Tickle and Mari's ATKINS CHALLENGE...Finding our CCL

[maribelle]

Well, interesting day yesterday...I didn't cheat on any foods that aren't allowed at some point on Atkins, but I had too much of what I did eat. I encountered the negative side of adding fruit back into my diet, and that was CRAVINGS! This time it was much harder to stop after an alloted amount of fruit. My weakness is red grapes, and that was the first fall. The second was I was going to keep my steak seperate from the others when I marinated them for the grill (barbie ) I didn't, and that added at least 6 grams of carbs, from SUGAR! :no Then for a snack at our Poker Party, I put out a can of nuts, thinking I would pick out the almonds.....I think there was only one almond in the whole can. I got it, but 1/2 cup of the other nuts later! (which included cashews and peanuts which are a no no with Candida).

I feel good today, and didn't put any weight back on, but I'm going to cut out the fruit for the rest of today till I get the cravings back under control.

How was your Monday? Hope you didn't work too hard. Let me know if you want to go back to posting in our journals or anything. We aren't exactly doing an induction challenge anymore, but I do enjoy posting back and forth with you still. It's keeping me honest. Is it still helping you?

[tickletussler]

Same here!!!!!!! I went overboard on the cals, although amazingly enough I ended up with only 21g carbs. My % were slightly off though and I had to use something like 5 tablespoons of olive oil to balance those %. I just ate alllllllll arvo all the way to din - I crunched through fried prawns, half an Atkins peanut butter bar, a cup of pork rinds, more prawns LOL and I ate a POUND of fish for din!

I bought those macadamias and according to Fitday, 11 whole ones is an ounce of it... only that I was on the Veggies rung and I'm supposed to move onto the Dairy rung, not Nuts! :smackhead but hey, how did you get from induction to FRUIT? :confused Oh grapes are real :yummy During my stall, I ate 5 grapes... which turned into a whole bunch! They're pretty high GI and carbs dear... :yes
... but remember my suggestion about finding CCLL? If you go for it and try and find your CCLL, then at least you know how many carbs you could go up to before you really stop losing. Doesn't mean you have to eat at your CCLL but at least you won't feel like you're "cheating", you know?

Ok, I posted that post on "how to slow losers find their CCLL" post. Hopefully I'll get some good ideas. There's been one response from another who had similar queries. Hopefully there are lots out there asking this question, so hopefully we can get some good answers

Did you work out the timezone thingie? I got the directions wrong but same meaning *hehe* let's say it takes 14 hours to fly from Sydney to LA, and I left Sydney 10am Syd time 1 Jan. I'd get to LA 14 hours later, which would be midnight Syd time 1 Jan/2 Jan, but as it's 16hrs difference LA-Syd, I would arrive 8am LA time 1 Jan ie the "same" day! However, if I left LA 10am LA time 1 Feb, take 14 hours to fly to Sydney, then I'd arrive in Sydney midnight 1 Feb/2 Feb LA time, but the time in Sydney would be 4pm Syd time 3 Feb! - so I've "lost" 2 days between 1 and 3 Feb... got that?

VEGEMITE blech :vomit I think it's similar to something called Marmite (I think the English know about this) and something called Bovril.

This is what I ate Monday:

B - 2-egg omelette with 2 leftover marinated chicken livers
(kinda weird, but hey, I needed something for brekkie)
L - (dinner leftovers) stirfry pork with ½ cup green beans and 1 cup sliced fennel, and ½ cup of crunchy fried mini shrimp
Snacks - half an Atkins Endulge peanut butter bar (2g carbs), 1oz macadamias, ½ cup of crunchy fried mini shrimp, 5 large prawns, 1 cup pork rinds
D - a pound of fish marinated in Thai red curry paste with 1 cup of Asian greens cooked in lots of olive oil
Other - 0.25 cup psyllium husks
CARBS 21G CALORIES 2,895 62%fats/3%carbs/35% protein

