The Crazed Panicked Dieter

 Hello.  My name is Karen and I am a crazed, panicked dieter. Can you relate?  This last year has been SO tough for me.  I've now been on a 3 year journey of weight loss.  You can read about how I lost the first 85 lbs and then more about how I got to 100 lbs lost.  I have since lost about 12 lbs more, but most of this year I have STRUGGLED with taking off any more weight...especially in the last 4 months or so.  I have been bouncing up and down with the same 3 lbs.  I have not been a happy camper.  I have tried lots of different things to no avail.

My latest weight loss attempt was 2 weeks of Atkins Induction.  If you know anyone that has done this give them a big pat on the back.  It is HARD!  I also have tried bulletproof coffee with intermittent fasting. I have been reading online and reading lots of books trying to figure out what to try next.....but yesterday I realized...

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I have been OBSESSED!!  It is not healthy.   So I am trying to take a step back.  I still want to lose weight, but I can't have it be my whole life.

My current plan is healthy eating in MODERATION.  Moderation is the difficult part for me.  Stay tuned.  If necessary I WILL go back to counting points or calories but for now I am just trying to eat reasonably and not gain weight.  I do not want to be a statistic.  I know most people gain the weight back and I just want to do whatever it takes to not be that person...AND not be a fanatic at the same time.

Please share any ideas or encouragement.  I love comments!

Coconut Vinegar Dressing

Ever since this past summer, my favorite way to dress a salad is with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar.  Most of the time I used balsamic vinegar (I LOVE balsamic vinegar).  I recently decided to try 2 weeks of Atkins induction.  Balsamic vinegar is not allowed on induction.  It's a little sweeter than most (has some sugar) and more carbs than most vinegar.  I had been reading about coconut vinegar and saw it at my local grocery store and decided to give it a try.  It is very good and I love that it is so good for me!

Benefits of coconut vinegar include:

Low on the glycemic index (35)

Abundant source of amino acids, minerals, vitamin C, broad-spectrum B-vitamins

Has a nearly neutral ph

No coconut flavor (which is good or bad depending on how you feel about it but who wants a coconut flavored salad dressing?)

Excellent source of FOS (a pre-biotic that promotes digestive health)

You can read more about it here and here.  I was able to purchase this at Stop & Shop in the health food section.  If you can't find it locally you can order it at Vitacost (and it's cheaper than what I paid).

To make the dressing I just pour a couple of Tablespoons of Olive Oil into a small ramekin, add a Tablespoon or so of vinegar and a few drops of either stevia glycerite or liquid stevia drops (because I like a sweet dressing...you can just leave it out if you prefer).  Whisk it up and pour over salad greens.  Enjoy!!

Linking up with Stacy Makes Cents on her new Centsibly Sugar-Free and Grain Free Link Up !  

Today she is sharing a recipe for Tropical Island Pancakes.

Swerve Sweetener

Today was an exciting day at my house.  Whenever UPS comes to the house and you aren't expecting a package you know it's going to be a good day.  As the delivery man got close to the door, I could see that the box said Swerve on it.  Then I remembered that a couple of weeks ago I applied to be a Switch to Swerve blogger ambassador (there is still time to apply).  I was so excited to see what they sent and FLOORED by their generosity.

In case you haven't heard of Swerve, it is a zero calorie, non-glycemic sweetener that tastes and measures just like sugar.

The Swerve Sweetie Pie Kit

Look at all this great stuff!  

I have already tried it in my coffee (good) and now I can't wait to start baking! (I'll post again after I give it a try.)

Thank you Swerve Sweetener!

If you'd like to try it they have a sample pack available for $1 that comes with a $2 off coupon.

Disclaimer: While I did receive this package free from Swerve, there was no expectation that I write anything about it. I am just so excited I had to share!

Must Have Scripture Memory Tool

In January, I embarked on a scripture memory challenge to learn 100 Bible Verses in 2013. You can search my blog for weekly updates which I did for a while and included my favorite resources for scripture memory.  Many weeks I raved about my favorite tool which is Scripture Typer. I.LOVE.THIS.APP!  I have not only memorized all 100 verses ahead of schedule, I have learned more than 100!

Scripture Typer is also available free online, but I love the app so much I almost never use the online version.

I have wanted to write a little something about the app for a while now but hadn't taken the time to take screen shots to show it to you.  Last week I got an e-mail from Scripture Typer saying that they made a video demo, so now I don't need to.

This could be the best $5.99 you have ever spent.


Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

Chalkboard Shoebox Surprise (A Frugal Gift Idea)

I am not exactly sure how I came up with this idea but I had a shoebox and I've seen lots of great ideas for things you can do with chalkboard paint on Pinterest.  So I came up with this shoebox gift that would be great for birthdays or Christmas or any other occasion when you want to treat someone.

I made this one for a 4 year old, but the ideas for what you could put in a box like this are endless.

A can of chalkboard spray paint is inexpensive and contains enough for several projects.  My can cost about $3.50.  I had a one piece shoebox that I opened up and painted with black spray paint first.  I left the back and bottom as it was because it had a nice design on it.  

I folded the box over and masked off the parts I didn't want painted with paper bags and paper.  I could have used painter's tape, but I wasn't that fussy.

Once the regular black paint dried I painted only the top with the chalkboard paint since I was planning to decorate the sides. I did several coats following the directions on the can.

You can write any message you wish on the box.  

I decorated the box with foam letters, numbers and shapes.

I left the design on the back of the box but there was still a logo on it.  

I used a Sharpie to cover it up and glued an A (for Annie) over it.

