So Many Questions....

**cypressgirl** · March 14, 2006, 02:05 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

Why don't you post some of your menus for us to look at so we can suggest some variety and look them over for anything that might help?

As for the test strips, I think most people don't use them at all. Those who do tend to get really varied results and our SUPER intelligent ADBB Hostess 2big recently posted about how they only test for certain ketones so some don't even show up. I wouldn't rely too much on them.

Without your menus, I can't be sure but you may not be eating enough fat. Since you can only have a certain amount of salad veggies during the first two weeks, you may be overdoing it on the salads. Sounds weird to eat too much salad and not enough fat huh?

Are you eating full fat products? Real butter? Heavy cream, no milk right?

As for your kidneys, this way of eating is naturally diuretic so make sure you drink lots of water and you should be fine. People with lots of weight to lose need even more because you are flushing, flushing, flushing!

Do you have a copy of the book? If so, refer to the section on induction and read it until you know it well. It almost becomes a mantra! If not, definitely get it. You have to be well prepared to succeed with ATkins. That means a well stocked fridge with lots of choices and variety.

You said you were hungry/not satisfied. Pay close attention to your body's cues. If you are not satisfied simply because you are used to more, wait before you eat more. Drink some water and give your food time to settle. If you feel actual hunger, it is not likely to be put off so easily and you really should eat something else. If your fat ratio is where it should be (65% or so), your hunger should start to diminish naturally under the effects of this Way Of Eating. Get a free account at www.fitday.com and plug in your food. It can be a bit tedious at first but it is so worth it!

Check out the recipes section here too. If the ingredients are all legal, then dig in!

I can't wait to see your progress. I am sure you will do wonderfully!

**rain** · March 14, 2006, 02:13 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

okay....here are some of my menus
Today this is what I had...

Breakfast: scrambled eggs with swiss cheese and 4 sausage links
Lunch: Salad with no carb dressing, and a chicken breast sliced thin and sautee'd in butter
Snack: 3 dill pickles wrapped with budig pastrami and cream cheese (yum)
Dinner: salad with radishes, cheese, bacon bits, and carb free dressing and a hamburger patty.

I am famished!

However I have a husband and two kids and When I cook...like tonight I made hamburgers, while I had the patty, they had theirs on a bun and with fries and baked beans....oiy...that was hard.

**rain** · March 14, 2006, 02:15 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

I guess that was just one day...let me see what I ate yesterday...
I had an atkins morning start bar for breakfast, and I made chicken salad for lunch, canned chicken breast, mayo, sliced olives, and salt and pepper, and I ate it with celery stix.... for dinner we were on the go, and ate at mc donalds, and I had the grilled chicken ceasar salad and a quarter pounder with cheese, no bun.

**sallyseachange** · March 14, 2006, 02:31 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

A word of warning about the Atkins bars... they have been known to stall many people... better to avoid them until later on in this way of eating.

Exercise is important too. As much as you can. Start gently if you're not used to it, and gradually increase, without overdoing things. Soon you'll reap the rewards.

Glad you found us here at ADBB...this is a fantastic place for support and inspiration. Looking forward to seeing you shed those pounds very soon!

Hang in there... this way of eating really works, if you do it by the book (DANDR 2002 edition - a MUST read and the last version written by Dr A himself).

Sal

**cypressgirl** · March 14, 2006, 03:12 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

I would drop the 'carb free' salad dressing and opt for regular ranch or blue cheese. Usually they have a carb or two per two tablespoon serving.

Always check deli meat labels for carbs. Not sure if Budig pastrami has them or not.

(Celery makes me and some others crave things like crazy! I had to drop it but there will be time enough after induction for you to figure out what triggers you so don't worry about that now..)

I am assuming that you didn't measure what you ate since you didn't give amounts. It is pretty important during the first few weeks to get really familiar with measuring. You can eyeball later on when you are more used to what servings are best for you. Right now, journal everything and see what is going on. Use the fitday account and you will see a breakdown in %. If your fat ration is less than 65%, add more fat!

I can not eat Atkins or 'low carb' bars and candies. They leave my blood sugar spiraling and me starving! They really don't do you justice!

I am about 157 and your amount of food and mine, while different choices, seem relatively the same in terms of calories and bulk. You are not to be counting calories here so I say that only to point out that you may not be eating enough.

This way of eating is about feeding your hunger not restricting your self and staying hungry. If you are hungry then eat woman!

Just keep it legal. It would be better if you used fitday. I swear you will see what we are saying if you take the time to enter your food there for a few days. Ignore the calorie part and focus on staying under 20 carbs (remember, subtract the fiber!) and get enough fat. Measure! It's the only way to go in the beginning!

