I need help Please!!!

[susu]

I am planning to start tomorrow, and I have been re-reading the book, and a lot of the post, just to be sure I am back on the right track. Problem is a lot of my family do not beleive in this wol. I also have kids, and a husband that will not go on atkins, Plus if he cuts back just a tiny bit the weight falls off. My question is how do you prepare the kids food, and your food. The kids need many of the food groups, but when I'm on atkins I have limits, but I still have to cook for them and then for me. Any suggestions to make this problem any smoother. I need a lot of advice. Thanks in advance.

[Laurenfra]

Re: I need help Please!!!

I have no trouble cooking for m,y family. Tonight we will have chillie. They will get cornbread with theirs I will not. Roast a chicken and steam broccoli and make mashed taters. You eat chicken and broccoli they get taters. Its easy.

[lisadallasr]

Re: I need help Please!!!

hi actually just what the last post said, it is pretty easy, i have two children and a husband that i cook a starch to go with our dinner, now my kids sometimes eat something totally different than me and husband depending what i eat that night, for instance if i eat salmon they wont touch it so i usually find something quick like chicken nuggets and just give them my sides or my girls love corn and if im eating some spinach which is another they wont touch unless it has all the cream cheese in it now but i will open them a can of corn and nuke it. now my problem is my pregnant sister lol that lives with us and of course she brings in all the cookies and junk that she can think of but now that i have gotten past my cravings i find it easy to open up the cabinets and look past that.

[Kate113]

Re: I need help Please!!!

They don't believe in this WOL? They don't believe in eating healthy foods? They don't believe that sugar causes weight gain?

What I did with my hubby was make him read DANDR. I just told him to read the basics, but then he went on to read more. Once he understood how this WOL works, he's been most supportive and while he won't eat all the things that I do now, he does support me 100%.

[chicagogirl]

Re: I need help Please!!!

In my opinion, you can't expect your husband to do it just becuase you know it's good for you and it's what you are choosing to do. I agree with the posts that say that sometimes you are going to be cooking things for your family that you won't be eating...and after a while of seeing the results, your hubby may decide on his own to give it a try.

[neihu]

Re: I need help Please!!!

I cook whatever works for me and throw a potato in the microwave or add some french bread for my husband - he is totally supportive of me but doesn't want to give up his carbs.

My daughter is still a baby so I have to make sure she eats a very balanced diet. It is hard not to snack on her fruit though.

[Brook]

Re: I need help Please!!!

By "a lot of your family", I'm assuming you're talking about your extended family. - If that's the case... WHO CARES? They're not in your home, not paying your bills, not cooking your meals and not carrying your excess fat. You don't need their permission or their forgiveness, and since when is it smart to listen to anyone on any subject that is less educated on it than you are?!! This doesn't mean you have to be nasty, but it does mean that you can assert yourself and tell people quite simply, "While I appreciate your concern, I'd also appreciate it if you'd at least take the time to read the book and learn about the REAL plan you're talking about. If you choose not to do that, I'm okay with that, but it also means that this will not be a topic for discussion between us. Thank you." Stick to it. Don't waiver, don't falter. When they see you getting healthier and see the kinds of food you're eating with their own two eyes, it'll take the wind out of their sails. Believe me. For those of your family that are overweight too, when they see your success, it won't be long until your phone is ringing and they're asking you for help or tips.

As the others have mentioned above, there's no need for you to be cooking completely seperate meals for your family. I absolutely refuse to do it. There's no reason in the world why my family can't eat tacos on taco shells while I eat a taco salad. They can eat steak and mushrooms and mashed cauliflower and a salad right along with me, and if they want biscuits, ...well, then I make biscuits. I just don't eat them. You make chicken broccoli alfredo and eat it on spaghetti squash, they eat it on pasta (although my family converted to spaghetti squash for pasta. LOL it tastes better!) Dessert? Why can't they eat sugar free gelatin with berries and real whipped cream?! The sky is really the limit. It's not nearly as difficult as it may start out feeling.

Children do NOT need refined sugar and flour. Children *do* need lots of veggies, nuts, fruits, cheeses, and you can make them or buy them whole grain snacks. *YOU* are in control of their eating habits right now. Do you want them learn to eat raw broccoli/carrots/cauliflower with dip for a snack or prefer to teach them to eat Keebler cookies? They can eat plain cheerios for a snack, but they don't need fruit loops. You are in a position to teach them to eat healthy while you learn to eat healthy yourself. Take advantage of it!

