mountaingurl

I'm hanging in there, but the weight loss is slowing. I seem to do this from time to time. I need to get outside and walk. I've probably only lost a pound or so in the last week, but I have not gained, so that is good. I got my cookbooks in from sugar free shelia. They are WONDERFUL!!! I swear I like everything I have cooked so far. Oh, and I got into a pair of size 12 jeans this week. I did not have to suck it in, hold my breath, or even pray!!!! It was truly a miracle. Of course, I could have looked better in them with 5 more pounds lost, but at least I could wear them.

Well, I'm back. I've had post cruise depression, so I have not been around here for a while;). I gained 8!!!! pounds on my cruise(3 or so was water weight though). I did good for the first day or so, but fell, no jumped off the wagon. New Orleans did me in. I love cajun food and rice in general. Here's some other news though. hubby got back and had a return of his medical condition and had to go back on steroids. He had lost 13 pounds on Atkins. He decided he wanted to do low fat and not atkins. Long story short, he gained 15 pounds. We are both back on Atkins. I am back down to pre-cruise weight and still loosing. My stomach issues have gone away again(came back while off Atkins). I'm starting to wonder if I have some sort of a gluten sensitivity going on. It's so nice to be able to eat and not hurt afterward. We are starting to see that this is probably going to have to be a life long thing for us. Pretty hard to admit for Italian food loving folk like us. Hubby keeps going around saying "nothing tastes better than thin" LOL:D, he picked that up from me, and I got it from this site. We are just wating until my boss announces his next vacation to plan another cruise! Ours was wonderful, other than my daughter running up a $200 phone bill while in international waters. Oh, and I have no pants that fit me. In a bout of depression last year, I threw out all my skinny jeans because it hurt to look at them. I will have to go shopping soon, but want to loose a little more before spending them money. Thanks for everyone's help!

Berries are your best bet for fruit. At home, if you get some nice strawberries, you can also have your chocolate fix with this recipe for dipping them:

 

2 Tbsp better

3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa (I use Hershey's Dutch Process)

Melt in microwave for about 1 min. at 70% power.

Stir - then add:

1/4 tsp vanilla

6-8 packets of Splenda (I use 6)

Stir until smooth.

Dip strawberries. Coating will harden quickly, but best kept in refrigerator if not eaten immediately.

 

This covers a lot of stawberries, but I've never had much luck dividing it.

 

As to sticking with low-carb on a cruise, haven't found it a problem, because on the major lines there are always plenty of meat, fish, and chicken choices, salads and veggies, and even no-sugar-added desserts. Have to be careful with the latter, because some of them will contain carbs from flour or other starches. No-sugar-added ice cream, mousses, and cheesecake are usually fairly safe - and portions are small - but still a nice treat.

Thank so much for the recipe. You are awesome! I've never had so much encouragement from people as this board. Chocolate covered strawberries are my complete favorite. I think this would easily do the trick.

Hubby broke down and had a brownie and a candy bard today. I hate him and he stinks! Well..... actually I hate that I ate that stinkin salad while he GOT my brownie. Did I mention it is my time of the month and chocolate is my weakness. On a side note, Russell Stovers sugar free toffee is amazing. I fugured if I had to have something I would do it as close to carb free as possible. I am down one more pound too, so I am doing something right. I have upped to about 25-30 carbs. The weight is not dropping off like crazy, but I am not gaining and still loosing a little bit, but my clothes are fitting so much better. I've found that just one slice of low carb bread helps me feel less desperate:) Supper tonight was roasted chicken and mixed veggies. Thanks for all the support guys! I'm really nervous about this cruise. I don't want to feel like I am starving myself on the cruise. I want to be able to treat myself. I can't wait till I can have some (ANY) kind of fruit. What would be the best type if I had to have some?

I have not lost anymore, but my jeans were very loose today. I think I have a lost a little around my waist. I'm hanging in there, but I cheated just a tiny bit today. I had a small bite of sushi (only one piece and I knocked part of the rice off. I also had an extra slice of low carb bread, but I really think I am doing good. I am terribly afraid of the cruise this Saturday though. I plan on really eating, BUT I have learned how much better I physically feel doing low carb, so I will not over do it. My goal is to taste my desserts and then push the plate back. I have not had that sickening feeling of a sugar crash in a long time. I don't want to ever feel that way again. My stomach problems (IBS) is so much better. I did find that I can't have salad every day, so I am working with that, but I feel better, my skin looks better, and my clothes are starting to fit again. I do not want to blow it all on a 5 day cruise, but I still want to enjoy myself. Ya'll think of me this Fri-Thurs. Oh, and I wanted to say something else. I have gotten over my craving for potatoes. No more dreams of potato chips for me. I finally figured out it was salt craving that was leaning me toward the chips and baked potatoes(one of the few things I ever add salt to). Hang in there everybody. By the way, Breyers low carb vanilla ice cream is awesome. I only have about less than 1/4 cup, but it really helps my sweet tooth once a week.

