December 31, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

10:45AM
4 eggs--320 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
4 Jimmy Dean sausage patties--520 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin Salsa Cheddar and Colby Jack cheeses--440 calories

7:15PM
1 hamburger patties--432 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Pepper Jack cheese--440 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 31 TOTAL CALORIES: 2312

CURRENT WEIGHT: 239.8

NOTE: It was Day 31 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and my FINAL day of the official "sweet"-free challenge. My commitment to this never wavered and the results were incredible--for the first time in the past year I'm back into the 230s again! YES!!!

Although I am not going to be on a specific challenge that requires me to be "sweet"-free, what you will notice is not much will change henceforth from what I've been doing as of late. Tomorrow I will have a diet soda and maybe something chocolate, but then right back on it again the next day. I am proud of this journey I've been taking and look forward to continuing it with you in 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

December 30, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

12:45PM
2 hamburger patties--864 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin Salsa Cheddar and Colby Jack cheeses--440 calories
2 Tbs mayo--200 calories

5:15PM
2 filets grilled Pacific Salmon--150 calories
4 shrimp scampi--55 calories
3 servings vegetable medley (squash, green beans, carrots)--150 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 30 TOTAL CALORIES: 1979

CURRENT WEIGHT: 240.8

NOTE: It was Day 30 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and it's time to talk about paradigm shifts. They can happen at any moment in your life, but when they take hold for good some exciting things usually follow. I experienced one in 2004 when I decided to stop living my life eating whatever I wanted thinking there were no consequences to those actions. Weighing over 400 pounds and on a one-way ticket to an early grave made me realize that things needed to change...PERMANENTLY!

The result of that decision was an amazing journey to lose 180 pounds in one year. But rather than sitting back on my laurels all proud of myself for what I was able to accomplish with the weight loss, I did something that many dieters forget to do--I CONTINUED to eat my healthy low-carb diet because it's better to dance with the one that brung ya than to try to court any of those old habits ever again.

And even in 2008 when my weight started going crazy on me following a series of events in my life (weight lifting, failed IVF cycle, the loss of my brother Kevin, ongoing health issues with my wife Christine) propelling my weight to go up by about 35 pounds, I knew it could take another paradigm shift in my life to turn that around. That's exactly what the "sweet"-free challenge has been for me in November and December and the results speak for themselves.

Since mid-October when I was pushing 270 pounds and feeling discouraged by my weight refusing to come down again, I have lost almost 30 pounds! This would not have been possible had I not implemented my "sweet"-free strategy which has proven to be the key to my success. It's not the panacea for weight loss in every case, but it was for Jimmy Moore. Heading into 2009, I will be continuing this journey for the majority of the time and look forward to seeing more great positive changes.

Have you experienced any paradigm shifts in your diet you'd like to share?

December 29, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:00AM
2 eggs--120 calories
2 sausage links--300 calories
2 bacon slices--100 calories
Green peppers and onions in butter--125 calories
Cheddar cheese--120 calories
Pico de gallo--10 calories
3 Tbs sour cream--90 calories
Mixed veggies (broccoli, green beans, squash, red peppers)--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--100 calories

5:45PM
45-minute spin class

8:00PM
3/4 cup of walnuts--600 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 29 TOTAL CALORIES: 1615

CURRENT WEIGHT: 240.4

NOTE: It was Day 29 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and with two days to go in the challenge I am a mere half-pound away from getting back in the 230s again for the first time in over a year. This has been a long time coming, but I'm encouraged by the progress I have seen. Hopefully my struggles earlier this year and now success have given you the "can-do" attitude you'll need to make it happen for yourself, too. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you along in your own journey to better health.

You'll see I added back some exercise into my routine for the first time in several weeks. I took a little bit of a break from it because of the knee sprain I endured last month pushing my car out of the middle of the road when the transmission blew up in Hilton Head, SC. It still hurts when I make a cut move or bend it fully, but I think it is gonna heal. I'm taking it easy and only did spin class with it today to lessen the impact. I did notice I was a little more breathless than usual from being away from it for so long. That conditioning will return quickly, though.

The new year is almost here and I can't wait to see all the new people who are wanting to try the exciting low-carb lifestyle for themselves. There is so much hopelessness in regards to weight and health that I earnestly want people to know it is NOT impossible to shed the pounds and restore your health if you simply make better choices for yourself.

Fat is your friend and should not be skimped. Protein should be eaten at every meal. Carbohydrates are unnecessary in your diet and should be consumed minimally. These basic principles of livin' la vida low-carb could go a long way towards restoring the health of our nation and of the world.

Will health leaders ever figure this out?

December 28, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

12:30PM
2 eggs--120 calories
2 sausage links--300 calories
2 bacon slices--100 calories
Green peppers and onions in butter--125 calories
Cheddar cheese--120 calories
Pico de gallo--10 calories
3 Tbs sour cream--90 calories
Mixed veggies (broccoli, green beans, squash, red peppers)--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--100 calories

6:15PM
1 hamburger patty--430 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 slices American cheese--120 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories
3 ounces cashews--510

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 28 TOTAL CALORIES: 2295

CURRENT WEIGHT: 241.2

NOTE: It was Day 28 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I'm headed into the final days of my official challenge. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop the momentum I started the past couple of months! No sirree, Bob!

While I won't necessarily be on a challenge requiring me to stay "sweet"-free beginning on January 1, 2009, I've learned quite a bit about myself and my body through this experience of giving up the "sweet" taste altogether. I never would have thought I could do this before, but now that it has happened and I'm still doing well simply proves it CAN be done.

Will consuming something with a "sweet" taste destroy my efforts? Of course not. But the closer I can be to "sweet"-free over the long-term, the better. And that's what I intend to do. Three more days to get into the 230s! Keep watching to see if I make it!

December 27, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

9:30AM
2 eggs--120 calories
2 sausage links--300 calories
2 bacon slices--100 calories
Green peppers and onions in butter--125 calories
Cheddar cheese--120 calories
Pico de gallo--10 calories
1 Tbs sour cream--30 calories
Mixed veggies (broccoli, green beans, squash, red peppers)--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--100 calories

6:30PM
7 ounce petite sirloin steak--206 calories
Mashed cauliflower--153 calories
Premium baby green beans--85 calories
1 Tbs butter--100 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 27 TOTAL CALORIES: 1498

CURRENT WEIGHT: 241.6

NOTE: It was Day 27 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and today was my 37th birthday. Most people use the holidays and their birthday to excuse themselves for indiscretions from their diet. They say it only comes once a year, so "live a little."

