Colette's Blog

Q&A with Andie Thueson

August 1, 2019

Andie is a busy stay-at-home mom to three kids. Since discovering that living a low carb lifestyle could help improve her health and lose weight in the process, she has partnered with Atkins, and she’s been on a mission to share how eating healthy and embracing fitness can be simple and fun through her blog Maybe I Will.

 Here Andie shares why she chose to follow a low carb lifestyle, as well as some of her favorite low carb summer snacks and fitness tips.

Q: What made you decide to follow a low carb lifestyle?

 A: A few years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), one of the main complications being pre-diabetes and diabetes. My body does not regulate insulin in a normal way. After much trial and error, I have come to know that my body functions and feels its best when I commit and live a low carb lifestyle. 

 Q: Had you had success with other diets before? 

 A: Over the years I have tried so many diets, and my body always responds the best when I come back to a low carb lifestyle.

 Q: How and why does low carb work for you?

 A: Eating low carb is easy to follow and does not require measuring, weighing and tracking calories—all wins in my book. And my body responds really well to it. 

 Q: Does your family follow a low carb lifestyle as well, or do you make modifications (and if so, what kind) to your meals to accommodate your kids, etc.? 

 A: My family does not follow a low carb diet, but I do like to reduce the amount of sugar and processed carbs they eat. When it comes to meals, I choose to make meals that are easy for me to swap out pasta for veggies or skip the bread. I am not about to make two separate meals. Nobody got time for that. Ha! 

 Q: What low carb snacks do you rely on during the summer?

 A: Fresh berries are magical in the summer and taste so much better because they are in season! I also love watermelon and cantaloupe. I like to eat my fruit paired with high- protein Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. I opt for the full-fat versions to avoid added sugars. 

Q: What are your go-to low carb meals? Do they tend to change with the seasons? For example, low carb comfort food in the winter, more grilling, and fresh vegetables in the summer?

 A: I love eating foods that are in season. In the summer, we grill a lot, so hamburgers, brats, and grilled veggies are my go-to meals. In the winter, I rely on roasted veggies that are low on the glycemic index, as well as roasted meats. 

 Q: What motivates you to work out regularly?

 A: I am a fitness fanatic; my day just doesn’t feel right without working out. I am always amazed by what my body is capable of. It motivates and astonishes me. 

 Q: What kind of workouts do you do? 

 A: I love to run, and I am currently training for my very first marathon. (Check out Andie’s interview with Atkins Nutrition Communications Manager and endurance athlete Jonathan Clinthorne, as he explains how a low carb lifestyle works while training for and competing in endurance events.)

 Q: How do you squeeze fitness in when you’re short on time or traveling?

 A: One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to go for a run and check out the city as I run the streets. If the place I am visiting is not run-friendly or I am short on time I like to do a quick HIIT workout in the hotel gym or even in my hotel room

 Q: What tips do you have for encouraging your family to be active?

 A: I enjoy hiking and bringing my family along to explore. I also try to plan active activities that help us get out and be active all year round. 

 Q: What are your go-to low carb snacks for before and after workouts?

 I wake up early, so I rarely eat before working out. But after working out, I usually will drink an Atkins shake or eat some nuts and string cheese.  

 Q: Do your workout snacks change depending on activity?

 A: If I am doing a more focused workout, then I will eat a snack like a protein shake after. If I am just being active and the movement is more relaxed, I will rely more on snacks like an Atkins bar, boiled eggs, turkey roll-ups or nuts.

 Q: Do you have anything else to add about living a low carb and active lifestyle?

 A: Over the years I have learned that living low carb is sustainable if you allow yourself to be flexible and not so militant. What that means is if I am at a party or other special event, I may eat a slice of cake or other carb goodies, and I enjoy it! Instead of feeling all kinds of guilt and shame about “cheating”, I allow myself some freedom to live a little. 

But ultimately I know and have learned that I feel and look my best when I am fueling my body with nutritious low carb goodness. 

 

 

More From Colette

Low Carb + Intermittent Fasting = Weight Loss and a Healthy Gut

The buzz around combining a low carb diet with Intermittent Fasting (IF) continues to grow, although not much research has supported this until recently, when a study published in Cell Reports Medicine investigated the combined effects of a healthy low-carbohydrate diet and time-restricted eating (TRE), another term for Intermittent Fasting, on weight loss and gut

Read More »

The Carnivore Diet and Atkins

We explore the difference between these two low carb approaches. The Carnivore Diet and the Atkins Diet are both low carbohydrate diets, but they differ in approach, food variety and nutritional philosophy. What Do You Eat on the Carnivore Diet? This eating style is exclusively animal-based, focusing on meat, fish, eggs, and animal products like

Read More »

Preventing and Managing Diabetes with a Low-Carb Lifestyle

What is Diabetes and Why Does It Happen? November is American Diabetes Month, so let’s dive into how a low-carb diet can make a big difference in managing and preventing diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar and supporting overall health. What Is Diabetes? Diabetes is a condition where your body struggles to manage blood sugar levels.

Read More »