who knows?

I lost about 56 pounds april-dec 2003.

I started of on an "accidental Atkins" just LC and then found out about
Atkins and changed a few habbits.

But

I switched from Beer (always enjoyed a few to vodka/diet coke and
sometimes dry white wine.

My diet has consisted of poached salmon/ green salad or feta
cheese/prawn/green salad evening meals with my other meals being an omlette
or another fish or steak/salad deal and gave up all the pastries/mac d's/
take aways/ pizzas etc.

so

I'm sat here assuming that in reality my weight loss has been due to a huge
reduction in calories rather than any Atkins science?

What I do think though in retrospect is Atkins put a near total ban on all
the foods that were causing me to be over weight, this simplified the whole
diet deal, and I have noticed that I do no longer crave carbs.

My question is I have a bit of a hard time with Breakfast, starting to baulk
at the idea of another omlette or bacon and egg. Would it matter if I
switched to a healthy cereal based breakfast like bran flakes/ skimmed milk?
I dont really want to endanger continued weight loss as I'm on the home
straight with only about another 14 lbs to target.

TIA

HanK

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 20:45:52 -0000, "~{}~HäñK~{}~"
wrote:

I'm sat here assuming that in reality my weight loss has been due to a huge
reduction in calories rather than any Atkins science?

Correct on the first account, but the terms "Atkins" and "science" are
as synonymous as "pig" and "Mt. Everest".

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031121.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

It should not hurt. From your post, you seem disciplined enough to handle
it. try it and watch the scales. If you gain weight, back off a little.

ADC
250/187/185

"~{}~HäñK~{}~" wrote in message
...
I lost about 56 pounds april-dec 2003.

I started of on an "accidental Atkins" just LC and then found out about
Atkins and changed a few habbits.

But

I switched from Beer (always enjoyed a few to vodka/diet coke and
sometimes dry white wine.

My diet has consisted of poached salmon/ green salad or feta
cheese/prawn/green salad evening meals with my other meals being an
omlette
or another fish or steak/salad deal and gave up all the pastries/mac d's/
take aways/ pizzas etc.

so

I'm sat here assuming that in reality my weight loss has been due to a
huge
reduction in calories rather than any Atkins science?

What I do think though in retrospect is Atkins put a near total ban on all
the foods that were causing me to be over weight, this simplified the
whole
diet deal, and I have noticed that I do no longer crave carbs.

My question is I have a bit of a hard time with Breakfast, starting to
baulk
at the idea of another omlette or bacon and egg. Would it matter if I
switched to a healthy cereal based breakfast like bran flakes/ skimmed
milk?
I dont really want to endanger continued weight loss as I'm on the home
straight with only about another 14 lbs to target.

TIA

HanK

In article ,
says...
I lost about 56 pounds april-dec 2003.

Congrats on your GREAT progress!

My question is I have a bit of a hard time with Breakfast, starting to baulk
at the idea of another omlette or bacon and egg. Would it matter if I
switched to a healthy cereal based breakfast like bran flakes/ skimmed milk?
I dont really want to endanger continued weight loss as I'm on the home
straight with only about another 14 lbs to target.

You don't HAVE to have traditional breakfast foods for breakfast. I often have
whatever I had for dinner the night before, such as lasagna, stew, etc. I HAVE
been having hot cereal a lot lately, though. I make a homemade mix of hazelnut
meal/flaxmeal/oat flour/cocoa powder/vanilla that I really like (I always have a
tbl of butter with it -- YUM!) It's satisfying and has lots of fiber.

--
Saffire
205/178/125
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

I make a homemade mix of hazelnut
meal/flaxmeal/oat flour/cocoa powder/vanilla that I really like (I always
have a
tbl of butter with it -- YUM!) It's satisfying and has lots of fiber.


Is that recipe available online? Sounds good!

Thanks,
Sue

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 20:45:52 -0000, "~{}~HäñK~{}~"
announced in front of God and everybody:


I'm sat here assuming that in reality my weight loss has been due to a huge
reduction in calories rather than any Atkins science?

Maybe yes, maybe no. I depends on if you have a problem with insulin
imbalance or not.

Some people lose weight on a low-carb diet because of the calorie
deficit. These people would lose weight on any low-calorie diet.

Other people lose weight on low-carb because their hyperinsulinism
makes them gain weight easily from carb intake. For them, it's not
about calories but about carbs.

My question is I have a bit of a hard time with Breakfast, starting to baulk
at the idea of another omlette or bacon and egg. Would it matter if I
switched to a healthy cereal based breakfast like bran flakes/ skimmed milk?

It depends on which of the above categories you fit into. If you
really believe that it's been the calorie deficit that's caused your
weight loss, try eating the cereal for a few days. See how you feel,
how it affects your blood sugar, and note if, at the end of a week,
you;ve gained or lost weight.

As they say, your body -- your science experiment.

Dawn

In article , says...
I make a homemade mix of hazelnut
meal/flaxmeal/oat flour/cocoa powder/vanilla that I really like (I always
have a
tbl of butter with it -- YUM!) It's satisfying and has lots of fiber.


Is that recipe available online? Sounds good!