Well, I'm sorry, but I can't do that to my body even for a special day like a birthday. Sure, it's a nice occasion to designate with fun activities with family and friends. But why put yourself through the heartache and pain that comes from eating something as nutritionally bankrupt as birthday cake when you could have just as much enjoyment eating a tender and juicy steak instead! That's what I did and LOVED it!

This really is TOO important for me to come up with excuses for NOT doing. I'm DOING it and feel proud of what I am doing. The results of my commitment now will last me much longer than the buzz I'd get from downing some sugar-flavored Crisco icing on a cake! Today was a FABULOUS day and I'm just getting started on living my life the way it was always meant to be lived--FREE from the worries of weight and health problems forever! WOO HOO! Are you excited yet?

December 26, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:00AM
3 ounces cashews--510 calories

1:30PM
Tortilla chips with salsa--150 calories
2 ounces chicken--100 calories
2 shrimp--50 calories
3 ounces beef--150 calories
Cheese and cheese sauce--200 calories

8:45PM
3 ounces cashews--510 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 26 TOTAL CALORIES: 1670

CURRENT WEIGHT: 243.6

NOTE: It was Day 26 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I want to rant just a bit today. I took Christine out to the local Mexican restaurant called Bronco's today. They serve authentic Mexican cuisine and it really is one of the hidden secrets of our town. Reasonably priced and outstanding quality food!

But today when I was looking over the menu for something low-carb to eat, I saw a dish with beef, chicken, and shrimp without any starches (or so I thought). I asked the server if there was any rice or beans in this dish and she proudly exclaimed back, "No, but I can add them if you'd like." I assured her that I did NOT want those things and placed my order.

So imagine my surprise when the food got to the table and there was not just rice and beans in it, but also white flour cheese wrap thingys. I was disappointed, but decided to eat around the stuff I didn't want. I did have some tortilla chips with salsa, but everything else was on plan and most definitely "sweet"-free. That kept me full for most of the day. It was a gentle reminder that you have to be explicitly clear about what you want or you'll get something you might not expect! :)

December 25, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

12:00PM
2 eggs--120 calories
2 sausage links--300 calories
2 bacon slices--100 calories
Green peppers and onions in butter--125 calories
Cheddar cheese--120 calories
Pico de gallo--10 calories
3 Tbs sour cream--90 calories
Mixed veggies (broccoli, green beans, squash, red peppers)--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--100 calories

6:15PM
1 beef hamburger patty--432 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 slices American cheese--120 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories
2 ounces cashews--340 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 25 TOTAL CALORIES: 2227

CURRENT WEIGHT: 242.0

NOTE: It was Day 25 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and Christmas Day was MUCH better without the "sweet" foods in it. Although our neighbor invited Christine and I to have Christmas dinner with them, I politely declined when I found out they were serving honey ham, macaroni and cheese, and sweet potato pie. They understood because they know about my low-carb weight loss and commitment.

I took Christine out to Denny's for breakfast and I enjoyed a great skillet meal there with lots of excellent low-carb foods like eggs, bacon, sausage, and non-starchy veggies. They let me substitute the hashbrowns and tortillas with some veggies and cheese and this meal was delicious! When I got finished, I wasn't stuffed but very satisfied.

It was great to make it through a major holiday like today without giving in to temptation at all. Of course, it's been SEVERAL Christmases since I first lost my weight, so resisting sugar wasn't so difficult. But this was my first one without "sweet" at all and I'm doing perfectly fine.

In fact, I'm invigorated now more than ever to keep the momentum going strong into 2009 to keep my weight doing what it needs to do while maintaining the optimal health I have already built up from nearly five years of livin' la vida low-carb!

Hope your Christmas was everything you expected it to be. And if you think you "messed up," let me encourage you to get right back on plan ASAP and don't look back. You'll NEVER regret it!

December 24, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:00AM
4 eggs--320 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin Salsa Cheddar and Colby Jack cheeses--440 calories

6:30PM
1 beef hamburger patty--432 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 slices American cheese--120 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories
2 ounces cashews--340 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 24 TOTAL CALORIES: 1932

CURRENT WEIGHT: 243.6

NOTE: It was Day 24 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and it's Christmas Eve! I pretty much blew off working today to spend some time with the kids from across the street. One of them named Rachel was blessed with a slew of AWESOME gifts from her Sunday School teacher at church and we had a fun day playing the Wii most of the day. They are underprivileged children who don't get to enjoy nice things like new clothes and all the latest technologies like video games that most kids these days take for granted. It was such a joy to me to see their smiling faces for a few hours away from the cruelty of the real world.

My weight is still heading in the right direction and I have every intention of keeping it going on Christmas Day as well. Why wouldn't I? This has been an AMAZING experience. THANKS for joining me in this with your incredible support. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

December 23, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

12:00PM
4 eggs--320 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin Salsa Cheddar and Colby Jack cheeses--440 calories

6:00PM
3 Italian sausages--858 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 23 TOTAL CALORIES: 1678

CURRENT WEIGHT: 244.4

NOTE: It was Day 23 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I'm still not very hungry right now. I picked up some really tasty Italian sausages which give me plenty of fat and protein to keep my hunger at bay. I suppose it's a blessing to be able to eat this way and not feel hungry at all. Studies have shown that consuming a low-carb food like eggs can indeed lead to a spontaneous drop in caloric intake due to the satiety. That's exactly what is happening to me right now...and I am enjoying that feeling. Although my weight was up slightly today, the trend is still looking very good.

December 22, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

12:00PM
4 eggs--320 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin Swiss and Colby Jack cheeses--440 calories

6:45PM
4 ounces cashews and walnuts--675 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 22 TOTAL CALORIES: 1495

CURRENT WEIGHT: 242.8

NOTE: It was Day 22 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I wasn't at all hungry today. Some days are like that and I guess it should be a blessing to be satisfied on eating less sometimes. It certainly beats the alternative of my former morbidly obese life when I weighed 400 pounds and would down garbage foods for no apparent reason at all. I'm so glad those days are LONG gone and I'm eating in a way that makes me happy and healthy at the same time.