I'd really like to keep this challenge Marion. Pity we can't rename it "Mari & Tickle's Atkins Challenge" LOL but it's serving it's purpose, ain't it? We still talk about foods specifically and how we go with them. It's kinda different with our journals where every tom, dick & harry stops by for a chat and you kinda can't have a continuous food conversation there. I like this challenge with just us coz it's like us PMing each other, except it's public and there must be some people who read it and maybe can relate to what we're saying, you know? Plus, it's still a "challenge" for us, coz we are both OWLers, PCOSers, who really seem to click with each other, but are finding Atkins ONE BIG CHALLENGE LOLOLOL

So let's keep it until you get bored, how about that? :hug

[maribelle]

Keeping this thread sounds good to me, and I can rename it, so I will! Ok, as for the fruit thing...um, I have a confession to make. I didn't read anything about the rungs. I thought the first rung was Fruit and Veggie rung, so I just started adding. I don't really know anything about what to add when, just did, and started losing again. As for the dairy rung, I don't think I'll be able to do that one, since more than a tiny bit of dairy makes me sick....like the chowder on Friday. :vomit It tasted good, but I paid for it. So today when I get a chance, I'm going to start reading the chapters in DANDR about OWL, and start it right.

So glad your day was good, especially eating wise. Olive Oil is GOOD stuff! I was really into aromatherapy for awhile, and that oil has SO many uses. And you really seem to like Prawns...what are they exactly?
Yes, grapes are out. They are what started the cravings. I knew they were high, but I SOOOO love them. When I was 170 pounds, and 19 years old, I used to have a bunch of those with a cup of Yogurt. YUM
But that was the beginning of my horrible eating.

I understood the time zone thing! Amazing! And I guess I was WRONG about the vegemite thing. Hmm. Just the only authentic Aussie food I know of. Where are you originally from, since in my journal, you said you were sent to boarding school to wait for your parents to move to Austrailia?

Menu:
B. eggs and sausage
L. 8 oz. hamburger fried with a little onion on some greens
S. Pork Stir Fry with cauli, broc, tom, onion, GP
Ok...more later. Have a good one!

[tickletussler]

No wonder you're having massive craving dearie... Fruit (not berries) is like the SEVENTH rung!!!!

Hey, yoghurt is part of the dairy rung, so is cheese. Why not try different cheeses and do dairy that way? You know, if you eat foods in little bits, you may not get so sick. I think I'm that way with cheese - it's a no-no for yeasties, but eat only an ounce every few days, I'm ok.

Prawns - what you call "shrimp" I guess

Your pork snack yesterday looked like my pork stirfry - tasted good I bet

Ok, how about a mix here - I had one Japanese grandmother, one Indonesian grandmother, one Korean grandfather and one Chinese grandfather.

[maribelle]

Those are all good ancestry to have! Very smart nationalities, if you ask me. My ancestry is German, Slavic, and Hungarian, but my family is at least three generations in the states, so I guess that makes me pretty much American? People complain here when we call ourselves "German" etc. but the American Indians complain if we call ourselves "American" so...what the He** are we anyway? Interesting. ok...I REALLY need to get my soft side up off this chair. Hope you get some sleep tonight!

[DebbietheHugBug]

This looks like a very interesting thread! :wave

So what are the rules? Is there room for 1 more? I do have a problem with cheating, mostly on the weekends. I do love my glass of wine, although not every night, but it doesn't hurt my days totals.

I have a problem with exercising. I feel better when I do it, except for my hip (I have bursitis in it) so sometimes I don't go as often as I should. I have a hard time staying motivated cuz I don't have anyone to workout with.

I need a new mindset. You guys sound fun and supportive :joy

[tickletussler]

:bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang

Marion, I've been wanting something sweet ALL day is REALLY bugging me - I never want anything sweet on a work day, but from lunch-time I just wanted something. I just had a really really yummy dinner and I still can't shake this sweet/wanna-eat-something else feeling :anger

Ok, this is what I've eaten on Tuesday (not very different to what I would normally eat:

B - 2-egg omelette with 2 skinless sausages
L - 3-4 cups mixed lettuce with 1.5 serving of low-carb Caesar dressing, topped with a large chicken satay stick marinated in peanut sauce
S - half Atkins Endulge Peanut Butter bar
D - pork chop with 1 cup each of stirfried chinese broccoli and cabbage
Other - 1 tablesp flax seeds and 0.25 cup psyllium husks
CARBS 18G CALORIES 1,928 72%fats/4%carbs/24%protein
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, back to Debbie - sorry, I needed to vent!