Inside of the box I enclosed foam letters, numbers and shapes.

This counting activity made with craft sticks, glue and acrylic jewels.

I spray painted an empty mint box with chalkboard paint 

to make a chalkboard chalk box.

I had to break the chalk in half to fit it in the box.

You could make this for a boy by replacing the pink crayons with regular crayons
and the tea set with a matchbox car.

The finished box, foam letters, the chalk box, number sticks, sticky notes (kids seem to love these for some reason), a glue stick, crayons and a tiny tea set I picked up on clearance.  This didn't cost me anything because I had everything already at home.  Yes, I bought most everything at one time...mostly on clearance or back to school sales.  Just look around your house and my shoebox gift Pinterest board and I am sure you can come up with great ideas for what could go in a gift box like this.

Another gift box idea...a large bottle of bubbles (on clearance for $1),
crayons (also on clearance) and a stuffed animal we had but they can be found inexpensively.

Visit my Shoebox Pinterest board with TONS of ideas for filling these boxes.

The ideas for filling these boxes don't stop with preschoolers. This can be adapted for all ages.  Just think of the person you are making it for and design it for them.  For a woman, you could decoupage pretty paper onto a box and put chalkboard paint on one end so the recipient can use the box to store something on a shelf and label what is inside. Fill it with good chocolates, and some kitchen towels.  Who wouldn't love that?

What would you put in the box?  What would you like to receive?  Let me know in the comments.

Linked up with Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings.

Where Have I Been??

If you follow my blog, you know that each week I post a wrap up of what I have eaten and how I am doing with my weight loss etc.  I have decided for now, not to do that.  I am no longer following the Trim Healthy Mama plan and trying to figure out exactly what I am going to do.  I have been unable to lose any more weight since I gave up counting points.  I tried combining THM and point counting again but I just hated it.  So, I am currently trying a very low carb diet to see if I can get things moving again.  If not, I may just go back to counting points.  It is frustrating to me to be stuck at this position.

So, I expect to be back blogging about my weight loss journey in the very near future but for now, I am not blogging every bite I eat.

Trim Healthy Mama-Week 33

This is my 33rd week of Trim Healthy Mama.  I have decided after weeks of trying to lose just free-styling that I need to go back to combining THM with Weight Watchers points.  So I started that again on Sunday.  I didn't mark down anything over the weekend, so this isn't a full week.  Points are in parentheses before each meal or snack.

I've been counting since Sunday and I'm almost back down to my lowest weight.  (About a lb to go).  However, this time, I am NOT enjoying counting AT ALL.  I have been allowing myself some fruit as allowed on Weight Watchers to help when I am feeling hungry.  I am not sure what the next step is....counting does work for me though.

Sunday

(6 )Breakfast:(S)Trim Healthy Breakfast Sandwich
(1)Snack:(E) Apple and Baby-Bel Light Cheese
(6) Lunch:(CO) Avocado BLT Salad and grapes
(4) Snack:(S) Chocolate Almond Skinny Chocolate (I only used 1 T. of coconut)
(6) Supper:(S) Spaghetti Squash with roasted veggies, chicken and Parmesan cheese
(3) Snack:(FP) Chocolate Cake ; 1/2 cup Greek 0% yogurt and blueberries

Total Points: 26  Remaining Weekly Points: 49

Monday

(4) Breakfast-(S)1 Egg and 2 whites fried in 1 tsp. grassfed butter, leftover roasted veggies, strawberries
(1) Snack- (E) Apple and Baby-bel Cheese
(6) Lunch- (CO) Salad with 1 T. EVOO, balsamic vinegar and 3 oz chicken, grapes
(4) Snack-(S) Skinny Chocolate
(8) Supper- (FP) Chicken in Joseph's Pita; Greek Yogurt and blueberries
(5) Snack-(FP) Chocolate Cake and strawberries; Skinny Chocolate

Total Points: 28  Remaining Weekly Points: 47

Tuesday

(5) Breakfast:(S) Cottage Pancakes with Fried "apples" (made from zucchini)
(3) Lunch: (FP) Salad with 3 oz Chicken and Walden Farms Chipotle Ranch dressing
(5) Snack-(S) Skinny Chocolate and Chocolate Cake
(6) Supper-(S) Kelp Noodle Chicken Stir Fry
(8) Snack-(SH) Whip of Wonders and Skinny chocolate

Total Points: 27  Remaining Weekly Points: 46

Wednesday-


(5) Breakfast-(S) Pancakes with Peanut Butter and Slim Belly Jelly
(10) Lunch-(S) Salad with Chicken and Skinny Chocolate
(1) Snack-(E) Pumpkin Spice Pudding and an apple
(10) Supper-(S) Chicken in Joseph's Tortilla, Skinny Chocolate
(1) Snack-(FP) Chocolate Cake with Strawberries

Total Points: 27 Remaining Weekly Points: 46

Thursday-


(6)  Breakfast-2 Eggs fried in grass-fed butter and Zoodles
(10)Lunch-(S) Salad with EVOO, balsamic and chicken, Skinny Chocolate
(0) Snack-(E) Banana
(7) Supper-(CO from the banana) Sauteed veggies with ground beef; Pumpkin Spice Pudding
(3) Snack-(FP) Chocolate Cake and strawberries; Skinny Chocolate

Total Points: 26  Remaining Weekly Points: 46

* My weight loss has been a process.  I've been on my weight loss journey since October 2010.  I have not lost this much weight since starting THM.  You can read this post to read more about how I lost the first 100 lbs.