Lets get the SKINNY on the Atkins Diet

CookingWithCarlo.com ^ | Oct 4 2003 | Carlo3b Dad, Chef, Author

[LaraCroft]

When I hit a plateau, I did the following.

Breakfast, boiled egg, 1/2 grapefruit
Lunch and dinner, 6oz tuna, 1c spinach,1/2 grapefruit
snacks... boiled egg whites or non fat cheese, 2

I don't know if it was the combination or the low cals but 2 days of this would bump me and I could go back to eating normal.

[CajunConservative]

have no doubt you are losing weigh and have more energy. The reason is that you are consuming less calories than you are expending in energy and you are eating for fun, not for nutrition.

No not really. I eat more calorie wise on this plan than I was on the high carb diet because I eat fat and meat. I am not eating for fun as you think. I eat better on this way of eating than I did on the high carb diet because I eat only real whole foods lots of non starchy veggies and very limited fruits and grains. In eating this way I don't have that ever constant hunger and urge to eat.

I made the dietary change for health reasons. I started searching out ways of dealing with a medical condition I had and what was working for people like me was a low controlled carb, adequate protein, adequate fat plan.

The great thing about this way of eating is it is both nutritious AND fun. Getting healthy using this way of eating is fun and not a drag. That's the point so many of us have found out. I have learned too that what works for me may not work for you and guess what that is okay.

Carlo has offered his wonderful talents to keep us low carbers from getting bored. I am greatful for his taking the time to share his recipes with those of us who want to eat well.

[sauropod]

Print out ping.

[CajunConservative]

greatful

dang, I can't spell here. Make that grateful.

[SamAdams76]

Btw, after you learn to read labels, you realize how much sugar is added to processed food. For instance, I buy my mayonaise at the local health food store, because the supermarket mayonaise contains sugar.

You are right about that. Once I started paying attention to labels, I was stunned with how much sugar was going into our diet. Even most supermarket tomato sauces are loaded with sugar. High fructose corn syrup is everywhere, which is why I pretty much avoid processed foods altogether. Better off getting your food at the health store and from natural sources. My food bill has almost doubled since doing this thing because I eat all fresh foods. In fact, I bought fresh cod tonight for dinner at $7 a pound. But it's worth it. I was on my way to an early death with all that processed crap.

[diotima]

Read the book, I'll tell you all about it in New Mexico, we get in Wednesday afternoon.

(Why do you want to go on a diet anyway?)

[SamAdams76]

On days that I was extremely busy, I would sometimes eat only two meals or even just one meal during the day. For several days after these semi-fasting days, I usually gained 3-4 lbs with no change in diet. I eventually realized that it’s important for me to eat at least three low-carb meals a day, even if hunger is not present.

I ran into the same problem. In the early stages, I would only eat if I was hungry and sometimes only had one or two meals a day. I never lost much this way and it was frustrating getting on the scales for my weekly weighing and discovering I didn't lose that much that week even though I had been "good." Conversely, on weeks where I thought I would surely gain weight because I ate so much during that week, well, those were usually the weeks I lost the most weight!

Of course, there is a point of diminishing returns. If you eat too much, you will stall. There is a fine line between eating too little and eating too much. If you can find that sweet spot, the weight will come off in a hurry. For me, that sweet spot is about 2,300 calories a day. But bear in mind that I am exercising 1 to 2 hours per day.

[SamAdams76]

I can only guess that I need to pick up the exercise but darn it - that makes me hungry!

Read my last reply. If you exercise more, yes, you will probably get more hungry. But eat! Your problem may be that you are not eating enough! I lost this 87 pounds while eating on average of 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day!

[Redleg Duke]

I just started this diet today at my wife's insistence. I have been reading his second edition and he makes logical sense. My best friend has already taken off 30 lbs and he has been portly for years.

[kancel]

At this year's fair there was one of those vegan people with the video of the cows living a thousand heads to a cubic foot cage. It was all I could do not to go buy the fattest juiciest tastiest onion burger and stand in front of her booth and eat it. I mean they are cows, they re-eat the contents of their stomachs for crying out loud.

I guess I am just not that compassionate when it comes to my food. However in all honesty if I could afford free range "happy cow" beef (or chicken etc.) then I would simply because I really don't want all the growth hormones and nasty stuff in my meat. It is so expensive though. It would be nice if market demand for "clean" meat would increase enough that the price could come down drastically.

[Redleg Duke]

Please add me, Pilgrim, but ya better no try to hug me! :-)

[fml]

If you exercise semi-hard for 20 to 30 mins. it will actually have a curbing effect on hunger. Its best to work out prior to mealtime for just that reason.

[an amused spectator]

fellow cooking pro bump

[carlo3b]

Bizet died broken and exhausted thinking that his opera Carmen was a flop. THAT was a tragegy. The passing of a wealthy and successful diet doctor is anything but.

WOW how liberal of you, class warfare is.. shall we say.. classless.. with or without a fat singer!  .. a.. er  it's a tragedy that your spell check didn't survive the 1st act!! HA!..  :)

[carlo3b]

Your on.. aloha... :)

[carlo3b]

Deep Dish Quiche Pizza

Outstanding!! Thanks

[carlo3b]

Please add me, Pilgrim, but ya better no try to hug me! :-)

You are in the club now big boy! ....sheeeesh, no huggs.. LOLOL

[carlo3b]

fellow cooking pro bump

Welcome aboard Chef.. grab a chair and get a cup of java.. got any good recipes to share?? Ha!

[CobaltBlue]

Hi Carlo - please keep me on your post list. You are one of the all time greats!

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Carlo scores a hole-in-one!!!

I tried the Grilled Salmon with Mustard Butter (post #88). I had to make a few modifications. I cut down the recipe (which feeds 4-6) so that it feeds just one - me!

Well, I started to divide everything by four, then somewhere along the way I forgot what I was doing, and started dividing everything by three, and even halves - oops! No matter - it still turned out:

FANTASTIC!!!!!

It was unbelievable - outrageous - delicious - flavorful - tasty - yummy - scrumptious - my whole kitchen smelled fragrant!!!

A real winner!!! :D

It was so good that a fireworks display erupted!!! I'm serious! (Pier 39 just had a fireworks display!!!) :D

Thank you, Carlo, for the best recipe ever!!! Not only did it taste yummy, but it was beautiful, too. The sauce looked very pretty over the salmon.

[modifications:

used 1 oz. of unsalted butter
1 T. of Dijon mustard
1/3 tsp. dried mustard (or maybe 1/4 tsp - I forget)
1 T. chives
1 T. parsley
1 tsp. lemon juice
salt only - no pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
Put foil on baking pan - placed fish on foil - also covered with foil - all edges sealed - placed in oven, middle shelf - 500 degrees (preheated) - cooked 10 minutes exactly]