Hi everyone!

How was everyone's day? Jcent and e.taylor - glad to hear you both did well!

I had a great day today. Lots of protein today, protein shake mid morning, a grass fed lean ground beef homemade hamburger (3 oz) for lunch with cheese and veggies, 1/2 a protein bar after the gym, and an omelette with cheese, mushrooms and ham for dinner.

I ALSO got to go to the gym (my body really missed it, and stepped right up to the task! It felt exhilarating!)! It had been about 3 or 4 weeks since I could go as I've been pulling 18 hour workdays to finish some projects before Christmas. As a bonus, my gym was giving out freshly washed apples to people - so I shared one with DD when I got home. That was my only sugar today.

I had an NSV (non-scale victory) today, thought I'd share with my pals here - I went shopping after the gym with a friend. I was in a regular clothing store, and found a pair of size 14 capris for my vacation. I put them on and they FIT. I've gone from a very tight size 24 to a size 14 (34 inch waist)! I'm not done, but I'm on my way!

I agree with you ladies - this isn't a diet for me. It's the only way my body functions well. I get depressed, and have migraines that keep me in bed for a week at a time if I eat processed sugar or wheat/carbs. Not to mention the weight gain, the insulin and other hormone problems I have (from Insulin Resistance and PCOS), infertility... yeah... carbs are freaking evil for my body. My body is NORMAL now, without all that stuff.

e.taylor - can I ask for the recipe for your cream cheese squares? I'd love to try making them. I tried a gluten free donut recipe recently, and I butchered it. I need more recipes to try new things. LOL.

Congratulations!!!!! WOW that's a huge change! You must feel amazing!

The cream cheese squares are SUPER easy.

1 box (8 oz.) organic cream cheese (soften)
1 stick butter
1 cup organic coconut flour
½ cup organic whole sugar (I use a tsp of liquid stevia)
4 large eggs
2½ tsp. organic vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. Virgin Coconut Oil

Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees F. Brush pan with coconut oil.

Beat butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer. Mix until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Beat well. Add sugar gradually, continue mixing. Add coconut flour and vanilla; beat until well blended.

Pour batter into a 11x7 inches rectangular pan (pre-greased, see above.)

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Cool the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

YUM! totally gonna try that! And just want to say for anyone that has not tried organic cream cheese... iT is AMAZING and nothing like Philly.


Congrats on your great day too Dayna!

ZOMG! YES! It's a totally different ballgame. I made grain free pumpkin muffins and of course had to make a cream cheese "topping" afterwards. I used organic cream cheese, a stick of butter, vanilla and a bit of stevia. I swear to all that is holy I was walking around with a bowl of it looking for ANYTHING that would stand still long enough for me to spread it on. It's THAT good. I was ready to eat a book so long as it had the cream cheese concoction.

Hello! I would love to join! I too have not been eating wheat for several years but I am not feeling great and need to do less carbs and sugar and eat more protein......I have had some challenges lately that have left me feeling kinda down and super achey and tired so getting on track with food and forcing myself to exercise will make a huge difference in how I feel. Yay! I am so excited to get back on track! Thanks for the inspiration ladies!

Oh and Jcent.....what exactly is "cauliflower rice"?

Welcome to the group! It is just cauliflower, shredded with a cheese grater, and then sauted with butter and seasoning (we like garlic). You cook it like that until the water is cooked out and it is soft like rice. YUM!

Thanks for the welcome Jcent and good lord that "rice" sounds good!!!!!

It is! I usually do cauliflower and parsnip because I prefer that texture, but you can do SO much with it. I've added pine nuts at times, different herbs, avocado, cilantro and tomato....just like rice the varieties are endless. And I don't have a ricer, I just use a food processor. A ricer would be better but I haven't gotten off my butt to get one.

We also do it cheese free (kiddos can't do dairy) and it's still delish! I prefer the cheesy version though.

Terrible! My DH knows my weakness for Gethsemani Farms fruitcake, and Monday afternoon 5lb of it arrived at my door!!!! Darn, darn, darn........