Low Carb Super-Heros

I get so encouraged by those folks who have lost lots of weight eating and living low carb. These low carb heros have made tremendous progress in losing many, many pounds, and in many cases even hundreds of pounds. It takes sometimes a year or more, sometimes several years - of consistent effort eating and living on-plan.

I made up my mind not to even start any weight loss plan if there wasn't a hope of long term success with what I was about to do. The last thing I wanted was to rebound and to eventually turn into one of these folks that has the fire department coming to cut him out of his house, to take him to the hospital on a flatbed truck. No, I am not one of those folks who stays at home and has his family running to get him sacks of Major Burgers from the local drive through. I have a job and get off my butt plenty. Still it is not such a reach, having seen person after person diet and then rebound back up OVER where they started. EVERY time.

I kidded my kids about the story I read about a lady who was taken to the hospital after laying on the couch for years and her skin had actually grown into the couch somehow. They had to cut her from the couch, and I believe she later died. Dunno how that happens, but it is gross, and not something I want for me. Is that likely? I don't know. But I told myself there is absolutely NO WAY I was going to start any (diet) lifelong Way of Eating until I knew I could have long term success.

I was so excited about finding the low carb way of eating. At ~410 pounds or so, I couldn't stand for things to get worse (and live). And I needed something that will work and work long term.

Lucky for me I have met and found online many folks that are my low carb heros. They have done this thing. REALLY done this thing! And I am so proud of them, as they give me hope. The first I met was a doctor (the doctorin kind of doctor that actually went to medical school and practices medicine). He had kept it off for ten years!!! WOW! AWESOME!

I then met folks in the low carb forums who have lost a hundred pounds or more and kept it off two or three or more years on an ongoing low carb eating program. THAT IS INSPIRING! That gives me HOPE!

Anyhow, the best part of meeting and getting to know these low carb heros is that they are regular folks with all the flaws and imperfections that regular folks have. They are not all just totally so above average that they could do this (and maybe I can't). They are regular folks. Not to knock them either. They are super people, who stick around and continue to live the low carb life, and continue to share with and encourage others on low carb living (Even after they have met their own personal goals)!

This is especially important as we read in the news of studies and reports that say that it is impossible to lose weight long term, and that show that folks on diets typically rebound. I am not debunking those studies, just acknowledging that most everybody in those surveys are "going on a diet", and then later, "getting off a diet". That will never work! Long term success requires total lifestyle change in more than just lipservice or some temporary adjustments. It really does mean changing how you eat and live long-term!

Tremendous thanks to all the regular folks that have made such awesome progress and shown such a consistent effort over the long haul!

My own personal goal is to lose up to 240 lbs in total. Dunno if I can do it, but I am going to try anyhow! So far I have lost around 90 lbs or so!! In a couple of months I hope to be a hundred pounds down from where I started. It may take me two or even three years (or more) to approach my goals but I am heading in the right direction now and reversing years of bad and unhealthy eating and living. Some day I hope to be able to have lost the weight (as much as I can maintain and be heatlhy and still actually EAT) and kept the weight off long term for at least several years (if not much, much more)!! I hope then to be somebody elses low carb hero and show them just what is possible!

I don't know where you are at at this point in your life. Maybe you need some encouragement too - just to even get started (like me). I encourage you to go online to one of the Low Carb support groups and meet others and get to know some of the Low Carb Heros there. Regular but yet extraordinary folks, who have accomplished great things! And you can too!!!

Lone Star Lollygagging

Well, we just got back from a week in the Lone Star State... The Great State of Texas (not to disparage any of the other "great" states). I have to take this moment to proclaim Texas a low carbers absolute "dream state". There are so many different wonderful restaurants in Austin, Texas featuring some of the best mouth watering low carb food you could put in your mouth. Can you say BEEF???!! Turkey? Chicken? Pork? More Beef?



First I was treated to a wonderful low carb Texas barbecue plate of turkey and veggies (asparagus) at the Salt Lick Restaurant in Austin, Texas. They had it all - Great food, great ambiance, and excellent service. And did I mention great food?!! I highly recommend the Salt Lick in Austin!

