Post your best Atkins tips.

[Jeudrietr]

I know everyone has little tips and tricks they use!

The tips can be about how to make food last longer in the refrigerator, how to get in extra exercise, etc.

Any little tip that might help someone. I'm sure even some long-timers can discover something new!

[sruss220]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

Well,I've been doing this for 2 years and have lost and maintained a 70 pound loss.Here is what I have learned
1.You must read the book!It has to make sense to you before you can make it work.
2.Check the ingredients in EVERYTHING,I mean EVERYTHING!
3.Believe in yourself whole-heartedly-you can do this.Nothing worth having comes easy.
4.Don't listen to people who tell you all the terrible things that will happen on this "diet".I am living proof that they're untrue and people dont even come at me with that nonsense anymore.
5.A cheat on this diet will do you in every time.I find myself kicking my butt the next day after gaining some...the more you cheat ,the easier it becomes to fall away completely.Please remember that it is SO not worth it,nothing tastes that good.And if you do cheat-hold your head high and remember you are human and you will just have to work extra hard.
6.Surround yourself with good food,good people,and faith in GOD that you can do this.
7.Drink your water(sometimes it's hard-i know)
To the newbies-this works.It may be fast or slow for you-but hang in there.When you are the size you always dreamed of , you can look back and see that the small changes produce great results!

[sadie147]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

Plan ahead: I always do well when i have prepared foods and snacks in the fridge. On sunday nights I like to wash and cutup celery stalks, other veggies for snacks. I'm more likely to snack on a legal snack like celery if it's already washed and cutup for me. Poach chicken breasts for chicken salads and toss in stir frys, boil half dozen or so eggs and keep in the fridge for devilled eggs, egg salad or just snacks, make any meatloafs, premade meals that will make my life easier.

Also when travelling or going out if your not sure you will be able to eat legally, try to have something to eat before you go out, bring a legal snack or food with you just in case, so you are not tempted to eat something off plan.

Exersice and drink lots of water!

[Richt]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

The 2 best Atkins tips I can give you -

Own a copy of DANDR, its a valuable tool

Visit ADBB regularly as the support here is second to none.

Rich

[ladyinred]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

Plan ahead: I always do well when i have prepared foods and snacks in the fridge. On sunday nights I like to wash and cutup celery stalks, other veggies for snacks. I'm more likely to snack on a legal snack like celery if it's already washed and cutup for me. Poach chicken breasts for chicken salads and toss in stir frys, boil half dozen or so eggs and keep in the fridge for devilled eggs, egg salad or just snacks, make any meatloafs, premade meals that will make my life easier.

Also when travelling or going out if your not sure you will be able to eat legally, try to have something to eat before you go out, bring a legal snack or food with you just in case, so you are not tempted to eat something off plan.

Exactly as Sadie said. Planning is most important.

Buy the book, own the book, read the book, re-read the book, read it again. I usually read some part of it every week and I've read it cover to cover at least 3 times. I always find something new or something I've forgotten about. It's my weight-loss bible.

[sruss220]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

Just some food tips:
I buy frozen chicken tenderloins, grill them, what I don't eat for dinner I cut up and have on a salad for a couple of days.
I keep several bottles of water frozen so when I leave I can grab a couple before I go and they won't get hot in the car.
Cream cheese with splenda and cocoa is wonderful to make and freeze in containers to take with you when you think you may be tempted to eat illegal sweets.
Buy bagged salad mix plus spinach (I pick out the carrots!),it makes a quick meal to just add egg and meat.
you can find legal foods anywhere you go , you just have to take the time and look.Almost all restaurants serve veggies and plain meats.Don't assume you dont have options...don't be afraid to ask.
Oh, and grilled chicken with atkins friendly spaghetti sauce with pepperoni and cheese is soooooo good and quick.Good luck to all.

[Checkers]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

What keeps me from cheating is eating a nice, full meal especially first thing in the morning. I do this wether I'm hungry yet or not. Getting very hungry is what has done me in every time. I've had a lot of failures to figure this out about myself. And even though I eat until I'm literally full I have not overeaten at all while I've done this. I find I really need to have a good meal if I'm going to be out and about.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

What keeps me happy on the plan is finding new recipes to try. It gets me excited about the food--NEVER bored. If you can eat something that by most of the world's low fat standards that is absolutely *SINFUL*, how can you not be happy!?!?!

