Egg White Protein Powder Unflavored

Jay Robb's "unflavored" egg white powder is great for shakes, cooking and making omelets! This is product is also ideal for those who are tired of separating egg whites from whole eggs or simply want an unflavored egg white protein powder for their shakes. From Chickens Not Treated with Hormones.

Ingredients Contains only pure extracted egg white albumen and lecithin.

One scoop of Jay's unflavored egg protein equals approximately 8 medium egg whites (24 grams of first class protein.)


Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 oz. (1 scoop) 30 g

Amount Per Serving
Calories 115
Total Fat 0g
Saturated fat 0g
Trans fat 0g
Cholesterol 0g
Sodium 371mg (naturally occurring)
Potassium 335mg
Total Carbohydrates 1g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars less than 0g
Protein 24g

See this and other Jay Robb Products at www.jayrobb.com

Hunger For Righteousness

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6, NIV).

In the natural, what do you do when you’re hungry for something and you’re just not sure what will satisfy you? Maybe you think of something to eat but it doesn’t quite hit the spot. Spiritual hunger works the same way. You may feel a restlessness or unsettledness, but you can’t quite figure out what will satisfy it. You may try to fill that need with other things—food, addictions, people—but only God can fill that hunger. The verse above says that righteousness will fill, or satisfy. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, God’s way of doing things, you will be spiritually satisfied. But just like you have to take time to eat in the natural, you have to take time to “eat” or partake of God’s righteousness. Take time everyday and devote it to the Lord with prayer, worship, and the study of His Word. Stay in fellowship with other believers by attending church regularly. As you focus your hunger on God’s righteousness you will be filled and live satisfied in Him all the days of your life.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise to fill my hunger. I open my heart to You and ask that You draw me by Your Spirit. Teach me to walk in Your ways of righteousness that I may honor and serve You all the days of my life. I bless Your name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Educate Yourself about Ketogenic Diets

With Kimkins or any diet, be it low carb or not - it is important to educate oneself, and not be a sheep blindly following everyone else. I have seen some shall we say "curious" threads on the forum that I will steer clear of. It doesn't make any sense to take things to extremes. Look up "ketogenic diets" online and read some of the background behind these sort of diets - like Lyle McDonald & Rob Faigin. I researched Stillman's earlier today and was 'educated'. These diets have been around for years, even prior to Atkins. From what I have read I've drawn my own conclusions, I really think it is important to get as much information as you can.

In the research into ketogenic diets online that I've done, I've seen many recommendations to take electrolyte supplementation. Includng this one:
"[...] at a minor level, a person low in electrolytes can get muscle cramps, both daytime and severely at night. Lightheadness, fatigue, even nausea are considered minor effects of low electrolytes. Major effects include passing out, severe brain disfunction, heart problems and at the extreme end, death. Carbs awaiting use in the body are stored as glycogen in the short term (fat in the long term, but you knew that!). Water is attached to the glycogen grams at a ratio of 3 grams of water per gram of glycogen. When you deplete the glycogen stores via low carb eating, the water goes with it, explaining the quick 3-10+ pounds lost during the first few days of a low carb diet. When the water goes, it takes the electrolyte minerals with it. Whoosh - gone overnight. Dave and I both use a zero carb electrolyte powder made by SuperSpectrim and continue to drink a lot of water. I called the manufacturer, Super Spectrim, who confirmed that their electrolyte powder contains zero carbs." from http://www.davedraper.com/ketogenic-supplements.html

Tonight I ate at Outback Steakhouse, and finished up the entire portion of salmon served. I am absolutely STUFFED now, but I am not beating myself up about finishing it. For one I know salmon has some wonderful omega essential fatty acids that my body needs.

Stop Look & Listen for God's Plan

You can experience a new level of trusting God and learn to see His hand at work in any situation.

When we were kids we learned to stop, look and listen before stepping into the street. That’s good advice for us today when we encounter circumstances where it seems God has abandoned us or doesn’t care.

To see God at work in any situation:

STOP
The psalmist said, “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NASB). Before you head off in a direction that may not lead you where you think you want to go . . . take some time to be quiet and collect your thoughts.

LOOK
Or in this case, LOOK UP! “I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT). When we look up, we see the face of a heavenly Father who loves us and wants the very best for us . . . no matter what we may be going through.

LISTEN
Listen for what God has to say to you. Just say, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 NCV). God speaks to us — through the Bible, through Godly counsel and through our inner spirit by His Holy Spirit.

I truly believe that applying these simple principles to your life will enable you to see God’s hand at work in any situation.

Your gifts support God’s work through this ministry . . . and help send a message to millions that God is present in their lives — no matter what the circumstance.

Stop, look and listen for God’s plan. Give your best gift today so we may tell the world about His path, His peace and His perfect love.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

Joel Olsteen Ministries

Visualization

To create a mental image or visualization, use these steps.

Step 1: Close your eyes and think of the goal of the visualization, e.g., to practice a new behavior or skill, to change a mood, to reinforce a positive behavior, or to assign a negative image to old cues.
Step 2: Picture the positive outcome after your goal is achieved.
Step 3: Put yourself in the picture and begin to experience the image in three dimensions. a) How do you look? Thin, happy, skillful, talented, on target, proud. b) How do you feel? Happy, excited, satisfied, competent, at ease, relaxed, "with it." c) How is your body reacting? Relaxed, appropriate, athletic, responsive, skillful, taut, strong, graceful.
Step 4: Picture how others react to you in this imagined activity, e.g., are they rewarding you, reinforcing you, complimenting you, thanking you, accepting you, asking you for a date?
Step 5: Picture how you react to the others' response, e.g., excited, appreciated, thankful, grateful, pleased, accepted, accomplished, a winner.
Step 6: Open your eyes slowly once you feel like a winner. Commit yourself to practicing this mental image until it becomes a reality for you. Remember, to become a winner takes patience, persistence, and commitment to change.

How to sustain healthy Self Motivation

In order to sustain healthy self-motivation, you need to:

• Love yourself enough to believe you deserve to accomplish change in your life.
• Set realistic goals.
• Visualize successful change.
• Be committed to personal health and self-satisfaction to attain and sustain change.
• Devote energy, effort, sustained vigilance, and personal sacrifice.
• Accept personal responsibility for problem behavior.
• Believe that only through personal efforts can a problem behavior be changed.
• Reinforce self success, no matter how small.
• Be able to break a large goal into small increments, which are obtainable, reasonable, and measurable, and to reward yourself for the attainment of these sub-goals without regret over the remaining steps still needing to be accomplished or satisfied.
• Accept that change of old habits is a lifelong process.
• Realize that the efforts to change do not end once initial cessation of old behaviors is attained.
• Believe that a work-oriented recovery lifestyle model is a lifelong process.
• Sustain the change in problem behaviors.
• Commit to a lifelong contract of behavior change.
  

