Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

[rhiannonwins]

Thanks so much for all your help! I'm trying to identify things that could be causing the weight to come off slower...although I think I could be a bit premature. I'm starting Day SIX of Induction and have only lost 2 lbs (although I had GAINED two from my SW and then lost it again, so at one now, I'm down FOUR from THAT point, if that makes sense) but I've been swimming 25 laps every day and I know that helps to trim down fat and build muscle.
My scale isn't all that accurate about BMI readings so I don't trust it. I think it may be a bit premature to re-do my measurements so I'm holding off there. I did redo my ribcage measurement and it was down about 2.5 inches. My waist was down 2 inches too.

I got some Ketostix last night and both Hubby and I were in the "Moderate" range.

I'm THINKING that I need to eat more of the salad veggies. I was NEVER one to eat salads before Atkins. Really...I never ordered salads at restaurants and we never made them at home. Hubby did at restaurants but we just didn't bother at home because he'd be the only one eating them...so this is a HUGE challenge for me to break out the salad veggies and get those 2 cups in. I can do the 1 cup of other veggies because I love cauliflower and broccoli and several others on the list. Stuffed peppers has saved my life here! lol

I know I need to increase my carb count as a couple of days I have had a difficult time hitting 12 without going over my cheese allowance.

I need some pep talks guys...reassure me that I'm doing the right things here or if I'm not, let me know that too! I cut out almost all caffeine except for ONE glass in the a.m. and it's small. I switched to decaf for my iced tea and I have always had unsweetened ice tea so I love that!!!

I love the mock danishes...made my first batch of oopsie rolls yesterday and we love the fauxtatoes!

Hubby has lost 5 lbs of the 70 he has to lose!

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Checking in...happy but what a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

I think that from all of your posts in the last week, you are doing just wonderfully. I know I haven't been around all that long (only just under a month) but aside from trying to get in the 2 cups of veggies from the "salad list" and being sure to not go over on cheese servings you are doing great. You are just under a week in and already have lost 4% of your total lbs to lose. Also, swimming tones as well, and so since your measurements are down, I'd say that you are replacing fat with muscle in those areas. You are doing great Kell! I'd say don't worry about it and if you can, resist the urge to weigh again until after induction... If you can!

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Checking in...happy but what a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

Oh also you can add up to 20 olives or 1/2 an avocado to add carbs as well. However, it is okay to be down at 12 carbs per day (prob more like 15 if you were to get in those veggies) Just be sure to know where you are at so that when you start adding during OWL you know how many to be at after you add 5.

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

Thank you bonnierose! I know I need to put things in perspective...4% is good. And I have to stop comparing myself to others that lose so QUICKLY during induction as some have more to lose or super quick metabolisms...which I don't think I do.
But yes, the swimming is making me feel STRONGER...except today...I woke up REALLLLY tired (not TOM either so not sure what that's about!)
I don't mind olives baked into stuff, but just plain - not crazy about them, but I do see where they can crank up the carbs so I may have to eat them. lol

Do you eat your avocados plain? I don't like guacamole...never had but have never tried an avocado. I sound like a 4 year old with the veggie pickiness don't I?

thanks for the pep talk! I NEED IT!

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Checking in...happy but what a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

Anytime girl!

yes I do eat my avocados plain, but 1/2 an avocado mixed with creamcheese is really good or mayo and sugar free salsa... it's technically guacamole but it's so much better than regular guac!

1/2 an avocado is also a great "bowl" for some chicken salad or tuna salad
My favorite way though is by itself or on a salad or creamcheese/tomato/avo sandwich

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Checking in...happy but what a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

Maybe I could handle one as a bowl for tuna salad!

I just ate a salad that was 3/4 cup chopped green pepper, 5 chopped (very finely so as to disguise them) black olives, 1 cup romaine lettuce, and a dollop of mayo (since I don't like dressing) and 2 tbsp of parmesan. It was all I could do to get it down! LOL I didn't have any chicken precooked and lemme tell you, from now on, I am definitely sticking with keeping my tuna in my salad! I did have 2 oopsie rolls with the egg salad that I made this morning for an egg salad "sandwich" to go with that salad. For the day so far, I'm up to 8.7 net carbs and tonight I'm having a cup of broccoli with cheese to go with the steaks we're cooking so with that plus another snack, I should be good to go on veggies and carbs for the day.

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Checking in...happy but what a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

Great! I ate tuna with mayo and tomatoes and parmesan for lunch... forgot my romaine at home so will have to go extra on the "salad veggies" tonight with dinner... I get my cheese normally by itself because I love cheese and can't handle it being masked by other stuff... I got the babybel original mini cheese wheels and a big thing of cream cheese at costco... have been having 2 babybels for snacks and cream cheese with vanilla (organic vanilla is corn syrup free generally) and splenda and cinnamon for dessert (usually 1 oz cream cheese microwaved then mixed but will have 2 oz if i only had 1 babybel during the day)

You sound like you are doing great so far today!

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Checking in...happy but what a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

Wow...you do great on watching your cheese...I have to be more diligent. I LOVE IT!! I mean love it SO MUCH! It's hard for me to eat scrambled eggs or an omelette and not put it in there but I'm SO used to my snacks being cheese...to get my carbs. But I can do that if I have FRIED eggs and bacon for breakfast. I am learning.

We really like the stuffed pepper recipe and that's a good way to get some veggies in there but I don't know how much of a CUP one whole pepper is. Do you? If I ate both halves of a stuffed pepper? I am usually too stuffed to eat both halves but it would be good to know for reference purposes.

[Elizellen]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

There is a useful sticky at the top of this forum which shows the weight of a cup of the induction veggies (compiled by soliwit, one of our members) where you can look it up and then weigh the pepper to see how much of a cup it would work out to if chopped into bits.

Edited to add the link

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/41620-weights-vegetables-per-cup-measure.html

BTW one cup of green peppers weighs 149 grams.

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

Ahh, thank you, Elizellen. That is very helpful. I don't have a scale, but may be getting one. It turns out that I DIDN'T eat as much pepper as I thought since the bell pepper that I cut up for my salad today was in strips and not chopped into bits..which doesn't pack as tightly into a measuring up. So, looking at her weights and measures and the fact that I still have about 1/2 the bell pepper in the fridge, I think I am short in the "2 cups" category!

Can you tell me what category green beans come in??

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

They are on the list as string beans. I would say to try and stick with fresh, not canned due to salt content and often the canned ones are more "mature" which from what I understand makes them more like a legume.

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

OH... they are on the 1 cup of "other veggies" list

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

thank you so much, bonnierose! you have been a huge help to me today!! I thought they might be string beans, but our store sells both so I wasn't sure. Yes, I was referring to canned, but hubby had some at lunch today at a restaurant and I had a mini-heart attack thinking that he'd cheated without intending to!! He said he didn't think he even had a cup though. He ate ribs WITHOUT sauce...I was so proud of him! That'd be hard for me to do...I'd stick with a steak! lol

[BonnieRose16]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

yeah I'd have to go with a steak too... Can't stay away from teh bbq if I have to make myself... lol I've gone out a lot lately and had every burger on the local brewery's menu without their buns and every chicken sandwich and every steak... Now I need a new restaurant!!!!

[rhiannonwins]

Re: Checking in...happy but want a Maintenance Member's Viewpoint!

mmm, a big juicy bacon cheeseburger sounds delish...without the bun of course! hangin' on til payday to splurge! Making them at home until then. *grin*
I don't know if the oopsie rolls will work as a bun for my hubby's big burgers though...they might get soggy and squish flat! Maybe burgers solo!