Join us for the Fall 2016 Low Carb Challenge!
Happy Friday 🙂 I wanted to check in and see how things are going for you with your health & weight loss goals?
We weigh in again on Monday!
We’re coming up on 4 full weeks into this 90 Day Challenge, with today being Day 26 of 90.
This is when a lot of people start dropping out and giving up. Or at least feel like it or consider it…
Maybe they’ve screwed up so bad already they don’t see the point in even trying to continue or complete the challenge. Maybe they’ve given up on their goal.
If you feel that way, I want to encourage you to start back today. Just jump right back in! We ALL screw up. We all doubt ourselves, we all deal with our own personal failures or fears, we all have “real life” to deal with.
Make This Decision Today: Do I want to get back in the driver’s seat, take control, and start losing weight and getting healthier? Or do I want to gain back the weight I have lost, spiral downward for awhile, and make it even harder to start back later?
It IS your choice! 🙂
I have to make that choice every single day. Some days I have to make it every hour, lol. That’s okay. Just consider this little truth:
The desire to give up is temporary.
The desire to be healthier & happier is always there.
You don’t have the option NOT to make a choice. You’re either eating and living healthy or you’re not. So even if you think you’re “just taking a break” – that is a decision. Every decision brings results. So a decision is easy:
What results do you want?:)
I would really love to hear how things are going, how you’re feeling, and what you’re enjoying most or struggling with most! On that note…
How are weekends for you? Do you struggle more or less on weekends? I’ve heard a lot of people say that weekdays are easier because of the structure and schedule, and weekends are harder because of downtime and social obligations.
It’s opposite for me. I tend to cook more and eat better on weekends, lol – but that’s how I use the quieter, less structured time in my schedule Friday through Sunday.
My last two days of low carb meals (Wednesday and Thursday) weren’t all that exciting. I’ve been really busy and just eating when I had to, basically: eat for fuel.
I haven’t had a lot of interest in food other than to curb the hunger. No real “food enjoyment” – but then, I’ve been focused on and enjoying other things…
Here’s a quick view of my low carb meals the last 2 days:
I’ve been having my low carb cereal for breakfast as usual.
The top middle picture is Johnsonville Kielbasa and scrambled eggs. The top right picture is my snack last night: pecan halves & string cheese.
The bottom row of pictures is all low carb fast food…
I had a Bunless Sonic Cheeseburger (bleh) on a low carb tortilla (bleh,lol).
I had sausage & fried eggs from McDonald’s – always an easy favorite.
And for dinner last night I had Wendy’s Chili (a small is 15 net carbs).
I haven’t exercised at all this week. Usually I get in at least one big fun fitness adventure, and do some strength training at home. Oh wait – I did walk a little over a mile on Monday morning, lol. Does that even count?:) I need to REALLY get in the swing of things so I can tone up. I lost all of my weight just eating low carb, but I’m on a serious mission to tone up what’s left of me (lol) – so I need to get back at it!
How are things going for you?
Leave a comment and let’s talk!
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler





Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER

I look forward to your blog everyday! You’ve really helped me and I appreciate it! I’m so proud of how well I’ve stayed on track and the results I’m seeing! Especially in my clothes and in my confidence! It’s been wonderful and I feel great! Still figuring things out but to be on track for 26 straight days now is such an accomplishment for me!! God bless you and thanks for the daily encouragement!
That makes my day, Casey – thank you! π And KUDOS. Sticking it out for 26 full days is a HUGE accomplishment, and you’re seeing nice rewards for it. π I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling GREAT. That’s what it’s all about! *cheers*
I went in today for my yearly work health bio metric screening. My goals from January 2016 were to lower my blood pressure, lower my cholesterol and lose 15lbs. I started this journey in January with my best friend. I went from eating 4000 carbs a day (yes, I had bread with every meal and snacks) to 20-30 a day. My journey has been slower than some, I dont really exercise because I was in an accident in 2008 that makes it painful just to walk. So I have lost a total of 30lbs, my blood pressure has went to normal and my cholesterol has went from 201 in January to 147, my triglycerides from 230 to 168. So the health care provider said keep on doing what you are doing because you are much healthier than you were in January!! I haven’t lost anything this month but I am looking forward to next month!! I am doing some physical therapy, so I can do some walking and I am going to buy an ab roller that you use. I am also going to track better than I did this summer and do more meal preps!!
