Menu Monday - Week of May 13th - 19th

Happy Monday everyone!  Today I'm officially declaring Monday - Menu Monday!  I will post my low carb menu every Monday.  You can also follow me on MyFitnessPal!

I've been a really junky eater today and I'm seeing the MONTH long goal of not to eat any junk food.  So I do declare that today until June 13th....No Chocolates, Cookies, or Anything that is bad for me.

For more information on my diet plan and my weight loss, please view my ABOUT ME section.

For more information about my diet please check out the 

Monday:

B:  Smart One's Omelette 

S:  Cinnamon South Beach Bar

L:  INDIAN BUFFET (Not a good day.)

S:  Ritz Crackers and Cheese

D:  Shrimp on Flat Bread

S:  Diet Ginger Ale

Tuesday:

B:  Waffles with Turkey Sausage

S:  Cinnimon South Beach Bar

L:  Shrimp on Flat Bread

S:  Pineapple and Laughing Cow Cheese

D:  Ground Beef stuffed peppers

S:  

Wednesday

B:  Egg Whites with Toast

S:  Apple with Cheese Stick

L:  Ground Beef stuffed peppers

S:  Ritz crackers and peanut butter

D:  Garlic and Herb Pork Tenderloin w/ Veggies

S:

Thursday:

B:  Waffles and Turkey Sausage

S:  Apple and Cheese Stick

L:  Pork Tenderloin

S:  Side salad and Chicken

D:  Ground Turkey

S:

Friday

B:  Cereal

S:  Side salad and chicken

L:  Ground Turkey

S:  Orange and Cheese Stick

D:  Sweet Sausage

S:

Saturday

B:  Cereal

S:  Ham and Ritz

L:  Sweet Sausage

S:  Side Salad and Chicken

D:  Steak or Fish

S:

Sunday

B:  Sausage and Waffles

S:  Ham and side salad

L:  Steak or Fish

S:  Pineapple and Chicken

D:  Chicken Breast  

S:

Weekly Grocery and Meal Plan: May 4th - May 11th

I follow the LINK AND BALANCE diet.  I try and stick to a 7 protein to 15 carb ratio.  I do not go above 15 protein to 30 carbs at any given meal.  

Saturday:
Breakfast:  Waffles and Egos w/ Folgers Coffee Mocha Swirl, 2 Splenda packets
Snack:  Keg Style Root Beer
Lunch:  Pot Pie
Snack: Pineapples and mini ham
Dinner:  Ground Beef Tacos

Total Calories: 1200
Workout: Zumba for 60 minutes = 334 calories

Sunday
Breakfast:  Egg whites and flat bread
Snack: Antipasto    
Lunch:  Flat bread and Tuna
Snack:  Apple w/ weight watchers string cheese
Dinner:  Ground Beef Burgers w/ Steam Fresh Green

Total Calories:  1200
Workout:  Jogging to C25k by Len Labs = 190 Calories

Monday
Breakfast:  Smart Ones
Snack:  Atkins - Cranberry and Almond
Lunch:  Ground Beef Burgers
Snack:  Antipasto
Dinner:  Chicken Thighs

Total Calories:  1200
Workout:  Zumba for 60 minutes:  334 Calories

Tuesday
Breakfast:  Egos and Turkey Sausage
Snack:  Atkins - Cranberry and Almond
Lunch:  Chicken Thighs
Snack: Antipasto
Dinner  Hotdogs on Whole Wheat buns

Total Calories:  1200
Workout:  Jogging to C25k by Len Labs = 190 Calories

Wednesday
Breakfast:  Smart Ones
Snack:  Atkins - Cranberry
Lunch: Hotdogs on Whole wheat
Snack:  Orange with cheese stick
Dinner:  Turkey Sloppy Joes

Total Calories:  1200
Workout:  Rest

Thursday
Breakfast:  Egos and Sausage
Snack:  Atkins - Cranberry
Lunch:  Frozen Dinner
Snack:  Orange and Mini Hams
Dinner:  Pork Tenderloin

Total Calories:  1200
Workout:  Jogging to C25k by Len Labs = 190 Calories


Friday
Breakfast:  Smart Ones
Snack:  Atkins Cranberry
Lunch:  Pork Tenderloin
Snack:  Orange and Almonds/Cheese Stick
Dinner:  Fish - random side

Total Calories:  1200
Workout:  Rest

Low Carb Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie

Being a classy southern belle I too crave the occasional southern delight.  This week it has been Chicken Pot Pies.  I had been thinking of a recipe to make and then it hit me, why not use reduced fat crescent rolls??!  I originally wanted to make these in muffin pans.  One roll per cup with stuff in the middle?  NEXT TIME!

