It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like ...

2010 Here We Come?!

... my second low carb Christmas! Are the holidays a happy time for you? This past Thursday we went to a "Holiday Sing". A 5 year old girl we're very fond of was taking part in it. It was a wonderful reminder of what the holidays can be. A sea of bright, smiling faces filled the church stage with yuletide glee. The kids were all singing and using sign language in the performance. All types of songs were performed - Christian, Jewish and non-religious tunes. It was pretty special.

We're not really exchanging many physical gifts this year. At least that's the plan in our family. But I do have a treat to share with you all. My lovely wife, who's recently crossed the "15 lb weight loss mark", came up with this one: Low Carb Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies!

Here's the basic recipe for the LC Peanut Butter Cookies: Peanut Butter Cookie Link

This is the brand of LC (xylitol-sweetened) fruit preserves we've been using: Nature's Hollow

Just add a dollop of any flavor of LC jam or jelly you enjoy on top of the cookie and starting chewing! We've tried their apricot and wild blueberry jams and also their Sugar Free Maple Syrup. Very tasty. :-)

To all that stop by ... I wish you and yours a blessed, healthy and joyful holiday season and a great start to 2010. 2010?! Crazy.

We Cannes Do It!

Ventimiglia, Italy

Mad just arrived home last night from Cannes. I was thrilled that she was able to eat well while avoiding all the croissants, pastries and freshly made pasta in Italy. That's right, Italy! It turns out that Mad and some of her colleagues took a 1.5 hour train ride to Italy one night! What?! They toured (and ate in) a small town called Ventimiglia.

All in all, it seems like it was a good but very, very, very busy time. She literally walked the soles off a pair of her shoes! Seriously!

I have a love-hate relationship with such alone times. I managed to eat okay but the dramatic change of pace ends up making me feel psychologically shaky. I ended up working a lot more than usual - without much of a break or distractions. I basically hunkered down in our apartment and just kept on writing.

Before I go, I have a new low-carb tip. I made some salmon fillets and mash recently and I included a little something extra to the mix. I brewed a strong tea consisting of a few bay leaves and a few tbls. of thyme. Then I strained the herbs and used the decoction as a liquid for the mashed cauliflower. It added a much more interesting dimension to this side dish, IMO. Very nice.

Three Trips and a Funeral

Our Pre-Feast Table - On the Left is Some Pâté and Gherkins

Pies We Didn't Eat

Dear Ladies and Gents,

Much has occurred since I last blogged here. There was an unexpected funeral in New York. Thanksgiving in Martha's Vineyard. Lots of scrambling before, during and after both of those events. Now Mad's getting ready to head off to Cannes! Help!

I'm sorry for kind of slipping off the face of the Earth for awhile. I've barely been able to keep up with Healthy Fellow these days. But I'm determined to get back on the right track on Wowee Z beginning this upcoming week.

I apologize for not being as supportive as I'd like to be on your blogs as well. It's been a rather overwhelming time. But the good news is that both Mad and I are staying on course - M's been losing weight and feeling great and I've been maintaining my recent LC loss. No slip ups to speak of ... even with all the hustle and bustle.

I hope you're all doing well and that our paths will cross again soon ...

PS - I just added a few meager photos from our Thanksgiving. We didn't take many because we were still recovering from the days leading up to the holiday - the funeral prep and the funeral itself.

We mostly ate turkey with gravy, Brussels sprouts with smoked bacon and pecans and garlic-baked green beans ... also some fresh crab meat. The food was delicious! For starters we had some locally made pâté and mini pickles. What a feast!

Wishing Well

This morning I was thinking about life and how I wished I could somehow accomplish everything that needs doing. So much of the time I just feel like Sisyphus. I was thinking about all the things that I wish could provide to the people around me, that I don't. I wish I had 100% more time in the day and the energy to make everything in my small world a bit better - in as much as any one person can do that. Then a funny thing happened ... I thought about an old song. Not a great song, but a good (and obviously memorable) one. And, that reminded me of growing up - associating events in life with music. A silly practice, I suppose. I recall someone I once knew warning me against doing that. It's pointless, but a brain will do what it will do. Anyhow, that lead me to a YouTube video with some pretty cool animation.

YouTube - Kiwi Wishlist

LC-wise, I've been staying consistent with my weight. I've been eating well. Lately I've been enjoying quite a few blue cheese stuffed olives and pecans. Mad just made a new batch of the "magic peanut butter cookies" last night. So I expect that I'll indulge in a few of those in the coming days. Hopefully the scale won't mind too much.