There are variations on-line, which is where I got my inspiration. Google for
"dream of wheat" or "flax" & "cereal" on this newsgroup to see lots of ideas. I
experimented and came up with a version that suits ME. I originally used almond
flour, but I get a little overwhelmed by the almond aroma (reminds me of old cars
and/or cyanide), hence the hazelnut meal (found at ONE of the Trader Joe's in my
area). I added the oat flour to give it a nicer texture because flax can make it
kind of slimy -- in fact, I abandoned the cereal idea for a few months because of
it until I got the bright idea about the oat flour, which also added a slightly
bready texture that I was missing. I added cocoa powder because I like it (I
used to eat chocolate Malt-o-Meal) :-) Therefore, my refined recipe is:

FLAX CEREAL

2 tbl hazelnut or almond flour
2 tbl flaxmeal
1 tbl oat flour
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
dash of salt
1/3-1/2 cup hot water

Mix dry ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Using a mini-wisk, mix in hot
water. Let sit for a minute or so. Stir, then microwave on high for 1 minute.
Add butter and sweetener (I actually try to remember to add liquid splenda syrup
base BEFORE cooking while the mix is still liquid, but it works well afterward,
too).

Since I tend to eat it approximately every other day, I decided to make a big
batch of the dry mix which I keep in the fridge (because of the flax) in a former
mayo jar. I started out using 1/2 cup of the mix, but that was more cereal than
I wanted. Then I moved to 1/4 cup, but that was less than I wanted. Now I use
1/3 cup dry mix with 1/2 cup hot water and it's JUST RIGHT :-)

Using the single-serving version above, it makes a bowl with about 8.5 carbs and
216 calories (not counting butter or sweetener). Not recommended for induction,
but it's GREAT for OWL or maintenance.

--
Saffire
205/178/125
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

I got tired of omlets quickly. I did continue eating eggs, but nukig them
with sausage , a few peppers and seasonings and making breakfast burritos
with La Tortilla LC wraps. Top off with Taco Bell Restaurant sauce and
....ummmmmmm!
ADC
250/187/185


"~{}~HäñK~{}~" wrote in message
...
I lost about 56 pounds april-dec 2003.

I started of on an "accidental Atkins" just LC and then found out about
Atkins and changed a few habbits.

But

I switched from Beer (always enjoyed a few to vodka/diet coke and
sometimes dry white wine.

My diet has consisted of poached salmon/ green salad or feta
cheese/prawn/green salad evening meals with my other meals being an
omlette
or another fish or steak/salad deal and gave up all the pastries/mac d's/
take aways/ pizzas etc.

so

I'm sat here assuming that in reality my weight loss has been due to a
huge
reduction in calories rather than any Atkins science?

What I do think though in retrospect is Atkins put a near total ban on all
the foods that were causing me to be over weight, this simplified the
whole
diet deal, and I have noticed that I do no longer crave carbs.

My question is I have a bit of a hard time with Breakfast, starting to
baulk
at the idea of another omlette or bacon and egg. Would it matter if I
switched to a healthy cereal based breakfast like bran flakes/ skimmed
milk?
I dont really want to endanger continued weight loss as I'm on the home
straight with only about another 14 lbs to target.

TIA

HanK

Many thanks!

I make a homemade mix of hazelnut
meal/flaxmeal/oat flour/cocoa powder/vanilla that I really like

Is that recipe available online? Sounds good!

my refined recipe is:

FLAX CEREAL

2 tbl hazelnut or almond flour
2 tbl flaxmeal
1 tbl oat flour
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
dash of salt
1/3-1/2 cup hot water

Mix dry ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Using a mini-wisk, mix in
hot
water. Let sit for a minute or so. Stir, then microwave on high for 1
minute.
Add butter and sweetener (I actually try to remember to add liquid splenda
syrup
base BEFORE cooking while the mix is still liquid, but it works well
afterward,
too).

Since I tend to eat it approximately every other day, I decided to make a
big
batch of the dry mix which I keep in the fridge (because of the flax) in a
former
mayo jar. I started out using 1/2 cup of the mix, but that was more
cereal than
I wanted. Then I moved to 1/4 cup, but that was less than I wanted. Now
I use
1/3 cup dry mix with 1/2 cup hot water and it's JUST RIGHT :-)

Using the single-serving version above, it makes a bowl with about 8.5
carbs and
216 calories (not counting butter or sweetener). Not recommended for
induction,
but it's GREAT for OWL or maintenance.

--
Saffire
205/178/125
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

(~{}~HäñK~{}~) wrote:

[....]

I'm sat here assuming that in reality my weight loss has been due to a
huge
reduction in calories rather than any Atkins science?

[.....]

My question is I have a bit of a hard time with Breakfast, starting to
baulk
at the idea of another omlette or bacon and egg. Would it matter if I
switched to a healthy cereal based breakfast like bran flakes/ skimmed
milk?
I dont really want to endanger continued weight loss as I'm on the home
straight with only about another 14 lbs to target.

For me the two points of yours I quoted are extremely interrelated. I
don't really believe in the "metabolic advantage" stuff in the Atkins book
and tend to agree with those who say "it's just another low calorie diet,
it's just that you are avoiding carb calories rather than fat calories".

The significant difference for me (and maybe you) is that eating low carb
makes it extremely easy to say no to any in between meal snacks and not
feel like I'm depriving myself when I'm eating out compared to a low fat
diet.

Experimentation has convinced me that carbs at breakfast are the killer. I
spent 20 years eating unsweetened cereals (Bran flakes aren't unsweetened
by the way...) with skimmed milk or wholemeal toast with sunflower spread.
I also spent 20 years kicking myself for often not being able to resist
mid morning cookies or, if i'd resisted the cookies, a huge lunch. So far,
because it's worked so well, I almost always make time for the eggs and
bacon or omelette for breakfast. On the few occasions I can't make the
time I grab a lump of cheese and some nuts (not very breakfasty I know) or
skip breakfast altogether. I intend to never risk cereal or toast for
breakfast ever again.