June 2023 Cruise In - Gary Pyle Memorial Cruise In

Long Overdue Update

 I just looked and it has been 2 full months to the day that I have written a post.  I thought I would update you from that last post.  

Since December 16, I have lost another 9 pounds!  That's only an average of a little over a pound a week, but you have to remember all the holidays during that time - Christmas, New Years, Super Bowl and for us, two other weekends of Christmas!  So, I think that is pretty good with all that temptation and carb loaded foods!  And, it isn't good to loose weight too fast.  I hope to continue this course and by summer, maybe I will be close to 260?!?  

Another positive is that my last blood test showed my A1c for the previous three months at 5.4!!!  That is a normal reading as far as diabetes goes!  As far as this aspect, today was hard to be a diabetic - Shrove Tuesday or Fastnacht Day!  My wife made a version of a donut today that was more keto but not really.  They are really good.  It's an Apple Cider Sour Dough donut dipped in cinnamon and coconut sugar.  Like I said, it wasn't easy being carb free today.  

According to my doctor, my blood work is really good.  There is still room for improvement but everything is much better or moving in the right direction.  

I am still drinking water and haven't had any kind of soda since I began this adventure.  However, I did find a way to drink flavored coffee using coconut sugar, monk fruit sugar or organic stevia and Almond Milk creamer.  I have probably averaged 5 cups per week since the middle of January.  I am learning to like that too.  Coffee at least adds a taste.  I usually drink one cup in the morning when I go to the office.  Blueberry is my favorite K-Cup so far.  

Last, I had the mildest case of  Covid-19 over Christmas.  Basically, I couldn't smell anything . . . That was it.  I still got tested so we knew for sure.  The doctor and Jana believe is was so mild because of me getting healthy and all the supplements I have been taking since April of 2020.  Mostly it was zinc, magnesium, Vitamin B and D and C and Elderberry.  

Okay, there is more, but this is too long already.  I will try to do better in the future.  Thanks for following along.  

Weigh In Wednesday #9

 

Hey!  I am excited to announce that when I got on the scales today, I had lost more weight!  According to the scales, my weight this week is 286.6 for a total of around 29 pounds!  That's a little more than 2 pounds since last week!  Eating less has seemed to help this week.  Basically, I am eating, but much less, for breakfast and I am NOT eating before I go to bed. The latter is difficult but doable.  

Nine weeks dry (no diet soda, esp. Diet Mt. Dew) tomorrow!  Water (kind of yuck) is growing on me, especially if it is cold.  But, I still wish it had more of a taste. Non of the flavorings taste really good to me.  

I am excited for how things are going and eating healthier, while hard, has made a difference in my life.  Thanks Dr. Shannon Smith and Turnpaugh Health and Wellness!  I also appreciate everyone who is praying for me in this endeavor.  

Thanks for following.  

Weigh-In Wedsday #8

 I am late with this.  But, Wednesday when I stepped on the scales, my fears came true.  I gained .3 of a pound.  It's not that big of a deal, but it is a bit deflating.  It was bound to happen.  The Keto plateau has hit.  I have been eating more, not bad, but more food lately.  

Since Wednesday, I have cut back on the amount of food and I am seeing better numbers.  

Other than my weight, things seem to be going okay.  I got results back from my blood work from last week and my A1c went from 8.3 to 6.1 in 7 weeks!  My functional doctor was pleased with the results all around.  

More next week.  Thanks for following!  

Some Things I do Eat

 

So a number of people have asked what I eat since I am carb, sugar, and dairy free theses days.  Well. . . most anything that tastes really good would be the answer.  Basically meat and green vegetables.  

The next question is, "Okay, well that doesn't seem like a lot.  What do you eat?" Here are some of the foods I like to eat. . . 

Steak, mostly when I eat out.  I need to be careful with steak sauce that includes sugar.  I like hamburgers (I am learning to eat them without the cheese). Any beef is good.  I would eat ribs but again, I need to be careful of the sugar.  Chicken breast grilled on the gas grill at home and wings - mostly at Buffalo Wild Wings (no boneless due to the breading.  I eat pork (including and especially BACON).  I like and would eat ham, but that hasn't been something I have eaten since the beginning of the diet.  Basically, I eat most any meat.  

