Im No Chef Diet Recipes

Let's Try Again

2013-01-02T21:27:00.003-05:00

After all this time and a pity party I'm not proud of, I think I'm ready to try again. Thanks for being there after all this time!! <3 you guys!

PCOS Natural Treatment On My Own

2012-08-03T13:03:00.001-04:00

The last few days have been a struggle. All my plans have failed and I don't take failure well. lol Not that I gave up, I just had to rethink things and come to terms with it all again. I am still working on a new plan. I have been doing tons of research and reading studies. Lots of fresh foods and unprocessed foods are on the list. Should have been the whole time.

Now I will be following a strict Atkins diet induction plan with added 1/2 cup of fruit a day and exercising 5 days a week. No excuses. That is my PCOS meds. I have no choice and it will be better for me in the long run.

Exercise will be 3 different plans. Zumba one day, running the next, and weight lifting every day on a different part of the body each time. When weight lifting I will be using a smaller weight in order to do more than 20 reps in each set. This will make me grow strong muscles which will help me control my insulin and not increase my testosterone levels. Increase in testosterone levels can do more damage with PCOS.

Once I get through all the research I will post links to all the information and studies so you can see where I got my information.

Thanks guys for sticking with me through all this mess!! lol

By cooper.gary on Flickr

Disappointed

2012-07-31T16:02:00.002-04:00

I am surprised at how I feel today. I am really disappointed that the insulite's PCOS system didn't work for me. For the first 2 weeks it was great and was working!!! Then it hit me. The worst case of intestinal upset I have ever had. I will spare the details. Followed by the worst pain I have had in a very long time! It was pancreatitis the whole time. It just didn't start with the pain. After removing everything from my diet, we began to add them all back in to see what the problem was. It was most defiantly the system. :( I am heartbroken. I know there was never an easy way out and the system requires a lot of work but it is the loss of hope that is most heartbreaking. That's ok. I can pick myself back up and move on.

I will be treating my PCOS with good old hard work. Strict low carb diet and the right exercises. It is in no way going to be easy. With lots of support and lots of logging, I can do this! I will be sharing more information than you may care to read but it will help me out!

Thanks guys for listening and all your support!!

Insulite's PCOS System Review Final Post

2012-07-30T20:27:00.001-04:00

I have found out why I have been so sick. I am saddened to say that the Isulite's PCOS program caused pancreatitis. :( I will sooo miss the energy. So now I'm on a new track to control my PCOS. I know there are no easy way outs but I had hope. So now I will work hard through low carb lifestyle and weight lifting. :) I will be back once I feel better. Thanks guys for following my progress. :)

Insulite's PCOS System Update - One Month

2012-07-23T00:51:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I am a little late posting an update. I've had a pretty strong flare with Lupus. Lots going on. I'm beginning to heal now so all is good. I did lose 4lbs this week because of it. Bad way to lose weight. Because of not being able to digest anything I learned a few things about the Insulite's PCOS system.

2 days after not being able to digest anything, I learned the pills really really keep my insulin in check!!! Those days I was the sickest it really was a waste of time to chew and swallow anything. It didn't do a bit of good. It was like I didn't even take the pills. After 2 days after being sick, I started getting shaky and sweaty. It was a low sugar attack. I had forgotten how bad those stink! Where I went straight from the Victoza shot to the Insulit's PCOS system I didn't have any of those feelings. I did question if the pills were working, but I got my answer. They most defiantly work!!!

TMI Warning again: Aunt Flo showed up exactly on time. I mean I could have set my watch by it this time. It was lighter and more normal than the last if that was possible. A few cramps but nothing like I was having. Not very much grumpy feeling either. It was very textbook normal! That makes two in a row! This is awesome.

