20 lbs. GONE!

I finally reached the 20lb. loss mark on this diet.  I am frustrated, excited, and so damn tired of it already.  I had a moment last night where my cravings for anything fattening or junky took over ... and instead of indulging it - I opened a bag of Salsa Brown Rice Chips and SMELLED the damn chips.  How pathetic is that?  I did not eat even one morsel.  I quickly closed the bag, grabbed some Tylenol for my headache and laid down with an icepack.  Pathetic.. I know.  I was down a pound and a half this morning, after a 6 day stall.  I am sure I do not have to tell you how frustrating it is to eat almost infantile portions of food for 6 days and not lose a flippin ounce!

I have a book club/going away party on Sunday at my house.  I plan on making lemon bars, chocolate covered coconut macaroons and possible pastry wrapped Brie.  If I accomplish any of those - you KNOW I am tasting this time.

I wish I could say I gained this weight from stuffing my face - at least I would feel remorseful and not be so resentful about having to lose it (maybe).  Nope.  I have Celiac disease to blame for it (and 8.5 months of steroids).

Oh well, such is life.... I am now the proud owner of a wardrobe that is essentially brand new, that I have been unable to fit into in almost 2 years!  YEAH ME!!! :-))

Was it a phase or was it Gluten?

There was a time where I was so utterly frustrated with my daughter's behavior and manic mood swings, I seriously believed she needed to be committed.  It seemed like nothing we did worked.  Disciplining her (time outs, putting her in her room, taking away privileges) was an effort in vein.  I had her examined by doctors and begged them to medicate her.  I am not one of those mommas that believes breast milk herbs and ignoring it will cure all - but I also do not like the idea of having to medicate my child.  I was desperate.  It seemed that her moods were worse than my most obnoxious pms days.  Something had to be done!

Right in the middle of dealing with this chaos - I got as sick as I had ever been.  Depressed, in pain, bed ridden, and a host of other undesirable G.I. problems that were terrifying me, I put her craziness aside for a moment and indulged myself in hell.  After about 5 solid months of suffering more than anyone should suffer in that short span of a time - let alone a lifetime - my husband insisted I get to a doctor who was going to figure this shit out.

A dear friend of mine suggested a gastro doctor she had met at temple.  I was hesitant, since the gastro I had used when I moved here clearly received her degree at SEARS.  Appointment was made, visit was had, testing was under way.  Fast forward to my biopsies and results.  CELIAC disease.  The minute the doctor called me - I knew this is what Gabby had.

After a full year of navigating my newly diagnosed disease (that I was born with and no one could properly diagnose), I had my daughter tested.  BINGO.  Another bittersweet diagnosis.  I knew something was not right with her - and this could be the culprit.

I am THRILLED to report that although my 8 year old Gabby still has her spunky - no one is more important than I am - attitude, her manic moments are GONE!  Not only was her health affected by undiagnosed Celiac, but her behavior was as well.  Going gluten free has not only helped her feel well.... it has made the crazy go away!  I no longer believe my child needs to be medicated.  I am no searching for a constructive way to deal with her *I am all grown up and know  everything* attitude!

I swear she will run the world one day - right now it is wearing me down!  ;-)

HCG Diet

I had to be put on steroids after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  My stomach lining was minutes away from tearing, it was membrane thin.  After taking them for 8 1/2 months, I resembled a Thanksgiving Day Float at the Macy's Parade.  Nothing seemed to help get the weight off.  I did not go overboard in the effort department - but the little I did, made no difference.  I did have my Gallbladder removed this April and lost 7 pounds - but I suspect that was from being in so much pain for 6 weeks prior to my surgery, I barely ate.

At the beginning of May I had seen two friends shedding pounds before my eyes.  I inquired - they shared.  Both of them were on the HGC Diet.  I researched it, read about it, thought about it, and decided I had nothing to lose - except maybe 25 lbs.  I promptly made an appointment with the doctor both of my friends use and anxiously awaited my appointment.  She went over my medical history, discussed the diet and before I knew it, I had a prescription for the nasal spray that would send me off into weight loss bliss.

First two days of diet are gorging (loading) days.  Eat everything fattening and gross that you normally would never eat in a month, let alone in two days, should be consumed.  Being that I have Celiac - fast food joints (other than Chik-Fil-A) are off limits.  I ate every gluten free goody in my house that I could find.  My daughter looked at me and horrifyingly asked why I was eating the entire pack of cookies with a bologna sandwich for breakfast.  I told her I was on a diet - I am pretty sure her response was - "uh uh - you're gonna get super fat if you eat like that!".