Since things have been pretty crazy lately, I've practiced making the most streamlined meal replacement shake possible. Here's my winning formula for that:

+ 2-4 ounces of cold, purified water

+ 2-4 ounces of full-fat, organic coconut milk

+ 2 scoops of Amazing Grass Chocolate Greens

+ 1 scoops of MRM Natural Vanilla Egg White Protein

+ 2 packets of Now Foods Organic Stevia + FOS

+ a dash or two of AlsoSalt (a salt substitute that provides lots of potassium)

+ a dash of organic peppermint extract

I usually use a shaker cup to make this. It's the simplest way, IMO. The flavor is just incredible. It's as delicious as any chocolate-mint drink I've ever had. It doesn't taste nutritious at all but it is. Lots of antioxidants, healthy fat, fiber, nutrients, protein and very low in sugar.

Last but not least, I wrote a column this week that may be of interest to some of you. It's about the latest science re: "alternate day fasting". This might be a good strategy for some people who have a particularly sluggish metabolism. Kudos to Anne for being ahead of the curve on this one. :-)

PS - Mad made some Jalapeno Poppers stuffed with some added carnitas last night. It was the best variation of the recipe yet! Highly recommended! DDDEEELLLIIICCCIIIOOOUUUSSS!

PPS - I'm setting up a free sleep study at HealthyFellow.com and I'm looking for some study volunteers. The basic set up is this: I send "you" a box of an all-natural herbal tea (known as SLP by Kroeger Herbs). If you take part, you'll fill out an evaluation of your sleep quality before and after using the tea for 2 consecutive weeks. I'll then use the data (in an anonymous way) to put together an upcoming column which will discuss the results found by all the participants. More details will be available Monday night at HealthyFellow.com.

Dancing in Arizona

We've been away for the past several days - off on a desert trip. The occasion? Our brother-in-law's daughter's Bat Mitzvah. Try saying that 10 x quick. Oy vey!

We're both still trying to catch up after the "mini-vacation". The good news is that we stayed on plan while away. We did this by selecting our meals carefully, bringing snacks and remaining open to any and all food possibilities. Let's put it this way ... we ate at Burger King for the first time in at least 5 years! A bunless burger of course. Lots of temptation surrounded us during our trek but we kept each other strong and didn't give in.

Now it's time to go trick or treating to all of your blogs ...

PS - The dancing went pretty well. No toes were stepped on. :)

U2 360°, Il Fornaio and Halloween Friends

What a week! It started off with a bang. Mad came home on Saturday evening (after working during the day) with big news ... somehow, don't ask me how, but somehow she was able to wrangle up two tickets to the U2 360° concert on Sunday night. This was their final stop on the US leg of their tour. The concert was 100% sold out with an expected turn out of 100,000 concert goers (at the legendary Rose Bowl)! I was completely blown away! Never saw it coming!

We immediately went online and came up with a game plan - where to eat, where to park, how to zig and zag through traffic and the endless waves of people. Much to our shock, pretty much all of our plans panned out. We managed to have a shockingly delicious LC dinner at an Italian restaurant called Il Fornaio - Mad had a grilled seafood platter. I had a sliced steak and sauteed garlic spinach. We shared a plate of tomatoes w/basil and burrata cheese. To drink - Mad had a spicy Bloody Mary and I had a glass of red wine. It couldn't have been tastier and the service was ultra-speedy, just what we needed.

The concert kicked keester. It was a sensory jackpot. The Black Eyed Peas were the opening act. We do have some photos but I'll have to post those down the line. They're on Mad's computer and she's working at the moment - that's right, on Sunday. :-(

Apart from that, we had a lovely Halloween night. We had the good fortune of sharing the evening with some friends (two couples). There was plenty of LC friendly food available (spinach dip, marinated chicken breast, burrata cheese topped with basil and prosciutto, grilled asparagus, grilled zucchini w/onions, red wine and coffee). Lots of lively conversation and some much need laughs.

A lot of this weeks columns on Healthy Fellow focused on the ill effects of stress and how to overcome them. I suspect that's no coincidence. I often struggle with managing stress in a productive way. I recently found a supplement that seems to be helping me with that. So, if you any of you need some support in that regard you might want to check out my review of Natural Factors' Serenity Formula.

The plan for tonight is to make some stuffed tomato pizza and have it ready for when Mad arrives. Hopefully we'll have a chance to watch a football game as well.

Weight-wise, I'm staying relatively stable. I've been cooking a little more than usual - especially side dishes such as creamed spinach and mashed Parmesan cauliflower. Mad's been sticking to her program very well and she's been seeing some progress. I'm extremely proud of her. There's at a lot of temptation in her line of work - dinners, parties, premieres, work lunches, etc. Since making her commitment to an LC lifestyle, she hasn't veered from her path even once. I think that's pretty awesome. :-)

I send you all my best. I'm excited to see all the cool things that are happening in your lives - Oct's b-day, Angie and Low Carber's continued weight loss, Nancy's anti-diabetes crusade, Anne's soul searching, Sadekat's new business venture, Vadim's determination, Fit's 100 day challenge, Jimmy's 3 year anniversary and much more ... I see it all and it makes me smile. Thank you for that.

