I've now worked my third week of this full-time assignment.
I got a headache on Friday during the day that I believe was weather-related. Otherwise, the regular schedule seems to help me out. I go to bed at the same time each day. I wake at the same time each day.
I feel pretty good!!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
New Year's Status
I weighed myself yesterday and found that I'd put on an entire pound eating carbs during the holidays. That's something I can live with.
Remember that I mentioned my headaches getting so much worse as fall rolled in and the clouds descended? I realized that I'd switched to coffee and wondered if that had caused the pain. I switched back to tea and within a day noticed a difference. I am simply not getting headaches.
So to re-cap, the magic formula has been no carbs (elimination of both gluten and sugar) and no coffee. I drink 2 or 3 cups of black tea each day. And I feel great.
Oh, and there's a wee side benefit: I've lost 13 pounds since July.
Remember that I mentioned my headaches getting so much worse as fall rolled in and the clouds descended? I realized that I'd switched to coffee and wondered if that had caused the pain. I switched back to tea and within a day noticed a difference. I am simply not getting headaches.
So to re-cap, the magic formula has been no carbs (elimination of both gluten and sugar) and no coffee. I drink 2 or 3 cups of black tea each day. And I feel great.
Oh, and there's a wee side benefit: I've lost 13 pounds since July.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Holiday Carbing
I decided to allow myself to eat carbs (within reason) during the time between 12/22 and New Year's Day.
What did I eat?
Well, the first thing I really had to have was a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats. Everyone else was having a bowl, and they just sounded so crunchy and delicious. I enjoyed them.
I ate a couple of pastry items I associate with Christmas, a German stollen and a Danish Kringle. I enjoyed every morsel of sweet, floury goodness.
I allowed myself to have everything on the Christmas Eve buffet: the baked potato, the salad topped with sugared walnuts, crackers and cheese. Yes, I did. And I had the cheesecake dessert.
My son's girlfriend sent over some Christmas cookies, and I ate enough of those to be able to tell her how delicious they were.
And today I ate my favorite snack: Nutella on a tortilla shell. Yum.
Finally, I gave each of the kids some Starbucks hot cocoa, and one didn't like it. So I had a couple of cups of that.
Otherwise, there really isn't anything I'm craving. That's what I like best about not eating carbs. I get to feel sated.
Though I might have just one more bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats.
What did I eat?
Well, the first thing I really had to have was a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats. Everyone else was having a bowl, and they just sounded so crunchy and delicious. I enjoyed them.
I ate a couple of pastry items I associate with Christmas, a German stollen and a Danish Kringle. I enjoyed every morsel of sweet, floury goodness.
I allowed myself to have everything on the Christmas Eve buffet: the baked potato, the salad topped with sugared walnuts, crackers and cheese. Yes, I did. And I had the cheesecake dessert.
My son's girlfriend sent over some Christmas cookies, and I ate enough of those to be able to tell her how delicious they were.
And today I ate my favorite snack: Nutella on a tortilla shell. Yum.
Finally, I gave each of the kids some Starbucks hot cocoa, and one didn't like it. So I had a couple of cups of that.
Otherwise, there really isn't anything I'm craving. That's what I like best about not eating carbs. I get to feel sated.
Though I might have just one more bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas update!
This morning I finally remembered to weigh myself before having my tea and breakfast, and I'm happy to report I've lost thirteen pounds.
On the work front, I've been migraine-free. I felt a headache on both Monday and Tuesday, but both responded to Aleve and/or Excedrin Migraine, and once I adjusted to the schedule, I had no pain at all.
Taking my lunch has also be surprisingly easy. There's a small fridge in the classroom (because when Amber returns she'll be a nursing mom and will need it), so I can keep my tuna salad there all week. I take celery sticks to eat with the tuna plus a cut up apple and peanut butter for dessert. I've taken leftover ham, cut into chunks, plus two cheese-sticks and some edamame beans. I got around the need to bring a salt shaker by taking a plastic container with the salt thrown in. After I'd nuked the edamame, I emptied the packet into the plastic container and shook it up to distribute the sale.
