I'm a Newbie with questions...

[marc998]

Hey Everyone,

My name is Marc and I'm new around here. I've not started the Atkins diet yet but just doing some research. I've read Atkins book 3 or 4 years ago and since I can't find it I'm headed out tomorrow for another copy. The basic idea seems to make since but some issues with my life style have come up. I don't want to start and invest in this if I have any doubts. I'm hoping some of you might be able to give me some insight.

The first thing is I'm a man of habit I've been eating the same progressive chicken and wild rice soup every day for lunch for almost 2 years. I've been looking at the Atkins site looking for super easy meals to make. Atkins Recipes - Phase most of those recipies are not going to work for me, I want something simple and easy, and I'm not seeing any of this. My lunch plan was just to take a salad and a can of tuna or something. (fact dinner may be the same)

Also since I've been sending a lot of time on the Atkins official site and their meal planer had included Atkins branded shakes. I was thinking about this and how $1.70 was way to rich for me right now and I figured I could just buy some low carb whey protein powder to substitute. I was looking at this Bodybuilding.com - 4Ever Fit 4Ever Whey Protein - Aspartame Free! On sale now! (I hope it's OK to add external links).

I've noticed that there are some 2 or 3 day cleansing supplements and would that have any benefit when starting or would it end up being over kill.

I can get support form my family however I don't think I can talk my family into dumping all the carbs out of the house. This is fine I can make it work. I have support at work because there are several guys starting the Atkins diet in the next week or so.

I really enjoy working out and going to the gym but I've seen no real results. That's kind of why I'm here now. I've got a good 80 pounds to loose, that I gained from quitting smoking. I've never really dieted before and really looking forward to it.

-marc

[atkinsgal08]

Re: I'm a Newbie with questions...

Welcome to ADBB!

>>I've been sending a lot of time on the Atkins official site and their meal planer had included Atkins branded shakes.>>

You don't need these. The focus of Atkins is whole, unprocessed foods.

>>I've noticed that there are some 2 or 3 day cleansing supplements and would that have any benefit when starting or would it end up being over kill.>>

Overkill.

>>I don't think I can talk my family into dumping all the carbs out of the house.>>

So you don't prepare your own food?

>>I've been looking at the Atkins site looking for super easy meals to make.>>

You don't need to use the recipes at the Atkins.com site.

There's lots of other recipe sites:

Atkins Food and Recipes - Atkins Diet

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home

>>My lunch plan was just to take a salad and a can of tuna or something. (fact dinner may be the same)>>

I wouldn't eat tuna that often. It's too contaminated with mercury to really be safe.

[mizski]

Re: I'm a Newbie with questions...

Maybe you could try some of these soup recipes instead. What many people do is make a big pot of soup and have it for several days or freeze it in individual portions so they can have a variety.

Linda Sue also has a lot of other recipes and many of them are pretty simple to make. Atkins stresses eating real foods so some cooking is involved. There are also a ton of recipes on this site that you may like too.

I would forget about shakes, whatever brand they may be. Remember: REAL food. Meals can be as simple as you want with veggies, a protein and some fat. Leftovers are also great for breakfasts and lunches. And remember that you don't have to eat salad (lettuces) if you don't want...there are a lot of other veggies to chose from.

Congrats on stopping smoking. I think your new LC lifestyle will start to show more benefits at the gym too. Oh...and welcome to ADBB!

[mizski]

Re: I'm a Newbie with questions...

I was thinking some more about your soup for lunch and thought of what Mr. Ski does at my FILs house:

He puts a package of boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a big pot and adds a ton of veggies (chopped onion, celery, zucchini, summer/yellow squash, mushrooms, green beans, a can of no salt added diced tomatoes, whatever other veggies are in the fridge, some garlic powder, black pepper and a little salt) and covers it all with about 6-8 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer on low heat until the chicken is cooked and the veggies are tender...about 1 to 1/2 hours. Add a little more salt if necessary. You can use the Induction veggie list to help pick out the veggies you could use.

I don't think they bother to cut up the chick thighs at all as they tend to eat like savages when I'm not around but you could cut them up either before or after cooking the soup if you want.

[hopejoy]

Re: I'm a Newbie with questions...

You can buy canned Chicken instead of daily tuna... for variety.

What about steak and salad

Shrimp and salad

For breakfast stick with eggs and sausage or bacon. It will carry you through the day. Those shakes are not recommended.

Real food. Real results. Good health. It may be more difficult than opening a can but it's worth it and more enjoyable.

liz

[marc998]

Re: I'm a Newbie with questions...

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I think I posted this a little early. I'll need to go out and re-read Atkins book, I sure a lot of my questions would have been answered.

I think Mizski's Idea of preparing soup is brilliant, I can decently do that.

Hope joy thanks for the comment about canned chicken and I could also use canned salmon also. I do like salad so long as it's romain ro spring mix just not plain iceberg lettuce.

I understand why the shakes are bad because of the milk even the protein Powers ones. There is just a lot of information out there...I was talking with a co-worker the other day and he said I should start taking 2 scoops of protein power shake 30 before I work out and I'd probably see more results.

I've got some reading to do and hope to start my diet sometime Next week.

[blueberrylady]

Re: I'm a Newbie with questions...

Welcome to the ADBB, Marc!

Keep us posted on your progress!

[imagood1]

Re: I'm a Newbie with questions...

Welcome --

Besides eating a variety of foods make sure you exercise, take a non-iron multivitamin and drink a minimum 64 ounces of pure water (nothing added), daily.

Plan your meals a few days in advance and prepare a few things in advance so you have a choice and don't need to take a lot of time to prepare a good meal each day. My husband loves the stuffed green peppers on Linda's site -- he's not following the Atkins plan but he loves when I "plan" this Atkins meal!!!

Good luck --