As for your husband- if he kicks too much about what you're doing and the food you're cooking, hand him a pan and a spatula. I'm betting his arms and legs aren't broken and he's capable of cooking for himself. He's not going to kick too much though a few weeks down the line when you feel better about yourself and your body and he reaps the benefits of that

He doesn't have to cut back what he's eating. There's no reason in the world why he has to. He can also eat all the junk food he wants - WHEN HE'S NOT HOME. He's a big boy. If he needs to be reminded of it, then remind him sweetly

Deep breath! It's really not as overwhelming as it feels and we're right here to help in any way we can.

~Brook

[LuckyD]

Re: I need help Please!!!

I have four kids and a husband who while supportive of me are not on any food restrcitions. Doesn't bother me a bit. I make a normal dinner and eat what I can out of it. We usually have balanced meals anyway so its really not a problem. The other thing is I LOVE to cook. I don't mind making something for them that I cant eat. I am really never hungry with this WOE so I am not tempted. I have my husband be the tester (he cooks too). Also I absolutley agree that this WOE is not for everyone. I do not expect my husband to join me. He can make his own decisions on what he eats. He supports me and I support him. He tells me he is proud of me everyday. Yay!

[Taradar]

Re: I need help Please!!!

Wow...Brooke I really like your approach and think I am going to use it.

Susu...I have been having similar problems with my sister and others. Everybody here is right in that you have to come first which is probably hard for most of us at first. My husband and children actually eat healthier when I feed them low carb foods. Gone is the speghetti, rice and cerials that were not healthy for them in the first place. They still eat 100% whole wheat bread which was hard for them in the beginning but now they don't say anything. I can't have that "white stuff" in the house yet because I eat it all(embarrassing but true). So set your ground rules early...they'll either agree right away...or give in to you soon .

Sincerely,
Tara

[Sarah1341]

Re: I need help Please!!!

I do the same as the others. I eat our main dish (chicken, steak, whatever) and veggie, they eat an additional side with their meal (brown rice, baked potato, etc.). I do strive to keep lots of healthy things on hand for DS (yogurt, fruit, fiber rich cereals) and if he doesn't want what the main dish is then he chooses from other healthy options (he is 3).

Good luck!!

[knicknack]

Re: I need help Please!!!

One thing to remember is that there's no reason they can't eat healthy as well, even if they're eating more carbs than you. Why bring the 'white stuff' back in the house at all? It's got absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever, so why do it? Teach your kids and hubby how to eat healthy too! It'll be a valuable lesson for your children and maybe they won't be in the position you're in down the road. They can eat whole wheat bread, brown rice, potatoes, etc... without having to dive into a bag of cookies. There are healthier snacks they can eat.

That to me is the added bonus of doing the diet myself. Learning about the nutritional value of various foods enables me to use that knowledge to help others. My bf doesn't eat low carb, but if he wants to eat food that is bad for him he can either cook it himself or go out and buy it. I'll happily cook up some brown rice for him though. :P I also don't care if the junk is in the house, I just don't eat it.

I really don't believe in cooking entirely separate meals for family though. Put your foot down if that's what they want. And teach them a healthy way to eat while you're at it!

[LuckyD]

Re: I need help Please!!!

Sometimes it is necessary though to have an alternative meal for yourself in case your family is having something that is not allowed. My family is having spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread and salad tonight. I made the sauce myself because my family loves it. I will just have the salad but I will add some leftovers from last nights flank steak and crumble some bacon in it. I always keep prewashed lettuce and spinach on hand and some cooked bacon. That way I will always have an alternative meal if I need one.

[SouLThinKing]

Re: I need help Please!!!

Same here. I have 3 boys and a DH. My boys take after their father. He is underweight. He eats all day!!! He eats everything!! He doesn't gain. He must consume 400 to 500 grams of carbs a day and is 140 lbs and 5 ft 11 in. My boys are thin. I feed them what they want but I don't let them a lot of junk. I do allow rice and potatoes and bread but don't allow sugar and candy and stuff like that. I give them fruit and veggies. They have never been to big on sweets anyway. I cook a normal meal for them eat what i can from it and add some extra veggies that I like. At first it was hard. Now it's second nature. Just always plan ahead!! Never run out of your foods always have something legal you can eat.
God Bless and keep it up
Nichole