I'm allowing myself to enjoy some carbs while the kids are home, although Graham's girlfriend made me some delicious coconut balls that are super lo-carb. I'll have what everyone else is having tonight at Grandma's and tomorrow for our Christmas breakfast.
And today I might bake some cookies.
Merry Christmas, everyone!!
On the work front, I've been migraine-free. I felt a headache on both Monday and Tuesday, but both responded to Aleve and/or Excedrin Migraine, and once I adjusted to the schedule, I had no pain at all.
Taking my lunch has also be surprisingly easy. There's a small fridge in the classroom (because when Amber returns she'll be a nursing mom and will need it), so I can keep my tuna salad there all week. I take celery sticks to eat with the tuna plus a cut up apple and peanut butter for dessert. I've taken leftover ham, cut into chunks, plus two cheese-sticks and some edamame beans. I got around the need to bring a salt shaker by taking a plastic container with the salt thrown in. After I'd nuked the edamame, I emptied the packet into the plastic container and shook it up to distribute the sale.
I'm allowing myself to enjoy some carbs while the kids are home, although Graham's girlfriend made me some delicious coconut balls that are super lo-carb. I'll have what everyone else is having tonight at Grandma's and tomorrow for our Christmas breakfast.
And today I might bake some cookies.
Merry Christmas, everyone!!
Friday, December 7, 2012
Start working full time on Monday!
I have been extremely fortunate and will begin a long-term sub assignment on Monday. I was concerned about the number of storm-related headaches I've been having, so I went to the doctor to get my Axert prescription updated.
And then realized I've been drinking more caffiene in the past few months. Gee, I wonder if that was a factor?
Effective yesterday, I'm watching the caffiene intake like a hawk! I had been drinking more coffee and even more tea. I'm now limiting myself to two cups of tea each morning.
Effective today, I've purchased (Group Health covers only the generics) seven Axert tablets for $204.00. That's about $30 per pill. On the other hand, I make about $187 for each day of sub work. I think it's worth $30 to be able to go in and earn that amount.
And then realized I've been drinking more caffiene in the past few months. Gee, I wonder if that was a factor?
Effective yesterday, I'm watching the caffiene intake like a hawk! I had been drinking more coffee and even more tea. I'm now limiting myself to two cups of tea each morning.
Effective today, I've purchased (Group Health covers only the generics) seven Axert tablets for $204.00. That's about $30 per pill. On the other hand, I make about $187 for each day of sub work. I think it's worth $30 to be able to go in and earn that amount.
Friday, November 23, 2012
A Stormy Fall
We had a lovely summer here in the Seattle area, but now that fall is here, Mother Nature is taking revenge. We've had one rainstorm after another, and each one has given me a migraine. The low-carb diet that seemed to work wonders in the pleasant summer sunshine is no longer protecting me. I need an abortive.
I've gone so long without taking any Axert that I can't get a prescription at Group Health. Today I got up (very late, had a headache) and logged on to the site so I could choose a new personal physician and schedule an appointment. Whew!
I'm concerned because I am about to start a long-term sub assignment at a local middle school. I'll be covering for a teacher I really admire, and I want to do my very best work. My best work includes arriving each day on time. Which I can't do with these constant headaches.
A quick note about Thanksgiving: I ate whatever I wanted on Thursday and Friday and Saturday AND Sunday. Then I went back to lo-carb eating on Monday. I think it worked well. I enjoyed candied yams, stuffing, a fabulous sweet-potato pie baked by my son, grandma's apple pie and pumpkin pie, and a nice little scoop of ice cream. And when it was over, I happily returned to my lo-carb diet.
I've gone so long without taking any Axert that I can't get a prescription at Group Health. Today I got up (very late, had a headache) and logged on to the site so I could choose a new personal physician and schedule an appointment. Whew!
