Challenge 3 Day 40

The best thing I can say about today is that weight training kicked some serious butt! I'm going to buy some straps this weekend because my grip is slipping on these heavier weights (especially for deadlifts and rows). Tomorrow is my monthly 5k.

Food has sucked. I have no excuse, except I have no willpower.

Challenge 3 Day 39

I'm posting this only so I can come back and read it and be totally disgusted with myself. Today, I'm just so hungry that I don't care. Here's what I ate today:

cottage cheese
apple
coffee w/ cream
oopsie rolls

"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter
coffee w/ cream

Cheerios w/ skim milk
ground turkey breast in a wrap w/ mustard

banana bread
banana
grapes
tea w/ cream

(this is where it gets really, really bad)

double quarter pounder w/ cheese
large fry
large chocolate shake

I swear, this is it for this kind of behavior. I will hate myself enough tomorrow to start clean.

Challenge 3 Day 38

Good day, I'm just too lazy to do much more than post my menu.

homemade protein bar (pre and post workout)

apple
cottage cheese
coffee w/ cream

chicken quesadilla
coffee w/ cream

oopsie rolls
tea w/ cream

green beans
venison

Calories - 1468
Carbs - 91 (18 fiber)
Protein - 163
Fat - 52
C/P/F Ratio - 24.6/44/31.4

Challenge 3 Day 37

No ab work today. I wasn't really enjoying the boot camp, so I'm going to sort of ignore focusing on the core for a week or two - I get plenty of core use with my FBWO, so a week won't matter. I did the second program on my elliptical. I don't care for it a much as the first because it's "hillier" but it wasn't bad. Just a change of pace.

Food's been really good today.

oopsie rolls
coffee w/ cream

chicken breast
broccoli

grilled cheese oopsie sandwich
broccoli

stuffed peppers (pinto beans, ground turkey breast, mozzarella cheese)
tea w/ cream

homemade protein bars
tea w/ cream

Calories - 1644
Carbs - 121 (32 fiber)
Protein - 145
Fat - 70
C/P/F Ratio - 28.5/34.3/37.3

Challenge 3 Day 36

I have a new favorite meal: ground chicken/turkey with spaghetti squash and pasta sauce. I've eaten it three days in a row and it's been satisfying each time. Ok, the first day I had shrimp instead of ground poultry, but it was still killer.

Speaking of killer...

Weights were rough, especially Arnies and rows. I increased my weight, so here's where things stand, at 3x5:

goblet squats (30 lbs)
deadlifts (58lbs)
Arnies (25 lbs)
lat pulls (63 lbs)
dumbbell rows (30 lbs)
dumbbell bench presses (25 lbs)

I'm going up to 3x6 of everything except Arnies and rows. I'll keep those at 3x5 for at least this week.

Post lifting cardio, which is supposed to be of moderate intensity, was actually a lot more vigorous than I meant it to be. I picked some good, rocking hair metal and before I knew it, my time was up and I did more revolutions than I normally do on non-cardio days. A little extra cardio certainly won't hurt, especially with my recent track record.

Food was wacky today. I got up late, had lots of running and house work to do. I made butternut squash soup and didn't bother measuring. I didn't eat anything awful today, though. No numbers.

homemade protein bar (pre and post workout)

spaghetti squash
pasta sauce
ground chicken

coffee w/ cream

roast
butternut squash soup

banana w/ peanut butter

pepperoni
oopsie rolls

Challenge 3 Day 35

Up to 146.5. It's probably the binging.

Challenge 3 Day 34

I did some HIIT this morning!!! I skipped my ab workout though, and will probably drop abs on HIIT days. I did 20 minutes on the elliptical, with a 3 minute warm up, 1 minute work interval, 2 minute recovery intervals, with some improvising in the last 4 minutes or so. I almost wanted to throw up when I got off the machine, and my legs hated me. But I did it, and I will try it again next Saturday.

