Please Let This Work

[2muchbutt]

Hi, I sure hope Atkins will work for me. I have tried every diet there is but just can't seem to lose. I blame it on the fact that I had my thyroid removed and take synthroid. Therefore, my metabalism is controlled by a pill and I can't get the fire burning to eat up those calories. My doctors disagree and say to count calories, cut fat out of my diet, and exercise. Well, that just didn't work for me. I still freak out when I open my fridg and see all that butter, cheese, regular salad dressing and mayo and meat!!!!. And oh, the eggs. I have high cholesterol and am not supposed to eat more than 2 eggs a week. And now I am buying them 18 at a time. I know that if I can lose at least 30 pounds, the cholesterol problem will probably go away. But still, it is scary. Anyway, I did the 2 weeks of Induction, confirmed ketones, and lost 3 pounds. Bummed but still trying. I know I am resistant so will keep trying. Will stay on Induction for a while because it is easy to do and I'm not ready to start worrying about adding anything back into my diet until I start seeing the pounds start coming off faster. I'm 5'4" and a little over 200 pounds so need minimum 50 gone.

[Danielle2842]

Re: Please Let This Work

Hi 2muchbutt!

I like your name-- very cute!! So, you've lost 3 lbs. in 2 weeks, right? Plus, you have a medical condition that is probably slowing you down? Well, that's an average of 1.5 lbs. lost per week, which is really VERY good! It's a normal, healthy weightloss, especially from someone who has a medical condition that might inhibit normal loss a bit.

Please don't disregard your cholesterol levels just because you're losing weight because that could be dangerous. Make sure to monitor regularly and stick to Dr.'s orders as closely as possible.

I hope this works for you too, and think that it will as long as you give this way of eating a fair shot. It's a life change that is sooo simple to stick to once you've armed yourself with the neccesary knowledge and armed your cabinets & frige. with the neccesary food. :0)

Hang in there & Good luck!

[Chicklady]

Re: Please Let This Work

Hi welcome to ADBB. Unless your liver isn't functioning properly, eggs shouldn't be an issue. But your doctor would know that. Have you posted your menus in the "review my menu" section? maybe someone will spot something that will help you lose quicker.

[2muchbutt]

Re: Please Let This Work

I didn't even know there was a fourm where people will critique my daily menus. This will be helpful. I have read the book but get confused about what is okay and what isn't in the beginning. I have been eating ff/nsa pudding mixed with heavy whipping cream in the evenings because that is when I get my cravings and I thought it was okay. Now I am reading and if I understand correctly, this is probably stalling or slowing weight loss. I'm sure I read somewhere in THE BOOK that it was permitted. oops! I will keep track of what I eat for a couple of days and then get my menus checked. I don't do well at keeping track of my carbs so I just try to not eat any and figure I will keep them low that way.

Thanks so much for any advice or suggestions.

[Chicklady]

Re: Please Let This Work

try using fitday.com to track your carbs! yea, pudding, even with no fat or sugar, is thickened with STARCH, a simple carb that your body treats like sugar.

[2muchbutt]

Re: Please Let This Work

I went to Fitday.com and found out the worse thing I ate today was a small avacado. Another misconception I picked up. I thought it was good fat and allowed but apparently there were like 18 carbs in what I ate. oops! well, now I know how to keep track and chose wisely. I needed to be at this site 3 weeks ago when I started. I've been doing a lot wrong. No wonder I'm losing slow. I'm sabatoging myself.

[Chicklady]

Re: Please Let This Work

Did you subtract the fiber?

[sallyseachange]

Re: Please Let This Work

Hello and welcome!

Do you have DANDR (Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution) 2002 edition? That's the one you want. It's the edition this board goes by as it was the last one Dr A wrote entirely before his death, so it hasn't had any other so called "experts" messing around with it.

I'm sure this will work for you if you follow the programme to a "T". We have lots of people with thyroid issues here who manage to lose weight just fine. There is also a Thyroid sub forum (under the Health forum) which might interest you. http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/thyroid/

All the best on your Atkins journey. Keep us posted.

[2muchbutt]

Re: Please Let This Work

Thanks for the direction to the Thyroid Forum. I need to spend more time exploring this site to see what is available. I'm pretty sure I have the right book. I bought it several years ago. I have been reading it over the last 3 weeks but never checked the date it was published. I will do that when I get home tonight. I really think the fitday.com site will help me too. I haven't really written anything down. I usually cook on Sunday afternoon and eat the same thing everyday until about Thursday and then hit and miss the rest of the week. I only eat what is on the acceptable list but haven't kept track. I think I need the discipline of journaling my food and seeing the carbs remain low. And to find out about fiber. Does it add or take away carb counts??? I will find that in the book!!

