LCHF: Before and After Pictures

It's been six months since I started my LCHF diet. It wasn't without any bumps in the road. I remember craving for chocolate cake. I remember craving for sandwiches, pizza, french fries! I remember wanting to eat rice, it was driving me nuts! You know how I cope? You know how I got over all that? Dieting is not just for people with the will and discipline to go through the whole dieting shebang. Dieting, too, is for people who has the smarts for it. I did not just jump into the LCHF bandwagon without going through phases. I was one of the skeptics! I laughed trying to imagine meal times without a single grain of rice on my plate. I scoffed at the idea of not being able to eat anymore cake! What can I eat then to satisfy my cravings for sweets? Will I get through the day without bread? So I did my own research. I downloaded free Keto/LCHF ebooks on Amazon. I joined support groups. I made my own menu. The least I can do is to keep myself informed. I NEED to know what I was getting into. That is the best way I can convince myself to stick to the diet and persevere. And then here I am six months later...I can't get into a two-piece bikini yet but I am getting there. I've lost a few inches in my midsection, my face looks smaller, I feel lighter and most of all, I FEEL GOOD so YES, this is it, there is no turning back. I'm sold. 

Here's ME when I was heavier and fuller around the waist and the hips:

BEFORE  (February 2014)

And here's ME after 6 months of crispy chicken skin, "kansi", fried eggs, beef fat and lots and lots of mayo and butter!

AFTER (July 2014)

Disclaimer: I'm not claiming to be an expert. What you see and read on my blog are based from my own experiences.

If you are looking for more info on LCHF, I highly recommend these two sites:
1) http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
2) http://www.reddit.com/r/keto

(Not Really) A Weight Loss Update: I Cheated AGAIN Today!

I hate whoever came up with the so-called 'cheat day'. That's what people who are on a diet call their moments of weakness, when they eat what they are not supposed to eat and then feel like such a pig right after? Yes, that's exactly how I am feeling today--I cheated SO if you don't mind me getting all dramatic then read on. You'll probably end up saying "it's no biggie" by the time you finished reading my post but just so you know, this to me is BIG and it does MATTER to me.

I've come to a point in my life where I'd look at myself in front of the mirror and ask myself why I allowed myself to gain this much weight. It's not like I'm obese--I'M NOT. I was skinny the whole 20 something of my life but now at 31, with over 40 lbs gained, what the F happened? I feel bloated almost all of the time, I don't feel good and I don't look all that good either. What happened?-------THIS is what happened! I got too busy living life and I just forgot to take good care of myself. It's time I make a change, turn my life around and get back to being healthy again.

Being healthy, if I were to define it is, getting back in shape, losing some weight and taking really good care of myself. That's where this blog comes in. I want to document everything and hopefully by the end of the year, I've at least reached half of my goal and able to post before and after pictures of myself. I'd like to invite you guys (all of you who have taken the time to read my blog, all of you with jiggly bellies like me) to join me in my quest. Would you be up for it? I hope so.

So that's it. This is not just a weight loss update. This is more of a testimony. After all the cheat days, I've finally reached the pinnacle. I cannot promise totally staying off carbs but I will be pushing it. It's going to be hard but I'll definitely try my hardest. I WON'T EVER GIVE UP--no way! Regardless of the number of cheat days I report back here, my mind is set. I'm losing all 40 lbs and get back to being skinny again.

I promised myself that if I ever find anything good and I mean REALLY GOOD, one that for a start will help me lose weight, I'll hold on to it real tight even if that means doing things that might seem impossible to some. If you still can't figure what on earth I am talking about, READ my lips. Low Carb, High Fat. I'm doing it. Since February. It's the one and only answer to my problem. You might want to look it up yourself. Start here ==>> http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

Are you on the same diet? Share your experience with me.

