Low-Carb eating Plan Updates and recipes!

Hello fellow hotties:)

Quick update for you all.

Today marks two official weeks since starting my new low-carb eating health plan incorporating some concepts from Dukan, some concepts from South Beach and most concepts from my own research on healthy low-carb eating in general. Its a lifestyle, not a diet.  It seems to be the best method for my body, remember what works for one person does not automatically work for somebody else.

I measured myself this morning and happy day! here are my stats:

4 inches down from my hips/lower belly (the largest part of my body)! Woohoo!!
1 1/2 inches down from my waist.
1 inch down from chest/breast area (mostly on the back - the hubs is concerned that I lose weight on one of his favorite curves. lol)
1/2 inch down from each arm
1/2 inch down on each thigh


I am very pleased!!!!  Clothes are reflecting the loss as are the comments from my hubby and others who have noticed.  This has all been accomplished with just changing my eating habits because unfortunately, I've been too sick to work out. I have incorporated walking on a few of those days but other days I just had to rest. I'm still not 100%, I'm very curious to see what happens once I incorporate my cardio regimes. I'm sure my apetite will increase, but I have to say that with this eating plan that limits certain foods but not quantities, I'm never hungry. I become satisfied quickly, what I am is very thirsty which is a good thing because my water consumption has increased dramatically (i.e.  I'm averaging 16 oz of 16 cups of water a day even on cooler weather days.)

I also have allowed myself a 'cheat meal' to keep the sanity. What this does NOTtmean is that I sit down to a smorgasbord of high-carb, high-sugar, uber fatty foods and ruin all of my progress in one meal. What it does mean  is that I allow myself "one" side dish or entree that has a little extra carbs or calories. This week it was a chicken tamale with verde sauce ( a green salsa.) It was a delicious treat and I enjoyed it thoroughly but I was satiated, after that I no longer needed or wanted any other "naughty" treat. I've done a lot of research and allowing yourself a cheat meal every other week or so can actually help increase your metabolism if done the right way.

Here are some of the delicious foods I've had for breakfast, lunch and dinner these past weeks.  My hubby is also enjoying them and has lost a few inches himself (albeit, he admittedly cheats way more than I do:)

Breakfast:  2 organic sunny side eggs prepared in a non-stick skillet with olive oil spray. 2 pieces of canadian bacon. Sauteed mushrooms and tomatoes in olive oil spray (0 cals.) An what's known as a "Dukan" pancake. It's made out of 1 1/2 Tsp of oat-bran, 1/2 tsp of non-fat cottage cheese and 1 egg white. Its not the best tasting thing but its a great way to get the oat-bran into your system. Last but certainly not least, my cup of coffee with non fat milk and no sugar. This breakfast is both filling and delicious!

Lunch: Chicken stir-fry made in non-stick skillet with olive oil spray and organic chicken breasts, red onion, carrot, edadamame, brocoli, red cabbage  lots of garlic and low-sodium soy sauce and a little rice-wine vinegar. Soo good!

Dinner: Marinated turkey cutlets (marinated them in lots of herbs and spices and a little rice wine vinegar, for about 4 hours) then put them under the broiler for that bbq effect. Asparagus salad consists of sauteed
asparagus, roma tomatoes and a little skim-milk mozzarela tossed in a home-made vineagrette of balsamic vinegar and a little olive oil. Soooo good!

This was a Friday Dinner Special: Eggplant parmesan with meat sauce, done the healthy way. I cut the eggplant in small round disks, dipped them in egg-white and then in parmesan cheese (instead of bread crumbs) then browned them in a non-stick skillet with olive oil spray. I then prepared the meat sauce (ground turkey) with diced onions, garlic, oregano and no-sugar ragu sauce. Finally assembled everything with a little shredded skim-milk mozzarella and put it under the broiler for 25 minutes. Served with a side of romaine lettuce in balsamic vineagrette. I promise you wont miss pasta with this dish!

(Pardon the bad quality of these pictures, all taken with my Blackberry cam.)

And there you have it, updates and hopefully some recipes you guys might try and enjoy. Please tell me how your doing? Let's motivate each other!

xoxo

The Healthy Hottie.

Dukan Diet Updates

It’s Day 6 and I have completed the requirements for the "attack phase" which was pretty much pure protein, low-fat dairy and little else. I am happy to report this "shock" to my system was exactly what I needed to jumpstart my weight-loss. I started on Wednesday of last week, well this morning I measured myself and am down 2 1/2 inches from my hips/lower belly and 1 inch down in my waist! For 5 days, of sacrifice - I'll take it!

The wonderful thing is that my body is not craving any starches, or sweets. What was extremely difficult was not having my veggies or an occasional healthy fruit. But I have now graduated to the "Cruise Phase" which allows almost all non-starchy veggies. I have done a lot of research on this "diet", which is more of a health-plan then a diet, because to me the word "diet" implies deprivation and although some foods are now allowed - I have never felt hungry on this plan, not once - but I digress. What I have determined that works best for my body is a modified version of this Dukan Diet. This will render the best results for me in the long-run.

I will continue to limit my food intake to healthy low-fat proteins, all the no-starch veggies I want, and also incorporate a limited but healthy amount of "good fats" (i.e. avocado, olive oil, olives and one serving of low-carb fruit (i.e. strawberries, blueberries and organic apples.)  For a few weeks I will contnue to completely cut out any other carbohydrates in the form of beans, whole grains, pasta, bread and rice.

I "feel" much lighter, and have already seen the difference in my clothes and although I'm sick today and have not been able to incorporate my 30 minutes of walking or cardio that is suggested, I will make it up as soon as I get better with an hour long cardio session the remainder of the days.

This really works! Will continue to update with my progress/feedback as I go...

I leave you with a picture of one of my pure protein meals - Burger with "Fries" made with tofu:

Dukan Diet Day One

Testing, Testing. Is this thing on? Its a bit dusty, I haven't been on in eons...

Hey there. Its me - the Healthy Hottie. I am still working hard on maintaining a healthy life-style. I still exercise regularly, eat healthy and make a concerted effort to make good choices and yet I am currently alternating between sizes 14/16 misses,depending on the item of clothing.  There has been little change, which can be good but it is also bad because I want "progress." My ultimate goal is 20 to 30lbs and a size 12/14 misses across the board. That is the healthiest weight/size for me and my lifestyle.

Tired of being in a plateau, decided to shock my body into trying something new (like how that rhymes?:)
Enter the French Eating Plan Revolution developed by Dr. Dukan. The DukanDiet. I am now a Dukanite. 

My hubby and I are on Day one of the Attack Phase, which is virtually pure protein, non-fat dairy and little else. Here is how we did:

Breakfast - 2 egg omelet, one wedge of laughing cow-light cheese, 2 slices of roast beef, coffee with nonfat milk and no sugar. Yes. No sugar, not even Agave. Not going to lie, that was hard.

Snack: 2 pieces of low-fat cured ham and another laughing cow light wedge.

Lunch: Herb marinated Chicken Breast braised, one dill pickle spear, a cup of limade with stevia and fresh limes.

Dinner: 2 organic chicken sausages, another dill pickle spear.

Dessert: One non-fat cup of organic oikos greek yogurt, mixed with 1 tsp of oat bran, cinnamon and stevia.

Conclusions: Day one has been semi difficult. We are not hungry, the protein really does its job of making us feel full and surprisingly not craving any naughty carbs or sweets. (i.e. starches, desserts) but I am craving FRESH produce. I would kill for a good salad right now. Let's hope I can survive four more days without my veggies.

Will touch base tomorrow with updates.