Next we tried some of the excellent Mexican restaurants in town. One word. Awesome! Had the Fajitas, and they were so superior to what we have in Tennessee. Great cuts of meat, served sizzling hot and full of flavor.

Then the local steakhouse chain. Once again, no complaints.

Last - we dined at the County Line Restaurant. Man what an awesome Texas barbacue joint that was. Big plates piled high with excellent barbecue meat just about spilling off onto the floor. One fellow in our party got a rack of ribs that looked as large as a doormat, and they were as thick as my fist. Amazing. I had a meat sampler plate that had brisket, turkey, and other meat. Outstanding! The kids had a great time feeding the turtles out behind the restaurant too! Great fun! Highly recommended! Good Eatin! Good Ambiance!

If you are thinking about the ideal place to vacation and find low carb good eating - plan a trip to Austin, Texas! No shortage of beef and other great Texas barbecue meats there! And they sure know how to cook and eat in Texas! Texas sized portions, and excellent quality!! While I was there on business, I enjoyed every minute of this trip - in part due to the excellent low carb food I enjoyed there!

Low Carb Goodness! Italian Sausage from Johnsonville!!

Looking for something that tastes excellent, is low carb, and quick and easy to prepare? Johnsonville makes some really awesomely outstanding-tasting, mildly seasoned Italian sausage. It is precooked and frozen. All you have to do is open the bag, defrost for a couple minutes in the microwave. Cook on high for about 1 and 1/2 to 2 minutes, then cover with some Sargento Pepper Cheese slices and cook some more on high till the sausage is sizzling and the pepper cheese is seriously melted over the sausage. MMMMMmmmmm!

It is quick! It is easy! It tastes just super! The sausage is seasoned just perfectly in my opinion, and is flavorful and reminds me of good eating at the finest italian restaurants - something I have not really done since going on LC (no pasta for me anymore).

Carbs are low, flavor is high, and time and hassle of preparation are at an all time low. Precooked. All you have to do is heat and smother (with cheese), offer thanks, and eat!

What - Me Worry? HA! Down into the 320's!!!!!

Negative Self Talk and Worry - Internal Battles

Well it appears I have hand-wrung and worried myself into a mini-whoosh-like breakthrough into the 320's (see prior blog post). I wonder how many calories are burned in hand wringing, worrying, and the like? Does that count as excercise? Should I log that in my "Fit-Day" journal entry? Hand wringing - 2 days (>14,000 calories)??!!

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am big on positive self-talk and staying positive in outlook and all. Yet the truth is, when I start worrying all the negative thoughts get in there and do battle internally - these kinds of things **do** pop into my brain. I try not to dwell on them or give them any place to hang out, but the truth is you do start to worry and have negative thoughts if positive things aren't happening like they used to. So it is a battle! One we got to hang in there and stay the course on!!!

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SMALL VICTORIES! This morning on the scale I read 326.2 lbs - so I am finally making it into 320-land. "EEEEEE-Doggie!" Happy Happy Joy Joy!!!!

That is a new all time low for me (last low I saw was at 331 lbs), and makes it over 80 lbs down now. Actually 83.8 lbs. So, I'll take it!

Given that I stay true to form, I will now roller coaster ride back up again and then back down again in a few days time. That is so frustrating, but I guess it's how this whole deal works for me. I would like my weight numbers to be much more linear and consistent, instead of oscillating all over the place like they do (riding up and down on water retention). Another week or two and I will be out of the 330's, I would hope (based on past experience).

Anyhow. I feel good. I feel REAL GOOD!! It's been a long long while in coming and I was seemingly never going to break thru out of the 330's.

Before Going Low Carb: Fear of Scales

The Last Post Got the Ol' Artistic Juices Flowin...

I know, I know. "Keep your day job", you are thinking!

Leonardo DaVinci I am not!

But I thought that the last post wasn't complete without perhaps an additional drawing of a similar phobia I hope to conquer at some point in the future. I am not quite there yet, but at least there is hope....

Fear of breaking flimsy chairs....

Sigh...

I guess I will leave off here. I am tempted to do "Fear of Splitting One's Pants While Tying One's Shoes", but this is a family rated blogsite, and that is a little over the top (or under the bottom) anyhow....