Hey Guy's I'm Back

[dandonian]

So my names Dan, I had an account on here a year ago, but I can't remember the details. Basically - I started drinking around 14 and put on a whole lot a weight (partly due to the 20 packets of chrisps at the end of a night out) but because I am tall, I have always sort of carried it well.

Anyway about 4 years ago I was 6"1, 17stone and feeling it. I decided it was time to get really fit. I had a manual labour job working 12 hours per day lifting steel. I would ride three miles per day to work and three miles back. Things were going great but I wasn't really getting any slimmer. A friend of mine pointed me towards the atikins diet and within 5 weeks I went from 17 Stone to just over 14stone. I felt amazing but all my work mates and family were telling me how ill I looked and that it wasn't good for me. So I came off the diet.

After leaving that job (it closed down) I started going to the gym a lot and I decided to train to be a professional wrestler. After hitting the gym for about a year I was in awesome shape but I wasn't really putting on the muscle mass, so I decided to start taking protein shakes. Well within a month I starting to look really good (for me anyway). Then I took a job which made it pretty impossible for me to hit the gym, and I had to stop the wrestling training.

Over the last three years I have been at college/uni on a computer course. The long hours sat down, mixed with the party life of a student and an insationable appetite for junk food - lets just say, I have really let myself go again and now I am bigger than ever. I weigh in at 19 stone which puts me in a 40" waste category and a XXXL shirt. I have more stretch marks than my friends who have babies and I have bigger boobs than them too, or moobs rather. It is really embarasing for me to take my top off in public which is crushing because I used to swim a lot.

I have tried plenty of diets before but they never seem to stop me from getting hungry and to be honest my mind set when I am on them is never solid enough to stick at them. So I decided against the recommendations of my friends to go back on the Atkins diet and here I am.

Anyway thats my life story, which is probably more than most of you needed to read. But I just want to say that last time I was doing the diet - these boards really helped me through some tough times. Even without posting I saw some of the great things that people had achieved on here and it really spured me on. Thanks for that and I hope in 6 months it will be me inspiring others.

[Sherri]

Re: Hey Guy's I'm Back

Hello Dan,
Welcome to ADBB and back to Atkins.
Post often, join some challenges. A great way to meet people and make new friends. Here's some info I like to share with all those I welcome. Some great info to help you along your way.
Again, WELCOME!
Sincerely, Sherri
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.

[rescueme1975]

Re: Hey Guy's I'm Back

Welcome back, I know it's hard to start over but. YOU CAN DO IT!!! I'm starting over also and I've decided to have fun in the process. This site the stories,blogs and adding friends keeps me inspired and moving forward. So just get in line you're not alone.

[OzLover]

Re: Hey Guy's I'm Back

Welcome & good luck on your journey!!

[dandonian]

Re: Hey Guy's I'm Back

thanks for the replys