Hi everyone,

I am pretty new to the forum, just signed on a few days ago and have been lurking in the newbies section (except for my "poll" answer). I'm happy to be here and to have found such a supportive community.

OK, here's my question. My induction got off to a very slow and frustrating start -- I don't think I lost anything, but I'm not sure because I didn't buy a scale until a few days ago. I posted my whole sordid story in the newbies section ("2 weeks and frustrated" or something like that), if anyone has additional ideas.

Because I didn't expect to be so resistant to inches or weight loss during induction, I am now a little concerned about a month-long trip I'm taking to Europe in a few weeks. See, I have to eat CHEAP, and the last time I was in Paris, eating cheap meant eating croissants, crepes, baguettes & salami, etc -- basically all of the street-vendor food. I thought that I would have lost enough to make myself a little happy before the trip and not feel so bad about needing to slip in the extra carbs when there (I'm not so worried about the UK, husband and son will be joining me so we will be eating in regular restaurants). Has anyone else done the "economy Paris" successfully on Atkins? Last time I actually lost weight eating this cheapo food, but only because I was walking miles and miles every day (and I was 24). Should I just bag it and plan on going back to induction when the family joins me in England?

Thanks for your suggestions, Athena

I personally would try to make the best low carb choice possible between whatever options are there.

Shouldn't be that hard if you avoid the patisseries!

There's lots of good charcuteries and cheese stores to eat from if you want to go on the cheap and a cucumber, endive or stalk of celery to munch on with your selections will be easy to find.

Karen

Our Paris Hotel in Montparnesse had an egg boiler thingy on their breakfast buffet. I would HB 3- eat 2 and carry one - helped immensely! I agree make the best choices you can and walk lots!!!

Jan

Paris is a perfect place for low-carbers, good food and lots of pleasant walking. I lost a lot of weight while working there.

Most main courrses are meat/fish/chicken with veggies. If not sure, you can always order "steak haricot", which is a piece of steak with green beans and butter.

Wa'il

I just got back from a trip to London and Paris -- 11 days was just too short! But found that Paris was a breeze for low-carb and I lost weight with all the walking and careful eating choices. Head yourself to a Monoprix (48 locations all over Paris) and their basement food floor where you will find the best prices. Cheese in France is exquisite and there's many brands of dry salami and pate in one-serving sealed portions. Carbohydrates are labelled "glucides" on food packaging.

Buy some sparkling water and you will be set for picnic lunch in any Paris park or while dangling your feet in the fountain at the Louvre. It's been very warm in Paris last week so fountain dabbling was a necessity.

For dinner, I ordered a salad to start (such fresh greens and glorious vinagrettes) and steak is on the menu everywhere. Ask for haricot verts or any other low-carb veg and you will be set. Hold the frites and baguette.

If breakfast poses an issue and you just can't stomach meat and cheese at that time of day, then the French make a lovely omelette and that's what I enjoyed a couple of times. Most cafes/bistros will have an omelette on the menu for about 7 Euros. And if all else fails, fear not, McDonalds seems to be everywhere so if you discard the bun, you have all the usual items available to you that you know from North America.

I just found the range of interesting cheeses made my low-carb picnic strategy so much more fun.

Enjoy! It's a beautiful city....nurse a Pelligrino water at a sidewalk cafe and do take advantage of the fabulous sales in July.

VeeDub Girl

Oh, one more suggestion, the bagged salads at Monoprix are wonderfully fresh. Just pick up a bottle of dressing, pour some into the bag, mix and eat right out of the bag....another picnic friendly strategy to get your daily greens. Take along some plastic cutlery from home or grab some from a fastfood place when there.

Think of how good you will feel to have been on vacation and come home thinner! It gave me a great sense of power...to know I can resist the temptation to give myself permission to eat everything in sight "because it's only a few days and I must try everything!"

Okay off the soapbox and over to fitday (if I can get in, it seems to be down).

VWgal

Avoid patiseries like the plague. I know I could never resist those wonderful pasteries. Hit the open air markets. They are so much fun. I'm not sure if Paris has a godo one, but I know the smaller towns around it do. While in Belgium we would have market chicken every Sunday (spit roasted). I remember tons of wonderful produce, cheeses, and meats at the markets. I fell in love with Sausage Blanch, but couldn't find it in US. I finaly looked up the recipe. It was made with about 4 types of fat and was almost pure fat, no wonder it's not in US. Perfect for Atkins though Get seafood. In some resteraunts you can get massive helpings of fresh seafood for really cheap. You can also get things like escargot in butter (wonder the carb count) from vendors on the street, kind of like hot dog carts here.

I love Paris, with all the walking you do in Paris, I think you will be just fine. I ate everything while I was there, and I didn't gain weight.

I was there for three weeks and ate ham and cheese omelettes for breakfast everyday.

Most bistros have hamburgers, and you can take them off the bun.

Having afternoon tea at one of the salons can take the edge off afternoon hunger.

And most restaurants have escargot. It's not cheap, but it's not as expensive as in the states. And they're always dripping with garlic butter. I had escargot almost everyday as well.

Have fun. And don't forget the cheeses, the cheeses, and the cheeses.

I was going to suggest what vwgal did. I spent a month in Marseilles and Paris while doing my Master's a couple years ago. I was able to stay LC very easily by heading to the Monoprix every few days - meats, cheeses, eggs, full fat yogurt, creme fraiche, great produce. Yum! You can also do the fast food thing - order a Royale and toss the bun! Plus it is actually very easy to find cheap good food in Paris. I was able to easily live on a student budget while there.

Ahhh..... Paris sounds nice. Take me with you!

Thank you everyone for the suggestions, especially the markets and Monoprix. I had forgotten all about them -- all I could remember eating 8 years ago was the cheap croque monsieurs and tons of croissants. I probably won't be going in many regular cafes or restaurants because of the budget (need to save the money for when my 7 year-old will want to buy junk in the UK), and I'm staying in a little hole-in-the-wall pensionne by Luxemburg gardens, so there won't be any hotel meals. I also forgot to mention that I don't eat eggs, but you all are right, I should manage just fine. I guess I'm just freaking out a little bit as I'm determined to both have a good time AND to be slimmed down a little by the start of fall quarter -- could I have both?

It occurred to me as I was reading your posts that probably the reason I don't like pates and the double/triple cream cheeses is because I've trained myself to detest all foods that taste/look/feel rich and "fattening". I think maybe Atkins has given me the freedom to try these foods again and see if I really do like them once I no longer imagine them going straight to my hips (no, it was the cracker or bread slice that went straight to my hips!).

Thanks again! Salut, Athena

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athena31 I've trained myself to detest all foods that taste/look/feel rich and "fattening". I think maybe Atkins has given me the freedom to try these foods again!

So many good tips here from the pro's.
I'm going to Europe this Friday and was as worried as you. So I started a thread about what to eat overseas. The natives gave me sound advice and now I can't wait to "dig in"! Meats everywhere, veggies, you just can't go wrong.
I did buy a coupld LC chocs so I wouldn't pig out on Mozart chocs. Also bought some beefsticks and Hansen's soda.

Enjoy your trip and remember that LC'ing is a universal way of life.
Annie-Pie