Strict adherence netting much better results

[sc156k]

Read the book several times. Been on the diet 25+ times. Longest run in the past has been 4 months and lost 38 lbs. from 260 lbs. . Took a "break" and backslid to 258 lbs.!!! Done this a few times and have had to endure the critics of those close to me that Atkins doesn't work ' cause you gain the weight and more back quickly. I don't know anyone who lost weight on any diet that quit exersizing and ate excessively and poor quality foods that didn't gain all the weight back. Of course, they can't be blamed due to the fact that they only witness the induction phase and part of the OWL phase.

This current return to Atkins was a sloppy attempt for 21 days losing 8 lbs. on an induction that I ate mostly 20 to 25 grams of carbs per day but made poor choices of low carb foods. (0 to 3 net carb bars/candy, 3 net gram carb ice cream, 4 net gram carb yogurt, etc..)I felt cravings and felt deprived and with a loss of only 8 lbs in 3 weeks I had the psychological battle of great food deprivation for so little loss!

Came accross this blog and decided to review Atkins and apply strict adherence to the INDUCTION RULES doing it CLEAN (a term I've seen many of you use). IRONICALLY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ELIMINATION OF LOW CARB JUNK FOOD BROKE MY CRAVINGS AND IN THE FOLLOWING 10 DAYS I LOST 10 LBS. The low carb bars and low net carb processed foods seemed to have interfered with the purpose of the induction phase. This includes all of the Atkins bars! I know these products and all the other processed low carb foods have there place further down the road but I advocate a CLEAN INDUCTION in at lease the first two weeks.

BOTTOM LINE for me is it's not just about low net carbs but the quality of the low carbs represented by the induction list in the book.

I am glad to have come accross this board and identify with the issues many of us have when attempting to get to a healthier weight by doing Atkins. Good luck to all of you and may we keep getting back up when we trip!

[kristi2578]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

Welcome to ADBB! I'm finishing up day 7 with a 7 lb loss, and I know if you can keep it clean, you'll see the results you want. This is a great place for motivation and support. I don't know if I could do it without these great folks!

[FatBottomGirl]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

WOW... way to go!! -- I agree its not necessarily the amount of food we eat, but more the types of foods we eat.... Though I am not advocating over indulging all the time on the good carbs -- too much of a good thing is also bad

Kristi - LUV your redneck motor-cycle!!

[kristi2578]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

Kristi - LUV your redneck motor-cycle!!

LOL thanks! I received that in an email, and just had to share it with everyone!

[Debi2007]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

I'm glad you found what works for you. Sounds like it is going great!!!

[Elizellen]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

Hi Welcome to our ADBB family of losers

And congratulations on your success so far Keep up the good work!

[MeMyselfAndI]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

Congratulations sc156k !! You can't believe how encouraging that is to hear that you lost 10 lbs in 10 days, infact at this point even 8 lbs in 21 days seems so encouraging. See this is my second time around on Atkins, and I recall losing around 12 pounds by the end of induction the first time around. But this time, its been a week & 2 days and I haven't even lost ONE pound

Im sure you can empathize with how I feel right now, I don't know where Im going wrong. If you could share what your 1 days meal plan was like that would really HELP me reassess my meal planning strategies. More like I would understand where Im going wrong.

Once again, Congratulations!!! Kudos on your success & that post of your's really gave me hope that I too can do it Thanks!

Me

[sc156k]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

My struggles are worse when I seek out "low carb" alternatives to the junk food I mindlessly have eaten in my absenses from Atkins. These things are the low carb candies and chocolate stuff you find on the health food shelves including Atkins Endulgence candies, Russel Stover Low carb chocolates, etc...

I believe the sugar alchohols add to more cravings and seem to keep the carb addiction alive, you know the type where you swim around the kitchen looking for anything you are allowed to eat, roam the aisles at the grocery looking for low carb junk food for the attacks. I now understand that 25 carbs - 1 gram fiber - 21 grams of sugar alcohol = 3 net grams of carbs = not good during induction or maybe even in the OWL phase due to it encourages our sweet tooth cravings. Eventually the cravings will lead to tripping on real junk food.

