My problem area has always been my thunder thighs and ample hips.    Yes, this is an hourglass figure, but mine is extreme.   When I was at my best figure back in high-school I had a 26inch waist and each thigh was 23 inches.  

The issue is no matter how much I loose I still maintain this shape.   I am down to a 1x on top and still a 4x on bottom.   Finding clothes that fit well is extremely difficult.   For example I tried on size 28's the other day, I was excited that I was able to get into them, but they were too big in the waist by a couple of sizes and so tight in the thighs that I feared they would rip if I sat down.

I have been forced to buy clothes with elastic waist bands because they are the only pants that retract to my waist when they are large enough to fit my big thighs. 

Forget jeans, they NEVER fit right.   

Yes, I like having an hourglass figure, yes I am "lucky" to have a small waist, but it is still a pain because I can't have the nice tailored look.

So, I found a book this weekend at half-price books called 8 minutes in the morning to Lean Hips and Thin Thighs.  It sounds really promising.   

I tried the routine this morning,  it seemed fairly easy to do and only took 10 minutes total including warm up and cool-down/stretching.    Yet, all day my thighs and hips have felt the burn.   You know, that great feeling that you know you worked them right.  Not pain, just that "oh my - my muscles do exist" feeling.

They feel like they got much more of a workout than I get doing my usual treadmill or water jogging and it only took 8 minutes.  I will still do the other things because cardio serves a whole other purpose.

The theory behind his workout is to build long lean muscles (similar to Yoga or Pilates)  and then those muscles burn more fat all day long and so it is more effective than aerobic type exercises in reducing size.  

I will post more on this after a few weeks to let you know my progress.   I am hopeful. 

I took measurements and will post if I actually loose inches like they claim.  

Re-post from my old blog.  Originally written 9/9/09

I have had some friends say they can not do a low carb lifestyle because they don't have time to cook.  They live out of boxed foods, canned goods and frozen dinners all which are full of chemicals and full of carbs.

I work full-time, go to college, run an Avon business and help my husband with administrative duties in the Ministry (like manage the Church website, create the bulletins etc) so I understand being busy.

Here are a few suggestions for quick easy meals for those of you who don't have a lot of time to cook.

Open a can of tuna and add a little mayo.  You would be surprised how good it is even without the crackers or bread.

Nitrate free chicken sausages. I like Aidells. Their chicken with feta and spinach is fantastic. Just slice some up and fry it in a pan or microwave it.   Just be sure to look at labels, ones with sweeteners or fruits are more carbs.

I cook up a batch of beer marinated chicken every week and then can easily pop one of those breasts in the microwave at any time.

I make a crust-less quiche every week and have that most days for breakfast.

Frozen hamburger patties (beef or even turkey) are a quick fix. Simply stick them on a Forman grill and let them cook for a few minutes.  Yes, this is cooking but it only takes about as long as a frozen dinner does in the microwave.

Most leftovers also work great in a quick hurry.   I usually cook on the weekends and then have the leftovers for quick options during the busy week.

I don't personally eat this but they also make other canned meats like canned chicken or even canned corned beef.    Watch the sodium on these items and look to make sure they don't have nitrates.

I hope this gives you some ideas of some quick items you can eat on the run.

I took the idea of making food in a muffin tin for portion control and applied it to the crust less quiche that I love.

It has been wonderful.   Each piece is between 1.5 and 2.5 ounces so perfect for a meal. 
One quiche serving on a salad plate.


two fit in a small snack ziplock.  Easy to store in fridge.

Having them all prepared and pre-sized makes breakfast in a hurry a breeze.  I make up a batch and then nuke one for 30 seconds and enjoy for breakfast.  

Here is the base recipe I use:  
4 oz. bacon 
1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
6 eggs
3/4 c heavy cream
2 boxes (10 oz. each) frozen chopped broccoli or spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 
1/2 pound Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

If using bacon, pre-cook it and drain on paper towels.
If using fresh onion or other fresh veggies, saute first until soft.
Thaw the spinach and squeeze out all the water.  I let it sit in a strainer for a while and then put in kitchen towel and squeeze out.   Don't skip this or you will have egg soup instead of quiche.
Mix together all ingredients and bake at 350 for 1hour 15 mins.

