My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 68

7:10 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

More to come?

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 67

7:25 AM - a cup of organic coffee w/ a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 (organic) coconut flax muffins, a slice of (organic) homemade spicy egg bake + my morning supplements

10:15 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

4:00 PM - a few (organic) Roma tomatoes topped w/ organic sour cream; natural prosciutto and salami; ricotta cheese with Italian herbs + my mid-day supplements

6:15 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

8:00 PM - a can of Steaz Energy Zero Calorie ... blood sugar before drinking 76 mg/dL ... after drinking 80 mg/dL

10:30 PM - a few bites of Whole Foods' chicken tandori; Brussels sprouts w/ gorgonzola cheese, pancetta and shallots (a new recipe I'm experimenting with) + my nighttime supplements

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 66

Thursday Night Dinner

9:25 AM -  a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:00 PM -  a cup of organic (black) coffee

5:10 PM -  a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:45 PM - (starters) red chili edamame and salmon sashimi; (main course) fillet steak and sauteed garlic spinach + the majority of my daily supplements

9:20 PM -  a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ...

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 65

 Turkey Burger in a Bowl - The Counter

7:50 AM - a cup of organic coffee w/ a splash of almond milk, two flax coconut muffins + my morning supplements

12:25 PM - a turkey burger in-a-bowl w/ avocado, olives, organic roasted peppers, tomatoes topped w/ roasted garlic aioli and Swiss cheese; a glass of unsweetened iced tea + my mid-day supplements

3:40 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

5:55 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:45 PM - (starters) guacamole and ceviche (scallops); (main course) shrimp and steak w/ sauteed spinach and mushrooms + my evening supplements

9:40 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come?

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 64

Breakfast for Lunch 

8:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

3:00 PM - organic green salad w/ tomatoes, an avocado & Jack omelet w/ a side of applewood bacon and a sausage patty + the majority of my daily supplements

5:50 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

8:35 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come?

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 63

8:35 AM - a cup of double strained Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (no-sugar added) peach preserves and a few ounces of raw pecans + my morning supplements

10:40 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:15 PM - a leftover In-N-Out 3x3 w/ sliced tomatoes & pickles and 1 1/2 coconut flax muffins + my mid-day supplements

4:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:20 PM - homemade tuna salad w/ 2 organic Roma tomatoes sliced and topped w/ organic ricotta cheese & Italian spices; a serving of Almond Cocoa Butter for dessert + my evening supplements

More to come ... if all goes as planned.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 62

A brief update. I'm happy to report that my weight remained stable this past week: 170 lbs and 18.2% body fat. 

9:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:15 PM - (a new recipe) low-carb almond cocoa butter, two homemade (organic) coconut flax muffins + most of my daily supplements

2:05 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

4:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

9:00 PM - a large cup of slightly salted water (used NutraSalt)

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 62

8:45 AM - a cup of organic coffee w/ a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk + my morning supplements

12:30 PM - a Swiss cheese & fresh herb omelet w/ three (natural) pork sausages and unsweetened iced tea

2:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

3:30 PM - two organic coconut flax muffins + my mid-day supplements

5:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

6:45 PM - a bun-less In-N-Out 3x3 cheeseburger w/ jalapeno peppers, grilled onions & pickles and no spread; two small Roma tomatoes (organic) topped w/ a dollop of ricotta cheese, dried Italian herbs and NutraSalt + my evening supplements

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 61

9:50 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:12 PM - (starter) a few blueberries (maybe 6) and a strawberry w/ several blanched Marcona almonds and a dollop of fresh ricotta cheese; (main course) hanger steak, two poached eggs and sauteed spinach w/ grilled onions + the majority of my daily supplements

1:55 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

4:40 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 60

9:10 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

10:45 AM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (sugar-free) raspberry fruit preserves, a few ounces of raw pecans + my morning supplements

1:20 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

3:50 PM - meal replacement shake (2 scoops of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 8 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3 scoops of "chocolate greens", a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my morning supplements 

6:25 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:15 PM - Korean style short ribs (Whole Foods - not sweet), 2 small (organic) Roma tomatoes sliced & topped w/ organic sour cream & (organic) goat feta crumble and roasted (organic) broccoli + my evening supplements

More to come ... I suppose.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 59

Not much interest in food at the moment. Good thing it's an ADF day.

8:45 AM -  a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

3:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:10 PM - leftover carnitas w/ grilled onions, peppers and sour cream; traditional chicharrones w/ organic salsa (low carb) + the majority of my daily supplements

More to come ... if it's meant to be.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 58

Lots of leftovers to get to in the fridge. I'm up to the challenge.

Feeling down this evening. Sometimes you pretend it's not there. Sometimes you don't.

7:55 AM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of no-sugar added (Nature's Hollow) strawberry preserves and a few ounces of raw pecans + my morning supplements

10:19 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:45 PM - ground sausage & spice stuffed mushroom tops, pot roast, sauteed broccolini + my mid-day supplements

4:05 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

6:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

8:00 PM - several tablespoons of organic (unsweetened) peanut butter, a few teaspoons of Nature's Hollow (no-sugar added) raspberry fruit preserves, a few sips of unsweetened vanilla almond milk + my evening supplements w/ additional fish oil

More to come? I'm hoping so ...

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 57

I nearly forgot, I just posted my new Coconut Flax Muffin recipe on HF. Please check it out if you think you might be remotely interested. I think it's a real winner.

7:55 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

10:30 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:20 PM - a fillet of slow roasted wild salmon; green beans topped w/ extra virgin olive oil & chopped Marcona almonds + the majority of my daily supplements

4:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 56

Roasted Veal w/ Fennel & Heirloom Tomatoes

I've officially reached my goal weight. Now it's maintenance time.  In other news, I'll post a new recipe tomorrow on HF that may be of interest to some of you. It's a low-carb muffin that's rich in fiber, healthy fat and protein. As an experiment, I ate three of my new coconut flax muffins and measured my blood sugar about half an hour afterward. The results? My blood sugar hardly budged. My post-meal blood sugar was 74 mg/dL. 

