The Idiot-proof Diet

It is a variation of Atkins, but includes the induction period...and no, I'm in my OWL, but my carb intake currently should not be over 25.

I'm also doing way more exercise than they talk about. My motivation is my mirror....that and I want to climb Mt. Fuji before I leave Japan.

I'm not at all familiar with the diet which says a lot because I read diet books like most people read novels. Is fast food permitted on the induction phase of that diet? I'm honestly curious since I don't know anything about it.

tuesday:

espresso with cream and splenda (ps i think i like half and half better.) am considering getting some more and then whipping a little bit of my heavy cream to have on my jello? ), 2 eggs = 4

snack - 2 string cheese diet coke (i have to go to the store) = 3

lunch - tuna with a little parm mayo and celery plus stalks on the side=3

snack jello with a little whipped cream with spenda = 1

snack 2 - 5 olives and some parm cheese 1 oz = 2

dnner - shrimp with spinach and some cream cheese= 5

18

I'm still doing pretty well with the calories so hopefully I'll see some payoff soon.

B: 2 eggs, 3 strips bacon, 1 slice whole wheat bread, 1/4 cantaloupe, sugar free latte with calorie countdown milk
L: southwestern chicken wrap, 1 nectarine
D: pork chop, brown rice, 1 cup zucchini with butter

Calories: 1529 39C/21P/40F.

good job petra!

I was about to say anything is permitted as long as it falls into the 'safe foods' categories and does not put you over your max carbs...but that's not really an explanation, is it?

Yes, fried chicken is acceptable (especially if you remove the gunky skin & batter which completely removes the carbs and significantly reduces the calories and saturated fat.
Popeye's chicken breast with skin & batter
Popeye's chicken breast with skin & batter removed

My mistake was eating the green beans...because while green beans are allowed to me, Popeye's adds all kinds of crud to them which make them far higher in carbs, calories and fat.

The trick with 'fast food' is the same as being invited to a friend's house for dinner and sticking with your WoE, regardless of what others think. Actually the fast food is easier because with your friend, you might be embarrassed about dieting and not want to announce it, or you might feel bad that your friend cooked all this food and you can't eat it...but if your friend knew you were on a diet - shame on them. Anyway, back to the fast food.

Here's an example using Subway. I was very partial to steak and cheese sandwiches (with the gooey worthless american cheese and hot piping fresh carb-rich bread). Instead I now order a leafy salad (lettuce), ask them to put a few olives, a tiny bit of tomato, couple of cucumbers, a few banana peppers and slice up some roast beef, turkey, ham and some provolone cheese to top it with. And I'm odd because I usually prefer no dressing...but hopefully you get the picture here.

There ARE healthy things to eat at fast food establishments, the trick is just to have the willpower to turn down the bad - and I was bad day before yesterday, but I'm trying very hard to be brutally honest with myself and not lose my determination. Also, research your establishment. Ask them what kinds of oils they use, see if the facility is clean, etc. Here in Japan the food establishment standards are set higher than they are in the states so I typically don't have to worry...but I've still been asking.

As for the diet plan, there are a LOT of things that are not allowed. most importantly ANYTHING that says 'DIET' or 'LOW-FAT'. Splenda being the obvious exception (which I only use in my daily coffee and very occasional tea anyway).

And, like I said, I'm doing far more exercise than they said they did or even suggest a new dieter do. I'm also drinking a lot more water than they suggest (wierd).

EDIT: I AM NOT TELLING ANYONE TO EAT FAST FOOD. I'M SIMPLY SAYING THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO SO OCCASIONALLY AND STILL EAT HEALTHY - PROVIDED YOU CAN BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF, ASK THE CLARIFYING QUESTIONS OF <INSERT NAME OF ESTABLISHMENT HERE> AND LIVE WITH THE REDUCED CHOICES THAT LEAVES YOU AFTERWARD.

Okay, here's my eating for yesterday (it's morning here in Japan): Total Net Carbs for day 26 grams

Vitamins:
Mx, E, C, Bx, Met, GTx

Breakfast: 2 gram carbs
2 cups of coffee with splenda/hvy cream
16 oz. water

NOTE: I felt a little sick to my stomach this morning and didn't eat breakfast...BAD. My stomach felt like I was STARVING by lunchtime.

