2009 Read The Book Challenge

[barrnone]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

Happy Birthday franniel! Enjoy.

Finished Part II - all is good!

[jimmie 48]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

Happy Birthday franniel! Enjoy.

Finished Part II - all is good!

i think you mean part 3, right? unless of course you reread part 2 over.

Hi Guys, Finished part 3 last night, will start part 4 today.
Today is my birthday and your comments on what people have in their shopping baskets made me think about the changes to my celebrations. Previously the day would revolve around food, presents would include chocolates, there would be birthday cake, friends would take me to lunch and my husband would take me to dinner. I would go to bed stuffed and uncomfortable feeling that I had had a great birthday but that I really must start a diet tomorrow. Now everyone who matters knows I low carb, I no longer get or want chocs or cake and nobody questions my food choices at meals. Tonight I am expecting to go to bed knowing I have had another great birthday and also I may have a little smile on my face knowing I have had a great Atkins day. Bad Carbs do not control my life now and I truely do not miss them.

what great thinking you have you have there, franniel! you'll be so pleased with yourself by the end of the day, i'm sure you'll just beam!
have a wonderful birthday day!

[happymomto4]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

I finished part three last night. I guess the biggest thing that is standing out in my mind is that I am supposed to get up to 30 min of exercise in one workout. I had forgotten that I am supposed to be adding 3 min a day to my workouts, a week at a time, until I can sustain my activity for 30 -45 minutes. Oops! I think I have only hit this amount of time a handful of times when I go walking. Days that I work out to a video, ride the bike, stair master, or lift weights, my workout is closer to 15 minutes. So...I have a lot of work to do to get up to 30 minutes each time. I stayed in a spin class for nearly 30 minutes and it about killed me! I'm still sore and that was 3 days ago.

[barrnone]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

yep - finished Part III - thanks!

[imagood1]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

The more I read the more I am happy to have chosen this lifestyle! My book looks like a highlighter ran amok on the pages! I also ordered (and just received) Dr. Atkins Vita-nutrient book - wow, what an eye opener on what combinations of vitamins, minerals, etc. will help with your health. I'm so glad I ordered it!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

[jimmie 48]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

great job, girls! it's nice to see the posts of 'done' for part 3 and nice to see the comment you made, happymomto4, about the exercise. i would guess that you aren't the only one that kinda forgot about the increase in minutes. i really don't think about it either. i know i like to get 30 minutes of exercise in to call it worthy for the 6 wec so maybe in the back of my mind i was thinking of the comments in the book???? lets say that's it. lol

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we start reading part 4 this week, for those who haven't read ahead.

i think the upcoming chapters are so important. we've been reading how to lose weight and now we are really going to get into WHY.

again, as with the other 3 parts, make your comments as you read, if you so inclined. and when you get done, make sure to post letting me and the others know.

[jimmie 48]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

The more I read the more I am happy to have chosen this lifestyle! My book looks like a highlighter ran amok on the pages! I also ordered (and just received) Dr. Atkins Vita-nutrient book - wow, what an eye opener on what combinations of vitamins, minerals, etc. will help with your health. I'm so glad I ordered it!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

my pages are all falling out! i have the binder taped but even that is coming loose. i've also got things highlighted, underlined and starred in yellow, blue and red.

[mizski]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

I finished Part 3 earlier this week but have been offline. Here are my comments/observations that I made along the way. Sorry I didn't get to post them bit by bit during the week.

Part 3, Understanding Health and Well Being

Chapter 20, Metabolic Resistance covered extreme difficulty in losing weight from such things as hyperinsulinism and/or insulin resistance, various prescription drugs, thyroid issues and Candida problems. According to an earlier test, hyperinsulinism may be an issue for me and I started taking the recommended supplements L-carnitine and CoQ10 (p. 273) back when I was on Induction.

Then for those who are so extremely metabolically resistant Dr. Atkins explains The Fat Fast.

p.273 Let me make it clear that the Fat Fast is actually dangerous for anyone who is not metabolically resistant. For people who lise weight fairly easily, the rate of weight loss is too rapid to be safe.

