October Challenge--Atkins '72

[dbglasgow]

Good morning... we are up early and getting ready for the 3 hour drive to the airport. The team leaves today... we will be headed back up here on Thursday to meet friends who are stopping in Belize on a cruise. We have two friends coming in next week to help with construction work also.

No change in the scales this morning... still up that 1.2 lbs. I'll check in late this afternoon. Have a great day.

[verbqueen]

No change this morning for me either, which beats the heck out of a "bounce-up." I'll take it!

Seems like I've been eating a LOT of meals out in the last two weeks, so my goal for this week is to just eat at home, and keep it simple--meats and salads.

I'm out of CO, so I've got to make a dash out for some more. I also need to do some serious house-cleaning--got my book club coming over this week, and I've really been slacking in the home chores department.

I'll be back later to post meals, too.

::Waving at missing friends who may be reading this!::

[verbqueen]

Today's menu:

B: sausage/hamburger/rotel concoction, decaf (no CO, I was out)
L: grilled chicken breast on lettuce leaf with swiss cheese, iced tea
D: taco "innards" (meat, lettuce, cheese-no shell, of course), water


I tried a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar today, in a glass of water. It was pretty hard to get down.

My calories were 1600, carbs 11 grams.

P.S. Darlene, check your PMs.

[dbglasgow]

I'm up another 1.4 lbs but this is normal for me after a long day of travel. The six hours of riding always causing some swelling in my legs and feet. My carbs were a little higher yesterday... I had a few nuts as snack while traveling... my calories yesterday were 1300 and carbs were 16.

The weather here has finally cooled off some.. our temps are still in the 80's and 70's at night but the humidity has dropped a lot and we have a cool breeze blowing so it feels great. I love this time of year... it should remain pretty comfortable here most days now through January. We have a busy week next week.. pouring concrete but then we have Nov. alone and I will stay busy getting ready for the wedding.

Pat... check in with us soon...Jessica, have a great day. By the way, I saw that Hurricane Rick was headed toward CA... not toward your area, I hope.

[verbqueen]

Good morning! I am down over a half pound today, and so glad of it. Any movement at all is a good thing at this point!

I have no plans at all today except to continue working on my house and laundry. I desperately need a full day at home. Yesterday, I ended up having to go to a neighboring town, Chino Hills, to locate the book for my book club. (I read half of it last night--it's really a beautiful book, "This House of Sky.") While I was in that area, I stopped at the only Super Walmart I know of in Southern Cal and picked up a large jar of Nutiva CO, so that was good. I also went into Coldwater Creek and found that a a huge area of the store was filled with sale items. I ended up buying a pair of pants, a blazer, 3 tops and two skirts. I needed them--all my clothes are starting to look kind of saggy and ill-fitting on me. Most of what I got was a size M or a size 12. That's about as low as I ever go, with my height and frame, so I was quite excited!

I am off to start my work. I have so many areas that need busting into shape that it's intimidating to even try to decide where to begin!

I'll be back this evening to post meals. Later!

[The Bionic broad]

Youse guys are inspiring me!

B and L: Protein drink with 100 grams of protein total, with 1 T. Enova oil and 2 T. coconut oil. (I make one drink and split it in half.)

D: Well...something. I do know that we're going to the gym (I feel like FlobberWoman), but I'm not siure what dinner is. Since it's Taco Tuesday at Del Taco, probably the innards of some tacos. I have a bit of sour cream to put on them. Now if I can just avoid those blasted bean and cheese cups!

Have a great evening.

[verbqueen]

Pat, good to see you! Sounds like you are going great guns with the middle-aged middle plan. Good for you!

I sent you a PM--next time you're here, take a look.

Back later to post my meals!

[verbqueen]

So I got a LOT of cleaning done, and I feel better about life now. All floors either vacuumed or mopped; living, dining and family rooms dusted; MILES of granite countertops cleaned and resealed; stovetop and microwave scrubbed; throw rugs shaken out and vacuumed; toilets and bathroom sinks cleaned.

Not done yet--tomorrow I have to do the rest of the bathroom stuff (the dreaded tubs and showers) and dust the bedrooms. Closing in on it, though! Now I have to think of a menu to serve to the book ladies Friday. I'm thinking chicken salad and ham salad. I will provide some mini-croissants for them to make sandwiches, but I can eat mine on a lettuce leaf. Plus maybe a fresh fruit salad (for them, not me!), a cheese tray and some sort of baked goodies (which I will probably make from a mix--why bake from scratch when I can't eat it?) I'll shop for the stuff tomorrow and make ahead what I can on Thurs. and finish up on Fri. morning.

Today's foods:

B: Trader Joe's greek yogurt flavored with some DaVinci syrup, decaf with CO
L: Leftover Rotel creation
S: 1 oz cheddar cheese stick
D: burger patty with cheese, jalapeno and an oz of guac, served on a lettuce leaf

Much iced green tea--it was very dry here today. I didn't do the ACV today. Just couldn't face it. That one may not work out for me. Gotta get one more dose of my supplements in.

1400 calories, 15 grams carbs.

