Newbies and Mentors Meet Here

[BikerGoddess]

Please use this thread as a meeting place, whether you're new to Atkins or a long time loser.

Post whether you're needing help or wanting to help and the best way to contact you. Some people choose PMs, public posts, email, or IMs. You can get as involved as you like, with daily check ins, or if that's not your style, just have someone who can answer questions and offer support.

Remember, this is the Internet, so don't post any identifying information you wouldn't want the rest of the world to have.

Happy losing!

Laura

[Chynna]

I'd love to help out where I can! :yes

[Laurenfra]

I have been on Atkins since june and have lost 40lbs. I am far from an expert but love to chat about this WOL.
I am here daily. I can be PM'ed here, AOL, or direct email
LFRAZER1@stx.rr.com

[2big4mysize]

if you need it Biker you got it, but you already knew that :yes

[PastorSBC]

Bikergoddess:

Hello, my name is David. I have been a part of this board in the past, and had success with the AWOL, loosing 35lbs a couple years ago. Sadly though I have fallen back into the trap of bad eating and gained it all back. On Monday Jan 3, 2005 I am restarting and I would be interested in having a mentor to help me along the way. You can react me a few ways. Email: PastorSBC@aol.com. Or you can IM me at PastorSBC if you have AOL or AIM. However if that is your option, please email me first so I can add you to my buddy list as only those on my buddy list can IM me.

Thanks.

[thatsbolderdash]

newbie checking in!

Hey! I've sort of been scanning the message boards for a week or so, trying to motivate myself here and since the holidays are sadly over and done with and there's apparently no time like the present, here I am Officially, ready to make my commitment and get with the program.

At the moment, I have about 17 lbs I want to lose, but it's really really hard for me to completely resolve to stick to something and do it 100%. As it is, I've been trying to start Induction for several weeks (maybe even a month, wow...) and stupid things, like diet soda and too many splendas, or simple misunderstandings about what is and isn't allowed has thrown me back several times.

I'm not quite ready to do bootcamp because I still rely too heavily on at least one frankenfood a day out of sheer convenience, but aside from that I'm really prepared to stick to the rest of the program as fully as possible, even if that means limiting my beloved splenda to three :sadblinky (the Minimal amount I usually use in one cup of coffee as it is...haha, and yes, I know coffee's a no-no too, double :sadblinky )

But enough the epic introduction. Here I am, a bright and shiny newbie reporting for duty, and can't wait to get started and get to know everyone better along the way!

:dancingb:

[Chynna]

Hi thatsbolderdash and welcome to ha !

What types of frankenfoods are you consuming? If you can stick with a clean induction for just 2 weeks, you will be able to eliminate the cravings and you will find that it is easier for you to pass on the extra sweeteners and frankenfoods. All you need is 2 weeks, which I am sure you will be able to do, once you get started.

As far as your sweetener goes, try switching to liquid stevia. It has no carbs and, therefore, no limit on the amount you can have. It only takes a little to make your coffee as sweet as you like it, without the guilt!

The importance of doing a clean induction is to eliminate your cravings and to rid your body of the foods that have caused you cravings in the past. Doing induction in correlation with supplements does help to kick cravings to the curb! :yes A couple of great supplements to take that will help you suppress those cravings are L-Glutamine (5g each time you have a craving) and chromium picolinate (1000mcg daily).

I am confident that you can do this. Now all that's needed here is your confidence and will-power to do an absolutely clean induction!

Happy New Year!

[JoanOH]

Great idea!!!

I *love* helping newbies!! I would be delighted to help anyone that needs a one-on-one mentor through PMs and regular email.

That said, I should probably say that I've been a Drill Sgt. in Boot Camp and preach (loudly) that things be done "by the book". Excuses of doing otherwise are never acceptable to me.

But hey, I can be nice about it... most of the time... Well, some times...

So if anyone is truly SERIOUS about doing this WOE, I'd be more than happy to share what I know, push you along the right road, and pat you on the back when you do good!! PM me anytime!

Joan J

[twomeeps]

Good Morning,
I am new at this forum discussion but I want to start some new habits, one of them is the Atkins diet. I have had the book for over a year and have looked through it. I am over 50 and have very serious bad habits to break. I want to start new habits (3 to be exact) all at once, which I know is not recommended, but I want to get this show on the road. I smoke, don't exercise, and I am at least 50 lbs. over weight. I have been a truck driver since 1988, but have spent the last 2 - 3 years driving a desk, alot of the reason is because I feel so awful!! I am hoping to jump start my life and make the next 50 as good as the first. I plan to visit this forum often because I need the help!! I look forward to making some new freinds and forming a new lifestyle. Thanks in advance!! Happy New Year !! TerriG

[Chynna]

Welcome to ha twomeeps!