December 21, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

8:45AM
4 ounces cashews and walnuts--675 calories

12:30PM
5 ounces cooked shrimp--150 calories
2 Tbs coconut oil--240 calories

2:45PM
4 ounces fine Wisconsin cheeses--440 calories

8:45PM
4 eggs--320 calories
2 Tbs butter--120 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 21 TOTAL CALORIES: 1945

CURRENT WEIGHT: 242.4

NOTE: It was Day 21 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and what a day it was! Sundays are always a little hectic with church in the mornings, but today was especially busy with two Christmas concerts by the adult choir this afternoon and evening. Before church this morning I grabbed some nuts to tide me over until I got home around noon. Then I had some shrimp cooked in coconut oil with a touch of garlic salt. YUMMY! Right before we left for the first concert, I snacked on some cheese to help keep my hunger at bay because...

You'll NEVER believe what they served between the two concerts as part of a fellowship time--DESSERTS!!! That's right, it was a "sweet"-filled festival of carbs, carbs, and more carbs. Of course, this doesn't bother me and hasn't for years since I gave up sugar in 2004. But it disgusted me that of all the things you could serve to people it had to be sugary carb-loaded junk. Man, we have a long way to go to wake up this country to this health damage of our own making!

Obviously I opted out of partaking in the desserts and could not eat again until after our second concert was finished after 8:00PM. When I got home, I decided to cook up some eggs in butter to eat while watching the Carolina Panthers/New York Giants NFL football game on television. It was a busy day, but I still ate well.

With only a few days left in the official "challenge," I'm feeling great about continuing this into the new year. I don't feel I need to be obligated to do it 100% of the time, but maybe I'll treat those moments like I used to with my every 6-8 weeks planned splurges...except this time the "splurge" will be with low-carb, sugar-free stuff. Who knows, I may not need it!

THANK YOU to everyone for your encouragement through this! The weight is STILL dropping!

December 20, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:45AM
5 deviled eggs--320 calories
1/2 pound chicken salad--272 calories
2 ounces cheddar cheese--330 calories

6:30PM
1 hamburger patty--432 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Salsa Cheddar cheese--220 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories
1 1/2 ounces walnuts--300 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 20 TOTAL CALORIES: 2094

CURRENT WEIGHT: 243.8

NOTE: It was Day 20 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I'm going into the home stretch. Some would say this next week will be the most difficult for me because of Christmas and my birthday, but why should those days be any different than the past 20 days? Sure, they're important occasions, but that doesn't mean I feel obligated to indulge even a little on those days at all. In fact, I don't even feel tempted to give in one iota.

For example, the adult choir had a dress rehearsal today for our Christmas concert tomorrow afternoon and after we finished practicing we had a fellowship where there was gobs of food! Chicken fingers, potato salad, weenie dogs in BBQ sauce and of course, DESSERTS galore. None of that appealed to me at all. What did I have? Deviled eggs, cheese, and chicken salad...and LOVED IT! No deprivation at all because I am making better choices for the sake of my health. It's the same kind of choices that I've been making since my weight loss in 2004 and now it's just habit to eat this way.

Let me encourage you to keep pursuing making those better choices for the sake of your own health and you'll be happier because of it. Even when the holidays roll around! THANKS for reading!

December 19, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:30AM
4 eggs--320 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Salsa Cheddar cheese--220 calories

6:30PM
3 ounces cashews--480 calories
1 hamburger patty--432 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Swiss cheese--220 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 19 TOTAL CALORIES: 1958

CURRENT WEIGHT: 243.4

NOTE: It was Day 19 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I am still feeling well physically without the "sweet" in my life and the freedom from that is invigorating. Going through change can sometimes be tough to deal with, but once you get used to it the body very quickly adapts. I'm so thankful for this and look forward to the long-term changes to come as a result.

I wanted to address something here that has come up within the course of the discussion of my menus in recent days. It has to do with some criticism of my menus featuring cashews and other nuts. Nuts are a wholesome, natural real food that can and should be consumed as part of a healthy diet. That's why they appear in my menus so often, including today. While some have asserted they are equivalent to sugar and even drugs, all the evidence I have seen from extensive research on nuts is that they benefit many facets of health. For that reason, they are well worth consuming regularly as part of a healthy diet.

On the subject of criticism, I welcome and encourage it as part of the discussion process. That's what makes blogging a wonderfully interactive way to learn from one another and I appreciate ALL comments. If you write a comment, then it WILL be posted. However, as stated in my blog disclaimer, vulgarity, profanity, and commercial uses of comments will not be tolerated and will be subject to moderation. Simply disagreeing with an opinion I've shared will not result in the comment being moderated.

It is not my intention to get into an argument over my menus. This blog simply shares with you what I eat and nothing more. That's been the purpose from day one and will continue to be the purpose as long as it continues. I'm excited to see so many others joining me in this and being transparent in their own low-carb journey. CONGRATULATIONS to you all because you've done so well. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!! :)

December 18, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:30AM
3 eggs--240 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
1 Tbs heavy cream--50 calories
2 ounces goat cheese--140 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

6:30PM
1 hamburger patty--432 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Colby Jack cheese--220 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 18 TOTAL CALORIES: 2160

CURRENT WEIGHT: 246.4

NOTE: It was Day 18 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I'm feeling great! Thoughts about eating ANYTHING "sweet" hasn't even crossed my mind in a while and I am starting to believe I can really eat this way as a basic plan for the rest of my life. I must emphasize how INCREDIBLE this is considering my deep desire for consuming foods with a "sweet" taste to them. If you would have told me I could make it without eating sweet a few months ago, I would have thought you were crazy. But it's happenning...and I LOVE IT!