I play a ton with this base recipe. 
The one in the photo for example has turkey ham instead of bacon, avocado and mushrooms added and only 1 box of spinach.  
I change it each time. 
I have had salmon and dill quiche.  I often use turkey deli meat instead of bacon. I have used chicken sausage and sun dried tomatoes.  Be creative.

The recipe above says it makes 8 but made in muffin tins it actually makes 18.  

Here is nutrition for 8 per recipe. lower it all accordingly since you will easily double the 8 servings mark.

• Servings Per Recipe: 8
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 210.1
• Total Fat: 17.0 g
• Cholesterol: 212.8 mg
• Sodium: 489.5 mg
• Total Carbs: 4.7 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1.8 g
• Protein: 10.7 g

First of all, it is amazing what stress does to our lives.  

I had been basically on a plateau for several weeks.  I would gain and loose the same 2 lbs over and over but never really made any progress.  

As I have written before, I was unhappy in my job. It was stressful and without going into brutal details just not a healthy situation.  I had applied for and received a new job but my old boss kept me for the maximum amount of time he could which was 6 weeks.  I wanted out of the stressful situation and able to get on with my life, but I was stuck with the stress.  

Well, this week Monday I started my new job and I LOVE it.   the people are wonderful, the job is rewarding, exciting and challenging etc...  and the best part... Every day I am waking up and the scale is moving. 

EVERY day this week!!!.  

I went to my primary doctors yesterday and fully dressed after work I weighed 316 on her scale.   My plateau was keeping me around at 322ish.   It is like when I finally was able to start this new job and all of the stress went out of my body, the lbs went with it.  

So, SV (Scale Victory).   Down total of 87lbs and counting.   Down 6lbs this week.   WOO HOO!!

NSG (Non Scale goal).  I have had a goal to workout at least 3 days a week and this week so far I am 3 for 4.  I plan on going tomorrow night too for 4 out of 5 days. Another benefit of the new job, I am not so stressed and spent at the end of the day that all I can do is crawl into my blankey and hide.  I actually want to work out after work.  

And two NSV (Non-Scale Victories) that occurred yesterday at the my doctors office:
     First: I was asked to sit in a chair near the blood pressure machine so they could take my vitals.   A few months ago I would not have even attempted to fit in the chair. It was a standard arm chair, not large at all. I decided to try it and actually fit.  And not squeezed in with pain due to arms digging into my legs, I actually fit!   And I wasn't worried about it breaking.  

    Second: The last time I was at my doctors  I weighed 356 so they had to have me use the scale in a different doctors office because their scale only went up to 350.   Well, this time, no problem.  I was able to use the standard doctors office scale.  

Small victories, but victories indeed.   What a great few days. 

All this with no real  restriction in my band.   I can't wait until my band is filled to a place where it is doing something and this tool starts helping.  I am doing great on my own due to just strong will, but it will be so nice to have the help.

I have been experimenting with recipes and wanted to share my new fav: Protein ice-cream.  This is adapted from World according to Eggface. 

Eggface's recipe uses milk but since I do low carb, I don't do milk.   So, I decided to play around with it and I have a winner.   Not only are these delicious, they actually can count toward your protein for the day.   I have been doing it as an after work treat. 

Two versions I have made so far:

Chocolate:
2 Scoops of chocolate Protein powder
3/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 cup Half and Half
1/4 cup water
dash salt
Davinci syrup to taste (I used caramel)

Mint Choc Chip:
2 Scoops of Vanilla Protein powder
3/4 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 cup Half and Half
1/4 cup water
dash salt
1/2 tsp Mint extract
Green food coloring.
1 small piece of good quality extra dark chocolate or sugar free chocolate. (The chocolate adds some calories and carbs but not too bad and worth it)


Mix and add to ice cream maker and run per directions.  

WARNING:  These freeze REALLY hard.   I put them in really small containers so each one is a single 2 ounce serving.  It is too hard to scoop out of a larger container. I learned that the hard way and had to nuke the first batch ever time I wanted some.

Here is basic nutrition info (not including chocolate bar added to mint one)

Serving Size	2 oz
Calories	150
Total Fat	13.3 g
Saturated Fat	8.3 g
Trans Fat	3.8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	48 mg
Sodium	0 mg
Potassium	0 mg
Total Carbohydrate	3 g
Dietary Fiber	0 g
Sugar	3 g
Protein	8 g