A Little Gloat

Today I saw so many unhappy people at court, everyone of us was going through our own pain. I was trying to be positive, hoping that all of this would be resolved today. I got some good news, and some so-so news (meaning I could take it as bad news, or work with it to make it good news). The judge also ordered a continuance for October, which is good and bad. I need to find something to do to help with the cost of all of this. DH has been wonderful and was there with me today.

I did manage to find a safety pin for my size XL skirt, but I waited until I was thru the metal detectors before putting it onto my skirt. Anyway looking on the bright side - by October I will look so HOT! I will go into court wearing a size SMALL (dare I dream so low???) and I will feel so good being able to do that. Going by my weight loss chart I could be 120lbs by then! I will most certainly need a new skirt! And can I please gloat, just a little???? XHW was bigger than me today!!!!! (please don't be upset at me for saying this aloud) But she's HUGE and I'm not! Thank you Kimkins!!!!!

About 2 years ago - XH came to pick up kids at my house (and of course XHW was with him) Anyway after they left I asked my DH who was bigger her or me. I know I know - I had to swear that I'd not be a total bitch to him all day if he said me. Well he said me, and I guess it was a wake up call for me. And while losing weight to look hotter than XHW is not my primary reason, it sure is something that keeps me on track. When XH & I met, I weighed about 110 lbs. Anyway - I am going to be gloating all night. Tomorrow I'll stop. (At least aloud) I feel so excited that by October I could be 120lbs!!! I am going to focus on me me ME all week. And look forward to having my kids come home (hopefully) next weekend.

30+ Pounds lost in less than Two Months

Yesterday my gf who sees me every week pointed out that I looked like I was losing weight. (!!!!!!!!) I am having a hard time talking to her about it because she is desperate to lose weight herself, but has kidney stones and so cannot low carb. I wish I knew an alternative for her. Then today at the nail salon, another gf who hasn't seen me for a month, pointed out that I'd lost weight too. She loved the idea of Kimkins since she is already eating fairly low carb as she is gluten intolerant. We laughed together over my DH not noticing yet. But she did point out that wearing baggy clothes (as I guess we are all apt to do as we lose) means that it is harder to see our loss. I did get a gasp though because she said - "how much have you lost?" and I said "just over 30 lbs...." and she was like, "in one month???" I said "no, in two months". She was amazed!

Jimmy Moore’s Interview With Kimmer From Kimkins: Parts 3, 4 and 5 (Episode 72)

Jimmy Moore’s Interview With Kimmer From Kimkins: Parts 3, 4 and 5 (Episode 72)

Stressed Out!

This week is very stressful. In the past under this amount of stress I would've added to it by stuffing myself silly with junk food at night then feeling tons of self loathing in the morning. Reading your post I was thinking - you know what? I did not eat junk, my stress is still there - therefore junk does not get rid of the stress.

OK so that's easy to say from this perspective. But to all of those people reading this blog right now, who are wavering about staying on plan or on any diet, feeling like they are out of control - I am going through more stress right now than any woman or mother should have to deal with - and I am eating on plan, and losing weight. If you are making excuses to yourself - STOP IT. Everyone of us is capable of what I am doing. Guess what, life is ALWAYS going to be full of stress. So one might as well step up, and lose weight despite the stress.

This is becoming a true test of my faith in God. The hardest thing I'm finding is to give all of this to Him and believe what He has said. I know in my heart that anything I ask for for the sake of my children I will receive. I have been given an amazing job to raise these special needs children, and I am so grateful to Him that He feels I am worthy of such a task. If everything changes I know that they have blessed my life in such a way that I am forever changed. I have nothing left but to put my faith in God, and pray that these few days are filled with peace for me.

Change involves Setbacks & Struggles

"Why do I struggle to change when everyone around me does it so easily?" "Why is it so hard for me to stick with my workouts and so simple for others?" "Why can't I make changes like everyone else?"

These thoughts and the many others just like them strike to the heart of a myth that keeps millions from enjoying the health they desire. When the belief is that everyone around you changes with ease, any amount of struggle or setbacks can seem like proof that you don't have what it takes to succeed.

This belief couldn't be farther from the truth.

The reality is that change in any form involves short-term setbacks and struggles. You've established a powerful routine over the years, and changing this pattern is not an easy process for anyone. This might seem like negative news, but in fact it is just the advice you need to hear.

When you truly believe that change and occasional setbacks go hand in hand, you'll never again be thrown off course when one occurs. You won't see an obstacle or problem as proof of your inability to succeed.

Instead, you'll handle it with the wisdom of someone who understands how improvement truly functions. You'll know this is merely part of the game and work to solve the problems you face.

A short-term failure or struggle does not mean you'll never achieve the final result. It does not mean you will always struggle to gain ground. It is only a part of the changing process and proof that you are doing the right things and following the right path.

by Jason M. Gracia - Motivation123™

Jimmy Moore’s Interview With Kimmer From Kimkins: Part 2 (Episode 71)

Jimmy Moore’s Interview With Kimmer From Kimkins: Part 2 (Episode 71)
Whether you are a Kimmer Lover or a Kimmer Hater, you will find plenty to chew on here as Kimmer presents her vision of a healthy low-carb diet in her own voice.
A few of the topics covered in this episode:
Should pregnant women be on Kimkins?
Should a teenager go on Kimkins?
How many calories does Kimmer eat daily?

Another 1 pound gone!

It feels so amazing to lose weight so fast. I have to admit though that I have this little fear that one day I'll step onto the scale and blink and all the weight will be back. But every time I weigh and the number gets smaller it reinforces the reality of it all. SIMPLY AMAZING!

Rough Week

I've had a pretty rough time this past week. I am happy to report not only that I have not "cheated" but more importantly, I haven't felt the need to bury my emotions and stress in food. I was very excited to step on the scales this morning and see 174.5 lbs. I have lost 30.5 lbs towards my 100 lb goal. I am almost 1/3 of the way to goal.

In my head I am still struggling with the fact that no-one has noticed any weight loss yet. DH saw me weighing myself this morning, but didn't ask what I weighed. Not that he really knew my weight before anyway. I met two friends earlier in the week who hadn't seen me since school finished in May. They noticed my haircut, but no comment about my weight. It's not that I am wandering around seeking validation. This time I am losing all of this eight for one person only - ME. So in that light I guess if no-one ever notices, I will still feel proud of my acomplishments.

Don't forget to listen to Jimmy Moore (of Livin' La Vida Low Carb) interview with Kimmer, part 1.
Future episodes will air: July 23rd (part 2), July 26th (part 3), July 30th (part 4), and Aug 2nd (part 5)

Thorns

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole that from her. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come for the holiday.

Then Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. She has no idea what I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder. Thanksgiving?? Thankful for what?? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child??

"Good afternoon, can I help you??" The shop clerk's approach startled her. "I....I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra. "For Thanksgiving?? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the 'Thanksgiving Special'??" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this thanksgiving??" "Not exactly!!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong." Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement or you."

