New Here...

[sd209]

Hi...

My name is Sarah. I was on Atkins 3 .5 years ago and lost 60lbs without even thinking about it. It was the first time I had ever been on a "diet." I was on it for a little over 8 months and the weight just fell off. I did not exercise, but worked in a Kitchen as a Chef 5 days a week and that was my source of exercise, which now that I look on it, was really not exercise...LOL. I went from a size 16 to a size 5 in jeans. I pretty much just stayed on induction the whole time, just eating more salad than induction calls for.

Then I got married and wanted to get pregnant and the Doctor told me women on low carb diets have a very hard time achieveing pregnancy and after 6 months of trying I figured he was right and went off the diet with a vengence...I went from watching what I ate to watching myself eat everything I wanted without discrimination.

I had gained back my weight pretty much by the time I got pregnant, 2 years into my marriage. I was restricted from activities during my pregnancy becuase of pregnancy-induced high bloodpressure but still managed to only gain 22 lbs by the time I gave birth and after 6 weeks of breastfeeding I was pretty close to my postpartum weight...then I got Depo shot and I gained back the weight and then a little in a matter of 3 months, SHEEZ!

Well, I am now back on Atkins, FOR LIFE, since I now know I can do lifetime maintenence while getting pregnant and that low-carb lifestyles do not effect fertility as I was previously told.

I would like to loose 80lbs, which would put me at a little less than my ideal weight.

I am exercising for the first time in my life and LOVING it. I have been doing an hour a day on my eliptical and plan on doing that 7 days a week and adding a little weights and also doing some of the mile walks they do on comcast demand fitness channel.

I have lost 5 pounds since Sunday, which was my first day of induction. I need to not weigh myself everyday though. That is bad. I am having a problem with that. Last time I didn't even own a scale so I weighed myself the day i got into a size 5 jeans and was 147lbs and I am 5'4.

So I have a couple of questions for you all...

1. Does the weight really come off slower the 2nd time around? I never did a "clean" induction the first time because I had coffee and diet soda all the time and never measured my acceptable vegetables. I am no longer drinking diet soda or coffee and only water at 101.4 ounces a day...

2. Should the weight come off quicker now that I am exercising? What exercise is most effective? I am willing and capable of doing ANYTHING!

3. The Atkins website lists and "induction menu" and it has over 20 grams of carbs for each day??What's up with that? The day one menu had some kind of flaxseed bread I would think is not acceptable during induction...can someone claify???

Thanks for your help. I am really commited to this. I have no cravings that I cannot control and feel great that I cook my husband all my favorite foods and don't feel tempted to eat them...just like the first time I was on the diet!

The other thing different this time around is that I am no longer a smoker. I have quit for over a year now. I am changing my lifestyle for my son. I want to set a healthy example for him. I do not want him to have food issues.

Lastly, my goal is to lose 3 pounds a week...is that unheard of? I would like to lose most, if not all of the 80lbs by 09/02/06 as a birthday present for my hubby and son...they share the same b-day...

Looking forward to getting to know/help encourage each one of you.

[cathyjobob]

Re: New Here...

Hey Sarah congratulations on all the positive changes you've made in your life already! The weight has come off slower for me the second time around, but that doesn't mean it will for you...exercise should act as a catalyst for greater weightloss, yes...not sure about the flax bread website thing...I'd stick to the induction foods you know for a fact are legal...theres a thread around here somewhere with that...I'll slap it in here for you after if you like

Nice to meet you, sounds like you're well on your way to success!

[sd209]

Re: New Here...

Thanks so much for the welcome! I have the accepable ds list but really, you should see the Induction Menu on the wesite...I was floored. I won't eat the bread anyways of ANY kindI slip up then it is all down hill form there. I think when I go on lifetime maintenence down the road most of my carbs will probably come from beans and fruit. I think I have officially sworn off bread and sweets for life, except of course, splenda treats....
It is so weird the effect carbs have on me. I'll eat once slice of bread and want ten more and still be hungry..same with pasta, rice, potatoes, ect...esp. sweets but with meat and vegetables I am satisfied longer on alot less and don't have that uncontroable urge to eat everything on my plate...I wonder why that is???

I wonder if there is anyone that lost at the same rate the second time as the first time around?? I don't think I am insulin resistant because I did not have any problems with gestational diabetes during my pregnancy, which I have read is a big indicator of future insulin resistance.

Well, I'd like to hear all of your weight loss stories the second time around...who all is loosing 80lbs and how long is it taking and what phase of Atkins are you in and what, if any, is your exersice routine...speaking of, I think I am going to do another 30 on the eliptical!

Be back in a bit!

[cathyjobob]

Re: New Here...