WOW Annette!! What an amazing testimonial to you for taking control of your health, setting a goal, and NAILING it! π Congratulations!! That must feel absolutely amazing.:)
Even without any actual weight loss on the scales in the last month, what you’ve achieved already this year is totally awesome – and worth maintaining and continuing! π Way to go!!
I am with you–weekends are better. I have more time to focus on me instead of running around like crazy and trying to fit “me time” in. I think I will keep with simple meals this weekend and see if I can lose some more over the weekend.
Simple meals – especially 3 ingredients max – really makes a BIG difference for me with weight loss. π It’s exactly what I do if I want the scales to move fast. Like if I have a hot date in a hot dress at the end of the week (lol).
See: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/6064/3-ingredients-rule/ Food Combining is cool science. π
I look forward to your Monday weigh-in!
I look forward to your emails and encouragement. I’ve been doing this woe since july 18. I tossed my scale a few weeks ago because I was obsessed with it and not seeing changes (it was ancient anyway). My family is getting me a new body fat scale for my birthday, should be here monday. Looking forward to seeing a new starting point. Still in the same clothes, some days they feel looser, other days they don’t. I have lost inches but not seeing the results very fast. Feeling discouraged but not giving up, really don’t miss lots of carbs and not craving them.
I love my body fat / full body composition scale. π I wrote about that topic here: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/6603/body-fat-scale-and-body-composition/
The fact that you aren’t missing carbs or having cravings is a GOOD sign. But how are you tracking? I’d love to help you see better results.
Start with these 4 points: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/5093/not-losing-weight-eating-low-carb/ and let me know how I can help!
As Casey said, I so look forward to your blog everyday and it does help me. As I mentioned in another post, I have been struggling because I was feeling a little deprived, food is such a pleasure and it’s only one of the few that I have LOL. But except for the wine I have been staying with this woe. Even though it’s been very slow losing with this 90 Day Challenge, I’ve only lost a little over 2 lbs so far. But I actually started this right off of the 20 Day Challenge where I lost 7.5 lbs and was doing Slim-Fast a few weeks before that one, so I’ve been doing this now for 90 Days already. I started trying to lose in June at 186, I’m now 172.
Your post is right on point about getting a little discouraged at this stage of the challenge, and weekends are a lot harder for me since my hubby and son don’t eat LCHF and we’re going out to eat tomorrow night for a friends birthday. I want a baked potatoe :(, but I won’t.
You know what I like in place of a baked potato? Loaded Broccoli. π I ask for steamed broccoli “loaded – with butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, chives, just like a potato please.” It’s amazingly good. π
Something you said is an exact copy of something I used to say all the time myself. This part:
“I was feeling a little deprived, food is such a pleasure and itβs only one of the few that I have LOL.”
I can’t even count the number of times I said that out loud over the last 5+ years, much less in my mind. I had to make a change – I had to find new pleasures, or new things to enjoy, new things to add to my life that were fulfilling.
I do great dane rescue, and that’s always something I *love* and that is SO fulfilling for me. Sadly, my last three danes have died. Two were fosters I adopted and the middle one was a puppy that I lost to sudden death after just a year together.
I still have Slim of course, we’ve been together going on 7 years now. I’ve stopped the foster/rescue since the last loss. I can only handle so much grief. I’m an emotional eater, after all.
Anyway, since that last loss, I had to switch gears for awhile – find a new passion, hobby, source of joy, whatever you want to call it. At that point, which was on the heels of both children leaving the nest and my engagement ending unexpectedly, I was depressed. You know: sad, for legitimate reasons. π
That’s when I started getting adventurous, spending more time outdoors, taking therapeutic “exploring walks” with Slim – and of course hiking, waterfalls, rock climbing and all the other crazy stuff I’ve been doing since Spring. lol
I also took up Instagram with a passion and got some new books that really piqued my interest. I reached out to old friends as well, made some new ones too, and forced myself (lol) to be a little more social. π
I had to STOP saying “food is the only real pleasure I have left.” Every time I even thought it, I replied back: That’s your choice. There are plenty of things to enjoy in my life and in this world.
