Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

[ConnieC]

Hi all,

I really, really need to drop the pounds and I'm hoping all of you can help.
I've done Atkins before and been moderately succesful, but stopped before reaching my goal because I got bored with the food choices.

I've tried other plans like South Beach and Weight Watchers and counting calories and listening to my body and have gained weight on all of them. I seem to gain weight 6-15 pounds at a time in a 3day to two week period where nothing I do seems to stop it, including starvation. I've finally got a health care provider who doesn't sneer and say 'Eat less, Move more. You must not be telling the truth about your eating/exercise habits." She wants to look at my thyroid and insulin resistance. Hope she can find something to fix. (I've read through the success story forums and found a few posts from women who've gained like I have. Have you figured out why?)

I'm a full-time novelist. I thought when I stopped working the day jog and started working full-time I'd eat healthier and lose weight. I AM eating healthier, lots of vegie soup. Hardly any fast food. More walks. Less stress. --More weight.

So, here I am doing the Atkins thing. Wish me luck!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

Welcome!

>>because I got bored with the food choices>>

Did you get some low carb cookbooks?

Did you check out some of the low carb recipe sites?

I was bored eating before Atkins ... because I had such poor planning!

Checking out should keep you from being bored:

Atkins Food and Recipes - Atkins Diet

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home

LowCarbRecipeBox : Low Carb Recipe Box

[Shrew2u]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

Hello and welcome! Do you have your copy of Dr. Atkin's New Diet Revolution 2002, which is the book we use here? If not, you can refer to Induction Rules and Induction Foods when developing your menus.

I'm glad that you are working with a physician who is establishing your "medical baseline". It's always good to know what medical issues (if any) could be impeding weight loss before you get to a point where you're discouraged and have no idea why your body is behaving the way it is.

I've done Atkins before and been moderately succesful, but stopped before reaching my goal because I got bored with the food choices.

That comment jumped out at me - sounds like you stayed on Induction for too long last time. Please consider staying on Induction for only two weeks this time around, then moving to OWL.

I hear it time and again on these boards about how people are afraid to move from Induction to OWL because they don't want to slow their weight loss. I also see at least one post per day that deals with someone who is on Extended Induction and is concerned because the weight loss is nowhere near as fast as it was on Induction (or has stopped...and they haven't checked for lost inches). There are also a few veterans who will acknowledge that moving to OWL really got the scale moving again.

The variety is in OWL - dairy, nuts, fruit, legumes, starchy veggies and whole grains...all waiting for you and eager to develop a tasty relationship with you.

[/soapbox]

So, what's on your menu today?

[ConnieC]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

Thanks, J. for the welcome.
Part of my struggle is that I hate complicated cooking. I really have to grit my teeth and muscle through anything that needs more than a few minutes and more than a single pot or skillet or needs to be mixed and measured. I think that it's becuase I resent the time it that cooking and cleaning up afterward take away from things I would rather be doing (make that anything else I would rather be doing.)

My husband does't get excited about food, either. As long as it tastes sweet, he doesn't care what it tastes like. So cooking healtheir doesn't get many accolades to inspire me either.)
But this time, I'm determined to make myself do it if cooking is what will make this work. Not the most enthusiastic place to start, is it? I'm acutally an upbeat, positive kind of gal--except for the cooking and cleaning up afterward thing.

[ConnieC]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

Hello, Shrew2u.
Yes, you are exactly right that I stayed on induction too long. I figured out foods that were easy and that fit w/ the induction plan and rarely ventured off them. I think it was the dislike of spending time on food that got me. Coupled w/ my anti-cooking temperment, those scrambled eggs for breakfast every morning and chicken breast for lunch got old after a few months. I'll be looking for all kinds of encouragement this time around.

I keep seeing so many folks staying on induction for weeks and months, I just figured if it worked for them, it would work for me, and it sounds so much simpler and, to tell the truth, I was a bit confused (and afraid) about what to add and when to add it. But I'll try to give induction just two weeks this time and dip back onto the boards for advice.