A Rough Week, Chicken Wings and Scallops

About a week ago (last Friday) Maddy was in a bad car accident. All told, she survived it quite well. She's a very strong person. Mad was shaken up, to be sure, but doesn't appear to be physically hurt in a serious way.

Since then we've continued on with a very hectic schedule and have tried to make the best of things. That partially explains my absence from the blogosphere. I've kept up with the HealthFellow columns but lacked the mental or physical will to update things here.

A few positive highlights from this week:

Last night I made some fresh, wild caught scallops (pan-seared) in a lemon butter and white wine sauce. I served them with some homemade garlic-Parmesan mashed cauliflower. Mad told me it was one of her favorite meals ever. What sweet music to my ears! :)

I couldn't find much in the way of healthy, LC prepared foods at Whole Foods Market yesterday evening. So I spoke to the butcher and got some basic advice about how to make chicken wings at home (in the oven). It's good to have snack options on the days we're not on the road. Mad also gave the wings a big thumbs up. :) Sometimes you've got to be resourceful in order to stay on plan and to save a buck or two.

I wrote a couple columns this past week that deal with low carb issues on the HealthFellow site. I love spreading the good word about low carb living in an honest and non-pushy kind of way. I hope I'm succeeding in doing that.

Speaking of blogging ... I've tried to stop by and touch base on most of your menu-blogs as well. I'm not the most organized person but my intention is certainly to stay in touch as best as I can. This isn't a strong suit for me. It never has been. But I'm trying to change that.

I hope you all have a productive and/or restful weekend. Today we're both doing some work. Tomorrow, we'll mostly try to rest and recover. Fingers crossed. :)

Breakfast Pudding

Lately I've been enjoying (and benefiting from) a rather unusual breakfast. Here's how I make it:

I put all of the following into a blending cup:

+ cold water

+ a few ounces of shredded, organic coconut

+ a scoop of organic, sprouted flax seed meal

+ 2 - 3 tablespoons of organic (unsweetened) peanut butter

+ 1 scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein (MRM brand)

+ 1 scoop of Amazing Grass Chocolate Green SuperFood powder

+ a healthy dash of Also Salt (a potassium-based salt substitute)

+ a few mini-scoops of 100% pure stevia powder

I use an immersion blender to combine the ingredients until they reach a thick, pudding like texture. I stumbled upon this one day while *trying* to make an all-in-one protein shake.

I like the taste and the sensation of eating something, rather than drinking it. I'm also able to pack more into the pudding - less liquid and more bulk.

Anyhow, I thought I'd pass this along in case any of you are feeling bored with the typical protein shake routine. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

315 - 321

*** If you haven't already heard - Linda Genaw, a long standing part of Jimmy Moore's forum and the creator of a truly fantastic (and free) LC recipe site, is currently in the midst of a medical crisis involving her husband. They're desperately in need of some emotional, financial and spiritual support. Please considering helping out. ***

Jimmy Moore's Column About Linda Sue and Her Husband

Another week in my low carb existence ...

1. I wrote a column for the HealthyFellow site examining the effects of a low carb bar vs. pumpkin seeds vs. a higher carbohydrate bar on my blood sugar levels. The Atkins Bar Test.

2. I've reintroduced Amazing Grass Green Superfood into my daily pudding and shakes. I'm also back to using organic coconut milk - instead of the coconut butter or shredded coconut. My kitchen is a science lab and I never stop tinkering. :)

3. My body seems to be getting used to my chosen "ideal weight" (180 lbs on 5'11 + frame). Some days I eat more than others and yet my weight rarely fluctuates much. I think this is a good sign. I also know that my fasting blood sugar is pretty fantastic - in 70's - 80's - based on my recent testing. Another reason to be optimistic.

Monday Dinner - spicy catfish (from Whole Foods Market) and homemade Parmesan mashed cauliflower

Tuesday Dinner - sauteed wild shrimp and homemade creamed spinach

Wednesday Dinner - "pepper steak" (from Whole Foods Market) with homemade Parmesan mashed cauliflower

Thursday Dinner - carnitas (from Whole Foods Market) and organic avocado slices

Friday Dinner - turkey chili (from Whole Foods Market) topped with organic chives, organic sour cream and extra sharp cheddar cheese and homemade guacamole

Saturday Lunch - herb crusted salmon, steamed asparagus spears (from The Cheesecake Factory) and unsweetened iced tea

Sunday Brunch - organic, omega-3 cheesy eggs (organic DHA-enriched eggs, a splash of organic half and half, soft goat cheese, fresh organic chives, fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt) natural center cut bacon and organic avocado slices

Day 314 - Sailing!

My Girl, My Girl, My Girl!

Our Brother/Captain!

Our Sister-in-Law and the Captain's Wife/Co-Pilot!

A Phooning Fool!

We had a blast! Very windy but still beautiful and exciting!

Days 307-314

Sunday Brunch

A few highlights from my week of low carb livin'.

