Countdown to Fitness

It was on Atkins that I lost the most weight I have ever lost on a diet and managed to keep it off the longest. This is because I find the low carb eating style the easiest to follow and the most satisfying. So, you might be thinking, if Atkins works, why did she abandon it back in 2007?

When I started on Atkins in early late 2004, I was at the end of my rope. I had reached an all-time high for my weight despite having tried NutriSystems, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and myriad other popular or self-designed diets. I saw two nutritionists at different times, and also hired a personal trainer. (more…)

Hello Everyone! Welcome to CDTF, as I affectionately refer to this blog! This is my first post and I’m very excited to participate with my friend, Fitness Hopeful, in a serious one-year challenge to lose weight and improve our health. If our journeys inspire others to join us, the more the merrier!

Unlike Fitness Hopeful who is literally off and running now and already down more than 40 lbs since her effort began, I am at the beginning of my Get Healthy program. I have decided to follow the Atkins diet and I am currently in Day 5 of the Induction Phase, which is supposed to last at least 2 weeks.

While Fitness Hopeful’s research has already brought her many interesting insights and helpful discoveries, about which she generously posts on the CDTF blog, I will be primarily blogging about my own experiences in the coming months and sharing what works and doesn’t work for me.

I hope my journey will be of interest and help to some of you! Tomorrow I’ll talk about why I chose Atkins and share my daily eating plan.

All overweight people overeat.  Right?  Wrong.  That opening statement is an oversimplification of the problem, which could actually be dangerous.  It is true that you must burn at least as many calories as you consume to maintain or lose weight.  But you could be eating a dangerously low 800 calories and still gain weight.  To lose weight, some overweight people need to eat more, others less.  Regardless, losing weight requires you to speed up your metabolism and properly balance your food intake. (more…)

Pico de Gallo means “rooster’s beak” in Spanish, which refers to the way one would pick up the pieces of salsa with one’s fingers, like a rooster eating corn with its beak.
This wonderful, healthy, Mexican condiment makes a great dip for chips, and is a great addition to fajitas and other main dishes. (more…)

Spice up your Mexican dishes by making your own healthy homemade salsa, which will greatly reduce the sodium content. Also, make a healthier version by using fresh chili or jalapeño peppers instead of the canned versions.  The canning process destroys some of the nutrients and adds extra sodium. (more…)