Have I mentioned the energy!!!! I am still sleeping awesomely and waking with energy that I can't even remember ever having! I'm sure I did when I was younger but I can't remember that far. I am old. LOL When I'm not in a Lupus flare I feel like a new woman!!!

~~~ Just in case anyone was wondering..... I'm not getting any money for writing this review. Not a dime or anything! I gain nothing. I bought this system just like anyone else would and I don't even think Insulite knows I exist. I just wanted you guys to know if this really works or if it was a giant waste of money. I will be buying the next month if that tells you anything. Also when I get my financial aid I will be buying 6 months worth!!! I am sold on this. Even if it just helps with the sleeping, energy, and my insulin levels it is worth every penny!!! ~~~

Quick Update

2012-07-18T00:25:00.000-04:00

Hey guys!! I've been very sick the last little bit. I will be back blogging soon, I promise! I have a few more updated for the insulite program. I will be buying another month!!!

Hang in there guys!! You can do this! You are worth it! Keep up all the great work!

Day 23 on Insulite's PCOS System Natural Treatment

2012-07-08T23:12:00.000-04:00

I'm not cold anymore!!!!!! I have been freezing for the last 15 years!!! I'm so excited! You have no idea!

I can't believe that it has already been 23 days! I'm having no trouble remembering the pills. I am having trouble eating enough! Never thought I would say that. I did purposely not take the pills for one day and I could really tell the next day. I was tired and crampy. My muscles cramped all over my body. Heck if it prevents the cramps and gives me this much energy, I'll keep it! And the fact that I'm not freezing in 100* weather is amazing!!!

The Insulite PCOS system is worth every penny and more!! I'm a customer for life. It has worked better and in many more ways than any chemical meds I've taken for PCOS. I mean don't get me wrong. Some of the meds worked on most of the symptoms but never this many.

I'm still waiting on Aunt Flo. I have never been so excited for a period before in my life! Ok.... well maybe once when we thought I may be pregnant but that is another story all together!!

I am having trouble not eating carbs. lol Birthday parties every where. And of course we make the cakes and cupcakes. My sister and I rock at cakes and cupcakes so we volunteer to make them for family and close friends. :) Not to toot my own horn or anything. We love it! Even if we were bad we'd still do it!! lol

~~~~ Every woman on earth should have the Insulite's PCOS system! The energy is worth it alone!~~~

The lack of pain, stomach trouble, period trouble, energy, sleeping and restfulness, lack of headaches, less "man" hair, clear thinking (have I mentioned that?), fewer skin tags, and weight loss makes this system awesome!!!!! It is on my Mother's Day, Birthday, Christmas, Valentines day gift list for the rest of my life!!! LOL

Leaving you with the reason we haven't been eating right. LOL

Cake we made! You can check out on my other blog The Cake Class

Day 18 on Insulite's PCOS System Natural Treatment

2012-07-03T23:05:00.001-04:00

Wow! Has it been 18 days already!! This has been a crazy days. I can honestly say I have put the Insulite's PCOS system to the test!!! I feel great!!! We have been on a small trip so I didn't get to update.

I have been without my thyroid meds for 6 days now! I am off all chemical meds and feeling better than I ever have! So here goes a long update. Complete with TMI. I will save the TMI for the last so you don't have to read it if you don't want.

During the past week, I have been on the run. Seems like that is all I did. I wish Insulite had small bottles so I could take the pills with me while I run. Here in my state we can't travel with pills out of its original bottle. I can't use one of those daily pill containers.

Nails and Hair: My nails and hair are growing like wild!! Strong and thick. Not just fast. My hair was falling out like mad when I first quit my Victoza shot for the insulin resistance. Large hand fulls at a time. Now it is not falling out very much at all. Only after less than 2 weeks. It feels so smooth and silky. That is one of the first symptoms I noticed when I started feeling sick with PCOS. My hair got really dry and frizzy. Not any more. It is so nice!!!

Hunger and Food: Ok. This past week has been awful food wise! We have been getting ready for the trip to Louisville, I just let my food go. It has been very carb loaded. Not very good for me. Normally I would gain at least 15lbs eating the way I did but.... I only gained 5lbs!! I'm so excited over that!! Before all the bad food there was a few days of losing weight. I'm not hungry all the time. The hunger isn't my first thought any more. I hardly ever remember to eat. If I didn't have to eat with some of the pills I wouldn't remember at all. No shaky feeling if I eat the wrong thing or if I go to long without eating. That is amazing!!!

