Can I Get a "Woot Woot!" ???

Okay, so week one is *almost* over... (I started last Saturday).

At work, I have had some MAJOR accomplishments-- I have turned down baklava, lunch invitations to Italian restaurants, an uneaten plate of fettuccine alfredo FROM that Italian restaurant invitation that I declined, AND pizza...

If I missed breakfast at home, I'd swing by the cafeteria at work at have a bacon, sausage, and cheese omelet made for me... then I'd have some salsa on the side. I have a very sedentary office job and we all nibble ALL day at our desks, so on the days that I didn't have homemade nibbles, I snacked on slim jims, atkins advantage bars, and *very few* barbecue pork rinds... I have peanuts, but I haven't delved into those yet...

Anna, my 9 year old daughter, has made this whole work/ Atkins thing way easier than it otherwise could be. More often than not, she makes me bacon and sausage to bring with me to work... and yesterday, in addition to those yummies, I had pork chops, too! My appetite is finally back under control... I didn't eat all that Anna made for me yesterday... imagine that!

This week begins another session of school, but I don't anticipate much change (except shedding more and-- totally off-topic-- my replacement laptop is now looming closer on the horizon than ever now!).I'll just be in a non-stop nibble frenzy at work AND home now!

So, I did what most sane people wouldn't do on any other diet just 6 days in-- I re-measured myself... and I don't think I'm going to measure myself again for another month... we shall see... but the inches are disappearing... and VERY quickly!!!!

I'm posting them in this format:
Area of body, first measurement (10/16), today's measurement (10/22).

Bust: 58, 54 1/2

Chest: 49, 46

Waist: 52, 49

Hips: 61, 59

Thighs: 32, 30

Knees: 22, 21 1/2

Calves: 16, 16

Upper arm: 18, 17 1/2

Forearms: 13, 12 1/4

Moving right along!!

I've Got It!!!!!!!

The "will of steel" is FINALLY back... and I proved it today!

I have been helping trainees at work since I've been back, and this lady brought a huge plate full of baklava... my #2 favorite snack of all time... and I haven't had some in awhile... and partially because I'm not EVEN about to try making that!

So, I was pointing to things on her screen-- all the while being distracted by that delectable platter in front of my face... I was rather surprised that she had some because most don't even know what it is-- forget about bringing any to work!

...and she picked the plate up off of her desk and tried to hand it to me... and she offered me as much as I'd like... and I explained that I was on a diet and, with the weirdest combination of sorrow and joy, thanked her and walked away... Heck... I was so proud of myself that I patted my own self on the back... no, really... I did... =]

Anna blessed me by packing my 'snacks' for the day... so I had lots of sausage patties and bacon... I also had 2 slim jims and an Atkins Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar (and no... they don't get old... lol). When I got back home, I had a monster cold-cut sandwich and here I am, after another full day... low in carbs... facing temptation in the face and telling it where to go...

...and if I recall correctly, I believe that, as I walked away, I quoted Jesus... "Get thee behind me, Satan!" tehehehehehehehehe

Good day... good day... There'll always be baklava when I'm skinny...

Let the Withdrawals Begin!

I have got to have the worst non-migraine headache of all time, but it's all good...

I'm tired and hurting, so this will be brief...

I had 2 Slim Jim's (2 carbs), some no-carb wings (I'll share the recipe later), a yummy cold-cut sandwich (10 carbs), and an Atkins Chocolate Peanut Butter bar (2 carbs). I feel so yucky that I don't think I'll be eating anything else tonight...

It's a good thing that I know how awesome this diet is... because today hurt!

Day One in the Bag!

Today went very smoothly... and not just for me, but for my hubby, too! Yayyy! It's gonna be smooth rolling... I feel it in my bones (wherever they are way down there... LOL).

I didn't do a breakfast/ lunch/ dinner type thing, I just ate when I was hungry (not so much in the morning, much more so at night!).

To start my day, I made what  my children lovingly call a "mom"let. It's a gargantuan sized omelet. I fried some zero carb sausage patties and bacon... not only so that I could include those in my omelet, but also so I could cook my omelet in the grease... MMMmmmm... I LOVE cooking in bacon grease! My eggs were lightly seasoned (pepper and Italian seasoning)... I crumbled 3 bacon slices and two sausage patties, added 2 tablespoons of salsa, covered with 2 slices of provolone cheese, and viola!