Sweet dreams, everyone.

[verbqueen]

Good morning! I am down an additional full pound today! I'm going to go change my stats! Have a great day, everyone!

[verbqueen]

Today's menu:

B: TJ's greek yogurt with SF cherry syrup and 1 t. almonds, decaf with CO
L: romaine topped with chicken, shredded cheddar, salami and vinaigrette
D: leftover Rotel stuff, green tea

Calories, 1200. Carbs, 17 grams (not considering the "yogurt exception.")

I got in all supplements today. About to make a cup of herb tea and try the ACV in that.

[verbqueen]

I'm down even more today, enough to claim a new number! This puts me at 34 pounds lost! Off to change stats!!

Wishing a great day to anyone who's left out there.

[The Bionic broad]

Hey, all...

B/L: Protein drink, ad nauseum
S: Bacon!
D: Ummm....food?

[verbqueen]

Go, Protein Drink Girl, go! I admire your determination!

I had to eat out for dinner tonight, as I do every week on choir night, which will probably make me have a bounce-up. But that's ok. I'll live with it.

Today's food:

B: greek yogurt with DaVinci cherry, decaf with CO
L: cheeseburger patty with a dab of guac, much green tea
D: green salad topped with ham salad and green bean salad (tasted like the marinade may have had sugar. Oh well.) Iced tea.

Goodnight!

[verbqueen]

As I expected, I had a small bounce-up this morning. Not too bad, though.

I am expecting my book club in a couple of hours. I made ham salad and chicken salad, which they can put on croissants, but which I will eat plain.

Happy Friday!

[Erica L. Butler]

Hey y'all, just popping in to say I'm back from the tour, and am extremely glad to get back to my routine. Will give you a more detailed report a bit later-- I have to go to work.
Missed everyone like you wouldn't believe!

[dbglasgow]

Well, thought I'd check back in over here.

Welcome back Erica.. good to hear from you again. Hello Pat.. nice to see others posting here again.

I'm down 1 lb today but still 1 lb above my lowest weight of 154.6. Just wanted to say hello. I'm doing cleaning today.. have to get our spare room cleaned out and set up for my daughter's visit in Dec. Right now it's being used for storage so that is a lot of cleaning to do.

[verbqueen]

Morning, everybody. I have yet ANOTHER bounce-up this morning, but I ate a lot of salt yesterday, so I'm not surprised. Gonna push the water today.

See you later!

[Erica L. Butler]

Morning, all--

Making this brief--

Yesterday's menu:

Breakfast: Coffee, H&H, Equal (we're out of Splenda)

Lunch: 2 cheese stuffed burgers (about 2oz cheese for entire batch)

Snack: bag of Chiccharones (small)

Dinner: 2 single serving size SF Jello, a couple handfuls of pork rinds with melted cheese 1oz, 2 tablspoons Marscapone Cheese with Vanilla, Real Lemon, nutmeg and cinnamon, 1 pk Splenda.

Lots of water throughout the day.

[verbqueen]

Hey, Erica. Good to see you.

My day's menu:

B: bacon and a slice of cheddar, decaf with CO
L: carnitas with a dab of guac and a dab of sour cream
D: hamburger patty with cheese, jalapenos and a spoon of guac

1400 calories, 6 grams carbs

[verbqueen]

Morning, anyone who might be around.

I'm still up a few ounces today, but at least down from yesterday. Got a HUGE day today, so I won't be back until I come in to post food tonight.

Have a great Sunday.

[verbqueen]

Hello??????

I am only .2 pounds from stats now, so maybe tomorrow my "bounce-up" may be over for this round.

I was so wiped out yesterday, I didn't even enter my food on Fitday or come here to post it.. Not going to make that a habit, though. That might be my first step down the slippery slope towards carb creep, and that's not a place I want to go!

In fact, just to make sure I don't go there, here's my intake for today, so far:

B: 1/2 c. greek yogurt with 1 T. almonds, 2 mugs decaf w/ 2 T. CO
L: will be out with daughter (we have "lunch Monday" every week)
D: no clue yet. will be taking something out of the freezer in a bit)

Later!

[verbqueen]

Menu update: Lunch was a beef tostada (just ate the beef, lettuce and cheese and left the tostada shell.)

Dinner will be chicken. Not sure how I'll prepare it, yet.

[verbqueen]

Last couple of bounce-up ounces are gone today, plus a few more, and I'm back to stats and then some! I don't know why my new pattern means a loss followed by a 4 or 5 day bounce back, but all I can do is deal with it and move on.

Last night's dinner wasn't chicken, but pizza toppings. My lovely daughter had a rough set-back at her work and her dad invited her over for pizza and wine, heavy on the wine. It's so impossibly hard when your children are hurting--I was awake worrying about her all night.

Plan for today is light on the food, heavy on the water intake, plus a trip to the gym.

Later, all! (Or as I should probably say, later, nobody.)

[verbqueen]

Today's menu:

B: leftover chicken salad, decaf w/CO
L: grilled chicken breast with jack cheese, 1/2 cup salad, iced tea
D: grilled flank steak, 1/2 c. sauteed spinach, iced green tea

1400 cals, 7 grams carb.

