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  • New To Atkins and need some advice

    Hey everyone,
    This is my first post on here so I feel like I should intruduce myself: My name is Bill and I'm 22 years old getting ready to finish up my BA in history and head off to law school in the fall. I was a football player through high school, was team captain my senior year, and played one year in college. I played tailback/fullback and loved every minute of it. But when I quit football, I started living a life that has brough me to this message board asking about the Atkin's diet, or ketogenic diet in general, to lose this unwanted fat that I have gained over the past year or two.

    So for starters, I've always been very active when it comes to lifting weights and being active, but stress from school and whatnot left me with my nose in a book for literally the whole day, and thus I stopped workout out. Before this happened I consistendly weighed 200 lbs and wasn't even particularly happy with the way my body looked then, but I was afraid to try to lose weight because I didn't want to lose muscle that I needed to play football.

    I now weigh 218 lbs (did weigh 225 but have lost a few pounds in the past week and a half). My goal is to be down to 200 my march 9 (my girfriend of five years birthday) then after that down to at least 185)

    So here comes the question for those of you who have been doing the diet for a while and can give me some advice.

    I've been sticking to a 65/30/5 ratio of fats protein carbs and actually got into ketosis last week but knocked myself back out because of diet soda (i'm sure it was the aspartime or whatever) I usually eat the same foods every day, usually canned chicken breast, a couple tablespoons of natural peanut butter, a cup of cottage cheese before bed for the caisine protein, serloin burger patties, lean tureky, cheese, salads with either no dressing or a little bit of ceasar dressing, and various types of cheese. Occasionally if I can make it to breakfast at my schools cafeteria I'll have a cheese/tomato/green pepper/onion omlet. Also I try to drink as much was as I can, about one gallon every day.

    As far as supplements, I take Animal Pak multi-vitamins, Have anywhere from 2-4 servings of either Optimum Nutrition 100% Gold Standard Whey Protein, or Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion Whey Protein, Gaspari Nutrition Superpump (Pre-Workout), GNC Amplified Muscle Ignitor (With breakfast usually) and Creatine.

    As far as activity goes, I usually go hop on the elliptical or ski machine first thing inth emorning on an empty stomach for about 45 min, of interval training (What I typically will do is set the time for 45 min, do 5 min of warm up, then go 1 min high resistance, with 2 min low resistance until time runs out). I lift 6 days a week, doing a mix between Olympic Lifting (One day is devoted to Snatch work, one day is devoted to Clean and Jerk work, then the other days I'll do splits such as Chest/Biceps, etc until my whole body has been worked) and I'll usually hop back on the elliptical for another 20-30 min, then if I get bored again in the evening, but not all the time.

    Other than my workouts, I'm usually sitting or something a long those lines simply because of school (classes/studying etc.)

    I've always been fairly athletic (not trying to sound stuck up or anything) but I've always been a sports kind of guy and could always lift a decent amount of weight (my freshman year in college I maxed out squating at 495 and benched approx 310. So I'm no stranger to demanding routines like i'm puting myself through right now, and to be honest I prefer it!

    So that is it for my rambling post...haha...I hope to get to know all of you over time and hopefully have something that I have that may help one of you in your weight loss journeys! If anyone could give me some feedback on how my "lifestyle" i'll say...haha...looks it would be much appreciated! Thank you again for your help!

  • #2
    Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

    Welcome, Bill!

    If you started Atkins a week and a half ago and are following Induction, then you should be eating only foods from the Acceptable Foods List. This means no cottage cheese and no peanut butter.

    Your diet also appears to lack in fat. Atkins is not a high protein diet... but high fat. At least during Induction, approximately 65% of your daily calories should come from fat.

    Are you reading the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution? That's the book we go by at ADBB.
    "Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster."

    -- Theodore Roosevelt

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

      Welcome to ADBB, Billy!

      Your diet needs a little tweaking but you will soon get the hang of it. I find that using the free, online FitDay program helps keep me aware of exactly what I'm eating and it's charts and graphs are great. I really recommend it.