Just then the shop door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi, Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers. "Want this in a box??" asked the clerk. Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please," Barbara, replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest. And she left with her order.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!!" "Right, said the clerk, "I cut off the flowers. That's the "Special'. I call it the 'Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet'." "Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!!" exclaimed Sandra. "Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery." "That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk, "and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel. "So what did you do??" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and never questioned the good things that happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask questions!! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life', but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man. "My wife sent me in to get our usual 'Thanksgiving Special'....12 horny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator. "Those are for your wife!?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?" "No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the 'Special'!!""I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said. "It's all too...fresh." "Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out. "I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you??"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first." It read: "My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through mytears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for your roses; thank Him for your thorns!


Author Unknown

It was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore on the cross, not a crown of flowers. I love the roses that God has sent in my life, and I do praise Him for them. But if it weren't for the thorns in my life, the roses wouldn't smell near as beautiful, or mean as much. So I do thank Him for the thorns. Think about the thorns in your life ....

Jimmy Moore’s Interview With Kimmer From Kimkins: Part 1

Don't miss the VERY special edition of “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore!” This is the episode we have all been waiting for…a real first an exclusive in the world of low-carb diet reporting. The real special event is that Kimmer, the flesh and blood person behind the Kimkins diet juggernaut, is giving her first ever live interview! Jimmy is very pleased to be bringing you this in-depth five-part interview (totaling over an HOUR of pure interview time) where Kimmer answers EVERY question that all of YOU submitted!
Jimmy Moore’s Interview With Kimmer From Kimkins: Part 1 (Episode 70)

Sabotage & TOM

Whether we satotage ourselves or cheat - we all seem to manage to do something to take a little detour off plan.

What are the circumstances that cause a "cheat" for you?
Are any of the circumstances within your control?
If any of the circumstances are regular occurances (like dinners out, or baking cookies for example) how can you better prepare yourself to deal with the circumstance without allowing it to cause a cheat?
Are you more or less likely to cheat if you have written out your daily menu in advance?
How many of us actually take a moment each night to write out a menu for the following day? And if not, why not?

I have another Q - but its not related to cheating. Anyways, I am about 1 week before TOM (again) I am trying to pay attention to my body, and within Kimkins reason, accomodate my body's needs. I noticed tonight that I was craving fat, so I wound up eating hamburger patties (one for dinner plus afterwards I ate two more than I originally planned) I feel very stuffed now, and because technically I did not eat off plan, I am happy with myself. BUT the fat grams were 23g OUCH! But I am not wandering around looking for things to eat. I do feel like I am out of ketosis, but that was the case last month at this time also.

I am curious as to what others crave right before TOM? Previously for me it was chocolate = carbs + fat. I thought I was craving carbs, but maybe my body really wanted FAT.

And I guess the second part to my Q is, if these cravings are for real and due to some biological need my body has at this point in my cycle, doesn't it make sense to work out a way to accomodate these needs while staying on plan?

My Declaration of Self Esteem

I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it -- I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know -- but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.

--- From Self Esteem by Virginia Satir

Another 2 lbs !!

I started Kimkins 37 days ago, and I've been amazed at my lack of hunger, my energy levels and most importantly, my weightloss! I am only 5'1" tall, so carrying 100+ pounds extra on my frame looked more like way more weight than that. In just 37 days I've lost 28 pounds.

DH still hasn't said anything about my weight loss (if he's noticed). Neither has a close girlfriend who sees me 3 or 4 times each week. I know that it must be at least a little noticeable now, with almost 30 lbs gone. I am wearing a L (12/14) instead of the XL (16/18) I was wearing 37 days ago. I am also wearing a much smaller bra (38D instead of 42D) and I know that I need to treat myself to a proper bra fitting to see where I really am size-wise.

I think the biggest difference is within myself. I feel so much more in control. Not a slave to night time nibbling. Although I have to admit that last night I was getting stuck into diet dr. pepper floats made with a little bit of protein powder mixed with the soda. It was a very nice Saturday night treat - and I'm not beating myself up about it. It was legal & on plan!

At the end of the day, Kimkins is working. Seriously working. And I'm not going to let anyone plant any seeds of doubt in my head. I am proud of the weight I've lost so far. I am excited that I am not feeling controlled by my constant carb cravings. I think that I might be a person who really needs to limit carbs for the rest of her life. And I am going to have to accept that now. Because I am going to like being goal, but the reality is, in order to stay at goal, I suspect that I am going to have to really start seeing Kimkins (or at least a modified Kimkins diet) as a permanent eating plan.

Chicken Recipes

Blackened Chicken

4 servings

8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves
2 Tablespoons Salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons Garlic powder
1 1/2 Tablespoons Ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon White Pepper
1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
1/2 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 Tablespoon Paprika
3/4 Pound Unsalted Butter - Melted

Pound chicken breasts to about 1/3" thick. Thoroughly combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl. Just before cooking each piece of chicken, dip it in the melted butter so that both sides are well coated, then sprinkle each fillet evenly with the seasoning mix, using about a rounded 1/2 teaspoon on each, and patting it in with your hands. (If you lay the fillet on a plate or other surface to season it, be sure the surface is warm so the butter won't congeal and stick to the surface instead of to the meat. Immediately place the fillet skinned side down in a hot skillet, making sure all meat folds are opened up and the meat is lying flat. Pour about 1 teaspoon butter on the top of the fillet (be careful, as the butter may flame up). If you cook more that 1 fillet at a time, place each fillet in the skillet before buttering and seasoning another one.

Cook uncovered over the same high heat until the underside forms a crust, about 2 minutes. (The time will vary according to the thickness of the fillets and the heat of the skillet or fire; watch the meat and you'll see a white line coming up the side as it cooks.) Turn the fillets over and pour about 1 teaspoon more melted butter on top of each. Cook just until meat is cooked through, about 2 minutes more.

Serve the chicken fillets crustier side up while piping hot. Clean the skillet after cooking each batch and repeat the blackening procedure with the remaining chicken fillets.
Carbs:

0 carbs.



Chicken Under a Brick

6 servings

1 whole (3- to 4-pound) chicken
(trimmed of excess fat, then rinsed and patted dry with paper towels)
1 Tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, plus 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (optional)
2 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon coarsely chopped garlic
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, quartered

Remove the backbone and split the chicken. Mix together the rosemary leaves, salt, garlic, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and rub this all over the chicken. Tuck some of it under the skin as well. Allow to marinate, if time permits, for up to a day, refrigerated.

When you are ready to cook, preheat the oven to 450°F. Preheat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes. Press the rosemary sprigs if you are using them into the skin of the chicken. Put the remaining olive oil in the pan and wait a minute for it to heat up. Place the chicken in the pan, skin side down, along with any pieces of rosemary and garlic. Weight the chicken with another skillet or use a flat pot cover and a couple of bricks or rocks. The basic idea is to flatten the chicken by applying a fair amount of weight evenly over its surface.

