I have found it essential to track every calorie and nutritional fact that I eat. Getting the right amount of calories is important in many ways when on a diet. If you were eating a different amount of calories each day, you would have no way of knowing what works and what does not on your diet. After you can hit your calorie goal for a couple weeks straight, you can then accurately evaluate your progress and make necessary changes. I started using Calorie King to look up the nutritional values of what I was eating. They have a huge database of foods to choose from. They also offer a software...

Week 2 turned out better than I expected. After losing 7lbs. the first week, I expected to only lose a couple pounds this week. Instead, I was shocked when I saw the scale at 208- a 5lb. loss. The week started out with having a bunch of friends in town and going out to eat a few times. This week was better than the last in terms of routine, since I was more accustomed to the diet and getting an exercise routine established. I still didn’t make it out to run as often as I should have, but I am making progress. I still stuck to my basic foods of chicken, tuna, eggs, rice, and vegetables. During...

As you know, I started a gluten free weight loss diet on January 1st, 2010.  My plan for the first three weeks is to eat 2300 calories per day- 259g protein, 201 carbs, and 51g fat.  I am spreading this out over six meals per day.  3 or 4 real food meals and 2 or 3 protein shakes.  I am also taking a multivitamin and fish oil pills because my meals are really lean.  It is still important to get your good fats. I lost 7lbs. during the first week, 220 to 213.  I attribute part of the 7lbs. to eating a few “final meals” just before Jan. 1st, and maybe a little water weight.  As...

Preparation! I can’t stress this enough.  It was my biggest mistake so far. These are all things you MUST do before your diet starts. Have your mind right.  FOCUSED Set goals. Surround yourself with motivators. Plan your diet with an expert. Buy your foods. Know the nutritional values of each. Set up a tracking plan in Excel or with an online service. Get your sleep pattern established if you are getting up earlier. Precook & package your foods. Buy your supplements. I failed on the majority of these items and it set me back a day or two.  It takes a couple days to figure out a...

Sorry this doesn’t really relate to gluten free, but we did go to PF Chang’s afterward where they have a gluten free menu!  I did put it on Twitter(@switch2gf) hours before it was going to happen, because she isn’t on Twitter. I really just need a place for my family, friends, and everyone else to see this video, and this is the easiest place! “Mike & Stephanie got engaged on Saturday, January 9th, 2010 on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. First, they went to happy hour with her sister, Jessica, and her boyfriend, Matt. Earlier in the week, Mike invited 25 of...

As you know, I have many gluten free people in my family that have celiac- at least 9 diagnosed, and many more in D’Nile, in Egypt(right, uncle Dave?).  Usually the gluten free people are left out when it comes to desserts… but not this year! This Christmas, Earth Cafe sent me two great gluten free cheesecakes!  The package came to my parents house, where we were having Christmas Eve, and my mom couldn’t even wait for me to open them.  She told me they were packaged really well and with dry ice. Read this list, and you wouldn’t believe that they still can taste good: Wheat...

I was privileged to receive a bottle of Bombora & CooranBong Vodka to try.  I am impressed, and so are many others. First, I have to say, while it is still an open debate on whether or not certain liquors are gluten free, it is a huge relief to absolutely know that Bombora and Cooranbong are gluten free!  I’m sure many of you can relate to that, and depending on how sensitive you are, stand on one side or the other of that dilemma.  Here is a solution. Both vodkas are made from grapes grown in the Barossa Valley where many of the great Shiraz and Cabernet wine grapes are grown.  They...

I am going on a weight loss diet, gluten free style!  My motivation is a trip to Costa Rica at the end of March.  I am currently 220lbs and my goal is 190lbs.  Many of you have already said this is unhealthy, but with my education and diet consultants, we feel the goal should be obtainable in a health manner.  Basically, I have to lose 2.5lbs per week. As with my blog in general, I want to stress that this doesn’t have to be hard or expensive.  I want to show you that this all can be done at home, with simple foods, and without an expensive gym membership or personal trainer. My diet...