This diet is SUPER restrictive, but (being my anal retentive self) I planned ahead and prepared all of my protein portion sizes for the entire week, in advance.  The first two days of the 500 calorie portion of this diet sucked.  I was hungry, tired, and had a perpetual headache.  Day three was different.  I was all revved up and ready to go!  No headache - no hunger and 4 lbs. gone!  This is a 40 day plan and 6 weeks of maintenance.  The closer I get to my goal weight - the slower the weight comes off.  I am down 18.2 pounds as of today (24 days in).  Yesterday's loss was only .2 lbs., but it was a loss nonetheless.  

Aside from the glorious weight loss, this diet has taught me that my body prefers not to have processed food.  I have felt better than I have in years.  I can't wait for the maintenance phase, so I can start to enjoy my recently discovered recipes and a stomach ache free existence!  (I also discovered every flavor of Stevia - I am a fan for life!!)

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons!

I think I am in heaven.  Can't taste them yet - but they do look delicious.  Counting the hours until I get the remainder of this 25 lb. off (almost there) and then I can sample some of these goodies.

I am not going to apologize for the super plain un-styled food photos - Heck, I am even lucky to get a photo before all of my new goodies are gone!  I used the recipe on the back of the Baker's brand coconut for this!

Peppermint Patty Pieces - Success!

Used Elana's Pantry Recipe for Peppermint Patties.  Somehow, my round scooped balls would not flatten, and when I flattened... they shmushed!  I dipped the different pieces in the melted chocolate and cooled in freezer.

Eureka! We have Peppermint Patty Pieces!  My three taste testers approved!  Now... waiting for coconut macaroons to finish baking and cooling so we can dip those!  (stuck in house today waiting for A/C man to come and fix our 2nd A/C unit to stop working in a week... needed to occupy the children for a while!)

YEAST BREAD SUCCES!!!

So I dove head first into the world of baking... but conquering a bread recipe that my, I hate the taste of all things gluten free, son, was going to be a huge feat.

I got some yeast and scoured the internet for a decent looking bread recipe.  Let's face it - how in the world would I know it was decent?  Any GF *bread* I have made was texturally equivalent to a banana bread and more cake like than bread.  

Armed with my new secret weapons (yeast and Expandex), I called my girlfriend Stephanie over (mainly for moral support and tasting) and got to work.  I broke out my newest family addition - my Kitchenaid Mixer - and I got to activating the yeast.  I was completely intimidated by the recipe - which really only called for 4 ingredients!  I was the same scared as I was when I had to take my first born home from the hospital - thoughts of *am I going to screw this up* flooded my head!  It's bread people - what is my problem>?? Mixing finished, check - rising in the pan finished, check.  Baking directions said 45-55 minutes.  I took it out at 45 minutes after toothpick (well - it was a chopstick) checking.  Now was the tasting part.  Since I am on this flipping diet still - no tasting for me.  Steph tasted and liked!  It was a bit moist - and we both decided I should have left it in the oven for the additional 10 minutes.

Fast forward to this morning.  Jaxson was completely weary about tasting the bread - but after a little bribing with toasting it and slathering it with butter, he was on board!  HALLELUJAH!! He asked for a second piece and told me it was the BEST bread he had ever tasted!!!!!!!!!!!  I am 10 more minutes in the over closer to completely going GF in this house!!!  Next Gabby woke up and Dave strolled into the kitchen.  I toasted each of them a piece and buttered.  I had two more fans!

Best part is - it was stretchy like a great yeast roll or french type bread at a restaurant!  It was crispy on the outside and a wonderful texture (which will be even better with 10 more baking minutes).  I am DROOLING OVER HERE!  The smell is divine.

My next quest - conquering same bread recipe in my cast iron loaf pan!

I got this gluten free baking in the bag!  Watch out world - I am on fire!

Bread #2 - MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm

I need some chickens!

All of this great homemade baking has got me thinking.... I need some chickens.  Organic brown cage-free eggs are pricey!  Wonder what my homeowners association would think about that?!  I also need a goat.  I love goat cheese!  While  I am at it - I think I will plant a money tree ;-)... A girl can dream!