I am kind of scaring myself despite what I know about atkins, etc... Here is the thing, I think I might just need some help plannig out some meals because what I am eating now is definitely low carb but it is also super high fat which worries me. I would love some feedback on my eating as I go into day #5 of induction tomorrow.

Breakfast: usually 2 scrambled eggs and sausage (2 carbs in 3 links) or 3 egg omlet with no carb bacon (like 10 slices).

Lunch: Usually a small salad comprised of lettuce and some green pepper (like one ring cut up) and 1 0r 2 double cheeseburgers (BK or McyDs) no bun with mustard and a 4 small pickle slices (1 carb for 4 slices).

Dinner: Usually stir fried chicken breasts with hot sauce (no carbs)and blue cheese dressing (no carbs). If I still have carbs to use I use them on salad.

Snacks: Usually I am ok with not having snacks as long as Im busy (which tells me I would be eating for other reasons that hunger!!!) so I chew nugarless Trident which I count the sugar alchol as 1 carb per 3 pieces which I chew spainrlgy.. probably 3 pieces per day.

I would love some feedback and suggestions for improvement or variety!!!

I also have a funny picture to upload.... my girlfriend is a Vegetarian and I am on Atkins and our refridgerator is a sight to be seen!!!!

Thanks all for helping out, this sight rocks!!!

Mike

"Losing weight and feeling great!"

Mike
Other than the bacon (10 slices seems excessive) I don't see a problem. Just make sure you eat enough veggies to make 20 net carbs. You could add a cooked veggie at dinner like broccoli or cauliflower that are high enough in fiber that net carbs per cup are low.
When you reduce carbs to 20 a day during induction you make it up in increased fat. That's just the nature of low carbing. Your % of calories from fat will likely fall in the 70% range. Without carbs to raise insulin levels saturated fat doesn't have the same effect on your vascular system. If this is still a worry for you replace some of the saturated fats (like bacon) with monounsaturates. Remember as you leave induction behind and increase carbs fat will fall a bit but will rarely be less than 50% of your diet.

A good site to track your food intake is www.fitday.com.
Rob
310/234.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

Thanks Rob. The 10 bacon strips does seem excessive but I must tell you that it is precooked in a yellow box :-) and they tend to be smaller than the self cooking ones, but non the less I'll stop kidding myself and cut back a little back.

Any suggestions for more veggie choices? Id like to get some more in, the salads I spoke of eating are rather small, like 1.5 cups of salad.

Im just concerned with my variety, sounds like im a little meat heavy, although i love dipping grilled chicken into blue cheese dressing mixed with hot sauce :-) mmmmmmmmmm

You want to make sure you get 3 cups of salad vegis a day or 2 cups of salad, and 3/4 cup of other vegis. This site: Rules of Induction has a GREAT list.

Try new foods and vegis...you might be surprised what you like. I was sooo sure I didn't like turnips...but I was brave and bought a couple...peeled them and cut them like french fries...deep fried them....OMG just like regular fries....The kids and DH loved them too...and were SHOCKED when I told them what they were.

400/340/200

The best part about this woe is when you have a veggie like cauliflower you can have cheese sauce without guilt. Variety is important, especially the longer you eat this way. Things like replacing all or some of the lettuce in your salads with fresh spinach or adding radishes, celery etc. can help in this regard. I personally have really big salads, i use meat platters and serving bowls. LOL. lettuce will never make you gain weight.

Rob
310/234.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Breakfast: usually 2 scrambled eggs and sausage (2 carbs in 3 links) or 3 egg omlet with no carb bacon (like 10 slices). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> 2 carbs in 3 sausage links is a lot. Try to stick to "original" flavors, not the maple or brown sugars. Most original flavors will have 0-1 carb per 3 links. I like Bob Evans or Tennessee pride brands. Both also come in the pre-cooked, heat and eat version. Personally, I can easily eat 10 slices of bacon for breakfast, but it is probably a bit much.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Lunch: Usually a small salad comprised of lettuce and some green pepper (like one ring cut up) and 1 0r 2 double cheeseburgers (BK or McyDs) no bun with mustard and a 4 small pickle slices (1 carb for 4 slices). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Make that a BIG salad and be cautious of pickles. Unless you can check the ingrediants, you won't know if they have sugar or not -even the dill kind.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Dinner: Usually stir fried chicken breasts with hot sauce (no carbs)and blue cheese dressing (no carbs). If I still have carbs to use I use them on salad. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Just salad isn't enough veggies. Try to have 1-2 servings of LC veggies like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.

Gum is not a snack, it's jaw exercise. A snack is something that will keep your metabolism stoked. Have some string cheese, a boiled egg, LC beef jerky, stuffed celery, something that is considered food.

Good luck.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Find vegetables that go well with the meats you like. For instance, have celery sticks with your chicken and blue cheese--that's the traditional accompaniment anyway. Remember to subtract the fiber from the carb count to make sure you're getting enough.

If you have a salad, put more interesting stuff on it. I had a great salad last night for dinner with lettuce, cauliflower, crumbled bacon, grilled chicken, a few small tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.

Look up recipes for veggie side dishes in low carb cookbooks. Sharron has a lot of good ones in her book. I made fried zucchini patties the other night and the whole family liked them.

I think as long as you are within your 20 carbs a day, you don't need to just have salads for veggie choices.

Mike,

I can imagine your fridge is interesting! DH does not have to lose weight, so I have to deal with cakes, cookies, candy, pasta, etc. in my kitchen!

I just came up with a veggie recipe that I LOVE! I am a broccoli fanatic--my favorite veggie--so I've been trying different ways of fixing it. I had some mashed cauliflower at Ruby Tuesday's recently, so I decided to try doing broccoli the same way...steam your broccoli, then pour it into a bowl and add butter, parmesan cheese, and sharp cheddar (count the cheese, of course!) then mash it with a hand masher, like you do potatoes. This lasted me several meals, and I even ate it for breakfast for two days...a real treat!

Also, try combining some of your meat and veggies. Cook enough chicken to have leftovers, then next day cube the chicken, top with broccoli and sharp cheddar and you have lunch--just pop into the microwave. Actually, most of my lunches are leftovers from the night before--it makes for an easy lunch! If I have sirloin patties for dinner, I just cook a couple extra, add green beans or salad, and there's lunch!

Another thing I like is chicken rolls...pound out a chicken breast, then salt and pepper and add some bacon and swiss cheese and roll up, secure with a toothpick, and bake at 350 for about 45 min to an hour. Very low carb count (just the cheese) and very tasty! Just add a salad or veggie and you have a meal!

There are lots of great veggies that you can have on induction! You need them, too, for extra energy, especially doing LC.

Roasts are excellent for LC! I like beef chuck roast and boston butt pork roast...just brown in a pan and pop into the crock pot with a little water and you have enough meat for quite a few meals, just add veggies or a salad!

Anyway, I could go on, and on, and on, but I'll stop here! You will become more creative the longer you do this WOE. Just add a variety of things and you won't get bored!

Good luck on your journey! Have fun with it!

"Normal is in the eye of the beholder."
Atkins since 8/27/03
240/207(140-160)