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Monday, February 06, 2006
You can now subscribe to my blog!
You can add me like you would add any dynamic news feed. Just click on the icon below and select the newsreader you use. I already tested this using My Yahoo, and it does appear to work.
Subscribe to my blog!
You can also subscribe by e-mail. (See left column.)
Now to link it to my atom feed:
There we go! :)
And a graphic for CHR.
Buttons:
Facebook:
Subscribe to my blog!
You can also subscribe by e-mail. (See left column.)
Now to link it to my atom feed:
There we go! :)
And a graphic for CHR.
Buttons:
Facebook:
Lifetime Maintenance!
That's right. I am now officially in Phase 4, the Lifetime Maintenance phase of Atkins! Here's what the official Atkins site says about Lifetime Maintenance (it's part of a discussion on Phase 3, Pre-Maintenance, in a "class" I'm taking):Phase Three: Pre-Maintenance
When you're within five or 10 pounds of your target weight, it is time to move to Pre-Maintenance. In Pre-Maintenance, weight loss will slow down significantly. This phase lasts until you hit your target weight and maintain it for a month. (emphasis mine)
Well, I hit my goal weight on January 6, and today is February 6, so that's one month! :) Yay me! Today I weighed in at 142.8, well below my high goal of 147. (My goal weight is 142 and I have to maintain within 5 pounds.)
Thank you, Dr. Atkins!
Picture courtesy of Dr. Atkins' Diet Plan.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Spring is springing!
I thought I posted this Saturday, but I found it was still in my drafts!February 2 while I was riding the bus I saw the first signs of spring - about three plum blossoms trees beginning to bloom. I love the weather here. This is the growing season because of all the rain.
Happy start of spring everyone!
Picture courtesy Garden Club of Cypress.
What makes a weight loss winner?
Here's another post from our wonderful Janis, this time stating how she managed to lose weight and keep it off.
Here's my list, which covers YEARS of failures before I was successful. I want to stay successful and hope to hear some different ideas from all of you.....
*I went into it this time knowing it was a permanent change and wouldn't end once I lost my weight.
*I found a plan where I didn't feel deprived or hungry even while losing. I knew I'd be happy with it for life.
*I made all kinds of plans for tough situations and still do, often taking certain foods along with me. In many cases it's more than I need but covers all possibilities.
*I regularly scour the stores and the internet for new and interesting products that are acceptable.
*I always carry something appropriate to eat "just in case."
*I try to prepare foods I truly enjoy and don't bother making something I have planned if I'm not looking forward to eating it. If I do make a dinner I don't really want I'm constantly looking for something else when the meal is over.
*When I'm in an "eating" mood I try to make something really special for dinner or even a very special snack instead of dinner. I'm trying to listen to myself.
*Skipping meals isn't good but is a means to an end. I know who I am and as much as I wish I was different... that's who I am! I've spent over two years trying to change and it hasn't happened.
*I don't kid myself into believing I'll never want "xxx" or "xxx" again so make darn sure I have good alternatives for them that keep me happy.
*I try to stay 2-3 lbs. below goal. I consider my goal weight to be my "alarm" weight. I worry that if I was ever up 5 lbs. I might be headed for trouble.
I haven't kept the weight off yet, but I did reach my goal and tomorrow will be my one month anniversary (and official start on Phase 4 of Atkins!). Getting it off is just who I am - if I set a goal I am darn well going to acheive it and everybody who tries to hold me back is only going to strengthen my resolve. I also enjoy reading and have done A LOT of reading on nutrition and the insulin connection to weight gain. I do think I know more than the average person, though there is still a lot awaiting me out there. :)
What helps you to lose weight and keep it off? If you have tips, post a comment!
Here's my list, which covers YEARS of failures before I was successful. I want to stay successful and hope to hear some different ideas from all of you.....
*I went into it this time knowing it was a permanent change and wouldn't end once I lost my weight.
*I found a plan where I didn't feel deprived or hungry even while losing. I knew I'd be happy with it for life.
*I made all kinds of plans for tough situations and still do, often taking certain foods along with me. In many cases it's more than I need but covers all possibilities.
*I regularly scour the stores and the internet for new and interesting products that are acceptable.
*I always carry something appropriate to eat "just in case."
*I try to prepare foods I truly enjoy and don't bother making something I have planned if I'm not looking forward to eating it. If I do make a dinner I don't really want I'm constantly looking for something else when the meal is over.
*When I'm in an "eating" mood I try to make something really special for dinner or even a very special snack instead of dinner. I'm trying to listen to myself.