December 17, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

12:30PM
4 ounces filet mignon steak--200 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
1 Tbs sour cream--30 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Pepperjack cheese--220 calories

4:45PM
3 ounces cashews--480 calories

7:30PM
4 sausage patties--800 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 17 TOTAL CALORIES: 1850

CURRENT WEIGHT: 245.6

NOTE: It was Day 17 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I had planned on eating more food in my first meal of the day today. I prepared about 9 ounces of the meat, but after just a few bites I was getting full. Rather than force the food in, I just stopped eating and threw the rest of it away. Maybe my body is getting more efficient at digesting lower amounts of food giving me both the satiety and nourishment I need. The weight is still coming off, so something right is happening.

You may have noticed over the past week or so that my exercise schedule has been significantly reduced. That is by design right now because of an injury to my left leg. Remember when the transmission went out in my car last month while Christine and I were in Hilton Head, SC for her chelation treatments? When we pushed the car out of the road, I twisted my knee and it has been sore ever since. I can walk on it and do any forward motion. But bending it is quite painful which makes doing yoga and Pilates, for example, harder than they need to be. So I'm taking a break from those things to see if the leg will heal.

Christmas and my birthday are coming up next week and I don't have any inclination to eat anything "sweet" at all. THIS IS SO HUGE!!! I'm not saying I'm cured of my desire for "sweet" but I'm well on my way to seeing this as a lifetime way of eating for me. It's not just low-carb...it's "sweet"-free low-carb! :D

December 16, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:15AM
3 eggs--240 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
1 Tbs heavy cream--50 calories
2 ounces goat cheese--140 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

5:15PM
4 ounces cashews--640 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 16 TOTAL CALORIES: 1730

CURRENT WEIGHT: 246.2

NOTE: It was Day 16 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I noticed something pretty incredible happen today that I haven't seen in a very long time. One reason I know my insulin levels have been elevated this year (besides the weight gain) is my skin would breakout in pimples. I'll turn 37 years old next Saturday and I STILL have acne on my face?! UGH!

But this morning I looked in the mirror to see if any pimples were around my nose or chin like they normally are and my skin was ALL CLEAR! WOO HOO! Although the insulin is probably still running a little more rampant than it was just a few months ago, this is a GREAT sign that my current dietary strategy is helping me get this under control. It is yet another perfect reason for me to be doing what I'm doing right now.

When it came time for me to eat this afternoon, I just wasn't in the mood for meat. Some of the steaks I laid out in the refrigerator got blood all over the bottom glass and I suppose it was kind of repulsive to look at. I'm sure I'll be fine with it tomorrow, but I couldn't stomach it today. That's why I turned to the cashews instead. My weight's still going down, so we'll keep it going!

December 15, 2007 Low-Carb Menu

11:30AM
2 ounces cashews--320 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

7:45PM
1 hamburger patty--430 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin Jalepeno cheese--440 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 15 TOTAL CALORIES: 2010

CURRENT WEIGHT: 247.6

NOTE: It was Day 15 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and this week I'm celebrating one year of writing down my daily low-carb menus here at this blog. When I began this project, it was meant to simply show what this particular low-carb dieters eats on a daily basis. Anyone who has been reading here for a little while knows my diet is far from perfection, but it is what it is. It's how Jimmy Moore eats and that's been the purpose from day one.

But something peculiar happened over the past year. I suddenly gained 35 pounds in 2008 after beginning a weight lifting regimen and despite all of my best efforts the weight refused to budge more than a few pounds the entire year. Most of that was my fault for getting irritated that what was working for me before in 2004 when I lost 180 pounds was no longer working for me four years later to take this slight weight gain off of me.

Refusing to give up or give in to the temptation that nothing was gonna work (I knew better!), I kept trying new things based on many of the suggestions provided by the amazing and wonderful readers who come here day in and day out. Cut this, add that, change this aspect, don't touch that one...and so went this incredible journey the past year until last month when something finally clicked. The "sweet"-free challenge in November, although I "failed" at it, was one of the turning points that has me back on the road to success again. I learned a lot about myself in those 18 days I did without anything "sweet" on my tongue and it spilled over into my new December challenge giving me more determination than ever to really do this.

Although it has been a mere 15 days in this challenge, I already feel like this is how I should be eating most of the time anyway and that is HUGE progress. For the first time since I lost my original weight, I don't have the cravings or desire for a diet soda...for sugar-free, low-carb chocolate...for low-carb granola...for "sweet" nuts... NOTHING! Do you know how incredibly AMAZING this is for me? I never would have thought giving up those things for a period of time would impact my life as much as they have, but it's true. I consider this a breakthrough for me personally because the pull of "sweet" in my life has been one of the strongest appetites I've dealt with.

What does the future of eating the way I am eating now hold for me? I'm expecting more weight loss, but more importantly, more FAT loss. Despite my triple-digit weight loss success that began on January 1, 2004, I have sincerely desired getting my body fat composition down into the single digits. It's a goal I'd still like to see happen despite all the obstacles that may stand in my way. As you can tell I'm stubborn at times (perhaps to a fault) and will refuse to just accept that I CAN'T do something. I'll be bound and determined to prove 'em wrong if it's all I ever do for the rest of my life.

Keep reading my menus blog because I don't plan on going anywhere. If something I am eating or saying here helps even one person realize that livin' la vida low-carb is what is right for them, then all of my struggles over the past year will have been totally worth it. I appreciate the opportunity to share with you each and every day and look forward to hearing YOUR success stories as you continue down this pathway to better health--the low-carb way!

December 14, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

8:45AM
3 sausage patties--600 calories

5:45PM
2 hamburger patties--860 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Jalepeno cheese--220 calories
2 Tbs mayo--200 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 14 TOTAL CALORIES: 2000

CURRENT WEIGHT: 247.2

NOTE: It was Day 14 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I'm two weeks down with just a little more than two weeks to go in the challenge. What a feeling of freedom this experience has given me and I'm grateful for all the support you have given me in this by cheering me on and by joining me in this effort. Giving up "sweet" sounds so easy, but it is one of the most challenging things I have even undertaken in my life.

Most of my life I have enjoyed the taste of "sweet." There's no doubt about how I got to be obese to begin with when I allowed my weight to soar to 410 pounds. I needed the "sweet" to give me my buzz, mostly in the form of sugary sodas, snack cakes, and junk foods that turned to sugar in my body (like fast food, white bread, pasta, and other such carbage). This evolutionary process of getting off of those foods was an important step in helping me get my weight under control and what I'm doing now is yet another step forward as I attempt to make myself healthier and healthier.

