1 Year 100 Pounds: Month 4 Weigh In

Well, after a hectic March, April was a great month for me! Physically (and probably mentally!) I’m probably 90% better. Hip, feet, ankles and heart are all in a better place. I tested out my Achilles a couple of times; I can still feel the tightness walking down stairs, but other than that, there is no pain there. So enough of this! How did the scales look this morning?

 Ok – 5.6 pounds down for April for a total of 34.8 pounds since 1/1/12! While I did miss my 8 pound monthly goal, I’m still on target to lose 100 pounds this year and have stayed faithful to my grain-free plan. I can honestly say, I have not knowingly ingested any wheat or other grains in the last 4 months. So what do I eat?

 I am following the Wheat Belly Diet. This plan is very easy. And once you get un-addicted to those blobby carbs, there is little to no craving. The plan is unlimited vegetables (except potatoes or corn), raw nuts & seeds, meats, eggs and cheese. I can use extra virgin olive oil & coconut oil. There are other foods that I can have in limited quantities like berries, rice, oats, potatoes, beans or tofu. But besides frozen blueberries, I have rarely had the others. I don’t like to measure or track, so staying away from these foods moves the scales more and keeps me on track.

I love eating out and since I’m a working mom and wife, the opportunity arises quite often. The best places to go? Surprisingly, for me, it’s Mexican! Friends and family ask how I can possibly swim thru a menu of enchiladas, chips and tacos and stay grain free. It’s simple – I eat my salsa – with a spoon; my guacamole on my salad. I usually get some version of fajitas. My fav lunch spot will add mushrooms to the mix and let me substitute rice and beans for a salad. Hamburger joints easily convert to bunless (remember no ketchup!). I enjoy mongolian barbeque where you go thru a raw meat/vegetable bar and add oils or sauces and they cook it on a big wok. I just have to stay away from any sugary sounding sauces and stick with what I know…and skip the noodles or rice. I like hot wings (unbreaded) and dry rub barbequed smoked meats (no bbq sauce). Steak houses are easy, but I usually end up ordering salmon. So yah, I do eat out often.

Chicken with mushrooms and salad

Bunless bacon cheeseburger with the works

But I DO love to cook. I usually make a pot of some great vegetable soup once a week and I’ll have that for lunch a couple days a week, or dinner. I love roasted butternut squash soup, but I’m the only one in the family who likes it and it does take some time. I make a great chicken and vegetable soup and no one misses the noodles. I sauté up onions, celery, carrots and add baked or poached chicken breasts to it and add some broth. When I serve it up, a tablespoon of cilantro and a couple dashes of low sodium soy sauce adds an unbelievable aroma to the bowl. I also make a great chili. My secret there is that I add spinach, carrots and celery to the broth (in my vitamix) and no one is the wiser! Lots of taste and nutrition. Baked chicken marinated in Caesar dressing with parmesan sprinkled on top is a quick and easy go-to meal. I do a lot with cauliflower – bake, sauté, mash, puree. I make a mean meatza with a thin meat “crust” with veggies and cheese on top.

 For breakfast – I tend to go lighter. I usually grab a handful of raw almonds or pecans and have a cup of coffee with a tablespoon of cream and a sugar free hazelnut syrup. Yes – on Wheat Belly, I can have splenda or stevia. I use stevia if I add it; splenda if it’s already in there. I usually have a snack of string cheese or nuts or sometimes ¼ cup of frozen blueberries when I get home.

 Enough about food.

Wanna Ride?

May is going to be a great month for me. Tonight, the hubby and I are headed downtown to see Van Halen. A month ago, my feet would not have taken me there. I’m 20 pounds away from riding on the back of same hubby’s new hog. I’m going to attempt walking around the block in the evenings. I bought new undies cuz the old ones no longer clung to me for their life. (tmi – I know). I’m less than 2 months away from a great California vacation on the beach and amusement parks. So I’ve got a lot coming up and a LOT of motivation. Will May be the month you stick to your plan? Now you’ve gotten me excited! Are you?

 Sister M
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1 Year 100 Pounds is written by my sister Misha who is on a journey to lose 100 lbs this year. She started Jan. 1 with a goal to lose about 8 lbs a month. Her issues with weight are very different than mine, but I thought my readers could really relate to her and she can definitely use the support. You can follow her weigh-ins and full story HERE.