just about fed up

[Ke15i]

ok i'm getting real tired of this. i cant find anything to eat....ever! i cant stand the sight of eggs anymore...i just miss the convenience of a sandwich! not for the bread.just the way it fills you up and is easy to eat. i just want a yogurt for breakfast or a grapefruit!!! rrrrg. i dont wanna give up because so far, it's been a success. but i dont know how long i can feel this miserable.

[boonie stomper]

Re: just about fed up

OK I'll take you on- make a list of all the (pre-meal preparation) unprocessed foods you like, don't list processed starchy or sugary things. There's plenty of things you can have besides yogurt or grapefruit during induction, for any meal. And that is 2 weeks, then you get more choices.

What do you like? I'll try & give you some ideas...

[Brook]

Re: just about fed up

There are *distinct* differences between can't and won't.

Sounds to me like you need a serious perspective check and to invest some time in the recipe section, the journal stats section, and surfing low-carb recipe sites in general.

The sky is the limit. You could literally run a 5 star restaurant off the induction allowed foods list, but it's going to take some time and effort on your part to learn how to do it. There's a learning curve involved here and it's up to you to conquer it! I promise you, it's doable!!

Now you can choose to lament all the things that you're giving up and can't have, or you can choose to embrace the things you can have and the things you're gaining by making that choice!

Things you're giving up:
Foods that make you fat.
Foods that make you feel like crap.
The "convenience" mind-set - again, something that landed you in the chubby boat to begin with.
Having to shop in the big-girl's stores.
Hiding in big clothing or wearing clothing that doesn't fit you well anymore.

Things you get to keep should you give up:
The big clothes.
The low self esteem.
The cookies/chips/sandwhiches.
The ability to sit and watch the kids play instead of terrorize them.

Things you gain by sticking to this and investing the time in yourself and your health to learn to eat with flair, style and variety that is within the limits of the plan:
A stronger, leaner, healthier body and mind.
Satisfaction in knowing you chose something and you saw it through.


You get to be frustrated sometimes. You get to be angry that you have to work at this - and some days it feels like you have to work harder than most everyone else. We *ALL* have those days, but what you do and how you get through them is up to you.

I promise you you're going to be hard pressed to convince a low-fat dieter that you're suffering while you're sitting down to a breakfast of a 2 egg omelette stuffed with turkey, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, celery, and gooey cheese or a dinner of a big juicy hamburger patty topped with cheese and bacon and a salad with real ranch dressing, or a steak with mushroom sauteed in butter and a side of broccoli and cheese.

There's no reason in the world why you can't eat yogurt for breakfast - AFTER induction and AFTER the first rung of the carb ladder. On the 2nd rung you get to eat yogurt. You don't have to give up grapefruit for forever, just for awhile.

Now, get thee to the recipe section and get thee to the journal stats section so you can see what people are eating and how they're doing what they're doing. The best recipe for success is to simply imitate what others are doing and the information is there and readily available to you. You just have to take advantage of it.

YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Oh, and you don't ever have to eat an egg if you don't want to. LOL

Hang in there!! You CAN DO IT!!

~Brook

[dreamof145]

Re: just about fed up

You can still eat sandwiches. Just eliminate the bread and put your fixings between the lettuce or between two thin slices of meat. I sometimes roll my sandwiches up like a burrito. Look at the induction list of foods. You don't have to eat breakfast foods (eggs) for breakfast. Be creative. Don't look at it as being deprived - there are so many foods available to you and they will help you reach your goal.

Any old habits that we break are uncomfortable at first (look how hard it is to write 2007 instead of 2006) but after a while it gets more comfortable and becomes a habit.

I understand your frustration, but write down the foods you like from the induction list and make up or experiment with new recipes and ideas. Don't give up on yourself, it gets easier and you'll be so happy you stuck with it. We're here for you, if you need ideas, just ask.

I eat a lot of left-overs for my breakfast. I'm not thrilled about eggs so I don't have them but about once a week for breakfast. I usually spread my eggs over a plate and microwave them into a burrito and roll up bacon, sausage or ham inside them with melted cheese. Sort of a breakfast burrito.

