Hello everybody! I'm new!!!

[lakegoddess]

Hello there!

My name's Danielle, I'm 26, from Vancouver, and I am excited that I finally found this site! I've been on Induction for almost 1 month and I've lost 14 pounds so far!!! I have about 60 pounds or so to go. Atkins has been a real adjustment for me. I was a vegetarian for about 6 years and then started eating meat again about 4 years ago (but only if it was hidden in a bun or on a pizza!!!) So it's been hard eating so much meat...but I'm adjusting!!! I stay pretty strictly to the book, take my vitamins and drink at least 64 oz of water a day. I have a few nagging questions though...
-are Atkins bars okay once a day...or do they really stall weight loss? (I eat one of the Morning Start bars everyday)
-why is Alcohol banned? Is it just cause it's not healthy and could sway you to eat? (I've been having a gin and soda or two on the weekend)
-My multivitamin has 10 mg iron in it...is that ok?

I'd love to hear from anyone! I feel like I've joined a family!
Love Danielle

[Jlkhollins]

Hi Danielle,
I'm glad to see you have found us! :wave I use the Atkins bars when I know that I am not going to be able to eat over a long period of time (eight hours or so). I am a teacher and do not have much time throughout the day to grab something. They have not stalled my weigt loss a bit (I have lost 28 pounds in 5 weeks). So, I say, if they don't stall your weight loss....use em'. It is better than eating a pound of choclate!!

Jennifer

[Vicky_Linn]

Hi Danielle! :wave

First of all: WELCOME! It´s always nice to read that someone has found this wonderful board. I´m not an Atkins expert or anything since I´ve only been doing this woe for three weeks, but I can tell from own experience that the Atkins bars stall me, however, they don´t stall everyone and since they don´t seem to stall you, I know I´d continue eating them because they taste so good :yummy ...
When I´m craving something sweet I drink some heavy cream, I think it tastes a bit sweet and drinking it puts an end to my cravings.
Good luck and lots of hugs! :hug

Vicky Linn

[not2late]

ADBB discourages the use of the bars, shakes, and other processed "low carb foods" because in our collective experience, they prevent or slow weight loss for our members. So we don't recommend their use at all.

If you read DANDR 2002, Chapter 15, the Frequently Asked Questions at the end of the chapter, Dr. Atkins explains alcohol and weight loss on his program.

[america57]

Hi Danielle

Hi Danielle,

I'm not an expert either, I've only been on Atkins for four weeks. My husband & I hike around 4 miles on the weekend. We stop and eat an advantage bar and drink a bottle of water about halfway through the hike, so far, it hasn't stalled me, but I'm sure those 4 carbs get used up from all the physical activity

[Isabeau]

I don't have much to add in terms of your questions, but would like to welcome you to the ha . And for the record, the bars stalled me.

[lakegoddess]

Hey everybody!

Thanks so much for the info. I'm going to lay off the bars...I think I was kind of looking forward to them each day a little too much anyhow! Weighed myself today and have lost 15 pounds total now (in a month) and it's starting to dawn on me that that's a lot of weight!!!! Old pants are already starting to fit again and I can actually visualize reaching my goal weight sometime this summer!!!
This is going to sound crazy, I have a condition called "Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis" which prevents me from exercising (walking too fast can bring on an attack which lands me in the hospital!!), oh yeah... and my foots broken!!!!! So walking is out...I might try swimming really easy, since I really feel like doing some sort of exercise to help! Any suggestions???
Love hearing from all of you all over the world!!
Cheers, Danielle :wave

[Desertthorn]

The problem with these bars and shakes is that our bodies don't always read the labels and some folks blood sugar rises with sugar alcohol just like sugar. In the FAQ section there is a great article about them. Check it out.
Alcohol isn't banned, its allowed when you get to OWL, and since your done with induction, move up the ladder....One drink a day I think is the max.
Welcome and glad you found us.

[lakegoddess]

hello everyone!

I stopped using all atikins products for the past 2 weeks now and.....I've lost a total of 20 pounds in 35 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People are actually starting to notice. Just for the record I started out at 217 and now I'm 197!! I haven't been under 200 for at least a year!!!
I got an old stationary bike to ride next to the TV and so far it's amazingly easy to ride for 30 min!!!! I hope the exercise will speed up the weight loss even more! I'm soooooo scared that when I reach my goal weight which is somewhere around 150 (I'm 5'6...does that sound right??), that I'll have all this excess skin and I'll be completely mortified!
Anyone have experience with excess skin?
Love Danielle :wave

[Buddrfly]

WELCOME!

WELCOME TO ha DANIELLE! GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE :joy I WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS ON YOUR WEIGHTLOSS JOURNEY :wave

[Moochiecat]

Danielle, you're 26, which is quite young, really, and I'm thinking your skin will probably tighten up considerably. The key is to keep doing exercise, whatever kind of exercise you can safely do. :yes

I'm 41, and since I diligently started walking and now running since Jan. 31st, I am seeing changes happening with my loose skin...thank goodness. I'm not thinking it'll snap back perfectly, but it's getting better...and if I was 26, I think it would even be better than that.

[iwillbethin]

WElcome to the family Danielle. Good luck on your weight loss!