Weight Loss Update: My Everyday Struggle with Carbs

Like all Filipinos, I eat rice everyday, every meal time but now that I am on the LCHF diet, I'm having to go without any and NO, it's not just for February or for March but for the whole duration of my diet. That is if I want to get rid of my extra weight and get back down to 100 lbs. 

I never thought that I would be taking this seriously but SERIOUSLY? If you could just see how I've shrunked in so short a time, you'd be wanting to join me as I cut down my carbs.

I made a lot of adjustments since February 8th when I first started. I've stopped buying bread. I've stopped making dessert and have replaced all sweets with fruit slices. As for whether I still serve rice during meal times, you have to understand, my husband and my 2-year old are not on LCHF. I still cook rice everyday and I still find myself giving in whenever I see rice in front of me but thank God, I don't take it by the cup anymore. Would you believe I'm happy with just one tablespoon? Wohooo, what an accomplishment!

More updates soon!

Quick LCHF Meal: Tuna and Mushroom Overload

I love anything that is not only quick and easy to prepare but also tasty and guaranteed to keep your tummy from rumbling. This one I'm sharing with you is nothing too complicated, promise, you will love it!

Just go and grab a can of hot and spicy Century Tuna flakes and a can of button mushrooms. One or two tomatoes, the ripe ones and some quick melt cheese or any cheese you have available, it does not matter.

(Picture added: March 23, 2014)

Preparation:

Slice the mushrooms in halves or in three parts and set aside.
Mince 2-3 cloves of garlic and set aside.



Cooking instructions:

Open the can of tuna (there should be lots of oil there), dump the oil in the heated skillet.
Add both garlic and mushroom at the same time.
Sprinkle with pepper.
Do NOT add salt, no other seasonings needed either (If you prefer it salty as the dead sea then go on, add a heap of salt, go crazy!)
Add the tuna flakes and cover.

Remove from heat after 5-8 minutes. If you want the mushrooms all nice and brown then increase cooking time to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve with ripe tomato slices and diced cheese.

There's your LCHF meal, so quick and easy!

I just had a huge bowl tonight.

Getting Rid of Fat with...FAT!

This is a quick update on my weight loss progress. If this is not what you came to my blog for then it's okay, you can skip this one or you can visit my other blog if you prefer reading about my work as an oDesk freelancer. If you did come here on your own and love reading about weight loss or anything health-related then stick around.

This was taken last February before I started the LCHF diet.

Do you remember last month when I wrote about my new diet? It's called LCHF which stands for Low Carb, High Fat. Read more about the diet here: DietDoctor.com

I forgot to write down my weight from last month so I have nothing to compare to my current weight. I cannot prove that LCHF is working for me just yet until I show you the weighing scale and maybe a couple of before and after photos but just so you know, I have successfully reduced my carb intake and have totally increased my fat consumption. 

What have I been eating the whole month of February? Here's a list.

Fried eggs, scrambled eggs, fried chicken, spicy chicken, chicken adobo, chicken and sayote, chicken tinola, roasted chicken, chicken pochero, mushroom, hot and spicy tuna, beef and tons of veggies. I would like to expand the list and try new recipes but since it is not grocery day yet, it will have to wait until Friday. 

For exercise, I have been going out for quick afternoon jogs. I have also been doing some bellydancing and yoga. I cannot say how much fat I've gotten rid of yet. I don't see any visible changes in my waistline. BUT I am really, really looking forward to results. I hope to get slimmer in the middle up and one day, be able to get rid of my old jeans. Maybe get a new one. When that happens, I'll only have one thing to thank for and that's LCHF. 

Get rid of fat with...FAT! Yebaaah!

Fresh Look, No Makeup

Michelle Phan is one of the many YouTube celebrities I look up to. She is Asian and she has magic hands. She can transform herself from fresh and innocent into a look that is totally different. All these with the help of makeup!

