Advice please?! (Menu posted)

[CaityE]

Just restarted Atkins on Monday- last Friday I was 192.6, Monday I was 196.4 when I weighed myself in the morning.

I restarted low carbing because I've been doing low calorie dieting since mid-September and have been able to lose around 15lbs on that, but I would REALLY love (loveloveloveloveloooove) to break through the 190lbs threshold that I've been stuck at the past couple weeks and make it in to the 180s before Christmas Break which starts for me on the 18th... especially since I know I'll be giving in occassionally to the cookies and other sweets associated with the holiday season.

Checked yesterday afternoon and I was 194, checked this afternoon and was 194.8, so that was a bit of a downer. Would love to get some feedback on my diet so far.

I know I'm not eating enough veggies so far, but I had headaches on Monday, was nauseous all day yesterday and did not want to eat ANYTHING, and today I took a two hour nap because I was so tired (despite getting 8 hours of sleep last night). The induction-flu I assume, although I never got nauseous when I did Atkins this summer. Hopefully this gets better as I continue...

Mon:
Atkins bar - 950am
2 hard boiled eggs with about 1T mayo, and cherry tomatoes- 1130am
1oz cheddar cheese and a 1oz babybell - 130ish
6oz tuna with ~2T mayo - 3ish
2 cheeseburgers, no bun, ~2T mayo - 715

Tues:
Egg beaters, 3 slices premade bacon - 910
Atkins bar and a 1oz babybell - 1ish
Chicken and steak fajita strips, 2T sour cream, half T guacamole, 2T salsa, ~2T nacho cheese, 1 and a half cups lettuce and tomato slices - 645

Wed:
Atkins bar - 950
3 eggs, over medium and sausage links - 1140
~2oz cheddar cheese - 530
2 cheeseburgers, no bun, and ~2T mayo - 630

I know I shouldn't be eating the Atkins bar, but I was in a rush on Mon and Wed mornings and on Tuesdays I have classes from 945-4pm straight so I figured it was better that than cheating with a snadwich or something. Now that the nausea is passing I'll try to get my two cups of veggies a day. Oh, also, I am drinking my 2L of water a day and limiting my tea with cream to a cup (maybe two) a day. Any other advice?
[Oh, please keep in mind that a lot of my diet is influenced by the fact I'm still in college and eating dorm-food, and anything else has to be premade and fit in my minifridge- thanks so much guys!]

[lowcarbjane]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

Yeah I'd have to agree with you...the Atkin's bars are just no good. If you are in a rush - I'd precook some bacon (since you are in a dorm....get ya some microwave bacon!!) & have handy. Bag up some veggies, cheese sticks, etc. The bars contain maltodextrin - notorious for causing stalls.
Plus...are you eating enough? Looks like you are keeping tabs on calories - which for the most part is a moot point on Atkins. I'm not explaining that well...but the short story is calories aren't the issue.
Are you eating until you are full or simply limiting your food intake - that too makes a difference. Not eating enough will work against you in all the wrong ways.
Even with classes all day - you got to eat. Between classes - eat! Brown bag it.
The nacho cheese might be sugar-based. The marinade on the fajitas as well.

Honestly I think you are not eating enough AND the Atkin's bars aren't doing you any favors.

Hope this helps you!

Hugs, Jane

lowcarbjane.blogspot.com

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

>>especially since I know I'll be giving in occassionally to the cookies and other sweets associated with the holiday season.>>

Then maybe Atkins isn't the "diet" for you right now?

Atkins isn't a quick fix.

>>I am drinking my 2L of water a day>>

This probably isn't enough water for you.

Switching back and forth between Atkins and low calorie is messing up your metabolism.

Long term, that's not going to be good for you!

[imagood1]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

This board follows the 2002 Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution book. The shakes and bars have been shown to slow weight loss and aren't on the acceptable food list so shouldn't be eaten during induction. You can use them after induction once you get to the rungs where all the ingredients are allowed when you need to in emergency.

The sausage may have sugars added to it - most of them do. Also what are the ingredients in the fajita meat? The nacho cheese is a processed cheese and not allowed. I see no vegetables in either of your days meals - 2 cups of salad vegetables and 1 cup from the other vegetable list is required everyday.

Once you start following the plan correctly your weight should start coming off. The more water you drink the better you will feel also. What exercise are you doing? Are you taking a multivitamin without iron?

[Georgiana]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

I would REALLY love (loveloveloveloveloooove) to break through the 190lbs threshold that I've been stuck at the past couple weeks and make it in to the 180s before Christmas Break which starts for me on the 18th... especially since I know I'll be giving in occassionally to the cookies and other sweets associated with the holiday season.

So you want to lose weight now because you plan to gain weight during the holidays?

Now that the nausea is passing I'll try to get my two cups of veggies a day.

Veggies might have actually helped with nausea.

And why "two cups"?

[CaityE]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

No. I would like to break through so I can at least be where I was last year at Christmas time and at the very least maintain that for the three weeks I'll be home via exercise, proper eating if not low carb, etc. I don't PLAN to gain anything...
I'm seeing how low-carbing works with my Metformin and PCOS before I decide to do it for the entirety of next semester (if not longer).