Let us know what you like and I'm sure the other members can give you some great ideas.

[Ke15i]

Re: just about fed up

wow...thank you both soooo much! you have no idea. susan, i will give you some items! and brook you almost made me cry! you gave me just what i needed

ok...some things i like...hm...if we're thinking only induction safe? well, theres cream cheese, regular cheese, turkey, tuna!! (tuna salad to be specific), umm...well i think thats almost it! i used to like eggs, but i'm so sick of them and i never have time to make them myself! i always end up grabbing some disgusting fast food breakfast sandwich that leaves an awful aftertaste...yuck! bacon is good..but not very filling i've found. ohohoh i loooooove chicken!! and chopped beef. so theres a few things are induction friendly...

if you want some things that are NOT, here goes...(my fav foods!): mac and cheese!, any fruits, any fruit juices, oatmeal, yogurt, whole wheat bread(the devil!), whole wheat crackers with boursin (to DIE for!), jello, chicken parmesan, hmm...wow im a pig! now i KNOW SOME of these things i can introduce back someday, but what about until then??

so far, my typical day is a bacon, egg, and cheese on a plate (no bun or anything), then lunch is a salad (usually tuna or taco...no shells...), for a snack i love string cheese, and for dinner usually chicken or beef. we'll either take 3 hours and cook up a whole chicken or just buy some burgers. i KNOW i'll get sooo sick of this boring routine very soon. i almost have to force myself to eat it because i'm sooo not happy about it. its sad.

i appreciate the help! i really do. thank you all! i will NOT give up, i'm just going through a tough time. ok...phew!

[boonie stomper]

Re: just about fed up

Ohhh, forgot to mention, IF you find a McD burger or a pizza slice or taco in your hand, toss the bun or crust and then enjoy the patty / cheese / taco salad that's left. It's convenient, but if you DIY without the bread in the 1st place, much less expensive!

[boonie stomper]

Re: just about fed up

theres cream cheese,
regular cheese,
turkey,
tuna!!
(tuna salad to be specific),
bacon
chicken!!
chopped beef.

jello, sugar-free is OK (limit sweetner servings to 3/day)
chicken parmesan, is OK to use parmesan on ANYTHING!
put cream cheese on celery, (a cubic inch is about 1 oz, limit 4 oz cheese/day)
make ground beef stuffed portabellas or green peppers
Stir-fry mixes of the veggies in olive oil or butter. Add spices, meats as suits your fancy.
Eat leftover dinner for breakfast.
Cook big batches and freeze portions for later grab & go.
Keep olives, porkrinds, jerky, bouillion, mayo, hard boiled eggs (you may learn to like eggs again after a reprieve).
Can you eat seafood? I love kipper snacks
Fresh crunchy veggies with seasoned mayo dips
bacon....any time, any place....

OK, that's enough I'm too hungry now to continue rambling, after typing cheese & baco twice!!!

Hang in there!

[higgies]

Re: just about fed up

There really is so much you can do. I know it seems like a chore sometimes because this does require a bit more cooking or preparing than we're used to, but you do get used to it.

I used to wake up and grab a bagel or a donut most mornings when I actually ate a breakfast. Now, I LOVE breakfast. It's my favorite meal of the day and I actually go to bed looking forward to it! I wake up early every day so I can get a good omelet or something in.

You like Boursin cheese? Well check this out...
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/boursin_chicken.html

Check out the whole site! There's Chicken Parm, and anything you can think of. There's even a casserole which tastes like Whitecastle burgers (one of my old favs). I know this might seem like a lot of work, but think of all the rewards...plus, it won't feel like you're "dieting" at all. I mean how bad can this be where I can have buffalo wings all the time?! Come to think of it, I'm going to have some tonight!

Hang in there. Do come visit the food and cooking forums. There are lots of quic things in there.

For a quick breakfast you can try some egg muffins that you make in a batch and freeze. Then all you gotta do is heat it up. I'd watch those fast food breakfast sandwiches. Those eggs sometimes have weird things in them.

