14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

[Illini_qt]

Hey folks. I am on day 8 of my 14 day induction period. Remarkably I have lost 9.8 lbs! I am feeling great, although my energy level is still not high enough for my regular 5 day/week workouts I was doing before Atkins.

My question is, I am a maid of honor in a wedding on Saturday and am nervous about staying on track. There may be nothing there I can "safely eat" on induction, especially during the day because they are having lunch brought in and I don't know what its going to be. It is out of town -- any suggestions?

If I fell off the wagon for one day and went back to induction Sunday and did an extra week how would that affect my overall progress (i.e. one minor set back?) I just don't want Atkins to ruin the whole day for me beating myself up.

Any advice would be great

[JohnSantos]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

Energy: Remember your supplements! Co Q-10, L-Glutamine, L-Carnitine help energy, Biotin, Super B Complex, Chromium Picolinate. Space out your veggies, I always eat a small salad 1 hour before I workout for energy.

As per the wedding, call the bride and ask what all they are serving. I'd be surprised to see a standard wedding without meat, veggies, and some greens floating around on a plate somewhere. Worst case, hit a McDonalds on the way for two double cheeses without catchup.

[msanjelpie]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

I just don't want Atkins to ruin the whole day for me beating myself up.

This should read... "I don't want this day to ruin Atkins for me..."

There will be foods there you can eat, just like in any restaurant... it's just a matter of making the right choices.

[Illini_qt]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

I wasn't so much worried about the dinner as the lunch. We are at a hotel getting ready all day, no access to a car for McDonalds, thanks for the suggestion though, I will try my best.

[liv]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

Can you bring something from home? In a cooler perhaps? Is there a fridge in that hotel? If you can bring boiled eggs, cooked meat, a bit of cheese, some veggies. You will be able to relax and enjoy the day.

[JulieB]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

Bring your own! Throw some stuff in a small cooler & bring it with you.

[joesabido]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

I'd say just eat (sensibly) whatever they're serving and extend your induction an extra week to lose the couple of pounds of retained water you'll gain.

There will be sometimes were you'll have to adapt, improvise or just take the hit and eat carefully the next week or two to recover.

[Georgiana]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

Cheating during Induction is, as Dr. Atkins puts it, "the kiss of failure". If we were so good at eating sensibly, none of us would have gotten fat in the first place. Breaking Induction with a single food that triggers blood sugar symptoms or a single food you have an intolerance to can lead to cravings (which usually end in a binge) or to extra pounds that require days/weeks of work to take off. I'm sure you wouldn't just tell a former alcoholic attending a wedding to simply "drink sensibly... it's for the bride ". When special situation arise, you should not "adapt, improvise or just take the hit", but rather plan and prove yourself that you can stick for life to your new way of eating, regardless of the events you have to attend.

Illini_qt, as John, Liv and Julie said, you should either call and ask what will be served or bring something from home. Make sure you drink enough water, to keep you full and avoid false hunger signals. Also eat something before, so that you won't be hungry by the time you get to the restaurant---it's easier to make good choices when your stomach is not growling.

[not2late]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

When I was on Induction, I was invited to a wedding. I went to it. Before hand, I called the bride and asked her what the menu would be. She didn't yell at me. She didn't scream at me. She didn't get insulted and call me a bunch of names because I dared to ask her what was the menu. She told me: garden salad, sauteed chicken breast with a cream sauce, green beans and potatoes, dessert. I thanked her and that was that.

At the wedding, no one paid attention to what I ate or didn't eat. No one got up and yelled "Megs didn't eat the potatoes and the dessert. Don't talk to her because she should have been obliged to eat that stuff eventhough she's on a diet! Booo Hisss!!!"

The wedding didn't ruin my diet. I stayed on track and didn't have to restart anything or worry about water weight or worry about getting kicked out of ketosis, etc.

[JohnSantos]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

No one got up and yelled "Megs didn't eat the potatoes and the dessert. Don't talk to her because she should have been obliged to eat that stuff even though she's on a diet! Booo Hisss!!!"

That's what I love about Atkins, it never looks like you're on a diet. Especially a steak or BBQ place, I eat like a king.

[pagliaccia]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

Within my first two weeks, I was invited to a very special dinner party. I didn't want to go because I was afraid I'd mess up and ruin my Induction. I hemmed and hawed and tried to avoid the girl who invited me. Keep in mind no one knew I was doing Atkins yet. Eventually, I broke down, pulled her aside, and apologized for not RSVPing. I explained my diet, and how I didn't want to offend her by not eating the foods she was preparing. To my surprise, she was completely sympathetic. She ran down the list of the entire menu, including ingredients and techniques, and I was able to piece out what I could have (turned out a lot). I was so happy I asked, and it was not uncomfortable at all. In fact, the people at the party that knew about my diet kept commending me on my willpower.

The point I'm getting at is if this person is so close to you that she'll appoint you her MOH, I'm certain she cares about you enough to make sure you improve your health. It never hurts to ask if you can get a menu.

[neutronnorman]

Re: 14 Day Induction Question -- NEED advice

Bring your own food. If not, look up the "Anabolic Diet." But don't do that for the rest of you life. I believe on day, if eating sensibly, will not throw you into a fat storing machine. You'll gain weight, but I'm pretty sure the carbs will go to replenishing glycogen store before converting to bodyfat. BTW, I answered your question on my previous post in the induction forum about doing the AD induction correctly. It will probably help you make up your mind. Whatever you do, if you eat carbs do not feel defeated. Get right back on induction and exercise a bit more intensley. Within 48-72 hours your glycogen store will be depleated.

Enjoy the day and do not stress about it. Have a fun time.
Norman