On the second count: honestly I don't think anything would have helped with the nausea since the thought of eating anything was making me ill. Could have been a bug going around Penn State though as well if it wasn't the induction-flu.

I said two cups since that is what I consistently hear recommended... (2-3 cups, the majority of the carbs for the day)

[CaityE]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

Yeah I'd have to agree with you...the Atkin's bars are just no good. If you are in a rush - I'd precook some bacon (since you are in a dorm....get ya some microwave bacon!!) & have handy. Bag up some veggies, cheese sticks, etc. The bars contain maltodextrin - notorious for causing stalls.
Plus...are you eating enough? Looks like you are keeping tabs on calories - which for the most part is a moot point on Atkins. I'm not explaining that well...but the short story is calories aren't the issue.
Are you eating until you are full or simply limiting your food intake - that too makes a difference. Not eating enough will work against you in all the wrong ways.
Even with classes all day - you got to eat. Between classes - eat! Brown bag it.
The nacho cheese might be sugar-based. The marinade on the fajitas as well.

Honestly I think you are not eating enough AND the Atkin's bars aren't doing you any favors.

Hope this helps you!

Hugs, Jane

lowcarbjane.blogspot.com

Ok- all good advice, I'll try to get some veggies while I'm home and bring them back with me. The nacho cheese nutrition card said 4carbs for 2oz, and I don't think the meat had any carbs on the card (they set up a card with the nutritional info next to most things on the buffet lines in our cafeterias)

I'll start bringing some meat/cheese/veggies with me to eat between classes- I only had 3 Atkins bars anyway and I don't plan on buying more.

The past three days I've felt like I haven't eaten enough, but I did eat when I was hungry and until I was full, so I'm not really counting calories anymore or trying to worry about anything other than getting my diet more in line with the approved foods list in DANDR and watching my carb count.


Thanks for all the advice so far guys!

[CaityE]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

>>
Atkins isn't a quick fix.

Switching back and forth between Atkins and low calorie is messing up your metabolism.

I know it's not a quick fix, but I was trying to look at it realistically- considering I bake for my entire extended family I know I'll be eating one or two of the cookies I make every now and then. I'm doing Atkins at least the last 2 weeks of school so I can see how it interacts with my Metformin and PCOS to decide if I'll be doing it for the entirety of next semester or longer or even making it a life choice.

I do not, however, switch between low-cal and low-carb willy nilly. I was on low carb all summer and became frustrated with my results (now I know part of it had to do with my PCOS), and have been doing low-cal and exercise since August. I'm giving Atkins one more try hoping that combining a low-carb lifestyle woth the medicine I'm on now (for insulin resistance) will help me out with the weight I need to continue losing.

[imagood1]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

I'm doing Atkins at least the last 2 weeks of school so I can see how it interacts with my Metformin and PCOS to decide if I'll be doing it for the entirety of next semester or longer or even making it a life choice.

I'm giving Atkins one more try hoping that combining a low-carb lifestyle woth the medicine I'm on now (for insulin resistance) will help me out with the weight I need to continue losing.

I've found that taking metformin has made my weight loss slower than it had been in the past....but it does come off - just not in large numbers. Since I started following Atkins my A1C went from 10.3 to 5.0 the last time I was at my Endocrinologist. It does work, but to keep your blood sugars constant it's best not to go from diet to diet.....Atkins has become my way of eating for the rest of my life -- when I get away from it I don't feel near as good as I do when I am following the plan.

There is a thread for PCOS -- look for it and check out what other with it are saying.

[farmwife]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

I know it's not a quick fix, but I was trying to look at it realistically- considering I bake for my entire extended family I know I'll be eating one or two of the cookies I make every now and then. I'm doing Atkins at least the last 2 weeks of school so I can see how it interacts with my Metformin and PCOS to decide if I'll be doing it for the entirety of next semester or longer or even making it a life choice.

I do not, however, switch between low-cal and low-carb willy nilly. I was on low carb all summer and became frustrated with my results (now I know part of it had to do with my PCOS), and have been doing low-cal and exercise since August. I'm giving Atkins one more try hoping that combining a low-carb lifestyle woth the medicine I'm on now (for insulin resistance) will help me out with the weight I need to continue losing.

I think you need to do one or the other! No switching, period. You get what you put into Atkins. I do have a problem with your statement about eating cookies. I know you are not where I am mentally yet and it may take you awhile to get there but why may I ask, are you planning on eating cookies? It's like you are setting yourself up for failure.

I know you can resist temptation from cookies when you are doing Atkins properly. I have been baking cookies for days. I have probably made 300 cookies that are sitting in my freezer waiting to be passed out. I have not eaten one. I am not willing to jeopordize my weight loss by one measly cookie.

You will be frustrated with your results on Atkins if you set yourself up to fail. Please know I say this not in anger but in frustration. Atkins will work, if you work it.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Advice please?! (Menu posted)

>> I said two cups since that is what I consistently hear recommended... (2-3 cups, the majority of the carbs for the day)>>

What does Dr. Atkins say in his book?

Why not go to the source, instead of relying on what you "hear"?

>>I was trying to look at it realistically- considering I bake for my entire extended family I know I'll be eating one or two of the cookies I make every now and then.>>

I bake for people, and I don't eat it. It's possible.