1. My lovely lady made a tasty variation on Paula Deen's Magic Peanut Butter Cookies. Mad used organic almond butter and some organic pumpkin spice to make it more interesting. Me likes. :-)

2. I started a new experiment. I'm testing the effect of an Atkins bar vs. pumpkin seeds vs. an all natural (higher carb) bar on my blood sugar levels. I'll include the results later this week.

3. I tried out another brand of stevia (SweetLeaf) from Whole Foods Market. I ran out of my favorite brand of stevia and decided to give it a go. I don't like it nearly as much - as my usual Now Foods standbys.

Monday Dinner - picante chicken (from Whole Foods Market - dark meat chicken with some kind of spicy seasoning) and organic avocado slices

Tuesday Dinner - "jalapeno poppers" (jalapenos stuffed with organic cream cheese, organic sour cream, feta chesse, organic chives, orangic shallots, fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt) topped with sharp cheddar cheese and organic chipotle salsa

Wednesday Dinner - "breakfast for dinner" (sunny-side up organic omega-3 eggs over homemade mashed cauliflower and pan-fried prosciutto)

Thursday Dinner - homemade scallops and homemade creamed spinach (organic spinach, organic onion, organic cream cheese, organic butter (to saute the onion), fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt

Friday Dinner - organic Roma tomatoes gutted and stuffed with a soft cheese/herb blend (organic cream cheese, soft goat cheese, organic sour cream, natural pepperoni, fresh organic thyme, dried organic rosemary and fresh cracked organic pepper) and topped with organic provolone cheese

Saturday Dinner - leftover turkey "cowboy" burger (dark meat turkey burger embedded with natural turkey bacon, cheddar cheese, jalapeno pepper and purple onions) topped with melted cheddar cheese

Sunday Brunch - organic, omega-3 cheesy eggs (organic DHA-enriched eggs, a splash of organic half and half, sharp cheddar and organic Parmesan cheese, fresh organic chives, fresh cracked organic pepper and sea salt) natural bacon and organic avocado

We're going sailing today! A first for me and Mad hasn't gone sailing for many years. It should be fun! But I'll be keeping an eye out for pirates and sharks just in case ...

Days 300 - 306

My week of low carb living in three sentences.

1. My weight is remaining stable - right around the 180 lbs mark.

2. I've been adding organic cinnamon to my coconut peanut butter protein pudding and shakes. Why? It may help manage long term blood sugar levels. Link - The Latest on Cinnamon and Blood Sugar

3. I'm weening myself of of diet soda - even Hansen's (more natural than most diet soda). Here's why and what I'm drinking instead: Link - All Natural, Sugar Free Soda Alternatives

Select highlights from our low carb menus:

Monday - LC Coconut Peanut Butter Protein Pudding - a few ounces of organic shredded coconut, 3 ice cubes + cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 2 Tbs of organic peanut butter, 2 packets of stevia + inulin, 1/2 tsp of organic cinnamon and Also Salt

Tuesday - 2 organic Roma tomatoes topped with organic sour cream, raw Manchego (sheep's milk) cheese and several slices of natural, peppered salami

Wednesday - In-n-Out 3x3 cheeseburger (w/no bun) and grilled onions and sliced organic avocado

Thursday - shrimp and organic avocado slices

Friday - Cajun (spicy) catfish and homemade mashed cauliflower

Saturday - beef brisket (from Whole Foods Market) and mashed cauliflower

Sunday - 3 sunny side up organic, omega-3 sunny side up eggs on a bed of mashed cauliflower and several slices of natural bacon

Favorite Snack of the Week - Eden Organic Pumpkin Seeds (Regular and Spicy Varieties)

I like having some pumpkin seeds and a True Blueberry or Tangerine Zinger "Soda" as a late night snack. Lots of antioxidants, healthy fat, fiber, nutrients and protein.

300 and Beyond

I'm thinking of blogging in a new way. My plan is to write one blog a week that will highlight one meal from each day. In addition to that, I'll also write about a lesson that I've learned along the way.

I think that kind of a schedule is better suited for my current lifestyle. I need to find ways to make my hours work better for me and those I care about. This change will help with that.

Throughout the week, I'll regularly visit your blogs and try to stay connected in that way as well.

297, 298 and 299

Menu highlights from the past few days:

+ Thursday Night - salmon fillets in a butter/lemon/white wine sauce over some homemade mashed cauliflower

+ Friday Night - Leftovers. Cowboy burger and an organic avocado.

+ Saturday (Casino) Night - Our local casino/card room makes a pretty mean grilled salmon. I always order it with a side of steamed broccoli and nothing else. To drink - a bottle of water. My fellow card players frequently comment on my food selection. I guess it's something that isn't often ordered in that setting. :)

Mad makes some interesting choices at the casino as well. For dinner she ordered a tuna fish sandwich with avocado slices. She eats everything but the bread! The food at Hollywood Park Casino is surprisingly decent ... if you choose carefully.