Just wanted o let everyone know that the parmesean chicken nuggets were alwesome! They were so close to the real thing that the kiddos even loved them. Praise be, I'm past my two weeks! I went and bought low carb bread today. It is so wonderful. I'm really struggling rigtt now. It's that time of the month and the sweet thing is killing me. Hubby bought me some sugar free toffee and chocolate mints. I ate 3. I wanted more but remembered what sugar alcohol can do to you:p. That totally satisfied me though. By the way, after the two week induction, how mant carbs can you have per day. I did not loose any the last 3 days, but I did not gain any either. (Oh, and by the way, beware of the turkey salad from Heavenly Ham, it has chipotle something or other that has sugar in it, maybe that is why I did not loose).

Hubby was doing the atkins bars and lossing nothing (of course he had 3!!!! in one day:p). He was also eating things that were really not for the induction though I thought he was sticking to the 20 or so carbs. We had a talk about how this whole thing was his idea, and I got him back on track, and he has lost about 7 pounds. He was so happy he went out and bought 3 new shirts for our cruise. Before, he refused to buy anything. I know he/we have a long way to go, but seeing even a little progress helps. He was much happier today. Oh, and I have a good news. (Ya'll are going to get tired of me). It's just so nice chatting with people who do understand. We went out to eat for the first time tonight. I was really scared to do that since starting atkins. We went to our fav. Italian rest. (My dad is Italian, so Pasta is a main food grop to me). We ordered a shrimp scampi for an appetizer. We asked the waiter not to bring the bread. We both had steaks and double veggies instead of the pasta side. It was very filling, and we were glad we were able to eat out normally.

Thanks for the link. I will have to check it out. I started exercising too. The whole time I was walking I kept chanting(in my head) "nothing tastes better than thin". We had taco salads for supper which were very satisfying. I am trying to really be creative. Hubby got on the scale tonight and he has lost 7 pounds. That makes him feel a whole lot better. He actually kissed me after dinner before going to work (pretty impressive cuz since we started this he has not really liked me very much LOL). We didn't even miss the taco shell, and the little bit of salsa we used kind of took care of my sweets craving if that makes sense. Hang in there everyone. We can all do this together. :D Thanks for all of the support you guys have given me.

Had to let ya'll in on my good news. I went to TJ max yesterday and scored the deal of the century. I got two dresses for a total of $12. They are gorgeous, one would even work for formal night. They were hidden on the clearance rack. Now here is the kicker.......... they are............SIZE 12!!!! I was so afraid to try them on. I just knew they would not zip, but they did. I woke up dreaming about potato chips this morning, no kidding. BUT those dresses give me the encouragement to keep plugging along at this. I put a chicken in the crock pot all day. I deboned it, covered my portion with about a tbsp of salsa and then shredded cheese. it was great, and it is my new quick fix. I'm really running out of side dishes though. I don't like brocolli, and am getting tired of salads. we are having taco salads without the shell tomorrow. I wish there was some sort of chip or shell I could use though. Any ideas? Thanks guys for your support! Does anyone know if sour cream is allowed?

Hello, everyone! I just found this board. I am on atkins too, and have lost 7 lbs this week. I know that is too much so I am adding in more veggies. This is a trial and error kind of thing for me. Atkins is pretty hard for me because I am not very fond of meat and used to be a vegetarian. However, it very exciting to find my clothes so much looser. I want to lose another 5-10 pounds before the cruise and hope it will be possible. I have about 12 days, so I am trying to be pretty strict. thanks for everyone's advice on here. I'm hoping I can find some recipes. Hubby has been on steroids and has gained 30 pounds. He is almost weaned off them and is trying to loose. He is a potato and bread person and is REALLY struggling with it. He is mean as a bear (I found out he snuck a bigmac the other day and I went off on him). This was his idea, and I am trying so hard; it just makes it difficult when he is not. I've lost about 17 pounds in the last few months, and he has not said a word. Oh well, I know the atkins is working. I'm not hardly ever hungry, and that is what I like best. The hunger pains is what makes me fall of the wagon on every other diet.

Dental floss-the gift that keeps on giving

Spoon-to scoop up all the fun available

This is fun! I would say they could bring back something of a chair hogs, but that would just be too mean:p

Banana- I'm bananas for crusising

Carnival pen-to keep you in line

Does any of this work? I love doing scavenger hunts!!!

Priceline,booked the hotel on 6/12/07 (will be staying on 9/27/07) 4 star downtown, Intercontinental, $60 ($74 with taxes and fees):) We also got the 9/21 holiday inn french quarter (3 star) for $49 on Hotwire a few weeks ago.