8:20 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

9:45 AM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt, a tsp of Nature's Hollow (no-sugar added) apricot preserves, a few ounces of raw pecans; a homemade almond-coconut-flax muffin + my morning supplements

10:45 AM - Weight Update: 170 lbs   Body Fat: 18.1%

12:50 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

3:00 PM - three homemade coconut flax muffins + my mid-day supplements

5:05 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:30 PM - shared starters: ahi tuna crudo; roasted veal w/fennel and heirloom tomatoes; main course: a rib eye steak w/ sauteed black Tuscan kale + my evening supplements

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 55

 Low Carb Brunch w/ Mom

Today I had my one meal earlier on in the day. We had Mom over for a low carb brunch. I'm very happy to report that Mom has been low carbing for the past several months and doing very well with it. Eggsellent.

10:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:00 PM - broccoli-cheesy (omega-3 organic) eggs, organic bacon, organic avocado; a homemade (low-carb) almond-coconut-flax muffin + the majority of my daily supplements

2:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

5:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

Plenty of warm-to-hot water in the remaining hours. I find it soothing and an excellent hunger-tamer.

More to come ... if it's meant to be.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 54

7:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

8:00 AM - meal replacement shake (2 scoops of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 8 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3 scoops of "chocolate greens", a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my morning supplements

11:30 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:45 PM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of no-sugar added Nature's Hollow apricot preserves and a few ounces of raw walnuts; a few (homemade) almond-coconut-flax muffins + my mid-day supplements

8:00 PM - leftover bonanza (mushroom tops stuffed w/ sausage and spices via Whole Foods; homemade (organic) guacamole; natural salami and spicy prosciutto slices)

More to come ... I do believe.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 53

Another fasting day. My mother-in-law is in town so I'll probably save today's meal for dinner. It really doesn't matter much when I eat on ADF days. This is part of the built-in flexibility factor I knew I'd need in order to maintain this dietary strategy over the long term.

9:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

4:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee 

6:45 PM - at home dinner feast (small leftover salmon fillet, 5 shrimp; 2 small organic Roma tomatoes sliced & topped w/ soft goat cheese & natural salami; 4 white button mushroom tops stuffed w/ ground pork & spices) + the majority of my daily supplements

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 52

9:15 AM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt + a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (no sugar added) apricot preserves + a handful of raw (organic) walnuts + my morning supplements

12:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:45 PM - meal replacement shake (2 scoops of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 8 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3 scoops of "chocolate greens", a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my mid-day supplements

3:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:20 PM - starter: natural salami and queso fresco; main course: pot roast (Whole Foods), roasted broccoli topped w/ goat feta cheese + my evening supplements

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 51

I posted another LC-friendly recipe on HF yesterday. In case any of you are interested, here it is: Cilantro-Pepita Pesto. I love using it as a dip for my beloved Domingo's Traditional Chicarrones. Mmmm.

9:45 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee w/ a tsp of organic inulin

3:30 PM - "surf and turf" - small herb-crusted wild salmon fillet, leftover beef brisket and roasted (organic) broccoli + the majority of my daily supplements

6:05 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:15 PM - 7:40 PM - meditation practice

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 50

My 50 day ADF mark. I think that's the titanium anniversary, if I'm not mistaken. My weight is down again - probably due to the ADF. I'm pretty much at my new goal weight. But my body fat is up - probably due to my inability to find time for my work outs.

8:45 AM - 9:05 AM - meditation practice

9:10 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

9:35 AM - Weight Update: 170.6 lbs Body Fat: 19.5%.

10:30 AM - a cup of organic cottage cheese, 1 Tbs of (no sugar added) Nature's Hollow apricot preserves, a few ounces of raw organic walnuts + my morning supplements

1:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:45 PM - meal replacement shake (2 scoops of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 8 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of organic inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my mid-day supplements

4:55 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee w/ a tsp of organic inulin

7:45 PM - (dinner out) starter(s): heirloom baby tomatoes w/ micro greens, burrata cheese and basil vinaigrette; tai snapper crudo – cucumber, tomatillo, espelette pepper, pork crackling & 3 raw oysters;  main course: Moroccan lamb burger w/sheep’s milk cheese, tzatziki and "green fries" (steamed asparagus) + my evening supplements

11:00 PM - 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3 scoops of "chocolate greens", a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of cocoa stevia liquid 

More to come ... if history is any indicator.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 49

Salmon Rillette from Bouchon (Sunday Lunch)

9:05 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

4:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

6:15 PM - spicy sauteed shrimp w/ roasted cauliflower + most of my daily supplements

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 48

 9:35 AM - a cup of organic cottage cheese w/ a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (no-sugar added) apricot preserves and a few ounces of raw (organic) walnuts + my morning supplements

11:15 AM - a cup of organic black coffee

1:15 PM - (lunch date w/ Mad) starter: salmon rillette; main course: NY steak w/a sunny side up egg and a warm heirloom tomato salad

5:00 PM - a large, iced Americano coffee

7:30 PM - beef brisket (Whole Foods) topped w/ homemade (organic) cilantro-pepita pesto; homemade (organic) guacamole w/ natural chicharrones + my evening supplements

10:45 PM - a glass of low-carb chocolate milk (6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", a few drops of cocoa stevia extract and a dash of NutraSalt)

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 47

A fast day. I'll weigh-in again on Monday. My newest goal is to reach and establish a weight of 170 lbs. I think that would be even better than 175. It'll further reduce my BMI and may confer some additional health benefits. This will officially make me lighter than I'll been since I was in my teens. If I accomplish this objective, the next mission will be to maintain my weight while continuing forward with my alternate day fasting - which I plan to adopt as a long term eating plan ... albeit with a bit more flexibility.

10:25 AM - a cup of organic black coffee

1:00 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

2:35 PM - leftover carnitas w/ grilled onions, peppers, shredded Jack cheese and sour cream; an organic Roma tomato sliced and topped w/ queso fresco; 3/4 of a small organic avocado w/ natural prosciutto + most of my daily supplements

4:35 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

7:00 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 46

We had a power outage that lasted almost all of yesterday. The electricity and gas came back on around midnight ... as we were falling asleep. Needless to say, I couldn't post my menus for Friday, until now.

