New to Atkins, going to need help, please!

[Cathy46176]

Hello everyone. I'm starting this Sat. with my husband. I really need to lose about 80lbs, I've done weight watches but it went to slow and I got sick of the points. I really think this can work for us if I just have someone to help me when I have some questions and give me some support. I would love to know what everyone had to eat the first two weeks to give me an idea, I'm ok with eggs in the morning, and I have ideas about lunch and dinner, I just think it would help if someone would give me an idea about their day. Thanks for all your help Cathy

[determined4me]

[font=century gothic][color=purple] Hi Cathy! My name is Heather. I started Atkins in July, 2003. I lost 20lbs. in about 2 months and I felt great. Then I got sick w/ the flu...and forgot about watching what I ate. But, I am back on track and have already lost 3 lbs. in the past 3 days. My typical days meal on induction would be the following:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs w/ cheese
2 slices bacon
1 bottle water & a glass of crystal light (I live off that stuff!)

Lunch: tuna salad
1 string cheese
glass of crystal light or iced tea w/ sweet-n-low

Dinner: grilled bacon wrapped fillet mignon
large salad w/ italian dressing
steamed veggies w/ cheese

snack/dessert: sugar-free chocolate pudding or Atkins endulge bar.

I need to work on my water consumption.



If you come across any good recipes..please let me know. I will do the same! Good luck!

173/159/110
5' 1"
Heather

[Cathy46176]

Thanks Heather, I had 2eggs with cheese, 2 piece of sausage and hot tea in the morning, at lunch it was salad with a few piece of chicken and blue cheese dressing, dinner is a large burger with onions,mushroom with broccoli on the side, I've had water to drink and will have tea with dinner and I hope this was a good day as far as what I ate. I friend of mind made crustless pizza and said that was good maybe I'll try it.
Thanks for the respond, Cathy

[determined4me]

Good Morning! Hope everyone is doing well this morning!!! I woke up yesterday morning sooo sick! So, I had chicken noodle soup. Needed something to calm my stomach though. I am back on track this morning though. I am at work w/ my bottle of water...trying to force myself to drink it!
My goal this week is to drink at least 2 bottles of water a day...and exercise at least 30 min. 5 days this week.
Minx, I am always looking for someone to buddy up with. Email me anytime! I am really excited about this wol...I know that I can do this. Good luck to you both....I look forward to hearing from you guys soon. Have a great day!

[Cathy46176]

Good morning everyone. Well so far I'm doing ok, no real cravings and trying to drink the water, does anyone no if I can count ice tea towards my water intake? anyway I'm taking a salad to work again today, I'll try something different later in the week. The girls I work with brought in a LARGE bag of candy, but I really did not want any. Has anyone tried the Atkins shakes? I'm getting bored with eggs already and I did drink slim fast shakes before starting Atkins, big difference in carbs. As for exercise I'm doing strenght training 3 days a week, when the weather is nice I'll walk about 30-60 minutes. Well I have to go have a great day!

[determined4me]

Good morning! Hope you all are doing well. Cathy: I like the Cafe au laite Atkins shakes. The vanilla is pretty good too and so is the strawberry...didn't care for the chocolate though. But give them all a try. It definately helps out in the breakfast department...or even for a snack. I also found some low carb bread that is only 6g. of carbs per slice...and it actually tastes good! So, this morning I had 1 slice of toast w/ a little peanut butter and some crystal light. For lunch I am haveing some vegitable beef soup that is 12 g. of carbs total and some water. I don't know what I will have for dinner.
I think you can count your iced tea towards your water intake...same w/ crystal light. But I am not positive. Might want to go into the chat room and ask someone. I have actually given up soda! I can't believe it! I thought about it yesterday and realized that I haven't had a soda in almost a week! And I didn't even realize it, I never missed it at all! Yeah!
Well....I will talk to you guys tomorrow. Good luck today!
Remember: nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!

Heather
173/159/110

[Cathy46176]

Hey everyone. Still doing ok, got on the scale today and it was 7lbs lighter but I'm really waiting for Sat. that will be my first week, I hope I did not read the scale wrong maybe I should get a digital one. Heather I started to laugh because I had a sign on my refrig. when I was doing weight watchers that said nothing taste as good as thin feels. Unlike weight watchers I have no sweet cravings, when I did weight watchers I would have a candy bar and say well it's ony 3 points, but when you only get 22 points a day it adds up and you still have the craving for more. I think I'm doing ok because I can have cheese, I think that I was a mouse in another life. I am happy that I can have cheese cake, has anyone tried any of the recipes on this web site, if you have let my know what you think. gotta go have a great day

[determined4me]

