Journal de GlennM, 22 févr. 14

I have been doing low carb and trying to do low calorie too. The weather is finally warming. Lots of snow the past two weeks. Yesterday, lightning and thunder - in February, with heavy rain. It is strange. It is sunny today. I am likely going to church and I will do my writing too, I am writing a memoir of the time that I was in the service. I may even be able to move overseas to an Hispanic country or the Philippines in not too many years. I really want to move from the cold, on March 3 it will be 19 years back in New England. I have not made many friends, and family is doing their own thing. In 19 years I will be 70 if I am still around so time is flying by and I really can't see myself staying in Massachusetts long term. Others are jealous it seems that I can move to a warmer climate so I will likely get next to no help if I do move. I will start packing this summer to get things going. I am glad warmer weather is on its way, in six weeks the bitter, bitter cold will be gone, if not sooner, and already I am noticing the sun is higher in the sky. Blessings to everyone, and I will likely join the gym in town too in the next few weeks to get working out. My Achilles tendons are healing with physical therapy. 

GlennM, I started Atkins this past Monday. I undestand your frustration:) I have a friend who started before me and gave me some awesome resources that are making it much easier. I have most of them pinned on my Low Carb Board at Pinterest if you want to check it out. Send me a PM if you do. Good Luck!! 

Funny, at one point in my life I used to look forward to eating out. No more. Guess I know too much about their "mystery ingredients".  

Hi NinerMom91, I love the sound of this diet 'Atkins' I even bought the book but most of the food in the menu is not available in Nigeria. Can I substitute with alternatives using the book as a guide. After Induction phase can I switch to my own diet, ' Counting Calories'. Would it have anegative effect like gain mor weight? I want to lose lots weight before Esther & donzkt want to do 'Yo-Yo' diet. Tasnks! 

You sure can substitue:) Atkins is basically protein and fat with very few carbohydrates. Do you have regular canned foods? If so, you can look at carbohydrate and protein counts on the labels then stay within the carb guidelines:) Coming off Atkins is tricky and has to be done in phases b/c you can gain the weight back very quickly. 

Atkins works, but I have a hoarse voice now so I am consuming heated honey with lime or lemon juice heated. Eating out is a pain, flour is in so much stuff. There is low-carb bread, it is like wheat or whole grain by Pepperidge Farm I think, it is pricey. It is OK toasted especially. I lost plenty of weight four, five years ago on this diet. But eating out is a pain, one is really restricted to salads only... I have noted this. Potatoes, fries, etc. are not substituted often and if they are it is rice or other high-carb vegetable. As spring is near I will be going for walks soon. It is difficult to walk in my area in winter as the sidewalks are often not shoveled and I have to cross a very busy road. I will be moving in December or so...