*Skipping meals isn't good but is a means to an end. I know who I am and as much as I wish I was different... that's who I am! I've spent over two years trying to change and it hasn't happened.
*I don't kid myself into believing I'll never want "xxx" or "xxx" again so make darn sure I have good alternatives for them that keep me happy.
*I try to stay 2-3 lbs. below goal. I consider my goal weight to be my "alarm" weight. I worry that if I was ever up 5 lbs. I might be headed for trouble.
I haven't kept the weight off yet, but I did reach my goal and tomorrow will be my one month anniversary (and official start on Phase 4 of Atkins!). Getting it off is just who I am - if I set a goal I am darn well going to acheive it and everybody who tries to hold me back is only going to strengthen my resolve. I also enjoy reading and have done A LOT of reading on nutrition and the insulin connection to weight gain. I do think I know more than the average person, though there is still a lot awaiting me out there. :)
What helps you to lose weight and keep it off? If you have tips, post a comment!
Friday, February 03, 2006
Do you think you know me?
Do you think you know me well? How well do you really know me?
Post your score! How did you do?
Post your score! How did you do?
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Misunderstandings about Atkins
There are some common misunderstandings about the Atkins lifestyle, which Jonny Bowden deals with in chapter 3 of his book. I won't profile all the plans in this way, but since Atkins is my chosen plan, and I have caught a lot of flak for how "unhealthful" it is, I felt dispelling some of those myths is important.
From Living the Low Carb Life, pages 72-73.
Atkins has been one of the most misunderstood diet authors and has been the target of more attacks than any other low-carb proponent, probably because he was the first and the most commercially successful of the plans and also, to the constant chagrin of the establishment, because he simply wouldn't go away...
One of the sources of misinformation about Atkins came because many people confused the induction phase with the whole program. Atkins was very clear that induction is for a limited time only. A common criticism of Atkins is that he doesn't allow you to eat vegetables and fruits, which you add back to the program in the subsequent stages of his plan. (But) he never said you couldn't eat vegetables and fruits. He did say you couldn't eat junk carbohydrates.
...(T)he...Atkins program is a three-pronged approach to health that involves not just carbohydrate management (he later called the diet a "controlled-carbohydrate approach to eating") but exercise and nutritional supplementation. In his New York clinic only a small percentage of patients came in solely for weight loss.
I will clarify here - and Jonny covers this better elsewhere in the chapter - that Atkins does allow vegetables and fruits from day one, but in controlled amounts. Avocados and tomatoes (both fruits) are allowed during induction. And during induction you should be getting a minimum of 3 cups of vegetables per day.
My normal daily intake of veggies is 8-10 oz. of a low starch vegetable with lunch, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or even Chinese pea pods. Later in the day I will eat an entire bag of salad (10-12 oz.), ranging from iceberg to romaine. So I am definitely getting my "5 servings a day" that the government recommends. That's a minimum of 18 oz. of veggies a day. As I've said many times before, my diet is primarily made up of meat, vegetables, and some dairy (cottage cheese, cheese).
From Living the Low Carb Life, pages 72-73.
Atkins has been one of the most misunderstood diet authors and has been the target of more attacks than any other low-carb proponent, probably because he was the first and the most commercially successful of the plans and also, to the constant chagrin of the establishment, because he simply wouldn't go away...
One of the sources of misinformation about Atkins came because many people confused the induction phase with the whole program. Atkins was very clear that induction is for a limited time only. A common criticism of Atkins is that he doesn't allow you to eat vegetables and fruits, which you add back to the program in the subsequent stages of his plan. (But) he never said you couldn't eat vegetables and fruits. He did say you couldn't eat junk carbohydrates.
...(T)he...Atkins program is a three-pronged approach to health that involves not just carbohydrate management (he later called the diet a "controlled-carbohydrate approach to eating") but exercise and nutritional supplementation. In his New York clinic only a small percentage of patients came in solely for weight loss.
I will clarify here - and Jonny covers this better elsewhere in the chapter - that Atkins does allow vegetables and fruits from day one, but in controlled amounts. Avocados and tomatoes (both fruits) are allowed during induction. And during induction you should be getting a minimum of 3 cups of vegetables per day.
My normal daily intake of veggies is 8-10 oz. of a low starch vegetable with lunch, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or even Chinese pea pods. Later in the day I will eat an entire bag of salad (10-12 oz.), ranging from iceberg to romaine. So I am definitely getting my "5 servings a day" that the government recommends. That's a minimum of 18 oz. of veggies a day. As I've said many times before, my diet is primarily made up of meat, vegetables, and some dairy (cottage cheese, cheese).