[ttdriver]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

Learn to cook.
Plan your meals.
Use Linda's lowcarb recipe site!
Re-read DANDR at least 2 times a year.
Exercise is a priority. Its not *if I have time*. Its I WILL MAKE TIME.
Weigh yourself at the same time of day.
Don't obsess about the scale, fluctuations are normal.
Drink your water. 1/2 your weight in ounces per day, no exceptions.
Take your supplements.
Stay away from all processed foods, low carb or otherwise.
Avoid sugar and starch like the plague.
Drink green tea.
Don't be afraid to try new veggies .. you may discover what you've been missing all those years you ate potatoes and corn!
Limit your artificial sweeteners. Whether they stall your weight loss or not, they aren't healthy for you.
Food is fuel; its not an emotional pillow or a crutch. Its fuel .. NOT your best friend.
Speak positive words about yourself. Picture yourself at goal. Picture yourself healthy for a lifetime.

Betty

[Moochiecat]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

Be honest with yourself and deal with your emotional issues relating to food.

[dreamof145]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

I agree with all of the above, plus keeping a positive attitude about your weight loss. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself for being deprived of foods that you used to eat...get happy with the foods that are acceptable. (There are a lot of them)

Look for new things to do and learn that will increase your pride in yourself and your mental outlook about the changes you are making. Reach out and help others who are struggling with an obstacle in their life. It can range from volunteer work at schools, hospitals, shelters, ADBB or whatever. If you are supporting others, you won't feel so negative about your problems, you will be involved in helping people.

Keep a journal. It is so important to capture the positive feelings and the new self esteem to replay on days when you are blue or have obstacles that depress you in your life. Look back, read how this WOE has improved your life and it will give you motivation to keep going instead of giving up. Take measurements and put in that journal so you can see your results.

Don't give up no matter what anyone says or does. A lot of people depend on you and love you. Your health and positive self image is contagious.

Always have a plan!!! I have several plans. Some for vacations...some for one day outings, pot-lucks, b-day parties, and invitations to people's houses. I list things I've taken with me in my cooler...(what worked and what didn't)...I have recipes that I can cook up in a jiffy to take to a last minute invite...I write down what I can eat at different restruants, and I take water bottles and emergency food with me even if I go to the store cause you just never know what will happen. Car could break down, freeway could be closed and I refuse to be caught without a plan!!

[not2late]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

1. Keep a copy of the Foods List with you. Even when you are on OWL, keep that list handy.
2. On OWL, keep a list of the carb ladder and even jot down the 5 net carb amounts for certain foods.
3. Always make sure you have some kind of legal food available to you at all times.---cans of tuna, a jar of mayo, whatever.
4. When in doubt about a food, don't. Like my siggy says "eat first, ask questions later = disaster."
5. Exercise doesn't have to be done in a gym. Likewise, you don't need fancy machines to exercise.

[Checkers]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

Becky, what do you put in your car? I find that I may have to run out to do something on short notice before I've had a chance to make a meal. I need something that's ready to go and may sit in the car for a little while. I can do nuts, but I keep that amount very low so I need more than that. I'm would like to get some those Glad containers with compartments and preparing a bunch of 'kits' with veg, etc that all have the same contents in the same amounts. That would be for both home and on the go. Any more suggestions?

[dreamof145]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

I do take baggies of meats/veggies/cheese in a small cooler. I take them out as I leave the house. Also, I have a small bag of pork rinds, jerky, packet of tuna and mayo, bottled water. These I can keep in longer in winter, but in summer...I put in the cooler.

You can also make chips with the cheese or pepperoni to take and munch on. Nuts are good if you are on the nut rung. I've even taken avacado with me and had in the cooler.

[sunflowergrl]

Re: Post your best Atkins tips.

I would have to say measure everything and check serving sizes.
Don't focus on how much you weigh, focus on being healthy and understand this is a way of life, not a 'diet'.
Stay away from frankenfoods and diet pills.
Drink at least 100oz of water a day.
Don't pay attention to what other people are eating, focus on what you CAN eat not what you CAN'T.
Believe and love yourself, and know you are worth it!!