Cook over medium-high to high heat for 10 minutes; transfer, still weighted, to the oven. Roast for 15 minutes more. Take the chicken from the oven and remove the weight; turn the chicken over (it will now be skin side up) and roast 10 minutes more. To check for doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh; it should read 160°F to 165°F. Serve hot or at room temperature (refrigerate it if you will not be serving it within the hour), with lemon wedges.

comments : The great dish of Lucca, Italy, should always be made with the best olive oil available. I weight the chickens with a cast-iron pan and a couple of big rocks. The only problem is that handling the hot, heavy pan takes a steady, strong wrist, so use two hands. The effort is well worth it: This is the simplest and best method for producing a beautiful, crisp-skinned bird. I specify rosemary here, which is delicious. But most herbs are equally wonderful. Try savory (in similar quantity); parsley, basil, chervil, chives (use twice as much); or tarragon, marjoram, or thyme (use half as much).
Carbs:

Zero carbs.

Fears & Doubts

Yesterday Jimmy Moore (from "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb") posted on his Kimkins journal thread about the flak he is getting from people about his involvement with Kimmer & Kimkins:

It seems my enthusiastic support for Kimkins has enraged some people I consider friends to the point that they are cutting off ties to me and my blog.

Their "concerns" over Kimmer and Kimkins have caused them to think I've "sold out" (what the heck does that mean anyway...what have I "sold"?) and lost my mind for supporting Kimkins. They think I should distance myself from Kimkins because it is based on a "fraud" (describing Kimmer) and an "unhealthy diet" (always calling Kimkins an ultra-low-carb, ultra-low-fat, ultra-low-calorie diet).

My response to these charges are that the plan I am following on Kimkins is K/E which is NOT calorie-restricted in any way. If it was, I wouldn't be doing it. But it ain't! Furthermore, while I am eating less fat now than I did on Atkins, it's only for the purpose of controlling calories. I eat a little more fat than Kimmer calls for, but not much.

Furthermore, I've been eating yogurt, sweet pickles, seeds, a little mayo for my salmon, a protein bar or shake here and there, an occasional low-carb wrap or bread, and coconut oil. Since I've been low-carbing a while, I KNOW what I can eat and still lose weight and have made appropriate modifications for ME.

The critics claim what I am doing is not Kimkins, but I disagree. The basics of my diet are indeed K/E and is the foundation of my diet. Even the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins wanted people to customize his diet to their own needs by finding the appropriate carbohydrate balance to manage your weight. Anyone who says there is one way to lose weight is LYING to you! Do what's right for you and remain undetermined in your resolve.

That's where I am at the moment. Kimkins is working very well for me and I'm reaching my goal. But I'm being abandoned by some people I love and respect merely because I would dare say ANYTHING positive about Kimkins. It makes no sense to me and I'm just flabbergasted by how petty this issue has become. What is happening to the low-carb community?!

Okay, I'm done dumping today. I've got my interview with Kimmer coming up at my podcast show soon and I'll be recording that very soon. People want me to "get" Kimmer, but what's there to get? She's a remarkable woman who lost a bunch of weight and now is helping others do the same. What's so evil and vile about doing that? Still scratching my head on that one!

THANK YOU to all of you for supporting me in my Kimkins weight loss. You are a fabulous representation of what's GOOD about this diet and I won't have anyone ever tell me otherwise. If somebody doesn't like Kimkins, then they shouldn't do it. But I for one am glad it is an option for people who were "stuck" like me.

This post and the subsequent responses he got from people that write on his Kimkins journal thread really got me thinking. I am going to be getting together next week with a couple of parapros that worked in my sons class at school last year. They may or may not notice my weightloss. If they do, am I going to be able to tell them about Kimkins. See I'm not ashamed about this diet. I am excited and loving the losses! They are tremendous. But what I am concerned about is someone getting in my head right now and trying to talk me out of doing this program, with all the negative things they can say. Do you know what I mean?

Anyway I got to wonder, if this feeling, this fear that friends and familiy could possibly talk me out of this, or at least make me feel badly about Kimkins, IS THIS WHY I AM NOT TELLING ANYONE WHAT I AM DOING?

Friday the 13th

OK DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

Tink is now 179 lbs!!!!! Doing such a happy dance this morning. That's down another 1.5 lbs! 26 lbs total. Not only did I make mini goal of 25, but I over achieved by a pound! The bathroom scale is definitely being nice to me this week! This definitely deserves a reward. Also my PJs are starting to be loose. DH yet to say anything. But that's ok. I am in the 70s at last!!!! Today is day 35 since I started Kimkins. I have never had such fast weightloss before! 26 lbs gone. I am now wearing size L (12/14) instead of XL (16/18) and this morning I tried on an old bra (38D) and it fits!!! So I've lost two bra sizes in 35 days also!!!

Tink is really shrinking!

Shake Recipes

Peppermint Twist Shake

1 pkt Jell-o sugar free pudding -- vanilla
3/4 cup cold water -- (3/4 to 1)
4 ice cubes
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 drop red food coloring

Combine all ingredients in blender. Cover and whirl at high speed for approximately 30 seconds. Pour into chilled glass

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 6 Calories; 0g Fat (0.0% calories from fat); 0g Protein; trace Carbohydrate; 0g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 8mg Sodium.



Dreamsicle Shake

1 can diet orange soda
2 tbsp heavy cream
1 scoop whey protein Isolate -- vanilla
Ice -- if desired.

Blend at medium speed for 1 minute.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 0 Calories; 0g Fat (0.0% calories from fat); 0g Protein; trace Carbohydrate; 0g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 9mg Sodium. Exchanges: .



Breakfast on the Go

2 tsp splenda
2 tbsp cream
1 cup coffee
1 scoop whey Protein Isolate
5 ice cubes

Blend away.... Thick, but you can drink it through a straw.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 78 Calories; 7g Fat (80.1% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 0g Dietary Fiber; 26mg Cholesterol; 19mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Fat.


Butterfinger Frosty

1/8 cup cream
7/8 cup water
1 tbsp Designer Whey, chocolate -- 1 scoop
1 1/2 tsp splenda
1 1/2 tsp Peanut Butter -- or any nut butter
2 cups crushed ice

- Whirl all together in a blender
-Pour into a tall glass, grab a straw and enjoy!!
-Carbs per serving: 5.3 and 19.9 grams protein

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 144 Calories; 13g Fat (75.9% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 4g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 26mg Cholesterol; 69mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 2 1/2 Fat.



Di's Basic Shake & Variations

Recipe By :"Diana "

1/3 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup cold water
2 scoops soy protein Isolate -- or whey any flavor
psyllium husks 1 tsp -- (1 to 2)
optional - adding fiber but not carbs here
12 ice cubes -- (12 to 15)

The real trick to keeping the protein shakes low carb is to use heavy cream and water instead of milk. Whirl the whole thing up in the blender. (Pulse works best for crunching up the ice cubes.) The end result will have a consistency like a Wendy's Frosty. Omit the ice cubes, and you can just drink it.

