Struggling!

Started on Atkins as the doc suggested, but I am struggling. I am using My Fitness Pal to record my food choices so I won't bother to write my meals here.  I am going to spend sometime reading more about this low carb diet and come up with some more meals. Since I was up early this morning I did roast some asparagus and green beans for lunch and dinner.  I still can't get my carbs to 20 a day but I am getting closer. I did get my exercise in yesterday and it really made me feel better. Tired, but a good tired.

I did some knitting yesterday and finished the felted bag I was working on. I knit until the shoulder began to hurt and then I rested. Now I need to find a strap, some fabric for lining it, and some embroidery patterns. After felting I want to embroidery some flowers or shapes on it. All that will have to wait until I have the use of my shoulder back, hopefully by fall. My next knitting project will be to finish my Holden shawl. I only have about 15 more rows to go, so I hope I can get it finished by next week. Then I need to find something else to knit that will be easy on the shoulder.

I wanted to share some more goodies that came in the mail. One thing for sure, being cooped up in a house can lead too many internet purchases and going way over budget. I got the Oz stitch markers from Little Skein.

And two skeins of self stripping yarn from Turtle Purl. The colors are beautiful and much prettier than the picture .As I put my yarn out to take pictures I find that I seem to pick out the same colors. I really need to get outside my box in terms of colors.



I have a trip to physical therapy today and  I am hoping for good news. I am hoping that I can start driving in the next couple of weeks. Yippee!
Time to try knitting for a little. Everyone take care and I hope you get to do something today that you enjoy!

Feeling Good

Seems that each day is getting better with the shoulder. Exercises are done,  I'm showered and dressed, and had breakfast. Now I'm doing a little knitting and watching the scify channel.

Eating today:
Bkfast: 2 fried eggs, 2 slices bacon, 2 cups coffee with sugar free sweetener
Lunch: tossed salad, roasted chicken, Greek dressing
Dinner: 
Snacks: pork rinds, natural almonds, Atkins bar
Lots of water

 Last day of tax season so the hubby will be home more and we will be able to spend more time in SC.

What is happening in this world? Bombings at the Boston Marathon today.

Everyone stay safe out there and pray for all the people in Boston.

Progress!

Progress on the home front. Yesterday,  I walked for 15 minutes and rode a stationary bike for 15 minutes. I am hoping that this will happen more often as my shoulder heals. Walking with your arm in a sling is a bit of a challenge since it causes dizziness and an off balance feeling. But it was great to get out of the house and into the fresh air. It was a beautiful day. I also did my shoulder exercises 3 times so hopefully I will be further along on my next visit to the physical therapist.

I didn't try to knit yesterday but I am going to try today, at least 1 row maybe more. I am working on a felted bag that still needs a couple of inches. I did try to purl a row on a shawlette but that hurt the shoulder too much.

I have decided to start on Atkins as the doctor suggested. I'm gonna be using My Fitness Pal to record my food and keep up with the nutrition stuff  The site is free and well worth using if you want to keep up with what you are eating and getting the nutritional analysis. During  the last few days I have been reading different low carb blogs gathering info for this new venture and it looks pretty doable. Since I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and it looks like low carb is one way to fix that, am willing to try it.
I know that the first 2 weeks are called Induction and that I haven't stayed on it today, but hopefully I will get better at it. I am still reading about those first 2 weeks and I haven't quite gotten it all in my head yet, but I will. and that is the good news!
Today's Eats:
Breakfast: 1 fried egg, 1 slice bacon, 2 cups of coffee with cream(I have to check on the cream)
Snack: 1 Atkins bar
Lunch: lettuce, Gazebo lite Greek dressing, grilled salmon, tomatoes, cucumber,
Dinner: roasted green beans, corned beef, (I might try to link the green bean recipe if its edible)
Need to work on drinking more water during the day!
Exercise: 20 minutes walking/20 minutes stationary bike


Got a couple of new knitting items in the mail yesterday. Some yarn from Unwind Yarn Company. I got twinkle sock for a pair of socks and 2 skeins for a shawl. It came with a stitch marker from BeaGin Design.  

I haven't tried this yarn before but I really like the colors.

