Hello All

[Tirjasdyn]

Hi,

My name is Michelle. I live near Denver, Colorado.

I have hyperthyroidism and PCOS. 2 months ago my doctor suggested I go on Atkins.

I really need some support in doing this as eliminating sugars has been very hard for me.

I plan on starting Atkins again tomorrow, since I will be home and away from temptation.

What I wish most is that I had some local support.

[FLdoodette]

Re: Hello All

Hi, Michelle! Can't give you local support (I'm in Florida), but you'll find plenty of moral support on this site ... lots of great advice and tips, too. Read everything and don't be afraid to ask questions. Joining in the challenges helps a lot, too. And check in often!

[Kellen]

Re: Hello All

Boy I'd like to find a doctor that supports Atkins...

I'm in New Mexico; just a state away, but too far to share a meal

I'd say I'm a carb addict. At the very least sugar-sensitive. A good time was me and a bowl of mac & cheese... I'm lucky right now, because I'm home alot, so I don't get a lot of temptation. I have been amazed how in such a short amount of time the cravings for sweets, noodles, bread, potatoes have virtually stopped.

Since you already know it's gonna be hard at first, I just really reccommend getting set-up with the foods you need, and do some food-prep, and get snacks ready. Have some meat or cheese ready, or a lettuce wrap with both. Do veggie prep so you have chopped stuff for salad garnish and omlette add-ins ready. Figure out ahead of time, what you will eat tomorrow. Make sure meat is defrosted. (take something with you for a snack if you go somewhere, and always take your water! Stuff like that. By the end of the first week i wasn't jonesing for chips or icecream anymore. I could walk by in the grocery store and just not really seeeee the crap.

Read the Atkins book and keep it handy for referral. I'd like to say that it is NOT a weakness of the soul, to crave sweets and starches; it is your body going through the equivalent of DTs, or withdrawal, in my opinion, and when it gets them, it wants another fix. A purely psysiological reaction. It's true that many of us have stress and comfort issues tied in with food, and the holidays are coming, and I personally have a lot of 'feel good' stuff hooked in with food and 'that time of the year.' But a whole heckuva lot of it is just the body, and it does take a little while to ride it out.

Again, don't be hungry... get some kind protein and fat for a snack in between... try and get some carbs, protein and fat at every meal. Have a little more meat if you need too. Butter those veggies! Watch the cheese, but 3 ounces of cheese is a lot more than I thought it would be. I am a bigtime cheese lover.

Maybe think of the next 2 weeks as a detox diet, as a retreat... keep the ice-water by your side, take nice baths, do your nails, keep your skin lotioned up.. make some new associations between this way of eating and caring for yourself, inside and out.

Good luck and stay with it... if you make a 'mistake' or go over or under your carb counts, just keep going. For me, one of the most destructive things I'm capable of doing is saying "oh well, I'll start again tomorrow, or Monday" and somehow, tomorrow never comes... This time I'm handling it differently. I'm still new at it, but I've gotten through the hard part (well maybe I should keep that thought until IU see how the holidays are for me,lol)

For me, every day is a little victory... and that was especially true during the first week.

I won't be around here much over the weekend, but I'll be back on Monday.. keep us posted... Ok that's my little pep-talk for the day. Bon Voyage Michelle~ You CAN do this!!!