+ Sunday Brunch - organic, omega-3 cheesy eggs, natural center cut bacon and organic avocado

+ Sunday Dinner - 4 Pasilla peppers stuffed with organic feta and provolone cheese

More to come ... I hope!

296

A sonic blast from the past. Pavement is reuniting in 2010. How rad ist that?

Update: I think I'm going to disappear for a few days. I'm getting that feeling again.

9:30 am

+ an LC Coconut Coffee Protein Shake - 2 Tbs of organic coconut "butter" and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

12:45 pm

+ LC Coconut Sun Butter Protein Pudding - a few ounces of shredded organic coconut, 3 ice cubes + cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 2 Tbs of sunflower seed butter, 2 packets of stevia + inulin and Also Salt

2:45 pm

+ a cup of instant organic coffee (black)

5:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea

More to come ... I hope.

295

10:30 am

+ a cup of organic, instant coffee (black)

12:00 pm

+ 2 small, organic Roma tomatoes topped with organic sour cream and raw Gruyere cheese

+ 2 lamb and basil sausages from Whole Foods Market

3:30 pm

+ an LC Mocha Coconut Protein Shake - a few Tbs of organic coconut butter and organic cocoa powder, cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

5:45 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea

7:45 pm

+ 2 small, organic Roma tomatoes topped with organic sour cream and raw Gruyere cheese

+ many slices of natural sopressata

11:00 pm

+ Purple Tongue Maker - frozen organic blueberries and raspberries, cold water and shredded coconut

More to come ... I hope!

294

I'm posting late. I didn't get around to visit any blogs today. Tomorrow will hopefully work out better in that regard.

10:00 am

+ a cup of organic instant coffee (black)

12:30 pm

+ LC Coconut Peanut Butter Protein Pudding - 1 Tbs of organic coconut "butter", 3 ice cubes + cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 2 Tbs of organic peanut butter, 2 packets of stevia + inulin and Also Salt

3:30 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

6:30 pm

+ leftover lemon-herbed chicken with oven roasted radishes

10:30 pm

+ several slices of natural sopressata topped with Italian spinach dip

More to come ... I hope!

293

10:00 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

12:15 pm

+ LC Coconut Peanut Butter Protein Pudding - 1-2 Tbs of organic coconut "butter", 3 ice cubes + cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 2 Tbs of organic peanut butter, 2 packets of stevia + inulin and Also Salt

5:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

7:30 pm

+ 2 "cowboy" burgers

+ 1 large, organic avocado

10:30 pm

+ spicy, organic pumpkin seeds

+ a can of Diet Hansen's Ginger Ale

More to come ... I hope!

292

11:30 am

+ an LC ChocoCoffee

12:30 pm

+ organic, omega-3 scrambled "cheesy" eggs (w/organic sharp cheddar)

+ several slices of organic bacon

+ a large, organic avocado

3:30 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

6:30 pm

+ a cup of organic instant coffee (black)

7:30 pm

+ LC Coconut Peanut Butter Protein Pudding - 1 Tbs of organic coconut "butter", 3 ice cubes + cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 2 Tbs of organic peanut butter, 2 packets of stevia + inulin and Also Salt

10:30 pm

+ an LC Iced Peanut Butter Cup - cold water and 3 ice cubes, 3 Tbs. of organic cocoa powder, 2 Tbs. of organic peanut butter, 3 packets of stevia and inulin and a dash of Also Salt


More to come ... I hope!

291

I've been adding coconut butter to my shakes the past few days. Coconut butter is basically a combination of coconut oil and coconut flesh - whipped together. It provides about 18 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein and sugar per 2 Tbs. serving. The variety I found at Whole Foods Market is raw and organic. Tasty too.

The reason I opted for this version of coconut is because a) it contains a higher percentage of fat than the shredded coconut and b) because it retains some fiber and mixes more easily than the coconut oil.

Always the experimenter.

11:00 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

1:30 pm

+ an LC Coconut Peanut Butter Protein Shake - 1 Tbs of organic coconut "butter", 3 ice cubes + cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 2 Tbs of organic peanut butter, 2 packets of stevia + inulin and Also Salt

5:00 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

+ psyllium husk capsules (part of a periodic cleanse/short fast)

8:00 pm

+ pork al pastor ala Whole Foods Market

+ an organic avocado

More to come ... I hope!

290

We went to see a play last night. It was an odd (and occasionally funny) duck called, "Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas".

10:30 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

12:00 pm

+ an LC Coconut Peanut Butter Protein Shake - 1 Tbs of organic coconut "butter", 3 ice cubes + cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 2 Tbs of organic peanut butter, 2 packets of stevia + inulin and Also Salt

3:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

5:00 pm

+ an LC Mocha Coconut Protein Shake - 1 Tbs of organic coconut "butter" and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 Tbs of organic cocoa, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

7:30 pm (dinner on the go)

+ shrimp cocktail - no sauce

+ an assortment of artisan cheeses

11:00 pm

+ spicy, organic pumpkin seeds

+ natural, peppered salami

+ Italian spinach dip

More to come ... I hope!