8:45 AM - a cup of black coffee (organic)

10:30 AM - meal replacement shake (1 scoop of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of organic inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my morning supplements

4:15 PM - a handful of organic, raw walnuts + my mid-day supplements

7:00 PM - a large rib eye steak w/ sides of sauteed spinach, steamed broccoli and grilled onions + my evening supplements

No more to come for today, now that it's yesterday!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 45

My latest fasting day. Here's the link I promised yesterday: An Interview with Dr. Loren Cordain (Part One) of The Paleo Diet. I'll post part two later this afternoon. I hope you enjoy it. Dr. Loren Cordain Interview (Part Two).

9:00 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

3:00 PM - a large serving of homemade (roasted) spicy cauliflower w/ shallots; homemade chicken salad; an organic Roma tomato sliced & topped with soft goat cheese; a few slices of organic salami + the majority of my daily supplements

7:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 44

Later today, I'll post part one of my interview with Dr. Loren Cordain of The Paleo Diet fame. I'll link to it as soon as the column's up at HF.

Another tough day so far. Every now and then I have a transient thought about binging/eating to comfort myself. But I must admit that fighting that impulse also feels rather rewarding - in a much more constructive way. I can't control what life provides. But I do have some control about how I respond to any given circumstance. Maybe instead of the famous "one day at a time" adage, I should adopt the "one decision at a time" philosophy.

10:20 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee w/ a tsp of organic inulin

1:15 PM - a cup of double-strained Fage Greek yogurt, 1 Tbs of Nature's Hollow apricot preserves, a few ounces of raw (organic) walnuts + my "morning" supplements

3:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee w/ a tsp of organic inulin

4:30 PM - meal replacement shake (1 scoop of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of organic inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my mid-day supplements

7:00 PM - a Mexican-style feast (chicharrones w/cilantro-pepita pesto & guacamole; carnitas w/ diced tomatoes, grilled peppers & onions, shredded jack cheese and sour cream) + my evening supplements

8:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

11:00 PM - a cup of organic chai tea w/ stevia and unsweetened (vanilla) almond milk

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 43

This might be of interest: Hazelnuts - A Low Carb Way to Improve Heart Health 

10:15 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:00 PM - an iced Americano from Coffee Bean 

3:45 PM - ADF Meal Replacement Pudding/Shake: 8 oz of unsweetened, vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops (natural + sugar-free) vanilla whey protein, 2 Tbs organic (sugar-free) peanut butter, 3 scoops chocolate "greens" powder, 2 scoops organic sprouted flax meal, 1 scoop organic inulin and a dash of NutraSalt + the majority of my daily supplements

6:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ...

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 42

10:15 AM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow apricot fruit preserves, a few ounces of raw (organic) walnuts + my morning supplements

11:15 AM - Blood Pressure: 107/69  Blood Sugar: 86

12:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:00 PM - meal replacement shake (1 1/2 scoops of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my mid-day supplements

7:30 PM - a poblano pepper stuffed with roasted chicken and feta & Monterey Jack cheeses; natural chicharrones w/ a cilantro-pepita pesto; an organic Roma tomato topped w/ soft goat milk cheese + my evening supplements

8:50 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ... I hope.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 41

It's Sunday. A fast and work day for me. Mad's working too. On the agenda? Checking in on my blood pressure and blood sugar readings and prepping for my upcoming interviews with several diet and weight loss experts. I hope you all are having an excellent weekend. We're thankful that our recent (and unusual) heat wave appears to be over.

9:10 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

9:45 AM - Blood Pressure: 105/62. Blood Sugar: 79.

11:00 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:15 PM - a spicy catfish fillet (Whole Foods), 3 low-carb "mushroom poppers", an organic avocado sliced and wrapped with natural prosciutto, a Roma tomato sliced and topped with soft goat cheese, a few slices of natural salami + the majority of my daily supplements

3:50 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

10:25 PM - a cup of organic chai tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 40

Weight Update: 176.4 lbs  Body Fat % 17.8% 

I'm down about 9 lbs and 6% body fat since starting my ADF journey. Let's see what happens next. Once I get down to 175, I'll need to re-evaluate. At that point, the goal will be maintenance.

10:00 AM - a cup of organic cottage cheese, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow apricot preserves and a few ounces of raw organic walnuts + my morning supplements

11:45 AM - a cup of organic black coffee w/ a teaspoon of organic inulin

2:00 PM - a slice of leftover (organic) New Mexican egg bake, an organic avocado, 3 slices of organic bacon, 4 homemade "mushroom poppers" *, low-carb chocolate milk (unsweetened vanilla almond milk + "chocolate greens" + a pinch of NutraSalt) and my mid-day supplements

* Recipe to be posted on HF on Tuesday. 

3:30 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

6:10 PM - 3 oven-roasted poblano peppers stuffed w/ goat's milk feta cheese, baked chicken and Monterey Jack cheese + my evening supplements

8:15 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

10:30 PM - a cup of organic chai tea w/ a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk + pure stevia powder (1/8 tsp maybe)

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 39

Lots going on in the natural health world. I'm tap dancing as fast as I can. Today will be an ADF day. The menu portion of this blog will surely give that away. :)

Update: Please take a look at the new column I wrote today about the current dietary guidelines that *may* shape the nutritional direction the US takes in the coming days, years and beyond. We can all play a part in improving/shaping them. The present recommendations seem destined to impact many lives and health care spending in a very negative way indeed. Here's how and why I hope you'll get involved: Food Pyramid Follies

10:15 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:45 PM - "clean-up hitter lunch" (an organic avocado sliced wrapped w/ natural prosciutto and salami; an organic Roma tomato sliced topped w/ soft goat cheese; 2 slices of toasted Purity Bread; a small piece of smoked prime rib (Whole Foods) + the majority of my daily supplements

6:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

8:00 PM - a glass of all-natural, unsweetened strawberry mineral water

10:00 PM - a cup of organic chai tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 38

Off and running once again. Working on a column that I'll discuss here tomorrow about the new Food Pyramid. We can and, I think, should do our part to improve it. More on that on Friday.

