first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

[Courtney]

Hello all, just wanted to check to make sure i am on the right track. I am new at this and would like to gain as much knowledge and information I can.
I do not vary my menu too much as (this is funny) I am not a huge meat eater! So normally, everyday I have pretty much the same thing.

Here's a typical day:

Morning (7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

• Drink 1 pt/0.9fl/5L of Crystal Lite Rasberry ice juice - count as 1 net carb.
• Also drink 2 more 1 pt/0.9fl/5L of water (I only drink out of a typical water bottle) - 0 net carbs
• at about 10:30 I have scambled eggs (4 whole eggs) with 4 sausage links mixed into the eggs. the eggs are cooked with butter & nothing else - count as 4 net carbs.

Afternoon (1:15 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.)

• Drink 2 more 1 pt/0.9fl/5L of water - 0 carbs
• 3 cups of lettuce (just regular lettuce from a head of lettuce), 3 strips of bacon (chopped) and 1 can of tuna with Kraft, No carb caesar dressing, about 3 tablespoons - 2.2 carbs
• About three times a week i have been having approx. 8 who roasted peanuts - 1 carb

Night (5:00p.m. - 10:00p.m.)

• 16 oz/1 pound of chipped steak, fried with olive oil & 1 slice of American cheese - 3 carbs

-OR-

• i normally just eat meat for this meal - 10 strips of bacon or 8 oz of steak, pork or chicken (all plain, but grilled). - 0 carbs unless it's bacon

-AND-

• about 15 slices of pepperoni (mini pieces in a bag) - 2 net carbs
• 1/2 cup of diet coke with splenda, not caffeine free - 1 net carb

So typically, this is a day for me. Sometimes i feel like I am not eating enough "natural" beef, like steak, ground meat, etc. I do prefer bacon, sausage and peperoni over a big peice of steak. I have lost 3.5 pounds my first week.
during my first week, i did eat the Atkins Advantage Bard towards the end of the week & was substituting them for meals. since i only lost 3.5 lbs, i cut them out of my "menu" for this week to see if there is a difference.

also, i used to use a lot of salt -- which i knwo isnt good to begin with. i stopped using so much, but i do use it on my meat & eggs. is a little ok? for example, i probably have a teaspoon of salt a day (i only ask this because i knwo salt makes you retain water)

How am i doing?
in advance, i thank you for your input.

[Atkid]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

Hey,
The only thing that sticks out to me as a no-no is the peanuts. They are now allowed on induction.

[Richt]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

At first glances, I noticed that you had all of your veggies at one sitting, and even then it was lettuce.

You need to split your veg fairly evenly throughout the day, to avoid spiking your blood sugar levels, and also try to include more than just lettuce as you will get more nutrients out of other things such as broccoli etc.

Rich

[Courtney]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

Hey,
The only thing that sticks out to me as a no-no is the peanuts. They are now allowed on induction.

yeah, see this is where i am confused. on the information i printed from Atkins.com, it says during induction for snacking, "go nuts for nuts" - but on the induction rules, it says NO... haha so i guess i cheater - i will not eat them anymore. i guess i figured 8 nuts could go either way ("go nuts for nuts" or "NO"). i appreciate the feedback, i wont be going "nuts" anymore!

[Courtney]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

At first glances, I noticed that you had all of your veggies at one sitting, and even then it was lettuce.

You need to split your veg fairly evenly throughout the day, to avoid spiking your blood sugar levels, and also try to include more than just lettuce as you will get more nutrients out of other things such as broccoli etc.

Rich

ok, so I am going to start eating cucumbers too, but then only 1 or 2 cups of lettuce will be allowed, right?. Boccoli & celery i like too.. thanks rich!

[Atkid]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

yeah, see this is where i am confused. on the information i printed from Atkins.com, it says during induction for snacking, "go nuts for nuts" - but on the induction rules, it says NO... haha so i guess i cheater - i will not eat them anymore. i guess i figured 8 nuts could go either way ("go nuts for nuts" or "NO"). i appreciate the feedback, i wont be going "nuts" anymore!

I see where that can be confusing. I headed over there to check it out. If I were you I would not go by that website. Here at the ADBB we go by the 2002 edition that Dr. Atkins himself wrote. I believe that website is updated by whoever after Dr. Atkins died. Notice how they push all the convenience products there. Hang in there, give up the nuts for now like you said and watch your weight drop.

[Courtney]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

I see where that can be confusing. I headed over there to check it out. If I were you I would not go by that website. Here at the ADBB we go by the 2002 edition that Dr. Atkins himself wrote. I believe that website is updated by whoever after Dr. Atkins died. Notice how they push all the convenience products there. Hang in there, give up the nuts for now like you said and watch your weight drop.

Sounds good -- I definately am giving them up & getting the book too! Sometimes i feel though that since i started with eating nuts & the advantage bars, should i start my induction over (or do it for another week - for a total of 3)? i mean i did lose weight the first week, so i think thats good & now i've changed things, that i did in the first week that i thought put me back, for this week. is that good enough?