I skimmed through the Fat Fast info pretty quickly when I started Atkins as it seemed too extreme and not necessary for me to consider. Taking the time to carefully read it now I found the instructions to be very clear but I wonder how many people use this option in hopes of quick weight loss rather than for the purposes it was intended.

Chapter 21, Psychology of Weight Loss covered things I’ve known for a long time. Still, a review didn’t hurt. Of particular interest was the Time for Realism section:

pp.280-282 Don’t be trapped by expectations. This is a typical vulnerability found in people who repeatedly fail at weight loss. They have a preconceived version of how a weight loss plan should progress and demand perfection, or, at least, a steady and predictable progress that can’t necessarily be achieved—even by doing Atkins.

I hope I can remember this section to mention to posters who post in frustration and want to completely give up when their expectations aren’t immediately met.

Chapter 22, Exercise Another chapter of stuff I already knew but with a new item to consider:

p. 286 It’s Non-Negotiable. If you’re not getting regular exercise, you aren’t following the Atkins Nutritional Approach. You must make a commitment to physical activity as well as change the way you eat—and take nutritional supplements. Doing one without the other is like riding a bike with flat tires. It’s a lot more difficult.

Well, that kind of puts it in a different light. Has anyone else noticed that the max weight in the book only goes up to about 220#s (p. 300)? Were the heaviest people thinner back in 2002? Maybe.

Chapter 23, Nutritional Supplements was an incredibly useful chapter to me and one that I’ve referred to often. I started taking Dr. A’s recommended supplements towards the end of Induction when I wondered if my Centrum Silver and EFAs weren’t enough. Using Vitacost’s version of Atkins Basic #3 formula along with the recommended amounts of EFAs, L-carnitine and CoQ10 made a huge difference in how I felt. HUGE. I don’t think it was a fluke either as I have had to be off of all supplements for the past two weeks in prep for surgery and I feel like crap. I’m thinking of looking for Dr. Atkins’ Vita-Nutrient Solution book to find out more info.

[Georgiana]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

I am actually done with Part IV.

Today is my birthday and your comments on what people have in their shopping baskets made me think about the changes to my celebrations.

Happy Birthday!

you know, bizzle, i wonder the same thing. have you ever stood in the grocery line and looked at what the people in front of you are buying? i swear, i watch and i see very fat, obeses people throwing weight watcher food, low fat this, no sugar that, skim milk and all the other so called good for you foods. and i think to myself, what a waste of money. do they look at themselves and say "oh yeah, that low fat prepared dinner is really working on me now!"
and you know what else? watch the skinny people eat. more times than not, they are buying fresh vegetables, fruits, yogurts, fresh meats and usually not cereal and candy and doughnuts, low fat or not.

It is somewhat different in Germany. Almost everyone here eats vegetables, fruits, yogurts, meats (and drinks beer... lol)... at least as far as I can tell from what people are buying. They also eat a lot of bread and pastry. Sugary breakfast cereals are not very popular... but muesli is. Many people choose things like low fat cheese and skim milk, instead of the full fat kind; most eat real butter though, not margarine. And many are pretty slim. Of course, cooked meals are the norm... and people also exercise quite a bit and everyone bikes everywhere.

[jimmie 48]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

I am actually done with Part IV.

Happy Birthday!

It is somewhat different in Germany. Almost everyone here eats vegetables, fruits, yogurts, meats (and drinks beer... lol)... at least as far as I can tell from what people are buying. They also eat a lot of bread and pastry. Sugary breakfast cereals are not very popular... but muesli is. Many people choose things like low fat cheese and skim milk, instead of the full fat kind; most eat real butter though, not margarine. And many are pretty slim. Of course, cooked meals are the norm... and people also exercise quite a bit and everyone bikes everywhere.

something i heard on the news the other day, the report was about sun damage to the skin. it was citing doctors that were telling their adolescent patients to not get in the sun without sunscreen and then it should only be for a period no longer than 20 minutes. i think that is sad, very sad.
this advice, is helping the nation to become more lazy than it already is.

[imagood1]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

I finished Part IV last night. I went ahead and looked at the recipes and was very disappointed they weren't put into sections of "Induction" and "Phase 2" or something -- no wonder many newbies get confused - after all there isn't anything in the recipe section to tell which phase they should be eating these foods. Also, they mention the Atkins low-carb baking mix -- oh well....we know better!

