Day 21 on Bright Line Eating - Three Weeks of No Sugar and No Flour Feels Good!

This morning was our weekly weigh in and the results are:

I have released 4 pounds!

Brent has released 2 pounds!

This is very encouraging for both of us. It's nice to have a week where it pays off in the scale because I know there are and will be weeks where it won't show in the scale. (Like last week for Brent).

I do have to say that it does take work to eat this way. It takes time to plan our meals and to shop and prepare. Before doing BLE, I was not preparing every meal. It was pretty much fend for yourself at home. All my kids are older and we typically only sat down for Sunday meals.  Now I've been preparing meals for me and Brent, and when any of my kids are home, I make some for them too. They've all been eating more vegetables and fruits for sure!

Just as a reference:

Breakfast includes: 

• 4 oz protein (6 oz for Brent)
• 4 oz cooked (1 oz uncooked grain)
• 6 ounces of fruit.  

Lunch includes:

• 4 oz protein (6 oz for Brent)
• 6 oz veggies
• 6 oz fruit
• 1 tbsp/2 oz fat 

Dinner includes:

• 4 oz protein (6 oz for Brent)
• 14 oz of veggies that I can divide up into salad and/or cooked veggies.
• 1 tbsp/2 oz fat

Here are my meals this week.

Week 3 Day 1: 

 BREAKFAST: Oatmeal, Berries, Cottage Cheese, Cantaloupe

LUNCH: Turkey & Hummus, Pickle, Celery, Netctarine

DINNER (Brent): 5 Sausages and Cheese, Cucumber, Steamed Broccoli w/ Butter

DINNER (Me): Beef Strips, Steamed Broccoli with Butter, Cherie Tomatoes

Week 3 Day 2:

 BREAKFAST (Brent): Oatmeal/Egg/Banana Waffle, Turkey Bacon, Cheese, Berries

BREAKFAST (Me): Oatmeal/Egg/Banana Waffle, Beef Crumbles, Berries
These waffles are so delicious! We put the berries on them and with the mashed banana inside, it's just yummy!

LUNCH: Salmon Patty, Cheese, Pickle, Cherie Tomatoes, Grapes & Cantaloupe

DINNER: Taco Salad (w/ Ground Turkey, Romaine Lettuces & Cherie Tomatoes), Sauteed Zucchini, Shredded Cheese

 Week 3 Day 3:

BREAKFAST:  Cottage Cheese & Pineapple, Oatmeal & Berries

LUNCH: Taco Salad (with Ground Turkey, Peppers, Romaine Lettuce, Tomatoes), Pickle, Plum

DINNER (Brent): Spaghetti Squash, 2 Veggie Burgers, 2 Slices Swiss Cheese

DINNER (Me): Huge Turkey Leg (4 oz. off this leg, pulling off the skin), Spaghetti Squash.
I saw a pack of 2 pre-cooked turkey legs at the store, and after checking the ingredients I got them. I love the big turkey legs at Disneyland so I thought it'd be fun to include on in my meal. And it was very tasty! The meat from each turkey leg lasted me 2-3 meals - it's way bigger than you realize from the picture.

Week 3 Day 4:

BREAKFAST:  Scrambled Eggs, Pan Fried Potatoes (using Pam spray), Plum
One of our favorite breakfasts!

 LUNCH: Canadian Bacon & Hummus, Celery & Tomatoes, Pineapple (cheese not pictured)

DINNER: Sausage, Cheese, Roasted Veggies (Onions, Zucchini, Asparagus, Carrots, Mushrooms and Broccoli), Sliced Cucumbers

Week 3 Day 5:

 BREAKFAST:  Triscuits, Cheese and Pear

LUNCH: Taco Salad (with Ground Turkey, Romaine Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers), Mixed Fruit (Cantaloupe, Grapes & Strawberries)

DINNER (Brent): 2 Veggie Burgers with Cheese, Sauteed Squash and Zucchini, Steamed Cabbage w/ butter.  We love steamed cabbage and so do our kids!

DINNER (Me): Salmon Burger (I love to put dill week on it), Dill Pickle, Sauteed Squash and Zucchini, Steamed Cabbage w/ butter. So delicious!

Week 3 Day 6:

BREAKFAST: Fried Potatoes, Scrambled Eggs, Grapes and Cantaloupe

(I forgot to take a picture of lunch)

DINNER: Turkey Leg Meat, 2 Dill Pickles, and Roasted Veggies (Asparagus, Peppers, and Mushrooms)

Week 3 Day 7:

BREAKFAST: Oatmeal/Egg/Apple Waffle, 3 Sausages, and Berries
Another favorite breakfast!

