Eating: Low Carb

I know, I know, it's the middle of the holiday season and I'm not being perfect right now with my low carb eating; but I've been getting a few emails asking about my eating habits. So, I thought I'd write a big long post about it. Just kidding- it's going to be pretty boring as I eat a lot of the same things over and over.

I'm not a nutritionist so don't think I know anything but I do know my body and what has worked for it. For me it's low carb as much as I hate to admit it because who wants to admit that living a life with less carbs in it works? Not me but it's true. I feel better, I lose weight, I have energy (after the dreaded first 3 weeks), and surprisingly I eat less calories naturally because carbohydrates usually have more calories in them than protein. I also get fuller quicker and I stay fuller longer - those yahoo articles are right about protein being more filling than carbs. Who knew?! Anyways, I've been eating like this for six months now with one cheat day each month. Okay, so it's more like the dinner the night before cheat day and cheat day it's like Christmas Eve and Christmas. You have to open one present the night before because you're so excited right?! Exactly, moving on here are some examples of my typical breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinners. #dontjudgeme

BREAKFAST

Eggs... so many eggs. They fill you up and are great for you. I don't care if you think the yolk is bad I eat at least 2 of them a few times a week.

Bacon... I go in waves of eggs and bacon for breakfast but I've been eating less bacon lately and more egg. Any kind of meat is good for breakfast so I sometimes switch it up with sausage, steak, and veggies. But most of the time it's just plain ole bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast.


Protein shake... I've been drinking these a lot lately instead of eating a meal for breakfast. I make them at work with hot green tea, a scoop of PEScience, and a few cubes of ice. Shake it all together and I swear it tastes like a warm chai latte.

My favorite protein powder: SELECT Protein Chocolate 
Why: LESS THAN 1 CARB a scoop! Rich and creamy tasting! 110 Calories! 24 grams of Protein! It's the best I've tried yet. Oh and you can always get 50% off any purchase if you use code Melina50 (She's one of their Athletes)

Low Carb Pancakes...I'll post my personal recipe soon but you can google them as well. Basically just eggs and mashed bananas or cream cheese with disgusting "sugar free" syrup. I hate that syrup but it's decent enough to manipulate myself into thinking I'm eating real pancakes with syrup. I do like the after feeling with these pancakes vs real ones - I'm never bloated-gross full with them. The way I feel now after I eat a lot of bread is horrible compared to how I good I feel after eating a bunch of meat and veggies.

That's pretty much all I eat for breakfast but other options you might like are veggies in your eggs, cheese, meats, smoothies, etc. (Told you I'm boring) 







LUNCH 

Salad... I eat a few different salads but I'm sure someone not as picky as me would have even MORE options but this is what I do: taco chicken, taco beef, pepperoni, tuna, and steak loaded with cheese, and any other veggie I want usually on top of spinach. I don't like salad dressing so I always eat my salads dry. (Yes, I know I'm a freak but I think you're a freak for eating a slime like texture all over your food.) 

Breakfast... see above for example. If I end up drinking a protein shake for breakfast sometimes I will eat eggs and bacon for lunch. It's quick to make and yummy. Oh and I guess I should mention that I'm really lucky and work like five seconds away from my apartment so I come home every day for lunch. If I couldn't do this it would limit a bunch of my cooking options.

Meat/Cheese/Protein shake... I really like summer sausage and cheddar cheese. Both are low carb options and feel like I'm cheating my butt off but I'm not! Finish up that with a cold chocolate protein shake in my Vitamix and it makes me think I just had a full fat milkshake. It's my favorite guilty but innocent lunch.

Leftovers... Anything I cook for dinner fair game the next day.


DINNER

Beef Pasta (without the pasta)... So I used to really love Hamburger Helper and one day I tried making it from scratch instead of a box. Turns out it's super easy and all you need is a packet of Brown Gravy Mix / 1lb beef / pasta and some water and milk. Then when I started doing Low-Carb I thought - HEY, what if I replace the pasta with green beans. Cue life changing moment and my new favorite comfort food.

Lasagna... with pepperoni layers instead of noodles! It's so greasy and cheesy and good I might have squealed while typing this.

Pork Rhine Crusted Chicken Tenders... It's so good I don't even know where to start. Crush up some cracklings and put some Tony's in there - bread those chicken tenders and bake or fry them up. Top with cheese and bacon if you really feel like getting sassy.

Salads... Just like the lunch ones.

Spinach Crust Pizza... my Gluten Free friend turned me onto this one. Who knew they actually do have some tasty food and no Gluten sometimes means no Carb! In this case it you use spinach, eggs, and cheese in place of dough so it is Carb free!

Protein and Veggies... you name any combo and I have probably eaten it. Chicken/Steak/Fish every green vegetable under the sun any of those low carb options make GREAT dinners.














SNACKS

Questbars... Low Carb and dangerously delicious. I should probably cut back on these guys but they are just so yummy.

Fruit/Veggies/Meat/Cheese/Peanut Butter... I eat any of these for snack. It's all good.

Protein Shakes... see above. I love PEScience.


And that just about does it - pretty boring and very repetitive but I like it. I average 1700 or less calories a day / 35 or less Net Carbs /120+ of protein. This is what has been working for me - I think you just have to figure out what will work for you and until you do just keep trying everything. I always say give each new thing a month then move along if you aren't happy. Remember to love yourself along the way and know that no matter what it is in life just keep trying until you get it. Never give up and you won't ever fail.

I'm currently driving across the country with my husband and dog but trying to low-carb it the entire way. It's my birthday in a few days and those are automatic "cheat days"so no guilt here! I hope you got everything you wanted for Christmas!

XOXO