LOL, Cathy: I think that Weight Watcher's is where I learned that line! I wasn't good w/ the whole counting points thing though. My big life saver on this woe is bacon. I love bacon. And avocado. Give me a huge salad w/ crumbled pieces of bacon and some sliced avocado and I am a very happy person!
I did try a pizza recipe from this site. They used a portobello mushroom as the bottom, a low-carb pizza sauce and cheese and toppings. It was good...but a little too much mushroom for me. I hear they make a good low-carb pizza crust now, I need to try that. I miss pizza more than anything.
I need to go check out the recipe room again though. I am needing more variety. OH...I did find one thing that I LOVE!!! I steam some cauliflower until it's tender, mash it w/ a potato masher, and add some butter and cheese. Tastes just like mashed potatoes. It's very good.
Good luck to you both. Talk to you tomorrow!

[Cathy46176]

Hey Heather, I looked a the producted ratingand pizza crust did not do well, this is what I did, I cooked sausage put in on the bottom of a small pan then put onions, green pepper(cook onions and green pepper just a little first), mushrooms, black olives, pepp. a little sauce (not to much)and cheese cook at 425 until bubbly, let sit a few minutes, spooned some out put garlic powder on top and ate with a fork and my husband even liked it. and the Califlower I use cream cheese instead of butter. I'm going to dry this one, take grated parm. cheese alot and a pack of Ranch salad dressing, mix together, dip chicken in egg wash first then cheese mix, then fry or bake, have you ever tried anything like this?, has it worked, I'll let you know what happens.
Gotta go and get my son up, have a great day!

[determined4me]

Cathy: your pizza sounds awesome..I will definately try that!

Minx: haven't heard from you in awhile...hope you are doing okay.

I don't have a lot of time, I am at work. But I found this recipe that I am going to try tonight. If you guys are avocado fans, then you might be interested in it. I got this from the Atkins website.
Here you go:

Avocado Zucchini Soup- 6.5 net g. / carbs per serving

2 TBSP. olive oil
4 green onions, chopped, divided
1 TBSP. grated fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, chopped.
2 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) veg. broth
1 C. water
2 med. zucchini, thinly slice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 med. avocado
1 TBSP. lemon juice
1 TBSP. red bell pepper, chopped.

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add 2/3 of the green onions & cook 3 minutes. Stir in garlic & ginger; cook, stirring, 1 minute more.

2. Add broth, water, zucchini, salt, & pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes, until zucchini is very soft. Cool slightly, stir in avocado.

3. Puree soup in batches in blender. Return to pan to heat through. Stir in lemon juice. Garnish w/ red pepper & remaining green onions.

Sounds fairly easy. I think I can handle it! I will let you know how it turns out! Have a great day!

Cathy: how old is your son?

[staceyF]

Hi Cathy
My name is Stacey. I am 27 and live in canada. I am on day 7 of induction....list 2 lbs so far. You sound like you are doing great. I look forward to chatting to you. You Go Girl! and hubby too!

[Cathy46176]

Hello everyone. Welcome Stacey, it would be nice if this little group would grow, I try to get on line one time a day to say hello and how things are going. Heather asked about my boys, I have two boys 13 and almost 8, they are old enough now that I can start to do for me and weight loss is my first step (well taking care of my face was the first step, I did not always put on eye shadow, lipstick etc., still working on the lipstick) anyway I'm 37 and I want to feel and LOOK good. So does anyone have any new recipes? I had zucchini with onions butter and garlic, it was good but my husband said I'm watching to much of Emeril, because I used alot of garlic. It looks like food network may put out some low carb recipes, have to wait and see.
I had hoped the Minx would join back in I'm still learning this web site and I don't know how to get a message to her.
I have a friend who did weight watchers with me, now she is trying Atkins, it's gonna be hard, she does not like veggies, likes the vending machines, I hope that she'll do ok, last time we did ww she lost 30lbs,(I lost 20) but once she got off most came back, she lived off of smart ones, I tried to tell her she needs real food, the right real food. talking about food I have to start dinner, we eat early, 5-6pm Indiana time. Best to everyone talk to you later.

[something2sweet4u]

okay i am on day 6 and tomorrow i am going to my great grandmothers 85th birthday. i don't know how i am not going to eat my grandmothers maple frosting cake. it is so good. it is made with really maple syrup. i have been really good this first week. i have fould it hard with work but i brought sausage to work for breakfast with cheese. lunch i have been eating tuna or what meat is left over from supper. i have had some veggies for lunch but most of them at supper time. i have been a big sweet person all my life and this is hard. i have been eating sugar free jello to settal those cravings.