After reading, my book is highlighted and has sticky arrows on special pages - a different color for each section of the book - and another color for charts I wanted to be able to find quickly again (yes I did this - and keep order in most parts of my life - I even alphabetize my spices!).

I still feel reading the book should be mandatory when you begin - the stickies are great but nothing beats reading the book. You should also re-read it at least once a year after that! We get so wrapped up in our daily lives we forget some of the fundamentals of the book...re-reading helps keep everything fresh and gives you the chance to put experienced eyes on your plan.

Along with doing a lot of sleeping and very little eating the past few weeks (thanks to sickness) I also spent more time than I probably would have reading and going back over things in the book. This challenge has been a huge eye opener for me - I found all the things I had been doing wrong and will be making the changes as I go forward.

I appreciate you leading this challenge Mz Jo!! You are one of the driving forces of this board and it wouldn't be the same without you!

Thursday I received Dr Atkins Vita-Nutrient book and am in the process of reading it. I have ordered some vitamins (rush order) which should be here by the end of the week.

I have a new resolve to be a winner - not continuing to be the overweight person I've allowed myself to become.

Best wishes to all!!

[RosieC]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

Has anyone else noticed that the max weight in the book only goes up to about 220#s (p. 300)? Were the heaviest people thinner back in 2002? Maybe.

I wonder if that is a hangover from the first edition because the heaviest people certainly were thinner in 1972. But probably not in 2002 - or not much.

I also noticed that most of his examples through the book were people who only had 30-50 pounds to lose. There was a discussion somewhere on the board with somebody claiming that Atkins was designed only for the obese. That couldn't possibly be true, you only have to look at these case studies.

I have finished part 4 now - thank you Dr Atkins!

I was interested in the yeast chapter. I am trying to go yeast-free for 2 weeks to see if it helps my energy levels but it is really tough cutting out all of those things especially when sick. I've made a plan for the foods, but the medications keep tripping me up ...

[mizski]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

Part 4 Disease Prevention

I really must have skimmed through this section when I first read the book as almost all of it was new to me.

Chapter 24, Diabetes

This chapter was very useful to Mr. Ski as he was diagnosed with Type II earlier this year. Since I’ve been on Atkins (and his diet further changed), his daily stick test and recent GTT are normal. Yaay on that. I wish they would try taking him off of Metformin though. Unfortunately it seems that once you are on a drug, they never let you stop. I blame the pharmaceutical companies and their doctor incentive programs for this.

Chapter 25, Yeast Reactions

This chapter is very interesting to me. When I first looked at the list of symptoms (p. 332) a couple months ago, I had a lot of them. I attributed them to old age, osteoarthritis, ongoing bladder problems, obesity or crankiness. Now I don’t know. Some symptoms have disappeared but I still have others. I’ve also been on antibiotics more than 4x/year for the past two years. I always took my Acidophilus Pearls to counteract yeast issues though. Then there is the chronic and excessive emotional stress issue. For like the last six years. Geez. I’m thinking of trying the no yeast/mold diet after the holidays and see if there is any difference.

[jimmie 48]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

again, i am loving the comments. it seems like most of you have found something 'new' by rereading your book! i'm the same.
and it's great to see that at least 4 of you have finished. good job!

i am struggling to get through the diebetes chapter. i read half last night and i'll finish it tonight. i think the struggle comes from ...well, i'll just say it.... it's boring to me. i don't understand it, the science of it, so it doesn't sink into the noggin' very well.

[gumby87]

Re: 2009 Read The Book Challenge

Hi, there!

I got back from Las Vegas late Wed. night only to end up getting sick for the next few days. yuck! Anyway, I didn't feel much like reading until yesterday when I finally finished part 3. I enjoyed reading about the vitamins that he recommends. I have been taking a multivitamin, but now I'm going to look more into adding some of the other supplements he suggests.

Now heading off to bed and beginning part 4.

Good night!

(Oh, and I am happy to say that I am the same weight that I was when I left a week ago for my trip. That's the first time I've gone on vacation and not gained anything!)