(no subject)
We started the low carb diet on Saturday, and so far everything that we've read about this diet has proven true. Days 3 and 4 were the worst for me. I felt so low in energy and I wanted nothing more than a giant bagel or pastry or pizza. Yesterday was pretty good and today I'm feeling even better. My food cravings are subsiding and I'm starting to look forward to the low carb options we have planned. Since I don't like eggs and I'm health conscious enough to realize that bacon is NOT a good breakfast every day, I've been having an 'Atkins Advantage' shake for breakfast each day, and usually it suppresses my appetite so much I don't even need lunch. However, I've been doing salad with chicken for lunch each day and I do crave the salad, especially the baby spinach I put in it! The craziest thing by far is with sugars. Some fruits are pretty high in sugar so you have to eat them in moderation... and watermelon is one of those fruits. Let me tell you, when you haven't had sugar in some time, you bite into a piece of watermelon and it is the sweetest thing you've ever tasted. I really feel like my body is able to appreciate foods more.
Best of all is the book that we got to assist with dinners, and it is called 'Saving Dinner The Low Carb Way' by nutritionist Leanne Ely. I really appreciate her view point because she was a skeptic about the low carb lifestyle until she tried it herself. The book has a recipe for every day of the year, separated out by seasons to allow for seasonal vegetables and cravings. Each week is planned out with a shopping list for all the meals that you will be making this week. The book is not short on variety! This week alone we had chicken, beef, sausage, and fish, and there is a pork and turkey dish to come. We both really enjoy the food as it usually an interesting spice mixture or marinade. The most important part for me is that each meal is relatively conservative in the fat and cholesterol content, which most low carb recipes are not. Atkins is a bit crazy with all that 'all you can eat meat' mentality, and I could not really go that far. Anyway, this book has made me pretty happy so far, and the diet has really helped with portion control.
This diet is certainly not something I plan on sticking with for any extended period of time. I think it is a good option for now in the sense it is allowing me to lose weight, control portion, and really understand how different foods work in my body. It certainly seems like what I learn from this diet will help me transition back into a more complete diet including healthy carbs. As of right now though, I've lost about 5 pounds, and probably about the same for Pete. best of all is that I have not thrown up or even had any serious waves of nausea since we started the diet. Maybe my stomach will finally be good for a while :)
Today is my day off, so I'm going to watch some Law and Order SVU and attempt to make some low carb mini cheesecakes as a treat!
Best of all is the book that we got to assist with dinners, and it is called 'Saving Dinner The Low Carb Way' by nutritionist Leanne Ely. I really appreciate her view point because she was a skeptic about the low carb lifestyle until she tried it herself. The book has a recipe for every day of the year, separated out by seasons to allow for seasonal vegetables and cravings. Each week is planned out with a shopping list for all the meals that you will be making this week. The book is not short on variety! This week alone we had chicken, beef, sausage, and fish, and there is a pork and turkey dish to come. We both really enjoy the food as it usually an interesting spice mixture or marinade. The most important part for me is that each meal is relatively conservative in the fat and cholesterol content, which most low carb recipes are not. Atkins is a bit crazy with all that 'all you can eat meat' mentality, and I could not really go that far. Anyway, this book has made me pretty happy so far, and the diet has really helped with portion control.
This diet is certainly not something I plan on sticking with for any extended period of time. I think it is a good option for now in the sense it is allowing me to lose weight, control portion, and really understand how different foods work in my body. It certainly seems like what I learn from this diet will help me transition back into a more complete diet including healthy carbs. As of right now though, I've lost about 5 pounds, and probably about the same for Pete. best of all is that I have not thrown up or even had any serious waves of nausea since we started the diet. Maybe my stomach will finally be good for a while :)
Today is my day off, so I'm going to watch some Law and Order SVU and attempt to make some low carb mini cheesecakes as a treat!