I’m not judging you of course, just sharing the trial of going through that same thing with the same mindset. It’s NOT easy to retrain your brain. I did a journaling session once (free writing) on the topic: “The Lies I Tell Myself – And Believe.” That was eye opening lol.
Apparently I worked TOO hard on that one problem, because at this point (or at least lately) I hardly enjoy food at all! π I’m sitting here forcing myself to finish my lunch as we speak.
I said that in the post here too – about not being excited about food, and just eating for fuel or to curb the hunger. I lost my focus on food altogether. Now I’m more focused on whatever it is I’m doing or getting into – or what I’m going to do next.
I don’t know if there’s anything helpful in all that rambling π lol. Just sharing my thoughts & experience on it. I said the other day how much I envy Slim having his bowl of kibbles always at the ready and never having to think about what to have, whether he has the ingredients, having to go to the store, nothing – he just eats when he’s hungry and goes on about his day, lol. I’m at the point where I wish it were just that easy! haha
Besides consciously redirecting myself away from saying or thinking that thought over and over, the only other difference is the fact that I’ve stayed on plan so consistently for so long. This hit me within the 2nd month of that (pretty early on) – it didn’t take the whole 150+ days or anything…
Thank you so much Lynn I so appreciate all the time you take to help each and every one of us individually. I know it’s so time consuming for you.
I love the “loaded broccoli” idea and I’m going to ask for that. We’re going to a seafood restaurant and I can have crab legs with drawn butter….yum. So that is what I’ll have, the crab legs and broccoli.
And you’re so right on track to help me. Thank you so much! I’m a dog lover and have two Boxers who have my heart. I’ve often though of Fostering but it would, like you, just totally break my heart to either lose them or have to give them up.
That’s funny that you can relate to my enjoying food as one of the few pleasures I have LOL. I totally agree with you that I have to change my mind set and find other “pleasures” that don’t make me fat LOL. I’m not a youngster so rock climbing, cave exploring, hiking, aren’t really options. But I need to find something else to have as an enjoyable substitute for eating. I have been at the point where I don’t really have much of an appitite but I can eat even if I’m not hungry LOL. Wine has become an enjoyable endulgence and now I have to give that up……sigh. But I keep thinking of what my sister said, I’d rather feel hungry than fat! And that is so true. It is a mind set and after this weekend of indulging with the wine, I’ll be back on track Sunday or Monday.
Thank you again Lynn, you’re the BEST!!! And I so appreciate you.
Crab legs & loaded broccoli sounds SO good! Great pick π π Enjoy!!
I went through that (very long) phase of “enjoying food” during a time in my life when it was (or felt) very true to me: that food was my one pleasure/enjoyment left – or something that was just MINE to enjoy. When other things in life were less fulfilling, or when I was less busy with fulfilling things, or something – there were a lot of things going on during that phase…
I remember feeling like I had given up so much already. Like vodka, my social life, dating sociopaths (lol), walking (after several bad incidents – and before I got a BIG dog, haha), etc etc etc.
Food is easy. It doesn’t judge you. It doesn’t upset you. It doesn’t let you down. It’s always there. You know – like a good drug. π
My life was busy and full, it always has been, but it was my “downtime” I spent with food. And that was the time of day I always looked forward to…
This discussion on it is really helping me figure out what changed or shifted, or how I shifted my focus away from food. It hasn’t been that long ago actually – last year I think.
I wrote about it in this post: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/5686/eating-low-carb-at-buffets/ when I was at a big social catered event FULL of beautiful foods (forgive the pictures, lol).
Somehow, without making huge life changes or anything, I managed to simply shift my focus away from food… and TO all the other things (experiences) around me I’d been missing all along.
Lyn
Your story is so very inspiring. I need to read this everytime i am having food issues
I still have not got to the mind set that you have but i am worki g on it……to NOT think about food so much for enjoyment and to start enjoying other activities more.
