Traditional cheesecake, with lots of extra cream cheese and eggs.

3 8oz Cream Cheese
1.5 Sticks Butter
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tbsp Vanilla
1 pt Heavy Cream
1 cup Sour Cream
8 oz Chopped Walnuts
2 Cups Splenda
8 eggs

Let the cream cheese, eggs and butter warm to room temperature.

First, grind walnuts, splash of soymilk, cinnamon melted butter and splenda (I used the ‘magic bullet’) and spread this with a spatula into pre-greased (used butter flavored non-stick cooking oil) and bake at 325 for about 7-8 minutes to form your ‘crust’. Be careful not to overcook.

While that was going on is when you’ll be combining all ingredients, using your electric mixer at slow speed, increasing gradually to medium while pushing the sides constantly using a spatula.

Bake for around an hour (checking on it regularly) and allow to cool overnight in your refrigerator before serving.

Feel free to experiment, this turned out absolutely delicious!

Hey! It’s low carb this! lowcarbthis.com time and I found a few items today I thought were worth sharing, considering their very low carbohydrate counts. I’m not endorsing any of these, I just think it’s great when we can share LC knowledge!

Taking a moment today to focus on healthy nuts and seeds we can enjoy with our low-carbohydrate lifestyles. Keeping handy snacks around helps us to enhance our lives with nutrition vs. dietary struggling.

I found a few items today I thought were worth sharing, considering their very low carbohydrate counts. I’m not endorsing any of these, I just think it’s great when we can share LC knowledge!

Today, the Atkins diet is one of the most commonly-used dietary methods for weight loss. It has spawned many ‘inspired’ diets with the same principles of the Atkins diet, which are low carbohydrates and high proteins.

Low carbohydrate consumption, the mainstay of the Atkins diet, really has some benefits for weight loss. The main attraction of this dietary policy is that you do not have to reduce on the amount of calories that you take in. This is corroborated by people who are actually on the diet. The Atkins diet also enhances the blood sugar levels, which is good news for diabetic patients. It increases the amount of HDL cholesterol, which is good for people with cholesterol problems. When you restrict the amounts of carbohydrates in the diet, it can improve the insulin amounts in the blood and reduce the blood pressure.

People who consume the Atkins diet also report of having an increased energy level in their body, ability to focus better on their work, an enhanced mood, reduced depression symptoms and even a lowered craving for sweets. These things are not proven scientifically, but are definitely observed by people who are on the Atkins diet.

Then there are some more benefits that need to be mentioned. The Atkins diet has no restriction on the amounts of fats that you can take in. That’s the reason why you can now binge on all those high-fat foods that you thought were forbidden to you in the past. You can have as much butter, cream, cheese and steaks as you wish. This is an exciting experience actually. In fact, people on the Atkins diet are encouraged to eat these foods.

The Atkins diet is simple to manage too; you get the foods easily. You will need to learn only about how to manage your carbohydrates by a method of counting that. After that, you can eat anything you wish from the sizeable acceptable foods list.

Every person has his or her own carbohydrate level. The Atkins diet exhorts people to find that out through trial and error. Some people can become overweight with only 90 grams of carbohydrates a day, while some people show not effect even at 120 grams of carbohydrates. During the OWL phase, which is the second phase of the Atkins diet, people have to find out their own optimal carbohydrate limit and then they can stick with it for life. This way they will never gain in weight.

Dieters with the Atkins plan find it very easy to stick with it because of the wealth of information that is present. There are several Atkins books and even websites for support and guidance. However, that can be problematic too, as some people put in their own two-pence and might confuse the dieter. You will always need to have your head on your shoulders when you are reading these comments.

Some people find the fact that they have to count carbohydrates in everything they eat too taxing. This is important to stay within the carbohydrate range, but it can be annoying at times. The induction phase is too difficult too, especially if you have been subsisting on a diet of carbohydrates before. Many people get disillusioned at the induction phase and give up the diet altogether.

There might also be a crash on the third or the fifth day of the diet which could compound these decisions. This is the time when the ketosis begins to set in. This is a temporary stage, but it can instill fear in some people for low carbohydrate foods.

When all the pros and cons of the Atkins diet are considered, it becomes evident that it works, though there are some impediments on the way. But, on the whole, it is the most effective diet, and is also the most popular diet on the planet.

Losing Weight Rapidly

Wanting a slimmer and sexier body is no lofty ambition. Many people have succeeded in sculpting their physiques to make them look healthy and desirable. However, this end is not attained in just a snap or skipping one night’s dinner. For some people though, patience is not a virtue. They seem not to be able to afford so much attention, time and money to get the body they have always wanted. As a result, these people result to rapid weight loss practices and programs which may not be as effective as these people are led to believe they are.