9:05 AM - a cup of organic cottage cheese, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (sugar-free) apricot preserves, a few ounces of raw pecans + my morning supplements

10:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:30 PM - meal replacement shake (1 1/2 scoops of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my mid-day supplements

5:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

6:30 PM - an In-N-Out 3x3 (3 burger patties & 3 slices of natural American cheese) with grilled onions, jalapenos, pickles, tomato slices on a Purity Bread "bun" and homemade nori chips + my evening supplements

8:35 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 37

Busy busy. Aren't we all? The latest fast day.

9:45 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:10 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

3:00 PM - 2 pieces of Purity Bread toast, 2 small (organic) Roma tomatoes sliced & topped with soft goat cheese, a small piece of smoked prime rib (Whole Foods) + the majority of my supplements

4:40 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

10:00 PM - an organic cup of organic chamomile tea

More to come?

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 36

 

Woke up and decided to have breakfast right away, rather than my usual cup of coffee. Lots of work to do this Tuesday. Just lined up two interviews that I'm rather excited about. Now I just need to figure out how to make them noteworthy.

9:05 AM - a cup of organic cottage cheese, a Tbs of sugar-free apricot preserves, a few ounces of raw pecans + my morning supplements

10:30 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee 

1:30 PM - an organic Roma tomato topped w/ soft goat cheese; an organic avocado sliced and wrapped with natural prosciutto and salami; a piece of New Mexican eggbake; a handful of Nori Chips + the majority of my daily supplements

4:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee 

6:30 PM - (dinner out) an assortment of exotic cheeses, naturally cured meats and marinated olives; wood roasted broccoli & cauliflower w/ garlic, chili & vinegar; seared Niman Ranch skirt steak w/ sauteed rapini leaves & smoked tomato butter; a half-glass of red wine + my evening supplements

10:00 PM - a cup of organic chai tea w/ unsweetened vanilla almond milk and stevia

More to come?

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 35

A funny thing happened on the way to the car dealership. Not funny ha ha. Just a relevant observation, I think. I'm feeling down today because of an event that transpired last night. As if often the case, negative events reverberate throughout subsequent days. While trying to fall asleep last night I had a few thoughts about binging today - which is supposed to be a fast day. Or, if not binging, at least eating normally instead of calling upon the discipline needed to fast. The morning is now here. Things feel just as bad as last night - if not worse. But instead of relying on food to get me through it, I have new resolve to stick with my prescribed program. Sleeping on things is sometimes enough to get you back on track. I mention this as a note to myself rather than advice to anyone else. I don't know for certain if it'll work the same for everyone. But maybe it's a worthwhile reminder. 

9:40 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

10:30 AM - meditation practice  

11:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:30 PM - an organic Roma tomato topped w/ organic sour cream and natural prosciutto; an organic avocado sliced and wrapped with natural salami; and 2 slices of Purity Bread w/ melted sharp cheddar cheese + the majority of my daily supplements

3:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More info. ... if it's meant to be.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 34

Started the day off cooking. We've got a New Mexican egg bake in the oven at the moment. This will be a non-fast day.

9:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

11:35 AM - a few slices of (organic) New Mexican egg bake, 2 spicy chicken sausages and organic avocado slices + morning supplements

1:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:10 PM - meditation practice

3:45 PM - meal replacement shake (1 1/2 scoops of natural sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract) + my mid-day supplements

5:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:45 PM - (dinner out) a rib eye steak, sauteed spinach, steamed asparagus and one shrimp + evening supplements

10:30 PM - a cup of organic chai tea w/ unsweetened vanilla almond milk + stevia
 
More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 33

A busy day ahead. It's a gonna be a fast day and a non-exercise day. It started off with ...

8:45 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:30 PM - (lunch out - baby shower) grilled onions & peppers, guacamole, chicken, fish and steak + the majority of my daily supplements

2:00 PM - an iced coffee (black)

5:00 PM - an iced Americano (black)

8:00 PM - a cup of coffee (black)

8:55 PM - meditation practice

10:30 PM - a cup of organic chai tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 32

Just the facts ...

9:55 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee w/a scoop of FOS/inulin (a prebiotic)

11:15 AM - a cup of organic cottage cheese, homemade (organic, stevia-sweetened) cran-strawberry preserves, raw pecans + my morning supplements

2:00 PM - meditation practice

2:30 PM - a cup of black (organic) coffee

2:45 PM - workout

4:30 PM - post-exercise, recovery shake (1 1/2 scoops of natural (sugar-free) vanilla whey protein, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract)

7:00 PM - (dinner out) 2 raw oysters, a rib eye steak, sauteed spinach, a few asparagus spears and a few pieces of garlic broccolini + nighttime supplements

8:45 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

10:30 PM - a cup of organic chai w/stevia and unsweetened vanilla almond milk, a ramekin of buttermilk "honey" custard 

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 31

Feeling fine and ready for another ADF day.

9:25 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

12:45 PM - meditation practice

1:15 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

2:05 PM - homemade (organic) guacamole w/ natural chicharrones; an organic Roma tomato sliced and topped w/ burrata cheese & natural salami + the majority of my daily supplements

4:45 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

8:30 PM - a cup of organic chai tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 30

My 30-day anniversary. Where's the marching band?

9:10 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee w/a scoop of FOS/inulin (a prebiotic)

10:00 AM - an organic sliced Roma tomato topped with burrata cheese and natural salami slices; a few slices of natural prosciutto topped with artichoke & spinach spread + my morning supplements

11:30 AM - meditation practice

12:10 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee w/a scoop of FOS/inulin (a prebiotic)

2:00 PM - two slices of Purity Bread (one topped w/ homemade tuna salad, the other w/ artichoke & spinach spread); one ramekin of buttermilk-"honey" custard + my mid-day supplements

3:40 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

4:15 PM - work out

6:00 PM - post-exercise, recovery shake (1 1/2 scoops of natural (sugar-free) vanilla whey protein, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a dash of NutraSalt, a few drops of organic peppermint extract)

8:45 PM - 3 slices of Purity Bread w/ melted (organic) sharp cheddar cheese; roasted (organic) cauliflower w/roasted garlic; one ramekin of buttermilk-"honey" custard + evening supplements

11:00 PM - a cup of organic chai tea

More to come ... if it's meant to be.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 29

Recovering from yesterday. A tough one. Just putting one step in front of the other and seeing how it goes. Staying on track re: diet. Hope to exercise later today.