Thanks so much for the great post. This forum is what I'm doing differently this time. I haven't every joined a community like this before.

[ConnieC]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

Oh! I forgot to add--Yes, I have the 2002 book, too.

[liv]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

I think we have a lot of layers in us when it comes to taste and foods. Yes we get addited to carbs and sweets. So addicted that it is the only taste we care about. Sweet stuff has that power.
But when we cut it out and start tasting real food again, we may experience the other 4 or 5 tastes we actually were born with. There are so many wonderful aspects to food that get your whole being just saying bing bing. But you have to cut out sweets - totally for a while to discover that world.

Even Atkins induction foods represent a wealth of good taste and experience. But most of us are so used to medicating with sweets that it takes us a while to learn to eat a varitey. To learn to love the sweetness in an egg

Anyways, I really sympatize with the quick cooking need. I do not like spending a lot of time cooking and cleaning either. But real food does not require a lot of time. We just have to know how to cook them. I cook as fast as ever but now I eat a lot less chemicals.

Also there are things like cooking ahead (A roast can last for a bit or using slow cooker - everything in one pot with very little preparation and clean up time )

Anyways Welcome. Try a bit of variation. Chicken breast - I don't know if that even was meant to be human food Chicken legs on the other hand.....

[nimbinpaul]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

I found cooking on the Atkins a bit hard at first. I tried to keep my carbs up with veggies, so I cooked up about 8 servings of a vegetable and kept it in the frig so I knew I could grab my five grams worth of carbs from it when I needed it.
Then I bought protein meats, fish, chicken etc and cooked them up and put them in 125g containers (those are quantaties that worked for me)
So now when I need a meal I just grab 1) veggies 2) protein and then grab a fat either butter or oil and heat it up ( with whatever herbs and spices I feel like) and ..... I have a meal. In about 3 minutes.

[ConnieC]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

Liv, I like the crockpot idea. I have one but rarely use it because I don't know how. I'm not as bad about sweets as my husband is--although we have both been guilty of eating a bowl of ice cream for supper on occasion. I'm hoping that if I start having healtheir meals, he'll start liking them better.

Nimbinpaul, I love your suggestion about cooking up the veggies and meat all at one time. That way, I can mix and match containers according to my stomach's mood! I have a ton of Gladware in the cabinet. I'm going to try that!

Now to hunt down some veggie recipes. I don't find too many of them in the book. Is there a place on the forum for induction phase veggie recipes? Ditto on the crock pot recipes. Then to make my shopping list. Then cut, slice, dice ...ugh! No--not ugh. I can do this. I really can. This cooking thing will be worth all the effort, right?

[farmwife]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

I find a can of tuna, sardines or a hard boiled egg, very EASY to open, add mayo and eat. YUMMY!

Soup is easy and then you can freeze the leftovers into containers for a quick easy meal.

Also, you can buy individual fish or chicken that you just slip into the oven for 20 min.

Veggies, you can buy in microwavable bags that you just pop into the micro for a few minutes.

Salad is easy,peasy too. Buy a bag, add some vinagrette and Voila, you are done!

I must say I am green with envy. A novelist!!! That is THE dream job!!! I hope you enjoy writing as much as I reading!

Once you get a system, Atkins is easy!

[Shrew2u]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

My husband does't get excited about food, either. As long as it tastes sweet, he doesn't care what it tastes like. So cooking healtheir doesn't get many accolades to inspire me either.)

Time to make yourself a list of things you wish to accomplish, beyond achieving a particular number on the scale. Some suggestions for the list:

• How do you want to feel in the morning when you wake up?
• How do you want your clothes to feel when you wear them?
• Have you got anything in your closet that you'd like to wear again?
• How do you want to feel after some physical exertion, compared to now?
• What do you want your doctor to say at your next physical?

