~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

[mitzimarie]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Mitzimarie, I am wishing you strength because you have been such an inspiration to me since I have been here that it pains me to see you struggling. (It also scares the crap out of me because it makes me realize that I will never be able to relax).

Hi, Jill

Thanks for the strength! I can feel it.

Yep, I know what you mean about it scaring the crap out of you. I can remember clipping right along in OWL... losing weight on an amazingly consistent basis... finding it easy, almost. Then I would read a post by one of the veterans who was struggling, and I would feel the same way. I had always heard that Maintenance was harder than actually losing the weight, and I just couldn't wrap my brain around that... now, I can. It's all good, though... at least I didn't get into trouble while doing everything perfectly. I have some very distinct trouble foods that I have a hard time staying away from... because technically, they're legal... so I want them. BUT, they are TRIGGER FOODS, so I need to avoid them. I just wish there wasn't so many of them.

OK - here are some details about my day:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, July 16th - Day 3 of strict Induction

Woo hoo! 3 days down. Protein was still a little high, but I'm OK with it. Holy cow, I can't wait to eat more veggies! I am used to getting between 30 and 45 grams of fiber a day. I only had 8 today. And I'm usually very "regular"... never miss a day. I've missed today. I can't believe that I read so many posts from newbies stating that they can't get up to 20g carbs. I was up to 18 after lunch, so was really limited in what I could eat for the rest of the day. While I haven't taken veggies for granted, I sure do have a new appreciation for them now.

Breakfast: 1 cup jicama and 1 ounce of string cheese

Lunch: 6 ounce Hamburger patty topped with 1 ounce of provolone cheese; 1 whole, raw, yellow bellpepper cut into strips

Snack: 1 boiled egg with mayo (gag me! I hate boiled eggs)

Dinner: 4 chicken drumettes, 2 chicken wings, 2 chicken drumsticks marinated in olive oil and seasonings, grilled outdoors

Fitday Totals:
1616 calories
20g net carbs (28g carbs - 8g fiber = 20g net carbs)
63% Fat
5% Carbs
32% Protein

- Drank 64 ounces of water

- Took supplements

- I didn't get any exercise in today. Yikes, I've really been slacking in that department this week. I'm cutting myself some slack, since I have been a bit lethargic with this strict Induction thing going. BUT, I will be on Day 4 tomorrow, and I think I should be feeling good enough, plus I have no work tomorrow, so I have absolutely NO excuse not to do something. I will!

[chinadoll]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Mitzimarie, I am wishing you strength because you have been such an inspiration to me since I have been here that it pains me to see you struggling. (It also scares the crap out of me because it makes me realize that I will never be able to relax).

Just wanted you to know that I am sending you (and Liz too) good thoughts to stay on track. I am also happy to know that you don't eat little bitty 2 oz portions of meat. I am also a carnivorous type and I love a nice big steak. I have always felt a bit guilty about my meat consumption. I am learning to be happy with a six ounce portion (7 is better) and as Sunny says it often really is enough. Usually. But I think I will always be an 1800-2000 calorie a day girl. LOL

[mitzimarie]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Tuesday, July 15th - Day 2 of strict Induction

Another day down! Unfortunately, I did go a bit over 20 net carbs today... not a lot, but for a perfectionist like me, it kinda pisses me off. Ah well, it could have been a lot worse. It's hard to stay under 20 when counting 1 carb for each egg and each ounce of cheese... also ate 2 servings of salad dressing, which I hardly ever do. Needed the fat, though.

I will be glad to get to Rung 1, because on Induction I have to eat meat more often I than normally do. I normally make some meals out of veggies. I have a bag of broccoli slaw in the fridge right now that would have been soooo good stir-fried in the olive oil drippings from the pork chop I had tonight. Too many carbs for that today, but I'll be able to add it back when hitting Rung 1.

OK, here's my menu and numbers for the day:

Breakfast: 3 eggs fried in canola oil with 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed meal cut up into it. And yes, this was a strange meal. I am sorely lacking in my usual high fiber by following Induction, and was feeling a bit miserable (um... stopped up) at about 4:00am. I finally had some relief later in the morning (aren't you glad I'm sharing?), but decided I needed to get the allowed couple of tablespoons of flax in to help move things along tomorrow.

Snack: 1 serving sugar snap peas and 1 ounce string cheese

Lunch: 6 ounce hamburger patty (no cheese) with a bit of mustard and 1 half of a large cucumber with 2 tbsp. Ranch dressing

Snack: 1 cup jicama and 1 ounce of string cheese

Dinner: 7 ounce pork chop panfried in olive oil and the other half of the large cucumber with 2 tbsp. Ranch dressing

Fitday Totals:
1613 calories
24 net carbs (38g carbs - 14g fiber = 24 net carbs)
63% Fat
6% Carbs
31% Protein

- Haven't gotten my minimum of 64 ounces of water in yet, but I'm working on my last installment right now.

