SCARED STRAIGHT!

Well instead of starting back on Atkins on Monday as I had planned, today my blood pressure reading scared me into getting started today.  So I did.

UPCOMING CHALLENGES:
Thursday I'm at a Canada Day BBQ and the next day I'm at an intimate dinner party hosted by an exceptional chef. I expect both events will be minefields of challenges but my health is more important than a morsel of food.  Nevertheless, I expect it will make for interesting Blog entries!

Stay tuned...

Here's a modified recipe I got from the official Atkins Website:

FISH, TOMATOES and BLACK OLIVES


Makes 2 servings
3.5 grams net carbs

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
• 5 large black olives, pitted and chopped
• 1 plum tomato, finely chopped
• 1 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• pinch of dried hot pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 lb fish fillets, I used sole

DIRECTIONS:
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add onion and olives.  Cook 3 minutes and stir occasionally.  onions should be transparent.  Add tomato, garlic, stock and red pepper flakes.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmering for about 5 minutes.

In the meantime, add butter to another large skillet over medium high heat.  Add fillets and lightly brown 2 minutes each side.  Transfer the fillets to the other skillet, placing them on top of the tomato mixture.  Cover and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until fish flakes easily with a fork.

I WAS AN ATKINS SUCCESS STORY

Eight years ago I lost and maintained a large amount of weight while following the Atkins Nutritional Approach.  I was able to get off the blood pressure medication and my blood work was awesome.

For some reason I let white starches and sugar slip back into my life and eight years later, here I am having to lose the same pounds all over again.

I have, you can imagine, tried every diet out there.  After much soul searching, reading, experiences and experiments, I have concluded that the only happy, healthy way for me to lose weight is to follow the Atkins program.

So, unless you've read the book and fully understand the four phases of Atkins, please do not add negative comments.  Not every diet suits every person.  This one happens to suit me and I'm eager to get back on program.

Today I'm getting my blood work done so I can have a baseline to measure the improvements to my health.  Also getting blood pressure taken.  And checking my thyroid and ruling out diabetes.  I'm cleaning out the pantry and the fridge of all starches and processed foods (not that I use those a lot).

I begin my Atkins Journey on Monday, July 5, 2010.  I will share my progress with anyone who wants to know how I'm doing it, what I'm eating, how much I've lost etc....