The Summer of My Tomato Garden

[bettieboop]

Deep cleansing breath.

Me: 56 years on this planet. Old or young, depending on the mood of the day. Starting weight: 188; Current Weight: 181; Goal Weight 120. But I'm not sure how realistic that is. My early twenties was a very long time ago. I am 5'1", used to be 5' 1.5", but I shrunk.

I was born in 1953 in a small SW Michigan city. By the age of four, we went to live with my maternal grandfather. He had a lovely garden and I wish I had paid more attention to his grandfatherly advise. Maybe I would know how to deal with a garden. Wait !! I am re-trainable, my ex-husband's lawyer said so.

I have two lovely daughters. Oldest is living at home working on her thesis. She has severe food allergies. We deal with it. Youngest graduated about a year ago with a theater major, also a second major in Family Communications/Therapy. She's not speaking to me this year. I figure that she will grow up someday and give me a call.

Two ex husbands. One beat me so I left. Last one had a midlife crisis after 20 years and just wanted to get rid of all of us. I am now in Northern Wisconsin with my hero. He makes me laugh. I do wish that he would share this South Beach Journey with me, he's a diabetic and having difficulty eating what's right. He has told me I'm not his mother, so I decided to begin this alone. Maybe he will join me, maybe he won't, but this is for me.

This is my second trip to the Beach. The first one ended after only a month for a silly road trip. I have learned my lesson.

I work at my local Wal-Mart. This was not a life long goal, but being employed is a good thing. Being unemployed is not. My schedule is bizarre at best and I do believe that the strange hours that I work will have a major impact on my eating habits.

That's about it for now. Wish me luck.

[bettieboop]

Hello y'all.

It's been an interesting couple of days learning about how I deal with my new "way of eating" and "way of life".

Apparently I'm not dealing with it very well.

I'm still not free of cravings. Cheese is my downfall (did you know there was an international cheese competition in Wisconsin?). I have searched my little area of WI and found Phase 1 acceptable cheese. Now, late at night, after I get home from work, I still have what I call my "I need a snack before I go to bed" binge.

I have quit smoking. It's been over two years. I don't want to smoke. Why can't I eat cheese in moderation?

Oh, well. I'm off to prep some chicken breasts, then get ready for work.

Drive to work, pass cheese store. Drive home from work, pass cheese store. Big yellow sign.

[chefk]

Okay, I don't know why, but I found the cheese thing hilarious! I'm a Wisconsonite too.

Look for varieties that have 6 grams of fat or less/ounce
American
Cheddar
Cottage cheese, 1-2% or fat-free
Feta
Mozzarella
Parmesan
Part-skim Ricotta
Part-skim String
Provolone
Swiss

We have TONS to choose from. How about Smoked String Cheese?! Light and tasty artisan style cheese.

[bettieboop]

Oh, Chefk, the Wisconsin Cheese Thing is quite funny. When I lived in Iowa, the ladies at the veterinarians office always wanted me to bring them cheese curds.

I'm wondering if I should really keep it in the house. I'll try something new with late night after work snacking. We'll see if that helps.

I've got to get ready for the evening shift.

Thanks for posting, Chefk.

[bettieboop]

Last night after work ( 11:30 ) I had a small salad with chicken, celery, fried garbanzo beans, lettuce, small amount of mozzarella cheese and SB Balsamic dressing. I know that's for Phase 2 & 3, but I really like the stuff and I hadn't realized that they had dropped it from Phase 1 until after I bought it. I hadn't used it, I was saving it for Phase 2.
I had to eat something, I hadn't eaten much all day.

> bettie sighs <

Today will be good day. Although I work 2:30 - 7. {as bettie chants to herself "I am employed I am employed"}

I'm off to make my morning omelet. I do love my omelets.

Thanks for reading.

Oh, I lost two pounds, even with the influx of permitted cheese.

[chefk]

BB-

Try posting your day...
B-
S-
L-
S-
D-

It'll be easier to give advice on things to help with in your daily menu. Maybe there's something you need to remove or even better that you need to add!

[ladybugmom]

Good morning

I know what you mean about the cheese cravings. In my first 2 weeks of this new WOE I went overboard on it, as did my DH. I was having 2-4 ounces a day at the beginning, DH about 2X that much, we both still lost. We are both in P2 now, and the crazy cheese cravings have decreased. If it helps, think about what you would have eaten a month ago and compare it to now, it is a wonderful pick me up! Have a fun day on the beach!

[bettieboop]

Good Morning !!

Thank you chefk and ladybugmom for the suggestions. I do need to start keeping better track of what I am eating.

