I've been doing this ALL wrong.

[Thin_Dreams]

So today is the last day of week two of induction phase and i'm about ready to move onto phase two. However, I think i've been doing this all wrong. Basically, what i've been doing is eating anything as long as I stay at 20 net carbs per day. my question is, should i get off atkins for a day and start the induction phase all over, or just keep going onto phase two?

[Thin_Dreams]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Help?

[Razzle39]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Hi Thin
you have lost 17 pounds....wow. Was that just in the 2 weeks? If it was then you havent been doing anything wrong. You must be doing right!
I think the question you are asking is how long you should stay in induction..right?
You can stay in induction for as long as you wish. SOme people say that its a good rule to stay on Induction until you have lost 10% of your goal weight and then proceed onto OWL and climb to the next rung. You do not want to go off induction and eat regular food then go back on because it will stall your progress. Stay at 20 g of carbs or less daily. Try www.fitday.com to measure your carbs. I was really messing up until I went to that site. Its free and they put it into perspective for you.
Congrats on the weight you have lost...you are doing awesome

[murphy'smom]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Just keep going! do no go off plan. One can only go forward, never back!

[Thin_Dreams]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Razzle, yeah in two weeks. Most of it is just water weight tho

[not2late]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

So today is the last day of week two of induction phase and i'm about ready to move onto phase two. However, I think i've been doing this all wrong. Basically, what i've been doing is eating anything as long as I stay at 20 net carbs per day. my question is, should i get off atkins for a day and start the induction phase all over, or just keep going onto phase two?

If you've been eating anything as long as you stayed at 20 net carbs daily, then you weren't doing Atkins but you were lowing carbing. Atkins is a specific low carb diet, with specific rules and specific foods.

What you might want to do is look at your menues from the last 14 days and see if what you were doing resembles Atkins in any way. If it does, then move to On Going Weight Loss Phase. I would also recommend that you read the book before moving on---that way you'll know how to do the diet correctly and you'll know why it's done in that way.

[Thin_Dreams]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Yeah i havent been doing atkins...so what should i do? eat normally one day to throw my body off then start fressh? or keep going in induction..the right way?

[moniegail]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

i would start doing a clean 2 week induction with the correct foods. there's no need to stray off for a day or two though. that will only confuse your body and could also cause cravings. just make sure you are eating only the foods allowed on induction, below is a few threads to help you get the grasp of how to follow induction correctly.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6782-what-rules-induction.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/main-atkins-diet-forum/3286-free-wallet-sized-food-list-print-new-improved.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html

[Sherri]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Before you begin:

1. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition.
At the very least, read chapters 10 through 14. These chapters tell you how to do the diet, what to expect, and why the first 14 days are so important.

ADBB uses DANDR 2002 as its reference. Granted there are other publications by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. but we like to do the diet as it was written by Dr. Robert C. Atkins because in our collective experience Dr. Atkins' diet is more effective than Atkins Nutritionals, Inc's version.

2. See your physician.
Dr. Atkins recommended this himself. See your physician for a complete physical exam, including blood tests before beginning this or any other diet and exercise program.

Also take the Blood Sugar Symptom Test found in the book.

3. Make a commitment.
Commit yourself to giving the 14 day Induction a fair shot. If you can't commit yourself to 14 days of following rules and eating the foods listed in the acceptable foods list, this diet might not be for you.

4. Prepare your kitchen
If it's not on the list, remove it from your home. If you live with people who aren't on a low carb diet, then put your food(s) in areas separate from theirs. Also make sure you have low carb snacks available to you at all times, in case you get hungry.

5. Recruit your family and friends.
You are about to embark on a completely new lifestyle. Getting the support of your family and friends will help you through this. Be frank with them and tell them your intentions and that this is very important to you. If they have any doubts about this diet, ask them to read the book because knowledge is power.

6. Keep the Induction Rules and Foods List handy.
Make two copies of these documents: keep one on your refrigerator at home and keep the other one on your person at all times. This will save you a lot of guesswork and worry when eating out or grocery shopping.

The Rules of Induction can be found here:
What are the Rules of Induction?

The Induction Acceptable Foods List can be found here:
What foods can be eaten on Induction?

7. Read the entire label, including the ingredients.
Some foods have little carbs, but contain things like hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and sugar, which makes them unacceptable for Induction.

8. Keep a food diary
It is of utmost importance to keep track of your daily carbohydrate intake to make sure you are not exceeding 20 net carbohydrates daily.

Some people keep a notebook journal. Others like to track their progress online.

Here are some resources:
An Atkins spreadsheet:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=4570

http://www.fitday.com ---This is a free online service (registration required) that allows you to input your foods, track your exercise, etc.

Carbohydrate Counters:
http://www.atkins.com ---The Atkins site has a downloadable Carb Counter.
http://www.calorieking.com ---This site has nutritional information for most foods and beverages.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ ---This is the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Database.

9. Exercise
According to Dr. Atkins "exercise is non-negotiable"! So get moving. Begin according to your level of fitness. Visit the Exercise Forum.

10. Vitamin Supplements
These are also recommended by Dr. Atkins because many of us have poor nutrition and we need extra nutrients. Visit the Vita-Nutrient Forum.

11. Weigh AND Measure Yourself on Day 1

Make sure you weigh and measure yourself before you begin this diet. Contrary to what we are lead to believe, the scale isn't the best tool for measuring weight loss (fat loss). It doesn't tell you how much muscle you gained. It doesn't tell you how much water weight you gained or lost. It doesn't tell you that you will fit into that pair of jeans.

Tips for weighing:
a. Weigh yourself at the same time of day under the same conditions. You can weigh "more" after a meal or after you drink water or you can weigh "less" after you exercise or have a bowel movement. So pick a time and stick to it. Likewise, clothing can also add on "pounds". So if you choose to weigh yourself wearing clothes, make sure you are wearing the same clothing or nearly the same clothing.

b. Use the same scale. Scales differ slightly. So the scale in your doctor's office or at the gym might have you weighing more or less than the scale in your bathroom.

Tips for measuring:
a. You can measure whatever body areas you want: chest, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm, wrists and ankles. To make the measuring easier, you body landmarks like your belly button or a mole or scar, to guide your tape measure placement. For chest measurement, women can either measure under their armpits and/or under their breasts.

b. Don't "pull" on the measuring tape because that will give you a false reading (and stretch the tape). The tape should be snug, but not tight.

c. Don't suck in to make yourself smaller. Again, that will give you a false measurement.

Measuring tapes can be purchased at craft stores (the sewing section) for under $5.00. If you can't find one, you can use a piece of string. Just mark that string with a marker pen to indicate your "start" points". Or if you have an old belt, you can use that too.

Another good "measuring tool" is your clothing. Non-stretchy clothing like a dress shirt, jeans, or dress is the best thing to use. Stretchy fabric (like t-shirts or anything with spandex) will conform to your body as you shrink so you might not see the results. Try on this article of clothing periodically to see how you are losing inches.

Good luck to you on your 14 day Induction journey.

[Thin_Dreams]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Thnx guys!! Exactly what I needed =]

[Elsie150]

Re: I've been doing this ALL wrong.

Just jump right in with induction...DO NOT go off for a day or two. Read the book! Congrats on your weight loss.