Buhuhu-whoooh's around?

[Georgiana]

OWLers and Pre-Maintainers out there, come in and sit a spell! We have lots of veggies, fresh cheeses, nuts, berries and many more ready for you!

So, how are you doing? What do you plan to try this summer -- new foods............... new clothes?

I'm in OWL Rung 4. Until now I tried raspberries and strawberries, and it looks like I can eat both. I think I'll stay here for a while -- I have my final exams and graduation in the next 2-3 weeks, then I'll be moving off campus, so I don't want to add "finding CCLL"/"trying new food" to my to-do list. Plus, I'm very happy with the foods I can have.

Next!

[imagood1]

hi and good morning Georgiana -- I bet you are glad school is done for a couple months but having to move off campus can be a real pain. As of this morning I've gone to Rung 4...I did real well on the nut rung this time so I'm hoping I can have strawberries this week.

My garden is now completely planted and we are looking forward to reeping the benefits from it. During the veggie challenge I tried chayote and have had it a couple times since...my next new food is artichoke - a somewhat daunting looking thing but I'm hoping it's something I like.

So I guess to answer your question, berries and artichokes are going to be my new foods. I'm also hoping to continue loosing and get into smaller clothes...I've gone from 3X to Large now since January. I have "new" clothes in my closet that I haven't been able to wear in about 5 years (luckily these tops never go out of style).

Have a great Atkins day.

[momtomany1]

Good morning.. funny I don't recall changing my sig to reflect OWL 5... not interested in drinking. Pretty much parked here on rung 4 but hey, if I get offered a glass of wine I guess I won't feel badly! Not too likely, as I know few drinkers!

Strawberries agree with me very nicely. I freeze blueberries when they are very cheap for shakes, for the nutrients and fiber.

Ah! new clothes... picked up a size 12 wrangler's at Goodwill, you know how jeans 'grow' a little as you wear them the first 30 minutes? those 12's are actually a little big once you've had them on a few minutes! at the point now where I can wear a tank top and not feel embarrassed either.

All happy Owlers have an awesome day!

[kjel]

Goodmorning everyone. I'm fairly new to the site. Signed up a few years ago but didn't really commit to Atkins until 3 months ago.
New foods: Planning to add Strawberries & jicama.
Sizing: 10 or 8 jeans depending on the brand. Would prefer to be an 8 or smaller in all brands.

I forgot to mention it's crazy how I'm going down in sizes. I buy a pair of jeans thinking they will last me 6months and they are already getting big in a months time.

[blueberrylady]

I'm on pre-maintenance but haven't lost any weight in months so I'm basically maintaining. I don't mind though because I'm comfortable at this weight and don't have any trouble at all staying here.

I moved through all the rungs except 9 because bread, rice and cereal are what made me fat to begin with and I don't want to start eating them again because I don't miss them at all and don't want that to change.

I seldom have anything from the berries, fruit, legume and alcohol rungs because I just don't want them. I do put a T. of milk in my tea sometimes because cream is too rich for me but I usually stick to induction foods at levels higher than induction because I love my veggies!.

I haven't thought about trying anything new because I'm happy with the same old, same old.

Thanks for starting this thread, Georgianna, because I think it's very interesting to talk about levels other than induction for a change.

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by imagood1

During the veggie challenge I tried chayote and have had it a couple times since...my next new food is artichoke - a somewhat daunting looking thing but I'm hoping it's something I like.

How are you preparing the chayote, other than in faux apples? I'm not using sweeteners, so that recipe is out for me... although it is very good.

About artichoke. There was a nice recipe I saw in one of the Gourmet videos... where they were deep frying artichokes in olive oil. It looked spectacular. If I ever get my hands on a deep fryer, it's definitely something I want to try.

The video I'm talking about is somewhere in the Veggie Challenge thread.

I've gone from 3X to Large now since January. I have "new" clothes in my closet that I haven't been able to wear in about 5 years (luckily these tops never go out of style).

That's wonderful! You'll be even smaller by the of summer!

Originally Posted by momtomany1

Good morning.. funny I don't recall changing my sig to reflect OWL 5... not interested in drinking.

Uh-oh! It sounds to me as if you definitely started drinking. LOL. Or maybe it's just fermented berries?

I'll skip Rung 5 too as I don't drink. I was planning to try some recipes with wine, but I'll probably wait until Pre-Maintenance.