Liver: My liver did hurt for a few days. My liver has trouble anyway because I have the fatty liver from PCOS. I don't even take tylenol because of it. Once it went away though I haven't had any trouble.

Energy: Is still outstanding! I wake ready to go and sleep awesomely! I did have a few days of very vivid bad dreams. Not sure if the system did that of if it was something going on with me. I sleep so well. I don't have nearly as much pain sleeping as I use to. I feel so rested when I wake. Love that!

TMI: Ok. here is the part where I share a little too much information. :) It's part of the PCOS though. My period was text book normal. Everything about it was normal. Not too many cramps and it only lasted 5 days! I never have a short period! Loved that part of it! My intestines are working on a more regular schedule. I would go to the bathroom once every 4 days but now it is every other day or even every day. That really has helped with my bloating. I hate that bloating feeling.

More update to come. I'm looking forward to improvements in the system. Back on my low carb lifestyle!!!

A picture of my sister and I at the Fright Fest in Louisville!

Update Soon on Vacation. :)

2012-07-01T07:33:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in an update. We are on vacation and the past week I have really put the system through the test! I have lots of great things to report. I am very happy with this system!!!!

Be back soon!!

Day 6 and 7 on Insulite's PCOS System Natural Treatment

2012-06-22T00:51:00.001-04:00

I made it a whole week on Insulite's PCOS system!!! What a few days I have had. Lots going on. Even with everything, I had no trouble remembering or taking the pills. All 18 of them! Here I was worried about remembering them all and it turned out to be the easiest thing of all.

SW: 213.4
Day 3: 211.4
Day 4: 211.4
Day 5: 212.8
Day 6: 213.8
Day 7: 213.4

I was still gaining weight yesterday. I wasn't too worried because in the information it says I may gain. I'd say it is the change from everything. From the shot to the pills. My body has to adjust. It may also be because I lost 2lbs in the beginning from peeing every 5 mins. I'd say that has equaled out and not really a gain. I'm not giving up on it yet.

I don't really have anything to report. Everything is still pretty much the same. I'm not running to pee as much as I was. My gut has leveled out and not working in over time. I'm learning new ways to eat.

I have been doing the recommended exercises. 2 days of interval training - couch to 5 k
   2 days of weight lifting - I downloaded an app- fitness buddy
   2 days of continuous exercise - walking at 3 mph
   1 extra day of weight lifting this week

I'm a little unmotivated when it comes to exercise. I can diet until the cows come home but getting going to exercise is like pulling teeth for me. I truly hate weight lifting but I'm going to do it to test the program.

The energy is still awesome!!!! Loving that part of it. I may get my life back! Excited. :) I didn't feel the need to nap after the farmer's market yesterday until I had a full tummy! I think that is normal though. lol

I am thinking better and more clearly. That is nice. I think I may be smart after all. lol

I will be back later with more updates. :) I am looking forward to the scale to start moving again. :)

Day 4 and 5 on Insulite's PCOS System Natural Treatment

2012-06-20T00:24:00.001-04:00

Today I will give you an update on days 4 and 5 on the Insulite's PCOS system. One of the most noticeable things to me is the energy. I almost want to skip everywhere I go because I feel so good! That is almost worth taking all the pills in the world. I haven't had this much energy after my teen years! I think I like it. lol Insulite says you shouldn't feel much in the first month, but everyone I have talked to say they could feel it in days. Looking good so far.