[Cathy46176]

Don't do it! I would go get an atkins candy bar or something and take it with you, remember nothing taste as good as thin feels or is going to feel, and there are recipes for crustless cheesecake that everyone likes on this web site. As for work I have been making chicken and tuna salad with eggs, celery, mayo and dill pickels in it and putting ontop of a salad, it's been great. I'm one week down and have lost 3 or 6 lb, my doc scale said start 223 well I forgot to get on my scale until 3days after I started and it said 220 so I'm at 217 by my scale, but either way it's a loss!
Heather is it soup time, how was it? I've only had avocados on mexican food.
Stacey how is the weather, I grow up in NY about 1hr from the city, I know live near Indianapolis,In and the winters are not that back, my family in NY gets it all the time.
Well it's time to make more tea, the flavored ones are great and know my husband and kids don't drink soda, but I did buy a bottle of diet rite cola and it was good, they have flavored sodas but I like the tea better.
Well everyone have a nice weekend and we'll talk later.

[something2sweet4u]

It is cold here in Vermont. You don't want to go out side for nothing. I have been really good. No cheats.

[determined4me]

Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't checked in. I had to take Friday off because I have been so sick. And we turned my internet off at home, so I can only get online at work.
Anyways, I totally cheated last week. It's really hard to do Atkins when you are sick and crave juice and soup. But, I decided to start from scratch today. So, Day 1. I had eggs and an Atkins vanilla shake (2 gr. net carbs) for breakfast. For lunch I am going to have a salad. And for dinner, grilled lemon-pepper chicken and a salad. I am going to try to keep my carbs below 20 gr. this week. Try to kick my body into ketosis.
Cathy: I haven't tried the soup yet. I went and bought the ingredients at Ralphs...but they are on strike so they aren't getting all the fresh veggies and stuff. So, I didn't get the zucchini or the olive oil. I am going to try to get that stuff tonight and make it tomorrow. Maybe I will make it tonight so that I can bring it to work for lunch tomorrow.
Welcome to our new friends! Good luck on Atkins and we look forward to hearing from you guys! I used to live in Minnesota, so I know all about the cold. But now I live in Paradise (Huntington Beach, CA) and I wouldn't go back for a million bucks! If I want snow I can drive 2 hours to Big Bear. I do miss the changing of the seasons though. I loved fall, when all the leaves changed colors...it was so beautiful.
Anyways, I will talk to you all later. Better get to work. Good luck today!

Heather
159/159/110

[Cathy46176]

Morning everyone, I have been sick also, ears and throat, I'm drinking lots of hot tea and lemon. Still doing good with my food, I'm not wanting to eat as much which is good, but I still like to have my cheese. I have had two people say to me that atkins drains calcuim out of your system, I don't see how with all the cheese I'm eating but I'm going to look into it, yes I do take a miltivitamin & multimineral. Tonight for dinner we are have a salad and a dish I put together: mushrooms, onion, zucc, italian sausage, hamburger, alittle tomato sauce, herbs, when I was cooking everything together last night ontop of the stove my husband came in and said it smelled really good so tonight when I heat it up with the cheese on top I hope it is. I do miss not have bread alittle, I'm looking for a good italian bread recipe that low carb I can make. I have to go my 13yr old almost missed the bus and the 7 yr old it not even dressed yet. Have a wonderful low carb day.

[determined4me]

Good morning everyone! I am still sick. In fact, I felt aweful this morning when I woke up...but for some reason I feel wonderful now! My throat still hurts like a mother...but I am in a really good mood.
I have tried to cut my carbs down to 15 gr. a day. I blew that yesterday when I had tomato soup....but not that bad. I needed something hot that I could swallow easily. It was only 20 grams of carbs...I had a total of like 25 grams yesterday. And I weighed my self this morning and I have lost 3 lbs! Very excited.
I still haven't made that soup yet...I am such a procrastinator. We are remodeling our kitchen so we have been living off of meals that are really easy to prepare.
Hopefully this good feeling lasts all day because I need to exercise tonight! Luckily I live by Huntington Harbour, so I can take a walk around the harbour and it's beautiful.
I will talk to you all tomorrow. Good luck to you all.

Heather
159/156/110

[determined4me]

Good morning! Hope everyone is doing well. I did get in my exercise last night. I actually walked to my son's school to pick him up instead of driving. And he got in some extra exercise, too.
I did great yesterday...until I got to IKEA. We are remodeling our kitchen and we were picking out cabinets and stuff. And of course I didn't eat before I left the house...so by the time we got to the store I was really hungry. And I ate not 1, but 2 hot dogs! With the buns! Lesson learned: always eat before you leave your house if you think you might get hungry later. But, when I stepped on the scale this morning I was down .2 lbs. However, it could have been more if I hadn't eaten those hotdogs!
This morning I had 1 scrambled egg and an Atkins vanilla shake. I am not a big breakfast eater. For lunch I will probably have a salad or something.
I have been drinking more water...which is a really big accomplishment for me. I hate water. But, I am learning to like it. Trying to replace soda w/ water and crystal light. When I do drink soda, it's diet anyways. But it would be better if I could cut it out completely. I love iced tea, too...but aren't we supposed to cut out caffine? Does anyone know anything about that?
Well...I better get back to work. (Actually, I am done w/ my work...so I am going to get back to playing games on the computer!) What a tough job! Talk to you all later!