Food selection is an important part of that equation and I realize that it's not just about keeping your calories at a certain level or giving in to your desire to have that one little bite of something you don't need even on occasion. It's a conscious decision to never allow yourself to be fooled into thinking how you ate before is even remotely good for you. Otherwise, you would have never gotten fat to begin with.

Is having the taste of something "sweet" gonna RUIN your health? No. But it is so easy to be lulled back into thinking that those things are the norm when they really should be consumed rarely. This "sweet"-free challenge has changed my perspective a bit about how I look at even sugar-free, low-carb foods and beverages. While they are certainly BETTER choices than the sugary, high-carb ones, perhaps it's like a political election--it's choosing between the lesser of two evils. Using this analogy, how about choosing the independent candidate and refusing to vote for either?!

How's it working out for you going "sweet"-free? And have you been following my fellow low-carb menus bloggers listed to the right? Check 'em out because they are doing one fabulous job!

December 13, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:30AM
3 eggs--240 calories
Sausage fat--300 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

7:00PM
1 hamburger patty--430 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories
2 ounces fine Wisconsin Salsa Cheddar and Swiss cheese--220 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 13 TOTAL CALORIES: 1910

CURRENT WEIGHT: 248.8

NOTE: It was Day 13 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and the weight is back into the 240's again after that increase the other day. I knew wasn't a big deal since the way I am eating is producing weight loss. But this was yet another reminder why you need to be in full control of your diet as much as possible because otherwise you don't have a clue what is going inside of your body when you eat out.

Today I decided to just take it easy and relax a little by spending time with my wife Christine. We played some games on the Wii all day and just enjoyed each other's company. That's nice to do when we get the opportunity and it helps me continue to build that bond with this woman I said "I do" for life over 13 years ago. She's had a tough time this year with her fibromyalgia pain, headaches, and other health issues. And the doctor who was doing her chelation therapy treatments to help her with these has decided he wants all of his money NOW, so we had to end the appointments with him down in Hilton Head, SC. Hopefully a few hours of fun with her husband helps soothe the pain for her.

I'm still THRIVING on the "sweet"-free thing and honestly haven't needed a diet soda, chocolate or anything sweet at all. What freedom there is in knowing your body can adjust to just about whatever you throw at it--good, bad, or ugly. All those years I flooded my diet with garbage foods like sugary sodas, snack cakes, fast food, and every other unhealthy high-carb crap known to mankind were such a waste, but now I'm eating better than I ever thought possible. What could be better? :D

December 12, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:30AM
3 eggs--240 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
1 Tbs heavy cream--50 calories
2 ounces goat cheese--140 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

2:30PM
2 Tbs heavy cream--100 calories
1 Tbs coconut oil--120 calories

8:00PM
3 sausage patties--600 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 12 TOTAL CALORIES: 1910

CURRENT WEIGHT: 250.6

NOTE: It was Day 12 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and my wife Christine reminded me of something I haven't been consuming this week that I was last week--COCONUT OIL! After my stomach incident on Monday and easing my way back into eating food again, I just totally forgot about it. So I worked it into my menus today by heating up some heavy whipping cream and water in the microwave, melting the coconut oil in it, and then stirring it all up. The cream helps make the coconut oil a little more palatable, although I have been known to just swallow that tablespoon of it straight up. It's so good for you in so many ways as I've previously noted.

I posted a photo of my breakfast today so you could see what I do with all those ingredients. When I scramble my eggs, I like to put a little heavy whipping cream in them to fluff 'em up. It's amazing how creamy your eggs get when you add cream, sour cream, or cream cheese to them. Then when I melt in the goat cheese--OOO LA LA! What a decadent breakfast to go along with the sausage patties.

My weight dipped back down slightly today after that gain from yesterday and I fully expect it to continue. I'm still going "sweet"-free and going strong! :) THANKS for your support everyone!

December 11, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

10:30AM
60-minute yoga class

1:00PM
Burger patty--430 calories
American cheese--60 calories
1 Tbs mayo--100 calories
Tomato/mozzarella salad--115 calories
Spinach salad (2 cups spinach, 2 ounces cheddar cheese, 1 ounce bacon, 10 cherry tomatoes, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, and 3 Tbs Ranch dressing)--550 calories

8:30PM
4 ounces mixed nuts (cashews, pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, pine nuts)--640 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 11 TOTAL CALORIES: 1895

CURRENT WEIGHT: 251.4

NOTE: It was Day 11 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and Christine got a Ruby Tuesday gift certificate from her parents as an early Christmas present. So she asked me if I wanted to go out for lunch--uhhh, lemme think about it. YES! We like Ruby Tuesday because they offer some good choices for people on a low-carb diet, including broccoli, mashed cauliflower, and that wonderful salad bar to complement the steaks and other grilled protein dishes they offer.

I got a bunless burger with a tomato/mozzarella salad as the side dish and the salad bar. I loaded up the plate with lots of spinach leaves which I LOVE and put my favorite "sweet"-free toppings on it. The only departure from real food that I took today was the Ranch dressing, but everything else was all natural real, whole foods. It was a delicious meal and I stayed pretty full on this for most of the day. I started getting a little hungry around 8:00PM, so I grabbed some nuts to consume which also got my calories close to where they needed to be today. It looked like a pretty good day for my menus, right?

Well, imagine my surprise when I weighed in and saw my weight had gone up a few pounds. Could it be that the few carbs I ate from those spinach leaves made my weight go up this much? Am I REALLY that sensitive to carbohydrates now? I'm not panicking, but that was just strange how eating something so innocuous would do this to my body. Granted, I'm sure there was a lot of salt in the burger patty (I could taste it) as well as the Ranch dressing which may have been the culprit in this temporary increase in my weight. I fully expect the weight to come back down again in the next few days as I return back to my diet over the past couple of weeks.

"Sweet"-free has been good to me so far and I'm very happy with it. The research on this subject is pretty scarce right now, but there are enough people who are realizing that there is merit to this theory that "sweet" on the tongue COULD lead to a sugar-like insulin response in some people. I guess I happen to be one of those "lucky" ones, so "sweet"-free is the only way to keep that under control. But as my Ruby Tuesday story shows, it's also the carbs that turn to sugar in my body that I need to be ever-mindful of, too.