It tasted amazing and will defiantly be made again!

Serves:  4

Ingredients:
1 Container - Pillsbury - Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls (8)
1 chicken breast, 3 cups - Shady Brook Farms (Food Lion Brand)
2 Cups - Chicken Broth
2/3 C. Peas - Generic
1 C. Green Beans - Generic
2 Stalks Celery
1 C. Carrots
1.5 Tbs Corn Starch - Harris Teeter

Calories, Carbs, Fat, Protein, Sugar, Fiber

Total:	1,182	141	35	73	37	11
Per Serving:	296	35	9	18	9	3

Preheat your oven for 375 degrees.

Start by bringing your 2 cups of chicken broth to a boil.  After it comes to a boil, slowly add the corn starch and boil....

THIS is where things got sketchy for me.  As I was adding the corn starch, about 3 table spoons worth, it was lumping up and I had to strain it.  "OH NO MY LUMPS" I was saying in my best Lumpy Space Princess Voice.  It strained out 1.5 tablespoons of lumps.

NOTE FOR NEXT TIME:  I was reading on the internet and it said if you added it to a cold liquid first before introducing it to boiling chicken broth.  The sauce still thickened up after about 2 minutes boiling and after straining the lumps.

After you strain (if needed) and the sauce thickens add the chickens and all the vegetables!  Good them until the vegetables are cooked.

CRUST:
I used a standard sized pie pan.  I took the roll of crescent rolls and stretched half (4) of them with my hands. they fit across the entire bottom.  I spooned the cooked chicken and vegetable sauce into the pan.  After placing the mixture into the pan, stretch the remaining crescent rolls and place them on the top.

Place in Oven and bake for 10-13 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Low Carbin' - Three Cheese Bison Baked "Ziti" Tofu

Since I discovered Shirataki Tofu Noodles at the store, I'm trying to make it a point to work them into more of my meals.  I stumbled across a recipe from Italian Food.com called Baked "ziti" W/ Tofu Shirataki

Brands Used:
Harris Teeter - Fancy Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Harris Teeter - 2% Sharp Cheddar Cheese-Shredded, 1/4 cup
Fresh Meat - Ground Bison, Great Range, 16 oz (113g)
Shirataki Tofu Noodles - Fettuccine Shaped Noodles, 16 OZ

Calories:  405  Carbs:  5g  Fat:  23g  Protein:  43  Sugar:  1  Fiber:  3

Rating:  4/5

Comment:  This dish was very delicious.  The texture of the shirataki noodles is nicely masked among the cheese and bison meat.

Low Carbin' - Slow Cooker Pork BBQ

Ever since I was a small child, there have only been two great debates among North Carolinians.  The first hot topic for discussion in my state is which college basketball team is better....UNC or Duke?  The second great debate is well.....BBQ.

At the store a few weeks ago I bought a 2 pound pork tenderloin for under $5!  That my friends, is a deal.  It has been sitting in my freezer ever since and I didn't have a clue on what to do with it.  UNTIL, I stumbled across this recipe from Healthy Low Carb Living - BBQ Pork Loin. 

SAY WHATTT?  BBQ Pork loin, how can you go wrong?  Although, I'm pretty picky about my BBQ.  Especially since NC is famous for it....

I also decided to use myfitnesspal.com to receive the Food Diary details.  Often when I put in these low BBQ recipes, they aren't low carb at all!

