Kimkins Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 8

The Way I See It

As the holiday season approaches it’s a good idea to keep in mind how many calories we might imbibe at holiday parties and family gatherings.

From a Kimkins angle by all means pay attention to carb counts! But keep in mind that calories count too! Even an innocent “fun” drink like a Sex on the Beach packs in a whopping 372 calories and 38 carbs! Other favorites like rum & cola will cost you 272 cals 28 carb, pina colada 626 cals 82 carbs and a sophisticated 6 oz martini 388 cals 1 carb.

Better choices might be a 6 oz glass of wine (120 cal, 2 carbs), a 12 oz mixed drink with 0 cal mixer (193 cal, 0 carbs) or a 6 oz wine spritzer (60 cal, 0 carb).

Poll
Self, June 2006

  Question: How many drinks do you have when you go out on Saturday night?

• None: 24%
• One or two: 30%
• Three: 20%
• Four or more: 26%

The Art of Dieting
By Kimkins member, Rebecca Lake

Hi, I'm Rebecca.

I began the low carb lifestyle in April this year, when my second child was six months old. At that time I had about twenty pounds to lose. Fortunately, I was able to lose 18 lbs in about 3 months. Then, after carefully watching calories, I dropped below my goal weight. For the first time in years, I am healthy, I feel great and I am thin!

Interestingly, through my weight loss and maintenance journey, I have become rather fascinated with the entire realm of 'dieting.' I have found that, like an art, thin is a skill to be mastered. This takes energy, effort and work, every single day.

I have learned that taking control over food is necessary to be successful at thinness. It was through gathering knowledge, putting methods into practice, tailoring diets to fit my needs, constant focus, planning ahead, and consistency with healthy food choices, that I gained control over food.

What I put in my mouth is my choice. I am in total control over the calories I consume. Through trial and error I have learned how I must eat to stay at goal. I have power over food and, because of this, I feel free. My mind dictates food choices, not my appetite. This gets easier and easier. My eating has become routine. Planning allows me to know what I'll have for every meal, ahead of time. I honestly look forward to every lunch and every dinner.

Art is commonly understood as a skill used to create an aesthetic result. My way of eating has enabled me to achieve my goal weight. Like art, a diet can offer different interpretations. Like perfecting any skill, I found ways to modify my eating to get the results I desired. This took concentration and discipline.

Low carb eating has become a passion for me. However, I cannot eat everything and maintain thin. I must manage calories to manage my weight. Through practice, I've figured out what I have to do to stay content with my diet so that I can live thin and healthy, forever.

My diet consists, mainly, of protein and vegetables. I eat beef, poultry, pork, fish, seafood and eggs. I also eat vegetables. In moderation, I eat cheeses, nuts, flax seed and dairy products. Very occasionally I have berries. What works for me is keeping my carbs way low. This enables me to indulge my sweet tooth and enjoy wine, while maintaining my goal weight. Fats satisfy me, so I eat them; but they are limited. Sometimes, I really enjoy having something sweet, especially after dinner. So, I make healthy (low carb and low fat) baked goods and often have one or two servings after my evening meal. I also have one glass of wine, every evening, with dinner. Simplicity helps, a lot, for my menu. Boring, perhaps, to some ... But it works for me.

I am not tempted to cheat or alter the way that I eat. My diet is my art. I have wrapped my brain around my food choices. My mind dictates what I eat, nothing else does. No one else does. It's a learned skill and has become quite automatic. It really can be as easy as mind over matter.

I have committed to this way of eating, for life. It's easy for me to know I've made my diet a lifestyle because I truly enjoy every food I eat, even more than I ever did before. I'm so happy with the foods I eat; they satisfy me and make me feel great!

I must credit Kimmer and (the late) Dr. Atkins for enabling me to learn through sharing their knowledge and experience. They have been instrumental in supporting my weight loss, as I have incorporated so much from their eating plans into my own. It's also important to say that a lot of you fellow low carbers have helped me to learn and grow, too. I thank all of you!

So ... cheers to the decision about, the mindset on, and the commitment to, the low carb way of eating, for always! Have a happy, healthy, and very fun Fall, everyone

Check It Out!

A 135 lb woman walking at a moderate pace must walk 66 miles to burn 1 pound of fat.

Kimmer’s Recipe Box

Asparagus & Canadian Bacon Frittata

An attractive brunch dish that reheats well for lunch at work the next day!

Ingredients (serves 4)

6 large eggs
1 cup cooked asparagus, chopped
1 cup Canadian bacon, chopped
1 tbsp garlic, minced
4 tbsp onion, minced
2 tbsp parmesan, grated (not powdered)
1 tbsp butter ("light" is better, pick no trans fats)
1 green onion, chopped (garnish)
salt & pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt butter in a nonstick ovenproof skillet. Beat together eggs, cheese, salt and pepper, set aside. Add onion & garlic to melted butter and sauté for 2 minutes. Add asparagus and Canadian bacon, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet turning heat to medium-low. Cook for 5 minutes or until the frittata bottom is firm.

Transfer the skillet to the oven. Check every 5 minutes until the frittata top is no longer runny. Garnish with green onion and serve warm or at room temperature.

Variations

This recipe works for an endless number of frittata combinations. My favorites include broccoli & leek, Italian sausage & mushroom and roast chicken & roasted pepper.

Please pass this issue on to a friend who might enjoy it!