Wellness

[morganjen]

On 8/26/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:

Violann, thank you for the reply. Seems so much easier when you make your own rules rather than follow something strict. When we find something that is working, do we tend to eat the same things over and over? There's so much to choose from out there but so many foods we really don't need. Morganjen, thank you also, is your WOE working fine for you or is there anything about it you don't like?

It's working great for me (down 20 lbs) and haven't had any Hashi's flares. It is very difficult to find organic food in our area and yes, it can be expensive to eat this way. My husband would not change his eating habits for anything, so I have to make 2 meals a lot of the times.

[sonnysky]

On 8/23/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:

SonnySky, do you ever buy the Atkins frozen meals? Are you kidding me, I just tried the Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry it is absolutely delicious - and big (for me) - if I were to put a salad with it, it would be huge! I'll try the crustless pot pie next. What are the trigger items you need to avoid?

Oh my yes! The frozen meals are fantastic! I haven't tried the sesame chicken....will have to try that one. I have tried and love the pasta bake, chili, pot pie the breakfast ones and a few others, I have liked them all. I hope Atkins will continue to add more items. I also love the different meal and snack (chocolate) bars, sooo good, but pricey.

For chocolate cravings I buy the sugar free candies, like the mini Hersey bars, or Resse's mini peanut butter cups, only a few a day, or I get an unwanted side effect, I don't mind though it keeps me from eating too many.

As for my trigger foods, I would include nuts and peanut butter, it does not trigger carb cravings, but I struggle with portion control when I do eat them, so I try to avoid buying large jars of PB, or big bags of nuts.

Everyone is different, as I mentioned potatoes do not seem to trigger heavy carb cravings nor lead me down the wrong path, I can also eat peas and carrots without problem. I only have these once in a while and of course count the carbs. The foods that do seem to send me into cravings, increased appetite etc. are breads, regular pasta's and of course sugary treats, even when I stay within my carb limits.

I am glad you are finding great items and that this is working for you so far! I hope you will keep us posted and continue to share new finds and ideas with us!

I remember last Thanksgiving I tried to make an Atkins friendly dressing....wow epic fail! I would love to hear about any new discoveries!

[sonnysky]

On 8/26/2014 morganjen said:

On 8/21/2014 sonnysky said:

Yes, Atkins works! Getting started (for me) was hard! Everyone has different experiences, of course but the first week or so was miserable! I was craving carbs, not feeling great and hungry constantly. Atkins has a great message board and the members are so helpful and encouraging, and also offer an online weight loss tracker, and carb counter.

I learned on the forum to add broth daily in the beginning and this is a huge help! I felt much better (was dizzy and no energy) and helped to curb cravings, and less hungry.

Atkins is not intended as a "diet" but a way of eating. It has different levels, and you continue to increase carbs along the way, once on the final level you learn what your own personal daily carb max is to maintain the loss.

The beauty of the low carb WOE is that you get permanent control of cravings and appetite. For me it is an easy (once over the initial hump) way to control my weight. Other "diets" and calorie counting etc. is way to hard to sustain long term, I would lose, and slowly fall off the wagon, and the weight would creep back on. This has NOT been the case with low carb for me. I have been eating low carb and maintaining my weight loss easily for years now. HTH.

Glad to hear this type of way of eating is sustainable. I have been doing the primal/paleo for 6 months now. I also can relate to others judging this way of eating and preaching the low-fat mantra. I just say "every body is different."

So true! I sometimes wonder why people can be so offended by my WOE, I never make a big deal out it, or try to force my way on others, and if I am attending a function with food I certainly don't gasp at the sight of others enjoying the foods they like. I do get the preaching too.

[sonnysky]

On 8/26/2014 morganjen said:

On 8/26/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:

Violann, thank you for the reply. Seems so much easier when you make your own rules rather than follow something strict. When we find something that is working, do we tend to eat the same things over and over? There's so much to choose from out there but so many foods we really don't need. Morganjen, thank you also, is your WOE working fine for you or is there anything about it you don't like?

It's working great for me (down 20 lbs) and haven't had any Hashi's flares. It is very difficult to find organic food in our area and yes, it can be expensive to eat this way. My husband would not change his eating habits for anything, so I have to make 2 meals a lot of the times.

I have to do this often too for my family, like on pasta or pizza night. Pasta night is a good night for me to enjoy The Atkins pasta bake if I have it, otherwise I just prepare something else for myself, my H and kids are not interested in low carbing.

Other nights I will just stick to the meat and veggies and skip all the breads or other sides.

[BigOrangeKitty]

Sonnysky, thanks for the replies. On pizza night do you have a slice, maybe with a big salad, or do you skip the pizza altogether?

[chrystaltree]

Yes, I "did Atkins" years ago and yes it did indeed "work". I actually did it the correct way; which never was to eat until you are stuffed and never was a "eat meat only" type of diet. So, I lost weight very quickly. It was long ago but I believe I lost about 70lbs in 3 or 4 months. Of course, I gained it all back because at that time, Atkins was about losing weight and not about keeping the weight off. I believe the "new" Atkins came about several years ago, it gives more direction and explanation but it's still high protein, very low carb. Everyone is different but the simple fact is that every diet ever created by mankind works. There's one out there for everyone.

[glmama]

Although I've never officially been on Atkins or anything like it, I currently aim to eat 25 grams of protein at each meal. This is a tough one, but BOY does it help with weight loss and feeling good. I don't eat high-fat or other stuff that's recommended on Atkins, but the focus on protein (for me fish, beans, eggs, meat alternatives, etc) has been great and has helped me to lose weight. I hope it works for all of you that are trying it.

[sonnysky]

On 8/26/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:

Sonnysky, thanks for the replies. On pizza night do you have a slice, maybe with a big salad, or do you skip the pizza altogether?

I usually don't eat an entire slice of pizza, but will scrape the toppings off a couple often, then eat a lighter dinner. While I was in induction, and OWL, I was VERY careful to avoid breads and other simple carbs completely, now days I will eat them on occasion, but pizza is a tough one for me, and if I eat one whole piece, I am back for a second, for sure.

I sometimes make a pizza chicken breast....I flatten out a breast, bake and add pizza toppings, or use a portabella mushroom and top with pizza toppings, another one is a low carb tortilla. They also have recipes to make a cauliflower crust too.