So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

[msanjelpie]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

It sounds like she is anti-Atkins... otherwise she would never suggest such a high carb allowance...

Just remember, it's YOUR life... if you want to continue on induction, do it. It didn't sound to me like she thought Atkins was bad for you, just that she wants to see better cholesterol numbers... which she will either way you go probably...

My doc also tried to talk me out of Atkins, saying it was too strict and that most of his patients had trouble staying on it... Well I didn't, and as much as I respect the opinion of doctors, there are tons of different opinions... you might want to find a doctor that is 'pro-atkins' and I mean really-pro, there are lists of doctors on the internet for certain areas...

There are also very interesting books on diabetics doing low-carb diets... sit at your local book store for several hours and you'll learn that most doctors aren't pro-atkins/low carb diabetes specialists...

[pagliaccia]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

I know it's purely anecdotal, but my dad was on Atkins a while back and improved his cholesterol tremendously because of it. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide, though!

[Peej]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

If you decide to follow your doctor's advice, I don't think anyone would blame you. However, I think its a little early to be expecting big results. To see even the results you got in 6 weeks is pretty great. If you choose to stick it out, you will probably see even better results soon.

If you don't, sure you would still be welcome here. I'm sure most people would advise you to try to slowly reintroduce the extra carbs instead of immediately jumping to 100 but that is your choice. I hope whatever you choose works out for you in the end!

[not2late]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Any diet that contains less than 120-130 total carbs per day is considered a "low carb diet". We've had members here who were able to eat 110 net carbs daily during their OWL Phases and lost weight. You'll never know what your body's carbohydrate levels are if you languish on 20 net carbs daily for the remainder of your weight loss. Furthermore, you'll cheat yourself----yes cheat yourself---of the higher nutrient and higher fiber foods found on the OWL and Pre-Maintenance carb ladders. And you diet yourself into a corner because when you finally reach goal, you won't know how to maintain it---and we've had members here who have made that mistake only to regain their weight and start all over again.

The way Dr. Atkins wrote his books, he never meant for us to be enslaved to 20 net carbs daily for our entire weight loss program. That's why he divided his Diet into 3 weight loss phases---of which Induction is the first and the most restrictive in terms of carbs and food choices. He specifically wrote that the only people who can benefit from doing Induction longer than the initial 14 days are those people with a high metabolic resistance to weight loss because staying on Induction longer might correct those imbalances. (last sentence of Chapter 13) That's why we are always telling everyone to look up their metabolic resistances in the book after they finish their 2 weeks, because some people think that they have a high metabolic resistance because they "only" lost 7-10 pounds during their 14 days.

So move up to OWL. You'll find it a much better place, nutritionally and healthwise.

[mitzimarie]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Well, she said she would like me at about 100 - 110 carbs a day, almost exclusively from veggies and beans..... that is a lot more carbs that where I was after about 8 weeks....

But that's because you never moved off of Induction. Personally, I do NOT recommend Extended Induction for ANYONE. It's the "Induction till goal" mentality that gives Atkins a bad name.

[Georgiana]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Well, she said she would like me at about 100 - 110 carbs a day, almost exclusively from veggies and beans..... that is a lot more carbs that where I was after about 8 weeks....

If you introduce carbs back slowly and progress through the rungs (otherwise you could trigger cravings, hence overeating or eating bad stuff, which is not good for you anyway) it will not take very long to get close to the number of carbs your doctor wants. I am on Rung 4 and I still get most of my carbs from vegetables, even though I do have yogurt, milk or berries at times.

There is no magic in 100-110 carbs. 70 or 80 could work just the same and with a lot of vegetables and beans, that would mean something like 40-60 net carbs. Dr. Atkins wrote that someone who exercises regularly will normally have a CCLL in the 60-90 range. Moreover, since your numbers have been improving anyway for the past 6 weeks, they will probably continue on the same trend without you having to jump directly from 20 to XX net carbs.

[Papa Deuce]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

But that's because you never moved off of Induction. Personally, I do NOT recommend Extended Induction for ANYONE. It's the "Induction till goal" mentality that gives Atkins a bad name.

I hear ya.... but my plan was until I hit 280..... and then moving on from induction. Induction til goal? Just put a bullet in me...

[mitzimarie]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Induction til goal? Just put a bullet in me...

LOL!

I think you're going to thrive on the extra carbs, Papa. Keep us posted, OK?

[not2late]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Also.........unless you are extremely, extremely anal-retentive about measuring your vegetables during "extended" Induction by making sure it is only 3 cups daily, you're probably eating at Rung 1 amounts. There's a tendency with the folks on "extended" Induction to start estimating their vegetable amounts and/or start having "extra" vegetables because they feel comfortable with Induction. So they're probably eating Rung 1 amounts of veg.