Thanks for your suggestions!

[Razzle39]

Re: Please Let This Work

Hi TooMuch
I am new to the program also and I found www.fitday.com really helpful in tracking my carbs. There are some foods that have hidden carbs and so I find this site priceless. Best part....its free! Welcome!

[2muchbutt]

Re: Please Let This Work

Yeah for you! 6 pounds gone in 2 weeks. I can't say the same about me but now that I have some support, maybe I will do better at losing. I'm going to fitday right now to log in my breakfast.

[Sherri]

Re: Please Let This Work

Before you being the Atkins Nutritional Approach...


Before you begin:

1. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition.
At the very least, read chapters 10 through 14. These chapters tell you how to do the diet, what to expect, and why the first 14 days are so important.

ADBB uses DANDR 2002 as its reference. Granted there are other publications by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. but we like to do the diet as it was written by Dr. Robert C. Atkins because in our collective experience Dr. Atkins' diet is more effective than Atkins Nutritionals, Inc's version.

2. See your physician.
Dr. Atkins recommended this himself. See your physician for a complete physical exam, including blood tests before beginning this or any other diet and exercise program.

Also take the Blood Sugar Symptom Test found in the book.

3. Make a commitment.
Commit yourself to giving the 14 day Induction a fair shot. If you can't commit yourself to 14 days of following rules and eating the foods listed in the acceptable foods list, this diet might not be for you.

4. Prepare your kitchen
If it's not on the list, remove it from your home. If you live with people who aren't on a low carb diet, then put your food(s) in areas separate from theirs. Also make sure you have low carb snacks available to you at all times, in case you get hungry.

5. Recruit your family and friends.
You are about to embark on a completely new lifestyle. Getting the support of your family and friends will help you through this. Be frank with them and tell them your intentions and that this is very important to you. If they have any doubts about this diet, ask them to read the book because knowledge is power.

6. Keep the Induction Rules and Foods List handy.
Make two copies of these documents: keep one on your refrigerator at home and keep the other one on your person at all times. This will save you a lot of guesswork and worry when eating out or grocery shopping.

The Rules of Induction can be found here:
What are the Rules of Induction?

The Induction Acceptable Foods List can be found here:
What foods can be eaten on Induction?

7. Read the entire label, including the ingredients.
Some foods have little carbs, but contain things like hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and sugar, which makes them unacceptable for Induction.

8. Keep a food diary
It is of utmost importance to keep track of your daily carbohydrate intake to make sure you are not exceeding 20 net carbohydrates daily.

Some people keep a notebook journal. Others like to track their progress online.

Here are some resources:
An Atkins spreadsheet:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=4570

http://www.fitday.com ---This is a free online service (registration required) that allows you to input your foods, track your exercise, etc.

Carbohydrate Counters:
http://www.atkins.com ---The Atkins site has a downloadable Carb Counter.
http://www.calorieking.com ---This site has nutritional information for most foods and beverages.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ ---This is the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Database.

9. Exercise
According to Dr. Atkins "exercise is non-negotiable"! So get moving. Begin according to your level of fitness. Visit the Exercise Forum.

10. Vitamin Supplements
These are also recommended by Dr. Atkins because many of us have poor nutrition and we need extra nutrients. Visit the Vita-Nutrient Forum.

11. Weigh AND Measure Yourself on Day 1

Make sure you weigh and measure yourself before you begin this diet. Contrary to what we are lead to believe, the scale isn't the best tool for measuring weight loss (fat loss). It doesn't tell you how much muscle you gained. It doesn't tell you how much water weight you gained or lost. It doesn't tell you that you will fit into that pair of jeans.

Tips for weighing:
a. Weigh yourself at the same time of day under the same conditions. You can weigh "more" after a meal or after you drink water or you can weigh "less" after you exercise or have a bowel movement. So pick a time and stick to it. Likewise, clothing can also add on "pounds". So if you choose to weigh yourself wearing clothes, make sure you are wearing the same clothing or nearly the same clothing.

b. Use the same scale. Scales differ slightly. So the scale in your doctor's office or at the gym might have you weighing more or less than the scale in your bathroom.

