New here

[jessicanormile@aol.com]

Hi everyone. I am trying this diet temporarily to burn off extra fat and build muscle, at least, I hope. I don't really have a goal weight bc I'm not technically overweight, but I do have too much body fat so I want to tone up.
I've been going almost a week, and it isn't as easy as I thought. The first three days I was drinking lots of milk because I didn't realize it had carbs. I thought milk, nuts, poultry, fish, cheese, yogurt, and eggs would all be OK. But come to find out the chicken nuggets I bought, the yogurt, milk, and fish sticks...all high in carbs. I've been eating a lot of egg whites and atkins shakes these last couple days.

Oh well, no pain, no gain!

[billbazz]

Re: New here

Hi
Well, You stopped! And you realized you were doing (and eating)"your" version of Atkin's and not the true Atkin's. WTG!

Since your goals are, in your own words, Temporary.
I suggest you read the entire 2002 DANDR book. (it's the one we follow here) then decide if it's the right program for "you".

Our program is a life change. A way of eating (and exercising) that we will follow for the rest of our healthy lives. It's design was to give us a lifetime of good health and well being. And the farthest thing from a quick fix type diet or a diet you go on again/off again.

I would hate for you to eat egg whites and shakes (both not true Atkin's)
and think (after certain failure) "The Atkins diet didn't work for me!"

[the man in blue]

Re: New here

JESSICA, Can I get your e-mail address? Sorry, I'm the smart@$% around here! I could't resist WELCOME TO THE BOARD!

[jessicanormile@aol.com]

Re: New here

hi,
my email address is just as you see it, jessicanormile@aol.com, feel free to email me anytime.

I have to say I really respect anybody who does this as a lifestyle, because I feel crazy restricted. I guess it doesn't help that I don't really like meat. I eat only chicken and fish, and never touch other meats. I like chicken and fish in moderation, but too much really grosses me out...I was a vegetarian for 8 years. And blowing all my money and surviving on these super expensive atkins foods is not going to last...

I hope that isn't coming across like i have a negative attitude about the whole thing, I don't. But i did join here for support and kindof to vent since I don't have a real life partner doing it with me. If it works, then, hey...totally worth it!

Can anyone tell me some foods that are low in carbs? Besides meat, cheese, and eggs?

[Skeptika23]

Re: New here

hi,

I have to say I really respect anybody who does this as a lifestyle, because I feel crazy restricted. I guess it doesn't help that I don't really like meat. I eat only chicken and fish, and never touch other meats. I like chicken and fish in moderation, but too much really grosses me out...I was a vegetarian for 8 years. And blowing all my money and surviving on these super expensive atkins foods is not going to last...

I'm a happy omnivore, but I do understand that there are vegetarian and semi-vegetarian Atkineers, so it IS possible.

Are you talking about Atkins bars and such? I wouldn't buy them - they're frankenfoods, apparently (I have heeded the warnings of others here).

Spend your money on whole foods instead.

I hope that isn't coming across like i have a negative attitude about the whole thing, I don't. But i did join here for support and kindof to vent since I don't have a real life partner doing it with me. If it works, then, hey...totally worth it!

Can anyone tell me some foods that are low in carbs? Besides meat, cheese, and eggs?

Have you read the book? It'll help a LOT. I think you are under the mistaken impression that Atkins is only meat, cheese and eggs - it isn't. I actually get the vast majority of my carbs from veggie sources (as the good Doctor recommends in the book).

A list of Induction veggies can be found here, they're all relatively low net carb.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html

[Lilacs]

Re: New here

Hi Jessica,
Welcome to the board This is a great place for support. I am also doing Atkins way of eating without a real life partner and I was also a vegetarian for many years, until I learned that I am carb-sensitive, and my doctor introduced me to the controlled carb lifestyle.

I also REALLY recommend you the read DANDR. It's important for you to gain an understanding of the WHYS and the hows of a controlled carb lifestyle (including the absolute importance of regular exercise). It also includes the food lists for each stage, etc. It will be the best less than $10 you will spend! If you can't afford the book, you should be able to get it from the library. You could try a thrift shop, also.

Most people I've talked to find that the processed Atkins products tend to slow their weight loss. Some people use them in very small amounts to tide them over. I personally prefer to stay away from them all together and invest my money in quality,nutritous food.

Chicken and fish are fine protein sources. You should understand that Atkins Induction phase is not just cutting out the carbs, though. It's balancing your fat/carb/protein ratio to about 65% fat/30% protein/5% carbs. You can use fitday to keep track of these ratios.Atkins is also not JUST the induction phase.That's actually the shortest phase, and if you want to keep the weight off permanently, you need to move through all of the phases. If induction is used by itself, you are essentially turning it into a fad diet, and when you quit eating the induction foods, you will likely gain all of the weight back. Even if you go through all of the phases, you will most likely gain all of the weight back if you return to your pre-Atkins way of eating (I can attest to that, because after YEARS of maintaining my ideal weight with the Atkins WOE, I got complacent, started eating junk carbs, and gained almost thirty pounds-nine of which I gained in a three week period when I attempted to go back to vegetarianism). Atkins is really meant to be a permanent way of eating, not a simple quick fix.

Please peruse all the helpful info on the board, and read the book to educate yourself what Atkins WOE is REALLY all about. Too many folks are misinformed.

As far as the way you are feeling right now, it's not unusual not to feel well when you start weaning yourself off from high carbs, sugar, caffeine,etc. Your body is going through withdrawal, which indicates that the substances were really BAD for you to be taking in. The feeling usually dissapates after a couple of weeks of following the induction rules. Your energy level increases, your appetite comes under control, and you feel great. If you can soldier through the "icky" stuff to that point, you will understand why so many people choose the Atkins WOE permanently

Good luck on your journey!

[jimmie 48]

Re: New here

hi,
my email address is just as you see it, jessicanormile@aol.com, feel free to email me anytime.

I have to say I really respect anybody who does this as a lifestyle, because I feel crazy restricted. I guess it doesn't help that I don't really like meat. I eat only chicken and fish, and never touch other meats. I like chicken and fish in moderation, but too much really grosses me out...I was a vegetarian for 8 years. And blowing all my money and surviving on these super expensive atkins foods is not going to last...

I hope that isn't coming across like i have a negative attitude about the whole thing, I don't. But i did join here for support and kindof to vent since I don't have a real life partner doing it with me. If it works, then, hey...totally worth it!

Can anyone tell me some foods that are low in carbs? Besides meat, cheese, and eggs?

PM TO YA!

check the book. your induction list of foods are listed in chapter 11. veggies are a BIG DEAL on atkins. you'll see those listed on the allowed foods in that chapter.