SW: 213.4
Day 3: 211.4
Day 4: 211.4
Day 5: 212.8

Day 4 was Monday. My weight was exactly the same as on Sunday. Which was ok with me because I had a Rolo McFlurry from McDonald's. (Wasn't worth the carbs or calories. lol) The bloating is still pretty bad. Getting on my nerves right about now. I know it will be worth it so I'm going to hang in there. Plus I paid for the system and I'm going to give it a full go. :) Aunt Flo is still being normal. Blows my mind! After only 4 days. I have never had a normal period! My guts have been working better. **couch**couch** Must be going through a detox in my guts right now. OMGoodness!!! I have to pee a million times a day! Feels like every 5 mins. (not really though). I must be detoxing all over my body. The flush cheeks are gone! That is one of the symptoms of Lupus I hate the most. I don't want anyone to know I'm sick. It tells on me all the time. lol Waking up was a snap! That is another thing that shocks me. That is sooo not me! It is nice to be ready to jump out of bed again.

Day 5 is today. I gained a lb! Not sure its a true gain though. Still loads of energy. (Loving it) Bloating is almost gone. Not as much running to pee. Thank goodness. lol Still waking up easy. No naps!!! Tomorrow will be the true test of that though. I have to get up early to be at our local farmers market to sell quilts and lye soap. Love my hobbies. I will be out in the son for 4 hours. Every time I set up at the market, I have to come home and take a nap as soon as I walk through the door. Thank goodness my son is a teen. (never thought I'd say that) No hunger!!! I have been off the shot for almost 3 weeks. I'd be trying to munch the house down by now if not for this system. Aunt Flo is still normal. I'm still shocked and waiting for the bad to show up. I am having trouble getting motivation to lift weights. I have no problem with the cardio or interval training just the lifting weights. Any suggestions?

I am impressed with this system so far and love it! It is even helping with my Lupus!!! LOVE it!!! I have my fingers crossed that it will continue to do good. Please let me know if you have questions. I am happy to answer almost any thing. :)

Leaving you with a picture of my first lone star quilt. :)

Day 3 on Insulite's PCOS System Natural Treatment

2012-06-18T00:55:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone!!! I know I said I wouldn't blog about the Insulite's PCOS system again for a few days unless something big happened. Well, something big happened. lol I lost 2lbs!!! and Aunt Flo decided to make a visit. ahem.

My starting weight was 213.4 and when I weighed in this morning I weighed 211.4. Not bad for two days on the system and Atkins diet. I sure hope that means its working. I read one lady lost 5lbs a week the first few weeks of the system. I'm trying my best not to get my hopes up but its getting hard.

I have to say that I have more energy, got to sleep easier, and wake rested and easier. I use to take forever to wake up. Hitting the snooze as many times as my phone would allow. Even then I had to drag myself out of bed, prop my eyes open with tooth picks to drive my son to school. lol Well, that is what it felt like. Never safe. This morning when the alarm went off at 8:00 am, I was ready to hop out of bed. I was a teen the last time I felt like that. I have no need for a nap. That is new to me too.

I am not hungry!!! That was the thing I was most worried about. I remember that insane constant hunger. I didn't realize it was so bad until I was put on meds and it went away. I soooo didn't want that to return. It was torture. So far so good!!!

TMI warning: Aunt Flo came for a visit a week early. I had read that the system would help some ladies start their period so this doesn't surprise. It is a normal period which has never happened for me. I will keep you updated if things change. I seem to be running to pee more often. May be why I dropped the 2lbs so quickly.

Over all in the two days I'm impressed with the system!!! I only hope it keeps improving!! I'm excited to see how much it improves. I think this may work! Day 3 = two thumbs up!

Photo By MMcQuade

Day 2 on Insulite's PCOS System Natural Treatment

2012-06-16T22:30:00.001-04:00

Photo by mikepirnat

Yep. That is what I feel like today!! LOL I suspect the liver cleansing supplements are kicking in today in the Insulite PCOS System. I have wanted to munch all day today too. Not sure why. My face has been flush too. I had a pretty bad headache today for about an hour. Hurt to stand. Pounded. But we had some storms move in and I have sinus issues. Not sure which one was the cause. It did go away once the storms moved out. Something is going on. I really do hope that means it is working.