Tips for measuring:
a. You can measure whatever body areas you want: chest, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm, wrists and ankles. To make the measuring easier, you body landmarks like your belly button or a mole or scar, to guide your tape measure placement. For chest measurement, women can either measure under their armpits and/or under their breasts.

b. Don't "pull" on the measuring tape because that will give you a false reading (and stretch the tape). The tape should be snug, but not tight.

c. Don't suck in to make yourself smaller. Again, that will give you a false measurement.

Measuring tapes can be purchased at craft stores (the sewing section) for under $5.00. If you can't find one, you can use a piece of string. Just mark that string with a marker pen to indicate your "start" points". Or if you have an old belt, you can use that too.

Another good "measuring tool" is your clothing. Non-stretchy clothing like a dress shirt, jeans, or dress is the best thing to use. Stretchy fabric (like t-shirts or anything with spandex) will conform to your body as you shrink so you might not see the results. Try on this article of clothing periodically to see how you are losing inches.

Good luck to you on your 14 day Induction journey.

[2muchbutt]

Re: Please Let This Work

wow Sherri, you lost THAT much?? Now I have no excuse not to lose 50. How long did it take you? I don't care how quickly I lose, I just want to lose. I would be happy to lose 25 pounds in 6 months. Do you share your menus ever? Dr. Atkins was an EGG man!! for sure! but after a few weeks, i'm getting a little tired of eggs. any suggestions for breakfast? i need to stay on Induction because i am not losing. just started using fitday and love it. woke us this morning with a uti and doctor sent me to the lab and along with confirmation that i have an infection, the test showed NO Ketones. I was bummed. My pee-stick showed pink. hmm 2much

[Sherri]

Re: Please Let This Work

Hi there!
Yep, I sure have lost over 145 pounds and have kept it off for 3 years now. I lost 100 pounds in 10 months by following the Atkins plan. I also chose my foods lowest on the GI (glycemic Index) Dr. Atkins talks about it on page 78-84, 92 in DANDR. You can also go to www.glycemicindex.com to learn more about that.
I was a Type-2 Diabetic when I began 07-07-04. After 48 days into Induction my diabetes went away completely and has never returned. I didn't eat fruit for a year. I just stuck with the lower glycemic foods. I really believe that benifited my weightloss.
I have Hypo-Thyroidism and as long as I keep my thyroid levels checked, and my synthroid dose adjusted correctly, I'm successful in losing weight and keeping it off.
I basicly ate the same each day on Induction. 2 egg cheese omelet, 2 slices turkey bacon for breakfast. Some sort of protein and veggie for lunch and a nice salad with protein and steamed veggie at night. I still eat eggs for breakfast, or i'll eat hot flaxmeal cereal. Or i'll eat leftovers from dinner the night before for breakfast, to just mix it up a bit. You can go to Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home for some great recipes at Lindas site.
I only drink water and decaf coffee with heavy cream. Lots, and lots of water!!
You may want to move onto OWL rung 1. It's just more veggies. You can't go wrong with veggies and it will give you more choices and variety for your meals. I noticed by moving up to rung 1 that it helped me get the weight moving off again.
I'm also a huge MUFA fan. (monounsaturatedfat) as in olives, avacados, olive oil, nuts(when in that rung). I noticed that it helps me lose, not only that, they are extremely heart healthy.
I don't use keto sticks. I found as long as i'm following the Atkins plan 100% that I will always get 100% results.
It's really important to move up the rungs so that you will learn which foods your are tollerable to, or intollerable to. Again, it will also give you more variety for menu options.
Best of health and lite to you.
Sincerely, Sherri
Here's the rules to OWL-

The OWL Carbohydrate Ladder

As you move from one rung to the next, add carbohydrate foods back into your diet in the order that follows. Adhering to this order tends to minimize blood-sugar surges that could reactivate cravings. You will find that while fat and protein will continue to be the mainstays of your diet, you will eat less of them as you add carbohydrates.

As you choose foods from each rung on the ladder, you should choose most often from foods with a low Atkins Glycemic Ranking, or AGR. Foods with a low AGR will have the least impact on your blood sugar for each rung. The foods listed in each rung of the ladder below are examples of low AGR foods for their rung.

As you hit each rung, you can add up to 5 net carbohydrates from that rung. For each food group you add, you should eat from it no more than three times the first week and monitor your body for changes. You need to give it the entire week as a couple of days may not be enough to know how a food is affecting you. You can eat from daily same food group the second week, and continue to monitor your progress.

You should only skip a rung if you do not plan on eating from it. For example, someone may have dairy allergies, so they may skip the dairy rung #2.