I'd like to have a pow-wow with my challenge partner - Marion, first if that's ok?

The main condition I have about your joining our thread is that we DON'T do criticising each other about the way we eat.

There are many hardcore Atkineers out there in the main forums, some who don't leave much room for mistakes we make along the way, and who really make you feel bad if you deviate slightly from the Atkins WOE.

We try and stick to Atkins the best we can :yes, and both of us utilise OWL to suit us. We are very prone to cheats of some sort or make mistakes, but at the end of the day, we try and ENCOURAGE and SUPPORT each other more than we tell each other we're doing something incorrectly

I don't know what your approach to this WOE is like, but do you think you could be understanding and supportive of us as we'll do the same to you?

Tell us what you think - looking forward to hearing back from you

But as you're a wine-lover and you don't seem to be over-keen, I think you could just fit in... ensive

[maribelle]

Morning all! Yes, Debbie, I agree with Tickle. We started this thread with the intention of giving each other positive encouragement because we tend to BEAT OURSELVES over little mistakes. If thats the kind of help you need, jump on in. We don't tend to throw the book at each other since it can cause more guilt, therefore more cheating. GUILT=SELF DEFEAT! We know there are others out there who need the same help, so please feel welcome. The only rule is...BE POSITIVE... :yes Oh, and lots of :hug :hug :hug

Tickle.... :hug :hug :hug YOU GOT THROUGH IT!!! So proud of you!!!! See, that stupid sugar is WEAK if you just keep on a truckin'. I'm running out of time this morning because I have to get my boy to tutoring, but I'll come back on later and post my menu and all. DID GOOD YESTERDAY! Only one little bite of banana bread..ok maybe two, but they were TEENSY! And I did a TON of exercise, walked a mile, swimming aerobics for 2 hours, and then walked some more! FEELS SOOOOOO GOOD! I'm going on a two mile hike today! Catch you both later!

[tickletussler]

Hey you know Marion, I reckon one or 2 bites of whatever is ok, as long as you STOPPED which you did :hug :hug :hug So PROUD of YOU :yes

LOL yes, sometimes I take only one bite of pizza, or a bite of cake, or a bite of chips, but these happen SO rarely and the bite never seems to end up into a binge - I even worked out how many carbs it would set me back - maybe 1, or 2 grams? If it helps you keep going, the way I look at it is you DIDN'T give in to the whole loaf of banana bread and you're a WINNER!!! :ThumbsUp And WOW, listening to you tell me all about your exercise, I feel tired just thinkin' how much you sweated it all out yesterday - that's amazing!!!

Marion, have you realised that it's been quite a few days now since your last oreos? You made it!!!!!!!! See, told you that if you keep trying, one day you get through a whole few days being all good

[maribelle]

We are doing it!!! This Challenge has been SOOOO helpful to me! A few days ago, I was on the point of giving up and walking away from Atkins for good. I was discouraged by everyone's success when I just couldn't stick to it. Now, its back to being my WOL, and I'm no end of positive! I really thank you for that, ARI! Its helped just to stop sneaking little bites, and not admitting it...just saying, hey, I did this today, and not having someone beat me up for it! It makes each day feel like a breeze.

You're doing great too! Soon you'll be at goal...just wait and see! Are you doing the nut rung yet? Or are you still deciding which nut to go with? One serving is only 11 kernels, but I think you can have 2 servings and stay within your zone, right?

I can't really post my menu right now, since I don't know exactly what I'm eating today, but I will post it tonight, and let you know how the hike went! Good day to ya!

[DebbietheHugBug]

Hi guys :wave

I'm not about beating anyone up. I'm like you. I struggle. Getting beat up only makes me feel like giving up urplequ:

I would like to be around people that struggle but really try to stay the course and still see success. I'm real good during the week but the weekends get me.