To a chocolate shake you can add
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder + 1 packet artificial sweetener +
a) 1 teaspoon instant coffee
b) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
c) 2 tablespoon DiVinci sugar free creme de menthe syrup
d) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
e) 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter

To a Strawberry shake add:
a) 2-3 tablespoons DiVinci sugar free raspberry syrup
b) frozen strawberries in place of some of the ice cubes

To a Vanilla Shake you can add:
a) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
b) 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
c) 2 or more tablespoons DiVinci sugar free creme de menthe extract
d) some frozen blueberries in place of some of the ice cubes + a sprinkling of cinnamon or ginger
e) 1 to 2 tablespoons DiVinci sugar free cinnamon syrup
f) 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 packet artificial sweetener, + 1 teaspoon root beer extract
g) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
h) 1 teaspoon instant coffee, a packet of artificial sweetener & a little cinnamon
i) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract, a packet of artificial sweetener, and a little cinnamon or ginger

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 274 Calories; 29g Fat (94.5% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; 0g Dietary Fiber; 109mg Cholesterol; 40mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Non-Fat Milk; 6 Fat.

Dehydration

Fatigue is the first sign of dehydration, and as you get older your body is less sensitive to thirst. Being hydrated will ensure that your metabolism is maximised. Even mild dehydration lessens your body's ability to burn calories.

Focus on Positives not Negatives

Many of us have a tendency to look at our bad points, however once you start to accept yourself it will be easier to focus on the positive side more. To make it easier try writing a list of all the good things in what you've done or what you like about your physical self. Practice running these positives through your mind regularly, it may take time but its surprising what you can believe if it is said enough times - remember the past believe that you could look like the models if you obtain the right diet!

- if you don't reach a goal when you want, just focus on the fact that you will get there in time

- remember how far you've got not how far you need to go

- if you miss a workout one day don't worry just go back with more vigor to improve

- remind yourself that a worthwhile pay-off lies ahead in an improved you

- remember the exercise is improving your health and fitness and will help increase longevity

- remember exercise has many psychological benefits including renewed confidence and self esteem

- any type of action always drives motivation

The Best Birthday Present Ever!

Yesterday I was walking past a store window and I caught my reflection. Yes, I'm getting slightly smaller (and I wish it was more visible), but that wasn't what really caught my eye. It was my pants. They were looking loose and stretched out. And hardly flattering. Today I went to WalMart to get some interim pants to replace my saggy baggy size XL (16/18) ones. I knew the next size down was L (12/14). Since it's been years since I've worn a size 12 anything there was a part of me that thought I was crazy even looking for a smaller size yet. After a bit of a search I was delighted to find 3 pairs of Athletic Works Black Capri pants with two white stripes down each side in Size L. I didn't try them on in the store. I decided to be confident and bring them home anyway. Because even if I couldn't get into them today, I knew that it wouldn't be long before I would be proudly wearing them.

Well I am delighted to say that I am sitting here wearing a pair of size L Athletic Works Black Capri pants with two white stripes down each side!!! And also I'm wearing a size L (12/14) TShirt!

So even though the bathroom scale is being a little stubborn and I'm still in the 180's, I am obviously losing inches. Talk about the best birthday present ever!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Today is my 39th birthday. While I am a little disappointed that DH is out on the road, it does make it easier because I didn't have to do that "birthday meal out at a restaurant" which to be totally honest frightens me a little right now. I am looking at incorporating many of the great tips and ideas from Brooke's book (If I'm So Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight?: Tools to Get it Done) over the next few months so that when I am in a restaurant I feel much more in control of myself.

I was also disappointed to not see the scale drop down to under 180 lbs as I'd been hoping for. In fact, it inched up 1/2 lb instead. I think that all the red meat I've been eating over the weekend was pretty much to blame, especially after reading to newsletter that Kimmer sent out with the fat levels in beef. It does sit heavy in my stomach too. I am going to limit beef to only one or two days each week and get back to Tilapia & Chicken.

Tilapia Recipes

Usually I prefer Tilapia just plain or with a little parmesan cheese but here are some other low carb recipes I found:


Tilapia Fillets with Mustard-Pecan Topping

Delicious tilapia is enhanced with a tasty Dijon topping, made with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and chopped pecans. To cut fat and calories even more, use herbs in place of the pecans or use reduced fat mayonnaise. Tilapia is packed with nutrients and it's absolutely delicious!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup brown mustard, such as French's Bold 'n Spicy
1 pound tilapia fillets, if frozen, thaw
1/4 cup chopped pecans, finely chopped

PREPARATION:
Lightly butter a large, shallow baking pan, such as a jelly roll pan. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, and mustard.
Using paper towels, pat fish lightly to dry. Arrange fish fillets in prepared baking dish.

Spread mayonnaise mixture over each fillet. Sprinkle each fillet with chopped pecans; press down gently.
Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Use 2 to 3 fillets per person, or 4 to 6 ounces. Serve with broccoli and tomato slices. Tilapia recipe makes 4 servings.

Nutrients (from MasterCook 6.0)
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 355 Calories; 31g Fat; 23g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 65mg Cholesterol; 401mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch), 0 Lean Meat; 3 Fat.



Sauteed Tilapia with Parmesan Crust (pictured)

Tilapia filets, one per person
mayonnaise, about 2 tsp. per filet (use real Mayo)
grated Parmesan, Mizithra, or Asiago cheese
olive oil
salt/pepper to taste
Pride of Szeged Fish Rub (optional, but very good)

Preheat broiler. Season fish filets on both sides with salt, pepper, and fish rub if using. Heat heavy frying pan, add olive oil, then saute fish until lightly browned on both sides and not quite cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Turn carefully and do not overcook, since it will be cooking a little more under the broiler.
Take fish out of frying pan and put in ovenproof dish which will fit under your broiler. Spread mayo on the top of each fish filet and top with Parmesan cheese. You want the top of the fish to be well covered with cheese. Broil until cheese is browned and melted, about 4 minutes. Serve hot, with lemon slices if desired.



Low Fat Baked Greek Tilapia

Naturally low fat, tilapia is a wonderfully mild, meaty, inexpensive fish that lends itself to all kinds of flavors. Serve this Greek-style dish with steamed vegetables.

INGREDIENTS:
4 Tilapia fillets
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 large lemon
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 11-inch by 7-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, paprika and ground pepper. Lay Tilapia fillets in a single layer in the baking dish.
Drizzle oil, lemon and herb mixture over the fish. Cover with foil and bake for 15-18 minutes.
Serve with steamed vegetables and whole grain couscous or rice.

Serves 4.

