Why Atkins works for me

[captain_slinky]

Today is my first day of being *dedicated* to doing the WeightWatchers "Points" thing. Sticking strictly to 30 points per day.

So far I have used up 20 points on a can of Spaghetti-O's, a bag of fat-free microwave popcorn, 3 oranges and an apple.

I am STARVING.

And all i can think of is firing up the BBQ and grilling up a 10-pound package of chicken hind-quarters and chowing down *yum*!

Or getting a big old bucket of Hot Wings!

Or a nice big juicy STEAK!

Or a 3-egg Sausage-n-Cheese OMLETTE!

Point is, I can think of a hundred different Atkins-Friendly things I want to ewat as long as I'm not doing Atkins at the time. Also, I can't think of ANYTHING that I want to eat that's WeightWatchers friendly when I get home. Like I said, I'm STARVING! And the only things that sound appealing and/or like something I can make when I get home are all ATKINS!!!

I think the sollution to this problem could be to have most of my points in a nice, big breakfast every day. Something that can get me through the rest of the day. Something more substantial than a can of Spaghetti-O's.

Comments

[khristle.livejournal.com]

Ill bet oatmeal is low in points!

[collisions.livejournal.com]

Gods, I felt just like this at the start. I went through what you did for a month, but then came out the other side and am now feeling pretty good on the diet all the time. I think it took a while to learn the things about how to eat and keep myself happy on a low-calorie diet.

Soooo, I can give you a ton of ideas if you want. The goal is to get things that have a high (something) per point, whatever (something) is that you need at the time. For example, I find protein in the morning keeps me from being hungry until lunch, so I find things that have high protein per point ratios for morning food.

Here are good examples/work foods:
* the non-cream Chunky soups are usually 4-7 points per can (eating the whole can as a serving, not just 1/2 of it). Makes a good lunch.
* Trader Joe's has 6-packs of nukable containers of egg whites. Each one has 3 egg whites and it 1.2 points. Take one to work, sprinkle 1 pack of fast-food salt, nuke it for 90 seconds, and you have some scrambled egg whites. Add some salsa (brought from home or kept in the fridge @ work - or steal a ton of hot sauce packs from taco bell) and you have something that's nearly an omelette
* Lean cuisine has good lunches for 4-6 points. I often eat a 4-point meal (they tend to be the "low carb" ones) with a 4-point soup. It's a ton of food.
* Fruits are very low in points, although they get me really hungry in the AM. I tend to eat them in the afternoon - 1 banana (1.5 pts) and 1 apple or orange (1 pt) per day.
* Salads are easy to make big and good, if you can go in for that kind of thing. Lettuce and nearly every veggie (zucchini, shrooms, carrots, artichoke hearts) is more or less point-free. Turkey is a good meat if you're eating the salad as a standalone thing rather than with a soup. Bacon bits add lots of flavor for the points, and low-fat shredded cheese is about 2 points per ounce (a decent amount in a salad). Low fat dressings are usually < 3 points per 2Tbsp. You can usually bring a salad in at under 6 points, less if you're eating with other things and don't need to add meat.

Things to keep around @ home:
* "I can't believe it's not butter"--the spray kind. Zero calories--or any other nutritive content. I think it may in fact be pure petroleum. But very tasty for the points (zero).
* Bacon bits - .5 points per Tbsp = lots of flavor and crunch per point.
* potatoes - lots of ounces per point. Good and filling. With butter spray, chives, bacon bits, low-fat cheese, and nonfat sour cream, it's a whole lot of food for 4-5 points. Good for dinner.
* Fish and shrimp. Most fish is 1-2 points for 3 ounces (so 3-6 points for 9oz, which is an understandably luxurious portion after eating soup and salads all day). Shrimp is low too. Can't use butter, but you can grill or saute them by spraying Pam (olive oil flavor is good for this) on them. Or hit with ICBINB spray. Cocktail sauce is good for shrimp, or salsa.
* sliced turkey breast and those low-fat-low-carb-whole-wheat tortillas from Trader Joe's. Add your salad veggies and spices and you have a good wrap. I make big wraps with turkey & feta cheese and veggies and they come in at 6 points for 2 of them.
* Fake egg. One brand is unfortunately called Nulaid, but there are others. Very low in fat/points. I think 3 eggs worth is like 2 points. Compared to real eggs, it's great. Good for omelettes!
* Veggies. Find one or two you like - asparagus, broccoli, squash, something - and a few ways you like it. Veggies are low in everything, and usually the fiber they contain just about zeroes out any caloric content to make a free food. You don't have to go nuts, just try to eat a serving at every dinner so you're not trying to build a meal out of only protein (which, on WW, is sad).

Lastly, I think you get 34 points per day with 35 "extra" to use over the week, although you don't get to carry your 34 over from day to day.

Hey, if you want to go shopping (Central or somewhere up there, even?) this weekend, let us know!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Shopping sounds EXCELLENT! And we even have a brand new Central Market just around the corner from us in Mill Creek if you're interested... they built up the area down there in to something to rival University Village almost! Sunday afternoon sound good?

[dotgirl.livejournal.com]

I think we should get together this weekend and discuss Weight Watchers, because, to be honest, if Atkins *really* worked for you, you'd still be on it. If it worked for me, I'd still be on it. You see?

Anyway, we should get together! It took me about a week to adjust to WW, and it took Chris longer - it takes about a month before your stomach adjusts downward to being happy with normal sized portions.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

That would be great, thanks! I already mailed Chris this morning suggesting Sunday Afternoon for a git-together, since we've got this brand-new Central Market and stuff around the corner in Mill Creek. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

[khristle.livejournal.com]

I'd love to look over your materials! I'm wondering if they have a special point allotment for nursing moms.

[lunachik72.livejournal.com]

My suggestion is South Beach. It's more realistic than either, and it actually works. Balance, not extreams. When Tora actually followed it he did loose weight at a nice even pace. His downfall is potatoes and Dr. Pepper. Good luck sweetie!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Thanks much :)

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Spagetti-o's are not real food anyway. They're an attempt by alien frogs to take over America by corrupting american youth with their brain-devouring leech-rings...

Its all revealed in the name. C'mon, Franco-American? Its a plot!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but it was in BATMAN SHAPES!!! How can something shaped like Batman possibly be bad?

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Its obviously been taken over. Like that one episode when he drank the mind control juice when he was Adam West.