9:45 AM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

1:30 PM - pulled pork (Whole Foods), homemade (organic) guacamole, a small serving of (low carb) buttermilk-honey custard + the majority of my daily supplements

4:00 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

7:30 PM - a cup of organic (black) coffee

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 28

It's been a rough day. Lots to contemplate. But not much to say.

9:15 AM - meditation practice

9:40 AM - a cup of black (organic) coffee w/ a scoop of FOS/inulin

10:30 AM - Weekly Weigh-In: 179.6 lbs (down 1 lb from last week and 6 total) 19.9% body fat (down from 23.3%)

10:40 AM - Blood Pressure: 111/66. Blood Sugar: 72.

10:50 AM - a cup of double-strained Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow sugar-free strawberry preserves, a few ounces of raw pecans + my morning supplements

12:05 PM - Blood Sugar: 83.

12:45 PM - a cup of black (organic) coffee w/ a scoop of FOS/inulin

2:30 PM - the final piece of organic basil-goat cheese egg bake, an organic Roma tomato sliced and topped w/ burrata cheese & natural salami + my mid-day supplements

6:45 PM - organic roasted cauliflower w/ roasted garlic, 2 slices of Purity Bread topped w/ aged cheddar cheese + my evening supplements

More to come?

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 27

Something may be amiss with my blood sugar concentrations. I'm going to need to do some intensive monitoring over the next couple of days to be certain. The outcome may lead me to discontinue using my beloved Purity Bread. Oh the horror!

9:25 AM - a cup of organic black coffee

2:15 PM - natural salami w/artichoke & spinach dip, homemade spicy tuna salad on top of two slices of Purity Bread + the majority of my supplements

4:30 PM - Blood Pressure: 100/62. Blood Sugar: 96!

4:45 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

8:00 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

12:10 AM - Blood Sugar: 70.

More to come ... if it's meant to be.

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 26

Just the facts again ...

9:00 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black) w/a scoop of FOS/inulin

10:10 AM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt w/a Tbs of Nature's Hollow strawberry preserves and a few ounces of raw pecans + my morning supplements

10:40 AM - meditation practice

1:45 PM - a cup of iced American coffee

5:20 PM - (late-lunch out, everything shared) Chicken Liver & Foie Gras Mousse, Cured Meats Selection, Cornichons, Pickled Onions, Cheese Selection From Home & Abroad (5 different cheeses) + mid-day supplements

7:45 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black) w/a scoop of FOS/inulin

8:45 PM - an In-N-Out 3x3 topped with American cheese, pickles and sliced tomato on a Purity Bread "bun"; chicharrones w/ artichoke & spinach dip + my nighttime supplements

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 25

Just the facts for now. I'm hoping to fit in a work out later this afternoon. We shall see ...

9:00 AM - meditation practice

9:30 AM - a cup of organic black coffee

12:30 PM - a slice of homemade (organic) basil-goat cheese egg bake, an organic Roma tomato sliced and topped with artichoke & spinach dip, natural salami + the majority of my daily supplements

1:45 PM - Blood Pressure: 121/68. Blood Sugar: 87.

2:35 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

3:00 PM - exercise/work out

4:30 PM - a post-exercise, recovery shake (6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 1/2 scoops of natural vanilla whey protein, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a few drops of organic peppermint extract + a dash of NutraSalt)

7:15 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 24

Yesterday we had dinner plans. It was also an ADF day for me. Not a problem. I was able to have a successful work out earlier in the day and manage my appetite for a few hours longer than usual. Our dinner outing also provided an opportunity to share my ADF experience with a couple of friends. All-in-all, a great time and quite manageable for all involved.

8:15 AM - a cup of organic black coffee

8:30 - 8:55 AM - meditation practice

9:00 AM - a cup of organic cottage cheese, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (no-sugar added) strawberry preserves, a few ounces of organic (raw) walnuts + my morning supplements

1:00 PM - a piece of homemade basil-goat cheese egg bake, two (thin) slices of Purity Bread topped with smoked salmon cream cheese spread + my mid-day supplements

2:30 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

4:25 PM - Blood Pressure: 126/70. Blood Sugar: 92. <--- on the high side. Could it be the Purity Bread?

6:00 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

7:15 PM - a piece of homemade basil-goat cheese egg bake, two (thin) slices of Purity Bread topped with smoked salmon cream cheese spread, a few Tbs of homemade tuna salad + my evening supplements

10:00 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 23

Another fast day. Another work out day ... with a twist. The tentative plan is to meet some friends for dinner. So I'll save my one fast meal for that occasion. But what about the work out? My plan is to add post-exercise recovery shake to my fasting days that involve exercise. I think this makes the most sense. In case you're wondering why I'm exercising on my fast days this week ... two reasons: 1) I wanted to spend my free time with Maddy this past Sunday. 2) I wanted to see how I would react to working out in a semi-fasting state.

When all is said and done, I think I'll maintain a 3-day-a-week workout routine - lasting about 1 1/2 hours each session. If possible, I'll select weekdays for my workouts so that the weekends will be free but active in other ways.

8:20 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

8:30 - 8:55 AM - meditation practice

9:00 AM - Blood Pressure: 115/66. Blood Sugar: 73.

10:15 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

1:45 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

2:00 - 3:20 PM - work out

3:45 PM - a post-exercise, recovery shake (6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 1/2 scoops of natural vanilla whey protein, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a few drops of organic peppermint extract + a dash of NutraSalt)

7:00 PM - dinner out (two raw mussels, a bun-less burger topped with avocado slices, bleu cheese, bacon, a fried egg and a few bites of crab leg meat)

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 22

A quick note about my weight. It didn't budge this past week. Why? Possibly because of my wine consumption. Not sure. I'll experiment with avoiding alcohol this next week and see what happens. I'm still at 180. Five pounds below my pre-ADF weight and five to go to reach my ADF-goal weight.

