Whoo Hoo!!

I am officially comfortably wearing size jeans (dryer dried!) no wiggling, no sucking in of my tummy, easily buttoned and zipped!  I am also wearing a size 16 shirt that was known for "love handle creep" "Before".  I have a feeling that I am going to start demarking my life as before Atkins and After Atkins.  I am so glad that I am able to start wearing the other clothes in my closet!  That means I can use at LEAST 2 more pairs of jeans- possibly three.  I would like to drop down on more size before I wear my black legging like pants.  I don't wear them to work- but I like to wear them riding.

I am so excited!  I can't wait to crack the 170's!! :)

Pumpkin Flax Sugar Free Low Carb Muffins

Because I am on Induction with Atkins still I have been playing around with some muffins that don't contain flour.  They have something called a "MIM" or Muffin in a Minute that is cooked in the microwave. I don't much like the idea of cooking something completely in a microwave and their recipe just didn't sound tasty to me.  So I have been working on developing my own recipe.  They still aren't perfect, but definitly better than just plain edible.  Once I get to the next rung of the program where I can add nuts back in I will try some almond or hazelnut flour to provide a softer texture and richer taste.

So here goes my current incarnation of this recipe:

Pumpkin Flax Low Carb Muffins:

One can Organic Pumpkin Puree (Yes- get the organic.  Libby's is watery and the organic brands are nice and thick.)

1/2 cup Splenda
4 tbsp butter
2 1/4 t cinnamon
3/4 t nutmeg
scant 1/4 t ground cloves
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups golden flaxmeal.
3 eggs

Combine all ingredients, dry then wet.  Scoop into muffin tins.  They don't rise much and if the shape you put them in is globular- they bake that way.  They don't smooth out like wheat muffins would.  So I use an ice cream scoop with a sweeper trigger.

Bake at 375 for at least 25-30 minutes.

I like mine after they have cooled a it and with some butter.  Yum.

Facing down the Dragon...

I faced down my own personal dragon today.  Nora wanted to go to the carnival which we promised she could quite a few months ago.  You know- before I decided to be a reformed carb a holic.  The carnival is a perfect opportunity to get foods like elephant ears and funnel cakes. 

So as Nora was running around the house getting ready to go I was waging a war with my dragon.  Do I abandon all the hard work in getting OFF carbs in the first place and gorge myself on funnel cakes at the carnival?  Or should I stand strong and stay the course knowing that in the long run I will be all the better for not induging.

So we went to the carnival and I saw people eating those lovely fried funnel cakes loaded down with strawberries and whipped cream.  Oh man.  My mouth was watering and I was thanking my lucky stars that it wasn't a hot July day because my will power might have melted. 

Instead, Nora got to ride all her favorite rides and a few new ones that she is now tall enough to ride.  Then we went to Wal-Mart and grabbed a couple movies out of the Redbox and we had a fun afternoon watching movies together.

I couldn't believe it.  I made it out of the carnival without eating Fair Food!!  Either this is a mark of personal growth or there is something wrog with me! ;)