Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

[atkinsjon]

Hi everyone,
My name is Jon and from Pittsburgh PA. I am re-starting the Atkins program this week from some time off the wagon. During my first go round I lost 40 lbs and have since gained 20 back and want to get back to my fighting weight so my clothes fit and I feel better.

The main reason I left the program was my energy levels... for two yrs I was on the program, I had little energy and didn't feel like exercising... not sure why.

I finally wanted to get back to eating some of the foods I sorely missed like Pizza and Pasta, so I figured I would do that and exercise 5 times a week to fight off the weight gain affects... but no luck. Just since the Fall I have gained at least 15 lbs...

I started induction Monday and haven't lost anything yet... and I am tired as all heck... here we go again... any advice?

j

[miller98b]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

atkinsjon,

I fell the same way. I have been on the atkins diet for three weeks and I feel like someone put a bag of rocks on my back. I gave up coffee, caffeine, sodas, alcohol and I am sticking tot he diet religiously. I am taking my vitamins and working out at least foru times a week if not more. Exercise seems to be the only thing that keeps my energy levels up, but when I start the exercise and the day after the exercise I feel like I have the flu. To be honest, I don't feel like the inducticion flu ever stopped. The headaches, "foggy brain", aches and tiredness all remain. The pain is worth the gain, even though the gain has been slow, so I will continue, but you are not alone in this group. If you figure something out, please shoot me a message.

[atkinsjon]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

Will let you know. I have a trip planned this weekend to Arizona and I have a feeling unless my total induction kicks in and I lose the taste for beer and pizza, I may be temporarily stopping the program. Thanks for the post.

[miller98b]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

Start today! Remember, there will always be a reason to stop your diet if you want to....Holidays, birthdays, trips, parties, etc.......You know what pizza tastes like and you know what beer tastes like. It didn't change since the last time you ate it and, if you get to your goal weight, you could have a piece and it would still taste like it did before. Come on, start today and don't look back, because tomorrow will become next week and next week will become next month and before you know it, you're crying in a tub of ice cream saying why did I not start sooner. Ok, a little dramatic, but don't put your health on hold. Good Luck!

[imagood1]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

Are you eating everything you should be eating? Enough vegetables according to the 2002 Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution book? After the first few days you should be feeling better.

Make sure your eating 2 cups of veggies off the salad list and 1 cup from the other veggie list daily, no more than 2 - 3 ounces of a hard cheese (cheddar, etc), meat, get enough fats in -- use mayonaise, eat 1/2 avocado, olive oil -- good fats. Also, make sure your drinking a minimum 64 ounces of pure water daily -- more is better. You can have a cup of decaf coffee for the morning get me going drink -- or herbal tea. Make sure you don't eat more than 3 servings of sweetner daily.

Eat only foods listed on the acceptable food list http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...induction.html (What foods can be eaten on Induction?) make sure you eat a variety of foods and vegetables and count all “net carbs”. Plan your meals for a few days so you have everything in your home and you won’t be tempted to eat something not allowed. Check Linda's recipe site it will help keep you from eating the same thing over and over -- http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html.

Exercise andke a non-iron multivitamin. Also, if you know you are going to drink beer and eat pizza you may not be in the mindset to make Atkins your lifestyle -- there are pizza recipe's around you can make and when you move up to the Alcohol rung you can have the occasional beer if you can't live without it.

Make sure you go through all stages of the plan - not just enough to loose a few quick pounds and go off program again.

Good luck

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

>>or two yrs I was on the program, I had little energy and didn't feel like exercising... not sure why.>>

My guess is you weren't and aren't eating enough.

[Georgiana]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

no more than 2 - 3 ounces of a hard cheese

The actual cheese limit is 3-4 oz and it doesn't include only hard cheese, but soft and semi-soft, too.

You can consume three to four ounces daily of the following full fat, firm, soft, and semi-soft aged cheeses *, including:

cheddar
cow, sheep and goat cheese
cream cheese
Gouda
mozzarella
Roquefort and other blue cheeses
Swiss

[Georgiana]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

I started induction Monday and haven't lost anything yet... and I am tired as all heck... here we go again... any advice?

If you want to post a complete menu, we can take a look. Please include quantities and net carbs for all foods.

[atkinsjon]

Re: Just Getting Started in Pittsburgh

Happy to report I think things are working... got up this morning and lost 4 lbs overnight!!! and I have energy like I haven't had in months... feels like I drank 6 cups of coffee.... but just only had 1 decaf tea and water... Hope it keeps up.