Introduction

[Debra Gara]

Hi everyone,

I am new and starting induction today. I have followed Atkins in the past but went off of it and regained the weight. Probably a familiar story for many .....

My goal is to lose 20 - 30 pounds.... I will figure that out as I go along. I do excercise on my eliptical trainer for 30 -45 minutes every morning, plus I have added a resisitance routine and I love to walk. So I have the excercise plan already in place. Now I have to deal with the eating.......

I have learned the hard way that it is a way of life NOT a quick fix diet. On the other hand, I have to approach it on a "one day at a time" level. I can accept the change a lot more easily if I think in terms of "I can't have pizza today" as opposed to thinking in the long term. Similiar to AA, I have to view my addiction to carbs like any other addiction.

I have the book but went to the Atkins website and printed the updated rules of induction. There are a few changes and the most significant is the increase in veggies. I did also post this to the thread about salads for lunch; you should have 4 cups of salad veggies per day or three cups of salad veggies plus one cup of other veggies off of the acceptable vegetable list.

The other difference regards caffeine... it says to limit your intake to 1 - 2 cups per day of coffee or diet drinks that contain caffeine. I am soooo happy that I don't have to give up my morning coffee!!

I do have a question regarding sugar free Metamucil...... is it okay to take during induction? I do recall that i had a problem with regularity the first time around and would like to avoid having history repeat itself. What type of fibre supplement to you all use??

I think that is about it for now. I hope to be an active member of this board and learn from everyone's experiences.

Debra

[Brook]

Re: Introduction

Welcome back to the plan and welcome to the board, Debra

Sounds like you're ahead of the game with a good exercise regimen in place - with planning, the eating will come!

As for fiber supplementation, Dr. Atkins recommended psyllium husks. Personally, I'm a big fan of flax seed/flax meal and all the many incarnations of delivery (Hit the recipe boards and do a search for flax. You'll get lots of ideas.) Lots of people do take sugar free Metamucil and do just fine with it.

I wish you success!
~Brook

[Finelly]

Re: Introduction

flax seed is my diet staple. 3 tablespoons per day makes a lovely cracker to melt cheese on. Helps with the constipation thing, but also makes hair, nails and skin look wonderful.

Welcome back to Atkins! We have a Second Time Around Forum that you may want to check out. It's full of fantastic people who are in the same situation as you, with lots of motivation, humor, and ideas. Come on over!

[Elizellen]

Re: Introduction

I have the book but went to the Atkins website and printed the updated rules of induction. There are a few changes and the most significant is the increase in veggies. I did also post this to the thread about salads for lunch; you should have 4 cups of salad veggies per day or three cups of salad veggies plus one cup of other veggies off of the acceptable vegetable list.

The other difference regards caffeine... it says to limit your intake to 1 - 2 cups per day of coffee or diet drinks that contain caffeine. I am soooo happy that I don't have to give up my morning coffee!!

Hi Debra
Just a note of caution about using the info from the Atkins website . . .
This board follows the instructions given in the book Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002 - not the altered information given on the website, so you will find differing nresponses here to what you are seeing there.
The added cup of veggies probably can do you no harm but the thinking on caffeine and the use of their special lowcarb mixes, shakes and bars as a regular induction menu item is not encouraged here as even Atkins do say on their website that their use can stall weightloss!!

There is a good sticky on the FAQs about caffeine and Atkins,
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6749
as well as one on how the body reacts with the sugar alcohols used in many LC products.
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6780

Another thing to consider if you want to follow the Atkins website menu plans is that they do suggest the use on induction of bars, cereals and mixes which contain ingredients not on the Allowed food list - maybe containing nuts, soy and wheat flour, which are not allowed till the proper rung of OWL. So if you do use them and find you are not losing it might be because these ingredients are stalling you.

Please dont take this post as a criticism of how you intend to follow induction, just a warning that these products may hamper your weightloss, and to keep an eye on your intake of them.

As Moochiecat often says - most of us want to lose this excess weight asap and it is worth giving it your best shot without eating things that many people have found delayed that process.

[Debra Gara]

Re: Introduction

Thanks for the advice and I will stick to the book and not the website. I checked out the recipes as suggested and found one for crackers made from flax meal and parmesan cheese..... of course I ran out and bought the flax to give it a try and it is excellent!

[Elizellen]

Re: Introduction

Glad you like them - but don't overdo the flax on induction, as it is only allowed as an aid to prevent constipation as suggested on page 76 of DANDR 2002 in Chapter 8.
Start by adding 1 Tablespoonsworth a day to regulate your 'movements' and increase slowly if neccessary. Too much flax can make constipation worse!!
Later on the nuts and seeds rung of OWL you can add more if you like.