Hello to all. Very nervous new starter here!

[Wotshewrote]

Hi everyone! I'm Ellie trying Atkins out for the first time. I've looked at the website and simply can't afford to follow the meal plans, so I'm a bit nervous about how to manage this. Have tons of questions so definitely looking for as much guidance and support as possible.

[chinadoll]

Re: Hello to all. Very nervous new starter here!

You can pick up the 2002 DANDR book very cheaply at used bookstores. I definitely suggest reading it if you are serious about doing this.

Here are some suggestions for shopping-
Eggs are very inexpensive and I eat them pretty much daily for breakfast in some form or another. Tuna and chicken and ground beef are all budget conscious staples for proteins. Sliced american cheese can work for omelets and toppers for burgers or even as a snack if you cut them into pieces and microwave them or bake them.

frozen veggies can replace fresh if you find them less expensive. And you should save on beverages since you primary beverage should be water--no mixes, no sodas--water is the best.

[sham]

Re: Hello to all. Very nervous new starter here!

Good luck on the diet as chinadoll has explained the diet can be done on a budget.

[Wotshewrote]

Re: Hello to all. Very nervous new starter here!

Thanks for the welcome! I am actually wondering about one thing in particular at the moment. I'm not gorging on meat or anything, but I am definitely accustomed to eating more vegetables and less meat. At the moment I seem to be eating twice as much meat as I ever would, and hardly any veggies. I'm keeping to the 20grams of carbs and I've seen the induction list of foods that I can eat.

So my question is.... do we need to calorie control too? Or can I just stop eating when I'm satisfied, even if it means I'm eating more meat than I normally would. I'm eating approx. the equivalent to a whole chicken per day (broken up into meals obviously)... Maybe even slightly more... LOL. Is this normal?

[liv]

Re: Hello to all. Very nervous new starter here!

Thanks for the welcome! I am actually wondering about one thing in particular at the moment. I'm not gorging on meat or anything, but I am definitely accustomed to eating more vegetables and less meat. At the moment I seem to be eating twice as much meat as I ever would, and hardly any veggies. I'm keeping to the 20grams of carbs and I've seen the induction list of foods that I can eat.

So my question is.... do we need to calorie control too? Or can I just stop eating when I'm satisfied, even if it means I'm eating more meat than I normally would. I'm eating approx. the equivalent to a whole chicken per day (broken up into meals obviously)... Maybe even slightly more... LOL. Is this normal?

We do not count calories. And in the beginning of the diet it is quite important to ignore calories. You want to get into ketosis so you want to eat your fats and keep your carbs down. It sounds to me like you are not quite following the Atkins diet right here. This is a high fat diet and chicken is just lean protein. If you choose to eat chicken (which is fine) you need to make sure get plenty of fat from other sources.

Are you counting net carbs? (subtracting fibre)

[Wotshewrote]

Re: Hello to all. Very nervous new starter here!

Thanks Liv, yes I am subtracting fibre to get net carbs. Perhaps once I see myself in ketosis (I've got the sticks) or have seen some weight loss I will feel less nervous. Nothing much in my fridge other than chicken at the moment. However, on pay day will be buying anything but chicken. Getting a little sick of it this week!

Thanks for the warm welcome and advice!