LUNCH: Ham & Hummus, Cheese, Celery and Dill Pickle, Pear

DINNER: Taco Salad (w/ Ground Turkey, Peppers, Cucumbers, & Romaine Lettuce) Steamed Broccoli, Baked Squash (not pictured)

This is the first time in trying a new way of eating to lose weight that I feel like we can keep this change for a long time. When we reach goal weight, we may add in some things, but I don't want to EVER go back to eating sugar and flour!  

My cravings are gone and I don't miss sugar!  I'm enjoying the sweetness of the fruit and I feel like I'm tasting my food better than I ever had.  Everything in Susan Peirce Thompson's book, Bright Line Eating is true. 

I'm excited when we can get off medications. Brent has diabetes and we want to get him his meds for that. Diabetes IS curable! You don't have to just take medication all your life.  You can change your eating and change your health.  I've known this all along, but I've had a hard time feeling like I could do it long-term.  Now I feel that I can and I will.  I truly had to BELIEVE it was POSSIBLE again!

No more products to buy, but simply good, healthy food! I'm sold!

We went to another movie last week and had NOTHING to eat there. We went right after dinner and just brought our water. We enjoyed it. We also have gone shopping at Costco and NOT eaten any of the samples. I don't want to cross any of my bright lines! I ONLY eat what is on my meal plate in front of me at meal time. And it's plenty of food and very filling. I don't need food at other times.

I used to be an avid sugar-free gum chewer, mostly to control my breath. But now I just use a breath spray and I'm training my body that I don't need gum. It's been an adjustment, but not bad at all. I think my motivation to get this weight off is much HIGHER than my desire to chew gum or snack.  I'd rather fit in small clothes and go indoor rock climbing again!

Of course, I also pray every day to have the strength and determination to keep with my eating plan and to not give in if/when I am tempted. I pray for success and then I move forward like it's all on me. I can tell I have been blessed, and I am super happy with our success so far. But it does take work. I'm already planning months ahead when I can fit into smaller clothes, smaller coat for winter hopefully, and pull out my smaller tops I've saved in storage. Good times to look forward to, so I'm very motivated to NOT break my bright lines!

Life is good! Fight the good fight!

Love,

~Margene XOXox

Day 14 on Bright Line Eating - It's Going Good!

Yesterday was our Day 14 and we weighed in:

I have released 2 pounds!

Brent gained 1 pound!

This is very strange to see Brent go up a pound. However, we've kept our lines bright and we know that his body will be releasing more weight as we continue forward. We are not discouraged by this. We had a good week as far as our meals were concerned.

We even went to a movie and did not have a single thing to eat there! No popcorn. Recently we had purchased the 2019 Megatub Popcorn bucket from Megaplex theaters. We missed this tub last year because they do sell out. After we bought it, we are emailed when to come in to the theater and pick it up.  Between the time that we bought it and the time that we were to pick it up, we heard about and started doing Bright Line Eating.

So here we were at the theater with no popcorn. And WE SURVIVED.  It actually wasn't that hard because we ate a meal before going and we already knew in our minds that we wouldn't be eating popcorn. So we didn't think about it or allow it to be in our minds. I'm proud of us! We are big movie buffs and for years we always have gotten popcorn. But getting thin, healthy and happy is more desirable to me right now.

Here are our meals for Week 2 of Bright Line Eating:

Week 2 - Day 1:

 BREAKFAST: Oatmeal, 8 oz Plain Greek Yogurt, 6 oz Berries. 

This was our first time trying yogurt on the plan. I didn't care for it, but Brent likes it.

 LUNCH: 2 oz Turkey, 2 oz Hummus, 6 0z Peppers, Carrots & Celery, Nectarine, and 1 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge (inside the turkey roll)

This is a standard lunch that we switch on and off with. Brent has hot dogs instead of the turkey.

DINNER: Angus Beef Burger w/ Provolone Cheese on 2 Romaine Leaves with Sauteed Onions and Peppers, Tomatoes and Dill Pickle. 4 oz of Cauliflower Rice.

I was excited to try the cauliflower rice. I had made it the night before and it was stir fried with onions in it. However, it was okay. Not a favorite.

Week 2 - Day 2:

BREAKFAST: 2 Scrambled Eggs (3 for Brent), Oatmeal with Strawberries and Canteloupe

Just delicious and very satisfying!

LUNCH: Taco Salad using 4 oz. of Ground Turkey Taco Meat, with 6 oz Grapes and 1 oz Shredded Cheese. Another go to meal we love.

