2012 LOW CARB MEET GREET

2nd Annual Low Carb Meet & Greet last year in 2011

Yesterday, I traveled four hours to the home of Dana Carpender for the 3^rd Annual Low Carb Meet & Greet.  After my drive through the record-breaking 100+ degree weather, I found that the party had been moved indoors, and what a relief that was!  Even so, with fifty low carbers in Danas house, it was still pretty warm, and I snagged the spot over the air conditioning vent more than once while I was there!

It was so fun to get to meet some of the movers and shakers of the low carb movement and get to ask questions about their views, their health and progress and the ways that their blogs, podcasts and websites are impacting the state of the health here in America and even around the world.  They are such a fun group and so giving of their time to effect change for the good of all of us, healthy and struggling alike.

Me with Dana Carpender and That Nice Boy She Married, aka Eric Schmitz

You will recognize Dana Carpender from her website Hold the Toast.  I added Dana to my blog roll last year and have learned so much about the low carb movement from her.  I did have the chance to have a long discussion with her yesterday, and got to sample some of her favorite low carb dishes, too!  What a neat thing to do to open her home each year to host a party like this.

Me with Jimmy Moore and his lovely wife, Christine

It almost seems silly to give Jimmy Moore any introduction at all, but in case you are new to low carbing, Jimmy is an American blogger and author who is best known for his Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb books and blog. He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs promoting a high-fat, moderate protein, low carb diet plan.  I had the honor of being a guest on his podcast in 2010 (which you can listen to here), as a result of being a "success story" in the newest Atkins book, The New Atkins For a New You, which was published that year.  Jimmy is a hoot and it was so fun to finally meet him face to face.

Dana Carpender, Gracie the Incidental Beagle and Jimmy Moore

If you follow his blog, you will know that he has started a new n=1 experiment involving nutritional ketosis, which you can read about here.  After losing almost two hundred pounds and then gaining a portion of it back, his struggles with trying to find "the magic bullet" that will take care of his weight problems in a permanent way have been well documented by Jimmy himself on his blog and in his podcasts.  I admire his transparency in this matter, and I have always tried to emulate that honesty here in my blog.  I must have done a good job of that, because my detractors seem to have memorized all of my failings! 

I think that everyone there wanted to hear a first hand account of how his latest experiment is going, and I was no exception!  Jimmy graciously took 15 or 20 minutes explaining to me what he is doing and how he has started losing weight again (yay!) as a result of tracking the ketone bodies in his blood with a specialized meter, similar to a blood glucose meter.  After hearing more about it, I will be getting The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance, and trying out this experiment for myself to see if I can whittle off those last pesky 10 pounds!  I am very anxiously awaiting Jimmys next report of his progress.  Onward and downward, Jimmy!

Me with Amy Dungan

A new person on my radar is Amy Dungan, the author of the Healthy Low-Carb Living blog.  I had heard her name a few times, but just checked out her blog a few days ago.  I added her to my blog roll (look right and scroll down) and Im very interested to start trying to keep up with her and her posts.  Like me, Amy has had her ups and downs with low carb living, and I admire her stick-to-itiveness and resolve to never give up.  We also got to talk one on one for at least a half of an hour, as she shared her journey with me and the hopes she has for her blog.  One fun thing - Amy looks so much like my daughter, Emily, and I could not resist telling her that and showing her Emilys senior portrait.  Not only did Amy say there was a resemblance, but showed me photos of herself at a younger age to show how much she really did look like my daughter!  (Amys husband John was there, too, but was absent at picture-taking time.)

Andrew DiMino

As the party was winding down and most of the folks had departed for home or hotel, several of us lingered in the living room and chatted.  There was a nice gentleman sitting in the chair next to me, and presently, he extended his hand to me and said, "I dont think weve met.  Im Andrew.  And how do I know you?"  I was so happy that I could at least say I was in the new Atkins book!  And, lo and behold, he was none other than Andrew DiMino, president, founder and publisher of Carbsmart.com.  He told me about how he started in the business, and how he has recently made the decision to discontinue the online store at CarbSmart and focus on the online magazine.  We also got to share before and after photos of each other, which was fun.  Of course, I had to show him my morphing weight loss video on youtube.

Andrew was very patient to listen to my woes concerning my struggles with my weight and the attacks I came under writing this blog, and encouraged me to press on.  Thanks for that, Andrew!  Here is a little funny thing - earlier that day, I needed to test my camera, so I pointed it at Andrew (whom I had not yet met) and asked if I could snap his picture.  And then I ended up having a great conversation with him a few hours later.

