all these challenges!!! Hang in there and try to not lose hope over any of this! And please, please do keep me posted on how you're doing! I'll worry myself sick, otherwise! Take care, Bess!
:heart:

[Bess]

Shadow...
The trick or treaters have all gone for the night so I thought I would catch up!

Good news and bad today.... the scale dropped again .... 189.5! that's the goods news! But I guess you figured that out.:)

Bad news..... increase in steriods today....dose I was on isn't enough to stop the symptoms. I have to double it tomorrow.

That means it will be harder to stay on plan....the cravings are bad on Steriods but so far so good. I even had to do that hour long trip to the doctors and tried one of the LC bars. A peanut butter chocolate something...
It was Awful!!!!!:exclm: I only ate half of it. It did replace a meal and keep me on track though.

I am trying to keep busy to avoid thinking about things too much. It is helping. Going to journal now~ Glad you enjoy my posts because I definitely enjoy yours! You have been great! I will stay in touch for sure.

[Shadow01]

Bess - That's fantastic you're down to 189.5!!!! I'm sure you'd rather have done it an easier way, but still - it's weight loss, yes? Let's see - were you at 197 before all this? Either way - that's just awesome!

Oh, I'm so sorry they're increasing the steroids :(! Once this gets under control, will they cut them back again? Is it possible to take something like chromium picolante or l-glutamine to help with the cravings? Hopefully the cravings are a side effect that will go away soon!! I think it's great you're keeping busy to keep your mind off of them! I need to do that more often myself :p! You have shown how strong you are - so I know you will succeed this time around following the plan and not giving up :heart:!

Keep up the great work, Bess :thup:!!! And definitely keep me posted on how you're doing :).

[black57]

I know that this is an old thread and the topic has changed a tad. I am not on the PP forums very often. I just want to make sure that I visit other boards. I have never been board eating a low carb high protein WOE. I think that I enjoy a bigger variety of foods than many who do this WOE. I think that I use the allowable foods to the max. I love fried chicken, for example. I, fortunately, made the discovery of soy flour. I use that for my fried chicken breading and it is wonderful. It doesn't have an odd taste and my kids love it. They, humorously, call it
" Mom's Atkins' fried chicken". I enjoy lots and lots of veggies such as cooked greens ( collard, turnip, mustard, spinach etc ), bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, zuchini etc. They make wonderful casseroles and salads. Nope, I have never been board.

Black57

[Bess]

Hi ....
just stopped in to say I'm still here....
It will be hard to keep posting daily...too much to deal with but how about I am for weekly...

I have had terrible cravings for chocolate....:nono: I have given in and had oreos and some small 2 bit chocolate bars. I have tried to limit but I have cheated. Otherwise the meals are still on track.

As a result.... I'm up to 190.5 lbs. Not bad but not good if I need to be on the steriods for long. I am going down on the drugs but today I am still not feeling well. I am suppose to stay at that level until I have a good day, then drop a pill a day until I don't feel well. I have only been on the steriods for 2 weeks today!
I am on 5 pills a day. Last week I was on 8 pills. I hope to go to 4 tomorrow but the risk is if I go down to quickly they end up going back up to 8 and starting again. But with all the cravings, I want to drop to decrease them!


UGH!!!!!

How are you doing Shadow? Love to hear some good news! What's up.

[Shadow01]

Bess - You certainly don't want to have to go up to 8 pills again - so slow and steady wins the race :)! I'm so glad to know you're hanging in there! You are doing a great job - you have a lot of challenges right now, so don't give up hope!!! I posted a couple of suggestions in your journal - don't know if they'll help any or not. Hopefully Suzie will have some suggestions too! Hang in there - you're doing a fantastic job so don't let a couple bumps along the way get you down :nono:!!!!

[dreamer]

I have found some great advice from this link itself. Thanks for taking the time to write it all done and so simply put :)

Have a wonderful LC day!

[Bess]

Shadow...
Just wanted to say....
Down to 2 prednisone per day but way off the LC....
I slipped numerous times. Weight it up to 193 this morning but there is good news.
Today was the first day I wasn't having cravings from the drugs. It is my second day on 2 pills.
I am doing alright so I am here to say that tomorrow will be my first "Cheat free" day!
Maybe if I write it will happen....something like the movie...."If you build it he will come" ....Can't think of the name of the movie...with Kevin Costner... oooooo ya....."Field of Dreams"!

Call this my " Field of Low Carbs Dreams!" LOL
Talk soon

[Shadow01]

Bess - All things considered, I think you're doing just great :thup:! The most important is to get well and get off the meds - and you've certainly come very far in that direction, which is great!!! And cutting down to 2 prednisone will allow you to have more control (and less cravings) so you'll be able to get back on plan :yay:.

I'm sure you'll do just great in your "Field of Low Carb Dreams" :D! Don't be hard on yourself - you've been through a lot and the damage weight-wise isn't that much. You'll have it under control soon :). The most important thing is to get well - the weight loss will come after that.

Hang in there, Bess, you're doing a wonderful job and just keep reminding yourself of that! Heading back into Intervention in a positive frame of mind will make it much easier. Keep me posted on how you're doing :heart:!