This is a lifelong journey that requires persistence, patience, and sometimes a little prayer to get the payoff desired. THANK YOU for following me on this path.

December 10, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:00AM
3 eggs--240 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
2 ounces goat cheese--140 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

5:30PM
8 ounces filet mignon--480 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin cheeses (Jalapeno Jack, Colby Jack, Swiss, and Salsa Cheddar)--400 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 10 TOTAL CALORIES: 1970

CURRENT WEIGHT: 246.8

NOTE: It was Day 10 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I finally felt all the way back to my usual self again today after that stomach stuff on Monday. It stinks getting sick like that, but it's one of those necessarily evils in life that happens to all of us no matter how healthy we live our lives. THANK GOD it's gone! I don't wish that on anyone.

I've been meaning to tell you guys something really exciting. My clothes are fitting looser now. And I was able to get back into some pants on Sunday that I hadn't worn in a very long time. In addition to the weight loss (which if you count the 10 pounds I lost during my first "sweet"-free challenge in November along with the 8 pounds this month so far is up to 18 pounds!), I'm losing a lot of inches and feel fantastic.

Yes, the early days of giving up my diet sodas, low-carb chocolate and other low-carb products was hard, but after 10 days I can see myself eating this way for much longer. I'm not a slave to that "sweet" taste now and I control whether those things go inside my body or not. It is possible to become addicted to the "sweet" taste just as much as it is to be addicted to carbs and sugar.

While sugar-free/low-carb alternatives helped me make it when I originally lost my weight in 2004, I now see that at least for me giving up all things sweet as a predominate part of my diet is ESSENTIAL to losing the stored fat and maintaining my weight. I never would have believed it if I wasn't living it myself. And the results I've seen in the past two months have clearly shown me there is merit to this theory that just the taste "sweet" can lead to trouble losing weight.

Although it has only been 10 days, I feel like this is a turning point in my personal journey. I don't feel deprived like I once did going without "sweet" and I am happy eating the way that I am right now. I'm not hungry at all and the weight just keeps dropping and dropping. Perhaps once I get back to 230, something amazing will happen--it'll keep falling some more and more. But I'm not gonna worry about that at all. Continuing the momentum I have started is what is most important and I encourage you to KEEP IT GOING, too, no matter what your results have been to date.

This could be what will break you out of your funk, too. Anyone else have a success story to tell about being on the "sweet"-free challenge? Do tell, do tell.

December 9, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

1:00PM
4 ounces mixed nuts (cashews, pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, pine nuts)--640

4:30PM
3 eggs--240 calories
Sausage fat--300 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

7:00PM
60-minute recreation volleyball

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 9 TOTAL CALORIES: 1780

CURRENT WEIGHT: 245.8

NOTE: It was Day 9 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and the proverbial "day after" that nasty stomach thing I went through yesterday. As you can imagine, I was very tentative about putting ANYTHING in my mouth after experiencing diarrhea and vomiting all day on Monday. By the time I had those nuts this afternoon, it had been over 40 hours since I had eaten last. My body did okay with eating the nuts, so I decided to cook up some eggs and sausage to see how it would do. I was okay and drank lots of water, too. It seemed that whatever hit me was a one-day event--THANK GOD!

I was feeling so much better today after getting plenty of rest last night that I attempted to go play my Tuesday night volleyball. I usually play for two hours, but after about 45 minutes my body was exhausted and I started getting dizzy (my team won 3 out of the 4 games). So I left early to go relax some more. Lesson learned...don't push myself too hard too soon. I'll probably take Wednesday off from exercise and try again on Thursday.

My calories didn't quite make it to 2000 today, but that's okay. Eating 1780 calories is better than the ZERO I had on Monday. And the weight continues to fall--another pound today for a total of 9 pounds lost in the past 11 days. I attribute this to dropping the "sweet" from my diet as well as the low-carb products while eating real, whole foods with plenty of fat, moderate amounts of protein, and as little carbs as possible. This strategy is what is right for me at this time and I'm not opposed to keep eating this way even after the challenge is over at the end of the month.

December 8, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

NO FOOD CONSUMED TODAY

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 8 TOTAL CALORIES: 0

CURRENT WEIGHT: 246.8

NOTE: It was Day 8 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and you might be wondering if I implemented a fasting strategy today for the purposes of instigating more weight loss. Oh, I wish that were the case. No, I had not planned on going without any food today but when I woke up this morning with a feeling of nausea I knew something was wrong.

It started out with me going to the bathroom a lot and a constant feeling of wanting to throw up. Keep in mind, we were still in Durham, NC staying at a hotel and meeting up with some friends around midday. We checked out of the hotel and went to hang out with the friends who noticed I wasn't looking very well. They let me run back and forth from the couch to the bathroom a LOT and each time I'd use the bathroom or try to hurl.

I had hoped to hit the road home by 2:30PM, but I was not feeling well enough to try that. Finally, at around 3:45PM, that urge to upchuck became so strong that I got it all out of me. That's the first time in like 8 years or so I've done that and it's no fun at all. On the bright side, I felt ten million times better after I did it.

We drove home late in the afternoon and made it back around 9PM. I was running a fever of 99.8 degrees when I laid down on the couch, so Christine gave me a couple of Tylenol. We also filled an anti-nausea prescription that helps you sleep, too. We'll see if I'm feeling any better tomorrow. I hate that I didn't have any food today, but there was no way I was going to stomach it.

I still don't know what got me--food poisoning or some kind of stomach virus...but it was an awful feeling. The only positive that came out of this is my weight dipped down today again and I intend to keep that momentum going. THANKS for reading!

December 7, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

12:00PM
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
4 eggs--320 calories
2 ounces goat cheese--140 calories

6:00PM
8-ounce sirloin steak--480 calories
1/2 pound BBQ beef--240 calories
Small serving green beans--25 calories
Taco meat with cheese--200 calories
2 4-ounce bacon-wrapped steaks--700 calories
6 ounces chicken salad--350 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 7 TOTAL CALORIES: 3025

CURRENT WEIGHT: 249.6

NOTE: It was Day 7 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and Christine and I went to visit some friends in the Durham, NC area after church today. We went out to the Golden Corral and I ate just a few more calories than I have been...EEEK! That's okay because it was all low-carb, high-fat and delicious. I'm not going to make it a habit to eat this much, but I was pretty hungry after the drive up I-85. My weight was up slightly today, but I think that'll come back down when I get back home.