Also got to the gym today.

[Erica L. Butler]

Jessica, it sounds like you've had a heck of a week. I like the way you/ve been taking foods that could be pitfalls (pizza and tostadas) and making them legal by simply not eating the carby parts. I hear you with the worry thing.

So, anyway-just hang in there.

So, yesterday's menu was:

Breakfast:coffee

Snack: sf jello

Snack: Diet Ginger Ale

Lunch: Pork Ribs

Dinner: Shrimp Salad, sf Jello

Snack: sf Jello, diet Ginger Ale

Late Night Snack: 2 tablespoons Marscapone Cheese mixed with Lime sf Jello & Vanilla extract .

I was having serious munchies-- I did better today.

Breakfast: Coffee, Cream Splenda (2)

Snack: Pork Rinds

Lunch: 3 leftover pork ribs

Snack: Pork Rinds

Dinner: shrimp salad, pork rinds, water

Late Night Snack: if I have one, it'll be sf jello or a Diet Hansen's Ginger Ale.

[verbqueen]

Your menus look good, Erica. I believe that when you feel hunger (as in munchies) you should eat! Respect what your body is telling you. It's just a matter of WHAT you eat, as we all know, that makes the difference.

Shrimp salad sounds delish. Did you make it? What do you put in? I might try to rig some up. I'm burning myself out on chicken salad.

Goodnight, and sweet dreams!

[Erica L. Butler]

Originally Posted by verbqueen

Your menus look good, Erica. I believe that when you feel hunger (as in munchies) you should eat! Respect what your body is telling you. It's just a matter of WHAT you eat, as we all know, that makes the difference.

Shrimp salad sounds delish. Did you make it? What do you put in? I might try to rig some up. I'm burning myself out on chicken salad.

Goodnight, and sweet dreams!

I try to remember that, and sometimes I still wanna blush over eating as much as I should...old programming, I guess.

here's what I did for my shrimp salad.

Ingredients:

2 pint containers cooked baby shrimp
1 dill pickle, diced
1red bellpepper slice (about 2") diced
2 tablespoons of mayo
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon Hungarian Paprika
1/4 teaspoon granulated Garlic
about 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked white pepper

mix all together and chill.

What's really awesome is Curry Shrimp Salad....

[wechterk]

I just joined this blog and all of you are so inspiring!

I just started a low-carb diet about a month ago. It is going great but I am starting to have a stall and I think it may be due to night eating. I am usually hungry before bed and eat some sort of protein, but I still wake up around 2-3am everyday starving. I usually go to the fridge and eat protein, last night was 1 serving of eggplant lasagna. Does the same thing happen to anyone else? If so, what do you do about it? Just refuse to let yourself go to the kitchen?

Thanks!
Katie

Plan:
B: 2eggs, 1oz cheese, 1 chicken sausage
L: Chili seasoned shrimp, salad, 1 oz. blue cheese
S: Atkins Pancake: 1 oz cream cheese, 1 egg, 1 T. Flaxseed, 1 pkt splenda
D: 1 serving eggplant lasagna
S: ??

[verbqueen]

Erica, MAN that sounds good! I'm definitely going to be making some soon!

Katie, welcome. We're glad to have you aboard, and will be happy to offer whatever advice we can.

I think for most of us, we are really just tweaking and adjusting as we go along, and seeing if it works or not. I think around your fourth week is a totally normal, predictable time to see a temporary halt or slowdown to your weight loss. They call it Post Induction Stall Syndrome (affectionately known as PISS, haha) and it seems to happen to almost everyone. So your nighttime snack may not have anything to do with it. With the PISS, the key is to wait it out--you are probably still burning and losing fat, and you may even see your clothes get looser and your measurements change, but the body panics and holds onto some extra water for a few weeks.

With that said, when you suspect something is a problem, you can experiment with changing that thing and see if it works. Try removing that "midnight snack" for a week, and see what happens. I think what is ultimately important is not when you eat, but what you eat. If that snack is pushing your carbs or calories too high, then it possibly could be the issue.

The main thing is just to be patient and give the plan a chance to do its magic. Once the amazing losses of induction are over, many people, including me, lose in little spurts, followed by a week or two of no losses. You have to go through a couple of these to see the pattern and learn to trust the plan. Until then--please go on faith and keep working it! It works!

[Erica L. Butler]

Originally Posted by wechterk

I just joined this blog and all of you are so inspiring!

I just started a low-carb diet about a month ago. It is going great but I am starting to have a stall and I think it may be due to night eating. I am usually hungry before bed and eat some sort of protein, but I still wake up around 2-3am everyday starving. I usually go to the fridge and eat protein, last night was 1 serving of eggplant lasagna. Does the same thing happen to anyone else? If so, what do you do about it? Just refuse to let yourself go to the kitchen?

Thanks!
Katie

Hey, Katie, welcome!

Yeppers-- I get the 2 am munchies. I usually have water or sf Jello or some kind of protein.