Low Carb Inspiration & Ideas (Let’s Talk!)

Join us for the Fall 2016 Low Carb Challenge!

I’ve been having some great discussions around the web this week about weight loss, mindset, goals, and the low carb lifestyle in general…

I thought we’d talk about some of those things here a bit too. Including my almost-meltdown yesterday, lol.

I’ll share my last 6 low carb meals with you as well. They’re all super easy, including two fabulous low carb restaurant dishes!

Oh, and I want to show you something cool my daughter and I checked out while I was hanging out with her yesterday. 🙂

The Low Carb Lifestyle & Weight Loss Frustrations

We all get frustrated sometimes. In my last post we had a GREAT discussion about various frustrations with stalls, slow weight loss, etc. You can read those here, the good stuff starts about halfway through the comments area.

One thing I do that may really help you too, is this: I don’t tell myself that I can never have ___ ever again (fill in the blank). If a friend says, “Oh, you can’t have that can you?” I say “I can. I’ll eat whatever I want, I just don’t want it today.” Or I say, “I’m in the middle of a challenge, so maybe after that’s over.” (to myself)

I like knowing I *can* have whatever I want, and that it’s simply a choice – because I *want* to get in amazing shape this year (more). That makes it feel less like depriving myself, and more like working toward something awesome. 🙂

The fact is, I CAN have anything I want – and so can you.

It’s all about making deliberate choices. You are allowed to have anything you want.

Just KNOW what your answer (your choice) is, and make saying NO to the bad stuff feel like the VICTORY it is – instead of a defeat.

 

Weight Loss Stalls or Plateaus

Sometimes your weight loss will totally stall out, or worse: you start gaining – and you can’t figure out why! 😯 We talked about that here: Mysterious Weight Gain & Stalls.

It’s usually not that big of a mystery (lol), and often it’s just a bit of impatience.

I’ve been going through that myself lately. We started the current low carb challenge over a month ago. It seems like my weight has hardly budged and just slightly fluctuated for FIVE STRAIGHT WEEKS. Ugh, that’s frustrating indeed!

I haven’t really thought about it, because I just stay on track regardless. But it hit me the other day when I was talking to someone else about their own frustration – so I looked back over my daily weight entries…

I started this challenge at 141.2 pounds. This morning I weighed 140 pounds. 😐

Seriously?! 5 weeks of diligent tracking and healthy eating, and that’s it?!

Actually the other day (last Friday) I was 138.8 pounds. I’m just fluctuating up again. I was on the road for 8 or 9 hours yesterday though, and got in a lot of exercise two days in a row – so that’s actually norm for me (to have a recovery period from workouts or travel).

Still. 😛 So if you think YOU lose weight slow… well, you’re probably doing better than me! You know what I remind myself every day, though? That I’m NOT gaining. I can pack on weight 10 times faster than I can lose it, lol – so that’s a BIG plus!

Two Things That Help Me Most…

When I start to get discouraged, I do two things.

I look at current photos of myself – like the two below that were both taken this week. That’s ME in a size MEDIUM! Okay – wow. 🙂 Instant encouragement!

The other thing I do is look back at 6 months ago, or one year ago. This morning I looked back at this low carb diary from a little over a year ago. I was having super slow weight loss and fluctuations then too (that’s totally normal, by the way!).

What inspired me though, was that I was 15-20 pounds heavier then!

So yeah, slow or not… I’m losing weight.

I weigh less than I did this time last year.

In fact I just checked this exact date one year ago: 9/7/2015 I weighed 158.4 pounds. I was having a bad week and “eating my feelings.” So I’m more than 18 pounds lighter this week than I was a year ago. THAT feels good. Even better: I no longer have an emotional eating issue. I BEAT THAT!! Double win. 🙂

Still, it’s tough sometimes. I had an almost-meltdown yesterday when I walked past a case of Krispy Kreme donuts. I won!!!! Read this. 🙂

I hope that gives you some inspiration and motivation to stay on track, and stick to your health & weight loss goals. I’m SO GLAD that I have. It’s truly worth it…

Just stick to the “long game” and focus on your HEALTH. I have an A+ health report with perfect numbers right now. That’s worth a lot. And keep in mind if you gain 2 pounds after losing 30… you didn’t gain two pounds. You’ve LOST 28!

The mental part of this is the toughest part. Fight that battle – and win it. 😉

Monday’s Low Carb Meals

I had my usual healthy low carb breakfast, this time with an extra strawberry and no blueberries. 🙂 It’s 1/2 cup pecans, 1/4 cup Daisy brand cottage cheese, 5 small diced strawberries. (6 net carbs and 85% healthy fat)

My low carb lunch was beautifully perfect fried eggs with sausage. 🙂

An easy one skillet meal!