I was wondering what was going to offered in the way of cold drinks at the party.  I have been off of diet soda for a while (although, I must admit I have one rarely as a special treat), so I was thinking I would be drinking water all day.  I was so pleased to find out that Zevia had sponsored the party, and provided a ton of free cans of their all natural soda.  I sampled the grape, orange and dew flavors, and I really liked them!  Learn more about Zevia here, and where to purchase it in your area. 

All in all, it was a great time, and was surely worth the trip!  Im sure I will attend next year, if Dana and Eric decide to continue this tradition, and maybe I can find a friend to bring.  Maybe my husband!

In closing, I want to share this photo I took of Amy and Jimmy.  Amy found these shirts at Walmart and could not resist buying a couple for herself and Jimmy, and, of course, they had to model them and have their picture taken!  Both Jimmy and Amy have their detractors,  but have managed to keep a positive and upbeat spirit about the whole thing.  Obviously! 

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Out With The Old In With The New

I am forcing myself to write this post because I havent written much at all lately. I dont feel like writing right now, I have no inspiration and my muse is gone. Who knows where she went!

I feel strange starting a new year. Apathetic almost. Scared even. Scared to start over.

Every year since 1999 Barry has been there. And while he wasnt always there on New Years Eve with me, sometimes working, most of the last 10 years we have been together on this day. And even if he wasnt there in person, he was still "there", still in my life.

Starting a new year without my husband is hard. I feel like I am leaving him behind. Like I explained a friend of mine, Barry wont be there in 2010 and any year after that. 2009 was his last year, and I just dont know how I feel leaving him behind. There will never be another year where I can say "oh, remember in such and such year, we did this?"

All I have now are the memories, memories of the last 11 years that I have known him. The first IM I get from him saying "whats ska music", the time he proposed to me on the internet, the time we met in person and he proposed for real, when we got married, the time we spent in Germany, the birth of all of our children, buying our first home, selling our first home, moving to a new city more than a few times, going on vacation as a family this year, celebrating our 10th anniversary early. All I have are memories of our time together.

Now we start 2010 and start NEW. New memories, new experiences, new things, new places.

Despite all the fear that I have about starting a new year, I think 2010 will be a good year for us. I have plans for the kids and I that include, in no particular order:

• Losing a lot more weight for myself. Getting a gym membership tomorrow or monday.
• Buying a house and getting out of our rental
• A trip to Disneyland sometime in 2010
• Start my book at the very least, not quite sure where my focus is going to be on it, but I do want to start writing.

What are your plans for 2010? Are you planning on anything exciting?

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Meet My New Best Friend

I was able to get this baby on sale for only 101.91 plus tax!

How you ask me?

Well, Amazon had them on sale for $239.99, and then there is a rebate of $30. PLUS, when I cleaned out Barrys truck, I found a crap load of change. And I mean a lot. I took it to Coinstar where you can get free coin counting if you pick certain gift cards, and I picked an amazon one. With the change from his truck, I was able to get $108.08!!!! I also picked up a matching hand mixer in the same color for only $20. (not a KitchenAid, but the same red none the less).

I havent used it yet, but I plan on it soon. Ive been lusting after one of these for 10 years actually, and finally purchased one. I havent had a new mixer in almost 5 years, so I am so excited to use this one.

Ill let you all know how it treats me!! I need to think up a good name for it. Any ideas?

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How to tighten loose skin Meet the products

The other night I was talking to my mom about my progress on the HCG Diet. It didnt take long before we got on the subject of plastic surgery. Mom said, "You know Im not a big fan of all that, but I think after this is over, youre going to need some surgeries. Youre young, you dont want loose skin."

I think about this all the time, the loose skin that is.

I am definitely not the type of girl who wants to chop off bits of her nose, or have bigger lovely lady lumps. However, I am starting to notice (80 pounds into my weight loss journey) that my skin isnt shrinking the way I thought.

Surgery seems extreme to me, and expensive. Im not ruling surgery out completely, but I do want to give my skin a chance to tighten on its own, and I want to try some other products before jumping onto the operating table.

I found four things that Im going to try in an effort to tighten my loose skin

1. Burts Bees Radiance Exfoliating Body Wash - $7.99

2. Bio Oil - $11.99

3. It Works Ultimate Body Applicator - $115.00

4. Weight Training - Free

This is the first part in my Skin Tightening Series. Tomorrow I will be giving an introduction to Bio Oil.