9:30 AM - ADF Meal Replacement Pudding/Shake: (8 oz of unsweetened, vanilla almond milk, 1 scoop (natural + sugar-free) vanilla whey protein, 3 Tbs organic (sugar-free) peanut butter, 2 scoops chocolate "greens" powder, 1 scoop organic sprouted flax meal, 1 scoop of FOS/inulin and a dash of NutraSalt); a few (homemade, sugar-free) almond-coconut cookies + my morning supplements

10:30 AM - Blood Pressure: 111/62. Blood Sugar: 75.

11:45-12:15 - meditation practice

12:45 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

2:00 PM - lunch mish-mash (a sliced organic Roma tomato topped with wild salmon & caper cream cheese; a feta & spinach chicken sausage; a few bites of carnitas) + my mid-day supplements

3:45 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

6:40 PM - branzino fillet w/citrus-cauliflower aioli, roasted (organic) cauliflower + nighttime supplements

8:45 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 21

Officially beginning week 3 of my ADF experiment. It's going well. Some new information to share re: weight and such. Will post later today or tomorrow. Until then ...

9:00 AM - a cup of organic black coffee

9:15 AM - Blood Pressure: 109/64. Blood Sugar: 65.

10:30 AM - a strong cup of organic white tea

12:30 PM - a smoked beef rib (Whole Foods), homemade (organic) guacamole + most of my daily supplements

2:45 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

3:15 - 4:30 PM - work out

4:45 PM - a post-exercise, recovery shake (6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 1/2 scoops of natural vanilla whey protein, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a few drops of organic peppermint extract + a dash of NutraSalt)

6:30 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

8:00 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea

10:45 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea

11:00 PM - meditation practice

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 20

We're making breakfast and getting ready to watch some football! It's a beautiful, overcast day. Later I plan to exercise and meditate. And, of course, enjoy this feed day to it's fullest. We may even work on an HF recipe. The ingredients are in the 'fridge and ready to go! Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

(Probable) Change of plans: I'll exercise tomorrow instead of today. It'll be interesting to see what it's like to work out on an ADF day. I'll also modify my eating pattern slightly to adjust for the exercise by adding a recovery (protein) shake to the mix.

Blood Pressure: 112/73. Blood Sugar: 67. Note: taken at 1:45 PM.

9:45 AM - a cup of coffee (black) w/ a scoop of FOS/inulin

10:45 AM - a small piece of organic spinach feta egg bake, a medium (organic) Roma tomato, 5 slices of organic bacon + my morning supplements

1:30 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea

2:20 PM - leftover bonanza (smoked salmon & caper cream cheese spread, natural prosciutto, an organic Roma tomato and feta-stuffed peppers), organic red wine (Malbec) + mid-day supplements

4:00 PM - a cup of coffee (black)

5:00 PM - meditation practice

7:00 PM - 2 small branzino (European sea bass) fillets w/ a citrus-garlic aioli, roasted cauliflower w/ shallots, a glass of organic red wine + nighttime supplements *

9:15 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea

10:45 PM - meditation practice

11:15 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea

* Recipe to be posted on HF on Tuesday.

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 19

The good news: I'm not feeling very sore at all this morning ... even though I had my most intense work out in years yesterday. I also slept quite well last night. A big help.

Blood Pressure: 115/69. Blood Sugar: 67. (Taken after drinking coffee at about 11:10 AM).

10:45 AM - a cup of black coffee

1:10 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea

2:15 PM - a leftover In-n-Out 3x3 (three burger patties, 3 slices of American cheese, grilled onions, pickles and tomato slices), homemade organic guacamole, a glass of organic red wine (Malbec) + most of my daily supplements

4:00 PM - meditation practice

4:30 PM - a cup of black coffee

7:45 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea

10:30 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 18

The hunger is most noticeable when lying in bed at night trying to fall asleep. If sleep comes quickly, no problem. If it takes awhile, the stomach grumbles are more obvious. Drinking warm tea throughout the day helps. But you can't drink too much right before bed for obvious reasons.

Health Goals for Today - meditation and a work out.

10:15 AM - Blood Pressure: 107/66. Blood Sugar: 68 mg/dL.

10:45 AM - a cup of organic coffee w/ a scoop of FOS/inulin and unsweetened vanilla almond milk, a slice of homemade (organic) spinach feta egg bake, a spicy chicken sausage + my morning supplements

12:45 PM - a strong glass of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

2:10 PM - a cup of black coffee

2:15 - 3:30 PM - work out

3:45 PM - a post-exercise, recovery shake (6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a few drops of organic peppermint extract)

4:40 - 5:00 PM - meditation practice

5:10 PM - a bowl of organic cottage cheese w/ a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (sugar-free) strawberry preserves, a few ounces of raw (organic) walnuts + my mid-day supplements

6:45 PM - a cup of black coffee

9:00 PM - feta-stuffed peppers (2 small), carnitas (pulled pork) w/ grilled pepper, onions, Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream, a glass of organic red wine (Tempranillo) + my evening supplements

12:30 AM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 17

Here's my mathematical equation of the day: add new exercise to your work out routine = new aches and pains. But then there's this: persistence + time = increased stamina, strength and wellness. You can't have one without the other.

9:15 AM - Blood Pressure: 114/73. Blood Sugar: 71 mg/dL.

9:30 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

1:00 PM - a large slice of homemade (organic) spinach-feta eggbake, a spicy chicken sausage, a half-glass of organic red wine (Tempranillo) + the majority of my daily supplements

2:30 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

4:30 PM - a cup of organic white tea (2 tea bags)

6:45 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

8:30 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

10:45 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea

11:15 PM - meditation practice

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 16

Today is a normal feed day and an exercise day. I'm planning on adding a few new weight machine exercises to my routine. Even though my muscles feel sore and tired, I feel compelled to finalize my work out routine by making a few alterations - 1) doing "interval training" while on the treadmill; 2) rounding out my resistance exercises by adding two new machines to the mix.