Had no trouble remember to take the pills. I even went out of town a short ways today with no trouble. I had trouble with the alarms on my phone not working for me. lol I don't think that counts as a problem though. lol I would like to get a pill organizer to help with remember. That way I wont have to check the list a million times a day. lol

I am having trouble getting motivated to exercise though. I know this is a must and will do it. Its a treatment and we don't always like our treatments so I will suck it up. lol

My next update will be in a few days so I don't overload you will the same stuff over and over again. Unless something major happens. lol So far I would say I have high hopes and haven't been let down yet with the system.

Day 1 on Insulite's PCOS System Natural Treatment

2012-06-15T21:45:00.001-04:00

They are here!!! You really should google Insulite's PCOS system reviews. I only found a few negative remarks and it turned out that they didn't follow the system and didn't take the pills right. Ok, I will be the first to say that 18 pills a day is a lot!!! I am the worlds worst at remembering my meds. I am still worried about it. I have timers set in my phone and I'm ready to go. :)

Day 1: I think it was about what I expected. No noticeable difference. I will say I didn't feel the need to nap or eat constantly but not sure I'm ready to say it was the system yet. I had no problem remember the pills today. I guess its new. It didn't seem so bad that there were 18 pills either. No problem at all. The pills themselves are not small but not really large either. As you can see the pills in my hand.

I think all the pills helped me get my water in today. lol I had been having trouble with that but not today. I am also following the Atkins phase 1 diet as I was before.

I read that many on the system will get a large headache on the first few days of the system but I haven't had that. I have been on a lower carb diet for a while now and think that may be part of their reason for the headache. The low carb diet helps keep my insulin levels low already so I may not get the headache. ***fingers crossed***

Tonight I did the interval part of the exercise with Couch to 5 K week 2. I love that program. :)

Here is to hoping my struggle will be normal!!!

Feel free to ask me questions as I go along. I will answer everything truthfully. :)

Treating PCOS Naturally

2012-06-11T09:34:00.001-04:00

Good morning everyone! I have been doing some reading and I think I'm going to try to treat my PCOS naturally. I have read a few articles and books about it. My meds seem not to be working for me any more. :( The curse of PCOS. I found out that the conventional meds just treat the symptoms and doesn't really get to the root cause. I have order a PCOS system from Insulite Laboratories and I will be keeping daily diary about it for you guys.

My fingers are crossed!!! Can't wait until they get here. :)

Today's Plan with New Motivation

2012-05-25T12:20:00.001-04:00

After noon everyone!!! So far today has been great. I saw on TV this morning that every time I eat something bad or don't exercise or move I'm committing body suicide. This has helped me get motivated. There are lots of people out there with Lupus, PCOS, and hypothroidism that is much sicker than I am. They desperately wish for my health as poor as it is. So here is to them. I promise to do better for my health and in honor of them.

Today's plan: Try C25K week 1 Day 1 and to continue to walk after its over to finish the hour. I may buy an audio book and listen to it while walking. I can't hold a book and walk. lol I can't chew gum and walk either. LOL I am sticking to the low carb diet today. Just keep telling myself that it doesn't always have to be this low carb and to just hang in there. I know I will always have to stay on the low carb lifestyle but not this low carb as to lose weight.

On a positive note, the green beans we planted are looking good. Greasy beans are one of my very favorite foods! Can't wait for them to come in!!! It's going to be really hot this weekend here so we will be out taking care of the garden in order to keep it from drying out. May even get some pumpkin pie pumpkins in the ground!! I love my garden. :)

My nephew, my little helper, being the scarecrow in the watermelon patch.

Diet? What's that! Not this week!

2012-05-24T20:37:00.003-04:00

OMGoodness!! This week has been crap. I still feel very weak and tired. Not so much pain now as it is no energy. I'm a little anemic and it's killing me. Thanks to Lupus! I have dug out my Slow Fe to help with that. It's slow release and helps keep some of the side effects of an iron pill away. That's the only way I take it. I sure hope it helps bring my energy levels back up. I have ate bad all week, slipping back into my old ways of feeding myself to feel better.

))(( Dusting myself off ))(( I'm getting back to it. Exercise will help me get some energy back so back on the treadmill I go. Also going back to eating healthy and making sure I get my meds and vitamins. They are very important to my health. I only have one me so I have to keep this in control.