Carbs:
4 eggs- .5 carb each= 2 carbs
bacon and sausage= 0 carbs
2 Tbsp salsa= 2 carbs
2 slices Provolone- .5 carb each= 1 carb
                      = 5 carbs

I actually like this better cold than fresh (weird, I know...) and it's a good thing, too because I ate about 1/3 of it, then set it to the side for later... I nibbled on it over the next few hours until it was gone... and thennnn....

I ate a slim jim (1 carb) and two slices of bacon (0 carbs).

Later in the day, I made a yummy sandwich that I halved with my husband.
2 slices of Sara Lee 45 Calories and Delightful (100% Whole Wheat with Honey)- 9 net carbs
Great Value Deli Sliced Mesquite Smoked Turkey- 3 slices rolled- 0 carbs
Great Value Deli Sliced Smoked Ham- 3 slices rolled- .5 carb
Provolone- 1 slice- .5 carb
Trace amounts of lettuce- .5 carb
Hellman's mayo- 0 carbs
                      =10.5 carbs (halved- my part= 5.25 carbs)

Later in the day, I had an Atkins Chocolate Peanut Butter bar (2 carbs), another Slim Jim (1 carb), 1/2 of an Italian Sausage (1.5 carbs) and a 1 oz. pkg of Planter's Peanuts (3 net carbs).

As usual, I've avoided water like the plague (but I do have bottled water that I'll likely tap into at a later, undetermined time... LOL). I've had two Powerade Zeros and some Diet Cherry Coke Zero to drink.

Omelet- 5 carbs
2 Slim Jims- 2 carbs
Atkins Bar- 2 carbs
1/2 Sandwich- 5.25 carbs
1/2 Italian Sausage- 1.5 carbs
Peanuts- 3 carbs

Total Carbs= 18.75 carbs

I do think that I am about done for the day... and if I do snack on anything, it'll likely be a few slices of bacon.

Tomorrow is game-day... Can you say, "zero-carb awesome chicken wings"!?!?!?!?

G'night!

The Journey Begins... Again...

Now nearly 2 months postpartum, I am beginning my Atkins journey... again.

Prior to my pregnancy, I had been on Atkins for a year and successfully lost over 100 pounds... Having now done all that I can do to eliminate the possibility most dreadful effect of the Atkins diet (pregnancy), I plan to complete what I started so long ago. Things are different, though... I now have four children (including my newborn), I just returned to my full-time job, and started my graduate studies 7 1/2 weeks ago. I'm an emotional eater and very short on time. Needless to say, I will be big on "convenience" foods...

I have an awesomely supportive family-- in all of my endeavors. Truly, my family motivates me beyond motivation... they are my biggest cheerleaders and my best friends... I count myself blessed.

I'll share my ups and downs, tips, and anything else along the way... oh ya... and those dreaded numbers-- those things that don't lie...

So, here's my gameplan:

Induction, induction, induction...

With the exception of a few walks in the park with  my family, I'll remain in my relatively sedentary lifestyle until the end of the month when my husband (also my Atkins partner) and I will get a membership to 24 hour fitness. Then, with Tonalin in-system (Vitamin Shoppe's conjugated linoleic acid-- CLA), I will start alternating days between the "bike to nowhere" at the gym and my at-home Pilates regimen. I lost almost all of my previous weight with next to no exercise at all, but I'm rather motivated to get this weight off of me in as short of order as possible, so watch out!

Last week I weighed in at 278 (ughhhh). I have splurged a bit since then to get all of my not-so-great cravings satisfied, so my weight may (or may not) be affected by that, but we shall soon see.


Goal: 120 lbs

Current measurements as of today (not any better than the weight... but DUH on that, right??):
Neck- 17"
Bust- 58"
Chest- 49"
Waist- 52"
Hips- 61"
Thighs- 32"
Knee (right above)- 22"
Calves- 16"
Upper arm- 18"
Forearms- 13"

So, those are the ugly facts. They hurt pretty badly, too. Before my first child, I was 34/24/34... now, well... ugh... It's going to be a long journey, but I'm going to do it... and if I can, then anyone can...

.... and it begins...