Even when you avoid the junk food I feel it slows you down. As the book stresses - when you limit to 20 g of carbs per day, make it heathly carbs in allowable veggies, cheeses, etc... The key for me was to break the cravings which are very psychotically powerfull.

When I made the committment to ONLY EAT INDUCTION ALLOWABLE FOODS AND NOTHING ELSE I find that the cravings don't attack me nor tempt me. Cravings can lead to overeating induction friendly foods as well causing me to overeat grabbing the cream cheese and pre-cooked bacon, a bag of pork rinds, cheese, etc.. and I believe that in attempting to squelch the KrispyCreme attack I consumed too many calories. Calories aren't the focus in Atkins but lets face it, over-eating and snacking all night will slow the weight loss or cause you to plateau.

At my current weight I had the following today:

Morning: 2 eggs / 1 egg white scrambled with olive oil and a 1/2 cup of spinach & 2 pieces of bacon

Lunch: 4 thin slices of deli roast beef rolled up with a slice of swiss cheese, a little spinach, mustard, and 1 tbs mayo.

Dinner: 2 pork chops / salad with olive oil and red wine vinegar / 1/2 cup of stir fried zuchini.
Snack: sugar free jello cups ( wish i could find non-aspartame kind).

During the day i'm not snacking and refuse many invites to lunch but i don't feel depraved anymore due to the fact that after a few days of induction only foods im not as hungry. i also have to put alot of effort in drinking water. i also quit drinking diet coke (a habit) and any type of zero calorie fruit drinks. my thoughts are to retrain my tastes - all in the name of not having to battle cravings...so far it's been working for me.

Also last week i only lost 1.6 lbs!!!! a far cry from the prior 10 days but i now just want to focus on the process and not the scale - another mood enhancer and depressor. Not discouraged.

I have a customer who lost 175 lbs on atkins and he emphasized that i will hit many little plateaus and a few long ones (2-3 weeks of no losses) but then he would drop 7 or 8 lbs in less than a week.

didn't mean to ramble but this is good therapy! ;-)

[kristi2578]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

During the day i'm not snacking and refuse many invites to lunch but i don't feel depraved

One of my coworkers is constantly inviting me to lunch to places like Taqueria, and Rosa's Cafe...Mexican food - home to too many carbs! It's becoming easier and easier to say no, because I'm loving the progress that my body is making. I'd rather go home and eat my tuna salad and cucumbers, and then think to myself, this is what's going to make me be where I want to me.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

Thanks once again sc156k. Wow! you weren't kidding about 'strict adherence'. Your planner REALLY REALLY helps! But I am so glad that you went on 'rambling' because I just realized that I too was having too much of 'Allowed foods'. I believe I have had way too much cheese. Maybe I need to cut down on it and get more carbs from my greens. The other day I revisited my Atkin's bible and there was a part where it's mentioned that some people are allergic to 'Cheese' and their weight loss would immediately HALT if they were to indulge in it. Im starting to believe that although 'Cheese' is an allowed food, but i need to abstain from it for a week just to eliminate any possibility of that being the root cause of my Weight Restraint.

Its really great to have you guys here, you guys are really supportive. Will get back to you if the 'cheesy situation' is resolved

Me

[astrogirl]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

Also last week i only lost 1.6 lbs!!!! a far cry from the prior 10 days but i now just want to focus on the process and not the scale - another mood enhancer and depressor. Not discouraged.

1.6 lbs in a week is a good loss on any diet. Definitely don't be discouraged!

[Kansas Deb]

Re: Strict adherence netting much better results

I am right there with you sc156k. At least 4 restarts. This time I am following Dr. A's plan strictly. I agree that staying on Dr. A's plan very strictly is the way to go.

Good luck!