Fast-track diets are one of these rapid weight loss practices which may not be very inviting as they seem according to research. Fast-track diet programs, as scientific research shows, are only good while they last. Rapid weight loss often results ironically, to rapid weight gain. people who undergo low carbohydrate or low calorie diets normally revert back to old eating habits simply because human beings can not actually live on with this type of diet scheme for the rest of their lives.

Now there is also scientific research showing that rapid weight loss does not imply an individual is losing unwanted excess fat; it is commonly water that is lost with following rapid weight loss practices. This could cause certain alarm but actually, water lost is regained very quickly. So there is actually zero net weight lost after all. So one should not be foolish enough to be so gullible with the advertising of certain diet pills out there in the market; especially those which claim to aid lose a whopping amount of fat in a short time. They will only dehydrate the body. And just so it is clear, the body can only lose two pounds of fat per week, one could be exceptionally lucky if he can lose three, but normally, it’s just two.

Another rapid weight loss product out in the market is the slimming soap. Claiming that these soaps are made from a unique concoction of rare chinese herbs and seaweed, they assert to help people using them to shed off body fats by emulsifying them upon application while taking a bath. Some are even specialized like those which promise to give the user “beautiful thighs”. The ingredients may prove to improve the quality of the skin but no research has ever come up yet which aids to prove the efficacy of these ingredients in emulsifying excess body fats.

One more rapid weight loss product out there in the market promises to suppress hunger and at the same time help increase the body’s metabolic rate. It also claims to be able to accelerate the healing process and reduce certain body pains, all these plus its being a very chic fashion accent. Well they are actually called magnetic weight loss earrings.

The secret of this set of earrings is in the magnet, so it says. Wearing them near the ears balances the magnetism in the body therefore one will experience all the above mentioned effects. Though press releases say that there are actually “studies” to back these assertions up, nothing yet is found in medical journals. Though buying a set may not kill a person, it’s probably not a wise investment. One might as well wear a horse shoe earring for a more exquisite fashion statement.

Bottom line is “no pain, no gain”. If one wants a beautiful body, one must sweat it out. And as for those rapid weight loss products coming out on the market, if they are too good to be true, they probably are not.

Carbohydrate Substitutes for the Atkins diet

Cutting down on carbohydrates with the Atkins diet is easy when you see the wide variety of proteins and vegetables that are on the acceptable foods list. However, it does take some time and adjustment to get used to this new way of eating. A lot of the American diet centers around complex carbohydrate foods like breads and pastas. Snack foods are full of sugars and refined carbohydrates. This new way of eating will challenge your old habits. However, there are many carbohydrate substitutes that can fill in the gap.

Some of the most popular replacement items are sugar substitutes. These can be good or bad depending on how you react to them. Each person has a different reaction to artificial sweeteners like aspartame and Splenda. They can be helpful in baking low-carbohydrate treats and making things taste sweet without risking sugar use. However, many people find that using artificial sweeteners makes them crave sugar even more. If you find you want more sweet treats after drinking a diet soda or eating a snack made with Splenda, its best to eliminate them entirely from your diet.

Bread is the number one challenge that Atkins dieters face when looking at their new diet plans. Bread is a staple food for many people, and eliminating it can be somewhat of a problem. There are some low carb breads available out there, but you have to watch for hidden carbohydrates and other unacceptable ingredients. If you are ambitious, you can try making your own bread out of almond flour or other non-traditional flours.

Many people say that they love pasta, but people vary rarely eat it plain. The best part about pasta is the topping. So taking those toppings (meat, cheese and vegetables) and putting them over something else is an easy solution. Many people who follow the Atkins plan have found that squash makes a good pasta substitute. Spaghetti squash, a yellow orange gourd with stringy insides, is a natural base for homemade meat sauce. Zucchini is also a good pasta substitute. You can grate in into fine pieces or chunk it up into sections to act as a base for sauces. Lasagna is easily made with large pieces of eggplant as a substitute for the noodles. The meats and cheeses used in lasagna are low-carb so there?s nothing to worry about there.

Another common problem for Atkins dieters is finding a good substitute for rice. One popular solution is to use cauliflower. Simply place the cauliflower florettes in a food processor and chop them until they are rice sizes pieces. Then microwave the ?rice? without water. The pieces will come out fluffy and ready to be used in casseroles or as part of a side dish.

Cauliflower is also a popular potato substitute for Atkins dieters. This time, puree the cauliflower until it is smooth and creamy, just like mashed potatoes. You can add your favorite low-carb topping to it like bacon, sour cream and cheese.