Off to a better end of the week than a beginning. :) I got this!! :)

Hope your week is a great one!!

Ready For Summer Weight Loss Challenge Week 8 Check In

2012-05-20T10:11:00.000-04:00

This week was much better than the last few. Feels good to get normal back. Well as normal as it gets anyway. lol Life wouldn't be much fun if it was normal all the time. Hope your week was a good one. :)

Weight Loss Goals:
SW: 216.2 lbs
W1: 217.4 lbs
W2: 217.4
W3: 212.8
W4: 211.0lbs
W5: 211.0
W6: 214.6
W7: 210.0 lbs
CW: 209.2 lbs (-0.8 lbs)

This weeks goal: To lose 2lbs.

Well, .8 lbs is not much of a loss. :( I am retaining water and hope that is why the small loss. I will take a loss instead of a gain though. :) That is a total loss of 7lbs. A pound a week so I can live with that!! I've never had any luck losing weight so a pound a week is great for me!! If I can remember my meds I could do better. lol

Non Scale Victory Goal:

Last week I wanted to start walking again after being sick but I did better! My husband, sister and I planted a garden. Each day we were outside from morning to dark. Plowing, hoeing, digging, bending and planting. We got a full workout in along with a great garden of healthy foods.

This weeks goal: To start walking again after my flare. Starting slow. Maybe some day I will make a 5k. :) I will also still work on posting more.

Nutritional Goals:

I am happy to report that I did great all week long on my diet!!! I feel much better too! I have changed my plan just a little. Low carb all week and one day have 100 carbs. That is still in the weight loss zone so it doesn't set me back. Just allowing the extra on one day keeps me from going overboard. :) We stuck to the menu and that helps a ton! I think I'm more proud over that than a weight loss. lol

Water was way better too. :) I'm on the ball!! lol

No time to post the recipe but I will do that in the next few days. Its a low carb, low cal, and low fat pumpkin pie parfait. Mmmmm

This weeks goal: I'm making a menu for the week and sticking to it. That will help with the budget and my diet. I like plans. I am a left brain person, that's for sure! I am also going to work on getting my water intake up some more.

Fitness / Exercise Goals: Lots of exercise doing some hard gardening!!!

This weeks goal: I'm going to start out walking this week and see if I can walk a mile and half each day. More if I'm up to it.

Leaving you with a picture of our new garden. :) We are still planting and plan more garden spots for corn, watermelons, and all kinds of things. :) Have a great day and week!!1

Ready For Summer Challenge Week 6 Check In

2012-05-13T23:47:00.000-04:00

This week was much better than the last few. Feels good to get normal back. Well as normal as it gets anyway. lol Life wouldn't be much fun if it was normal all the time. Hope your week was a good one. :)

Weight Loss Goals:
SW: 216.2 lbs
W1: 217.4 lbs
W2: 217.4
W3: 212.8
W4: 211.0lbs
W5: 211.0
W6: 214.6
CW: 210.0 lbs (- 4.6 lbs)

This weeks goal: To lose 2lbs.

I did much better this week!! I made the 2 lbs plus a little. :) I could have done better but I am getting there. So far that is a total of 6.2lbs. I do hope I make my goal. I never make a goal when I join a challenge. **fingers crossed**

How was your week?

Non Scale Victory Goal:

My NSV to post more was a win! I posted way more even some person stuff about my meds. I'm working on it. :)

This weeks goal: To start walking again after my flare. Starting slow. Maybe some day I will make a 5k. :) I will also still work on posting more.

Nutritional Goals:

I did pretty good on this one. Weekends are still a problem for me. Water is a little on the low side too. I need to pick that back up.

This weeks goal: I'm making a menu for the week and sticking to it. That will help with the budget and my diet. I like plans. I am a left brain person, that's for sure! I am also going to work on getting my water intake up some. Been a little lazy on that one. I can tell too.