289

Roasted Chicken and Radishes

I tried out a new recipe today. Oven roasted radishes. They're awesome! If ever you crave a potato alternative ... give that a shot. The recipe is super simple to make. I'll post pictures later.

1. Quarter a bunch of radishes.

2. Toss with olive oil.

3. Place on a baking sheet and season as you wish - freshly ground pepper, rosemary, sea salt, etc.

4. Cook for 25-30 in a 350 degree oven. You may want to turn or toss the pieces at about the 20 minute mark (optional).

5. Enjoy!

Update: I think the next time I make these, I'll probably cook them 5 minutes longer (so that they'll be even softer - a texture even closer to potatoes). Careful with the salt too. My "LC potatoes" were a little over-salted. I sea-salted by eye. Apparently I need glasses. :-)

9:15 am

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic (shredded) coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

1:15 pm

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a Tbs of organic coconut "butter" and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

5:15 pm

+ 4 Italian stuffed Roma tomatoes halves

8:00 pm (pictured above)

+ 3 pieces of lemon-herbed chicken and oven roasted radishes

11:00 pm

+ LC chocolate peanut butter "milk" - 3 ice cubes, cold water, 3 Tbs of organic cocoa powder, 2 Tbs of organic peanut butter, 3 packets of stevia + inulin and a dash of Also Salt

More to come ... I hope!

288

10:15 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

12:00 pm

+ an LC Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, 2-3 tbs of organic peanut butter, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

2:00 pm

+ a cup of organic instant coffee (black)

4:30 pm

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic (shredded) coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

6:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

7:30 pm

+ leftover grilled Alaskan salmon fillets and homemade Parmigiano-Reggiano cauliflower mash

+ a few thin slices of natural prosciutto

10:30 pm

+ several slices of natural sopressata topped with Italian spinach dip

+ a handful of raw organic almonds

More to come ... I hope!

287

10:00 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

1:00 pm

+ an LC Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, 2-3 tbs of organic peanut butter, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

4:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

6:00 pm

+ a cup of organic instant coffee (black)

7:00 pm

+ grilled Alaskan salmon fillets and homemade Parmigiano-Reggiano cauliflower mash

10:30 pm

+ naturally peppered salami topped with organic sour cream and garlic broccoli

+ a handful of spicy organic pumpkin seeds

+ a Diet Hansen's Cranberry Grapefruit Diet Soda

More to come ... I hope!

286

Italian Stuffed Tomatoes and Center Cut Bacon ala Wifey

10:00 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

12:00 pm

+ an LC Purple Tongue Maker - a few ounces of frozen wild organic blueberries, frozen organic raspberries, a few ounces of organic shredded coconut, cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

1:45 pm

+ a cup of organic instant coffee (black)

3:30 pm

+ 1/2 cup or so of homemade tuna salad with fresh herbs

+ a handful of organic black, olive oil cured olives

+ a few ounces of raw Gruyere cheese

5:30 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

7:00 pm (pictured above)

+ Italian Stuffed (Organic) Roma Tomatoes and Organic Center Cut Bacon

11:00 pm

+ thinly sliced sopressata topped with Italian spinach spread

+ an ounce or so of raw cheese (not sure what variety)

+ a can of Hansen's Diet Ginger Ale Soda

More to come ... I hope!

285

Spicy Shrimp and Stuffed Peppers ala Wifey

11:00 am

+ organic, omega-3 cheesy eggs with several slices of organic bacon and 3/4 of an organic avocado

2:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

4:30 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

7:00 pm (pictured above)

+ spicy, wild caught shrimp

+ stuffed Pasilla peppers (with soft goat and Monterey Jack cheese)

11:00 pm

+ a handful of Marcona almonds

+ a Hansen's Diet Black Cherry Soda

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1:00 pm

+ a few of Mad's new and improved LC chocolate walnut cookies

+ a cup of organic coffee with a splash of heavy organic cream

3:30 pm

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic (shredded) coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

6:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

8:00 pm

+ stuffed Pasilla peppers (with soft goat and Monterey Jack cheeses)

+ 3/4 of an organic avocado

283

I dedicate today's menu to my online pal, Vadim! If I can do this many shakes ... you can too!

9:45

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic (shredded) coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

12:15 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

2:15 pm

+ an LC Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, 2-3 tbs of organic peanut butter, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

4:00 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

6:00 pm

+ an LC Purple Tongue Maker - a few ounces of frozen wild organic blueberries, frozen organic raspberries, a few ounces of organic shredded coconut, cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

12:00 am (casino meal)

+ a grilled salmon fillet and steamed broccoli

More to come ... I hope!