Per Serving: Calories 167, Calories from Fat 44, Total Fat 4.9g (sat 1.4g), Cholesterol 79mg, Sodium 53mg, Carbohydrate 2g, Fiber 0.4g, Protein 28.8g



Baked Zesty Tilapia

INGREDIENTS:
4 5-ounce Tilapia fillets
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 14.5-ounce can Mexican-style recipe-ready tomatoes
3/4 cup shredded reduced fat Jack cheese

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lay tilapia fillets in a baking dish. Sprinkle cumin and black pepper over fish. Add canned tomatoes, and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve with rice, sweet corn and black beans.

Serves 4

Per Serving: Calories 219, Calories from Fat 53, Total Fat 5.9g (sat 3.3g), Cholesterol 94mg, Sodium 272mg, Carbohydrate 6.3g, Fiber 1.2g, Protein 35.3g

Hamburger Math

This was posted in our most recent newsletter and was written by Kimmer:

A very common question for new Kimkins members is why I discourage ground beef?

The simple answer is the astronomical calories! Deceptive labeling would lead us to believe that a package of ground beef labeled at 10% fat really is 10% fat, right? Nope.

See the label below and do the math (sorry for the quality):


A 3 oz cooked portion of 10% ground beef is 210 calories and 100 of those calories coming from fat!

100 divided by 210 = 47.6%!

What's this 10% stuff about? If we check the math for the 27% fat choice, it's actually 60% fat! Almost two thirds is non-protein fat! AND THIS IS COOKED !

I shudder to even think what the fat percentages are for raw meat.

Me too! Especially after all the ground meat I've been eating. Perhaps this is what is causing my weightloss to slow!

Jellybeans

We went to WalMart today to get some clothes for stepson to take with him when he goes home to NZ. He wanted to take some american candy also, so there we all were in the candy aisle of WalMart. My son adores Jelly Belly jellybeans and they had a new flavor pack of "soda" flavors. Would you believe 35 jellybeans (1 serving in the jelly belly world) is 37g carb.

Now 6 weeks ago I easily could've sat there in the evening and eaten the entire bag and still felt hungry. Want to know something I also noticed - 0g protein for 1 serving. Maybe all those cravings for MORE and MORE food (which I assumed were for carbs right) were really cravings for some decent protein instead! I bet they were. Only I saw the perpetual hungry feeling I always had as my reason for existing after dark.

Anyway I noticed something else very interesting in WalMart. Standing in the candy aisle 6 weeks ago I would've been tempted to buy a huge bar of Toblerone chocolate and other goodies to nibble on at night. If fact way more than tempted. I would have felt desperate if I'd arrived home knowing there were no naughty nibbles in the cupboards waiting for me to polish off after my children were in bed. Today I could've cared less about the candy or the chocolates. What am amazing feeling.

And I also honestly feel that if I ate a jelly belly jellybean I could stop at one.

2 Pounds More Gone Forever!

OK drum roll please! I am proud to announce that as of this morning - I too have lost not 1, but another 2 pounds! The scale now very proudly says 182!!!!! I cannot wait for it to get me into the 170s and below, but for today I am doing my little happy dance.

Ok everyone - Stand up!

Arms up and out, half bent, hands just above head level, facing your peeps waving in a circular fashion. Subtly sway to the left, then to the right. Keep with it, back and forth. Don't stop waving. Now mix in a gentle bob, up and down... That's right, good...

Now add a little, "Whoo-hooooo, Whoo-hoooo....." as you sway.

Perfect.

Just 5 seconds of this happy dance, just 5 seconds, even when feeling blue, will always make you smile. Your smile will lift your spirits. Your spirits will summon ancient friends. And your friends will raise you higher into the light.

Works every time.

This has been a public service announcement brought to you by.... The Universe

That makes my total 23 lbs lost so far. Today I guess is day 29, because I started Kimkins on June 9th.



If you are reading this blog and you've not checked out Kimmers website - you really ought to. www.kimkins.com

If I am So Smart, Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

Ask yourself, “Why am I overweight?”
Your first answer will be that you eat more than your body requires for fuel.
Your second answer will be that you don’t exercise enough.
Then ask yourself, “Why don’t I eat better fuel or exercise enough?”
Write down your answer.
Knowing the answer to this question is imperitive if you want to lose weight permanently. You need to know what got you here in the first place so you won’t repeat it. Revisit this question often. Anytime you miss a workout or overeat ask yourself, “Why am I eating this?” or “Why am I doing this?”

Never let yourself get too hungry and stop the minute you are full.
So many of us wait way to long to eat. We get really, really hungry and then eat more than we really need. Make sure you keep food with you so you can eat high grade fuel the minute you get hungry. Try to eat protein with each meal to keep you sated for longer. Stop eating the minute you get sated. No matter if you are in the middle of a bite, put the food down when your stomach is done. You should feel light and energized after every meal or snack. Remind yourself that you can eat the minute you get hungry again.
How can you plan to eat when you are hungry? Write down your ideas.

Stop being mean to yourself.
Watch how you talk to yourself during the day. Notice the thoughts you have and how they make you feel. Are you kind to yourself. Do you encourage yourself? Do you give yourself the gift of patience? Through the process of losing weight and understanding how you got overweight in the first place, show yourself some common decency. You would never let someone else be as mean to you as you are to yourself-you would never choose them as a friend. So make sure you are being a good friend to yourelf.
Write down the ways in which you are mean to yourself.
What are the thoughts that you are having on a daily basis about yourself?
Know that when you are losing weight there will be times you want to eat when you aren’t hungry. If you can be kind to yourself during these times you might begin to understand why you feel like eating and then with that knowledge begin to change it.

These three tools have been summarized and simplified from "If I am So Smart, Why Can’t I Lose Weight?" by Brooke Castillo

Question for today

Imagine you have dished out your portion of food, measured it out exactly to the gram, and you now are sitting there eating it enjoying every mouthful. All of a sudden, after only two or three bites, you are disinterested in eating. You are not even halfway thru what is on your plate. You take another bite just to see that you are really full. The mouthful gives you no enjoyment, and you start to feel a little nauseus. Still there's that thought in the back of your mind that it isn't very much food, and you were quite famished when you started, and you really don't like wasting food.

So my question is - do you finish what is on your plate? And whatever your answer is, Why?

The Bathroom Scale

When you "cheat" while you are following a low carb plan, there is often considerable rebound weight gain. The gain is obviously "water" and unfortunately we get too hung up on the figure on the scale. Any excuse to beat ourselves up!

When you believe a piece of metal (a scale) has the power to make you feel happy or sad, you are confused.
It is your story about what that number means causing the emotion.

~ from "If I Am So Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight" (Brooke Castillo)

My bathroom scale is a personal reference point. It does not dictate how I feel today. I started at XXX lbs and my goal is x lbs. Whether I lose this weight faster than or slower than anyone else doing Kimkins is irrelevant. I need to stop comparing myself to others. I need to remember that on any other "diet" I'd be lucky to lose 20 lbs in 6 months. This is super fast weight loss. I've lost 20+ lbs in less that 1 month.

