I should've made a note that it's not for induction since it does contain ricotta cheese.

My reference to induction only refers to a recipe ingredient. Since the ingredient sugar-free, fat-free vanilla pudding mix is included in the Atkin's 1994 cookbook recipe for ice cream, which may be used during induction according to the book, I thought I was safe to use it in the cheesecake recipe. * Additionally, the amount of pudding mix in the ice cream recipe is identical to the amount used in the cheesecake recipe.

The back of the pudding package reads: "as packaged ...Total Carbohydrates...6g., Dietary Fiber...0g., Sugars...0g." In this recipe, the pudding mix is used as packaged, not prepared. Serving size is "1/4 package (8g.)". I'm thinking 1/4 of nothing is still nothing.

I appreciate your looking out for us, JerseyGyrl, but I don't understand the difference in the back of my box and the back of yours.??? I do think using Splenda may be slowing my weight loss, but I haven't decided to stop using it in food. I've given up diet sodas and flavored water, Crystal Light; maybe I can give it up altogether before long. I also think Splenda may be responsible for lingering sugar cravings.

With all this information, I'm having cheesecake for dessert.

*PLEASE NOTE: I didn't switch to Italics for emphasis or to be snarky; I accidentially hit the "I" and can't get it to change back!

JerseyGyrl, my students' parents are so glad I teach English, not MATH! Got it!

Your idea of substituting for the pudding mix is excellent and sounds yummy. I don't see that the mix adds anything except carbs since the mixture is thick enough, and then it's chilled and thickens further. Maybe add a little extra vanilla if it's a taste issue since the mix is vanilla flavored.

Thanks so much for reading our posts and helping us!

ROFL! Sounds like something I would do.

and I love alfredo too. Had to come up with something. If we give up everything we love, we would never stick with it. (at least that's my theory)

JerseyGyrl: Could you check out the cheesecake recipe I posted on page 4 and check my math. You are so good at keeping us in check. Much appreciated.

Jerseygyrl thanks for looking out for us.

It is a good recipe to ave on hand, and i like the idea of swapping the pudding out good tip.

Breaded pork chops, and steamed broccoli with shredded cheddar cheese.

Thin cut boneless pork chops dipped in egg (I use egg beaters) then dipped into crumbled pork rinds, placed on a greased (I use Pam) cookie sheet, bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 28 mins. Steam broccoli, sprinkle cheddar cheese, and a little salt and pepper.

Tonight a friend is cooking for us. She's very supportive of my efforts (she might weigh 125 soaking wet) and called to check the menu with me. She was thinking of making chicken marsala; I said "No problem, but I can't eat anything floured or breaded." She offered to make it without flouring it, but I told her the sauce wouldn't thicken, and she might hate it. My friend is a big "sauce" person.

So she decided to grill us filet mignons instead, make a spinach salad and I'm bringing asparagus to grill in olive oil and garlic. She's adding a baked potato. I'm taking my own salad dressing just to be safe.

It's great to have such a good friend. I'll be off-line this weekend; I'm going to beautiful (and hot!) Charleston, SC to visit family. I've told them I'm off sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, etc...but I'm sure the weekend will bring some challenges.

My plan: I'm taking some food with me! Pre-cooked chicken breast, cheese, a couple of Atkins shakes.

I'm not about to mess up my FOUR pound loss this week. So, have a great weekend, everyone.

Sandy Fanny Enjoy your trip, good idea to take some food and snacks with you and a big congrats on your four pound loss.

Bbq'd salmon, steamed green beans and a handfull of black berries to finish it off.

Meatloaf, and roasted cauliflower

I make my meat loaf with 1.5 lbs of ground chuck, 1.5 lbs ground turkey, 1 egg, 1/4 cup chopped green pepper, 2 tbsp chopped onion, and 1/4 cup crumbled pork rinds. Form four 3/4 lb mini loafs, bake in the oven at 375 degrees, for about 40 mins. Roasted cauliflower, put florets in a bowl, lightly add olive oil until they are coated, sprinkle in parmesan cheese, place in a oven safe pan, bake in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15 mins or until lightly browned (checking them every 5 mins to turn them).

OK, that was a massive failure.....127.7 this morning...I'm just not getting the calories in trying to low-carb with this chewing problem. But I go to the dentist on the 19th (so 6 days) to get the permanent liner for the plate and hoping that will fix things. One thing I really hate about eating carbs (not low-carbing) is the intense hunger pangs you get. If I wasn't having so much trouble chewing, I'd probably be binging....or at least eating way too many calories......especially the pangs you get at bedtime when you absolutely cannot fall asleep until you eat something (usually sweet.
I also don't like to eat empty calories....which is very tough to do unless you're low carbing (IMO).....well, that's going by MY assessment of healthy calories....where fat is good....and sugar is horrible.

You know, here's what I can't figure out. Whenever I would try to diet by calorie-counting (essentially eating less calories), I would never lose weight. It was always an epic failure......why I love Atkins so much...it WORKS for me.
SO....why am I now losing more weight while eating less calories (and eating carbs)?? It makes me think back and try to figure out what's different. I think it's a fluke, actually....due to doing something different after doing Atkins for almost a year......and that if I continued this way, I would start gaining it all back. I think it's temporarily gotten my metabolism working....but this would turn on me......why I HAVE to remedy this chewing problem....or else figure out a "dental-soft" Atkins. I should make a list to see how many OK foods I could get on it.....to see if it's doable. I'm worried that if I have no variety, I'll start having problems...so need to make a list and look it over.

It makes me wonder, though, just how many calories I was actually eating when I tried to count calories. For one thing, I can't just take a taste of something.....or pop some little thing into my mouth. Suddenly, I will realize I can't chew it and have to spit it out. Maybe I was "popping in" too many things and not counting the calories of them. Really makes me stop and think about the mindless things we do that can really affect a weight-loss plan.

Sorry about going on like this....but I am very upset about it. I just never realized that the chewing would be so affected. I just assumed, I guess, that as soon as it healed up, I'd be chewing fine.
In fact, I should be writing this on my own thread....where I can perseverate endlessly......as I'm prone to do....and not just drone on here on sandyfanny's thread. I'm gonna go and dredge mine up.

deena

Great weekend in Charleston...and I did really well in the face of some serious carbs! We ate at the Boat House on Isle of Palms Saturday night...broiled seafood platter, sauteed zucchini and squash, collards. Really good dinner; I passed on the before-dinner drink and had water with lots of lemon.

I had big salads for lunch Friday and Saturday with grilled chicken breast ( I brought my own chicken and ham) and had another big salad Saturday night with deli ham and chicken. Breakfast wasn't a problem since I had brought my own ham and my daughter makes wonderful scrambled eggs with lots of veggies. I indulged in one glass of Prosecco Saturday night after dinner...and I'm not sorry, at least, not yet.

Back home tonight. I steamed some tiny asparagus in the microwave for 5 min. I layered on some chicken salad I'd made with the last of the traveling chicken, mayo, scallions, and pimentos and topped the whole business with lots of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees about 30 min. til the cassarole is hot through and cheese is bubbling. Delicious and easy! A great welcome home dinner for myself.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.