Have you experienced loose skin after losing weight? What did you do to treat it?

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Confidence Killers Meet Their Match 6 Confidence Boosting Actions

When I feel confident, theres nothing in the world that can stop me. Blind date? No problem. Presentation?

Done. Heres the thing though, I struggle with feeling confident. Ive tried a lot of different things to feel confident and if theres one thing Ive learned its that feeling confident is completely withing your control.

While a lot of the times we associate feeling confident with looking a certain way, confidence is a way of thinking. Confidence is believing in yourself, and when you believe in yourself (corny as it may sound) you are unstoppable.

So... how do you just start feeling confident? Well, the first step is to stop doing things that are killing your confidence, the next step is to bit by bit work your way up to doing things that will help you to start believing in yourself.

Here, let me walk you through it.

Counter Your Confidence Killers 

Negative Self Talk - Positive Affirmations
The biggest confidence killer, is negative self talk. Negative self talk is basically the act of putting yourself down. Negative self talk is a hard habit to break. Some people dont even realize they are doing it. For example saying things like, "My thighs are way too big for these shorts," or "Im so dumb sometimes." A lot of the times these things are said sarcastically, or in passing. However, even those sarcastic, little comments like that can do real damage to your confidence. When youre thinking or feeling something negative about yourself, save it. Instead of saying something negative. Think something positive. "Im going to rock my skinny jeans today," or "Im going to do so much better next time!" Start trying to think encouraging thoughts when you encounter situations that are less than ideal. Start rooting for yourself. Have an interview? "I have all the skills this position requires an if I do my best, things will be OK." Dont dwell on your insecurities, focus on your capabilities. Even if they are small. And start recognizing yourself for those things.

Readers who read this also read: A Note About Health From One Curvy Girl to Another

Negative Friends - Happy People
Dont waste your time with people who dont help build you up. If you have a bitchy friend who is constantly making snide remarks regarding your clothes or your hair, its time to drop her and stick to the people who love you for you.

Tabloids & Ads - Body Positive Media
If youre consumed by tabloids, looking for the latest trends to try and boost your confidence, you might be doing more harm than good. Constantly looking to the media to tell you whats popular, whos hot and what to buy arent going to help you love yourself more. Dont feel your mind with airbrushed photos and unrealistic body ideals. Stick to body positive media like this campaign from Panteine Pro V that tells women its OK to be strong and dominant.

Mirrors - Skip the Mirror
Every day, I used to spend 20-30 minutes in the mirror trying on outfit after outfit. I didnt like the way one dress hugged this roll too tightly, or the way certain pants were too loose in the butt. It was a constant battle between me and my reflection. Then I moved. And when I moved, my full length mirror broke...And I didnt bother replacing it. I cant even begin to describe how free its been to know that I can put something on because Ive been wanting to wear it, and leave the house without reconsidering a million times. You can feel just as confident wearing something because you like the color and you want to wear it, as when you like the way something looks on you. :) Ditch the mirror for a day and pick out an outfit that makes you feel beautiful.

Comparisons - Self Reflection
Comparison is the thief of joy. When we compare ourselves to others, we overlook our own unique talents, quirks, and blessings to lust after the life of another. What a waste. Youre an individual, so act like it. Stop comparing yourself to others in an effort to be something youre not. Instead, try reflecting who you are and who you want to be. Instead of losing weight to look like someone else, try starting a healthy habit thats important to you because you.

Unrealistic Expectations of Yourself - Positive Goals
At the end of the day, you are human. You make mistakes. You cant expect yourself to be perfect. You can however, set realistic goals that are positive. How do you know if your goal is positive? If the thought of it makes you smile and gives you butterflies, thats a good start. If you propels you to be a nicer, happier person, thats also a good start. When you stumble, when you fail, recognize that its all part of the journey. Each day wake up and set a goal that you can accomplish that day. Maybe its exercising. Maybe its smiling at 10 strangers. Set positive goals for yourself. Even if they are small, achieving a goal you set is incredibly gratifying and its great boost for your confidence.

What are some things that make you feel confident?

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Sauteed Kale Sausage Spaghetti Squash Medley

Whats better than a recipe with spaghetti squash or kale? A recipe with both. I was checking out some low carb recipes on Pinterest and I found a Sausage, Kale, and Spaghetti squash. I thought Id check it out, and simplify it a bit. Kale pairs so well with sausage and spaghetti squash pairs well with with almost everything. Im a big fan of making dinners in less than 30 minutes. The original cook time on this dish was around and hour and 20 minutes. I did it in about 25. Woot woot. Turns out, my variation is super delicious, and I thought this low carb dinner would be worth sharing.