Heather
159/156/110

[Cathy46176]

Hey everyone! Things have been crazy for me, I have not had time to sit down at the computer. Anyway, I'm doing good with my food, an egg, bacon and coffee for breakfast, lunch eggsalad in a bowl and a piece of my favorite cheese. I'm working on dinner. this is getting to be hard, I have meat, salad and a veggie everynight, I need to put to more thought into dinners. My husband and I drink tea all the time, buy flavored tea bags, they have no caffeine, boil the water, put the tea bags in let it sit for a few hours, then put in a pitcher, I put 1 spoonful of splenda in the glass before I pour in my tea. you can have all you want, but you have to count the splenda.
I tried a atkins cookie and cream bar 2grams carb, it was bad really bad don't buy them, but the peanut butter cups were good. I have to get ready to go back to work. I forgot, I'm down to 215 and my husband is down 10lbs total, I hate that men drop weight faster Everyone have a great day and stay warm.

[determined4me]

Good morning! How is everyone? Cathy: I know how you feel about the men loseing weight faster than the women...it's not fair.
I have been doing very well the last couple of days. I didn't even eat dinner last night, I just had an atkins vanilla shake. Egg salad is sounding really good right now though.
I wanted to do something nice for my husband this morning...and I was going to send him some chocolates...but I didn't think it would be nice of me to put that temptation in front of him when he is trying to lose weight. So, I sent him some flowers. Do guys even like to get flowers??? I guess I will find out, huh?
Ok...I can't take it anymore. Cathy mentioned egg salad and all of the sudden I am really hungry. I have to go get something to eat. I will write more later!
Good luck today everyone! Stay focused and know that you can do it!

Heather
159/156/110

[determined4me]

Good morning everyone! First of all: Minx! Welcome back! It was good to hear from you again.
Second: Great news! Remember when I was soooo hungry on Friday I had to go grab something to eat? I went to subway...they have these new Atkins approved wraps. I had the grilled chicken bacon ranch wrap...only 8 gr. net carbs...and it was delicious! I love that places are making it easier to eat out and stay on Atkins. Also, a low-carb store opened right by my house...makes it a lot easier to shop for groceries. I bought stuff to make low-carb pizza (my biggest downfall), low-carb strawberries and cream oatmeal ( a little chalky, but it has great flavor), etc.
And third: I weighed myself Saturday at 154! I am so motivated! I put on my cordoroy skirt this morning...and it's hanging on my hips! I am so excited. So, everyone keep up the good work! Make sure you get in your water and exercise! You are so worth it!

Heather
159/154/110

[tina 30219]

When you find out on the water intake thing with drinking tea and crystal light could you please let me know I like both of these things and if it does count I will start drinking these too.I am new to the site just started today so far so good on it.Tina

[tina 30219]

I have to say you are right men must have something to help them lose weight faster than us because my hubby is losing and i'm gaining it don't help we are going through alot of stress right now but he is still losing.I have to see if this message will go through having trouble posting and being able to reply to messages.Tina

[Cathy46176]

Hello everyone. things have been a little crazy around my house with the 3 day weekend, I'm a teaching assistant so no school on Monday. Well I thought I would try and make homemade pasta and biscuits this weekend, what a pain in the a-- , so I'm trying an atkins bread mix, I'll let you know what happens, only 3 carbs per slice and it would be nice to have one slice in the morning.
If anyone likes cheese on their veggies try the new Ragu cheese sauce only 2carbs per 1/4cup and I really don't think you eat that much, we really liked it.
I'm still at 215, once I see the scale move again I'll be ok, I would really like to lose 10-15 a month(does that sound like to much?)
Tina I did find out about the water, which I'm not drinking enough of, on page 230 in the little white book sorry to say, says:at least 8
8oz glasses of pure water, it can be filtered, mineral, or spring, no seltzer, sorry I had no good news on that one.
I did enjoy buffalo wings this weekend (TGI Fridays frozen) really good with blue cheese, I think its 2 servings per box on 2carb each, I ate the entire thing, hey only 4carbs and 2 for blue cheese 6 total not bad.
I have to go work on that bread I'll let you know how it comes out. Have a wounderful night, Reading how well everyone is doing wants me to keep going, Thank