Food was decent. I'm currently battling the cookie temptation. I've brushed my teeth and am ready for bed, in the hopes that I can avoid the Soft Baked Chewy Chips-Ahoy a little longer.

apple
cottage cheese

fortified French toast
coffee w/ cream

tuna wrap

spaghetti squash
shrimp
pasta sauce
coffee w/ cream

"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter
Colby cheese

Calories - 1761
Carbs - 137 (38 fiber)
Protein - 162
Fat - 76
C/P/F Ratio - 29/34.4/36.5

Challenge 3 Day 33

No numbers today - we went out for dinner. I had steak and rice and salad and dessert. And that's all I'm going to say about dinner! The rest of the day:

apple
cottage cheese
ground turkey burger on potato roll
coffee w/ cream

ground turkey wrap w/ mustard
coffee w/ cream

ground turkey wrap w/ Caesar dressing

Challenge 3 Day 32

I cannot even begin to describe my hunger today!!!! Fortunately, I ate legal foods - just lots of it.


apple
cottage cheese

coffee w/ cream
"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter

homemade protein bars
tea w/ cream

venion & red bean wrap
tea w/ skim milk

carrots
celery

venison
red beans

Calories - 2239
Carbs - 217 (64 fiber)
Protein - 221
Fat - 65
C/P/F Ratio - 37.2/37.9/24.9

Challenge 3 Day 31

Great workout today! I really think I'm getting the deadlifts and lat pulls down, and Arnies are getting easier. I think I'll increase weight across the board on Monday.

Food was good all day, until just now, when I ate a third of a loaf of banana bread. Since I didn't portion it out well, I can't log my numbers, so the numbers below are for everything except the banana bread.

homemade protein bar (both pre and post workout)

cottage cheese

chicken wrap w/ cream cheese
coffee w/ cream

homemade protein bar
carrots
coffee w/ cream

McDonald's bacon ranch grilled chicken salad w/ Newman's Own ranch dressing pack
1/2 small fry

(and of course, the banana bread)

Calories - 1401
Carbs - 119 (19 fiber)
Protein - 114
Fat - 55
C/P/F Ratio - 33.3/31.9/34.8

Challenge 3 Day 30

Yay me, I actually got up early and did my cardio and abs. I didn't get much sleep last night so I am beat!

I've been hungry today, so my calories are up there.

coffee w/ cream
cottage cheese
apple

oopsie rolls
homemade protein bar

chicken & lettuce wrap w/ mustard
homemade protein bar

tea w/ cream
homemade protein bar

"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter
tea w/ cream

homemade protein bar

Calories - 1757
Carbs - 148 (28 fiber)
Protein - 142
Fat - 80
C/P/F Ratio - 31.6/30.2/38.1

Challenge 3 Day 29

I woke up really late today. I am going to force myself to get up tomorrow. This is ridiculous that I can't get out of bed before 9 AM.

Workout was pretty good. I'm pleased with my routine.

homemade protein bar (both pre and post workout)

apple
cottage cheese

oopsie rolls
coffee w/ cream

chicken breast
broccoli
coffee w/ cream

"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter

Calories - 1515
Carbs - 116 (27 fiber)
Protein - 131
Fat - 71
C/P/F Ratio - 28.5/32.3/39.2

Challenge 3 Day 28

Up to 146.0 today.

I'm in a bad mood, for several reasons. I started off eating well, then lost it close to dinner time. I don't care. I have to start caring.

Challenge 3 Day 27

No numbers today because I didn't feel like weighing dinner.

homemade protein bars

"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter
coffee w/ cream

chicken breast
sweet potato

no bake oatmeal cookie

tilapia (some on hotdog buns w/ ketchup & tartar sauce)
asparagus w/ hollandaise sauce
no bake oatmeal cookie

Challenge 3 Day 26

I was in such a rush last night that I didn't post anything other than my menu!

The last two days, I've eaten candy. I know that's not horrible, and I haven't binged, but I still feel guilty. Yesterday was 1 piece, but today was 3!!!!!!! It was so good though!!