**cypressgirl** · March 14, 2006, 03:17 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

And about those bars, Atkins products are made by the Atkins Nutritional folks. They are all about the $$ and very little in the spirit of what I feel Dr. Atkins intended. I would say the only place they have in this way of eating is premaintenance, maintenance or a very last resort. They stall us , leave us with cravings and they are pricey to boot. Eat some real food, don't set your weight loss back and enjoy the nice satisfied full feeling while loving the taste of what you eat!

**cypressgirl** · March 14, 2006, 03:35 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

The grilled chicken ceasar at Mcdonald's has 12 carbs - 3 fiber = 9netcarbs.

Atkins Morning start bar has 14 to 20 carbs - 7 to 9 fiber = 7 to11 carbs (**however they say count only so many because they have lower glycemic value. Well, so do legal veggies but we count them too right?)

5 medium olives has 1.21 carbs - .6 fiber so about .6 net

Mayo generally has 1 carb per serving

3 seven inch long Celery stalks have about 4 carbs - 2 fiber so 2 net carbs.

The cheese slice Mc'donalds uses on the burger is about 2 carbs.

If you drank any diet sodas, add 1 net carb per serving. Same for coffee (even without sweetener).

So without diet soda or coffee, and limiting your mayo to only 2 Tbsp. (which I never can do), you would already be at 22-23 carbs and that is lowballing the Atkins bar and guessing low at the rest. See how those carbs can sneak in on you?

Please don't let this frustrate you or overwhelm you! You have a great start - the decision to get started is really 1/2 the battle. You can tweak some things, really sink your teeth into that book and you will be melting before our very eyes!

**dotsamantha** · March 14, 2006, 07:14 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

And you can definitely eat more than what you are right now, just more of the good stuff. Beef, pork, poultry, sea food, eggs. A little bit of cheese (4 oz) 3 cups of the good greens or 2 cups and 1 cup of the other legal veggies. I know it feels contradictory, but you have to eat enough fat to satiate your appetite or sele you'll always be hungry, that's whay the low-fat diets never worked for me. Here's what i'd do:

Sit down and read the indiction chapter a few times. Then read the whole book again.
Highlight, dog-ear, circle all the integral paragraphs (rules, food lists and amounts, etc)
Use fitday to track CARBS, not calories (the good doc said don't count them, he diodn't say they don't count)
Buy the foods you can afford, as varied as possible
Try to eat mini-meals instead of snacks between meals.

You can do this, one pound at a time!

**stephanie** · March 14, 2006, 07:44 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

Hungry? Bored with salads and eggs and plain meat...try this site...recommended here and everything is fine for induction:

http://users3.ev1.net/~fontlady/induction_menus/induction_menus.html

I made the bacon and swiss quiche last night for the next few days for breakfast...OMG TO DIE FOR!!!

Have fun EATING.

**Moochiecat** · March 14, 2006, 08:48 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

You've been given some great advice here!
Read the book, get an account at www.fitday.com to chart your foods (here's a link to help you with that http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5235 ) Fitday can tell you a lot about where you're at and can give you some guidelines.
Ditch the bars.
Save yourself the money and just buy regular dressings...ranch, blue cheese, Italian are usually all fine...I use Kraft myself.

It can take a person some time to recognize whether hunger is actual hunger or an emotional hunger. I used to have evenings where I had eaten a good supper, but was just antsy for a snack. Sometimes I actually was hungry, but lots of times I was just either thirsty, bored or realized I was just fighting the habit of having a snack.

It'll all work out in it's own time. Meanwhile in the early days/weeks/months of the diet, don't be shy to have a snack if you feel hungry. The best thing to have is a protein/fat combo (boiled egg, devilled egg, cheese with deli meat wrapped around it). It'll satisfy you quicker and sustain you longer.

There is just no need to feel 'famished' on Atkins. You've gotten through the worst of it (the Induction Flu) and it's just going to get better bit by bit.

You might want to slowly integrate the veggies into your families meals as well...like substitute a salad for those fries...they'll benefit from this right along with you.

Ketone strips...save your money! As long as you are eating according to the Rules and the Acceptable Foods list, there's really no reason you won't be in ketosis. I've never used them myself.

Hang in there....find a pair of pants or a tshirt that is too tight and try that on every once in a while if you don't use a scale...it's a much much better indicator of your progress than a number anyway. Plus it's just more exciting to fit back into clothes you couldn't wear before!

**Isabeau** · March 14, 2006, 10:21 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

Great advice! I just wanted to welcome you aboard. You're off to a great start.

**Austlyn** · March 14, 2006, 10:55 AM

Re: So Many Questions....

I agree with moochie The regular dressing will help feel you up too! Welcome to

**sunflowergrl** · March 14, 2006, 12:58 PM

Re: So Many Questions....

Austlyn!! 'feel you up'!! LOL !!! I want some of that dressing!!!

**sunflowergrl** · March 14, 2006, 12:58 PM

Re: So Many Questions....

Oh, and welcome to ADBB!!! You will love this way of life!

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So Many Questions....

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