I'm new & have a few questions.

[heidi69]

I'm on day three and feeling a bit of panic. Just nervous, and feeling like something is off. I think this is the change to Atkins getting off of carbs, right?

A bit of history:

I started Atkins a few years back, for about 10 days then my father passed away, so I didn't care for a while and then I got pregnant. I have 6 kids, and with the first two there was no problem with getting off the weight, but then the last 4 children were one right after the other, so my youngest is 8 months now and I seem to be stuck. I get big with the babies, and getting down to 190 is not much of a struggle for me after I deliver no matter how much weight I gain, but it's a struggle after that now.

I started slimfast and went down to 170lbs, but then it just stopped working for me. I would then go up and down from 170 to 185. I started this three days ago at 183lbs. Last night I weighed and I'm at 175. I think the water is flushing out of me with as much as I'm drinking.

Questions: Does anybody know a brand name of bacon/sausage that is not cured with nitrates or sugar? I have searched, with no luck so I am forced to use these.

I went and bought all the vitamins/minerals the book said: Vitamin C, Evening Primrose, Benefiber, Chromium Picolinate, Omega 3 Fish Oil, L-Glutamine, and a One-A-Day Active Multivitamin. Question: I couldn't find a multivitamin with NO iron. I found one with 50% daily requirements, but nothing that has None at all. Anybody know the name of one?

I bought all the organic salad & vegetables I like from the list, but I'm having a hard time with the dressing. I bought a red wine vinegar with a light olive oil and I eat it but I can't stand it. Any suggestions? What I realy love is French, but I don't think that's going to be ok through induction. Any breakfast ideas other then meat & eggs?

Any ideas would be great. Thanks!

[julirama723]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Buy a 50+/Seniors multivitamin. These don't have iron.

As for salad dressing, I've always used ranch. There are usually 1 or 2g per serving, but as DANDR says, this is acceptable if the carbs are 2g or less per serving.

For breakfast, anything goes! You can eat leftovers if you want. Just pick anything off the induction foods list.

[jmprgrl74]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

No Iron? Ugh, why is that, I hadn't heard that yet. I'm on Day 10 and have been taking a regular multivitamin. I've lost 9 lbs tho so I guess I'm okay, but why no iron?

Heidi try this website:
http://genaw.com/lowcarb/

TONS of great recipes and she notes which are induction friendly. Hubby and I made 'pigs in a blanket' this morning with 'pancakes' and sausage links with Walden Farms sugarfree pancake syrup (just a drop). The pancakes recipe is this:

http://www.sugarfreesheila.com/RecipesPage.html

She has a good site too. We also love the Mock Danish for breakfast sometimes. It's on the first site I gave you. I was amazed after starting this how many 'mock' recipes are out there. Even deep dish pizza also on Linda's site! It was a life saver last week for me when I was craving it badly because they brought it in two days in a row at work for lunch. Good luck!

Pam

[heidi69]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Pam, The "No" Iron is because your getting enough from the meats you eat, and it can make you constipated if you get to much. Nothing to make you feel worse then that, but I guess the amount of Iron we get from the meat were eating now still requires a large amount of water, and the fiber suppliement as well. If you cut out the Iron, you will notice how things get a bit more comfortable for you, if you have even noticed. The breakfast ideas sound wonderful, thanks! I am a bit cautious about the syrup now though. I made the tuna salad for lunch, with the sweet pickles made from Splenda, and it was wonderful. I have Lindas Pizza in the oven as I type. I tasted the crust and was a bit concerned because I don't care much for cream cheese, but it tasted real good.

Thanks julirama723, I will get them tonight. Maybe leftover pizza for breakfast.

Thanks, Heidi

[jmprgrl74]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Aren't those pickles wonderful?! How did your pizza turn out?
Thanks for the tips about the iron. I got my book in the mail yesterday so I'm reading up the important parts right now since I've already started then am going to go back to the 'why's' of it.
Mmmm...pizza for breakfast....

Pam

[heidi69]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Pam,

The pizza was wonderful!! My 13 year old son even had some and enjoyed it. It's a little difficult at times doing all the cooking though. It takes a lot to follow the directions and cook for yourself, and at the same time cook for the family. Last night while I was cooking my pizza, I was cooking fried chicken (in corn oil!) with the fixings for the rest of the family. I can't clean the house of junk food either because of my husband and the children. They don't need to loose weight and they all have their different favorites so I still have to shop for it too. I'm doing fine though.

Yes you should change the multivitamin. You will notice a difference, and feel even better. I had a problem with trying to swallow some of the pills. I mean, they make them in HORSE size for goodness sake! I went to the mall last night, and got some chewables. I got the Vitamin C that has 1g carb. Then off to Walmart for the chewable fiber (Fiber choice) but it has 4g carbs it in! I also bought the Centrum Silver chewables, that have 2g carbs. I don't know how the impact of these carbs will affect me, but the only other option is to Not take any at all. I just can't get those big pills down. What do you take?

Hope your day is wonderful!!!

[jmprgrl74]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Hey Heidi!