I have thought about giving up and trying something else. But then I think.... what else? I've done WW but was ALWAYS hungry! I've done every diet pill on the market except Phen Fen (thank goodness). I love this WOE because it's more versatile than others. I don't want to give up, but I don't want to get beat up because I gave in to family gathering pressures.

So for the record, I had green tea last night instead of wine... YAY ME! Although it's the weekends that get me on that, too. :guns I'm just here to give support and praise. To me, it's kinda like being a teenager. If you tell them they CAN'T have something, they want it all the more. I think we are the same way. So instead of beating each other up, if our little cheats are no big deal, then I think the novelty will wear off and we won't do it anymore... or as often. Think?

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it! :hug :hug

[tickletussler]

:bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang :bang

I needed to do some more head-banging... maybe you should read my journal post first? It explains it all...

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?p=646509#646509

It's finally 20:30 and I've had a good dinner. I still can't figure out what it is making me like this. I have no idea when TOM is coming, but it'd better not be TOM making me like this :raving If it is, then Atkins is making me have problems with TOM that I didn't have before! I am so NOT a bread girl, and I haven't had a craving for bread in nearly 6 months, so why now? Trying to do work, walking home, just wasn't big enough distractions. Trying to make sure I didn't eat too much protein during the day kinda restricted me. Plus i can't eat too much cheese that often, so I'm not really left with a lot of food options during the day.

Ok, vent is over, sorry Debbie... :wave - WELCOME TO OUR CHALLENGE!

I guess Marion & I learnt about each other through our journals. So would love to know a little bit more about yourself? (unless you've got a journal too that I've missed?) We also kinda got started coz we had PCOS link but JimmieJo suggested we start up a challenge when we wanted to post our daily foods in our journals and give each other comments - and voila! we've ended up together

I'm not about beating anyone up. I'm like you. I struggle. Getting beat up only makes me feel like giving up urplequ:
.......
I don't want to give up, but I don't want to get beat up because I gave in to family gathering pressures.

You belong right in our challenge! Yesterday was one example where I thought there were too many discouraging posts . When we screw up, we don't want someone else to beat us up when we already do such a good job on it ourselves Listening to someone else go on about how perfectly they do Atkins isn't our thing either - because we know we are more human than that, prone to emotional eating, affected by TOMs, going through a massive change in WOE etc and we reckon that being told positively how to improve something makes us get through Atkins much better :yes

Oh, and another thing, we always post what we each day for the other to comment on, and that includes all cheats we've made. We've gotta be HONEST with each other - you know, kinda like standing in front of an AA meeting and saying we're alcoholics - the honesty and admission is a start to getting on with things

So here's what I ate Wednesday:

late B - 1 soft-boiled egg
L - 5 cups lettuce/spinach with lo-carb caesar dressing and roast chicken breast
S - Atkins Endulge Choc Creme bar, 1 soft-boiled egg, 1 marinated roast chicken thigh, 1 cup pork rinds
D - 5oz panfried rainbow trout fillet with 5 cups of stirfried broccoli, green beans and asian greens in olive oil
Other - 1 tablesp flax seeds & 0.25 cup psyllium husks
CARBS 19G CALORIES 2,207 66%fats/4%carbs/31%protein

[maribelle]

Ari, I hope you are hugging yourself right now!!! YOU GOT THROUGH A DAY LIKE THAT WITHOUT A CHEAT!!!!!!!!!! I AM SOOOOOOO PROUD OF YOU!!!!! :hug :hug :hug It does sound like TOM to me, and Atkins will make you have more troubles with it because its normalizing our PCOS ridden bodies! The reason you may not have had so much problems before is because of how weird PCOS makes our cycle. See, I never have one except MAYBE once a year. But I still get the emotional swings, the cravings, the crampy legs very often. When I first started this diet last year, I got them in mega doses every other week. I'm looking forward to the day, actually, when TOM returns for me, since I'm TTC. I'm thinking I just must need to lose more weight first or something. BUT, you are my heroine for getting through that without caving in!

