Itโs finally turning Spring, so the timing is great for a reset or a fresh start in whatever area of your life you need it most. ๐ผโจ For me, that feels like starting back at square one, in pretty much every area of my life: my health & fitness, rebuilding my social circles, getting back on track with my work, reorganizing my home spaces โ you name it.
I talked about this struggle recently where I said: I feel SO stuck, but I really want to start over. I felt pretty lost at that point, but things are finally looking up and moving forward nicely now. ๐ค
I went out last Friday night, and had a GREAT time!
It was so nice to feel up for getting out for a couple of hours. ๐ They had a fun cover band playing at my favorite little local spot, and I enjoyed a house burger (un-bunned) with spring greens, plus a large water and a low carb beer. (Michelob Ultra, 2.6 carbs)
Thereโs nothing like a band, a burger and a beer to perk me up a little!
Iโm still really struggling, but Iโm doing pretty great (at it โ lol). That was a week ago Friday, and the rare GOOD day I get once or twice a week, but it did tank me pretty hard so Iโve been resting a lot since then. It was worth it though, and SO nice to get out and do something fun!
To catch you up, Iโve been very unwell for more than two years (28 months now), most of which Iโve been homebound with extreme neurological issues, limited mobility, etc. Itโs been a serious sidetrack to my entire life. ๐๐
The Unexpected Carbs On My Pork Chopsโฆ
A few weeks ago I met up with a friend for lunch and had a FABULOUS meal at OโCharleyโs. I ordered the Bone-In Pork Chops which is โtwo 5 oz pork chops seasoned to perfectionโ and they were absolutely delicious!
Normally I look up restaurant meals & nutrition facts before I go out, so I know what Iโm getting and can order more easily when I get there. This time I didnโt, so lesson learned, but I wasnโt too worried about it since Iโve only been eating one meal a day lately.
The โseasoned to perfectionโ part is that the pork chops are very lightly dusted with a seasoned flour. So that would be important to know if youโre gluten free! Simply ask for salt only, no flour if you order them. See OโCharleyโs Nutrition Facts here.
Bone-In Pork Chops (No Side) :
1070 calories, 66 grams of fat, 12 carbs, 1 fiber, 0 sugar, 100 grams of protein
You get two sides so I got a second side of broccoli to go, and ate most of my pork chops and half the broccoli on my plate, so I had half a pork chop and broccoli to enjoy for lunch the next day. ๐ This is how the meal logged in MyFitnessPal, ordered as-is and for the amount I ate (9 net carbs):
I covered that in my low carb classes (logging restaurant meals) if you need help with things like tracking meals & macros, how to break weight loss stalls & plateaus, mindset & motivation, etc. โ
Meals On Repeat This Weekendโฆ
Itโs FREEZING here in Tennessee this weekend ๐ฅถ so I stayed in and had some fun video chats and caught up with other friends on the phone, which was nice. Good talks and lots of laughs ๐ฅฐ and otherwise plenty of rest.
I didnโt feel like getting out for groceries so I used up what I had here. I had some onion left, so I sauteed all that up on Saturday, enough for two meals, and just put the other half away.
I scrambled 3 eggs in butter, added the onions with some chopped ham plus pimento cheese โ and a little salt & pepper. Perfect meal! ๐
Truth: it took me almost 2 hours to make these eggs Saturday morning. ๐คฆโโ๏ธ๐
I sautรฉed the onions, then had to take a break and elevate my legs. I chopped the ham, then felt buzzy all over with weird head pressure, so I took another break. I got out a plate and the butter & pimento cheese โฆ and overheated just getting up ๐ณ so I had to go outside to cool off for a bit. ๐
Itโs been a seriously rough week recovering from that short night out! lol โ but I finally got my eggs made and enjoyed a good solid meal. ๐
This is why I usually just eat a protein bar with my collagen coffee most days. ๐โโ๏ธ Iโve been having some better days lately, off & on, and able to do more โ yay! ๐ But this week I tanked pretty hard again so all my symptoms flared up HARD and Iโve been sleeping A LOT โ like a ridiculous amount (ie crashing every few hours). ๐
Iโm feeling better this evening though finally, so itโs nice to sit down and catch up for a minute! ๐๐
I mentioned Iโm getting a slow start to the year. Ha, a slow start indeed โ itโs March! ๐ If you missed that note (and the comments) see -> Check In: How Are Your 2023 Goals Going?