- Took Supplements

- Didn't get a chance to run today, but I did get in a 40 minute upper body workout.

[mitzimarie]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

I'm thinking that this is more of a problem than the sf gum is. Excess protein turns into glucose and 16 ounces for your small body is a lot of excess to turn to glucose. No wonder you could eat more.

Sunny, I have been a Fitday fanatic for my entire Atkins experience this time around, and until yesterday, my protein percentage very rarely ever hit 30%. The MUP and muffin in a minute I ate daily gave me tons of fat, and I cook most of my veggies and a lot of the pork/chicken/shrimp in olive oil and butter. I ate this way as I lost all of my weight. I only ate meat once a day, though, during OWL. So the fact that I could eat between 8 and 16 ounces wasn't such a big deal on the calories, as it is now when I was doing it more than once a day. The only difference between how I was eating now and how I ate in OWL is that I use waaaaay more sweeteners since hitting goal than I ever did in OWL. I never chewed a single piece of gum during OWL. In fact, the only time I ever used sweetener was in MUP, and when I tried to eat cottage cheese and greek yogurt (which I can't have anymore). And I handled the MUP just fine for over a year, until I started bombarding myself with gum and coffee.

Coffee... yep, another vice I've picked up since reaching goal... a new vehicle to consume lots of Splenda and tons of cream. I haven't even owned a coffee pot until about 6 months ago. Barry was stopping at McD's every morning to get a cup of coffee, so we decided to get a pot for home to save $ and time. After NEVER drinking coffee for 47 years, I decided to take on another problem food. And I'm not even sure the caffiene has anything to do with my struggles, because I make caffienated in the morning, and decaf at night... I switch up and would never be able to tell the difference. I did, however, use a buttload of liquid Splenda and lots of yummy cream (another food I never ate before goal).

And oh yeah... I DO clean everything up and put it away. And I'll brush and floss my teeth and swig some Listerene. And that's still no guarantee that I won't go fishing it out of the fridge.

The good news is, that I feel better already after only a day and half of Induction. I have been so far out of ketosis... it's just been a viscious cycle. I have GOT to stay strong with this Induction!

I'll be back later to report some details about my day.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Glenda, you were interested in how much meat we were eating. A staple for me, when I am eating on plan, is a hamburger patty topped with swiss or provolone cheese for dinner. That patty is 8 ouces, raw. When I eat steak, roast, chicken drumettes, pork chops, the amount usually depends upon how much I've cooked. In a perfect world, I'd love to cook a little extra so I can bring it to work the next day... but more often than not, I end up eating it. It is nothing for me to eat 16 ounces of meat in a sitting... h*ll, depending upon what it is, I could eat more than that. I've always been that way.

I'm thinking that this is more of a problem than the sf gum is. Excess protein turns into glucose and 16 ounces for your small body is a lot of excess to turn to glucose. No wonder you could eat more.

I had to start way back to put a reasonable portion on my plate and immediately put the rest away, out of sight. I still have to eat my meal, immediately put everything away and clean up or I will pick at the food until it's gone. Not because I'm hungry, but because it's there and it tastes good. Even if I feel a little hungry when I finish, I have to go get busy for at least 30 minutes, and if I'm still hungry, then I can get some more to eat. That rarely happens.

[Carb Addict]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

I had no clue about the gum effect and insulin. Interesting. I agree, I do miss the taste of coffee. I have been doing ok with green tea and mint tea. I still miss my chai teas from Starbucks though but there is no way I am going back to 64 g of sugar for it!

[ValidRouge]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Mitzi, I can't imagine that it will take you any more than 4 or 5 days to get back into ketosis.

I 100% agree with you, that the gum is causing you to secrete insulin. And if you are chain chewing, your poor body is going through **** all day long! All that insulin in the blood, grabbing every single bit of glucose that is there, causing low blood sugar symptoms (FEED ME NOW!) is wreaking havoc! You try to eat something "legal" and the symptoms abate a little, but the pancrease secretes more insulin and within the hour you are feeling hungry again.

it's a vicious, vicious cycle. I think that's what was happening with me and the coffee (caffeine).

I still miss the "comforting" feeling of the coffee. But, I don't miss it so much that I'm willing to go back to that ravenous hunger.

Now, I'm just dealing with boredom or stress-triggered emotional eating.

[mitzimarie]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Liz!

I am so glad that you stopped in! Yours is just the kind of post that I need to read right now... I've been avoiding doing a real Induction for quite a while. Oh sure, I've danced around the Induction thing... always including an "Except for" clause with the deal. Not this time... and I wasn't convinced that I can pull it off. Hearing how well you are doing with your Induction gives me hope!

