I need some advice...

[allyscharm]

Ok well I am on day 20 of my new way of eating and so far so good. I haven't cheated and I feel great since I started Atkins. That being said I am extremely nervous about an upcoming trip I am taking with my family. We are going to be camping/hiking in Colorado which is wonderful...for the first time I think I can actually make it to the top of a 14,000 footer with the rest of my family instead of waiting at the bottom because I was too out of shape.

My problem...what to eat. We will be eating out a lot and I am feeling very good about my ability to order smart. I make it quite clear about my requirements and I think some waiters think I will drop dead if I ingest any sugar because I am so serious when I talk to them My problem is what to pack for the hike/climb/camp days of the trip. We will not have a cooler or any refrigeration, obviously no microwave and maybe a fire..maybe not. My DH was trying so hard to help and went and bought some trail mix (with chocolate!) and lots of beef jerky (second ingredient is sugar). I bought tuna in the tear open packs and I have some mayonnaise packets, but I need more ideas. Vienna sausages are processed, so that is a no no, right? I am still doing induction because i have such a large amount to lose. I think I could probably eat some almonds maybe. I am so afraid of getting off plan on this trip. I haven't dared to try any of the low-carb bars and stuff. I am trying to keep all things sweet out of my mouth because I know it will lead to cravings for me.

Sorry this is so long. We leave Wednesday and I need to make a plan so I don't blow it. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Lori

[jimmie 48]

i would check into some other brands of jerky, other kinds of snack pack meats like your tuna like chicken, etc.

be careful with the almonds. the tend to be addictive for most of us and about 22 almonds is about all you can have per the carb count. hardly worth the effort when you think about it.

not having refrigeration might be tough. since you will be eating out alot, i think i would make sure of getting my veggies in while having my sit down meal and maybe use the jerky or canned meats for a pick me up along the trail. we try to stay away from processed as much as possible but i'm fairly sure that most of us buy our meats in the supermarkets and don't raise our own hogs or cattle.... thus processed meat.

[grovemonkey]

Have a fun trip. I have a few ideas that might be useful. Canned tuna and chicken are your best bet along with mayo packed up. Pack up quite a few of them.

If you feel that it will be too difficult to keep yourself around 20-50 grams of carbs a day during the hike. I think it would be better to supply yourself with a good supply of low-glycemic foods while hiking. Nuts, seeds, low-carb fruits will keep you going and probably happy. As you will be hiking, you need energy for the climb and so giving yourself a little flexibility since you will be burning a lot of energy doesn't equate to cheating. Extra energy usuage requires that you recalibrate your carb intake, anyways.

If eating a lot of nuts, seeds, veggies and low-gi fruits and a lot of water keeps you from gorging on chips,snacks, and cola well I think the choice is obvious.

Who cares if you stall or don't loose weight for a few days if you are keep with the overall idea that low-carb is a better way to live. You can always go back to a more restricted OWL diet when you get home.

My 2 cents

[moniegail]

grovemonkey gave you some good advice, even if you haven't made it the nut rung or fruit rung of OWL, if you want to stay on plan, things like that would be better than eating chips, cookies, and chocolate. they are atleast a better alternative in the long run and the tuna packs, chicken packs and mayo would be great choices for your fat and protein during the day.

hope you enjoy your trip!!!!

monie