Week One Status Report

Well it has been a week and things are going OK.  I miss potato chips and bread incredibly but I can deal with it.   Every time I get tempted I try on my skinny pants -- still too tight.    Weight loss so far has been 2lbs.   According to Atkins you should lose 10% of the weight you need to during the first two week induction period.    My clothing fits better.    I plan on staying on induction a little longer than this, they say that it is not a problem.. just don't over do it.

Pizza yearnings and tea

It has been a rough couple of days.  Starting this the first week of lent was not the best idea.   Yesterday was another meatless day, no chicken, no beef, no pork... not too easy while on atkins.    Fish again.  I made cheese pizza for the rest of the gang.   It was tougher than expected being surrounded by that wonderful crusty perfectly cooked pizza.(just got some baking stones for the oven -- they really do the trick)   I survived.. without cheating.  Yeah.    I have been drinking a lot of lemon tea.  It is not caffeinated, I use the coffee pot and  make it kind of weak.   I think had 2 pots of it yesterday.   I think it might help me eat less.. and it probably has a few health benefits.    The tea I used is Lemon Zinger - from the grocery store.  I use very little sweetening.. two packets per 12 cup pot.   I find that this is enough.     Try it, it might help you.   It is certainly comforting and soothing.. the lemon flavor is great.   I was never much of a tea drinker before.. but using the coffee maker makes it a lot easier.   There are so many flavors there is bound to be one you like.

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes - yuck or yum

In the past I have been very skeptical of cauliflower mashed potatoes, so much so that I thought they sounded very unappetizing and have never tried them.  My dh bought a head of cauliflower and was planning on steaming it, I am not very fond of steamed cauliflower so I thought maybe it was time to give this a try.   We simply used a potato masher, in reality you are supposed to puree it in a blender but I did not want to deal with the extra dishes.    Using a potato masher turned out OK, I added a little cream and a little butter.   The consistency was more like creamed rice.. the taste was terrific.   We loved it.    It may all be psychological but somehow it gave me the comfort feeling of eating mashed potatoes.  Lesson learned, definitely a yum.   Try this and you might be surprised too.

Another great low carb food

Lent began yesterday, and one can get a little tired of fish.  Boca burgers are a great alternative for low carb folks.   Albertsens sells them and probably other grocery stores, they are in the freezer section where they have the vegetarian type of foods.   A boca burger on a low carb tortilla - in NM most of the grocery stores that I have been in sell low carb torilla's, add a little mustard and you will hardly know you are losing weight.

ketosis?

Part of the Atkins diet is to go into what they call ketosis.  You are supposed to be able to go into ketosis after 48 hours.   You use these little strips to tell.   Mine show small amounts.   Perhaps it was the jelly beans.   At least it is a little better than trace(light pink)    I feel fine, lets see how tomorrow goes.

NM weight loss resources

Since this is an NM blog, I thought I would tell you some of my resources for weight loss products.   We are not a densely populated state and often places to buy weight loss foods are hard to find.   For the best cream in the state, Nature's Diary in Roswell, NM has incredible cream. 5$ for a half gallon of their yummy delicious cream.  There is a bit of a seasonal variation in it, but it is all good stuff.   I used some of it in making my egg tortilla's yesterday..  I am still working on my recipe, but for now it is beaten eggs, cream, and little bit of water.   I need to find something to give it a bit more heft.. a flour replacement.. protein powder???  
Sams Club is a great place for Atkins Advantage Power Bars.   This is important to know during the summer months,  shipping chocolate then can be a problem.  As for exercise, Roswell is pretty flat so you can probably walk, run, bike easily there.  Las Cruces and Albuquerque are not as flat.. so biking might be harder there. But walking is even better because the hills will give you a better work out.

Carbohydrate withdrawl

I never really thought I was so addicted to carbohydrates.. I tend to eat a lot of protein.  My first day I had headaches and was dying for a potato chip.     My second day has not been as bad.   I have done better.   I put in an order to Netrition -- they have a great supply of low carbohydrate stuff.   I figure if I have some of this nearby it will help keep the cravings down.    Managed to squeeze in some exercise... easy on a beautiful day.  Sunny, bright, and warm was the forecast here.

Weight Loss Start

I am trying to lose weight my husband is helping me.  I am going to use the Atkins diet.   In the past I have used this and it has served us well.  I also find that the high protein helps to keep my sugar in check.  Pre-diet if I eat all carbohydrates and no sugar in the morning, I get a real sugar low in the afternoon.. shakes..etc.   So this a big part of my reason for Atkins.   The first day went OK.. with the exception of one of my guys shoving jelly beans in my mouth.. I only ate two before I begged him to stop.    Ughhh.  Oh well.   I need to remember you aren't supposed to eat nuts during the induction phase.

Together we are doing weight training, yoga, and as much cardio as time and circumstances will allow.  The weight training and yoga will be light at first.. but more later on.   I have some yoga cards.. 15 minute yoga in a box.  I really like this set, I can put the card on the shelf and practice the poses easily.