Iโm actually doing pretty well, all things considered. Iโm focused on my goals, making fun plans โ and even thinking about (maybe) dating again. ๐ Itโs been a couple of years! Iโve been doing a lot of organizing and minimizing in my home spaces too, which feels GREAT.
I just have to do things in what I call โmicro tasksโ and in very short time blocks.
I love this image ^ because it illustrates LIFE so well. Change, progress, growth, goalsโฆ it can all seem SO overwhelming when youโre first starting out (or starting over). Right?!
Dealing with an insanely debilitating chronic illness limits me in so many ways: time, energy, focus, motivation, mobility โ you name it. Everything has become 100x harder. ๐ฅด
That may slow me down, but I refuse to let it stop me!
As a positive, it has forced me to really focus on my highest priorities, and do the things that matter most in my limited time. Itโs also been a good lesson in patience and grace, because sometimes I have to break down even the simplest of tasks (like making eggs) into smaller steps I can manage.
Looking back up at that image again, that makes me think of all the โsmall stepsโ Iโve taken over the last couple of years, and how much of a difference every single step has made โ even when they were hard, even when I had to repeat some steps, even when there were long spaces of time between short stepsโฆ
Never Give Up On Your Goals!
Every single day is an opportunity to wake up and just BE the happiest, healthiest version of yourself. And to do something, even if itโs just a small thing, toward the direction you want to move in your life. ๐ฏโฃ๏ธ
In our last chat, Alice said: I am going to โpracticeโ eating low carb one meal at a time. My reply:
YES!! Thatโs the way to do it. ๐ You already know HOW it works, and how WELL it works, and that will be a simple way to ease your way back into mindful healthy eating.:) Every single time you โpracticeโ youโre retraining your brain to make choices that make you happier! xo
Springing Forward ๐ท
I look forward to catching up with you, and sharing more about my goals & progress, and of course my food diaries & meal ideas. Iโd love to hear your goals as we step into this new season too!
My daughter was staying with me for awhile you may remember. She moved out and into a place of her own in the city 5 or 6 weeks ago, so thatโs a big change. Sheโs doing great, which makes me a happy mom. ๐ Iโm keeping busy organizing and spring cleaning (in baby steps) to keep me feeling positive through the transition. Nice clean spaces feel SO good!
Iโm also rebuilding my social circle, which I thought might make a good topic โ if youโre interested? It can be hard making new friends as an adult, and especially challenging when youโre unwell or disabled, but Iโm up for that challenge because Iโm SET on surrounding myself with wonderful people that add smiles to my life! ๐
Another goalโฆ
I had some mysterious weight gain during the worst of my illness last winter (January 2022). Mysterious because I was hardly eating, but I also lost the ability to sweat (like, AT ALL) ๐ณ and my overall metabolic health is just wrecked now โ since a mild case of covid in late 2020.
Iโve been diagnosed with Long Covid Dysautonomia but basically all my systems are malfunctioning: lymphatic system, circulation, digestive system, nervous system โ all of it.
Iโm actually doing pretty okay (I think) but still really struggling (a lot) โ but Iโm handling it incredibly well (I think). ๐ค๐ Iโm doing much worse than the first year, but WAY better than last year, and very slowly but steadily improving health-wise.
Iโm still not eating very much, just enough really, but Iโm trying some new things that seem to be making a good difference in my recovery.
Acupuncture has been a BIG help over the last year, and more recently Iโm getting great results from Medical QiGong (too). I have no idea what that is exactly or how it works, but it DOES.