[boonie stomper]

Re: just about fed up

....And here I am again. I had a date with an avocado!

regular cheese, can be melted onto any of the below.
turkey, if you like that can be switched out with duck or quail; can be cooked in many may ways with induction veggies and herbs and spices in many combinations, from straight off the grill to cut up in a soup.
tuna!! Why not have some other types of fish? How about shellfish, shrim, crab, lobster? Make a gumbo?
(tuna salad to be specific), OK, vary the salad ingredients.
bacon you can wrap around a filet mignon or crumble into your salad or cover with mushrooms & cheese & onions & tomatoes on a nice piece of (fill in the blank meat or seafood).
chicken!! Ditto as for turkey; try cornish game hen, too.
chopped beef. Can be cooked too many ways to mention here; or you can marinate it and dry into homemade jerky (so can poultry)
And then there's last but not least... try something new. Ever eat kidney, liver, mussels, prairie oysters? You might be surprised if there's something you've been afraid to try, and taste it with an open mind.

[higgies]

Re: just about fed up

You might be surprised if there's something you've been afraid to try, and taste it with an open mind.

I never ate or liked shrimp and crab before....now I love it!

More pre-frozen breakfast ideas...
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/sausage...e_squares.html

Can you tell I like this site? LOL!

[Quitstretchin']

Re: just about fed up

I agree with everyone here. In the beginning, it is very hard to fix our automatic thinking. Eating fast and on a hurry with "convenient" food is how we got this way in the first place. Whether we were doing Atkins or not we should have stopped eating most of the food we used to eat anyway. If anything, for health reasons.

Take one day at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself with thoughts of what you can't have. Play around with different recipes from this site or form the website that higgies referred to. Take some of your own favorites and see if you can substitute ingredients for those that are Atkins friendly.

You are on your way with the 8 pounds lost. You don't want to regain those and then some!
Good luck.

[julirama723]

Re: just about fed up

Here are some of my favorite meal ideas that avoid eggs for the most part. I'm way past induction but I STILL love to eat this stuff!

BREAKFAST
warm pumpkin mixed with cream cheese and cinnamon--I still can't believe this counts as a veggie!
mock danish

LUNCH IDEAS
pepperoni, mozzarella, and green pepper pieces
mixed greens salad with bacon crumbles, shredded cheese, and ranch dressing
chicken tenders or hot wings with wing sauce, celery sticks with ranch

DINNER IDEAS
grilled chicken breast with spaghetti squash
cheeseburger (with lettuce wrap)
tacos (with lettuce wrap or cheese "shells")
shrimp scampi and asparagus

[cathyjobob]

Re: just about fed up

Okay...

Not all breakfast ideas...but definitely ideas that helped me out when I read them:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=1134

[Ke15i]

Re: just about fed up

wow higgies..thanks so much for that site!!! i WILL make that boursin chicken, i was soooo happy to find that! the entire site is wonderful! thanks again

[bizzlekitty]

Re: just about fed up

if you want some things that are NOT, here goes...(my fav foods!): mac and cheese!, any fruits, any fruit juices, oatmeal, yogurt, whole wheat bread(the devil!), whole wheat crackers with boursin (to DIE for!), jello, chicken parmesan, hmm...wow im a pig! now i KNOW SOME of these things i can introduce back someday, but what about until then??

Also, the longer you do this WOE (especially without cheating), the less you will want these things anymore. It was hard the first several months on Atkins because my body kept telling me I wanted these things. Then after a while, I realized I didn't miss them anymore. Even if I taste them nowadays, they do not taste the same or as filling.

Once you go up the rungs of owl, you will find close alternatives, such as berries/melon, flax, soy products and more. But remember this for later, some of the foods may stall you later, so you need to test them carefully. For example, I discovered perhaps 2 years in that cheese and yogurt stalled me, as well as most dairy so I've skipped that rung and haven't missed it. Others do fine on dairy. There's so many great recipes you can make, it just takes some time and research.

Stick with it, this does work