Looking through threads on the Kimkins forum I am constantly reading "I've cheated", "I've been bad" or "I ate off plan" and then all the self loathing and personal butt-kicking follows in the post.

Aren't we forgetting that we are human? Aren't we forgetting that (for most of us on this thread) we are within the 6 weeks that it's said takes to create a new habit? Aren't we forgetting that sometimes Sh!t happens, and we do the best we can?

I think we need to take a step back and give ourselves a hug. If you ate something that perhaps in hindsight wasn't 'on plan' why not be kinder to yourself. Why purposefully get onto the scale just to punish yourself further??? I'm not talking about total denial, but ease off on yourself for a day or two. Figure out why it happened. If it was under your control, figure out how to not let it happen again. If it was not under your control, take a deep breath and move forwards. Don't weigh yourself for a day or two. Get your focus back onto eating high protein, low carb.

Every journal I've read on Kimkins shows decreases on the scale but there are often increases along the way. The successful ones (meaning those who have met goal) have found a way to handle these setbacks gracefully, without letting themselves quit. Each one has stepped back, regrouped and rebooted!

Happy 4th July

Book Review

Among the many diet and weight loss books published each year, this is one that provides a realistic and effective program for changing your thinking about eating and dieting. Some of the book is about feelings, some of the book is about goal setting, some of the book is about self management and some of the book is about eating itself. While there are questions to write about, it is not just a book of self awareness exercises. The book explains a viewpoint that frees you from old habits of thinking related to food as well as your feelings about yourself. The process described helps you examine the deeper reasons it is hard to regulate yourself in any area of your life.

This book takes all the piece parts from all the diciplines-psychological, physical, and spiritual-and puts it together in a well organized program. Brooke doesn't just focus on diet, exercise, or emotional eating issues, but rather creates a integrated system, which can be applied to many life challenges. If you have finally come to realize that conquering a weight problem is not a simple or easy task, then this book will give you a concrete method to get your weight under control.

This program works. I know. If you use the tools you see a difference in all areas of your life. This has made a positive difference in many areas of my life. The work is hard, you will not regret "trying this on" If you ever wondered how everything in your life is connected to what you think and do this book will answer the questions in ways you never dreamed. This book is the cheapest way I know to access what you want and to know what it is you want. Do the work, your life will change for the better.

I have first hand experience with Brooke's program, having been her client for 4 months last year and having read the book. Brooke is more than a coach; she is an amazing, rockin', healing, intuitive wonder. She has her finger on the pulse of where its at with weight loss; where we have socially evolved to and if you do what she says, you will succeed, no ifs ands or buts. She will support you every step of the way. I was so pleased to read her book and see how she was able to really capture the program so precisely in the book. Its a wonderful tool, full of her bright energy and power, and it will serve its users well. The work is deep and simple and real. Brooke will take you to where you want to go! Good luck and blessings!

This book is available at Amazon.com

20 Pounds Gone!

I was very excited to get on the scale today - day 25 - and see 185 lbs. This means I've lost 20 lbs since I started Kimkins!

Blood Type O

Blood Type O is the oldest blood type in the world (evolved around 40,000 BC), and is traced back to CroMagnon man. People with Blood Type O have the hardiest digestive systems. They are the meat-eaters. Persons with Blood Type O need animal protein for good health, as well as vegetables and fruits. However, carbohydrates should be kept to a minimum, since the Blood Type O person cannot digest carbohydrates very well, especially wheat products containing gluten. This person will do well on a high animal protein, low carbohydrate diet; and, dairy products should be kept to a minimum. Persons with Blood Type O produce a lot of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and it is this great abundance of stomach acid that allows them to digest animal protein favorably. And, because their digestive systems already contain a lot of stomach acid, they should avoid drinking coffee, since coffee will cause them to produce even more stomach acid, and this tends to make them prone to peptic ulcers, especially if they are constantly under a great deal of stress. They should drink more green tea, instead of coffee. Persons with Blood Type O tend to have low thyroid and sluggish metabolisms; therefore, they should supply their diets with sea kelp and seafood to obtain natural iodine to stimulate their thyroids. The best exercises for these persons are the vigorous workouts like jogging, power walking, aerobics, weight training, etc. The harder they exercise, the better they will feel. Get the heart rate going, and sweat up a storm to burn calories, alleviate stress and eliminate depression!

Foods that encourage weight gain - Wheat gluten; corn; kidney beans; navy beans; lentils; cabbage; brussel sprouts; cauliflower; mustard greens; and, of course, sugar and white flour.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Sea kelp (iodine); Seafood: bluefish, cod, hake, halibut, herring, mackerel, pike, rainbow trout, red snapper, salmon, sardines, shad, snapper, sole, striped bass, sturgeon, swordfish, tilefish, white perch, whitefish, yellow perch, yellowtail; Red Meat: beef, buffalo, heart, lamb, liver, mutton, veal, venison; Vegetables: kale, spinach, broccoli.

Other foods to avoid

Meat: bacon; goose; ham; pork. Seafood: barracuda, catfish, caviar, conch, herring (pickled), lox (smoked salmon), octopus.
Cheeses & Dairy: American cheese, blue cheese, brie, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar cheese, colby, cottage cheese, cream cheese, edam, emmenthal, goat milk, gouda, gruyere, ice cream, Jarlsburg; kefir, Monterey Jack, munster, parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, ricotta, skim or 2% milk, string cheese, Swiss cheese, whey, whole milk, yogurt, all varieties.
Oils: corn, cottonseed, peanut, safflower;
Nuts & Seeds: brazil nuts, cashew, litchi, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, poppy seeds.
Beans & Legumes: copper, kidney, navy, tamarind, lentils (domestic, green & red).
Cereals: cornflakes, cornmeal, cream of wheat, familia, farina, grape nuts, seven-grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ.
Grains & Pastas: bulgur wheat flour, couscous flour, durum wheat flour, gluten flour, graham flour, soba noodles, semolina pasta, spinach pasta, sprouted wheat flour, white flour, whole wheat flour.
Vegetables: avocado, cabbage (Chinese, red, white), cauliflower, white & yellow corn, eggplant, domestic & Shiitake mushrooms, mustard greens, olives (black, Greek, Spanish), potatoes (red & white), alfalfa sprouts, brussel sprouts;
Fruits: blackberries, coconuts, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, plantains, rhubarb, strawberries, tangerines;
Juices: apple, apple cider, cabbage, orange.
Spices: capers, cinnamon, cornstarch, corn syrup, nutmeg, black & white pepper, vanilla, vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red & white wine).
Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles (kosher, dill, sweet & sweet pickle relish).
Herbal Teas: alfalfa, aloe, burdock, coltsfoot, corn silk, echinacea, gentian, goldenseal, red clover, rhubarb, Saint-John's Wort, senna, shepherd's purse, strawberry leaf, yellow dock.
Beverages: coffee (regular & decaf), distilled liquor, all sodas, black teas.