DINNER: Chicken Salad w/ Shredded Cheese on Top and Roasted Squash, Asparagus, Mushrooms and Onions. 

Week 2 - Day 3:

BREAKFAST: Oatmeal with Berries and 4 oz Cottage Cheese (I prefer cottage cheese over yogurt, although Brent had the yogurt)

 LUNCH: Turkey & Hummus, Nectarine, 6 oz Peppers and Celery, 1 oz Colby Jack Cheese

 DINNER: Salmon burger & Cheese, 10 oz Roasted Asparagus, Peppers, Mushrooms & Onions, and 4 oz Cauliflower Rice.

Brent has the same thing except he had 2 Veggie Burgers instead of the Salmon.

Week 2 - Day 4:

BREAKFAST:  4 oz Potatoes, 2 Scrambled Eggs (3 for Brent), 6 oz Cantaloupe.
A favorite breakfast!

 LUNCH: Taco Salad (4 oz. Ground Turkey Meat), 6 oz Strawberries and Cantaloupe, and my Dill Pickle (weighed as part of the salad)
I love getting my dill pickle in there - I have always eaten several dill pickles a day, and now I treat myself to one in one of my meals each day.

DINNER: 4 oz Rotisserie Chicken, 10 oz Sauteed Asparagus, Cabbage, Squash and Onions. 4 oz Salad with 1 oz Shredded Cheese. Yummy!

Week 2 - Day 5:

 BREAKFAST: 1 oz Triscuits (usually 7), 2 oz Cheddar Cheese, 6 oz Grapes.
I love this breakfast. We usually have this on Fridays and Sunday mornings because it's quick.

 LUNCH: Turkey & Hummus, Dill Pickle & Cucumbers, 6 oz Cantaloupe.
Brent had more cucumbers and no pickle and hot dogs instead of turkey.

DINNER: Taco Salad with Ground Turkey Meat and Dill Pickle, 4 oz Cauliflower Rice.

So Good!

Week 2 - Day 6:

 BREAKFAST: 4 oz Potatoes, 2 Scrambled Eggs (3 for Brent), Nectarine. SOOOO good!

 LUNCH:  Taco Salad with 4 oz Ground Turkey (6 oz for Brent), 6 oz Grapes.

DINNER: Salmon Burger w/ Cheese (Veggie Burgers for Brent), 2 Dill Pickles, Roasted Squash, Asparagus, & Mushrooms and a Salad (equaling 14 oz of veggies)

Week 2 - Day 7:

 BREAKFAST: 7 Triscuits, 2 oz Cheddar Cheese, 6 oz Clementines & Strawberries. Great breakfast for fast Sunday mornings.

LUNCH: Turkey & Hummus, Nectarine, 6 oz Peppers, 1 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge (rolled up inside turkey).
This is a fast after-church lunch.

DINNER (mine): 4 oz Rib Eye Steak, 9 oz Steamed Cabbage, 5 oz Sauteed Onions and Mushrooms.

This was a luxury Sunday night meal! First time I've cooked steak and I browned it in butter and finished it in a 350 degree oven. It was perfect medium well with just enough pink inside. I seasoned it with "Chicago Steak Seasoning" (no sugar) and it was perfect!  

DINNER (Brent's): 3 Eggs Scramble with Onions, Peppers, & Tomatoes and Steamed Cabbage. (All veggies came to 14 oz.)  Brent LOVED this scramble - so tasty. He puts hot sauce on everything now that he used to put ketchup on and he loves it. It helps him not miss ketchup. 

So far we are happy with our Bright Line Eating.  I bought a Meal Planner book off of Amazon (Link here - no affiliation). 

I like this book because it let's me plan my meals by the week.  I've been filling it out on Sunday night for the next week. I do it in pencil so I can adjust as needed. 

Then I just put an X on the side when I'm done with that day. I sometimes have to adjust my plans according to what food I have on hand. I allow myself to make these adjustments as long as I'm staying within my Bright Line Eating standards. :)

On a side note, we got a new puppy!  Little Licorish joined our family last week (we've been waiting for her to turn 8 weeks old) and she is such a spunky, sassy little SWEETHEART!!

 She is a Maltipoo and only 2 pounds 4 ounces right now. We are all in love with her. She joins our family with one other puppy - a 3 month old Cockapoo, and a cat.

She's been held and spoiled most every day of her life so she has a hard time being away from us. Sometimes I let her sit on my desk as I work. She is actually in-front of me right now chewing on a chew stick. If I don't have grand-babies yet, at least I can enjoy this adorable, soft little bug!

Carry on my friends!

Life is good!

~Margene xoxOOX