Speaking of meat.  I also have an occasional hot dog or two.  I love spam and veinna style sausages, too.  But, I don't eat much of those highly processed meats.  

I also eat most any lunch meats. I especially like the highly processed lebonon Balogna.  I also eat ring balogna (again probably highly processed).  I have been making chicken salad, ham salad and eggs salad a lot.  Salads are always okay to eat as long as you are careful about salad dressings with a log of sugar.  Singce I am not eating dairy, cheese is kept off of the salads at this time.  

We have found CHOMPS Grass Fed Beef Jerky Sticks to be really good and VERY healthy.  We get them from Amazon.  Here is the link:  https://amzn.to/3fwusyb They are a bit expensive, but what isn't when you are eating all natural/organic, etc.  

So, I usually have a couple pieces of Lebonon Balogna, with or without mayo, for breakfast.  Lunch would be a salad with some sort of meat or maybe two hamburgers and lettuce and onions.  Supper really depens on if I am hungary and what Jana is making.  She is really good about making things that I can eat.  In the past we have had grilled/baked/fried ("breaded" with crushed pork rinds) Chicken Ribs, hamburgers/hot Dogs, vegetable soup, beef roast, steak and I am sure other things along with green beans, or brocoli, cauliflower, salads, asparagus and carrots or other low carb vegetable.  If supper is at a restaurant, steak is almost always the option.  The other night I was gifted with some dear loins which we marinated and broiled.  It was soooo good.  

For snacks I eat the Jerky sticks, a scoop or two of the ham, chicken, or eggs salad, any lunch meat, peanuts and nuts, pork rinds (but, not a huge fan), bacon that I have fried a head of time, etc.  The doctor said I could have fruit, sparingly so I sometimes eat a small apple or half of a banana.  Fruit gets eaten with peanut butter or protein which helps with sugar consumption.  Hard boiled eggs are always good to have around.  

There is so much more but I need to get this published.  I will be posting specific recipies in the coming weeks.  There are some really good butter/dairy/sugar alternatives I will also tell you about.  In the mean time . . . thanks for following.  

Weigh In Wednesday # 7

 

Well, as I stepped on the scales this morning I was ready to be really disappointed.  I knew by my brief weigh ins throughout the week that I wasn't losing weight.  Each day it as about the same or a little higher than the last Weigh-In Wednesday.  But, to my surprise, the scale said I had lost almost one more pound this week.  I have moved one more number lower.  288.6 lbs!  Making my 7 week total all but 27 total pounds.  

I mentioned in a previous blog that I would be happy to loose a few pounds a week.  I doesn't seem good to loose weight too fast.  At the same time, I would love to be in the 270s to start 2021.  I am not sure if that will happen without doing something more (I hesitate saying something drastic, but that's what I was thinking.)  

The other thing I noticed this week is that while I HAD been having near normal fasting morning glucose levels, this week they have been up around the 130 - 140 again.  Those numbers are still much better than when I had started, but I am really looking forward to lower morning levels.  

Being dairy free has really been a bummer when looking for recipes to eat low carb.  There are so many ways to make what looks like really good alturnatives, but most use some kind of heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, butter or cheese.  Maybe some day I will be able to try them.  I am still working on my blog to tell you what I have been eating.  

Last, today my hip felt as good as it has for a long time.  The more I use it though, it gets sore.  One day at a time.   

Thanks for following.  

Is Healthy Lifestyle Really Expenseive?

Just so you know, eating low carb and dairy free, is definately expensive.  But, I was sitting and thinking about some ways this type of lifestyle is saving me some money as well.  I really is.  

Let's take the whole water thing for instance.  Soon after I started this diet, I ordered a cheeseburger sub (pre having to be dairy free) at our local Original Italian Pizza restaurant.  When the bill came, the waitress, who knows my favorite dishes quite well, commented, "Joel, this is probably the smallest bill amount I have ever made for you."  She was right!  She didn't charge for the bun that I didn't get and, I think the biggest savings was that I got free water.  Normally I would have picked up two Diet Mt. Dew bottles (2 for $3.00 plus tax).  When you subtract that from my bill, the savings begin to add up.  And, if you go most places you will pay $2.50 or more for a soda.  So, if I eat out three times a week (It used to be more.  More on that later.), That's a savings of at least $8.00 a week for 4 weeks or $32.00 a month!  