Strength training is going well. Next week, I'll be doing the following for a few weeks:

3x8 of each

goblet squats (25 lbs)
deadlifts (47 lbs)
Arnies (20 lbs) [I'm not really making any progress with these, other than not dying by the last rep]
lat pulls (52 lbs) [Now that I have a "proper" bar, I'm pulling with both arms from both sides, instead of two separate pulling mechanisms, if that makes sense]
dumbbell rows (25 lbs)
dumbbell bench presses (20 lbs)

I'm not advancing in terms of weight like I was, so I'm assuming I've found my threshold. I've been focusing on form and I think I'm doing well in that department. So I guess the real work begins now.

cottage cheese
apple

chicken sandwich
chocolates

carrots
coffee w/ cream
stuffed pepper (pinto beans, ground turkey breast, tomato sauce)

oopsie rolls

stuffed pepper
tea w/ cream

Calories - 1402
Carbs - 166 (44 fiber)
Protein - 131
Fat - 41
C/P/F Ratio - 42.7/33.7/23.6

Challenge 3 Day 25

homemade protein bar

cottage cheese
apple

chicken sandwich w/ cheese
oopsie rolls

oopsie roll
homemade protein bar
coffee w/ cream
piece of chocolate candy
tea w/ cream

omelet w/ garlic, onion, green pepper, cheese

chicken sandwich

Calories - 1847
Carbs - 130 (19 fiber)
Protein - 142
Fat - 91
C/P/F Ratio - 27.3/29.7/43

Challenge 3 Day 24

I got in a good workout today, same as Monday. Food was decent. Not enough calories, but I'm in the middle of a fight with my husband so I'm going to post and go to bed before I eat something I'll regret.

cottage cheese
toast
hard boiled egg

chicken sandwich

fortified French toast
oopsie roll
coffee w/ cream

homemade protein bar
tea w/ skim milk

shrimp
broccoli
tea w/ skim milk

Calories - 1116
Carbs - 112 (31 fiber)
Protein - 131
Fat - 29
C/P/F Ratio - 36.5/42.5/21

Challenge 3 Day 23

Good day. Back on plan. I did my cardio and my ab boot camp. Food was good, too.

apple
cottage cheese
homemade protein bar

homemade protein bar
coffee w/ cream
egg salad sandwich

tea w/ skim milk

whole wheat pasta
cube steak
tea w/ skim milk

popcorn

Calories - 1440
Carbs - 147 (25 fiber)
Protein - 108
Fat - 57
C/P/F Ratio - 38.3/28.1/33.6

Challenge 3 Day 22

My name is Becky, and I'm an emotional eater.

I don't know what the hell happened yesterday. I got so ticked off at my husband for the usual crap and I just lost it. When I get angry, I eat things I shouldn't. Technically, it all started when my son asked for candy as soon as we got up in the morning. He asks for candy constantly. So I threw out all of his candy, except for the chocolates my mother-in-law sent him for Valentine's Day. I can't throw chocolate away. So I ate it.

Then my husband wanted some no bake cookies. And I made some. And I ate some. THEN he ticked me off and I ended up going to get Chinese food for dinner. I felt like crap after eating all that. I doubt I've learned any lesson though. I went to Walgreens and bought 2 mint 3 Musketeers candy bars. And yes, I ate them.

But I'm back on track (sort of) today. I've been busy cleaning the house, so not eating on schedule. I have stuck to legal foods. No numbers today though, because I'm making George Stella's Onion Rings and just don't feel like calculating the specific details.

Weights were good today. I increased a few to 3x5:

goblet squats (25 lbs)
deadlifts (47 lbs)
lat pulls (26 lbs per side)
db rows (25 lbs)

Some stayed the same at 3x8:

Arnies (20 lbs)
db press (20 lbs)

egg salad on half a whole wheat roll
homemade protein bar

oopsie rolls

tuna sandwiches on rolls
tea w/ cream

chicken burger
onion rings
tea w/ cream

Challenge 3 Day 21

Weight's up - 145.5. I'm in a bad mood and taking a free day.

