The New Atkins Made Easy by Colette Heimowitz Read Free Book Online Page B

of the Atkins Diet, starting with Phase 1, which kick-starts weight loss, so you can see results pronto! But first, take a few minutes to be inspired by Charity W., who lost 135 pounds on Atkins, enduring two extended periods when the scale wouldn’t budge. In her determination to reach her goal, Charity would begin each day repeating, “I can do this.” And so she did.
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    I .   We recommend nitrate-free products whenever possible.
    II .   Mayonnaise contains a minute amount of carbs. Choose a brand made with canola or high-oleic safflower oil, not soybean or vegetable oil, whenever possible.

SUCCESS STORY
    THE SECOND TIME’S A CHARM

    VITAL STATS
    Daily Net Carb intake: 20–50 grams
    Age: 37
    Height: 5'4"
    Before weight: 285 pounds
    After weight: 150 pounds
    Lost: 135 pounds
    Charity W. knew that Atkins works. She’d lost 40 pounds in three months on the program before her 2004 wedding, but after the honeymoon she returned to her old ways, eating lots of pasta and bread, plus “tons of sugar.” The Minneapolis, Minnesota, resident also loves to bake. So back came the pounds and with them health issues. Charity takes it from here.
    In 2010 I visited my in-laws, when photos of the whole family were taken. When the pictures arrived I was very unhappy with them. Was I really that big? I had heard that Atkins had changed, placing more emphasis on vegetables. I read The New Atkins for a New You , and I thought, “I can do that, and I can do it for the rest of my life.” The first month was the hardest. I had headaches, but drinking broth helped, and by the second week they were gone. Every day when I woke up I would say, “I can do it!” I even wrote these words on my bathroom mirror so they were just about the first thing I saw each morning. By the end of the month, I’d lost 15 pounds.
    After two weeks on Induction, I added nuts. After twelve weeks I stalled at 263 pounds and realized I was overdoing the cheese, so I cut back to an ounce a day. Still the number on the scale wouldn’t budge. I was so disheartened that I went to the Atkins Community for help. The advice and encouragement I got were terrific. I stuck with protein, fat, vegetables, and nuts. That did the trick. In one week my body played catch-up, dropping 4 pounds. After six months in Phase 1, I moved to Phase 2, adding berries and yogurt. I found the berries were causing cravings, so I knocked them out.
    Within six months I’d lost 55 pounds, and eleven months after starting I hit the big number: 100 pounds gone. Until this point, I hadn’t done any exercise. I hit another plateau during the holidays, and started working out. Nonetheless, I stayed at 185 for eight endless weeks. But I stayed with Atkins and the workouts. When I finally hit my goal of 150 pounds after about sixteen months, it was one of my happiest days of my life. I did it! Just like I knew I could.
    I still love to bake, but I’ve made some big changes. Instead of wheat flour, I now use almond and coconut flours, plus flaxseed meal for tortillas. My favorite sweeteners are stevia and sugar alcohols, but I use as little as possible. Spices are very important for low-carb baking. I love to try new recipes and have found some great ones on the Atkins website.
    I’m very careful about portions. I’ll put one or two cookies in a freezer bag and have only that much for a snack. I’ve also found my carb tolerance allows me to eat berries and even half an apple, but I stay away from rice, potatoes, and any processed food.
    Losing weight has changed a lot of other things in my life. I’d had gestational diabetes in both my pregnancies and been plagued with irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux for years. Both are now gone. I’m at the gym five or six times a week, often for two or three hours at a time, swimming and doing weight and elliptical training. I used to roller-skate when I