December 6, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

10:15AM
60-minute Centergy class (Pilates, yoga)

12:00PM
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
4 eggs--320 calories
2 ounces goat cheese--140 calories
2 sausage patties--400 calories

6:00PM
2 hamburger patties--860 calories
1 Tbs Nutiva extra virgin coconut oil--120 calories
2 Tbs mayo--200 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin cheeses (Jalapeno Jack, Colby Jack, Swiss, and Salsa Cheddar)--400 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 6 TOTAL CALORIES: 2550

CURRENT WEIGHT: 248.8

NOTE: It was Day 6 of my December "sweet"-free challenge today and I wanted to see how I would do consuming MORE calories today than I have been. As most of my regular menus blog readers know I try to keep my calories between 2000-2200 daily as a general rule. But I've never been one to care about calories and didn't count the first one during my original Atkins weight loss in 2004. But with my focus on trying to get my weight going back down again, I started counting calories to make sure I was eating ENOUGH calories.

Contrary to popular belief, lowering your caloric intake is one of the WORST things you can do to try to shed the pounds. Restricting your fat and calories as most mainstream dietitians and nutrition experts tell you to do is arguably the worst thing you can possibly do for your weight and health. While you may indeed lose some weight in the short term doing that, it's a perfect way to make yourself hungrier and hungrier and incredibly frustrated with the way you are eating. Soon enough you'll give it up!

That's why livin' la vida low-carb was so attractive to me when I tried it for the first time nearly five years ago. Here was a way of eating that gave you deliciously satisfying foods to consume with lots of healthy fats, moderate amounts of protein, and as few carbohydrates as possible that worked even when you didn't arbitrarily restrict your calories to some obscenely low number. And quite frankly during my weight loss the first time around, I was consuming upwards of 3500-4000 calories a day. Of course, I was pushing 400 pounds then, too.

Now that I've been eating this way for several years and my weight is substantially less at around 250 pounds, it stands to reason I'll be eating less calories now than I was before. But I do workout a lot and I definitely don't want my body to be in "starvation mode" where it is burning muscle rather than stored fat. That is why I consume the calories that I do and keep track of it to make sure the calories are sufficient. However, as an experiment today I pushed it up over 2500 calories. Is that too much for a 6'3" man weighing close to 250 pounds? I don't think so.

Interestingly, I've NOT been hungry on the 2000-2200 calories I've been eating because the food has been very high-fat, moderate protein, and low-carb. Today when I ate those hamburger patties for supper, I was nearly full after eating a whole one and about 1/3 of the second one. That's a good thing that I got that way, but I went ahead and ate the rest of the food to get my calories to reach the desired level. I had a little bit of a tummy ache afterward I did that, but I really wanted to get the calories up over 2500.

Since I've practically identified the artificial sweeteners and the lack of low-carb products as culprits in my inability to shed the pounds, I wanted to see if differences in calorie levels with these real whole low-carb foods will change what is happening with my weight loss at all. It certainly SHOULDN'T as long as I'm eating to satiety and allowing my body to tell me when I need to eat food. Why force it in if I don't need it? That's a good rule to live by and I'll certainly continue doing that henceforth.

This has been an incredible journey so far and I can see how the low-carb diet I did in 2004 was helpful to me then, but the one I'm doing now is exactly what I need to be doing in 2008 and beyond. The December "sweet"-free challenge I am on is only the beginning of something that I think will resonate well into 2009 and I'm excited about the future of eating this way. THANK YOU for joining me on this adventure and I'm so pleased to hear countless others experiencing PHENOMENAL results on their own journeys. KEEP IT UP EVERYONE! I'm so proud of you and cheer you on to great success!

December 5, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

10:15AM
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
3 eggs--240 calories
2 ounces goat cheese--140 calories
2 sausage patties--400 calories

6:00PM
13-ounce filet mignon steak--650 calories
1 Tbs Nutiva extra virgin coconut oil--120 calories
2 Tbs sour cream--60 calories
4 ounces fine Wisconsin cheeses (Jalapeno Jack, Colby Jack, Swiss, and Salsa Cheddar)--400 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 5 TOTAL CALORIES: 2120

CURRENT WEIGHT: 248.4

NOTE: It was Day 5 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and my hunger is not an issue. Several people have been asking me about that and I can honestly say that I'm not hungry eating the way that I am. Of course, consuming a very high-fat, moderate protein, very low-carb diet will do that to you and it's a good thing. Fat is very satiating and is essential to give you energy in the absence of carbohydrates in your diet.

While low-fat advocates complain about the high caloric value of dietary fat, the fact is that you get a more powerful punch from those 9 calories per gram of fat than the 4 calories per gram of carbs EVER will. Although Atkins and other low-carb plans are described as "high-protein," the truth is they are moderate in protein at best. Most low-carbers are getting anywhere from 15-25% protein in their diet--not exactly "high" by the very definition of the word. But with a 70-80% fat intake...that would indeed be considered HIGH. And that's something you should be proud of because it is going to make you healthier than you ever thought possible!

On the advice of some people who complained about my use of processed American cheese in my menus, I invested in some good quality real cheeses today in my menu. Goat cheese with my eggs was definitely different and will take some getting used to. But it's the good stuff (the price tag told me that!), so I'm pleased to add it to my arsenal of foods to eat. The same goes for the cheeses I ate at supper with my filet mignon steak. Fresh Wisconsin cheeses that are the real McCoy!

It's been five days and counting on my "Sweet"-Free Challenge Part 2. And I have all the confidence in the world that I WILL be successful with it this time around. It was once said by a great man "You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." One thing I'll ALWAYS do is try, try again, and try some more. That tenacity is what helped me lose 180 pounds in 2004 and is precisely what is getting me back on track now. Confucius said it best when he exclaimed "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall." Falling down is defeat if you get back up, dust yourself off, and get right back at it!