Last Sunday, I had a terrible stomach ache. I mean the muscle hurt. I had added almonds to the mix of what I was eating. (Daughter is allergic to almonds, FYI) As I was driving home from work I stopped at the store and picked up some bread. White bread with lots of carbs. Butter top white bread. I made it home and ate some. I felt a little better, so I ate some more. Monday morning, I felt much better. I didn't really stick to the beach Monday, but I didn't order a cheese pizza with green olives and cheddar cheese. I didn't sleep well last night, and I believe it was because of the things I ate. South Beach sleep is much more restful. Don't know why.

Stomach isn't hurting much any more.

Back to the beach today.

And I'm getting my almost waist length hair cut tomorrow. I'm having neck and back pains because it is so heavy. I don't want to get it cut.

I'll edit as the day goes on.

B - Morning omelet (1/4 cup Egg Beater, 1/4 cup asparagus, 1/4 LF feta cheese), V8, Water
S - Driving to work, 1 slice LF Provolone
S - Work, Celery and Laughing Cow Swiss, water
D - Salad with lettuce, chicken, 1/2 avocado, lemon and oil dressing, water
S - After work at 11:30 PM Baby Bell Cheddar

[bettieboop]

Morning, y'all.

I am really trying on this. But I'm still not saying no to myself. I do appreciate the suggestions.

Still struggling.

[bettieboop]

B- Morning omelet ( 1/4 cup Egg Beater, 1/4 cup LF feta cheese, 4 stalks asparagus, 1 teaspoon canola oil )
Baby Bell Cheddar
Water


I've been in the kitchen since I got up. I've made three different types of asparagus, boiled for daughter (with allergies), fried in sunflower oil for me (but daughter can have if she wants) and cleaned but packaged for fresh to have in the fridge.


S- While I was in the kitchen I had two slices of turkey bacon, one stalk celery and one Laughing Cow Swiss.

Have to get ready for work now.

S- South Beach Living Mocha bar ( first one, it was yummy for the drive )
S- Celery and hummus at work

D- Salad with chicken and one slice LF cheddar cheese with SB balsamic dressing
(and a Baby Bell cheese)

That's all. Except water and water.

[bettieboop]

Good Sunday Morning, Y'all.

Last night we had to call 911 for a shopper that had a seizure in my department. I do not do well in emergencies.

B - 1/2 omelet worth of asparagus, 1/4 Egg Beaters, 1 t Crisco Canola oil, 1/4 cup Low Fat Feta Cheese, 1 6 oz can V8, Sargento RF Med Ched
Water
S - Celery and Babybel
S - SBD Mocha Bar
S - Celery and hummus, one slice RF cheddar cheese
D - Salad, chicken, celery LF Feta cheese, SBD Italian dressing
and for something sweet and out of SF Jello, two T of SBD friendly Cool Whip, one packet Splenda and one tesp coco and it was GOOD

And I drank water throughout the day...

[ladybugmom]

Morning Miss Bettieboop!

Just wanted to stop by and see how you are doing. Looks like you have been able to balance your need for cheese with some very nice SB ones. I bet you are already noticing a difference in how you feel. Have a Happy Monday.

[bettieboop]

Good AM

Thanks for checking in, ladybugmom....

Down another pound !!!!

Still too much cheese. I am not going to let cheese get in the way.

Like the second serving in my omelet that jumps into the pan.

B - Omelet ( Egg Beaters, asparagus, LF feta, LF provolone (this I don't really need, it just appears in my omelet )
V8
Water
S - SBD Living Mocha Bar

[bettieboop]

Muffin was yummy. Still hungry, have been doing housework on my day off. Made an omelet for after breakfast snack. ( I knew the muffin wasn't going to be enough for full fledged breakfast )



B - Late breakfast, made SB Wholesome Oat Muffins, had one
S - Omelet ( egg beaters, asparagus, RF cheddar cheese )

[bettieboop]

Good Morning !!!!!!

7 - 4 shift today at Wally World.

I think I'm having a problem with almonds. I hope not walnuts. ( There are walnuts in my muffins and the bread I'm hoping to make soon ) Anyway, the almonds I ate on Monday caused a major stomach ache ( the muscle actually hurt ) late yesterday afternoon. One pain pill and some white bread later I felt better. When I get that type of stomach ache I have to stop the lettuce, celery type of food.

Back on the beach diet today. I'm taking a muffin for break, so if I don't have any issues this afternoon, it will look like walnuts stay. BTW, daughter with food allergies cannot eat almonds. Or have them in any lotions.

Have a great day !