I just came across Don's thread in the Atkins for Life forum a few minutes ago... looks like a few of us are facing the same things, lately. I sure am glad (relieved!) to find out that things are going well for the both of you. Hopefully I will be able to report the same thing in a few days!

[hopejoy]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Hi everyone,
I just noticed this thread again which I joined ages ago... thought I'd pop back in since I am 'back to basics' on day 4 of induction... clean, clean, clean! that's me! It feels so good!

I got all the way down to 166 in May when I was sick from medication and anxiety trying to decide whether or not to go through with surgery. (remember?) Well, before surgery, I gained back 5... was 171 on the hosp scale... Had surgery June2 (small benign brain tumor removed) and was on mega doses of steroids which surprise surprise... really impacted my blood surgar and cravings... got totally whacked out... anyways, Friday July 11 I weighed 181.3!!! ack! Now today, I'm 175.1 after just 4 days of induction. I'm so happy. Of course, the night before I ate a carton of Ben and Jerry's ice cream by myself as self medication after finding out my son had been sworn into the Marines... and it was also the day before TOM, so extenuating circumstances... the ice cream wasn't my normal fare. I had been pretty healthy up to that point. But I have to say I recognized that that was scarey behavior for me to fall into. I had to get back control, and the only way I know to do that is INDUCTION. So, here I am doing what I know works. At first I really didn't think I could do it, but you know what? I am! and it feels great! All my old tricks are coming back... ie. substituting stips of zuccini as faux noodle for spagetti... ha! yummy!

That's pretty exciting to hear about a cookbook in the works. Great idea! keep us posted.

liz

[mitzimarie]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Monday, July 14th - Day 1 of strict Induction

I actually got through a day! True, I'm not in the bed yet... so technically I haven't gotten through a whole day, but it's looking good. And my protein was too high, but I'm considering today a success. I've never released this embarrassing tidbit before, but I've been chewing the h*ll out of Orbit gum for the past few months... I've been "chain chewing"... like a pack a day. I swear, when I spit out one piece of gum because it's lost its flavor and reach into that little pack to get another, I get flashbacks of the days when I used to smoke. No kidding, I have had the same kind of thing going on with gum.

You folks remember learning about Pavlov's dog in school? How the dog started to link hearing the bell with getting food... so that when he heard a bell, his salivary glands would secrete... he would salivate at the sound of a bell. Well, I think that my pancreas secretes insulin at the taste of something sweet. So, while sweeteners are not structured like sugar and technically should not cause the pancreas to secrete insulin, I think it is possible for sweeteners to cause this secretion by taste association. I have no science to back this... I just feel like sweeteners are really giving me cravings. I miss my MUP and gum, but am doing my absolute best to do a squeaky clean Induction without them and see what happens.

"The sticks" - I have never used ketone test strips before. Never needed them. But that's before I lost my mojo. I can tell, without a doubt, that I am out of ketosis now... I'm wondering how long it will take me to get back in. I've avoided the sticks, because I was afraid that they would become a source of stress for me in some way. But I am a bundle of stress over my apparent loss of control now, anyway. So, today I broke down and bought some sticks to monitor how long it will take me to get back into ketosis if I do a clean Induction. I used one today, and as suspected, not even a trace of ketones measured. So it will be interesting to see how this pans out.

OK, here are some details on my day. I didn't eat a whole lot, because of work and visiting with relatives tonight. That's a good thing... as much as I have been overeating lately, I need to give my stomach a break from stretching it out at every meal.

Breakfast - hambuger patty (no cheese), with a bit of mustard

Snack - 1 cup of jicama and 1 ounce string cheese

Lunch - 6 baked chicken drumettes I had leftover from last night

Snack - 1 cup of jicama and 1 ounce of string cheese

Dinner - Chicken Shwarma Salad (Romaine, feta cheese, roasted chicken, olive oil)

Fitday Totals:
1447 calories
16 net carbs (32g carbs - 16g fiber = 16g net carbs)
60% Fat
5% Carbs
35% Protein (yikes!)

- Drank 80 ounces of water

- Took Supplements

[mitzimarie]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Good Evening, Everyone

Wow, it sure is great to hear that so many of you are doing so well. Keep it up friends, because you are my inspiration.

Well, I've had a TERRIBLE food day today, and I still haven't exercised since Thursday. I'm not exactly sure what's wrong with me... I do have several things stressing me out right now, but that is no excuse for this to be happening. I faced hardships during OWL, and not once did I turn to food for comfort or blow off my exercise. I need to get my mojo back!