Strawberries agree with me very nicely. I freeze blueberries when they are very cheap for shakes, for the nutrients and fiber.

Are you making the shake with cream/yogurt/milk or are you using protein powder?

Originally Posted by kjel

I forgot to mention it's crazy how I'm going down in sizes. I buy a pair of jeans thinking they will last me 6months and they are already getting big in a months time.

That's cool. What exercises are you doing? I drop inches faster than pounds too.

Originally Posted by blueberrylady

I moved through all the rungs except 9 because bread, rice and cereal are what made me fat to begin with and I don't want to start eating them again because I don't miss them at all and don't want that to change.

I seldom have anything from the berries, fruit, legume and alcohol rungs because I just don't want them. I do put a T. of milk in my tea sometimes because cream is too rich for me but I usually stick to induction foods at levels higher than induction because I love my veggies!.

I'm not tempted at all by Rungs 5-6 and 8-9 either. Rung 7... I think I'd like some pomegranate, apples or pineapples. I might have a portion control issue with the last two, but pomegranate should be fine. Even before Akins I was not able to eat more than 1/3 or a fruit, because it took me too long and I was getting bored eating it.

Thanks for starting this thread, Georgianna, because I think it's very interesting to talk about levels other than induction for a change.

I hope it will also convince more members that there's no reason why one should be scared of moving out of Induction.

[momtomany1]

Are you making the shake with cream/yogurt/milk or are you using protein powder?

All of the above, actually. I make homemade yogurt and use that. I don't always use whey protein, but sometimes. The shake is generally the 'egg cream' we are familiar with dressed up with berries, or coffee ice cubes. If I use two eggs, no protein powder. My preffered sweeteners are the vanilla and chocolate flavors of stevia. If I use milk it is the carb countdown by Hood's.

I am not going to be adding legumes or grains until pre-M. I can't eat 1/4 cup of lentils, it just ain't happening. I miss hummus and other beans, but will just wait.

It will be a solemn celebration when I eat my coveted first sweet potato!

[Georgiana]

WARNING FOR ALL INDUCTIONERS READING THIS THREAD

STOP!!!

DON'T SCROLL DOWN! AND DON'T CLICK ON THE SECOND LINK EITHER!

IT'S FOOD PORN!

Sooo.... now that the warning was sent...

Did anyone try strawberry blossoms? SunnySmile posted the recipe here: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...764-post9.html

I didn't know how they should end up looking, so I put "strawberry blossoms" in Google and here they are:


Looks super yummy!

And since everyone wants strawberries, this is another cool recipe: Closet Cooking: Strawberry and Avocado Spinach Salad I had something similar yesterday, but skipped the avocado and added a few other things...

[kjel]

Georgiana
I do all different types of exercises . Jogging, step aerobics, kickboxing, spin, pilates, cardio + weight lifting classes and The Firm videos 5 or 6 days a week. Got to mix it up so my body doesn't get used to it because I want to be thin and toned. Most of my weight is hips & thighs but they are disappearing.

Wow! Those strawberries look amazing. I was going to start next week to add strawberries but I may have to step up the schedule.

[imagood1]

Georgiana -- I have a couple other chayote recipes ...not just ones with sweetner!! I ask around before I bought one during the challenge. Here they are:

CHAYOTE SALAD

3 lg. chayotes
3 eggs
1 tsp. mustard (prepared)
4 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 med. onion
1 med. green pepper
1 clove garlic
1 celery stalk
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp. butter
Cook in plenty of water chayotes and eggs until tender. Remove from heat and cut chayotes in cubes; same thing with eggs. Combine both and add chopped onion and minced garlic and saute in butter. Mix with chayote mixture add rest of ingredients and mayonnaise, mix well.


and

Chayote Bake

3 chayote squash
2 TB vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3/4 lb.chorizo
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno , seeded and minced
3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Cut the chayote in half lengthwise and remove the seed. Cook the squash in lightly salted water to cover until tender-crisp, about 25 minutes. Drain and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving a 1/4 inch shell. Set shells aside and chop flesh.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat the oil in a skillet and saute the onion until it is soft. Add the chorizo, garlic and jalapenos, and cook over medium heat until the meat is cooked. Add the tomatoes, oregano, cumin, and reserved chayote flesh. Combine well. Pile the mixture into the reserved chayote shells. Sprinkle with cheese. Set in baking dish and bake 15 to 20 minutes


enjoy!!