I absolutely know how it is trying to cook for everyone. I'm lucky that my husband joined me on the diet but he's already halfway to his goal. Men! We still have the other stuff in the house, though, for the kids (15, 11, 21 months). I would like my 15 year old to give Atkins a try, she would be like hubby and lose it very quickly I think, but she's not very receptive and therefore I think she'd gain it all back immediately when she went back to the old way of eatting. I'm hoping she'll see my results and reconsider. She only needs to lose 20 lbs or so, though. It's hard to remind myself to not pick at their food though. Like the baby was having some corn last night and I almost grabbed a piece. I made a cake for my boss last week and started to lick the spoon when I was done! It makes me wonder how much mindless eatting I must have been doing before! A lot I bet.

I have been taking those Walmart diet smart vitamins. I'm sure they must have iron in them. I definately have to look into a different kind and the chewable fibers (although right now I'm not having the issues some have in the beginning with this diet thank goodness!) We bought some flax stuff to add to our food if there does start to be issues, but I've only done it once thus far. I think you'll be okay with the carbs in the fiber pills (but you can ask someone with more experience.) Since you subtract fiber from total carbs to get net carbs, I'm assuming that it would have a lot of fiber and make the carbs null. Makes sense in my head anyway!

Having a great day - hope you are too!

[Grant]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Pam, The "No" Iron is because your getting enough from the meats you eat, and it can make you constipated if you get to much. Nothing to make you feel worse then that,

Besides constipation there are serious problems that can arise from too much iron intake. Here is a list of symptons that can occur when you take in too much iron (from the National Insitutes of Health)

Symptoms Return to top

Body as a whole

• Dehydration
• Low blood sugar
• Accumulation of fluids in the lungs
• Fever

Skin

• Bluish colored lips and fingernails
• Loss of color from the skin (pallor)
• Flushing

Gastrointestinal

• Vomiting blood
• Diarrhea
• Black and, possibly, bloody stools
• Nausea
• Scarring of stomach and bowels (in serious cases)
• Metallic taste in mouth

Heart and blood vessels

• Low blood pressure
• Fast and weak pulse

Nervous system

• Drowsiness
• Lack of desire to do anything
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Chills
• Shock
• Coma (may occur within 1/2 to 1 hour after overdose)
• Convulsions

I also found an interesting article on Iron which talks about how much is too much, or too little and how it works in your body at http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/iron-overdose.html

[jmprgrl74]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Grant, thanks for posting that. I'd be amazed if my iron got too high considering I generally stay borderline anemic, but I think I'll change up just in case. What type(s)/brand of vitamin do you take?

[julirama723]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

If you have questions about vitamins and supplements, you should check out the ADBB Vitamin Club Conversation Thread. Biogeek, the hostess, is a PRO! She can answer any questions you have, and it won't be in scientific babble. It's also a great thread to keep me accountable...it's a reminder to take my supplements each day!!

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...150#post625150

[higgies]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

As far as the bacon question....

I've been doing this for quite a while and most of the regular types of bacon (i.e. not reduced sodium or maple flavored) are ok. Almost all bacon has some sort of nitrates, etc. I most typically use either Hatfield (regional) or hormel black label. Shouldn't have too much of an effect on ya.

[Grant]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Grant, thanks for posting that. I'd be amazed if my iron got too high considering I generally stay borderline anemic, but I think I'll change up just in case. What type(s)/brand of vitamin do you take?

I originally started with One-A-Day carbsmart, and when it ran out I got Centrum Silver because it was cheap at Costco and someone here posted a report that called it out as particularly good at really having what it's label said it had.

[heidi69]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Thanks for posting Grant, I didn't know all the other things Iron can cause, I just remember being pregnant a time or two and those prenatals have Iron and it made me miserable. One of my OB's gave me no iron prenatals. Wish I had some now. lol

Pam, I do think you should change up just in case, or at least let your doctor know so he/she can check up on you with bloodwork. Since you can be anemic, he may want you to continue.

I had a great day, but have had a headache on and off all day. Does anybody get these from time to time? I started exercising today for the first time in months, but the headache started before that. I don't know.

Thanks for the link Julie, I have to check it out about my chewables with the carbs.

Does anybody ues those Atkins nutrition bars? It says on the package they are Induction approved, but one I started today said on the package that there was 17g carbs. I only ate a little bite because I was craving chocolate. Sure can taste the soy.

Thanks guys, your great! Heidi

[heidi69]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

Thanks for the advice on the bacon Huggies. I did a bit of research on the web and found out you can get some "organic" bacon at certain health stores. I wonder how they would ship that? Anyway, glad to see you met your goal, you look great! Your an inspiration, thanks!

Grant, Im taking the same but in a chewable because I just cant handle those large pills. Glad to hear the good report about them. With 4g carbs, it sure adds up though. I'm pretty tough on myself for staying in line as best I can, but it adds up quickly.

Thanks everybody, you all have been very helpful!!

[jmprgrl74]

Re: I'm new & have a few questions.

I also have been using 'regular' bacon - whatever is on sale generally but like Higgie said, not maple flavored and such.

Thanks for all the info guys - you're probably right Heidi, might be good to switch up just in case in the meantime with all of those issues you can have if you overdue iron. I didn't use to eat so much veggies either, so I'm sure that will help with the anemia thing. I'll look around for the Centrum vitamin.

I had a headache the first three days, but then it was completely gone. (It was also there for me before, and after, exercise.) I believe it was my caffeine addiction. I used to drink a lot of caffeine 'to keep going' but as it turns out, I feel much better now without it. Go figure