Exercise:
16 oz. water

Lunch: 8 grams carbs
Salad w/bacon bits and thousand island dressing
16 oz. water
1 cup of coffee with splenda/heavy cream

Snack: 4 grams carbs
1 snack cheddar cheese
1 serving mixed nuts
32 oz. water

Dinner: 12 grams carbs
Homemade pizza
16 oz. water

bfast

espresso with half and half (2), 2 large eggs (2)

snack - diet coke (1), cheese (1), celery (2)

lunch - turkey patty with havarti cheese (1), broccoli (4), jello (1)

snack - pate (1)

dinner - turkey patty with havarti (1) with broccoli (4)

21

snapless-I agree. It is possible to find healthy food in a fast food restaurant. I know, personally, if I go into a McDonald's I'm probably not going to be ordering a salad. For me it's just easier not to go into the restaurant. Popeye's fried chicken is actually my favorite fast food. Removing the skin and batter would defeat the purpose. ;)

For many of these plans that have "induction" periods, part of the role is to help you readjust your eating patterns. They may not explicitly prohibit certain foods but they are usually trying to help you learn to eat in more healthful ways.

I have to agree with the first part. If you are unable to eat the salad or strip the batter from the chicken, it's best to just not step foot in the fast food place (or other restaurant).

As for the induction period, I'm past mine and was VERY strict while I was on it. 21 lbs down from 200, still have 44 to go.

My food for yesterday, Total Net Carbs 23 grams (YAY!):

This morning I learned why it is important to eat protein with breakfast. I was so hungry by lunch I could have eaten my desk.

B: 1.5 cups shredded wheat n bran with 1/2 cup calorie countdown milk, sugar free latte with calorie countdown milk
L: southwestern chicken salad wrap, nectarine
S: Zone perfect bar
D: mixed berry, peach, lowfat yogurt, and strawberry whey protein smoothie.

Calories: 1401 56C/24P/20F. Not even close to Zone perfect. Those calories are actually a little low. It's below my BMR so I may have to eat some toast with peanut butter or something before bed. I am getting better at controlling the calories but I think I may have to give up on the Zone proportions.

thursday

bfast - coffee with splenda and half and half (2), sausage (1)

snack - diet coke (1), cheese (1), 2 stalks celery (2)

lunch - scallops (2) and broccoli (3), jello (1)

snack - pate (1) and Parmesan (1)

dinner - 2 turkey patties, slice havarti (1) spinach (3) with cream cheese (1)

total - 20

Hmm...

I may be overstepping here (and I'm sorry if I am!), but after keeping up with this thread for the last few days I have to ask...

1. Petra65 is that a low carb diet you are on and if so, what is it called?
2. Readyfreddy, how much water are you drinking? I know I had to remove all sodas from my home because I'd wind up drinking them instead of water.

I've been trying to keep track of not only the food and net carbs but the water also. I should probably add in the fat and calories but the main reason I chose low carb was so I didn't have to count calories. :headache:

snap-no it's not. It's sort of a long story. I had a lot of success with protien power in the past and had been doing that again for about 3 months this time and wasn't really losing any weight. I decided to try something a little different. This is really my own low GI hybrid of sugar busters and the zone. those numbers reflecting C,P,F are percentages, not grams. I stayed here because I don't really fit anywhere right now and I already had friends on this forum. They are trying to expand the former sugar busters forum to include more diets like mine and if that is successful and I stick with what I'm doing, I may move over there. this is sort of an experiment to see if I can make the scale move by trying something a little different. Hope that is an adequate explanation.

not at all. part of the reason i post my meal plans is to get feedback.

i am a huge water drinker. i have the one soda a day and then only water.

so far today i have had 2 pint glasses of water, one waterbottle of water and i am just starting in on a 3rd pint with lunch. then i typically drink about 5-4 more throughout the afternoon and evening.

B: 1 egg, 2 whites scrambled with 1 green onion, 2 slices canadian bacon, and shredded cheese in a low carb tortilla, 1/4 cantaloupe, sugar free latte with calorie countdown milk
L: grilled cheese sandwhich on whole wheat bread, nectarine
D: pork chop, brown rice, zucchini, butter

Calories: 1812 34C/20P/46F. I'm trying to stay below 1700 so I'm a little disappointed with those calories. The grilled cheese was a poor choice.