Starting Atkins Diet

Well, I know the "Atkins fad" is over, but I have been researching it and discovered it's alive and well. I used to think it seemed so unrealistic and unhealthy, but really, it's not! I researched for a couple weeks, got Dr. Atkin's book from the library, read various websites, etc. and decided this might work for me. So I'm going to try. I'm too embarassed to put my weight here, but I'll say I have about 80 pounds to lose.

First, let me explain how I grocery shop. I only shop twice per month. Before shopping, I get the grocery store ad, clip new coupons and throw out expired ones, and make my list. Then, from the sale items on the list, I see what I'm buying that will become meals. Then, I fill in the rest of my days with other meals and add those items to the list. My list is very comprehensive, but it works. I don't have to run back to the store hardly ever and we have our meals all planned out for two plus weeks. Also, we don't eat out much because there is always a meal already planned for us to make. We love to cook, so that helps. Grocery shopping is an ordeal, though, it takes a good few hours from making the list, cutting the coupons, planning the meals, going to the store, etc. The coupons are something I've always done though, and between using the grocery ad to shop sale items and the coupons, I save on average 30% off the total bill. Not bad.

So, once I decided to start the Atkins diet, we still had a weeks worth of meals planned. During that week, I started really looking at recipes I could use during Induction (first phase of Atkins). This weekend was the hardest grocery list I ever made, because we're changing our diets so much! Still, we did it. I plan to post every day the first couple weeks so the recipes (and my reviews) will be here for me (and anyone else) to look at for future ideas.

So, here we go...