I also got several bags from Knittings My Bag. One is a small project bag and the other 2 are the new alternating bags. I really like the fabric I chose and it came with a thank  you stitch marker. One of the alternating bags is going to Katie!

Started reading The Enchanted April this afternoon. It was a free book from Amazon for the kindle. Once I've read it I plan to watch the movie. So far I am enjoying the book. What are you reading Katie?

Well I'm off to try to knit one more row, then maybe a short nap, or I'll just read some more and fall asleep, anyway it happens, I hope everyone enjoys their day, until next time

New Knitting Stuff and Life

I have moved on to watching movies and got Persuasion in yesterday. Today I'm watching Scify movies with the Hunger Games on tap for this afternoon.

I was able to get my hair done yesterday which made me feel like a million dollars. Now I would love to get a pedicure. Maybe that is in the works for next week.

I did try to knit some yesterday-for about 5 minutes. The shoulder is in pain today. Just have to be patient and I'll be back to knitting in no time. I am doing my shoulder exercises faithfully so the shoulder should improve. I think I might try to work on a sock today-might get one row done.

I did get 2 items in the mail yesterday that made my day! My row counter from Karit Stix and my Intersection Kit. The row counter is great and I can't wait to start using it, plus it matches my  needle gauge. Eventually I would like to get a stitch gauge to go with it.

The Intersection Kit from Stunning String Studio came all boxed up and wrapped. It was packaged beautifully and the colors of the yarn are gorgeous. I almost wish I had ordered a full skein in each color. It came with 4 stitch markers that are used to knit the shawl. I've forgotten when this KAL begins but this will be one of first knits I want to start on when I can knit again. The colors are absolutely STUNNING!

I also have pictures of my sock club yarns from Knit and Fiber Creations. I haven't picked out anything yet for these 2 colorways but I'm looking. I wasn't able to add the photos for these, but I will figure it out.

Well, time for lunch and then The Hunger Games.

Life is Crazy!

This is the 3rd week since rotator cuff surgery and I am going crazy:) NO knitting, driving, exercising, for another 3 weeks. I have exhausted tv (rogue, Americans, Grimm, homeland, monday mornings, duck dynasty, swamp people, Dallas, revolution, Mr. Sheffield, star trek, justified,) you name it, I have probably watched it. Since I am now a one handed typist I am leaving off the caps etc until I can use both hands. Thank goodness for correction mistakes.

 I am now weaning myself away from the tv and turning to the internet. Well that wasn't great because I went over my budget this month way too soon. There are so many great knitting items out there to buy. (stitch markers, yarn clubs, knitting tools) and such great craftsman making them. One thing I have really enjoyed is seeing what everyone is dyeing, sewing, and creating for knitting. 

So to stop the buying craze, I have turned to my nook and kindle. B&N had some great quick reads last week on their free Friday blog (I think I ended up with about 20 books) and I just got Enchanted April for free on my kindle. I am hoping to be able to get at least one skein of Canon Hand Dyes to go with this book.(So much for the budget) I haven't checked to see if the movie is free on amazon prime, but I hope so. First I plan to read the book. NO tv for awhile. HA

On the home front, hubby has been wonderful keeping up with laundry, cooking, etc. and my exercises. I did get to spend a week with my son and daughter #3. She was wonderful taking care of me right after my surgery. She took a week off work and kept me company, helped me bathe, made my meals etc. She is a gem. Plus I got to see my grandson everyday. He is wonderful. They are wonderful.

Since I have been laid up the pounds are creeping up so I plan to spend some time getting back to eating healthy. The doc says I am prediabetic and I need to go on Atkins. Atkins? Well I have looked at it and looked at it, but I'm not getting anywhere with it. I know the carbs have to go but I'm not sold on this, but I know I have to do something. I really want to get the weight off and the sugar down. I know its just up to me to get this going, but sometimes the mind doesn't cooperate. I know its all about CHOICES but sometimes that is really hard.

Well I am going to try to post some picks of the goodies I have purchased and get to reading. Eveyone have a great day and enjoy the warm weather. If you live in the Midwest, stay safe and inside.

Floops on etsy

karatstix on etsy

Knitters brewing company