282

9:30 am

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic (shredded) coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

2:00 pm

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic (shredded) coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

5:00 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

7:30 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

9:00 pm

+ leftover extravaganza - LC chili, LC chicken salad, 1/2 of an organic avocado, sliced raw cheeses and prosciutto


More to come ... I hope!

281

I've been using shredded coconut instead of coconut milk (in my protein shakes) the past few days. This sort of happened by accident. I ran out of coconut milk and Mad bought some shredded coconut for possible use in a cookie recipe. Let's call this a happy accident. :-)

Adding the shredded coconut makes for a more filling and nutritious shake - more fiber and nutrients.

11:00 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

1:45 pm

+ an LC Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic shredded coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein powder, 2-3 tbs of organic peanut butter, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

5:00 pm

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic (shredded) coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

8:00 pm

+ 3 pieces of dark meat oven roasted chicken

+ broccoli with roasted garlic

10:30 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)


More to come ... I hope!

So Far So Good!

Hello All!

I've been scooting right along on the LC program. Yesterday marked week four and so far I've lost 7 pounds! I'm happy with the slow and steady progress. After the week that I gained one and a half pounds, I decided to count my carbs very carefully. I tend to consume lots of "hidden carbs", such as half and half in a few cups of coffee daily and diet juices (I hate the taste of water. There. I've said it.) Anyway, the scale started moving in the right direction again once I started keeping careful track of my consumption. I hope to keep up the good fight! In the meantime, summer is almost over and I've hit the ground running. Not sure if you guys know what I do for a living, but I run Meg Ryan's film and television production company. We're small, but pretty busy these days and gearing up for a busy fall season. I hope you are all doing well. I don't get to check in with you all every day, but Harry keeps me posted!
Warm regards,
Madeleine

Photopalooza!!!

Marcona Almonds and Spicy Olives

LC Chili and Organic Guacamole

Pasilla Peppers Stuffed with LC Chili and Monterey Jack Cheese

The top two pics were from Sunday night's get together. The third is from tonight's dinner. Delicious!

280

Three pieces of good news.

1) Mad's progressing well in her LC program. She may want to share the details herself so I'll say no further. I'm just feeling happy about that and very proud of her!

2) My weight is back to the 180 mark. Last weeks gain was apparently due to the higher (LC cookie-induced) carb intake. Problem fixed.

3) I was able to sleep fairly well last night. I woke up once but luckily fell back asleep. It's a good thing too. My brain was starting to get kind of wonky by yesterday's end. Wonkier than usual, that is.

10:15 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

12:15 pm

+ an LC Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic shredded coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein powder, 2-3 tbs of organic peanut butter, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

3:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

5:30 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

7:30 pm

+ 3 LC chili and Monterey Jack stuffed pasilla peppers

11:00 pm

+ a handful of Marcona almonds

+ a Hansen's Diet Blueberry Pomegranate Soda


More to come ... I hope!

279

Don't know why but I had a horrendous night's sleep. I'm not sure you can even classify that as sleep. I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe it was the heat. Perhaps I was still wound up from the exciting evening. Anyhow, it is what it is. I'm tanking up on coffee and may slip away for a nap later ... if it's possible.

9:45 am

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Milk Shake - a few ounces of organic (full fat) coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

12:30 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

3:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

5:15 pm

+ an LC ChocoCocoCoffee Protein Shake - a few ounces of organic shredded coconut and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 tbs of organic cocoa powder, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

7:30 pm

+ homemade "jerk" chicken salad and organic avocado slices

278

This evening we're having a few friends over. The plan: to have a delicious (Mad-made) LC dinner, some Scrabble play and then they'll watch Big Brother. I don't follow that show but will likely slip away to catch up on some e-mails or perhaps do some more prep for this week's Healthy Fellow columns.

I hope to post photos of tonight's feast later tonight or tomorrow. The meal will feature LC chili, guacamole and stuffed peppers. That much I know. I foresee LC cookies in our near future as well.

Along the way, we may even watch a little football. My wife is a New York Giants and Jets fan (a native New Yorker) and I'm a native Californian who's always followed the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It should be a fun day. Hope y'all are enjoying your Sunday as well.

11:00 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

1:00 pm

+ an LC Purple Tongue Maker - a few ounces of frozen wild organic blueberries, frozen organic raspberries, organic (full fat) coconut milk, cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

4:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

Note: Eating light in preparation for tonight's feast!

6:30 - 9:00 pm (pics to come)

+ an assortment of fine cheese, spicy olives and a few Marcona almonds

+ LC Chicken Chili with the fixings - organic Jack cheese, organic sour cream and diced Roma tomatoes

+ homemade guacamole

+ 2 lower-carb version of Mad's Mean and Low Down Chocolate Walnut Cookies *

* The size of each cookie has been reduced. The same recipe now makes 25 cookies. Also, 2.5 cups of Splenda was used instead of 3 cups. This time, Mad used the "Dutched" cocoa. Overall, the taste was milder/smoother and still sweet enough. I'd say the degree of sweetness was improved actually.

