Hi My husband and I will be starting after superbowl sunday Monday the 6th.
We have been off and on on atkins for 2 years and are ready for a change.
I lost 27 pounds and gained back 10(my own fault) and he lost 40 and gained back all of it(his fault) anyhow- The somona diet seems like a more healthy way of eatting and I think we might find it easier to stay on with the oat meal and bread that is welcome!
I have a few questions I am hoping someone can answer.

My husband has to take a cold lunch to work each day-
so I will be making him some sort of sandwich-does any one use mayo?
If not how do you make it so the sandwich is not so dry?

NO spendla? is that true??
What about caffine?? no caffine either?
I have read the book but with the all the info-I am getting confused.
I like to have veggies and dip(sour cream and ranch mix) anyone know about that?

and one more ? does anyone know why heavy cream instead of light cream in coffee?

Thanks for your help
I look forward to great successes with all of you!
and good health too!!
Colleen

Hi Colleen

You can use a small amount of mayonnaise on your sandwiches, but not just any mayo. The diet recommends mayonnaise made from canola oil. Hellman's makes a new canola mayo, and Spectrum Organics also makes it. I haven't tried either yet.

You can have up to two packets of Splenda a day. Dr. Guttersen says that artificial sweeteners can increase cravings and stimulate the appetite, so it's best to limit them. In my opinion, the best reason to limit them is because the diet is based on the Mediterranean diet which focuses on whole, unprocessed foods, and artificial sweeteners don't really fit in with that.

I don't have a clue why she suggests heavy cream over light cream. I have noticed in the past that the ingredient labels on cream don't just list cream, they often have a lot of additives. Maybe light cream is more processed than heavy cream.

I don't have the book yet. Will be trying to get it this week-end. I enrolled in that fitday.com and the first day that I inputed my foods HEAVEN FORBID! !. My pie chart was almost 3/4's fat. I have got to get the book and really pay attention. I am at 140. Did drop a few pounds but I was sic with thses allergies. One day I had weighed at home at 140 then was in the surgeon's in Amarillo, Texas about my gall bladder and I weighed 134 eight hours later. Told that nurse I wanted to take her scales home with me.

I am headed out today to shop for food- I will look for the mayo then.
I am really excited to start and can't wait to start feeling good-and skinny
again
Have a great day!
Colleen

I think common sense prevails on the Sonoma.. I have given up the sugar free candies however... I didnt know about the sugar alcohols, I believer they were derailing me on Southbeach...After you get used to it, the loss of sugar, or artificial sweetners just doesnt matter anymore.. I am truly happy to have my high fiber cereals in the morning with non fat milk... I like Arnolds bread that has 5 grams of fiber, its hard to believe how low in fiber some breads are.. .I just use the quotient... if it doesnt have nutrative value.. dont eat it.... India...........

Welcome!

I also found that once I broke the sugar habit, I didn't miss it and don't need artificial sweeteners. I eat shredded wheat or oatmeal for breakfast with 1% milk and no sweetener at all. I also eat plain yogurt with no sweetener, though sometimes I add fruit. Most unprocessed foods have their own natural flavor and sugar tends to hide that.

Regarding veggies and dips, on Wave 1 you can have unlimited Tier 1 vegetables. I don't recall that dairy products other than limited amounts of certain cheese are permitted on Wave 1. On Wave 2, you can have small amounts of reduced-fat sour cream, but my guess is the ranch dip mix is highly processed and probably not a good idea. I dip veggies into small amounts of hummus or Laughing Cow light garlic and herb cheese spread, or eat them alone.