      Keep us posted on your progress!
      Aka Nyna
      HW199/CW168.5/GW155

      "Enough is as good as a feast".~Lord Byron

      Remember, a moment on the lips, forever on the hips!

      X16 X14 X3

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

        Bill, since you are not that overweight and are very active, I wouldnt worry about the cottage cheese and peanut butter. Some folks start with Ongoing Weight Loss rather than Induction and do fine. I suspect with your age, activity level and weight you may be OK as you are, but as Georgiana said, they are not Induction foods. I would tend to use them just pre workout or as a post workout food so the sugars get used and not stored as fat. Watch your whey proteins and other supplements for unwanted additives. Some sneak things in there. Good luck. My own son is about your age (he is a junior at Syracuse) and he lost about 40 pounds on Atkins.
        JILL

        HW 298
        HW (this time) 248
        GOAL ONE 228
        (take 2)
        GOAL TWO 213 (personal goal)
        GOAL THREE 199 ONE-DERLAND
        FINAL GOAL 165

        It's not about the results. Its about the process.

        "I've never come home after a workout and said, MAN, I wish I had NOT exercised today!"



        Comment


        • #5
          Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

          Well I suppose I haven't actually been following the Atkins Diet persay, but rather a general Ketogenic Diet. I do limit my peanut butter to two tablespoons with my morning protein shake after my cardio, and that's about it, the cottage cheese is my last meal, about one cup, so I have a slow digesting protein so that I don't use it all up while I sleep. But I do need to tweek the diet a bit, but it's all a work in progress. I have not read the book, I've more or less just been going off of personal knowledge from previous diets I've done, although reading it would undoubtedly help. I will take all this in and tinker around with the diet. Thanks to everyone and have a nice day!

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

            >>I suppose I haven't actually been following the Atkins Diet persay>>

            That's true, counselor!

            >>I have not read the book,>>

            Are you going to remedy that?
            J.

            "Your life will never change until you change your choices."

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

              I do plan on reading the book...I'm just in the beginning phase and not very familiar with the Atkins Diet other than it's a type of Ketogenic Diet. My initial plan was just to do a Ketogenic Diet with the 65/30/5 ratios, but I'm the type of guy that likes organization and structure, and I feel like doing the Atkins diet, which is the type of diet I feel is best suited for me, will give me the structure, organization, and support (also accountability) to do what i've promised myself for so long. I say accountability because I've made it a point to tell people that I am on a diet and going to lose the weight, that way I am almost forced to go through with it because I'm not the kind of person that likes to say I can't do something. I didn't even know there was a book, but I will def. do that. But I do not view myself as really overweight, I just have a tendency to store fat on my stomach and sides, there's not a whole lot on my legs or arms, but I decided that I'm through with the "well I'll start tomorrow" mentality when it comes to losing the fat and ready to get rid of it for good! I'm the kind of guy that when I do something I go all out and I will def do that with this...The only problem is I'm a broke college student...lol. So as of right now, I'm in the process of switching things up from a general Keto diet to the Atkins, and I'm sure I'll have it figured out here before too long. haha But I really do apreciate all the feedback!

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

                >>I feel like doing the Atkins diet,>>

                You're not though.

                And ... so you know up front, Atkins isn't "just" a "diet" ... it's a way of eating for life.

                And ... to be honest, how you eat isn't really anybody else's business ... the only person you're accountable to is you.
                J.

                "Your life will never change until you change your choices."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

                  Also, I have been using the fit day journal to make sure my ratios are right...i'm a history major and hate numbers so being able to plug the foods in and have it tell me the ratios saves me a lot of trouble!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

                    History major - plenty of years in history like 1660 or 1715 or 1832?
                    Welcome to adbb
                    Startdate: November 18, 2007. Female 5'2"

                    May Challenges 2010
                    Push-ups: 450/800
                    Abs: 850/1900
                    Squats: 650/1200
                    Lunges: 500/1000
                    Strength: 490/1200
                    Running: 50/100 km


                    2 Years on Atkins.................. President Challenge Medals earned

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                    • #11
                      Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

                      >> I have been using the fit day journal to make sure my ratios are right..>>

                      Atkins isn't about the "ratios".
                      J.

