Newbie from Alaska

[liabird]

Hi All,

My husband and I started Atkins today and had a pretty good day. I did Atkins back in 2000-2001 and lost 20lbs, but my husband wasn't doing it with me and I did not stick with it. This time he is determined too and I feel a lot more confident. I remember last time worrying all day about food, stressing over what I couldn't have and generally feeling like it was a struggle from day 1. This time I do not feel like that and feel calm and in control. I came back to Atkins after one of my best friends recently lost around 40lbs on Atkins and called me to tell me "I'm finally sexy!" LOL I was/am so happy for her and proud of her and it kicked my butt back in gear.

I'd really like some good snack ideas and meal ideas for my husband to take to work. I recently quit my job to finish school fulltime and spend more time with our kids, so being at home most of the day is very helpful for Atkins. However, I do need lots of easy ideas to keep DH going while he's away from the house. I made up a batch of deviled eggs and got him some pepperoni and cheese to take, but he'll need a little more than that. Me too for that matter! What does everyone eat to satisfy the desire for "crunchy" foods? Pork rinds and what else?

Thanks everyone, it feels good to be back!!!

~Lia in AK

[arcticsp2003]

Alaska! Nice, I really want to visit there someday.

Welcome to the board. It is a great resource. I personally like the success stories and before / after sections. Really motivational. If you have any questions just ask. People are pretty friendly around here.

Check out this website for lots of recipes / snacks.
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Recipes

[liabird]

Thanks for the welcome! I thought you were in AK too looking at your user name. What made you choose it?

~Lia

[chinadoll]

Hi liabird, welcome to ADBB. I use pork rinds, celery, and take cheese slices, cut them into squares and microwave them till brown and crisp as a crunchy snack (but these are addictive I warn you).

[Evansmom49]

Welcome liabird!

To satisfy my afternoon need for something crunchy, I use celery sticks and bell pepper strips (pick your color!) dipped in blue cheese dressing. Just check to make sure the brand of dressing you use has no carbs/sugar.

Good luck to you and your husband

[imagood1]

Hi and welcome back Lia --

Don’t compare what you lost or how you did “the last time” your body and lifestyle isn’t the same as last time – follow the plan the way it is written, exercise, drink plenty of pure water (64 ounces minimum daily – nothing added) and you’ll be on your way to loosing before you know it.

Check the STAC Second Time Around Club - Atkins Diet for additional support. Check the stickies at the top of the induction forum to refresh your memory on the plan. (BEFORE you begin the Atkins Nutritional Approach...)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/5781-before-you-begin-atkins-nutritional-approach.html

You have Linda's recipe liink above from someone else but here are a couple other sites for recipe's.

(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html (Induction recipes)
(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics)

After a few days you really won't be looking for so many snacks but any meat dipped in mayo or blue cheese, ranch dressing, etc are good snack or lunch ideas. Deli meat rolled up with pickles, cream cheese, or other cheese is good also. Olives, peppers, celery, broccoli, cauliflower with dip are also good snack ideas.

Good luck to both of you - let us know how you are doing.

[liv]

Hi Welcome
I think we have a member called Alaskavsonja that is quite active right now. Welcome to you too.

[Busterchi]

Hello. Lunch can be hard if the person needs to pack it and has no place to warm it up. That is my husband’s boat... or guesses it would be a regulator but still...
Lunch for him is two scrambled eggs done in the microwave. Spray bowl with Pam, scramble eggs in, bacon, cheese, (peppers, mushrooms, and onions) and a little heavy cream to lighten it up. Cook for 2 1/2 then toss some more cheese on top. Finish cooking. We use pre sliced cheddar from Costco, makes things move a lot faster. His second cheese will be Swiss or... whatever.
He takes a chicken breast done on the BBQ, or a buffalo burger, or smokies.

Fried cheese like someone else said is great. Spray a small dish, till bubbling then check to see if it is crunchy. These also work as a crouton on salads.

Jello was a life saver a first. I make my own. Splenda Kool-Aid, two cups hot water and gelatin. Topped with a little whipped cream. Yes that was what helped me through the induction.

Now for the chocolate craving there seems to be a split on what people think. After digging around I found several induction recipes that allow it, so we did allow are selves some. I melted baker's unsweetened, in a double boiler, once that was all melted then I added splenda, mixed that in, and a dash of heavy cream to make it more milky choc. At this point it turns thick. Then roll into balls, toss in fridge. These are a soft choc they do not travel well. But one a day will help that craving. You can also buy Walden farms products online. These are BBQ sauce, chocolate sauce, salad dressings. I didn't find them till after the induction but they are 0 carb 0 sugar...thinking of it they are 0 everything, not really sure what they are made of...

We also ate a lot of bacon. We hadn't had it in forever. I would cook up a bunch at a time so that it was only a mess once a day.

If your husband has a civilized job where he can sit down to eat, then shift his salad to lunch time, take some fried cheese, bacon, smokies, chicken or steak, toss with the veggies that he likes, and a meal fit for a king. People do look odd that the salad isn't health food by normal standards.

Overtime food is the hardest food to find. My husbands job can be anywhere from an 8 hour day to a 16 with no warning. So finding foods that could live in a backpack and be pack several times was a little fun. We ended up with baby bell cheese in wax. And a type of smoked meat. Also Atkins bars. Again some people think these shouldn't be used in the induction. Some of us can not live in our kitchens and are not near a fridge so we have to do what we have to do.
Also make sure to take vitamins, and calcium. My poor husband got leg cramps like nothing else. He still stretches them out everyday.

The other day I did find a down side to this diet. Tetanus shot really really hurts. They say the more muscle you have the more it is going to hurt. I’m on day three and still know that I had it done. My elbow and shoulder are sore. So if you think you are close to being due for that just go and get it before you get your bikini body. Because slicing all these veggies can be a dangerous activity. My finger and now my arm can tell you that.
Oh and on the veggie note. I cut mine up for several days at a time. Onion, peppers, zucchini, and then toss some butter in a zip lock bag, then when BBQ time comes I empty the bag into tinfoil and off it goes. It does save time, on rushed nights.

Well I hope that some of this is of use to the pair of you two. We are all cheering for you.

[liabird]

Thanks so much to everyone for all the welcomes and ideas!! I'm looking forward to trying them out after a quick trip to the store today! I'm looking forward to sharing everything with you all! Day 2 is going well!

[arcticsp2003]

Originally Posted by liabird

Thanks for the welcome! I thought you were in AK too looking at your user name. What made you choose it?

~Lia

Nope, not from alaska. I'm an avid snowmobiler and I ride an Arctic Cat Sno Sro. Hence the name ArcticSP. However, it does tend to be cold / snowy where I live, so the name fits anyway. Nothing like AK, but we do get between 200" and 300" of snow a year.