Iโm sitting in the sunshine every chance I get, still โ you know how much I love the sun! ๐ I have to sit IN the river or take a short cold shower every 15 minutes if Iโm at home since I canโt sweat, but โcold therapyโ has been a great tool as well.
My mobility has improved since starting the QiGong treatments, so Iโm now able to do some โeasy bed yogaโ and work on rebuilding my strength and flexibility. Thatโs pretty funny considering how adventurous I used to be ๐ going from running the back country and climbing waterfallsโฆ to very basic stretching and simple movements in short 5 minute blocks.
But heyโฆ you have to start (or start back) somewhere, right?! ๐
I say: baby steps, whatever it takes, do what you can, when you can, and just stay focused on your goal โ with LOTS of patience and grace. I find it really helps to wake up every single day and be the happiest healthiest version of myself that I can be. ๐ฏ Even today, even when itโs hard, even when it looks nothing at all like the person I was before.
One of the things I wrote in my journal this past week that really helped me get through a hard week, is this:
Nothing really matters, and everything counts, so do whatever makes you happy! โค๏ธ
Iโm feeling hopeful, encouraged, and really happy that Iโm improving enough to get out now and then, enjoy some fun social time again, and even sit up long enough to write you this note.:)
I hope this finds you excited and inspired about spring โ and all the fresh new possibilities this season has to offer!
Best,
Lynn Terry
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. We have a discount code at Netrition now, if youโre stocking up on low carb pantry staples or your favorite keto snacks. The code is LOWCARBTRAVELER. They have singles of a lot of things, including single Perfect Keto bars, so thatโs a great place to create your own variety box! โ
ChocZero has new keto truffles now too, just released, and those look delicious! Our discount code is TRAVELINGLOWCARB at ChocZero if you need keto friendly (sugar free) sweets & treats. ๐คฉ




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Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER


What a wonderful upbeat attitude you have, Lynn! Iโm so happy to read that you are able to remain so positive after all youโve been through and all youโre still experiencing. Because of you I joined a Long Covid group about a year ago just to see what LC is all about and to add some impetus to my desire to do whatever I could to avoid getting Covid and the possibility of then suffering with LC. which at age 78 really scares me. My heart goes out to all of you for what youโve had to endure. Keep on keeping onโฆ.youโre an inspiration.
Good to connect with you and your site again. Your posts have helped me quite a bit โ back to 2017! Iโm also feeling the need to start over. One step at a time. Take care, Rachel
Lynn, Iโm going through almost exactly the same thing. I had to stop and laugh (with relief) over your egg story, as I felt like I was so alone in how I had to do โbaby stepsโ to get anything done. I too, ventured out for the first time in months for an open mic night but spent days recovering and sleeping excessively. Big hugs to youโฆthis is no fun at all and I know that itโs hard to keep going and find the energy to do anything fun. As Dory says, just keep swimming!
Wow, Lynn. I had no idea that you were going through all this. Hope that you recover totally soon but it sounds like it is going to be a gradual proccess. Reading your story makes me feel very lucky that Iโve escaped Covid and doing everything I can to continue escaping it. Take care!
I love reading your page, itโs always inspiring. I like that you tell us about your health and how the awful virus has effected your life. Iโm so glad you having more good days and are able to get out a little.
I donโt understand your weight gain either. Iโm kind of having that problem too I hurt or something happened to my right leg back in October it started burning, hurting in the back of thigh, and knee in back and inter knee and the top of your foot where you flexed your foot.
The doctor said it was my hamstring, did physical therapy insurance would only cover 11 visits.
It helped some, but any way about a couple months ago they changed my thyroid medicine to a lower dose and I started gaining weight. It feels like water weight but I canโt get it off. And it went up a couple more pounds this week.
I know what you mean about not sweating, Iโve never been able to sweat very much, the heat goes to my face and it gets so red and I get way over heated I cannot tell you how many times I had to stick my head under cold water or go to a restroom and wet paper towels to get my face and head wet to help cool me off.
Just started Qigong this past week. Thank you for sharing your positive thoughts on that.