                      "Your life will never change until you change your choices."

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

                        I respect your input. But I do view myself as a tough person, I don't think someone who isn't tough would be capable of doing this kind of stuff. I'm really not looking to fight with people here, I've been sticking to a generaly Keto diet like clockwork for the past 2 weeks and have seen results, I'm looking to take that next step and that is why I am here learning what I need to do to take that next step. My work ethic is something I pride myself on, although it has not nec. been present when it comes to maintaining a proper diet here as of late, but more on my school work. I do very high intensity workouts, and now have serious problems eating bad foods because I'm committed to taking care of my body now, and I cannot say that that has been the case the past few semesters. I feel the whole accountability issue is something that has helped me in various endeavors in my life, such as getting into law school. I wanted that more than anything in the world, and I told people that, I busted my behind trying to get into law school, and now I can tell all those people that I made it! I want to be able to do that same thing with my quest to lose this fat. I have told a few people why my goal is (get down to 190 lbs) and it gives me a sense of accomplishment, that I have done something worth my time, not just because I can tell my friends I did it, but also I can tell myself I did it. It's a personal choice for me and I realize that isn't very important to others, but it is something that I feel helps me deal with the issues when I would love nothing more than to just pig out on high carb foods. That accountability not only with others, but myself helps me say no and suck it up and deal with it. When I played football I went through much of the same issues. I wanted to start, I wanted to become captain, I wanted to play in college, and I achieved all of that using this same method. I feel that if something works, you stick to it, and although I'm def. changing my life in terms of the way I eat, I am going to stick with the general support formula I have used in the past because it has helped me in the past, and I am sure it will help me in my current journey. I respect your input and the fact that you are willing to spend the time to share your knowledge with me, I really do! But I personally don't think I'm wrong in forming my "support" i'll say based on something I've done inthe past that has helped me through those times when I just want to quit.

                        I think of it as in high school when I gave everything I had to get to the best possible shape I could be in to play the sport. There were plenty of times when I wanted to go home and just lay down and relax, but I knew that would do absolutely nothing to help me reach my goal. I have that same outlook on my quest to lose the fat and get into shape, not for a particular sport, but so that I can rest assured that I am a healthy person and my body is functioning the way God intended it to work.

                        Again I am very greatful for your advice and i will def keep that in mind as I continue to change my life and ultimately reach my goal, however long it may take, but you can rest assured that I'm not going to cut corners to get there! Thank you very much!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

                          Originally posted by atkinsgal08 View Post
                          >>I feel like doing the Atkins diet,>>

                          You're not though.

                          And ... so you know up front, Atkins isn't "just" a "diet" ... it's a way of eating for life.

                          And ... to be honest, how you eat isn't really anybody else's business ... the only person you're accountable to is you.
                          And I would also like to note that I think you took my comment about how I feel like doing the atkins diet out of context, I said I feel like doing the atkins diet will provide the nec. organization, structure and support that will help me succeed. I did not intend for it to seem as though I am just doing this because I can. I don't "feel" like doing the atkins diet, I WANT to do the atkins diet and I WILL do the atkins diet, I FEEL that it will provide the essentials that many people need to succeed in their journey.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: New To Atkins and need some advice

                            >>I WANT to do the atkins diet>>

                            Good!

                            It starts with reading the book!

                            >>why I am here learning what I need to do to take that next step.>>

                            Buy the book! Read the book!

                            >>I personally don't think I'm wrong in forming my "support" i'll say based on something I've done inthe past that has helped me through those times when I just want to quit.>>

                            And you're not wrong. However, keep in mind that the general population generally doesn't know "squat" about "Atkins" ... so one can end up defending or explaining something that the other person probably isn't all that interested in knowing about in the first place.

                            And ... do you really care about what your friends are eating? Do they announce to you what they're doing?

                            >>'m not going to cut corners to get there!>>

                            Good. The first thing to do is to buy and read the book then!
                            J.

                            "Your life will never change until you change your choices."

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