Maggie and Wilson

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This morning's breakfast: 1 whole egg, 1/4c. egg whites, prosciutto, mushrooms, cheese.  Cal: 370, Net carbs 2g.  For those watching calories or fat you could trim 100 cal off using spray oil instead of butter. I might do that myself next time too.(Breve Latte not included in those counts)

After reading post after post on other blogs of people losing a lot of weight during their 2 weeks of induction I decided to reread the chapter in the Atkins book and try again.  The only real difference was that I stayed away from milk and cashews/peanuts.  After one week my weight loss: 6 lbs. It's amazing what happens when you follow instructions! 

I told myself all week that if I stuck to the plan, on Monday I would go out to eat and enjoy some fajitas and a Margarita.  The fajitas were good, but the sugar in the frozen Margarita was a shock to the system. Blech!  I need to find a new drink! 

I had promised my husband last week that I would make cookies for him to take to work, but it would have to wait until my "cheat day". I may eventually be able to bake a huge batch of cookies and not eat any of the dough or cookies, but I ain't there yet!   I enjoyed that cookie knowing that it was part of my plan and didn't have the usual guilt of "I shouldn't be eating this."    :)  After seeing the fat/calorie/carb count for my Breve Latte at Starbucks I'm going to have to stick to plain ole' coffee there.  In about a week it will be so hot and steamy here a hot drink won't sound good anyway.  I guess it's time to switch to iced tea!

 

Vitamin D and Weight Loss

Vitamin D has been the focus of many studies in the past couple of years.  It appears to have a link to bone health, seasonal mood disorders, weight loss and immunity (especially against the flu).   People who are overweight tend to have low a low Vitamin D level.  This is determined through a simple blood test.  It is not known if extra weight causes the low levels, or the low levels lead to weight gain.  

Vitamin D can be made in your body with as little as 15 minutes a day of sun exposure.  Those who wear sunscreen on a daily basis or live in a cloudy climate will produce less on their own.  (Is this maybe why we get the flu more in the winter??)  

While Vitamin D is fat soluble and can build up to toxic levels in your body, you would have to take about 10,000 IU* a day for that to happen.  A suggested goal for a person who has no reason to believe their levels are low is about 1,000 IU a day.  If you know you have low levels, are trying to lose weight or live in a cloudy climate 2,000 IU is the recommended amount.    (Some studies say 2,000IU twice a day, if you are under a doctors supervision.)

Here is an article from the University of Minnesota about Vitamin D and weight loss.

* What the heck is an "IU" ?

Note: I am not a doctor.  Please consult with your MD , PA or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about taking a vitamin supplement.

Artificial Sweetener Experiment

My husband has been doing a lot of reading about the dangers of NutraSweet and Splenda.  My research shows a mixed review, but enough negative information to make me reconsider my use of these products.

For the next 2 months I am going to keep my eating/exercise habits as close to what I am doing now, but not use any artificial sweeteners.  The two things I am interested in the most is my heart rate (no one can explain why it's high). I am interested in a change in weight, but it will be hard to know what is from the eating habits I have changed in the past few months and what is from the NutraSweet.  Any weight gain (heaven forbid!!) would of course be of interest.  I'll post an update every week or two.

Has anyone else stopped using artificial sweeteners and noticed that unexplained symptoms have gone away?