Thanks so much for the welcome! I have the accepable ds list but really, you should see the Induction Menu on the wesite...I was floored. I won't eat the bread anyways of ANY kindI slip up then it is all down hill form there. I think when I go on lifetime maintenence down the road most of my carbs will probably come from beans and fruit. I think I have officially sworn off bread and sweets for life, except of course, splenda treats....
It is so weird the effect carbs have on me. I'll eat once slice of bread and want ten more and still be hungry..same with pasta, rice, potatoes, ect...esp. sweets but with meat and vegetables I am satisfied longer on alot less and don't have that uncontroable urge to eat everything on my plate...I wonder why that is???

No problem! I hear you about that slippery slope! Tonight at work I had to fix a huge pot of pasta for all of my clients...and it looked really, really good...thankfully I'm pretty stubborn, so I just turned to my green leafy salad with tuna fish on top...and it was quite satisfying I believe (correct me if I'm wrong people) that you feel satisfied for longer on less food because your insulin and blood sugar levels are evening out and not peaking and valleying any more like they would consuming large quantities of carbs...that's how my Dr. explained it atleast...she's very patient, and even drew pictures! LOL

I think I am going to do another 30 on the eliptical!

Be back in a bit!

Happy exercising SD!

[mitzimarie]

Re: New Here...

Hi, and Welcome!

About the Induction Menu on the Atkins website... you can't really go by anything put out by the "new" Atkins people. After the death of Dr. A, it has gone totally downhill. They have changed everything in search of the almighty dollar (bars, shakes, and processed convenience foods are allowed). I've read the book they put out called "The Atkins Essentials - A Two-Week Program to Jump-Start Your Low Carb Lifestyle". What a joke!! So, on this board, we follow the 2002 version called "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution"; it was the last book written by Dr. A himself.

About the second time around for me... I only weigh on Sundays, so on my last weigh in I had been on for 21 days and lost 11 pounds. I was inconsistent with my exercise during that time, but have attacked my exercise program with gusto this past week so that should help. My stats are at the bottom for you to see. My best advice is not to get hung up on the scale... this is for life, so relax about the number on the scale.

I'm sure many others will chime in here... they are all just great! Looking forward to hearing from you often.

See you around!

[LuckyD]

Re: New Here...

Welcome back. You sound like you have a great mind set and that really is 90% of it right there. Please dont stress about how fast the weight comes off now. It can make you crazy. It varys so much on this WOE, one person can drop 14lbs in 2 weeks another will drop 1 lb. Most are somewhere in between. DO NOT beat yourself up if you happen to be on the slow side. Also, really big losses are usually followed by slow losses, so your best bet is an even pace...but thats really up to your body isnt it? Sounds like you are on the right track with exersize and that can really speed things up for you. Just remember...dont go near the slippery slope. Its easy to go down and hard to climb back up.

[attek]

Re: New Here...

Welcome back to Atkins and welcome to the ADBB - this is a great place for support and advice.

I've not noticed any slower weight loss the second time around than the first time. That doesn't mean anything where you're concerned, though, since everyone is different.

Three pounds per week for six months solid seems a little unlikely to me. Reading through the boards and kind of watching people's stats on their signatures, I get a general feeling of a slower trend than that. But you could be an exception. Do you have any idea of your metabolic resistance to weight loss? You can definitely eat a higher level of carbs and still lose weight if you exercise.

One thing I would hate to see you do is repeat your mistake of staying in Induction the whole time and never progressing to OWL, Pre-Maintenance, or Maintenance. I made the same mistake the first time, except I went to Rung 4 of OWL before I quit at my goal weight. That's a sure-fire formula to regain it. You must learn to re-introduce foods gradually into your diet, and that alone will slow your weight loss down as you learn which foods you can or cannot eat.

[sd209]

Re: New Here...

OK, I just did 45 minutes, making that almost 2 miles I have done today!!!

So if you don't mind me asking for inspiration when was your start date and how much have you lost since then and what is your exercise routine??? My ideal is to do 80 minutes day, 2 miles a day!

[sd209]

Re: New Here...

So I kind of know which foods should not have. I know my body can handle vegetables and fruit well, but flour. rice and pasta are my deal breakers. Even if my body could process them well, which it can't, I cannot seem to control my portions with them becuase they just make me hungrier...

Good advice though I am going to follow it ALL the way through and then some. I can't wait to get on lifetime maintenece.

Like I said though, I am attempting a whole lifestyle change. I am adressing the reason why I over eat and use food for comfort. I want to exercise for life, everyday, if possible. My ideal is by 2008, my 28 birthday I will be my ideal weight in a healthy way and be able to consider giving my son a brother or sister.