I have a few recipes I'm going to try this week and hope to be posting those soon. :)

Fitness / Exercise Goals: No go on the exercise. :(

No exercise this week but I think I'm on the mend! I made it to a softball game on Friday and to the store a few times today without being wiped out. I'm optimistic that its going to get better now. :)

This weeks goal: I'm going to start out walking this week and see if I can walk a mile and half each day. More if I'm up to it. No running until next week. :)

Leaving you a little hint for this weeks recipe!!! Looks good doesn't it. It will be low calorie, low fat and low carb!!! That's a win for everyone!!!

Pre Weigh In

2012-05-12T01:26:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is weigh in!!! I'm nervous!! Today wasn't very good and now I'm bloated by the bad foods. ick...I hope it passes before weigh in. giggle Tomorrow is going to be an on the run kinda day that I'm worried about. Its so hard to eat well on the run.

~~~ Must. be. strong.~~~ Must. be. strong.~~~

Just finished making a cake and its late. I will see you tomorrow with the weigh in!! Good Luck everyone!!!

Why PCOS

2012-05-10T10:48:00.003-04:00

I found this great video that does a good job of explaining what is going on in the body to cause PCOS along with other health issues. Great information.

I thought I would share it with you. :)

My PCOS meds, Lupus meds, and Hypothyroidism medicine

2012-05-09T19:39:00.001-04:00

As ya'll know I have Lupus (Mixed Connective Tissue Disease), PCOS, and hypothyroidism. I thought today I would talk about my treatments and how it has helped me lose weight. I will start with PCOS because it has had the greatest impact on my weight loss.

PCOS meds: I take 1.8 mg once a day injection of Victoza. Sounds worse than it is. It is a really tiny needle and the med comes in a pen style. Easy. I am also on a low carb diet. Only 20 grams of net carbs per day if I want to lose weight. 150 grams of net carbs per day if I want to maintain. This also sounds worse than it is. I truly do feel better when I eat lower carb so my taste has changed. If I eat something bad I feel bad so my body remembers that it is not good. My brain translates that to taste bad.

http://www.victoza.com/?WT.mc_id=DC_Victoza_Paid_Victoza_VictozaPen_Brand_Google_062011&WT.srch=1&channel=32&campaign=HP750003881

I truly believe Victoza has saved my life!!! It works like metformin only way better!! I don't lose a single pound unless I have that med. Not even an ounce. It also becomes so easy for me to gain weight when I am off the shot. I can really tell a big difference in how I feel too. Sleepy, bad memory, crave sugar and HUNGRY all the time. I hate that feeling. The low carb diet has made it super easy to lose weight. I lost 16lbs without any trouble in April and could have lost more had I stuck with it. I also feel much better. Not as many insulin increases in my body. Keeps the PCOS symptoms at a minimum.

Lupus meds: As of right now I am not on any formal Lupus meds. I am on a few supplements and a drastic lifestyle change. I have to get 9 - 10 hours of sleep a night. Let me tell you that is easier said than done. I eat low carb and as natural as possible. With a limited budget that gets hard some times. Carbs are known to cause inflammation so I like to limit them. Not to mention all the unnatural chemicals and processes in processed foods. ~~shudders~~ I take Vit D in high doses, a multivitamin (children's as not to cause liver problems that I have), ginkogo blioba, neurontin for the pain, ibuprofen in high doses, and try to avoid prednisone as much as I possibly can.

The biggest help to my Lupus is my diet and lifestyle. Not to over do it when pushing myself. To be aware of stress and how to counter it if I can. Get the sleep. Those are the 3 things that occupy my every thought. You have no idea how much of a difference food and lifestyle can have on your health. I am a HUGE supporter of the low carb lifestyle. If you want to read more about it check out these books, Good Calories, Bad calories, Why We Get Fat, and Fat Politics. There is great scientific biochemistry research supporting it.

Hypothyroidism meds: I am now on Armor Thyroid. Its an older med but it is truly awesome! I was on syntrhoid but it wasn't working too good. It did help and it was better than nothing but now that I have the Armor I will never go back. I am on a lower dose and it is cheaper. That is all a bonus to how much better it works. I would have paid anything for it!