Somedays it seems like i am hungry all the time and other days i am fine
I will say this that since i started on your low carb challenge un March it has motivated me to try to lose the rest of the weight i need to lose
I was being complacent with my big weight loss and everybody noticed i lost a lot of weight. I looked better in my new clothes i bought that fit me and i went on quite a clothes shopping spree But then i realised that i still was not skinny or close to my normal weight that i should be. Your blog helped me realise that this was really possible when i thought it to be impossible
Since March i got on the low carb lifestyle and i am happy with the way i am eating
I am losing slowly but i AM LOSING!!!!
Since March i am down 21 lbs.
Writing this made me realise that i am on a downward trend and not to be discouraged by the slow weight loss
This time i am so sure i can do this because this is a lifestyle change and not a diet. A diet us temporary abd guess what. Most of us gain all our weight back after a diet plus some because we go back to the woe that got us fat in the first place
Also we need to change our mind sets about food luke you did and to get Active….this challenge and veing consistent since March and YES with occasional cheats but i always get back on track right away
I am eating healthy now and i feel so much better.
Thank you Lyn!
Wow, 21 pounds?! That’s amazing, Gina!! π
It was a little more but i cannot count the five pounds i kept losing and gaining back.
I started following your low carb challenge in the middle of a challenge in March then got serious about it in April. I discovered your challenge in February but did not follow it faithfully until April
Of course i have lost most of my weight over the last two and a half years with low carb but not high fat. So low carb was not new to me but the keto woe was. This is a woe that i can live with now. π
Hi Lynn, I just received the Nut and Flax Granola (cranberry) and it is delicious! Anyone with any doubts should just go ahead and get it. I will definitely order this again! Thanks for sharing all your info with us. It sure helps keep me on track! Have a great week end!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it too! I just finished my bag of Cranberry. π The Cinnamon is delicious as well. Yum! I have to order some more for sure. Here’s the link to the Nut & Flax Granola (2 net carbs) for anyone hunting it down: http://www.netrition.com/cgi/goto.cgi?pid=505-0011&aid=3558 *cheers*
I am going to order the lc granola soon but i am waiting to figure out what else i need to order because it is cheaper to order more things at once because of the flat rate shipping. The lc granola really appeals to me because i love lc yogurt and eat it a lot. I switched to plain unflavored greek yogurt and add sf torani vanilla syrup for flavor and sweetness and a little cinnamon. 9 carbs per cup. The sf granola would make like a yummy yogurt parfait and i may add diced strawberries and blueberries to it too. Cant wait to try it
I was looking to see or hear if the sf granola caused anybody to stall their weight loss.
I posted a new list here: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/13419/netrition-low-carb-food-list/ I’m getting the Cello Whisps. π And ordering more granola!! lol
The granola hasn’t stalled me at all. I’ve been off schedule all week with a terrible case of insomnia, so my weight fluctuated up less than a pound, but it’s back down now – after a good (finally!!) 7 hour solid sleep!
Everyone is LOVING it. π I’m seeing posts all over Facebook and Instagram about it from people that ordered it already and totally fell in love (too). π
I will say this about it: It tends to make me gassy. I assume from the sucralose. And it will definitely make you “regular”. lol. Other than that, it’s totally delicious & addictive!
I plan to use the Cinnamon Granola as a delicious crumble to top a low carb berry cobbler/pie I’m going to attempt. π
I know what you are talking about. I have frequebt bouts with insimnia and it’s hell and wrecks havoc with my life and eating schedule. I do notice a drop in weight when i get a good nights sleep. I Often do have to resort to sleep aids which i HATE doing but otherwise i’d never get any sleep some nights
I will welcome anything that keeps me regular. I have problems with that a lot unless i eat a lot of sf candy or things that contain sugar alcohols. The gas pains are terrible when i eat anyting with Maltitol especially. It gives me bad bad gas…..:(
I am ordering rhe granola Monday.
What are the Cello Whisps????
