Atkins Diary — Eight Weeks Down!

Wow, it’s hard to believe eight weeks have passed since I vowed to my mother, my sister and myself that I was going to get back to the only diet that has ever worked for me — Atkins! With each week that passes, I am noticing significant improvement, aided no doubt by the practice of my Leslie Sansone Walk at Home DVD, which I’ve been faithfully executing at least five times per week.

As strange and counterproductive as it may seem, I still have not taken my measurements, nor have I stepped onto the scale. While most people follow the conventional wisdom that dictates weighing in once a week, that has never worked for me; invariably I find myself fixating on a number and growing increasingly frustrated when that number refuses to budge as the result of an inevitable dieting plateau. Years of experience have taught me that when it comes to losing weight (and a number of other worthy endeavors), listening to my own intuition is the best way to go.

And as I mentioned previously, aside from the obvious goals of dropping pounds, losing inches and toning muscles, it’s just as important to re-ingrain the low-carb lifestyle for long-term success. Granted, not being much of a pasta aficionado and lukewarm about other forbidden carbs (on the ongoing weight loss portion of the plan, anyway) like rice, it’s been fairly easy for me to jump back on the Atkins bandwagon. And with the availability of natural sweeteners like Truvia and the allowance of real cream in the diet, I can still enjoy my morning coffee my way, without guilt. Sometimes, I even make a mock cappuccino and top it off with Reddi-Whip whipped cream.

So to me, there’s no actual sacrifice in an eating plan that allows full-fat cheese, cream, olive oil, butter and other good fats that make cooking and consuming a flavorful symphony. I’ve also started adding the Atkins protein shakes in vanilla as an accompaniment. And I take a multi-vitamin daily, along with  Longer Stronger Hair and Nails (which I began taking last August at my hairdresser’s suggestion).

When I get to maintenance, I am looking forward to baking low-carb muffins and other treats using Atkins Bake Mix.

Finally, this weekly diary has also been an invaluable tool for keeping me on track and strong during those rare moments of weakness when it’s nearly impossible to say no to a slice of birthday cake or a piece of Easter bread. I also hope it has helped to dispel the many myths surrounding the Atkins diet and inspired those of you seeking to lose weight to give it a try.

But whatever plan works best for you, I wish you much success in attaining your weight-loss and overall health goals!

 

Tags: Atkins, Atkins Diet, Atkins protein shakes, carbohydrates, cheese, cream, fats, featured, health, nutrition, olive oil, Reddi Whip, Truvia, weight-loss

Category: Blog, Health and Wellness