~

I have to admit, I was a pretty lousy cook when I met Mr. Shrew (who is a great cook). I have no natural cooking talent, period. What I *do* have is tenacity and a willingness to perfect my technique. I find that, the more basic skills in the kitchen I master, the better my food becomes. I can also understand not wanting to spend much time in the kitchen - life has a way of absorbing all available time, doesn't it?

One thing I did to address my need for fast Atkins-appropriate meals (that could also be expanded to incorporate a starch for others) is master basic stir fry. I keep it simple - meat, veg (and sometimes nuts), garlic, ginger and oil (peanut oil mixed with a few dashes of sesame and chili oil); I'll throw in a few dashes of soy sauce if I'm feeling spunky.

It allows incredible versatility (and I end up making Stir-Fried Fridge Scrapings more than I'd care to admit). It uses only a wok for cooking (plus a pan or cooker for rice, if needed). Only two utensils (knife and wok spatula) and a cutting board are really needed beyond the wok to prep and cook. That's expanded with two storage containers, if prep is done in advance - another benefit! I like prepping after the kids go to bed for the evening, so when I get ready to cook dinner, I can be in and out of a reasonably-tidy kitchen in 15 minutes.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

>> Part of my struggle is that I hate complicated cooking.>>

Atkins doesn't have to be "complicated" at all. 99% of what I make isn't "complicated".

>> I like the crockpot idea. I have one but rarely use it because I don't know how.>>

Golly ... I bet you can learn!

Dana Carpender has a cookbook called "15 Minute Low Carb Recipes":
Amazon.com: 15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes: Instant Recipes for Dinners, Desserts, and More (9781592330416): Dana Carpender: Books

>> Now to hunt down some veggie recipes.>>

There's a lot of those in the links I posted for you back on page 1.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

>>I keep seeing so many folks staying on induction for weeks and months, I just figured if it worked for them, it would work for me>>

I suspect it worked as well for them as it did for you!

[ConnieC]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

I forgot that I can have mayo. That does make tuna and hard-boiled eggs more appealing! I would love to find a soup recipe for the induction phase. Soup for lunch is one of my favorites and I'm good w/ freezing.

Just ate some brussel sprouts from a steamer bag w/ my egg omelet for lunch. I've having trouble finding the vegies w/out cream sauce or w/out potatoes or some other, not-on-my-list foods. I live outside of a teeny-tiny town w/ a modest-sized Brookshires grocery store. They will special order anything I want, but I don't know what to ask for. Got any suggestions? Brands I should ask for?

Need to look for the fish and chicken, too. Are you talking about the individual frozen stuff? (Not precooked, right? The pre-cooked meat seems to all be breaded) I didn't know you could just pop it in the oven. I've always thought I had to thaw it first. At what temperature?

I'm thinking of saving my salad choices for supper/restaurant choices, especially on weekends when we eat out more often. Eating salads at restaurants seems to be easier on the group I'm w/. Otherwise I have to veto all their fave eating places, which is not a fun thing to do when eating w/ other couples. How long do those bags of salads last? If I bought some and didn't eat it right away, that could be an option.

farmwife, being a writer has been my dream job, too! I have loved every second of it!

And I LOVE this forum. So many good ideas and so much enthusiasm! Many thanks and please keep it coming.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Starting Atkins 2 days after Turkey Day

>>I would love to find a soup recipe for the induction phase.>>

Did you check out the recipe sites you've been given?

>>I've having trouble finding the vegies w/out cream sauce>>

Really? There's bags of them in the frozen food section ... or even in the fresh produce department!

>>Brands I should ask for>>

I generally buy the store brand of frozen vegetables.

>> Need to look for the fish and chicken, too. Are you talking about the individual frozen stuff?>>

Could be. You do have to watch for additives with frozen though ... especially with chicken. It's important to read the LIST OF INGREDIENTS of EVERYTHING you buy.

>>'m thinking of saving my salad choices for supper/restaurant choices>>

Atkins is more about the vegetables than anything ... and spreading them out during the day works best.