[Atkid]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

In my opinion, I would not redo induction, you have already had your "whoosh" or beginning water weight loss. Just keep going from here but forget the nuts and the convenience foods, we are trying to get teach ourselves to eat the right foods rather than just substitute one junk food (the bars) for another (burrito). Good luck!

[Courtney]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

In my opinion, I would not redo induction, you have already had your "whoosh" or beginning water weight loss. Just keep going from here but forget the nuts and the convenience foods, we are trying to get teach ourselves to eat the right foods rather than just substitute one junk food (the bars) for another (burrito). Good luck!

haha great, thanks so much! i forgot about them already.....

[InkDBear]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

My only question might be are you eating only until you're satisfied? A lb. of meat every night sounds like alot! So it's okay if that is what it's taking to satisfy your hunger, but you might want to see how you feel with 9 oz. or 6 oz.

[higgies]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

Hey there!

I agree with what everyone has said so far. I especially agree with Rich's comment about eating different veggies. Cucumbers are about as bad as lettuce. Go for some dark colored vegetables, like broccoli.

I also think the amount of bacon is quite high. There is lots of sodium (even in reduced sodium varieties) in bacon and this could add to your water retention.

Try cutting down your breakfast to 3 eggs and 3 links. Are you satisfied? Same goes for dinner. Try cutting down to 10 oz. of steak. I know calories aren't supposed to matter in induction, but the point was that the way we eat in induction should reduce your appetite. So you'd eat less by virtue of following the plan.

I entered your typical day into Fitday.com and it looks like it's about 2500-2600 calories and only like 6-8 net carbs. Your BMR for your height, weight, and age is about 1770 calories. Do you have a Fitday account? check it out as it's a great guide for helping you determine what's going on and gets you used to this WOE.

One last thing....are ya exercising?

We're all here for ya, so keep up the good work.

[Courtney]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

My only question might be are you eating only until you're satisfied? A lb. of meat every night sounds like alot! So it's okay if that is what it's taking to satisfy your hunger, but you might want to see how you feel with 9 oz. or 6 oz.

I don't usually eat chipped steak, first time i had it and it seemed light to me. I dont think it was even a pound (to tell you the truth) - i am not good with measurements, unless i strictly measure it out myself. Thinking right now, about how much a pound of chicken is, i definately didnt eat a pound of chipped steak haha. thanks for your advice.

[Courtney]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

Hey there!

I agree with what everyone has said so far. I especially agree with Rich's comment about eating different veggies. Cucumbers are about as bad as lettuce. Go for some dark colored vegetables, like broccoli.

I also think the amount of bacon is quite high. There is lots of sodium (even in reduced sodium varieties) in bacon and this could add to your water retention.

Try cutting down your breakfast to 3 eggs and 3 links. Are you satisfied? Same goes for dinner. Try cutting down to 10 oz. of steak. I know calories aren't supposed to matter in induction, but the point was that the way we eat in induction should reduce your appetite. So you'd eat less by virtue of following the plan.

I entered your typical day into Fitday.com and it looks like it's about 2500-2600 calories and only like 6-8 net carbs. Your BMR for your height, weight, and age is about 1770 calories. Do you have a Fitday account? check it out as it's a great guide for helping you determine what's going on and gets you used to this WOE.

One last thing....are ya exercising?

We're all here for ya, so keep up the good work.

Higgies, thanks so much for the imput. Since its been a few days since i have posted my original menu, i have definately made some huge changes. My appetite has definately decreased and I am eating my veggies throughout the day, not in just one sitting (and not only lettuce).

As mentioned in my previous post, i am not good with measuring my food just from sight (so i think my measurements before were a little distorted) -- although i know the bacon was way too much haha. The whole bacon thing i've definately changed, i eat maybe about 4 slices a day, and some days, none at all. i also cut the sausage. I eat that maybe once or twice a week, not everyday like i was used to doing.

I looked into the fitday the other day, but honestly, i didnt find it to my liking. I recently purchased DANDR and the journal. i read the book & record daily my eating habits, etc..

I am walking at least twice a week for about 2 miles... i know its not enough (but i look at it as "its better than what i was doing before: nothing"). I just joined the June abs challenge & am so excited for that!

Again, i appreciate your input and will definately take into consideration all your idea! by the way, you look great in your pics! congrats on such a huge loss!

[higgies]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

Good to hear Courtney! I hope these changes pay off!

If you want to take a look at my daily menu, you can click on the fitday link in my siggy. I pretty much eat according to induciton still because I like it, but nix the nuts I eat... Good luck!

[Elizellen]

Re: first timer - 1 1/2 weeks in induction...

And see if you can get hold of a kitchen scales so you can put your 'usual' portion of meat on them to see how much it weighs. You only need to do this a few times or just now and again to make sure you are not over eating your Atkins.

when you get to OWL phase of Atkins it is useful to know fairly accurately how much of a new food you are adding too.