So What the Heck Am I Doing?

I’ve had several people ask me what I’ve been doing as far as diet. I’m going to be clear that what I’m doing is NOT dieting. I have chosen a new way of life. I have a new way of eating (WOE). I truly believe these changes I have made will be for a lifetime.

I subscribe to the Atkins way of life. This is a low-carb/high fat diet (I’m using diet here to describe what my meals consist of…not a weight loss program). Currently I’m in Induction (Phase 1), which is pretty restrictive as far as acceptable foods. I have cut wheat and sugar completely out of my diet. I avoid high carb vegetables such as carrots, peas, potatoes, and corn. Right now, fruit is a no-no due to the sugar content, however I will be adding berries back to my acceptable foods in later phases.

Protein is my friend and I make sure that there is a solid source of protein included in all of my meals. Some of my favorite sources of protein are chicken breast, steak, bacon, and sausage. It is scientifically proven that protein keeps our appetites at bay for longer periods of time. Good fats also help with satiation. I get fats from butter (yes, butter is completely accepted and encouraged on the program!), mayonnaise, oils (coconut, extra virgin olive, etc.), and salad dressings.

Notice I stated this is a LOW-CARB, not a NO CARB diet. Currently I am allowed 20 Net Carbs each day. There is an equation to figure out Net Carbs, which is easy. Looking at the food nutrition labels, take the number listed for Carbohydrates and subtract the number listed for Fiber. This number is the Net Carbs for a food item. 12-15 of my Net Carbs come from vegetables from the Acceptable Foods list. A good portion of my meals include veggies…even breakfast! I will be adding other foods into my diet as I move to Phase 2. I’ve been toying with the idea of moving to the next phase, but right now I’m good with where I’m at in my journey. I know that in order for me to maintain this WOE for the rest of my life, I need to relearn how to include higher carb foods in my diet.

Low-carb “diets” get a bad reputation, but when people see my meals and how I eat, they comment on how healthy and colorful my plate is. If people learn how to eat low-carb the “right” way, there is nothing dangerous or unhealthy about the plan. I tried other diets, such as Weight Watchers. I was constantly hungry and I felt deprived. The worst part was that I worked my but off counting points and exercising and I hardly lost anything. I’m in no way saying that WW is a horrible diet, I’m just saying that it’s definitely not for me. I encourage people to do what works for them. For me, I prefer butter, bacon, and cheese! I love that I can have these rich foods and I don’t have to feel bad about any of it!