All of these meds and treatments have made a huge impact on my life and weight loss journey. Without these I could not go on. I would be down sick most of the time with more pain. I am thankful for the science and doctors that care for me!! I am truly blessed!

Updated Photo of My Weight Loss

2012-05-08T20:40:00.002-04:00

I found an old picture I had posted on here back in Jan 2011. The clothes I had on are now too big for me to wear!! I still can't see much of a difference in the way I look but I can see it! I will say there is about 25lbs difference in the pictures. Maybe a little more. The smile does help things a bit too. lol

I will keep on going and hope to see a big difference the next time I take photos. :)

I weighed myself this morning and found that I had lost the weight I gained from finals. I can live with that!! Now to lose the 2lbs for my weeks goal! ***fingers crossed***

Have a great day everyone!

Low Carb Soap Box lol

2012-05-08T00:05:00.000-04:00

"The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” Dr. Ann Wigmore

Today was a pretty good day. I am still battling a Lupus flare but I have been awake most of the day. That is always a good sign that the flare is going to start getting better. While cooking I almost passed out twice so exercise was a no go. I could have ate more today but I had to force myself to eat just over 1000 calories. I chose to eat good quality so that helps some. I stayed low carb today so I'm happy with that! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/melkneec That is a link to my food diary.

***soap box warning***

After doing TONS of research on diets and food I can't say enough about how awesome low carb lifestyle is. I know different things work for everyone but just do a little research on your own. I found all kinds of scientific support for low carb lifestyle and almost no scientific support for low fat lifestyle. I'm not talking no carb and crazy low carb. I'm just saying lower carb. :) And by scientific I mean right down to the biochemistry of the body science. :) But again. Different things work for different people and I'm so glad I found something that works for me with Lupus, PCOS and hypothyroidism. I'm excited for my journey now.

Ok ok ok. I will get off my soap box now. Giggle. Hope your day was a great one!!!

Ready for Summer Week 6 Check In

2012-05-06T17:18:00.001-04:00

Here I was thinking that after finals things would slow down! Boy was I wrong. I'm going to stop waiting for things to "get better" and just go with it no matter what. I am so guilty of waiting. I don't even know what I'm waiting for. lol

I have crashed after the finals and prom for my son. Lupus sucks!! I don't even have the energy to stand. So much pain. I see some boiled eggs in my future! I will wait a few days to see if I can hold off on the prednisone. I do hate that stuff. It makes my weight loss go in reverse. ***fingers crossed***

Weight Loss Goals:
SW: 216.2 lbs
W1: 217.4 lbs
W2: 217.4
W3: 212.8
W4: 211.0lbs
W5: 211.0
CW: 214.6 lbs (+ 3.6 lbs)

This weeks goal: To lose 2lbs.

Not even close. I didn't even try. I have been eating what I wanted and not caring. I care now. lol So no more. This week will be better. I promise myself. :)

Non Scale Victory Goal:

Well I did post a little more. LOL So I will not say I failed but I don't think I did as good as I could have.

This weeks goal: Now that things are "better" I will be back to the rock wall training. Push ups and weight lifting as long as my Lupus is in check. I may only get half a week this week. I'm ok with that. I am what I am and I can't do more than I can. This was sooo hard for me to comes to terms with. I am also going to begin a self study. Keep records and test results also. I want to know where I am and how far I can push myself without setting myself back. I am not normal and have to accept that. I will find what works for me though and it will result in better progress for me.

Nutritional Goals:

No go on the diet. Not good at all.

This weeks goal: To stay on the Atkins induction phase all 7 days. :) I really have to keep this going. No point in a diet if I don't. lol

Fitness / Exercise Goals: No go on the exercise. :(

This weeks goal: This week I will redo the couch to 5k week 2 until it becomes easy. I think I was pushing myself too fast. Add some light weight training also.

I am leaving you with a picture of my son and his girlfriend all dressed up and beautiful!! I'm so proud of both of them!!

Photo by Alana Jo Couch