On the go with #Atkins

My Atkins update! What to do when planning fails!
I am notorious for diet planning fails. I don't plan well. I just don't. I have tried everything from even hiring a trainer to help me plan my meals. I am a single mom and busy Realtor and meal planning is where I drop the ball. For all of you who want to jump through the screen and shake me to tell me how important this is, I KNOW! I know, I know, I know!!! There is a wall up that I can't seem to tear down! I am not a planner.
Well, Atkins makes frozen dinners. AND guess what??? They taste GREAT! The only planning you will have to do is, WHICH ONE?

Seriously, when Atkins sent me the first few flavors, I liked them, but thought that it made sense that they would send me the good ones to try. So I did some investigating on my own. I have had the Chicken Pot Pie, the beef Merlot, the Meatloaf with Portobello gravy, Mexican style chicken, and a really yummy pizza that will be coming out in December. They really are delicious! The Swedish meatballs today are my favorite, but they are all great. Perfect for someone who is on the go and didn't remember to pack a lunch!

I know that people are going to tell me that there is too much sodium or that's not the way to get healthy... you need to eat fresh food without preservatives. Here is my response. I understand that you want me to eat the way you do. I respect it. I have tried it and it doesn't work for me. I try that but then I get into a rush and I ruin my diet. This is a livable way for me to get healthy. And the research behind Atkins is here. It is real. This works. I am down 14 lbs since I first posted about Atkins. So, for me, it works! We have a huge problem in this country with carbs! It is estimated that 34 million Americans have metabolic syndrome. If left uncorrected it can lead to type 2 diabetes. 25 million people are affected by type 2 diabetes. I don't want to be one of them. I know that I have a problem with sugars, and I want to stop it here and now!
I also know that when I went in for blood tests with my doctor, he told me that I had higher triglycerides and lower "good" cholesterol. This comes from excessive carbohydrate intake. I have not eaten a tons of carbs in my life, but it shows me that I eat too many. This diet is perfect for me. I plan to get my blood tested again after a few months as well.
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So, have you tried the Atkins diet? Have you done a low carbohydrate diet? Give me your advice... Tell me and my readers what works for you!
With Atkins
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Atkins.

#Atkins 40: A Way of Life, not a diet!

My Goals for losing weight on the Atkins 40 Plan. Here's what I want to learn...
• The difference between good carbs and bad carbs
• How to eliminate added sugars
• How to incorporate healthy fats
• How easy it is to adapt to a low carb lifestyle
• How to lose weight, feel great, while enjoying healthy delicious foods with a wide range of food choices.
You all know that I needed a "kick start" for my diet. Things were just not working for me. I needed to "shift (my) body from burning primarily carbs to burning primarily fat, kick-starting weight loss." It's been a week since I began the Atkins plan.
I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. I consume no more than 20 net carbs a day. (range is 18-22) I have to watch for hidden carbs. Especially when going to a restaurant... I have to pay attention. I am learning to ask a lot of questions. I used to be afraid to "bother" the server, but now I just explain that I am trying REALLY hard to be healthy. Here is the list of foods I can eat on this diet. http://www.atkins.com/Program/Phase-1//What-You-Can-Eat-in-this-phase.aspx
I am going to stay with Phase 1 until next week when I travel to Houston for an event. Then I am going to move onto Phase 2, the balancing phase.
Here are some things that surprised me so far:
1. I get to eat more calories. I have tried VERY hard to lose weight and every time I do, I cut my calories to around 1200 a day. With Atkins I can have 1500-1800 calories. That is almost 25% higher than my normal diet! HOLY COW! I was thrilled... No being hungry. And I wasn't... I haven't been.

2. Good carbs are welcome! I was under the impression that I should AVOID carbs at all costs! CARBS=BAD I was pleasantly surprised that I could eat vegetables. I will confess that I don't eat a ton of veggies, but I love broccoli and I could eat it for every meal. I also love Edamame. My son and I are addicted to it... Atkins actually recommends more veggies than the recommended amount from USDA. Yay! So there are no worries that you aren't doing something that isn't a way of life!
3. Atkins is not just, "Hey let's eat red meat and cheese all day!" There are healthy fats and unhealthy fats. Avacado, Olive Oil, Nuts, Dairy, and Greek Yogurt are our friends! We need to eat those fats to be healthy!
Here are a list of truths and myths about the Atkins plan. Click here: https://www.atkins.com/library/truths---myths.aspx
The biggest myth is.... (photo from theblaze.com)

Have you tried the Atkins 40 plan? What is stopping you?
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Atkins.