The Cello Whisps are like parmesan crisps. They’re getting rave reviews everywhere. I’ll try them next week when they come in my Keto Krate and let you know. π
I found this recipe for low carb waffle bread. Very low carb
My (Jenna’s) Waffle Bread:
Makes about 8 of my squares. about 70 calories per slice less than 1 carb (.7 net carbs) and takes 10 to 15 mins start to finish
2 scoops of Quest Multi Purpose Baking Mix Protein Powder
2 TBSP of Oat Fiber (Fiber not flour)
2 eggs
2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 TBSP Melted Butter
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 teeny tiny spoon of pure stevia
non stick cooking spray if need
1. Heat waffle iron
2. Combine all ingredients and beat till smooth
3. Spray waffle iron with cooking spray (if needed)
4. Add Batter and cook till done.
Nutrition: Makes 8
Total recipe: 561 Calories; 34.1g Fat; 1108mg Sodium; 842mg Potassium; 7.9g Carbs; 2.3g Fiber; 5.6 Net Carbs; 36g Protein
Has anyone here used the Quest protein multi purpose powder for baking? The lady here swears it makes delicious waffles with a bread like texture with less than 1gm of carbs per serving it would be great if it tastes good
I am going to try this recipe. π
I haven’t! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I would love to try something like this myself – with my new waffle iron. π
Quest products are on Netrition: http://www.netrition.com/cgi/goto.cgi?pid=663-0003&aid=3558 or you can order directly from their website too: http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-1209234-11781079 (both of those are my referral links).
I love the Quest Bars. Unfortunately they stall my weight loss, or did in the past. Which is odd, because I really love them for the quality of ingredients and for the taste/texture. Oddly, with much worse ingredients, Atkins bars do NOT stall my weight loss. Go figure! Most people are opposite me on that though.
It could just be that the Quest bars are SO good I could easily eat the whole box. π haha
Hello there,
I habe been with you in the first 90-day-low-carb challange through the small one and back in this one. I am quite proud to have been this faithfull. I signed in every day, logged every bite I ATE.
What a journey it has been!!! I dropped 4 sizes in clothes. Left over 30 pounds behind. Never once had cravings that made me want to crawl up walls. That was completely New!!! Took up hiking twice a Week and walking the dog three times a day so I geht in my 7000 steps everyday.
When I read your comment for wed and thurs, I New I wanted to leave a comment.
In the beginning of the year, I had the option of going on the way I was and slowly but surely Kipling myself or making drastic changes. I found your HP and opted for the changes with the supervision of my doctor.
In the meantime my blood Tests are super. No threatening Diabetes in sight. Cholesterol perfect, no more….I could name tons more, but why….it is gone.
Since I live in Germany some of the low carb Foods are not available to me (I would love the keto crate) but lots of other things are. Changing my way of eating has never been easier.
My kids (4) love it. My collegues remark a lot and ASK questions. I habe Bern referring Them to you if their english is sufficient.
Well, as you said, it is all about choices. I am so Glad I made mine.
God bless you richly for all your encouragement and sharing.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart!
Wow, Michaela – those are GREAT results in such a short time!! You’ve really made a BIG difference in your life in 2016 already. π π Way to go!!
Congratulations. It is so awesome to hear such amazing results and obvious happiness. π Kudos!! And thank you so much for your kind words and sharing my work here. The more the merrier!
Hi Lynn,
I’m hanging in there but my weight loss has screeched to a halt. I have lost and gained the same pound for last 10 days, all the while not changing anything about my eating or exercising. I’m following doctor’s orders (the famous low carb doc, Dr. Eric Westman at Duke) who requires no more than 20 TOTAL carbs, which I rarely exceed, and my walking 4-6 days a week religiously. I’m down 31 pounds since starting on March 1st – starting weight 178, current weight 147. At 5’3″, it’s clear 147 pounds is not where my weight should be so I must soldier on. I just ordered the granola from Netrition because I’m needing something new. I’ve noticed lately that I’ve tended to be that “eat to live” person more than the “live to eat” person I’ve always been. And while that’s a good thing, I think, I’m starting to get bored and need some new things to try without upping my carb count. I also ordered Cello Whisps. I heard they were really good. I usually get the parmesan crisps from Whole Foods but they are expensive. Here’s to trying new foods!
I’m enjoying trying some new things lately as well. π
You have seen me go through that exact same thing – holding for as long as two full weeks at a time. It’s normal, or it has been for me since getting below 150.