Pizza is a favorite food for many people, but there are Atkins friendly solutions for homemade pizzas that taste just as good. You can make small pizzas using low-carb tortillas as the crust. You can also use the same method with large Portobello mushrooms. If the alternative crust options don?t sound good to you, you can also try a pizza casserole with all of the ingredient layered in a casserole dish.
These substitutes will help you avoid indulging in your high-carb favorites while on the Atkins diet.

PPPPP

(word count 582)

Today, the Atkins diet is one of the most commonly-used dietary methods for weight loss. It has spawned many ‘inspired’ diets with the same principles of the Atkins diet, which are low carbohydrates and high proteins.

Low carbohydrate consumption, the mainstay of the Atkins diet, really has some benefits for weight loss. The main attraction of this dietary policy is that you do not have to reduce on the amount of calories that you take in. This is corroborated by people who are actually on the diet. The Atkins diet also enhances the blood sugar levels, which is good news for diabetic patients. It increases the amount of HDL cholesterol, which is good for people with cholesterol problems. When you restrict the amounts of carbohydrates in the diet, it can improve the insulin amounts in the blood and reduce the blood pressure.

People who consume the Atkins diet also report of having an increased energy level in their body, ability to focus better on their work, an enhanced mood, reduced depression symptoms and even a lowered craving for sweets. These things are not proven scientifically, but are definitely observed by people who are on the Atkins diet.

Then there are some more benefits that need to be mentioned. The Atkins diet has no restriction on the amounts of fats that you can take in. That’s the reason why you can now binge on all those high-fat foods that you thought were forbidden to you in the past. You can have as much butter, cream, cheese and steaks as you wish. This is an exciting experience actually. In fact, people on the Atkins diet are encouraged to eat these foods.

The Atkins diet is simple to manage too; you get the foods easily. You will need to learn only about how to manage your carbohydrates by a method of counting that. After that, you can eat anything you wish from the sizeable acceptable foods list.

Every person has his or her own carbohydrate level. The Atkins diet exhorts people to find that out through trial and error. Some people can become overweight with only 90 grams of carbohydrates a day, while some people show not effect even at 120 grams of carbohydrates. During the OWL phase, which is the second phase of the Atkins diet, people have to find out their own optimal carbohydrate limit and then they can stick with it for life. This way they will never gain in weight.

Dieters with the Atkins plan find it very easy to stick with it because of the wealth of information that is present. There are several Atkins books and even websites for support and guidance. However, that can be problematic too, as some people put in their own two-pence and might confuse the dieter. You will always need to have your head on your shoulders when you are reading these comments.

Some people find the fact that they have to count carbohydrates in everything they eat too taxing. This is important to stay within the carbohydrate range, but it can be annoying at times. The induction phase is too difficult too, especially if you have been subsisting on a diet of carbohydrates before. Many people get disillusioned at the induction phase and give up the diet altogether.

There might also be a crash on the third or the fifth day of the diet which could compound these decisions. This is the time when the ketosis begins to set in. This is a temporary stage, but it can instill fear in some people for low carbohydrate foods.

When all the pros and cons of the Atkins diet are considered, it becomes evident that it works, though there are some impediments on the way. But, on the whole, it is the most effective diet, and is also the most popular diet on the planet.

Darren Williger is a guitar playing, tea drinking, meditating, low carbohydrate eating, wine making sales maker who writes for MyLowCarbPages.com, and MindSatori.com.

I have been continuing to stick with my low-carb diet and have already lost a few pounds.  I’m not eager to track weight initially as my body adjusts.  I will share a secret to keeping low-carb (and it’s really easy) – it’s about transitioning your diet into your lifestyle. 

This helps support permanent change and makes your resolution stick!

The term diet itself makes us feel like we have denied ourselves something.  When you focus on your goals, you will easily incorporate healther choices into your life.  Don’t get discouraged.  This actually will work quickly.

Try documenting what you eat.  By keeping track of what (and when) you eat, you may discover patterns you didn’t realize.  If you find this idea discouraging, at least commit to a full day and try it.  Personally, I use an online service, food feed to track easily through SMS.  It makes an interesting log.  It’s not difficult to do, you may find other interesting Twitter followers and followees, and it’s fun to do.  If you have a particular successful weight loss week, or a plateau you are trying to break, your food trends may lend some insightful assistance.

Get off your ass and exercise.  Seriously.  You certainly can lose weight with this diet by just focusing on the food.  Definitely.  But – why not take advantage of moving this forward faster and adding additional health benefits as well?  OK, I will get back to this more in future posts – I know it’s hard to make a lot of changes at once as I am doing it.

I found a really tasty lower-carbohydrate ice cream at the market, enjoying some of the banana split one right now.  It’s not good for Atkins induction, or for overdoing it anytime, but it’s at least a little less guilt.

 Anyway – Good luck my fellow low carbers!  Happy weekend ahead…