10:15 AM - Blood Pressure: 112/70. Blood Sugar: 68 mg/dL

10:20 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black), a large piece of homemade (organic) spinach egg bake

12:00 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

12:30 AM - meditation practice (20 minutes)

2:00 PM - 3 thin slices of tri-tip steak topped w/ homemade organic guacamole, a glass of organic red wine (Tempranillo) + my mid-day supplements

3:20 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

3:30 PM - work out (60 minutes)

4:45 PM - a post-exercise, recovery shake (6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 scoop of natural vanilla whey protein, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of FOS/inulin, a few drops of organic peppermint extract)

6:00 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

7:00 PM - an In-n-Out 3x3 (3 hamburger patties topped w/ American cheese, tomato slices, pickles and grilled onions), a glass of organic red wine (Tempranillo) + my evening supplements

8:30 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 15

Feeling sore due to yesterday's work out. It's not slowing me down but I do feel it. An extra challenge.

Morning Blood Pressure: 98/71. Morning Blood Sugar: 69 mg/dL.

9:10 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

10:00 AM - meditation practice (20 minutes)

12:00 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

2:00 PM - a cup of "double-strained" Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (sugar-free) strawberry preserves, a few ounces of raw organic walnuts and the majority of my supplements

4:00 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

6:00 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

8:30 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

11:00 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 14

On board for today - a normal feed day and working out. Meditation too.

Morning Blood Pressure: 99/70. Morning Blood Sugar: 73 mg/dL.

9:05 AM - a cup of organic coffee, a spoonful of FOS/inulin and a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

10:15 AM - a cup of Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (sugar-free) apricot preserves, a few ounces of organic (raw) walnuts

12:00 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

3:00 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

4:00 PM - ADF Meal Replacement Pudding/Shake: 8 oz of unsweetened, vanilla almond milk, 1 scoop (natural + sugar-free) vanilla whey protein, 3 Tbs organic (sugar-free) peanut butter, 2 scoops chocolate "greens" powder, 1 scoop organic sprouted flax meal, 1 scoop of FOS/inulin and a dash of NutraSalt + my mid-day supplements

5:30 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - warm up, 30 minutes of intense treadmill time + weight machines (3 sets each of abdominal crunches, bicep curls + upright presses), cool down

7:15 PM - post-exercise recovery shake (1 scoop of sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens" and a few drops of organic peppermint extract)

9:00 PM - artichoke hearts with natural salami and homemade guacamole with natural chicharrones

11:15 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea (3 tea bags)

Nighttime Blood Pressure: 103/66. Nighttime Blood Sugar: 76 mg/dL.

11:40 PM - 20 minute meditation session.

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 13

Here are some of the specifics about my new exercise regimen:

Warm Up and Cool Down - Walking to and from the gym.

Work Out - 30 minutes of intense treadmill time. 3 sets of weight machine exercises: abdominal crunches, curls (biceps) and an upright press (chest, shoulders & triceps).

10:20 AM - Blood Pressure: 104/66. Blood Sugar: 68 mg/dL.

10:40 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

12:30 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

1:45 PM - a cup of organic cottage cheese, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow strawberry preserves, a few ounces of raw pecans + most of my daily supplements

4:15 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

7:00 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

10:15 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

Morning Blood Pressure: 102/67. Morning Blood Sugar: 67 mg/dL.

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 12

I'm feeling quite well this morning. No headache last night. My numbers are quite good - listed below. All told, this little ADF experiment is going reasonably well so far, IMO. Today I'm adding a new wrinkle to the program - exercise. More on that after I actually get it done. :-)

9:20 AM - Blood Pressure: 109/68. Blood Sugar: 68 mg/dL.

9:30 AM - a cup of organic coffee, a spoonful of FOS/inulin and a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

10:30 AM - omega-3 (organic) "cheesy" eggs, a spicy Italian chicken sausage, 3/4 of an organic avocado and my morning supplements

3:30 PM - sliced jicama topped with homemade chicken liver pate and balsamic shallots, a glass of organic red wine + my mid-day supplements

5:00 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - treadmill workout and weight machines

7:15 PM - recovery protein shake (1 scoop of sugar-free vanilla whey protein, 6 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 2 scoops of "chocolate greens", 1 scoop of organic sprouted flax meal and a few drops of organic peppermint extract)

9:00 PM - grilled organic broccoli with a creamy (organic) red pepper dip + nighttime supplements

11:45 PM - Blood Pressure: 111/69. Blood Sugar: 72 mg/dL.

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 11

Fast day #5. I decided to take my blood pressure and blood sugar prior to having my morning coffee. Here's what I found today:

Morning Blood Pressure: 116/64. Morning Blood Sugar: 63 md/dL.

Current Weight: 180.6 lbs. Starting Weight: 185.6 lbs.

Current Body Fat: 23.3%. Starting Body Fat: 23.5%.

The blood sugar reading is quite low but not really in hypoglycemia territory. Hypoglycemic symptoms usually don't present themselves unless blood sugar reaches the low-to-mid 50's.

My meal for today will revolve around a recipe I'm working on for Tuesday's edition of HF. Hopefully it'll turn out well because that's all I'm eating for the day!

9:15 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

11:45 AM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

2:45 PM - homemade (organic) chicken pâté topped with organic (balsamic) grilled shallots and served on fresh jicama slices, a glass of organic red wine (Malbec) + the majority of my daily supplements

4:35 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

6:30 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

9:15 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea (3 tea bags)

10:30 PM - Blood Pressure: 100/65. Blood Sugar: 67 md/dL.

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 10

I had a hard time falling asleep last night. An odd type of headache was lingering just below the surface as I was trying to fall asleep. It almost felt like the pain was generalized - in my head and mouth. Well, it stuck around and prevented me from sleeping deeply for the first 3 or 4 hours of the night. Finally at about 4:30 I gave in and took a few Advil and eventually fell asleep. This morning when I took my blood sugar and pressure, I noted that they were unusually low. Could this have been the cause of last night's uncharacteristic headache? Perhaps. I'm going to start monitoring my blood pressure and blood sugar in the morning and evening from this point forth.

