For future reference, I am in phase 2 right now of the Atkins diet, so I can have berries, nuts, seeds, and a few other veggies that I couldn't have the first two weeks. :) 

Okay, here's a recipe for folks who like a cool summer snack.

one sugar-free Jell-O or store brand cup of strawberry flavored gelatin (strawberry-banana works great, too!)
1/4 cup sliced strawberries. This is about 3 medium strawberries, capped, cored, and sliced
a spurt or two of whipped cream (I use Readi-Whip, as it's very low in carbs and rather tasty)

Mix the jello and the strawberries together, then top with the whipped cream. Carb count before whipped cream will be about 2 (1/2 a cup will be 4.5). You'll have to determine for yourself how many carbs in the whipped cream! But the way I make it, it's been running me about 6 carbs, total. I like a lot of whipped cream. :) 

Yum!
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And here are a few product reviews:

1) New Hope Mills Pancake and Waffle Mix
* 6 net carbs per recipe. I cut the recipe in half and it makes one perfectly sized waffle for me.
* I add a packet of Splenda and a splash of vanilla flavoring, and this recipe turns out GREAT! Not quite like Mom makes, but much better than some store brands of regular waffles I've bought.

2) Mrs. Butterworth's Sugar-Free syrup
* 0g net carbs for those who find that sugar alcohols don't affect their weight loss. If SA's do, then this is not a good product for you.
* tastes almost like regular syrup and doesn't leave an aftertaste like a lot of the sugar-free syrups usually do.

3) Pepsi Max
Is full of win. End of review.

4) Dreamfields low glycemic Pasta
* only 5 effective carbs per serving, and the servings are generous.
* tastes like... PASTA! :) 
* doesn't feel like dieting at all. :)
* great served with alfredo sauce and garlic-herb grilled chicken. *drool*

5) Walden Farms Chocolate Syrup
WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN!!!!! 

6) Walden Farms Barbecue Sauce
This is great stuff! I dipped ribs in it and WOW. YUM!

7) Bella Vita Low Carb Meat Flavored pasta sauce
Very nice! Makes me not miss pasta. :)

And now for the not so positive...
5) Dixie Diner Mashers.
This is NOT a reasonable substitute for potatoes. Nasty! Very dry. I was able to imagine what sawdust mixed with herbs and garlic, butter, and cream would taste like. Seriously. NOT a good product for folks who love taters! :P

6) Vermont Farms Sugar-free syrup
This was good initially, but left a horrid aftertaste that I was still tasting several hours later. NOT recommended at all for folks who are sensitive to sugar substitutes.

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But to end on a positive note, I have to say that I have yet to encounter an Atkins bar or snack that I don't like. (to be fair, I haven't tried the coconut stuff since I hate coconut), but I have tried most of hte bars, most of the Endulge snacks, and all of the shakes. Very good stuff! Made Induction easy and I didn't miss much at all.

Well, the scale says 213 this morning, which makes it officially 17 pounds down! Yay!!! I'm hoping that means I'll break the 20 pound mark this week. My goal was to hit 210 before the end of the semester, and I'm definitely on track for that. :) Hopefully, if I work hard and use the gym, I can burn off even more and possibly get below 200 before May 8! That would rock. 200 is my magical number for a new bathing suit for the pool parties my aunt throws throughout the summer. I won't actually need new bottoms, but there's a really cute tankini that I'd like to treat myself to, once I've lost down to below 200. We'll see what happens!

This morning's breakfast will most likely be another waffle. I REALLY love that I found a pancake and waffle mix that's high protein, low carb. It's my carb-like fix for the day, and I love it. :) I did modify their recipe just a bit, so that it tastes better... I added one packet of splenda and a splash of vanilla flavoring. YUM! Add some Sugar Free Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, and it's better than some regular waffles I've bought from the store. :P 

It's neat that I can feel myself getting smaller. Does anyone else feel that? Everything fits differently, of course... my pants are getting longer, which really amuses me, since I'm short to begin with. My shirts are hanging much looser, and my bigger bras are almost totally useless now. That works, though, because I was down to the last one that hadn't blown a wire. :P Fortuantely, I have a drawer full of smaller ones that a friend gave me several years ago, which I promply grew out of. :P

Ah well... guess I should get some breakfast. I already took my morning vitamin, so I need to get some food on top of that before my stomach gets upset.

So... it's another diet blog. :) I'm sure that if you're reading this and not a friend of mine, you've been looking for inspiration or just for other folks who are trying to lose weight, either for health or aesthetics. So if that's you, welcome to my blog! 

I'm not the world's best writer, and I tend to ramble on from time to time. (I can hear my friends snorting in the background now! Hush! You'll scare off the new folks!) Ahem. Anyhow...

This journal will basically be where I dump my info, emotional stuff, pics of my shrinkage, etc. I plan to post recipes, pictures, product reviews, websites I find inspiring or helpful, and anything else I can find that will help me emotionally or physically through this diet. :)

Here's the skinny: (haha!)
I am doing the Atkins diet. Yes, it is with my doctor's knowledge, approval, and encouragement. She wants the weight off and healthier numbers, and since Atkins has worked for me before, she's willing to let me go for it as long as my blood work stays within healthy limits. I am also exercising. My husband, Sal, and I got memberships to a wonderful gym, Planet Fitness, during a membership special. It's perfect for us... inexpensive, close to the college we're going to at the moment, and no long-term contract. We can quit when we're ready to move to the mountains for Western.

More information is that we are currently going to a community college, but have decided to sell our home and move on-campus to Western Carolina University. Aside from the weight loss, I am working out to build my endurance and strength for attending WCU. The married-student dorm is on the highest point on campus, and is like climbing a mountain from the main campus. :P I was NOT looking forward to tryign to haul 230 pounds up that hill once or twice a day, and I know from going to school on a much smaller campus that such a trek every day would kill me quickly. LOL 

Now, I could take the easy way out and plan my schedule around the Cat Tran... the van system that the school provides. BUT this is the perfect opportunity to actually take control of my weight, my diet, and my life, to get into shape and actually become a healthy version of ME! :)

So the goal is to lose about 80-90 pounds. So far, I've lost about 15, and I started my diet about a month ago. 

Starting weight, March 30, 2009: 230 pounds
Weight today, April 25, 2009: 215 pounds

So far, so good. I'm doing my best to stick to the plan, not cheat, and lose this weight. but I've had one or two days when the diet flew out the window. I stalled for a few days but then started losing again, so I know that it's okay once in awhile to cut loose and enjoy a celebration when they happen. I just won't get carried away! :) 

Okay, I'll shut up now... but welcome to my blog, and feel free to comment, say hi, or whatever. I'm looking for other folks who are trying to get healthy and fit and stay that way. :)