Challenge 3 Day 20

I have another ghost hunt tonight. I plan to take my food and stick to what I've written here.

cottage cheese
homemade protein bar
oopsie roll
coffee w/ cream

simple turkey chili
oopsie roll

simple turkey chili
oopsie roll (yes, again)

homemade protein bars

Calories - 1518
Carbs - 117 (37 fiber)
Protein - 129
Fat - 75
C/P/F Ratio - 28.3/31.2/40.5

Challenge 3 Day 19

Good day, I think. Weights went well, food was good. I'm getting ready to relax in front of the tv for Friday night entertainment.

cottage cheese
toast

homemade protein bars

coffee w/ cream
turkey chili

broccoli
shrimp

grilled cheese oopsie sandwich
tea w/ skim milk

Calories - 1543
Carbs - 116 (33 fiber)
Protein - 152
Fat - 68
C/P/F Ratio - 27.5/36.1/36.5

Simple Turkey Chili Recipe

I just made this extremely easy and filling chili - 3 ingredients, that's it!!! Well, aside from spices.

20 oz (raw) ground turkey
8 oz can tomato sauce
4 servings dry pinto beans (144 grams/about 5 oz - I don't know the non-dry equivalent)

Quick soak the pinto beans according to the directions, then cook them until just soft. Drain the beans. Brown the turkey and drain it. Mix beans and turkey together. Add spices (I just used salt, pepper, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder) to taste. Add tomato sauce. Simmer until warm to hot, depending on how you like it. Eat!!!!!

That easy, folks!!

Makes 4 servings:

353 calories
21 g fat (yeah, a little high for the low cal dieters, but worth it!!!)
26 g carbs (15 fiber!!!!)
29 g protein

Challenge 3 Day 18

I ended up having some popcorn last night after I posted my blog and got off the computer. I didn't bother going back to add it in - I'm just going to make not of it here and forget about it.

Cardio was good today. I did the same program I did on Tuesday. And I slept until almost 10 AM. Must stop that. I did intend to get up - I was up - when my husband did, but I was waiting of the news on the radio and fell asleep.

oopsie roll
homemade protein bar
coffee w/ cream

fortified french toast
oopsie roll

homemade protein bar
oopsie roll
pickle

chicken sandwiches w/ pepper jack cheese
tea w/ skim milk

Calories - 1235
Carbs - 107 (24 fiber)
Protein - 127
Fat - 43
C/P/F Ratio - 32.3/38.6/29.1

Challenge 3 Day 17

I know I said I wasn't going to increase the reps of the Arnies, but I did. Same weight as last time, 3x8. Friday will be 3x8 again, and then I'll see about adding weight. I know my deadlifts and lat pulls need more weight.

Good food today. I ended up trying Cleochatra's Oopsie Rolls anyway, and they are really, really good! I sprayed some fat-free Parkay butter spray on one and it was just delicious! Too bad they are such a pain to make. I could easily eat the entire batch.

cottage cheese
hard boiled egg

homemade protein bars

coffee w/ cream
carrots
hard boiled egg

peanut butter on whole wheat roll

london broil
mashed cauliflower w/ cream cheese & pepper jack cheese

oopsie roll
tea w/ skim milk

Calories - 1525
Carbs - 106 (20 fiber)
Protein - 132
Fat - 69
C/P/F Ratio - 27/33.4/39.6

Cleochatra's Oopsie Rolls Recipe

Cleochatra from lowcarbfriends.com came up with a new take on the old Atkins Revolution Rolls. People are raving about the "oopsies" as they are called (because she created them accidentally), so I decided to try them out. I've made Revolution Rolls before, and they were okay.

Here is Cleo's recipe:

3 large eggs, separated
1 packet (2 tsp) Splenda
dash of salt
pinch (1/8 tsp) cream of tartar
3 oz (or tbs, as they are marked on the package) cream cheese

Preheat the oven to 300F

Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until very stiff. It's stiff enough when you flip the bowl over and the egg whites don't move.

In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, Splenda, salt, and egg yolks. Mix them well.

Gently fold the yolk mixture into the egg whites. Very gently!!!!

Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray and gently spoon the mixture into six mounds. Flatten each one a bit.

Bake for 30 minutes, then let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack. When they are cooled completely, store them in a ziploc bag or air-tight container (in the refrigerator is probably best).