Wake Up Time: 8:45 AM Fell Asleep: 1:15 ish AM

9:00 AM - a cup of organic coffee w/ a spoonful of inulin/FOS and a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

9:30 AM - Blood Pressure: 97/66. Blood Sugar: 61 mg/dL

9:45 AM - a cup of "double-strained" Fage Greek yogurt, a Tbs of Nature's Hollow (sugar-free) strawberry preserves, a few ounces of raw pecans and my morning supplements

12:45 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea w/ mint (3 bags)

1:30 PM - a homemade lamb burger, homemade organic guacamole and a half glass of organic red wine (Malbec) + my mid-day supplements

3:30 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

6:30 PM - natural prosciutto and salami (no nitrates), organic ricotta cheese with fresh (organic) basil, artichoke hearts and a glass of organic red wine + my nighttime supplements

8:45 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 bags)

11:30 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea (3 tea bags)

11:45 PM - Blood Pressure: 118/71. Blood Sugar: 75 mg/dL

Tomorrow morning I'll weight myself. Goodnight y'all!


More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 9

Fast day number 5. Here's how it begins ... continues ... and ends for the day.

Wake Up Time: 8:45 AM. Fell Asleep: 1:45ish AM

9:10 AM - a cup of organic black coffee

9:40 AM - Blood Pressure: 118/67. Blood Sugar: 69 mg/dL

11:15 AM - a strong cup of organic white tea (1 bag white tea + 2 bags white tea & mint)

2:45 PM - a homemade lamb burger topped w/ roasted yogurt sauce, an organic tomato (sliced), grilled broccoli and a half glass of organic red wine (Malbec) + most of my supplements

4:30 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea w/ mint (3 bags)

6:30 PM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

8:15 PM: a strong cup of Traditional Medicinals' Every Day Detox tea (3 tea bags)

10:45 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea (3 tea bags)

More to come, I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 8

Today will be a "normal feed day". There's lots of food in the refrigerator that needs attention. Time to get to it. Breakfast awaits.

Wake Up Time: 8:10 AM. Fell Asleep: 1:30 AM.

8:25 AM: a cup of organic coffee with a scoop of FOS/Inulin and a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

9:20 AM: Blood Pressure: 107/64. Blood Sugar: 71 mg/dL

9:40 AM: a few slices of tri-tip steak (from Whole Foods) with Parmesan Brussels sprouts + my morning supplements

11:15 AM: a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

2:15 PM: leftover pot roast, sauteed spinach and a glass of organic red wine (Malbec)

4:20 PM: a cup of organic coffee (black)

6:30 PM: a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

7:30 PM: a large piece of homemade (organic) Basil Italian Egg Bake and a bowl of homemade (organic) guacamole

10:00 PM: a strong cup of Traditional Medicinals' Every Day Detox tea (3 tea bags)

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 7

It's Monday and my fourth ADF day. I'm looking forward to it. Odd, eh? I need to prepare a recipe for HF so I'll skip my usual meal replacement and simply have an actual meal instead - lamb burgers with sliced tomatoes.

Wake Up Time: 10:00 AM. Fell Asleep: 2:00 AM.

10:20 AM - a cup of organic coffee (black)

10:45 AM - Blood Pressure: 106/62. Blood Sugar: 71 mg/dL

11:45 AM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)

3:00 PM - a homemade LC lamb burger with a garlic yogurt sauce, sliced tomatoes and grilled broccoli, a 1/2 glass of organic red wine (Syrah) + the majority of my daily supplements

6:00 PM - a cup of organic black coffee

8:00 PM - a strong cup of Traditional Medicinals' Every Day Detox tea (2 tea bags)

10:15 PM - a strong cup of organic chamomile tea (3 tea bags)

Note: I'll post the recipe and more information about the lamb burger and yogurt sauce tomorrow on HF. We think it turned out great. Can't wait to try it again!

More to come ... I hope!

My Low Carb Alternate Day Fasting Experiment - Day 6

Grilled Mazatlan Blue Shrimp ... on Jicama "Chips"

Queso Fundido w/ Homemade Chorizo & Roasted Poblano Chile

Tinga Poblana - Braised Gleason Ranch Pork Shoulder & Belly

Rib Eye Carne Asada w/Grilled Globe Onions *

* We didn't eat the tamales. We asked them not to bring them at all and instead replace it with sauteed spinach. The spinach eventually came but wasn't very photo-worthy.

This will be a typical feed day - 3 meals but probably no snacking in between. Tonight we plan to belatedly celebrate our 11th anniversary at a new restaurant (Red O) we've been anxious to visit. More details on that to come later.

All-in-all, feeling good. My energy levels are much improved due to the increased sleep allotment. No trouble sticking with the program. The herbal teas seem to help manage my hunger and keep things interesting. Much more so than plain water. The added health benefits are a swell bonus also.

Wake Up Time: 10:45 AM. Fell Asleep: 2:45ish AM.

11:00 AM - a cup of organic coffee w/a scoop of fructo-oligosaccharides (prebiotics) + a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
11:25 AM - Blood Pressure: 123/73. Blood Sugar: 66 mg/dL
11:35 AM - a large slice of homemade Basil Italian Egg Bake, a spicy Italian chicken sausage + my morning nutritional supplements
1:30 PM - a cup of black coffee
3:00 PM - homemade organic guacamole, natural chicarrones, a glass of organic Syrah (red wine) + my mid-day supplements
5:00 PM - a strong cup of organic white tea (3 tea bags)
7:00 PM - Had dinner out. Shared everything: Starter: grilled mazatlan blue shrimp roasted garlic mojo, avocado with jicama chips (raw, not fried) Starter #2: queso fundido w/ homemade chorizo sausage and roasted poblano chiles Main Course #1: Tinga Poblana - braised gleason ranch pork shoulder & belly, homemade chorizo, roasted tomatoes, smoked chipotle, avocado, queso fresco Main Course #2: Carne Asada Brava green chile-marinated creekstone natural ribeye, cooked over the coals, roasted salsa huevona, grilled knob onions To Drink: a glass of Argentinian Malbec
9:00 PM - a cup of organic coffee with a scoop of inulin and a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk + evening supplements
11:15 PM - a strong cup of Traditional Medicinals' Every Day Detox Tea (2 tea bags)

More to come ... I hope!