Hang in there! π
Imagine when you DO reach your goal. You’ll continue to eat healthy and BE a healthy person – without obsessing over the scales. Just become that person now. Or at least on days or weeks you’re frustrated with the scales – ignore them and eat healthy to be healthy.:)
I assume you’re tracking since you mentioned your numbers. Are you getting at least 70% of your calories in healthy fats?
The first things to cut are: nuts, cheeses, cream cheese, shakes/bars, any processed food (including meats: smoked sausages, lunch meat, etc) and keep it super simple.
What works really well for me when I seem stalled is to go down to 3 ingredients max per plate or meal. That requires “whole foods” and just meat & greens + healthy fats. Even monomeals (single food meals) sometimes.
Hello Lynn, I have been committed to the 90-day challenge since August 1, 2016. I have found that I have “fallen off the wagon” several times and I always feel badly when I eat foods that do not line up with my goals. I also have been doing a lot of emotional work and I seem to feel like I “deserve” to eat more carbs. I don’t want to keep sabotaging myself. I would be delighted if you could help me as maybe you have experienced some of these episodes throughout your journey. God bless you!
You’re right Cecly – I did go through that same thing. I finally realized I did NOT deserve to feel bad every time I ate off plan – meaning “food guilt” AND bloating, yucky feeling, lethargic. Not to mention going through Keto Flu all over again. No, I did NOT deserve that. That wasn’t “treating” myself in ANY way.
I have had to break down my thoughts into real logic. That’s what finally helped me get over it, and see those thoughts for what they really were: the fat me in my mind desperately trying to get me NOT to change. Your mind will resist change, always. You have to resist back.
It’s shocking the lies we tell ourselves, or the thoughts we accept that make absolutely no real sense. Like that I deserve to be mad at myself, or that I deserve to feel miserably bloated and nauseous (ie: I deserve that food).
I learned to correct myself:
I deserve to be the happiest healthiest version of myself I can be! π
I have been doing HORRIBLE! I have done this woe for a couple years. I would kind of drop off, and on, then get serious again, then go back off and on, augh its such a vicious cycle. I need to just stay with it. I know I always feel better. I have never done the macros thing. I feel like its so complicated? The past few weeks, I have really started taking a bite or picking at the carb foods. Well the picking has gotten out of control. I have gained back 4 pounds. I really need to buckle down and stick with it. Now with all this picking I am nervous I will go back through keto flu again which was horrible the last go around. Today is Monday. I can make it through this week. I just have to. π
Hi Amber:) I keep it super simple: 20 net carbs max, 70% fat minimum. The tracking helps A LOT. Not only does it help me lose weight faster, but I find it to be a GREAT accountability tool. π
Do you use MyFitnessPal? That’s what I use, and this is how I have mine set up to track Net Carbs: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/4448/myfitnesspal-hack/
You’ll be so much happier getting back on track. Just get through this week, get back in ketosis, and get off that UN-fun roller coaster. π I’ve been on it myself, and it stinks. π
Hi Lynn,
I just got back from my 2 week fishing trip and was so proud of myself that I did not once go off track. It has been 4 weeks now that I have stayed with it (longest in over 3 years), but was so disappointed as I have only lost 4 pounds. I haven’t been keeping track of my carbs, so maybe that is the problem. I was just so happy that I was eating low carb and not having the ice cream, chips, etc., but maybe I was consuming too many. Maybe I should track with the Fitness Pal? I want so badly to continue and don’t want to get so frustrated that I say to heck with it!
4 lbs is fantastic!!!! That is def. A win! U found out that you have to be patient when losing weight. It all adds up to bigger losses in the end! Good job!
I meant to write *I* found out not U. π
I agree with Gina – a 4 pound loss is GREAT! π Don’t get discouraged.;) The fact that you stayed on plan during your two week trip and felt SO good about yourself is a win on it’s own!
I definitely recommend tracking. I didn’t do it at first, and I kept stalling or losing/gaining – and when I finally started tracking, it made all the difference. π That’s what everyone else has discovered too. It’s the next step – tracking (not giving up, lol). Try that first before you throw in the towel!:)