from Run The Planet

It's Not An Option (INO)

To use INO you have to define the rules of your new life. How often do you want to exercise? What are you trying to do with your diet? Once you have some kind of a plan, INO can help you follow it. Where you get your "rules" is up to you.

step 1: To start list the rules you eat by now. You might not think that you have any, but there are distinct patterns to the way you eat and the way you behave that are probably not working for you. e.g "I always have to have a snack at 3pm." "I never eat vegetables." Write out at least 15 statements that begin with the words " I always" or "I never". Bear in mind that different rules can emerge in different situations (at work, at leisure, in social activities, with friends, with family, and so on)

step 2: Tap your inner database for things that worked for you from previous diet programs - like knowing that R&B music makes exercise bearable for you, for example. Lisa suggests looking at 5 other weightloss programs that you've tried in the past and write at least three things about each that worked for you, and three things about each program that didn't work.

step 3: Take your 15 rules (things that work for you) and choose two diet related rules to tackle. Use your rules from step 1 to rewrite those rules. For instance, "I always have a piece of fruit or a small bag of pretzels at 3pm" Every time you chose these new rules over your old ones you are further reinforcing the new rules. Give yourself 6 weeks to get those two rules down, then add another. Allow yourself time to get comfortable living by these new rules and use INO to keep you honest.

step 4: In addition to the two diet related rules you need to come up with one exercise related rule. For instance, shoot for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a week. Take baby steps especially if exercise is not something you like doing. The point is to start establishing exercise as a habit, to commit to some sort of a schedule and, with the help on INO, make it permanent.

No matter how tough it is, stick it out for six weeks. But bear these three things in mind using INO: 1. Is the rule I'm trying to follow realistic? 2. Am I sick? 3. Am I obsessed in any way? Don't set rules that risk your job, hurt friends, family or even yourself, or force you to shirk from responsibilities. Think of INO as encouraging words from a coach, not a judgmental command from a drill sergeant. It is meant to build you up, not tear you down. Respect every little bit of progress you make. You deserve it!

from "Secrets of a Former Fat Girl: How to Lose Two, Four (or More!) Dress Sizes--And Find Yourself Along the Way " by Lisa Delaney. Also see: http://www.formerfatgirl.com/

Define the Future You

step 1: Think about who you are right now and how you relate to other people and how you operate in the world - at work, at play, in love and in your family. Then complete this sentence "I'm the kind of person who..." e.g "who always puts others needs before her own" or "who hates being the center of attention." Try to come up with at least ten.

step 2: Take a stab at another list, but this time this of how you will operate as a former fat girl. Try revising your ten statements from step 1 and add any others that come to mind. e.g. "I'm the kind of person who knows how to take a compliment." or "I'm the kind of person who isn't afraid to voice an unpopular opinion."

Lisa suggests thinking about someone whose spunk you admire, who represents some of the characterists you want to display if this task is difficult.

from "Secrets of a Former Fat Girl: How to Lose Two, Four (or More!) Dress Sizes--And Find Yourself Along the Way " by Lisa Delaney. Also see: http://www.formerfatgirl.com/

Starting Afresh

Melodie, an amazing lady on one forum I'm active on, had an interesting post this morning which got me thinking. Like me, she is heading into her 4th week on Kimkins and she is "dreading the week that will inevitably appear with no progress." She has challenged us all to start afresh with Kimkins, pretend that we are newbies again all full of excitement and sticking tightly to the rules.

She wrote, "On Monday (best day of the week to start new things) I'm going to pretend that I've just heard of Kimkins. I'm going to reread some of the success stories as if I've just read them for the first time. I'm going to go to the grocery store as if I'm preparing for this new diet. I'm going to forget that I've lost nearly 10 lbs. and think about my new weight as if it is my starting weight. I'm going to follow the rules in the same way I did the first week, and I'm going to try to forget the little things I've done off program that so far I've been able to get away with. I'm going to repeat the exact behavior that got me my first 5 lbs, and I'm going to fill myself up with hope once again. So Short Girls if you're stuggling, and even if you're not, make this Monday a whole new beginning with a renewed mindset about what you can do."

What a wonderful idea! I agree with the feelings of slacking that have started to set in especially this past week. I did a quick refresher with the Kimkins Diet Food List.

My thoughts:

Keep It Lean & Mean on Plan (KLMOP)
Eggs - limit yolks
Chicken & Turkey - white meat only, eat this more often
Fish - eat this more often
Beef, Lamb, Pork - special occasions only
Ham, Canadian Bacon, Bacon, Sausages etc - special occasions only 'cos these all contain beef & pork

Vegetables
I'm not a vegetable eater, but if I do eat some I think I'm more likely to eat broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, pepper & tomato rather than the rabbit food list (1) so I will have these sparingly, like every second day or as garnishes.

Extras
Low carb protein shakes - I will limit to one per day
Part skim string cheese (limit 1 per day) - I do not like string cheese. I will add Light Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese Bites (1 serving = 5 pieces 35 calories, 2g fat, 1g carb, 3g protein) or use a little grated parmesan cheese (1T has 21 calories, 1g fat, 0g carb, 2g protein) if needed to perk up eggs
Dannon Carb & Sugar Control yogurt (3 carb brand, limit 1 per day) & Sugar free gelatin (limit 4 oz per day, no whipped topping) & Homemade or purchased sugar free popsicle - since I really could care less about these things (right now) I will save these for extra special occasions.


Also - here's a thought on the Daily weighing issue. Firstly I think we are all agreed that food needs to be weighed. According to a Duke University pro quoted in WW magazine 7/10/2007 issue - "We've found that when you stop weighing yourself, it's an early indicator that you're starting to slip." So maybe daily or regular weighing oneself is good - if it keeps us on track! As long as we accept that our weight might fluctuate by a few pounds every so often. If all of a sudden the scales just up more than 3 lbs - then that should set off the alarm bells. I'm still against weighing more than once each day. But if you really have to do it more often, don't beat yourself up over the fluctuations. I'm sure the scale finds it all very amusing, and probably jumps up a pound or two just to see your reaction!

Exercise - I am thinking that I need to do something NOW so that I can start firming up the lose skin. I think I've read somewhere that every cell in my body replaces itself in three months. That means skin cells too. So in my opinion, I should not get stretched loose skin if I firm up my muscles while I am losing fat.


Focus + Planning = Control --> SUCCESS
Weight control is not about willpower.
It is the decision and commitment to manage calories and carbohydrates.
It can be as simple as mind over matter.
Just do it, for life, and enjoy health, happiness and THIN!

19.5 lbs gone in 22 days!

Today is the beginning of a new month. I had to sneak into the bathroom and weigh myself, despite DH being home. I was so happy that I did because the scale proudly read 185.5 lbs! I am 1/2 a pound away from losing my first 20 lbs!