As much as I'd like to apply what I have learned from watching her makeup video tutorials, I prefer going without makeup if I can get away with it. BUT because I work nights and often find myself lacking sleep, looking fresh and glowing is not an easy feat. I don't need to put makeup on when I don't have anywhere to go to but when I do have to go somewhere, I make sure I apply makeup as light and subtle as possible, almost like I don't have any on. Is that possible? Sure, with just a few dabs of lip balm on your lips and a good, light moisturizer on your face, it is possible. For the teens and the 20-some ladies that is.

Fresh look, no makeup! 

I'm 31 but I have been told that I'd pass for someone in their mid-twenties when fresh out of the shower and with 8+ hours of sleep. At other times, I look deader than a fish out of the water. Chapped lips, droopy eyes, dark circles, dry skin, dull all over. You get the picture.

If I want to stay young and look young, I should take better care of myself! My beauty routine should include applying moisturizer on my face and drinking lots of water. Two things that I keep forgetting to do. Another thing I should include in my beauty regimen is exercise. Any form of exercise! 

Did I tell you that I've started doing Yoga? I subscribed to DoYouYoga.com and everyday I get a free Yoga video in my email. It wasn't easy the first time but as I continue to apply what I learn from Erin, the video yogi, I find myself improving. 

Hope all this hard work will get me some results soon. I'll definitely be back here to give you updates!

Ciao!

Teaching My Toddler How To Brush His Teeth

Cairo is already 2 years and 5 months old. His front teeth does not look too good right now and I feel so guilty for not having trained him to brush his teeth more often. There is no excuse there. We used to just wipe his teeth with a soft cloth and it worked just fine that time when he was exclusively breastfed but when he started eating solids, food particles would stick in between his teeth.

We tried all that we can to get him to like brushing. We brushed our teeth in front of him, showed him videos of other kids brushing their teeth, we sang him songs, praised him and gave him BIG smiles whenever he lets us brush his teeth. These are all tips and techniques I read somewhere online. We tried them all. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

There were also times we let Cairo hold the toothbrush so he can brush his teeth all on his own. He is a good kid and I am sure he wants to make us smile. He would stick the toothbrush in his mouth and follow what we are doing. This, unfortunately, does not always last.

We also purchased an electric toothbrush in the hope that it would make cleaning his teeth easier. We only have to position the rotating head on any tooth and we'd be able to get rid of any food bits stuck there. It worked for a while until he started grabbing the brush whenever we stick it in his mouth. What's worst, he now runs away from us and sometimes would hide when he sees us holding the toothbrush.

Just this morning, we let him hold the electric toothbrush on his own and surprisingly, we got him to brush his teeth without any fuss. BUT he cried when we 'borrowed' the toothbrush back. THAT is a good sign still. Little by little, he is starting to understand that brushing his teeth is an everyday thing.

One other technique we tried is the knee-to-knee method like the one demonstrated in the video below:

Sad to say, Cairo does not like being held like this. It makes him cry and I thought it might be traumatic for him so we stopped brushing his teeth this way. I am thinking of trying again this week but with songs this time to make it a fun experience. Hopefully, we can get him to calm down and then maybe, we can get some brushing and cleaning done.

I understand there are hundreds of websites and how-to videos on YouTube like the video I showed you. They all have very helpful tips that I can follow but you know, they don't work all the time. My point is, different methods work for different kids. We have to do a bit of trial and error to find one that will work with him. The key here I guess is...patience and repetition. You agree, mommies?

I hate that my going full time at work limits my time with Cairo, up to the point that he is spending more and more time with his father (not that I am complaining). I am happy that they are spending LOTS of quality time together. It's just that I should be there MORE for him. I would like to continue being hands-on as a mother, full time if possible. I want to be there to see him successfully brush his teeth. I want to be there to see him eat without having to be spoonfed. All moms do.

I hope you enjoyed reading my post today. This experience with Cairo is teaching me and my husband how to become better parents. It's tough but I think we are doing alright.

More posts soon! Thanks for dropping by my blog.