Give opinions here! My food for January 17...

[SusanQsan]

Breakfast -
Harboiled egg white (stuffed in mouth while running out the door)
coffee (in a to-go travel mug, of course!)

Lunch-
3 cups salad
2 hard boiled eggs
water

Dinner -
2 hamburger patties
dill pickle slices (about 10)
egg salad (2 hard boiled eggs and Hellman's mayo)
a few spoonfuls of mock ice-cream (frozen whipped cream that I made myself with heavy whipping cream and splenda)

Total water throughout day = about 90 oz.

[Moochiecat]

Re: Give opinions here! My food for January 17...

Ok
Firstly...are you using www.fitday.com? if so, how did the numbers look? If not, here's a link to help you get started with it:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5235
It's a really valuable tool to see where you are at with your foods.


And here we go with the menu!

Why just an egg white? An egg gives you the perfect balance of fat/protein/carbs, so having one or two cold boiled eggs is a really great, convenient way to start your day. Always have some peeled and ready to go if you find you are busy in the morning. Take some time the night before to have breakfast items ready so you are never caught without. Skipping or slacking on breakfast is never a good idea.
Was breakfast on the run a typical morning for you, or was it just this morning, and you usually have time to have something a bit more substantial?

Lunch...try and spread your veggies out through the day rather than carb-load them at one meal. Your digestive system will thank you for this as will your blood sugars, trust me! And 'salad'...is that mixed greens with peppers, cucumbers and so on? or just lettuce? What kind of lettuce? A variety of veggies is best both for the nutrition and the fiber (again, your digestive system will thank you)

That's a fair amount of eggs you're eating...which is fine! but make sure to have a variety of things as the week goes on. Tuna or salmon salad is a good choice as well.

Not a bad day...it can use some tweaking with the veggies, and it'll be interesting to see how the numbers look, but not a bad day overall!

[SusanQsan]

Re: Give opinions here! My food for January 17...

LOL! Thanks MoochieCat! I left out a lot of necessary details in my original post, that's for certain.

Here are some answers -

breakfast - I usually have only coffee. Today I was trying to be "good" and stuff something in my mouth before I left. I didn't eat the yellow because it gets all cakey and sticks in my throat - I was rushing and didn't have a drink handy. LOL! The alarm goes off at 4:45 and I have to be out the door at 6:20. In the past I have tried getting up earlier, but then I get too tired by day's end.

My salads are from the salad bar at work: Mixed iceberg and dark green lettuce, and they throw a tiny bit of carrot shreds and red cabbage shreds in. Usually I only end up with about 4 carrot shreds in my salad, so I think that's ok. Then I have ranch with real bacon bits on top.

I'll try to be better on spreading out the veggies. That was kind of bad today just eating it all in one meal.

I have used Fitday, but found it to be too inaccurate, plus I don't have time - I work long hours, and would have to give up time with my family at night to use it.

Your response was awesome - it made me think.

[Moochiecat]

Re: Give opinions here! My food for January 17...

Tough love alert! Tough love alert!
In order to get the maximum benefit out of this diet, you just have to buckle down and make some changes. You sound quite reluctant...saying the egg is cakey and that you have no time to do fitday etc.
A few minutes a day getting a breakfast and a lunch ready, and a few minutes at Fitday are well worth the time investment. Especially in the beginning, fitday is a wonderful tool and once you know you're on the right track you can refer to it occasionally to make sure you are doing well. I encourage you to give it another shot. It doesn't have to be exact, just as long as you know where you are.

Now, young lady, lets talk about the breakfast issue.
Breakfast gets your metabolism going in the morning. Eat breakfast = blood sugars level + Metabolism working = fat burning = happy Susan! It's gas in your engine; your body needs it to do its job. Coffee is not adequate, you need real food.
In my own personal opinion, breakfast should be non-negotiable. Considering the point of Atkins is to keep your blood sugars level, skipping breakfast is a bad idea any way you look at it....it sets you off kilter for the whole day.
Again, think about what you can have handy in the fridge to chomp on when you are heading out the door. Plan plan plan ahead.

I'd also encourage you to pack your own lunch the evening before so you can get a better mix of vegetables.
My lunches consist mainly of raw veggies, leftover meat from last nights dinner and a small container of ranch or blue cheese dip. Quick, simple, easy to eat. I don't like to spend a lot of time on making a lunch and this takes two seconds to throw together.
Again, a time investment that is well worth it.

Ok, enough tough love.
I do hope this helps you....I never used to be a breakfast eater...a cup of coffee and then a trail mix bar at 11:30. and when I got home from work in the afternoon, cranky and shakey and eating everything in sight. It has made a HUGE difference for me in so many ways to follow the diet as it's intended to be followed.
I just want that same success for you.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Give opinions here! My food for January 17...

Wow Susan, I thought I posted on this yesterday.
Family is the most important thing, and I agree with you about fitday. When you eat out or when you have menus with lots of ingredients, like soups and stews, its a pain in the patootie. But once you get stuff into it, it does get easier.
I was once a hard working, family raising mom (have I mentioned lately that I am retired LOL) I cooked a big meal on Sundays, and often a couple of dinners. But I made things that we could eat more than once. I'd put a roast (chicken, pork) in the oven and another meal in a crock pot. We would have them for lunches and dinners and that left more time with the family. I had bags of nibbles in the refrig so I could grab and go.
Hard boiled egg yokes are dry, dab them in a tiny bit of mayo.
But what concerns me most about your post is that your sound stressed. Stress causes tons of problems, to include overeating and obesity. You need to have time for yourself, a nice long bubble bath, play time with the family, and time for just you. You often have to physically schedule it in your day planner but its important.
Great post. Glad you joined>

[SusanQsan]

Re: Give opinions here! My food for January 17...

LOL! You guys are AWESOME! "Young Lady" - I love it!

Hey, I admit, a lot of times I need a kick in the rear end. I am totally appreciative of the tough love. You're both right. I need to MAKE time for breakfast, plan ahead, make time for things like FitDay, and chill out.

My stress is good, though. I love what I do for a living (I am a programmer) and I can't wait to get to work everyday and get back to my code. I also can't wait to get home at night and see DD and DH. My 2 passions: work and family.

I'll do better tomorrow. I really believe in this WOL and I made a commitment to myself. I need to "walk the walk". Tomorrow will be a much better day, Atkins-wise.

Thanks, both of you. I appreciate the "straightening around".

[Moochiecat]

Re: Give opinions here! My food for January 17...

Oh, whew! Good!