Ingredients:

• 2 small spaghetti squash, halved and de-seeded
•  1 bunch kale, chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• 1 pound Italian Sausage
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1/4 cup mozzarella 

Directions:
In a casserole dish, place spaghetti squash face down and fill dish with about an inch of water. Microwave for 15 minutes. While spaghetti squash is cooking, heat olive oil in large pan. Add kale to pan and sprinkle with garlic and onion powder. Saute kale on medium heat until tender. While youre sauteing the kale, cook sausage in a small pan. Once sausage is browned, add in onion and cook them through. Add meat and onion mixture to kale and cook on low heat until sausage, onion and kale lightly brown. Scrape spaghetti squash into a large bowl using a fork. Add in the kale and sausage mixture and combine. Serve immediately topped with a little mozzarella.

Makes 4 servings. 545 calories per serving, 16 net carbs, 20 grams protein.

If you want to cut down on fat and calories, go with regular ground turkey instead of Italian sausage and skip the mozzarella.

Recipe adapted from: PaleoGrubs.com

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2013 LOW CARB MEET AND GREET

 It was that time of year again - time to travel to Bloomington Indiana to the home of Dana Carpender and Eric Schmitz, otherwise know as "T.N.B.I.M."

Last year, I forgot about the time change between Illinois and Indiana and I showed up an hour late and missed a lot of the fun and the meeting of people.  This year, I remembered the time change, allowed an extra hour to get there and arrived at 12:15 pm, thinking I was fashionably late, since it started at noon.  Except it did not start until 1 pm.  I was 45 minutes early! 

Of course, Dana was gracious, as always, and I got to spend some of my time in the kitchen with Dana and a few others, putting the finishing touches on the food spread.  Anyone who was there will no doubt remember how artfully the raw veggies were cut up and piled onto the serving dish!

Another highlight was my tour of the chicken coop, guided by Eric.  Last year it was too hot to go outside, but this year I wanted to be sure to see the chickens.  There were a bunch of them, and Eric said they lay too many eggs for them to eat and they sell the ones they dont need.

There were some new faces there this year, and I met two ladies that I really clicked with.  And here they are, Debbie Prim with me, below, and Lynn Weiler, with me, below below.  Oh, and Debbie has a blog that you should check out called Confused and Gassy.  What a hoot!

Of course, Jimmy and Christine Moore were there, and Jimmy read the introduction to his new book which will be released soon.

And I was happy to have my picture taken with Amy Dugan and Dana Carpender, who wrote most of The Fat Fast Cookbook, along with me, who wrote but four of the fifty recipes in that book.

Amy Dungan and me

Dana Carpender and me

These two ladies are so much fun and so sweet, and I am so happy that we get to spend time together, even if it is only once a year.  If you want to see some more of Danas cookbooks, click here.  You can also visit her website, Hold the Toast.  Amy has her own blog, Healthy Low Carb Living. 

The food Saturday was fantastic, as usual, with the highlight for me being the low carb chocolate cookies, of which I ate WAY too many!  

The day started out with good weather, but around 2 pm, the storm hit and we all had to scurry to the shelter of the house and carport.  It was still great, and not as hot as last year.

A real thrill for me was getting to meet Dr. James Carlson.  I have read many of his blog posts and part of his book, Genocide: How Your Doctors Dietary Advice Will Kill You.  I did not know he and his wife, Gloria, were going to be there until a few minutes before they arrived.  I was hoping to have a moment or so with Jim to ask questions, and I was formulating some in my mind.  I did get the chance to talk to him, and not just for a few minutes.  He was very outgoing and happy to discuss diet and health with anyone who would listen!  All together, we probably talked for over an hour.  He is going to be my go-to doc if I run into any problems involving weight, etc.  It turns out that he lives about an hour from me!  Yay!  I think he picked up at least two patients that day, although I am sure that was not his intention in coming.

Me, Dr. Jim Carlson and his lovely wife, Gloria

All in all, I had a wonderful time, and I cant wait to go again next year.  In fact, I am wondering if there is a way to get something like that going around my neck of the woods, which would be the Chicagoland area.  Is anyone interested?  We could do it at my house, which is about 40 miles southwest of Chicago.

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