PD, you've lost over 20 pounds and your blood work has shown an improvement. The drop in your H1Ac is fantastic! So move to OWL Rung 1. It's just 5 extra net carbs of the Induction veg. You'll get more nutrients and you'll up your fiber, which will help your overall health. The healthier you get the better it is for you (plus you might be able to decrease or get off your medications.) Then move up the ladder at your own pace.

[tfek70]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Wow Chuck, feel the love! Nobody wants to lose you here.

Just to echo what everyone else is saying, I don't think you need to leave this WOE. You can still do it, just reduce your beef and cheese, and hit some more vegetables and slowly work your way up to nuts. Also, something that might have been missed here is that your Dr. wanted you to move up in carbs, but unless he specifically stated NET CARBS, you may already be doing close to what he wants. I know I take in 40-50 grams of fiber every day. That plus my allowed carbs puts me solidly in the 100 -110 range. As far as the beef goes, look into pork shoulder blade steaks. They are considered a crap cut of meat and can usually be purchased for around a dollar a pound. Properly marinated they are every bit as good as the ribeye I at last night. Usually they come sliced fairly thin, but I bet your butcher could cut some thicker for you so they cook up better. Stick around Chuck, we aren't done here.

T. J.

[Papa Deuce]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Wow Chuck, feel the love! Nobody wants to lose you here.

Just to echo what everyone else is saying, I don't think you need to leave this WOE. You can still do it, just reduce your beef and cheese, and hit some more vegetables and slowly work your way up to nuts. Also, something that might have been missed here is that your Dr. wanted you to move up in carbs, but unless he specifically stated NET CARBS, you may already be doing close to what he wants. I know I take in 40-50 grams of fiber every day. That plus my allowed carbs puts me solidly in the 100 -110 range. As far as the beef goes, look into pork shoulder blade steaks. They are considered a crap cut of meat and can usually be purchased for around a dollar a pound. Properly marinated they are every bit as good as the ribeye I at last night. Usually they come sliced fairly thin, but I bet your butcher could cut some thicker for you so they cook up better. Stick around Chuck, we aren't done here.

T. J.

TJ, thanks so much.... good to feel the love... I'm staying. In fact, m y wife is now indicating she may join me.

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

I'm staying. In fact, m y wife is now indicating she may join me.

Papa Deuce, that is wonderful news!!!!!

[Papa Deuce]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Papa Deuce, that is wonderful news!!!!!

It is, but, the problem is that I know she will not read the book... and today she came home from Walmart with about $20 in Atkins bars and shakes.

My wife is a pastaholic.... and I just can't see her giving it up... I sure hope she can. She will think that she can just "wing it"....

I'm going to do everything I can to help her, but I have a tendency to be a "smidge" overbearing .... and she will just tune me out if I don't approach this just right.

I think I will just preapre a list of induction friendly and unfriendly food items and post it on the fridge. Since she won't read a book, maybe she will at least read a list.

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

It is, but, the problem is that I know she will not read the book... and today she came home from Walmart with about $20 in Atkins bars and shakes.

Oh, my! That's not going to be a lot of help!

Would she read the allowed foods list if you printed them out?

Just remember, you can tell her how it works, but you can't make her do it. But it sure would be nice if she decided she wanted to.

Anyway, I am so pleased with your progress. You'll do fine with or without her on board.

[msanjelpie]

Re: So, I had my 1st physical today since starting Atkins.....

Sometimes the best way to help someone is to show them how well the diet works by your success...

She will try it her way, be bummed when she doesn't lose the weight like you did, and perhaps then say... well, what am I doing wrong?... that's when you get to step in...

The first time I did Atkins and lost 101 lbs, I inspired 5 people to try atkins. My mother, my father, 2 neighbors and my dentist. My father and my dentist (both male) had no problem on the diet, lost the weight quickly and kept it off... My mother lost 20 lbs, got discouraged that she wasn't losing faster and quit putting it all back on... One of my neighbors lost 50 lbs and then got scared when the doctor told her she was pre-diabetic. She thought that the Atkins caused it and quit and subsequently gained it all back plus more. My other neighbor lost 60 lbs and has kept it off, She is in OWL now, and although she has another 30 to lose, she seems to be in a permanent stall because of cheats.

So although inspiring others is exhilerating and another affirmation that what we are doing is noticable and positive, their weight loss doesn't always turn out like ours... and we can't take responsibility when it doesn't... we can be a positive role model and answer questions, but we can't give them the motivation that we feel inside unless they really really want it as badly as we do...