Protein vs Carbs for Breakfast

I use Lose It! to food log and be accountable with my friend JD who is on there to drop a few pounds himself - he is a madman when it comes to walking and exercise and is very inspiring!

But that's not why I'm here right now. I wanted to tell you about a blog post I made on Lose It! a number of weeks ago when, after eating a bagel, I felt damned near lethargic. Fatigue was in my every single fiber, I kid you not. I queried on the Lose It! forum about it and got a range of responses, including a moderator who told me there was no freakin' way I would feel that horrible that quickly. She mentioned that blood sugar changes wouldn't be that fast...and maybe she is right. I can tell you I felt like absurdly tired and could barely, barely function at my DESK JOB within minutes of killing that bagel.

I have to think it's the carbs? The sugar? I felt next to comatose - no exaggeration.

This morning I overate. I had a big breakfast with steak and eggs and I even tried some sausage because I was weeeeak looking at it. I overate and should have felt the way I do after Thanksgiving dinner, but I did not at all. Fatigue wasn't even a factor.

I can GUARANTEE you that if I had an english muffin or bagel or plated myself some hashbrowns or home fries or had a biscuit on top of it all, I would not have been able to drive afterward.

That's the difference between protein & veg breakfasts versus simple and sometimes even complex carbs (not that I bothered with veg this morning. I was horrible!)

It is really hard staying away from carbs because they taste good or look good or bring fond memories at times...but the trade off? That feeling of sludge in my veins? It just isn't worth it.

Not. At. All.

I HATE feeling so tired and disabled.

Today's pure protein breakfast beat the shit out of wanting a bagel or biscuit. For real.

Last night's dinner is this morning's breakfast...

It is much easier to tote the container of chicken and zucchini in creamy tomato sauce than to go through the drive thru for some nasty sandwich that is only going to funk up my metabolism and cost me minutes on my way to work. right? right! I'm not zippy enough to want to cook a good breakfast just yet, so leftovers are my bff's right now.

Also, I will probably be hungry before I leave work, so I've packed a snack for when the hunger hits: spinach salad with pepperoni and cheese to go on top.

Let's hope this is enough to get me past fast food island from hell on my way home.

I did finish making a vat of chicken stock which, with a little ginger, makes INCREDIBLE eggdrop soup. I'm aiming to have that for lunch.

So, I have a plan. *NOD*

zero. zilch. three pounds spent!

I'm up three this week. I'm okay with that since I had a pretty full weekend of rich foods. Onward and downward, right? I also think I've got to get more greens in than I've been doing. The whole "how to incorporate more greens" issue keeps coming up with me. First, because I really, really dislike greens. Second, because I don't want them for breakfast...I already have some for dinner usually...and I don't want any at lunch. I have a feeling it would help a lot to include them, though. Something about roughage and fiber...I-dunno. *grin* Onward and downward, my friend.

I've got some things to share about my mom...but it hurts a little to talk about so I will think things over awhile then write what I've been thinking/learning. Love in the meantime!

Much Needed Escape

I went away for the weekend to a bed & breakfast which I'd had a gift certificate for since Christmas. The place was quite grand and full of fine arts and antiques, a gorgeous wrap-around porch full of lounge chairs and rocking chairs, and an overall slightly too elegant feel. I felt a tiny bit out of place by the look and feel of the downstairs. If it wasn't for the owners, I might have believed the furniture indoors was not for sitting on, but admiring.

The host couple was very accommodating - very willing to work with my needs for breakfast and snacks. For instance, my gift certificate/package included a fruit tray (apparently) but the lady-owner prepared something with cheese and nuts so I could enjoy that. She also kept the mini fridge stocked with water! And while everybody else was eating what looked like amazing stuffed french toast for breakfast, I was having baked eggs with herbs. On the second day, she made spinach brownies with the tiniest amount of flour possible to keep my carbs count low. Very thoughtful, huh? BTW the spinach brownies? They were divine.

I was able to stick to my meal plan for most of the trip. In area restaurants, I ate steak & broccoli, eggplant rollatini w/sauteed spinach, and roast duck w/a green bean medley.

And then I let myself eat ice cream. :) Just once, at Coldstone Creamery, and I found out very quickly that the excitement of doing so wears off about halfway into the cup. Seriously! I was all jazzed to have it...and omg was it rich and creamy...but before I'd even finished it I felt like the flavor was just kind of there and eating it had lost its appeal.

So, I think that when/if I treat myself to something like this again, I will bear that in mind and go for a smaller portion. I thought I would destroy a medium cup that night...but I ran out of joy like my old Buick ran out of gas way before there was a sign of empty. It was a good lesson. I did like the ice cream and I'm still glad I went and had it. There were blissful moments of omg-this-is-amazing to make the decision worth it. Now I can get more with less.

I have to say the best tasting food the entire trip was that eggplant rollatini from Sal's. Out. Of. This. World. It was a mention in a list of appetizers in this sampler thing they offered and I asked if I could order it by itself. It was wonnnnnderful. :) And something I can probably produce from home when I want to make an Italian style-something again. Second, was that spinach brownie. I'm telling you, it was made of divinity.

I am totally pleased that I was able to stick to my plans this weekend. I didn't dip into a single bread basket or order any starchy sides - as tempting as they all were. I had my ice cream, as planned, and that was that. This is my pat on the back.