Be encouraged, my friends! This challenge is yours for the taking! I'll leave you with one more inspiration quote about failure and success from one of the greatest American figures of the 20th Century Robert F. Kennedy: "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." If you feel like you've been a failure, then you are well on your way to doing things that others told you would be impossible. KEEP LIVING THE DREAM and MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

December 4, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

10:15AM
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
3 eggs--240 calories
2 slices American cheese--120 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

10:30AM
60-minute yoga class

4:00PM
13-ounce strip steak--832 calories
1 Tbs Nutiva extra virgin coconut oil--120 calories
2 Tbs sour cream--60 calories

5:30PM
60-minute spin class

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 4 TOTAL CALORIES: 2082

CURRENT WEIGHT: 249.6

NOTE: It was Day 4 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and I'm rolling along with this just fine. Today was quite momentous as I squeaked into the 240's for the first time in nearly a year. That weight loss success is certainly giving me the boost in confidence I need to keep this going. I cannot describe for you how incredible it feels to see the scale moving again after so many attempts throughout the year. This is REALLY working!

My cravings for diet soda and chocolate are becoming almost an afterthought now and I can really see myself eating "sweet"-free for the most part even after the challenge is over. That's what happened in November after my first attempt when I significantly reduced and mostly eliminated my diet soda intake. And I haven't had a low-carb chocolate bar in nearly two months. If and when I make it through this December challenge, I have a feeling 2009 will start off on the right foot with me making better choices about what goes inside of my mouth.

Let me be very clear about one thing, though. There is nothing inherently wrong with eating something sweet on your low-carb lifestyle. Sweet foods are meant to be enjoyable to low-carbers whether it is in the form of low-sugar fruits, an occasional diet soda or flavored seltzer water, and even low-carb chocolates. If you are consuming these "sweet" pleasures on your low-carb diet and it is working for you, then that is GREAT! That's what I did back in 2004 when I lost 180 pounds and I have no problem with anyone who chooses to consume those things on their plan.

For me, the "sweet"-free challenge is about pushing myself to do something different for my overall benefit. It has forced me to focus on the right kind of foods, listen more acutely to what my body really needs, and stay determined to keep it going. When you are in this mindset, it is impossible for anyone to derail you from the task at hand. Can you do this without going "sweet"-free? Of course! But maybe if you are stuck and need something to help you get back on track, this could do the trick.

By the way, you'll notice I've been cooking my steaks this week in coconut oil. Most of you know this already, but it is an incredible weight loss and health aid. I consider it a big part of my success so far on the "sweet"-free challenge and will continue to use it with great confidence. You'll be amazed at how much of a difference coconut oil can make just as I have.

December 3, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

11:30AM
10-minute weight lifting

12:00PM
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
3 eggs--240 calories
2 slices American cheese--120 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

4:15PM
2 Tbs butter--120 calories
3 eggs--240 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 3 TOTAL CALORIES: 2030

CURRENT WEIGHT: 250.2

NOTE: It was Day 3 of my December "sweet"-free challenge and things are still going quite well. I'm definitely noticing a difference this time around with the challenge partly because I already know what to expect. Although I went through this "sweet"-free routine just one month ago and made it for only 18 of the 30 days, the lessons I learned from that experience are helping me now.

I'm not longing for a diet soda because quite frankly I learned that I can do without them. And the desire for something "sweet" is much less now than it was this time last month. So while it may have seemed like a very bad thing that I "failed" to make it through my first attempt at the "sweet"-free challenge in November, the reality is that simply paved the way for me to be even stronger for this next round of it.

Although I'm only a few days in to this next wave of going "sweet"-free for a month, I do believe I'll see this through to the end. And lest you wonder, there's nothing particularly wrong with the taste of "sweet" per se. I just have to do this for me to give myself a challenge so I can push myself beyond the limitations I think are impenetrable. Hopefully you're feeling that, too!

December 2, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

10:00AM
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
3 eggs--240 calories
2 slices American cheese--120 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

4:15PM
13-ounce strip steak--832 calories
1 Tbs Nutiva extra virgin coconut oil--120 calories

7:00PM
140-minute recreational volleyball

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 2 TOTAL CALORIES: 2022

CURRENT WEIGHT: 250.0

NOTE: It was Day 2 of my brand new "sweet"-free challenge for December and I'm doing well with this so far. I guess knowing what to expect since I did it for a period of time last month is helping me this time around. It's still early, but I feel this is going to be a highly successful experience. It doesn't hurt that I lost another pound since yesterday to be down to 250! WOO HOO! Whether there is real merit to this "sweet"-free thing or not, all I know is the scale is moving and I'm doing fine eating the way I am right now. I don't want to live without "sweet" for the rest of my life, but I'll agree to do it for periods of time to manage my weight. It's all about finding what you need to do to lose and maintain your weight and health. THANKS for reading everyone!

December 1, 2008 Low-Carb Menu

2:15PM
1 Tbs heavy whipping cream--50 calories
1 Tbs butter--60 calories
3 eggs--240 calories
2 slices American cheese--120 calories
3 sausage patties--600 calories

6:30PM
60-minute spin class

8:30PM
13-ounce strip steak--832 calories
1 Tbs Nutiva extra virgin coconut oil--120 calories

DECEMBER "SWEET"-FREE CHALLENGE DAY 1 TOTAL CALORIES: 2022

CURRENT WEIGHT: 251.2

NOTE: It was Day 1 of my brand new "sweet"-free challenge for December today and I'm so pumped to see this through to the end this time around. Yes, I realize some people were disappointed I only lasted 18 days last month, but all of that is history now. This is a new day, a new challenge, a new reason to be excited about livin' la vida low-carb again! I never really have lost my zeal for the low-carb life, but sometimes you need something like this to get you feeling like you did when you lost weight on low-carb the first time. That's how it's going for me right now as I'm approaching the five-year anniversary of beginning the Atkins diet. It is quite invigorating to know I have been eating a healthy low-carb diet for this long and kept the vast majority of that weight off ever since. Even when the scale creeps up ever-so-slightly, I don't get discouraged. I'm motivated to get right back to the basics and DO IT! That's what I'm doing now and I can't wait to see the results come January 1, 2009. Bring it on!