Glenda, you were interested in how much meat we were eating. A staple for me, when I am eating on plan, is a hamburger patty topped with swiss or provolone cheese for dinner. That patty is 8 ouces, raw. When I eat steak, roast, chicken drumettes, pork chops, the amount usually depends upon how much I've cooked. In a perfect world, I'd love to cook a little extra so I can bring it to work the next day... but more often than not, I end up eating it. It is nothing for me to eat 16 ounces of meat in a sitting... h*ll, depending upon what it is, I could eat more than that. I've always been that way.

I think I'm having hormone issues. Although I just had TOM on June 28th (the only one I've had since the beginning of the year), I almost feel like it's on my doorstep again. And I have a work issue that sucks. And we've been looking at houses to buy, as we are renting now (long story ). I feel a little bit insane.

I have got to get a grip on myself! I have my yearly pap/mamagram on Wednesday... I wanted to be super skinny when I go there, because last year I remember him being happy about the fact that I was down to 155. I've been avoiding the scale lately, because I can tell that my clothes are tighter. I need to get over the fact that I can't fix things by the time I see my gyn in the next 2 days. I need to prep myself for the number I'll see on the scale... his scale weighs me 4 pounds heavier than mine, plus I've put on some weight in the last week. So I need to start a strict Induction tomorrow to turn this thing around, and then really focus hard for the next month. That's when I'll have my yearly physical/blood work with my GP. He's the one who advised me to follow Atkins, and he was so excited that I was down to 155 at my appointment last year. (I usually do these annual visits in the same week each summer, but wasn't able to schedule them together this year). I want to be back to my rocking, confident, skinny (at goal!) self by the time that appointment rolls around in a month... instead of the weak, anxiety-ridden person that I have become.

Tomorrow I have a long work day in the boutique, so that should help me to stay on course during the day. Tomorrow night we are eating at Barry's parents' house (relatives visiting from out of state), and I am pretty positive that it won't be Atkins friendly. So I baked some drumettes this evening (that I have managed to stay out of because I overate so many other things today) to have on hand so I don't have to go there hungry. I've got my jicama cut up and bagged, along with sugar snap peas, and string cheese, in addition to the drumettes to bring with me to work.

Thanks for letting me bend your ears.

Here we go again.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Hi Everyone,

I am back! I have been super busy over the past month and just haven't checked in. I am happy to report I am still losing (especially inches) and am at the point now when I actually look forward to exercise (who would have ever thought). It's amazing how much easier it is to work out when you lose almost 50 pounds. Hope everyone is doing well and staying on track.

Woohoo! BLUE! You are doing great. I can remember how much better I could move after losing the first 50 pounds. It made a world of difference.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

wow sunny that is INCREDIBLE! please do let us know when it is completed. i would love to order a copy from you. cooking is NOT my forte at all. and i do enjoy linda's site for recipe ideas but having great, tested ideas in a book would be really nice too. will you include photos of the finished products? i enjoy seeing what the finished product looks like.

I am a photographer, so I would really love to have pictures of each recipe, but I'm not sure a publisher would go for it. I got several low carb cookbooks out of the library just to see what is already out there, and only a couple of them had any pictures. I know that I go by the photo most of the time to even have the interest to read the recipe.

I will be taking pictures of each finished product and I will have some pictures of how to do prep work. One thing I've learned by participating in the food forums, is that a lot of people don't understand what it means to, say, "fold the egg yolks into the beaten egg whites" (for the rev rolls) or even what egg whites beaten until they hold stiff peaks looks like.

Anybody that lets me use their Atkins' story, gets a couple free copies! Get your story ready! You can use caprese salad for your recipe.

That chicken last night was beyond awesome, but the fresh squash out of my garden was so good grilled, I almost didn't eat any of the chicken. I have had squash at all three meals today.

Speaking of caprese salad, just as soon as my tomatoes start to come in a little better, I am going to Charlottesville to get some of the water buffalo fresh mozzarella to make the salad. I've got tons of fresh basil and I bought some extra good olive oil for it.


Sunny!

[ValidRouge]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Good job, blue! Glad to see you back.

I am pretty darned proud of myself.

I spent the weekend at the beach and NOT ONE BITE of illegal food passed these lips. I did have 2 8 oz glasses of coffee, my only indulgence.

I missed exercise on Friday though. So, I get a slug day for 6WEC. now, i've got to go fess up to that one.

[blue996]

Re: ~*~ Back To Basics ~*~

Hi Everyone,

I am back! I have been super busy over the past month and just haven't checked in. I am happy to report I am still losing (especially inches) and am at the point now when I actually look forward to exercise (who would have ever thought). It's amazing how much easier it is to work out when you lose almost 50 pounds. Hope everyone is doing well and staying on track.