My first shot at artichokes

Being strict with my diet and not eating after dinner is showing on the scale.  It's nice to see progress, but I keep losing and gaining the same two or three pounds.  I just hope I can keep it up and finally hit my book goal.  I just wish I felt better too.  The Metaformin just makes me feel bloated all the time.  It is a small price to pay if it works.  

Thursday 3/6 - 114.2 Pounds

Friday 3/7 - 113.8 Pounds

I started making the shift to organic produce.  A local CSA called Bear's Honeypot in Millersville, MD has been great with making this happen for me.  It has also helped me try some new things.  My latest share had artichokes.  I've used artichoke hearts before.  This was my first whole artichoke experience.  I decided to simple roast it with garlic.  I prepped my choke, added my garlic, wrapped it in foil and baked it at 425 for 90 minutes.

It was really good.  Even my little man enjoyed scraping the meat off the leaves. Never saw that coming!  It's a time consuming thing to eat.  I would absolutely do it again, but not regularly.  That sucker is really tough to cut.  Best part is the low GI value and calorie count for artichokes.  Win!  

Here's a little PCOS/diabetes survival product

I found these chocolate bars at Trader Joe's.  They are the perfect little treat and won't spike my insulin levels.  It's the little things when so much is off limits.  

40 days and 40 nights

Let Lent begin.  In true Fat Tuesday fashion, I pigged out last night and the scale sure showed it this morning.

116.4 Pounds

It really wasn't worth it, but in the moment it tasted so good.  This is also the first time I went off my low GI diet.  I will not be doing that again anytime soon!  I was up all night with a headache and horrible stomach cramps.  That's what happens when you eat high carb on Metaformin.  Lesson learned and a new day.  I'm going to try to use that number today to stay motivated.  6.4 pounds until I reach my goal.  

I should also be starting my second round of Clomid in a few days.  I'm not looking forward to it.  Keep your eyes on the prize!  I would love to have another baby.  My guy will be 3 in less than 2 months.  He wants a playmate desperately and adores little babies.  

He wanted to hold her the whole time we were visiting.

Here's my meal plan for today

I prefer writing it down to typing it out

Do you give up anything for Lent?  We always did as kids.  Last year we had just moved in so , I decided to do something instead of give something up.  I took my little love to the library every week just to hang out and get some books.  We also went for Storytime sometimes.  This year, I'm giving up eating after dinner.  I was going to give up eating after 8pm but thought I would try to stuff my face until 8:00.  It's only 40 days....so she says on the morning of day 1!

Another week in the books!

This week has had its fair share of ups and downs.  I'm still adjusting to the new diet and medication.  My side effects have been minimal.  On the other hand, my mood and energy levels are all over the place.  

Working out is getting harder.  My guess is that my body no longer has that sugar in my blood to fuel my workout?  It now has to get energy from my fat and muscles, which requires a lot more work. I feel great after a workout!   I am just struggling to push myself when it wasn't as difficult before.  I'm looking at this as a positive change.  

I have made a lot of simple swaps I my diet to make it low GI.  Here's a typical day of eating:

Breakfast:

Apple-I have now switched to organic apples

2 hard boiled egg whites-these are also from the organic market

Green tea-I love the Yogi blueberry slim life green tea.  It's the perfect morning tea.

Morning Meds: Left to right-Cinnamon, B12 and Metaformin

Little man's breakfast: 

Organic blueberry waffles with 100% natural maple syrup.

Organic Banana

Soy milk

And his multivitamin

Am Snack/Post Workout Snack

Kashi granola bar or string cheese

Lunch

Salad: lettuce, onion, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, all natural lunch meat (no nitrates, no preservative, no additives) and mustard or dressing

Tazo green tea-Zen

Granola bar or low GI bread/low carb tortilla with laughing cow cheese wedge

Little man's lunch

Apple slices

Whole wheat bagel thin with organic jelly

All natural turkey slices

Dry roasted peanuts

Soymilk

Afternoon Meal

Oatmeal:

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup organic strawberries

1 Tbsp slivered almonds

Dinner

Half eaten :) shredded chicken with veggies

When I snack, it is hummus with carrots, almonds, some PB2 or cut fruit.  I have never eaten so clean in my life.  It isn't as hard to eat clean, just to watch my calories.  There are so many high GI foods that are low in calories.  I'm still adjusting to the new diet, but it is easier than the beginning.  I am still struggling with trying to not feel deprived all the time. 

My big accomplishment this week was finally trying Yoga!  If you remember back to the beginning of the year, it was one of my goals.  I took a hot Vinyasa  class one night.  The staff was very welcoming and I felt comfortable immediately.  The class was intermediate, but I did much better than I thought.  I loved being in a 95 degree room doing nothing but focusing on my breathing and my body.  I did get bored after about an hour, but I stuck it out for the whole 90 minutes.  While it isn't my new favorite by any means, it was worthwhile.  I could see myself doing it every few weeks.