blue
Hello,
I am new to this forum. I am on the Atkins plan, and I love not having the sweet cravings. I have lost very little weight yet, and I think the reason for that is that I am on HRT/Hormone Replacement Therapy. I am also not sure what Coumadin (blood thinner) does to someone trying to lose weight. I am taking Coumadin because I had my Aortic Valve replaced with a mechanical one last year August. Have to be on this blood thinner for the rest of my life. No choice!
What I need to know is if there is anyone out there that has had the same dilemma with HRT and losing weight.
I am pretty good with the food plan I think, and don't eat starches and sweets at all. I do eat fresh strawberries when in season and have the frozen ones other times. I have a low carb protein drink every morning with splenda as sweetener. I just learned that I need to buy the scoopable splenda as that has only sucralose in it. I bought the packets and know now that it has dextrose & maltodextrin in it.
For lunches I have a protein (5-7 oz) with a little olive oil on top, and either a salad or hot vegetable. Kind of boring at times, but I don't want to cook that much.
I have been exercising again since my surgery, gradually doing more each day! Was exercising before surgery too. Not as much as I had been used too, as I simply did not have it in me anymore. I was near heart failure because of the bad valve and had no idea. I blamed it on menopause problems because I was always so tired, hot & sweaty. I am unable to lift very heavy yet because of the open heart procedure just 9 months ago. In addition to the weight training 3 times a week, I also try to walk or swim every day. Have my own pool and treadmill.
For dinner, I also have a protein (5-7 oz) and vegetable (1/2 -1 cup). I do indulge in chocolate drinks made with unsweetened cocoa, water, sweetener and real cream. YUM!
When I feel like snacking, I snack on low carb nuts, low carb protein bars, cheese, or have more protein like a chicken or turkey drumstick. Or at times I have more strawberries with a little cream.
I do NOT weigh my food. I do messure vegies at times, so I don't get too much. I have been increasing my vegies by about 5 g a day, since I was not losing much weight, and thought I was doign the food plan too strenuously. I also had a terrible problem with heart burn but when I increased the carbs it got a bit better. I don't want to damage my vocal cords. At times I think I already have done that.
I drink a fair amount of water everyday. Some days more than others. I live in AZ and right now it is sizzling ~HOT~, so the need to drink is there all the time.
AZdutchgrl