For dinner I was craving something GOOD.

Joe and I went for a nice, sweaty afternoon walk so I worked up a nice appetite.

We went to Gondola Pizza & Steak House (because the weather was fabulous, and they have a big shaded patio with nice fans) and I got a big juicy Delmonico ribeye steak with roasted veggies. 🙂

That hit the spot. 🙂 I give Slim (my great dane) the carrots…

Monday’s Macros were:

Calories: 1646
Net Carbs: 17
Total Carbs: 26
Protein: 118 Grams
71% Fat, 25% Protein
Water: 48 ounces

 

Tuesday’s Low Carb Meals

I had my favorite low carb breakfast again. It’s so healthy, all real food, and perfect macros. 🙂 Plus it’s delicious!!

It’s 1/2 cup pecans, 1/4 cup Daisy brand cottage cheese, 4 small diced strawberries and 17.5 grams of blueberries = 6 net carbs and 85% healthy fat.

I was on the road around lunchtime, headed to see my daughter, so I took that opportunity to find a Hardee’s and get my favorite low carb cheeseburger. 🙂

For dinner, I took my daughter and her friend out to Tupelo Honey Cafe. I had a FABULOUS meal of Grilled salmon, roasted brussel sprouts & sautéed green beans:

Wow! That was soooo good!!

I’m not 100% sure I logged it accurately, but I did my best and I feel confident I got close at least. Sometimes that’s the best you can do!

 

Here’s My MyFitnessPal Diary for Tuesday:

 

Macronutrients: Simple Explanation
Of Low Carb Macros

How To Get A Net Carbs Column
in MyFitnessPal

Calories: 1641
Net Carbs: 24
Total Carbs: 38
Protein: 91 Grams
71% Fat, 23% Protein
Water: 24 ounces

It’s been awhile since I topped 10,000 steps on my Fitbit in a day! Having such an active day yesterday felt GOOD! 🙂

It was mostly dancing with a core focus.

I like seeing these numbers. That motivates me!!

Lately my workouts have been more strength training, which doesn’t result in many “steps” – and I’ve been slacking on that lately too. Now that the weather is cooling off I’ll get more walking in though…

I use a Fitbit Charge HR, by the way. It tracks heart rate, it GPS tracks your workouts, it tracks your sleep quality… and I think it will even make me lunch if I can figure out that feature. 😛

What about you – Do you Fitbit? Or which tracker do you use?

Speaking of workouts…

Yesterday while I was at my daughter’s, we tried out the new Go Sport It Pilates Ring. I mentioned in My Pull-Up Bar Challenge that they’ve been really supportive of my fitness goals. This time they sent me their top-rated Pilates Ring to check out:

Check out the reviews on Amazon…

The resistance band comes with it, along with tons of workouts you can do.

We had fun with it. 🙂 It’s a GREAT workout, and what I love most is that it’s so light and portable. You can put it away, take it anywhere – like me tossing it in my day bag and taking it to Johnson City yesterday. Nice!

I’m wearing my new Fabletics Tanks of course, but the pants are new – they’re also from Go Sport It. You can check them out here:

Sport-it Yoga Capri Workout Pants w/Hidden Pocket

These are REALLY COOL because they have a super wide waist band (that holds that tummy in nicely!) and they have an awesome little hidden compartment for your phone, ipod or keys – and it’s not bulky at all:

 

I had a great time hanging out with my daughter yesterday for her 20th birthday. 🙂 And we had such a GREAT meal!

I know a lot of people struggle with eating low carb at restaurants, but I love the “food adventure” of finding fun new low carb meals to enjoy!

I would love to hear your thoughts on that. We are discussing it in the Low Carb Challenge Group here. Someone said most people feel insecure or embarrassed special ordering, or asking for what they want. Don’t feel that way. In my past life I was a server, and special requests are the NORM.

Besides, it’s your body and your money. 😉

Have you ever done Pilates, or used a Pilates Ring?

I really love that Go Sport It is letting me review and try out their products.

They have GOOD STUFF!

How are things going for you?

It’s day 38 and we’re now in the 6th week of the challenge. 🙂 How are you doing with your low carb meals & macro tracking? Any questions or struggles?

I would love to hear your results so far…

Leave a comment and let’s talk!

Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler

 

 

---

🔎 Shop Low Carb / Keto at Netrition
Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER

---

---