Here's my problem: I have been on Atkins for 4 weeks now, and have lost 9 pounds. I am doing really good and have not cheated once (unless you count one day where I had 3 lc bars in one day!) But, this weekend I am going to a very small workshop for school related to childbirth. There will just be 4 people there plus and instructor. The fee for the workshop includes 2 meals each day on Saturday and Sunday. I am to spend the night there. I just got the menu, and it includes: vegetarian chili for dinner one night, pizza for dinner the next, lasagne for lunch, and breakfasts of various pastries. The snacks are popcorn, granola and cookies. Plus, of course, dessert. The instructor asked if anyone was a picky eater. I haven't replied yet. Should I attempt to take my own food, or just try to "eat around the carbs" as much as possible by eliminating the pizza crust and lasagne noodles, and maybe bringing my own bars for breakfast? Should I mention ahead of time I am staying away from carbs? Help!

Karla
Lost 9 pounds in 4 weeks on Atkins!

I fully understand you! I have been at various meetings, and managed to work around carbs but still stalled - could be for other reasons though. I have no several times eaten breakfast in a restaurant even though the meeting provided breakfast (sweet cakes, not even bagels - I would have hated that even before my diet!)But I usually have Lunches where I am just greedy - get 2 sandwiches instead of most people's 1, take the bread off, and eat the turkey and cheese with mustard, and the veggie dips. THAT menu, however, sounds impossible - you can't eat around a Lasagne! At least you were warned ahead of time!

I would say the Chili is probably borderline since beans are good carbs, at least on South Beach - they aren't potatoes. But I would not ruin your nice 9 lbs loss by eating sweet cakes in the morning. I would take stuff along. Hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken breast, veggies can travel. Or ask the instructor - but be prepared for comments - at my meeting I was told how unhealthy the whole fad diet stuff is etc. Do you want to defend your choice? Good Luck, let us know - I would love to hear about travel food!

You can always ask if you are allowed to leave for meals. I had a workshop one Saturday and asked our principal (I'm a teacher) if we would be allowed to leave even though they were ordering in a super long sub sandwich. I told him I am low carbing. He said we would be free to leave.

The next day when I got to the workshop he had gone and gotten a veggie tray and a bunch of nuts so that I could snack too. I ended up staying and just eating the insides of the sub.

You never know unless you ask right.

I just went through this 2 weeks ago. I can tell you what I did but it may seem like a hassle.

I took 4 OsoLo low-carb rolls with me (they are individually wrapped)
I went to McDonald's and asked for 6 packages of mayonaisse
2 cans of tuna, a hand can opener, and some disposable bowls and plasticware
2 small bags of Atkin's Cruncher chips
1 large bag of BBQ pork skins
2 packages of peanuts
2 low carb breakfast bars

The first day, I had a breakfast bar in the morning, tuna sandwich and chips for lunch and that night I called a pizza shop and ordered a medium pizza with garlic sauce instead of red sauce, extra cheese, veggies and pepperoni. I pulled off the toppings and ate it all. I was stuffed.

The next morning I had another breakfast bar, more tuna and chips for lunch and snacked on the peanuts. I left that evening.

I made it back home and was in strong ketosis, I actually lost 2 pounds. I would not suggest this menu on a daily basis, but for the occassion it worked.

Thanks, guys. I will definately bring a cooler with some lc stuff in it. I will email my instructor and let her know what's up. I am fully prepared to defend my eating habits. I have had to do that plenty of time. It amazes me how "angry" people get over Atkins. It isn't like I am trying to force them to do it! I am thinking bars, nuts, and string cheese. I may carry along a few pieces of lc bread and the lc peanut butter I have here. I can always eat the pizza toppings, too. I am glad she warned me ahead of time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been prepared and probably would have caved. Oh, and yes, she did use the word "picky." Wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes.
Karla
Lost 9 pounds on Atkins in 4 weeks!

You can buy tuna in a pouch that doesn't have to be drained. Can't remember what brand, but it might be Chicken of the Sea. You could get a couple of packs of mayo and just mix it in the pouch...that way you wouldn't need to worry about bowls and washing up (or the smell!) Mini-dill pickles in a baggie could give you something to snack on as well. Good luck!

And don't forget a hardboiled egg or 2, alwasy the best snack for me!

I would mention it aheah of time because you probably will not be the only one who is low carbing. My daughter works for a company that does birthday parties for kids. One party had many parents who were watching their carbs and alot of cake and ice cream went to waste. The mom who organized the party said that she wished that she had known tha so many were not eating carbs.