I'm concerned because I am about to start a long-term sub assignment at a local middle school. I'll be covering for a teacher I really admire, and I want to do my very best work. My best work includes arriving each day on time. Which I can't do with these constant headaches.
A quick note about Thanksgiving: I ate whatever I wanted on Thursday and Friday and Saturday AND Sunday. Then I went back to lo-carb eating on Monday. I think it worked well. I enjoyed candied yams, stuffing, a fabulous sweet-potato pie baked by my son, grandma's apple pie and pumpkin pie, and a nice little scoop of ice cream. And when it was over, I happily returned to my lo-carb diet.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Sustainability
One of my friends, on reading a recent post, asked, "Is that way of eating sustainable?"
To my surprise, the answer is "Yes!"
I've been avoiding carbs since July. Occasionally I have a hankering for some coffee cake or a bowl of cereal, but otherwise this diet offers something other diets don't: satisfaction.
When I ate low-fat, high-fiber diets, I was always hungry, always looking through the cupboards for something low in calories to eat. I felt deprived. I obsessed about food, always thinking about my next meal, my next snack.
On this eating plan, I eat my fill at each meal. I know I can have as much as I want. When snack time rolls around, I enjoy a handful of nuts, or an apple (dunked in peanut butter sometimes) or a few bites of cheese.
On my birthday, I allowed myself a piece of fresh bread with dinner, and of course ate dessert. When eating with friends, I split a dessert. As Thanksgiving approaches, I intend to have a spoonful of sweet potatoes, a slice of pie, some stuffing.
Our pantry shelves are gradually emptying out as the kids take away our carbs. On our son's last visit, he packed up all but one box of pasta.
Packing lunches for work has been easier than I expected. I pack a sliced apple (is the Honey Crisp Apple the best invention ever?), a little peanut butter for dunking, and last night's leftovers. If there aren't any leftovers, I pack a few stalks of celery and some tuna salad. (I avoid taking nuts to school because some kids have severe peanut allergies.) Sometimes I pack cheese. It's working.
One factor that helps quite a lot is that my husband and I are both eating this way. I'd like to say the synergy is what makes it work, but really, the reason it helps is that I'm not buying one set of groceries for him and another for myself. At mealtimes, we both eat the same thing.
So yes, I can sustain this plan.
Oh, and I've lost eleven pounds.
To my surprise, the answer is "Yes!"
I've been avoiding carbs since July. Occasionally I have a hankering for some coffee cake or a bowl of cereal, but otherwise this diet offers something other diets don't: satisfaction.
When I ate low-fat, high-fiber diets, I was always hungry, always looking through the cupboards for something low in calories to eat. I felt deprived. I obsessed about food, always thinking about my next meal, my next snack.
On this eating plan, I eat my fill at each meal. I know I can have as much as I want. When snack time rolls around, I enjoy a handful of nuts, or an apple (dunked in peanut butter sometimes) or a few bites of cheese.
On my birthday, I allowed myself a piece of fresh bread with dinner, and of course ate dessert. When eating with friends, I split a dessert. As Thanksgiving approaches, I intend to have a spoonful of sweet potatoes, a slice of pie, some stuffing.
Our pantry shelves are gradually emptying out as the kids take away our carbs. On our son's last visit, he packed up all but one box of pasta.
Packing lunches for work has been easier than I expected. I pack a sliced apple (is the Honey Crisp Apple the best invention ever?), a little peanut butter for dunking, and last night's leftovers. If there aren't any leftovers, I pack a few stalks of celery and some tuna salad. (I avoid taking nuts to school because some kids have severe peanut allergies.) Sometimes I pack cheese. It's working.
One factor that helps quite a lot is that my husband and I are both eating this way. I'd like to say the synergy is what makes it work, but really, the reason it helps is that I'm not buying one set of groceries for him and another for myself. At mealtimes, we both eat the same thing.
So yes, I can sustain this plan.
Oh, and I've lost eleven pounds.
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