I'm still searching for some new recipes, so i decided to make a post with my most asked questions from people following my diet. Thank you all so much for your questions! Feel free to reach out to me anytime- my Dad always said if you are thinking it, chances are someone else is too.
A lot of people ask about sweets. Everyone has those moments where you just need a quick fix of something sweet and you have to control yourself or you'll blow it. It drives me crazy when people say things like you have to "reward" yourself every once in a while... Yes you have to reward your self for doing a great job but NOT WITH FOOD! I take myself out and buy a new outfit or treat myself to a day of pampering. Rewarding yourself with food is like being a marathon runner who takes a month off of practice just because you did well in a race. You can still have "bad foods" but you have to have control: 1. watch the portion size. When most people decide to reward themselves with food they get crazy because if theyre going to cheat on their diet for the day why not go all out. Bad idea. 2. if you do want to induldge in something that is bad, cut back your carbs for the rest of the day. make the number even out.
I started the Atkin's lifestyle 5 months ago, and not a single day have I broke my diet. I don't feel the need to. When you start wanting to break your diet, you need to re-evaluate your motivation.
When I get a sugar craving, I will grab a sugar free jello. Theyre fantastic to keep many flavors on hand because they have -0- carbs and only 10 calories. Go crazy.
When i get a chocolate craving, I reach for an Atkin's bar. Make sure you look to see 1. what stage in the plan its good for 2. how many net carbs it has. The chocolate chip granola bar was the only flavor I really became attached to. Its extremely filling and i break it into pieces as one piece is really all I need to satisfy my craving. Walmart seems to be the only store carrying the this flavor, but there are many other flavors available to try.
There's a difference between eating because you're hungry and eating because youre bored. I've learned to tell the difference when im looking into the fridge and nothing sounds good, yet I want to eat. Boredom. To see if I'm actually hungry, I'll go and put my Listerine white strips on my teeth (the ones that dissolve) and that give me about 45 minutes I can't eat. If I'm still hungry after that I'll find something to eat.
People also ask about loose skin when losing so much weight. Anytime you lose a great amount of weight you'll run into that problem. I've really been trying to focus on toning my body by working out to get rid of the "extra." It's sometimes hard to find ways to motivate yourself to workout or not make excuses for the time it takes. I have a desk job that I'm at a lot so I thought of some great ways to work out at work:
1. I keep 2 "5" pound dumbells at my desk so when I'm on the phone or reading the computer i'll lift one with my free hand. I try to alternate the hand i'm using to work with and the hand i'm lifting with. Simple over the head lifts or out to the side lifts work great.
2. I bought a Gold's gym stationary bike at Wal-mart for $24 and i keep it under my desk and peddle it as I work. its great because its very compact and easy to store. It has a tension adjustment on it so you can increase it throughout the day.
3. If i know I'll be moving around a bunch that day, I'll wear ankle weights under my pants. I'll be able to burn extra calories and no one but me will know
While at the house, I like to have a more intense workout. I get bored easily so I have to find a workout that will keep my attention.
I am a huge reality tv junkie and im addicted to Real Housewives. I will put my eliptical in front of the tv, turn on one of the seasons, and start working out. The ssecret is to not look at the stats on the elliptical. Focus on the tv show (find a show or a movie that will distract you). By the time the episode is over, I look down and realize I just ran 4-5 miles.
To work out the rest of my body, I need a work out program that will keep me motivated. The Play Station Move has been a huge part of my home workout. It has a camera so it put you on the screen. I purchased the game "Get Fit With Mel B" (yes, the Mel B aka Scary Spice from the Spice Girls) and i love it! It makes a custom workout for your body based on what you want to focus on for the day. The system can actually see what you are doing when you work out and lets you know how YOU are actually doing and what YOU burned that session, not what you would have burned if you did it perfectly. It keeps track of your progress and you can even chose the scenery for the background of your workout that day! I love that it has that "video game" feel so you feel like youre just playing a game! You even win trophy's throughout the workout based on your performance. Some of the trophy's that I really like they included are "burned off a candy bar!" or "burned off a whole pizza" "burned off a holiday dinner!" It really puts into perspective how much it takes to burn off the bad food decisions.
I hope this helps give you some different ideas and help keep you successful! Again, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have or things you've done that are working well for you!
chicken pizza! grill a bonuess piece of chicken (breast or tenderloin work great), spread on low carb marinera, garlic salt, favorite cheeses and turkey pepporoni, pop into the oven till cheese is all melty and you have a VERY filling meal!
deep fried parmesan breaded shrimp! take precooked shrimp, dip in egg (beat egg in advance), roll around in parmesan cheese, throw in the fry daddy till golden! ta-da!!!!
low carb pizza-dilla! mama lupes low carb wrap, add pizza sauce or marinera, garlic salt, favorite cheeses, turkey pepperoni, throw on the quesadilla maker untill cooked and then cut with a pizza cutter and enjoy!
chicken pico de gayo- this recipe is super simple! i grilled a piece of chicken and cut it up, threw it in a bowl and added pico de gayo i bought at the store, and white cheese. mix it together. bam!
these are deep fried parmesan balls- i use them in a lot of my recipes to give a breaded flavoring. just take a combination of egg and parmesan cheese and mix till it becomes a batter and then throw in the deep fryer till golden brown- can be eaten or cumbled on to other dishes
broccoli and bacon casserole! broccoli, crumbled parmesan balls, turkey bacon, and cheese all melted together!
chicken and broccoli casserole! chicken, broccoli, crumbled parmesan cheese balls and cheese all melted together!
