New to this Program

[csmith71]

Hi Everyone -  I bought book this past Sunday and read it cover to cover.  I started on Monday and weighed in at 274.2...not near my highest weight.  I am looking to lose 74 pounds.  Any support would be greatly appreciated in these beginning weeks.  I tend to get motivated on a program for a week or two and then quit.  I can't afford to fail this time.

One question I have is on the recipes.  There are a lot of great recipes on here and ones that I want to make some weeks down the road, but are there any members on here who started off with really simple meals?  For example, yesterday I had the following:

Breakfast - protein shake with tablespoon of peanut butter and
               almond milk (4 net carbs)
Lunch -     BK whopper without the bun only lettuce
               side salad with ranch (total 5 net carbs)
Snack -     Serving of almonds (2 net carbs)
Dinner -     Eggs and bacon with 1/4 cup cheese (2 net carbs)
Snack -     2 sugar free popcicles (4 net carbs)

Total 17 net carbs.

[moose61]

That looks like a pretty good day. I usually eat eggs and meat for breakfast, and something off the grill with some vegetables for dinner, but it's all simple like that. You want to eat things you like, and make it simple enough to stick to it. I look at the recipes and think I'll make that sometime, but I usually end up eating easy.

[Andrea]

First, cssmith71, welcome to the forum.

Second, I started out by focusing on basic menus and still revert to that when I get impatient with a plateau.  Be careful with sugar free products until you find out how you react to them.  They can stall your progress, depending upon how you tolerate them.  

Consider ordering a bottle of FTS Zero.  Sucralose is the sweetener that is least likely to cause stalls.  

 

[mouseissue]

Welcome to the FTS family, csmith71!!!

That menu is a great start!
But like Andrea warns, be cautious of sweeteners.

Sweeteners (or foods) with sugar alcohols are known to slow or stop progress.
In fact, they will cause blood sugar spikes in many people.

When I started, I avoided them for several weeks until I got comfortable with FTS.
During the first 10-14 days, sugar detox is taking place.
I believe eating sugar alcohols during that time can prolong the detox process.

This is a major eating lifestyle change. So keep it as simple as possible early on.
As your experience grows, so too can the complexity of your menus.

Participate in our conversations often.
You'll be amazed at the benefits!!!

Tony

[umpa]

Welcome csmith71! I am Umpa,Dougs wife.If I can help you please ask.I am the queen of simple I have a column on the homepage called ask umpa where I can convert your favorite foods to fat to skinny friendly.In two weeks your energy level will go through the roof and you will feel like a million bucks! Enjoy the forum

[Maddysmom]

Hi Csmith!  Welcome to the forum!  You will love it here.

[Doug Varrieur]

So here you landed Csmith welcome to the family! Your menu looks good to me. Both Umpa and I are chefs and we love writing cookbooks, eating great meals and developing exciting recipes.....BUT I gotta tell you, many nights we keep it simple. Lunch today we had chili dogs wrapped in romaine lettuce leaves and for dinner we had steel head trout with roasted cauliflower smothered in rich and creamy Alfredo sauce 

[csmith71]

Thank you everyone!  It is not everyday you hear back from the author on a post.  Very cool.....and Umpa, I quickly looked at some of your recipes and I cannot believe all the no/low sugar recipes. I will definitely be trying some.

Start of day 3.   Surprisingly, I already feel really good.  I am completely addicted to sugar, but the cravings have subsided quicker than I thought.  I had a headache the first day, but otherwise, feeling good. 

[umpa]

Drink lots of water.Peanut (or soy) butter helps too.You are gonna do great!