Living the Low Carb Life, Chapter 2
To Chapter 1 review.
Why Low-Carb Diets Work
Jonny Bowden gets somewhat technical in this chapter, and I admit parts were over my head. It talks about how our bodily system work, with a focus on insulin since it is a key reason low fat/high carb diets don't work. It talks about blood sugar, cholesterol (both HDL and LDL), and triglycerides. It explains why a diet high in carbohydrates has an adverse impact on all of these.
He spends extra time on insulin, insulin resistance, and diabetes. He talks about insulin as the "fat-storage hormone" and most importantly, what goes on in the body to cause this. The chapter can be summed up best in one sentence: "Controlling insulin is the number one priority of all low-carb diets" (page 64).
As I said, parts are quite technical, but most of the chapter was understandable. It left me thinking, "Why would I ever want to put so many carbs in my body when they do such horrible things?
This is the chapter to read if you want to know the scientific reasons a low carb diet works and what goes on in your body when you are on a traditional low fat diet.
Why Low-Carb Diets Work
Jonny Bowden gets somewhat technical in this chapter, and I admit parts were over my head. It talks about how our bodily system work, with a focus on insulin since it is a key reason low fat/high carb diets don't work. It talks about blood sugar, cholesterol (both HDL and LDL), and triglycerides. It explains why a diet high in carbohydrates has an adverse impact on all of these.
He spends extra time on insulin, insulin resistance, and diabetes. He talks about insulin as the "fat-storage hormone" and most importantly, what goes on in the body to cause this. The chapter can be summed up best in one sentence: "Controlling insulin is the number one priority of all low-carb diets" (page 64).
As I said, parts are quite technical, but most of the chapter was understandable. It left me thinking, "Why would I ever want to put so many carbs in my body when they do such horrible things?
This is the chapter to read if you want to know the scientific reasons a low carb diet works and what goes on in your body when you are on a traditional low fat diet.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Living the Low Carb Life, Chapter 1
The History and Origins of Low-Carb Diets
This was a fun chapter. Jonny Bowden talks about the history of low-carbohydrate diets, from William Banting and Dr. William Harvey all the way to Dr. Barry Sears (The Zone). We find low-carb diets did not start with Dr. Robert Atkins in 1972, but actually with Mr. Banting's publication of Letter on Corpulence in 1864. So low-carb has been around much longer than the low fat dogma that has only been popular the last 30 years. The concept of the calorie wasn't even discovered until between 1890 and 1900 by a man with the name of Wilbur Atwater.
Mr. Bowden goes through all this and more, touching on each of the major players in diet from 1864 onward. Many of the people named I had never heard of before. There's so much more to this low-carb lifestyle than one man in New York in the 70s!
Very good chapter and I highly recommend it. I'm now reading chapter 2 and will summarize it when I finish. So far I'm liking it. Very good book!
Picture courtesy Sterling Publications.
This was a fun chapter. Jonny Bowden talks about the history of low-carbohydrate diets, from William Banting and Dr. William Harvey all the way to Dr. Barry Sears (The Zone). We find low-carb diets did not start with Dr. Robert Atkins in 1972, but actually with Mr. Banting's publication of Letter on Corpulence in 1864. So low-carb has been around much longer than the low fat dogma that has only been popular the last 30 years. The concept of the calorie wasn't even discovered until between 1890 and 1900 by a man with the name of Wilbur Atwater.Mr. Bowden goes through all this and more, touching on each of the major players in diet from 1864 onward. Many of the people named I had never heard of before. There's so much more to this low-carb lifestyle than one man in New York in the 70s!
Very good chapter and I highly recommend it. I'm now reading chapter 2 and will summarize it when I finish. So far I'm liking it. Very good book!
Picture courtesy Sterling Publications.
Weighty Matters
144.2 today. Got most of last weekend's water weight off. I've decided to start counting on Saturday. It's the only way to get my out of control eating that day under control. If I have to bring my own food to the potluck, that's the price. I'm thinking I'll do Dreamfields spaghetti.
Heading to the gym in a few. I love working out. :)
If Dukes of Hazzard is still playing on Pay-Per-View this Friday then I think I'll order it. But no popcorn!
Heading to the gym in a few. I love working out. :)
If Dukes of Hazzard is still playing on Pay-Per-View this Friday then I think I'll order it. But no popcorn!
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