I have not tried the oopsies yet, as it's sometimes suggested that they taste better after sitting overnight in the refrigerator. People (especially low carbers) are using these in place of bread and buns. There are a gazillion variations (here is the thread for this at LCF) and some of them look really, really promising (french toast, cookie alternatives, hot dug "buns").

The oopsies I've got in the oven right now also have 2 tbs of golden flax meal. I used Philly 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese. Given these ingredients, here is the nutritional breakdown for each of six oopsie rolls:

82.5 calories
6.3 g fat
1.7 g carbs (0.7 fiber)
4.6 protein

And for anyone interested, here is Cleochatra's blog, The Lighter Side of Low-Carb.

Challenge 3 Day 16

I did not HIIT this morning, but I did try out one of the programmed workouts on the elliptical. It went well, but Level 5 was tough. I intend to do it again on Thursday.

I made more protein bars today, using 3/4 of a cup of Davinci syrup instead of 1/2 cup. It came out much better this time - moister and sweeter. And the parchment paper makes a huge difference! The bars were so good, I ate 3 of them throughout the afternoon.

Oh, and I got up when my husband did!!!

chicken omelet w/ salsa & sour cream
toast

coffee
deviled eggs

protein bars (not all at once!)

chicken sandwich w/ pepper jack cheese
tea w/ skim milk

shrimp & broccoli
tea w/ skim milk

Calories - 1521
Carbs - 117 (25 fiber)
Protein - 158
Fat - 56
C/P/F Ratio - 29.2/39.3/31.4

Challenge 3 Day 15

Up to 3x6 with last week's weights. I'll bump everything except Arnies up to 3x8 on Wednesday. Arnies suck, especially by the 3rd set. I'm going to attempt some elliptical HIIT tomorrow, but the one thing I really, really need to work on this month is getting up when my husband leaves for work. I've been sleeping in way too much lately. I can't wait until the weather gets better and my house warms up a bit.

I need to make more protein bars tomorrow.

cottage cheese
hard boiled egg

homemade protein bar

coffee w/ cream
homemade protein bar

chicken sandwich

"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter

homemade protein bar

Calories - 1325
Carbs - 107 (19 fiber)
Protein - 126
Fat - 56
C/P/F Ratio - 29.8/35/35.1

Challenge 3 Day 14

Weighed in at 144.0 today. My legs are sore from my run. And I did stick to the menu I posted yesterday! Yay!

I'm taking a free day. Anything goes.

Challenge 3 Day 13

I'm posting early because I have a ghost hunt tonight and won't be home to do it. I've already got my meals packed up and if I post, I'll stick with what I've got packed and not buy food along the way.

First order of business, though - my monthly 5K. I did not want to do it this morning. Even after I started, I wanted to quit. I kept a 3.6-4.2 mph pace and finished 3.12 miles in 48:05. Better than last month because I wasn't trying to watch a video on the Zune at the same time. I don't know if being out of cardio shape slowed me down or what. Maybe next month I can beat this time.

banana
cottage cheese

fortified French toast
hard boiled egg
coffee w/ cream

hard boiled eggs
carrots
homemade protein bar

hard boiled eggs
carrots
homemade protein bar

(yes, twice - they travel easily)

Calories - 1315
Carbs - 137 (24 fiber)
Protein - 115
Fat - 42
C/P/F Ratio - 39.4/33.2/27.4

Challenge 3 Day 12

Good workout today. Good on the food, too. Tomorrow is my monthly virtual 5K. I'll be briskly walking on the treadmill, if it's still working. No other cardio is planned. I also have a ghost hunt tomorrow night. That means I'll be starving all evening.

cottage cheese
toast

chicken breast on whole wheat roll

homemade protein bar
coffee w/ cream

"fried" eggs
toast w/ butter

baby back ribs (lean meat)
sweet potato

homemade protein bar

Calories - 1615
Carbs - 141 (28 fiber)
Protein - 141
Fat - 68
C/P/F Ratio - 32.4/32.3/35.3