Hello England, UK and rest of the world

I just joined the other day, I'm in London and doing Atkins (again) but only seriously for the second time.

I've noticed there are not many new posts on this UK Board and some are really old. Atkins was popular here a few years ago, but negative publicity has pushed it aside and even Tesco has stopped selling low carb food. They sell just about every other specialist food but not low carb or Atkins anymore. Government policy has a lot to do with this I think! Don't even get me started on politics or that waste of space running (ruining) our country grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Low carb and Atkins have become dirty words here in England and there is always some smart arse who can't wait to tell me Dr. Atkins died from a heart attack. I won't bang on about how the undernourished are treated as saints and it's a medical problem, yet the overweight are not treated and looked down on because 'it's their own fault'.

I have noticed that more recenly, in the last few years anyway, the main theme of TV entertainment shows revolve around the humiliation of women, their appearance, their age, their lack of house cleanliness, their apparent inability to raise children without Supernanny and the weight of both men and women. Fat this and Fat that.... how very dare they.

I'm going to write to Tesco's HQ and ask them to start selling low carb foods again, afterall they sell cigarettes and alcohol which fairly destroys any health arguements they might have.

Atkins Website???...it's well spooky isn't it?...reminds me of that film 'Coma' there is just something not right about it all since the old fella died. I like this site, it's a mixture of support, information and ideas that are delivered in a much friendlier way than from a corporate suit.

Like the dear Dr. said...shop the perimeters of the store....go for the meats, the eggs, the dairy and salad....

Good luck!

Thanks Mimarg but I think a lot of the times failure creeps in is because we all miss certain foods...pasta and bread for example. I don't eat meat so shop bought low carb foods help vary things.

I think it is a great advantage that there are few 'lowcarb' products available over here.
There are plenty of alternative recipes for making dishes that resemble or are better than our old highcarb 'favourites'.
My husband actually prefers 'caulirice' to real rice for instance.

Hi Elizellen, thanks and you are probably right, taking one look at Atkins site shows there can be too many. I try to make home made alternatives and agree about the colli rice. Just the odd time when time and location is an issue it would be great to use a convenience product or two.

I find the best 'convenience food' is nuts. I have some small (ex aquadrop) packets that hold exactly one ounce of unroasted unskinned almonds and always keep at least one in the car/my bag/pocket when out and about so I am never without something 'legal'.

For the times I know I will need crackers/bread, like attending a catered lunch where there is likely to be cheese offered as a dessert I take some flax crackers or a few slices of flax/almond bread with me in a small tupperware container.

How are you managing Atkineering without meat? Do you eat eggs/cheese/fish or do you have to rely on tofu for your protein?

Morning Elizellen

I eat dairy products like eggs and cream and cheese, but I'm not big on fish so would eat it in very small amounts every so often. My meat decline and now elimination is not particularly the moral reason although farming concerns me and the thought of flesh itself does. I'm just not keen on the texture and taste of most meat although beef and lamb were my favourites but I'm not even tempted to look back yet. The children love meat! so it's interesting how they don't really mind having a few vegetarian nights. Quorn is easy to use in much the same way I find.

I've never understood the need for geletine in yoghurts and mousse deserts and avoid these even for the children. My multi vitimin and evening primrose oil are vegetarian.

When I did Atkins and lost 5 stone (70lbs), only bacon and tuna helped me there together with the English roast lamb and beef Sunday dinners, that are as much about our culture and family pleasure as the eating is.

Flax flour...I've just bought some so will check out the recipe threads for uses. Thanks for your support

Hi JD&Coke,

You can still get Atkins bars in Boots and sugar free choclate and sweets in Boots, Thorntons and Holland and Barretts. Lidl do a very good sugar free (but not carb free) tomato ketchup. Also, there are some very good low carb websites offering low carb products by post. Youcan still make 'instant bread' with ground almonds or low carb pancakes with soya flour both of which are easily available. All is not lost. I agree with you about Tescos though. I suppose the bottom just fell out of the market.

Good luck this time around.

Robert

Hi Robert,

Hey thanks for that info. We actually use the tomato ketchup, didn't realise it was sugar free. I love Lidl's for their cheeses, nuts, fruit and vegetables. They also carry great sun blushed tomatoes in a jar and frozen fish especially prawns that I will eat once in a blue moon in a salad. Their wine is cheap and not bad either

I'm going to stay away from the bars and just carry my little bag of nuts around. I try not to eat any on induction that I'm hoping to stay on for about two months.

I'm going to start making more of the recipies off here, afterall this is going to be something I will be doing for a very long time so need to re-educate myself...again
x

I tend to think that branded low carb products like branded low fat products WW for instance, are rather expensive ways of dieting & often help to scupper it. Using fresh foods I get more for my money & know without doubt just what I am eating.