Ingredient Brands
Premium Farms - Pork Tenderloin
Hunt's 100% Natural Tomato Paste
Distilled White Vinegar - Walmart Brand
Worcestershire Sauce - Food Lion Brand
Chili Powder
Splenda
Dry Mustard

BBQ Pork Per Serving
Calories:  160  Carbs: 8  Fat:  3  Protein:  26  Sugar:  6  Fiber:  2

With Pepperidge Farm Classic Bun -
Calories: 270  Carbs:  25  Fat:  5  Protein:  35  Sugar:  8  Fiber:  4

With Green bean and Almond Steamable - Green Giant
Calories: 310 Carbs: 29  Fat:  7  Protein:  36  Sugar: 9 Fiber: 5

RATING:  4/5 Stars

SUMMARY:  I always love the way meat comes out of the slow cooker.  Falling off the bone good.  For this dish my only complaint was about the sauce.  The sauce didn't taste very BBQ like.  It needed to be spiced up and made thicker.  This would have allowed the sauce to stick to the pork and have that BBQ kick.

Weekly Menu - Low Carb - March 10 - March 16

Hello Everyone!  Just wanted to post my low carb menu for the week.  I know how frustrating it is to know have menu ideas for your diet.  My month's goal is to plan all of my meals in advance and stick to an eating schedule.  I've also started doing Zumba again!  I cannot wait for warm weather so everything else can fall into place. 

You can visit and add me on Myfitnesspal.com/toscarthearmada and see the diet information on these items. 

Sunday
Breakfast:  Coconut Pancakes 
Snack:  Pineapple and Mini Ham Bites
Lunch:  Italian Sweet Sausage with Corn
Snack:  Low Carb Anti Pasta Salad
Dinner:  Venison and Cabbage Soup with Cresent Roll

Monday
Breakfast:  Ego Waffles (Reduced Fat) with Jimmie Dean Turkey Sausage Patties 
Snack:  Antipasta
Lunch:  Venison and Cabbage
Snack:  Pineapple and Mini Ham Bites
Dinner:  Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash

Tuesday:
Breakfast:  Special K - Protein with Almond Milk
Snack:  Side Salad w/ Pepperoni
Lunch:  Meatballs with Squash
Snack:  Turkey and Ritz
Dinner:  Chicken Parm Sandwich - Soft Whole Wheat Bread - Side Salad

Wednesday
Breakfast:  Ego Waffles (Reduced Fat)  With Jimmie Dean Turkey Patties
Snack:  Side Salad with salami
Lunch:  Chicken Parm Sandwich - Side Salad
Snack:  Peanuts with carrots
Dinner:  Egg Drop Soup w/ homemade chicken broth - Homemade cheddar bread

Thursday
Breakfast:  Special K with Almond Milk
Snack:  Peanuts with carrots
Lunch:  Egg Drop Soup with - Homemade Bread
Snack:  Side Salad with Pepperoni
Dinner:  Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Friday
Breakfast: Omelet w/ Hashbrowns
Snack:  Side Salad with salami
Lunch:  Chicken Enchilada - Homemade Bread
Snack:  Trail Mix
Dinner:  Tacos

Saturday
Breakfast:  Omelet with Hashbrowns
Snack:  Peanut butter with Carrots
Lunch:  Tacos
Snack:  Ham and Ritz
Dinner:  Mustard and Ginger Turkey Chops

Low Carbin' It

Fit nicely into my diet today!  Score one for Harris Teeter!

-84 Pounds

 Before

After
For the past nine months I've been trying to change my life and lose weight.  In April on 2012 I found out that I had insulin resistance and my doctor put me on a low carb diet.  With my low cab diet I stick to a stick 15 carb to 7 protein ratio.  THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN AMAZING!  I lost 10 pounds a month for 8 month.  This last month I haven't lost anything weight.  I've been busying keeping my current weight.  Which is a huge accomplishment in my books.

My future goals?  Because I move this weekend I will be able to jog and attend a gym/dance classes.  I am also starting the 30 day shred tomorrow.  I am very optimistic about moving to my new place.  I'm so ready for warm weather to start water aerobics too.

Personally I'd like to lose about 30 ish pounds.  I started my weight loss journey at 256 pounds and made it to a 171.  I would love to be 145 pounds but I plan on doing strength training to tone and to bring that weight up.  Really, my over all goal is to be healthy. I'm at a really good point in my life.  =)