As for me...... :no yesterday was not such a success. Ok, let me make you a list:
1. 4 jounior mints (8 carbs)
2. 1/6th Hershey chocolate w/ almonds bar(? carbs)
3. 4 red seedless grapes (4 carbs)
4. a couple tastes of family's pasta dish(?carbs)

This is on top of a large anitpasta salad at the restaurant I used to work at, which was 6 slices of proscuito, 6 oz. provolone cheese, grated asiago cheese, marinated veggies, and 2 T. of their basalmic vinegar dressing, which I know has carbs in it too! I did skip the breadstick...oh and some olives. It was the only "lo" carb item they had, being a pizzaria.

So....I'm sorry. I feel like shite since you went through all that and abstained while I was just being mildly tempted and crumbled! I will do MUCH better today! Good news is, I did that HIKE yesterday. It felt SO good, even though I was huffing pretty hard at the tops of the hills...I had this very untrained black lab I had to control on the way up and a stroller to push on the way down, so, I think it added a few extra calories burned. :joy My SIL wants me to walk with her there EVERY day! I'm so excited, as this is EXACTLY what I need. An actual exercise program...I just hope she comes through with it now. She's famous for saying "lets do" and then "lets don't"

Ok.....Sorry, Debbie, I'm running on and on without saying anything to you...WELCOME TO OUR CLUB!! (he he he) I hope you're happy here. Please do let us know more about you...how old are you? Which wines do you love? Do you have any kids?

Talk to you all later! :hug :hug :hug :hug :hug :hug

[tickletussler]

Marion, here I am feeling jealous of you that you got to eat those grapes, hershey bars, pasta & antipasti. It just feel like ÆONS since I've last eaten any of these foods and I just wanna eat them now :anger

(PS did they taste good? Please share... :yes)

PLEASE DON'T FEEL LIKE SHITE :hug Look at it this way, whatever you're doing is helping you get through your journey. Atkins is damned tough you know, and even on your cheats, you are NO WAY eating the same amounts of cheat foods as you used to. And taking what you once said to Spirittalker - see that photo of Bella in your siggy??? That's YOU, and you have lost so much so far!!! :hug

You know, I kinda liked having TOMS only a few times a year *heehee* I've been lucky to never have cramps, mood swings, bloating, or anything like that, but I'm like on perm PMS whilst I've been on Atkins LOL

Hey, I'm glad you started on that exercise program. I try and walk home from work everyday - it's only 4 miles I know and it's not uphill or anything, but it's better than nothing! :yes

I gotta do the Dairy rung next, before I can do Nuts, so back into the cupboard those go. I'm so disappointed :sadblinky that there weren't very many replies on my "slow losers trying to find CCLL" post (only 2) - you'd think there were more Atkineers out there who had the same question and maybe worked it out too? *sigh* It'd better be TOM causing these massive "wanna eat all the time" moods, coz I AIN'T gonna go find my CCLL if I have to struggle with cravings AND find enough carbs to eat AND find more new foods that cause cravings! Did you notice? I ate 10 CUPS of veggies today and i could only scrape 19g carbs :no sheesh some days I'm struggling to keep my carb level down, other days, I eat and eat and eat and can't get enough carbs!

[maribelle]

OH, Don't be jealous of me!!! I'm not supposed to be eating that crap period! I just see these things, start to drool, and then eat them. I'm only happy that I can stop now. But I don't want to do that anymore. Thank you for the comforting though.

The chocolate bar with almonds tasted good, but I don't even LIKE junior mints. It was just there! It proves to me that my addiction is not yet conquered.

I know you're having a tough time with that CCL thing...wish I could help, but I've just started reading the section on OWL, so I'm not very savvy yet. But if you're at the dairy rung, what are you going to add? I've been craving yogurt, but of course the kind I like is flavored and sweet. Can't handle that plain stuff. And cheese makes me sick...hmmmmmm. All I can do is give ya lots of sympathy, and hope it gets better for you. You'll get to feeling better soon. And 4 miles??? :yikes I don't know if I'll ever be able to walk that!

Chin up, Ari! You can do it! :hug