If you do skip a rung, at Atkins Diet Bulletin Board we have found that it is best if you spend the time you normally would have spent for that rung before moving to the next one. This helps to give your body enough time to adjust before giving it the higher AGR foods. For example, if you normally spend three weeks on each rung, and you want to skip alcohol rung#5, then you should spend six weeks at berries rung #4 before proceeding to legumes rung #6. In the same example, if you normally spend two weeks on each rung, then you would only spend four weeks at the berries rung #4 before proceeding to the legumes rung #6.

Your ability to add all the food groups back depends upon your Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium, or ACE. For example, someone that does not exercise and has a low ACE would probably not be able to add legumes back during OWL, while someone who is young, works out regularly, and has a high ACE might have no problems climbing to the top.

Once you begin consuming alcohol on rung #5, be sure to count the carbohydrates and monitor your weight loss. Spirits have no carbohydrates, while white wine and red wine have 0.9 and 2.0 carbohydrates respectively. Alcohol will suspend weight loss as you do not burn fat while your body has alcohol to burn. If you find that you are stalled, discontinue your alcohol consumption.

When you get to the last three rungs of the ladder, you are eating foods with the highest AGR. Make sure you do not eat those foods alone. Eat them with foods high in fat and fiber to help minimize their impact on your blood sugar.

With fruits and vegetables, the more color they have, the more nutrition they have. If you have a choice between red grapes and white grapes, choose red. Also, be careful of dried fruit as it concentrates the natural sugar and could potentially make a small piece have as many carbohydrates as the entire fruit.





The OWL Carbohydrate Ladder

1. Vegetables
   More salad and other vegetables on the acceptable foods list
2. Dairy
   Fresh cheeses:
   Cottage cheese
   Farmer’s cheese
   Ricotta cheese
   Pot cheese
   
   Keep portions small for:
   Hard aged cheese
   Cream, heavy and light
   Half and half
   Sour cream
   Low-carb ice cream, yogurt, and milk
   
   
3. Seeds and Nuts
   Macadamias
   Almonds
   Peanuts/Natural Peanut Butter
   Coconut
   Sunflower seeds
   Sesame seeds
   Walnuts
   Pistachios
   
   
4. Berries
   Eat frequently from:
   Strawberries
   Blueberries
   Blackberries
   Raspberries
   
   Eat moderately from higher AGR melons:
   Watermelon
   Honeydew
   Cantaloupe
   
   
5. Wine and other spirits low in carbs
   Spirits
   White Wine
   Red Wine
   Low-carbohydrate Beer
   
   
6. Legumes
   Lentils
   Kidney Beans
   Pinto Beans
   Black Beans
   Hummus
   Chickpeas
   Tofu
   Soybeans
   Soy milk, unsweetened
   
   
7. Fruits other than Berries and Melons
   Plums
   Kiwis
   Peaches
   Apples
   Grapefruit
   Tangerines
   
   
8. Starchy Vegetables
   Keep all portions small
   Carrots
   Green Peas
   Acorn squash
   Butternut squash
   
   Eat rarely:
   Corn
   Potatoes
   Sweet potatoes
   
   
9. Whole Grains
   Keep all portions small and focus on whole, unprocessed grains:
   Old fashioned Oatmeal
   Oat Bran
   Wheat Bran
   Low carb (soy) bread and muffins
   All-bran
   Barley, cooked

[2muchbutt]

Re: Please Let This Work

wow, so much great information. thank you. i have to admit, i am afraid to move from induction yet. i need to see the scales move. my book says Dr. Atkins' NEW Diet Revolution but at the very top it says COMPLETELY UPDATED! The Must Have NEW Edition. Is that the wrong one?
I've been sick for a few days with a bad UTI and today I had a poor me episode and went to Baskin-Robins for ice cream. A lot of good THAT did me. Tomorrow I will be going back to work so will do much better.
I realized that I was under the impression that I didn't need to measure my salad greens. I have probably been eating 2 cups of lettuce with tomatoes, onions, and green peppers. Reading the book, I should eat less salad and more meat. I laugh because I have been a person who eats meat maybe 2 times a week and eggs maybe on the weekend a couple of times a month. Now I am buying eggs 18 at a time and having conversations with my butcher about how to cook meat and what cooking method to use. I have a lot to learn. But from seeing how so many people are losing so many pounds with Atkins, I just have to try harder and read and STUDY and work at making menus and sticking to them. I can eat the same food for 6 meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner and be fine with it. For a fat person I'm really not so into food. weird but true. but I do have bad after dinner cravings for anything sweet.
thanks for all your help and encouragement. donna=2muchbutt