When I started this way of life, I was 238lbs, did not exercise (except for elbow bends....from plate to mouth! lol) and I smoked. Within the first 2 months of Atkins, I quit smoking, I started exercising regularly and I am now 38lbs lighter! So, I have confidence in you that YOU can also do it.

Honestly, I felt that it was better to quit smoking while doing Atkins because I won't be able to have any sweets or carbs and would, therefore, be avoiding getting any fatter than I was! For me, the transition was easy, since I would grab a piece of chicken (or other meats) and nibble on that whenever I felt I needed a cigarette.

If you are ready for this way of life (WOL) you will succeed!

[PrincessLeia]

:wave Hi everyone. I just wanted to join in and announce that I'm a newbie. Just started Atkins today. Wish me luck -- I'm going to need it.

I've actually been on Atkins 2 or 3 times before and lost about 15 pounds each time. I have never stayed on it more than a couple of months. I tend to lose interest or get bored with the food (or rather, I tend to crave fruits really badly, more than the recommended amount on OWL). Plus, I tend to stall after that 15 pound loss and it's disappointing to stick with it when I see no results for so many weeks after that. But I guess that is the way it works. You have to stick with it... maybe even do some alterations to get things moving again. I will need help with that later. For now, I'm confident that I should have no problem losing the first 15 pounds.

I'm currently 160 lbs. which is A LOT for me because I've always been very slim my whole life. My normal weight is around 115-120 so I've set 120 as my goal. It would be so nice to see that again.

The main reason I'm wanting to lose this weight is because I feel so unhealthy. I'm uncomfortable all the time, have started having almost constant hearburn, my clothes don't fit -- and these are my "fat" clothes :yikes , I am basically just miserable. I know I need to do something about this before it gets worse. And it already is trying to get worse, as I'm actually needing to buy a bigger size of pants (I just have refused to do so). So instead of letting myself get bigger, I've got my mind set now to make sure I start getting smaller. I know I can do this, especially with the support of wonderful people on this board.

Thanks for listening! :wave

[twomeeps]

This is way cool....

WOW! I like this feedback already. I do have 2 questions, NO COFFEE? NONE at all? Decaf? I have a vivarin habit I formed on the 2nd week of driving a truck (No Pea stops), and it is what starts my morning. What is a replacement for caffine because if I go a minute without my morning start, a headache is soon to follow. But, I am here to form new habits, so lay one on me! Also, I don't see any mention of salt. Is that because there is no salt? Is there pepper? Thanks for the tips, BigInBakersfield :help

[PrincessLeia]

Re: This is way cool....

What is a replacement for caffine because if I go a minute without my morning start, a headache is soon to follow. But, I am here to form new habits, so lay one on me!

Caffeine is a drug and there's no replacement for it (other than eating healthy). Really, you want to get it out of your system, just like you would want to get any other drug out of your system. Once you're eating healthy and have adjusted to the Atkins WOE, then you should feel better than you did by consuming caffeine.

By the way, those headaches are withdrawal symptoms when you eliminate caffeine from your diet. They can be severe but will go away fairly quickly (shouldn't last more than a couple of days). Bear with the headache for a tiny while and you'll experience something better afterwards. And you should have better weight loss too!

Hope this helps!

[Chynna]

Twomeeps, you can have decaf. If you need time to ween yourself from your regular caffinated coffee, you can mix it with decaf to do so. Mix 2:1 (your coffee:decaf) one day, then the next 1:1 and the next 1:2 and regular decaf on the day after. This should make for an easier transition.

Caffeine tends to raise your insulin levels, which in turn cause you to have cravings. This can stall/slow weight loss, so you definitely want to stop drinking it as soon as possible. If you tend to have headaches, increase your water intake. If that doesn't help, try having a fatty snack, and resort to taking something for the pain last.



Welcome to ha , Princess Leia! That was a great answer to twomeeps' post!

If you are looking for support, you have definitely come to the right place. We are a great network of people who are here to provide you with information and as much support as you need to accomplish your goals!

You can do it, I know you can! :yes

[brendastarr]

:help I am new at this - my first time visiting a forum. I am interested in starting the Atkins diet and don't know where to begin. Someone please let me know which book or books I should purchase to begin my downsizing. Any helpful hints that I may be able to use before I purchase the books would also be appreciated.