That doesn't sound like a lot, but, it helps.  And there is more.  I said I used to eat out more, I wasn't kidding.  It's much easier for us as a family to eat from home do to the dietary restrictions on all of us.  So, we have to be careful when we eat out.  Which means we don't eat out as much.  Even if we save on one meal a week, that's at least $30 per meal for the family multiplied by 4 weeks is $120.  Now we are up to $150.00 per month! 

But, it doesn't stop there. . . Pre lifestyle change I would stop at the local convenience store to pick up a breakfast sandwich or two and two Diet Mt. Dews (and that was when I was trying to save some money.  Usually I bought more than that.)  My bill was usually at least $9.00 or more.  Let's say I did this four days a week times 4 weeks, my monthly total was AT LEAST $144.  Now the savings is close to $300 a month.  

I am ashamed to say these things.  But, it is the truth.  There are more savings but this is enough for now.  I'll post again soon about it.  In the end, what is something you could give up if you had to change to a restrictive diet?  I dare you to be honest.  Share in the comments below if you would.  

Looking forward to Weigh-In Wednesday.  Thanks for following.  

Weigh In Wednesday #6

 I realized today, Thanksgiving Day, that I hadn't posted on Weigh-In Wednesday.  So, as I take time today to be thankful today, I am also taking time to update you on my weight.  

So, as I expected, the weight loss has slowed down.  But, at least I haven't gained weight.  AND . . . I am under 290!!  My weight yesterday morning was 289.4 - not quite one pound less.  In all, I have lost almost 26 pound so far.  I need to just keep doing what I am doing and let the weight loss come as it may.  

My fasting glucose has continues to be lower.  Many days there is room for improvement, but I am well plased with the numbers this past week. 

I needed to meet with my doctor this week about getting medication refills.  We did it vertually.  This is the first time I had met her.  To my surprise she welcomed me seeing a functional doctor!!  So, not only is my chiropractor on board, now my medical doctor is as well - which is kind of unusual.  Very thankful for this good news this week.  

37 days low carb and NO Diet soda, just water (Yuck).  30 days dairy free.  

Thanks for following.  I appreciate the encouragement.  

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Here is a quick update for you.  I don't like long posts anyway. . . The Good - my fasting sugar levels have begun to come down into the normal range.  It's not every day, but most days now I am under 120.  Saturday it was 90 and Sunday was 87! (Today it was 121).   I am not going to celebrate too much yet.  I would like to give it a few more weeks of "normal" first.  

The Bad - my weight loss has slowed considerably.  I am hoping to have lost a pound this week when I weigh in on Wednesday.  This is typical.  I need to eat more veggies and maybe less altogether.  I continue to eat like before, but maybe just too much of what I am eating.  I have started a post about what I eat but it isn't near completion yet.  I will get it out soon enough. 

The Ugly - Water.  Well, not really.  But, this week I did crave something other to drink than water.  I think the real ugly would be preparing to eat Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, etc.   As I type I can taste the filling/stuffing/dressing and mashed potatoes.  Sigh . . .  I need to remember to look at the big picture.  I can do this! 

Thanks for following. 

Weigh-In Wednesday #5

 Week #5 is finished today and it's hard to believe that I have lost all but 25 pounds since I started.  Today's weight is 290.2!  I was really hoping to be under 290, but I'll take what I get.  From now on, it will be more of a one or two pound loss per week I am afraid.  But, even so, IF I COULD lose two pounds per week until the end of the year, I could be in the 270's starting 2021!

Now I must remind you AND me, that the goal of eating the way I do is NOT to loose weight.  It is to heal my body and to be healthier.  The weight loss is just a residual of what I eat.  

I ran out of test strips which should be here soon.  So, I will update sugar levels in a future post. 

Also, a number of people ask me what I do eat.  I am working on a post on my meals and what I eat.  I think it is kind of boring, but I do know some people want to know.  So, look for that post coming up.  

Thanks for following.