11:00 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

277

2:00 pm

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Milk Shake - a few ounces of organic (full fat) coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

5:00 pm

+ several slices of natural sopressata topped with an Italian spinach dip

+ a few ounces of raw goat cheese

6:30 pm

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

9:30 pm

+ carnitas (from Whole Foods Market) and a feta and organic Jack cheese stuffed Pasilla pepper

12:00 am

+ a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags worth)

+ 2 lower-carb version of Mad's Mean and Low Down Chocolate Walnut Cookies *

* The size of each cookie has been reduced. The same recipe now makes 25 cookies. Also, 2.5 cups of Splenda was used instead of 3 cups. This time, Mad used the "Dutched" cocoa. Overall, the taste was milder/smoother and still sweet enough. I'd say the degree of sweetness was improved actually.

276

Another hot one out here on the West coast. Lots of drinking as you can see. I'm fine with that. It's actually kind of pleasant break. It give my jaw a rest. :-)

In all likelihood, it's going to end up being a rather busy weekend. We have a few fun things planned but I'll wait to update on those until they come to pass.

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for all the inspiration and support you provide us with. It's much appreciated!

10:30 am

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Milk Shake - a few ounces of organic (full fat) coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

2:00 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

4:00 pm

+ an LC Purple Tongue Maker - a few ounces of frozen wild organic blueberries, frozen organic raspberries, organic (full fat) coconut milk, cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

8:00 pm

+ a grilled salmon fillet with steamed broccoli (at the Casino)

5:30 am (you read that right)

+ an LC Peanut Butter Protein Shake - several ounces of cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, a few tbs of organic peanut butter, organic sprouted flax meal, a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

275

Hot days = lots of icy protein shakes.

9:30 am

+ an LC Coffee Coconut Milk Shake - a few ounces of organic (full fat) coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

1:00 pm

+ an LC ChocoCoffee Coconut Milk Shake - a few ounces of organic (full fat) coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, 3 tbs of organic cocoa powder, 1 scoop of organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes, a tsp of organic instant coffee and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

3:30 pm

+ a few slices of naturally roasted turkey slices, prosciutto and sopressata

+ a few ounces of an Italian spinach dip

6:00 pm

+ a cup of organic instant coffee (black)

7:30 pm

+ carnitas (from Whole Foods Market)

+ homemade spicy organic guacamole ala Wifey

+ a can of Hansen's Diet Black Cherry Soda

11:00 pm

+ a handful of raw organic almonds

+ an ounce or so of raw goat cheese

274

I tried to remember a quote for yesterday's blog entry and couldn't. It came to me this morning as I was typing a response to a comment by Oct.

"Don't think of your mistakes as failures. Think of them as bad examples."

Every triumph and stumble has the potential to inform and support others.

11:15 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

1:00 pm

+ an LC Peanut Butter and Coconut Milk Shake - a few tbsp of organic peanut butter, a few ounces of organic (full fat) coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

4:30 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

+ psyllium husk capsules (part of a periodic cleanse)

6:00 pm

+ a cup of organic white tea

7:30 pm

+ Leftoverpalooza - pork al pastor, 2 spicy lamb sausages and some kick-butt, homemade organic guacamole ala Wifey

10:00 pm

+ a cup of organic white tea

273

Conscious eating. It's vitally important and I needed a reminder. Well, I got one!

I put on a couple of pounds this past week. The culprit? I suspect too many of the LC chocolate walnut cookies. My hunch is that the weight will be gone by next week. Still, it's an important finding.

I've been hovering around my goal weight for quite some time now. I'm right about at 180 lbs, which is my "goal weight". In general, it hasn't been difficult for me to stay put there. But, this past week was a good reminder to keep my eye on the ball.

I just wanted to share my little detour with y'all. You never know when one person's misstep can be useful information for someone else. So please, watch out for this kind of pothole! :-)


10:30 am

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

1:30 pm

+ an LC Peanut Butter and Coconut Milk Shake - a few tbsp of organic peanut butter, a few ounces of organic (full fat) coconut milk and cold water, a scoop of natural vanilla egg white protein, organic sprouted flax meal, 3 ice cubes and a dash of organic stevia and Also Salt

4:00 pm

+ a mug of LC ChocoCoffee (2-3 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder, 1 tsp of organic instant coffee, 2 packets of stevia and inulin, a dash of Also Salt and hot water)

+ psyllium husk capsules (part of a periodic cleanse)

6:30 pm

+ 2 "cowboy burgers" (beef patties embedded with bacon, jalapeno pepper and onion) topped with slices organic cheddar cheese

+ an organic, sliced Roma tomato

10:30 pm

+ a handful of Marcona almonds