Help!

[sydney7389]

I have been on Atkins for 3 weeks and have lost exactly 1 lb.!
I exercise 6 days a week and while I thought my carb count was safely below 20 I'm starting to think I was fooling myself...Here's where I think the problem is...I go through a LOT of coffee mate in a day as well as sweete and low and equal. I probably drink about fifteen cups of decaf a day and into each one goes about 2 tablespoons of coffee-mate and 2 sweet and lows plus an equal.
Somebody please give me encouragement to stay on this!! I/m frustrated and depressed!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Help!

Welcome to ADBB!

First question, are you reading Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002)?

If you're having 15 cups of coffee, that's about 15 net carbs right there ... not including the sweetener, which is one net carb per package.

So if you're eating any food, you're probably WAY above the 20 net carb daily limit.

Coffee-mate isn't allowed on Atkins ... it's got corn syrup and trans fats.

It would also be helpful for us to help you if you posted exactly what you're eating, along with quantities and net carbs.

Also ... if you're drinking that much coffee, are you getting all your water?

[poobears1972]

Re: Help!

Sweetners are limited to 3 a day you are way over that. Plus the stuff you are having isn't allowed at all. If you don't have the book read the induction food links and the link that discusses what induction is.

ONLY the foods on the induction list can be eaten during induction and many have limits, like cheese, sweetners etc. Staying under 20 carbs is not the basis of the program. You have eat the proper foods in the proper amounts and stay below 20 net carbs with the majority of those carbs coming from allowed veggies.

Water and exercise are also essential parts of the program. Once you learn the program and follow it correctly you will have the motivation needed to stick to it because you will get the results you are wanting.

Good luck

[sydney7389]

Re: Help!

Thank you for getting back to me. I did not know about the coffee-mate
and will check the other links for pointers.. I have switched from coffee to decaf and am now using liquid sweet and low which is not supposed to have any carbs.
For breakfast each day I have either a fried egg and/or chicken breast.
For lunch I will have a chicken breast or tuna and for dinner, again, a chicken breast and/or egg. For snacks which I eat throughout the day, I eat cheddar cheese cubes, olives, and more chicken! I don't really eat any veggies except for some lettuce with oil and vinegar and an occasional tomato.
I drink approximately 80oz of water a day.
In addition to the sweetener and coffee-mate I also have about 5 diet cokes a day.
I do not have much weight I want to lose (15lbs) and I am a woman in my late forties.
Oh, btw, I do 50 minutes of cardio 5 days a week in addition to strength training 2x a week. I leave for Mexico in 4 weeks and would really love to drop at least 5lbs.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond. It is very much appreciated!

[mission to lose]

Re: Help!

I have been on Atkins for 3 weeks and have lost exactly 1 lb.!
I exercise 6 days a week and while I thought my carb count was safely below 20 I'm starting to think I was fooling myself...Here's where I think the problem is...I go through a LOT of coffee mate in a day as well as sweete and low and equal. I probably drink about fifteen cups of decaf a day and into each one goes about 2 tablespoons of coffee-mate and 2 sweet and lows plus an equal.
Somebody please give me encouragement to stay on this!! I/m frustrated and depressed!

Hey there,

You don't need encouragement to stay on the plan, you need to learn how to DO THE PLAN. And veggies are a very important part of this WOE (way of eating).

You are really off the rules.....so start reading this stuff I am giving you, And you will do fine! And like poobears said if it is not on the acceptable food list, don't eat it, don't guess, read the list.

This is where you start---“Read the Book”---this is the Version followed on the ADBB.

Dr. Atkins in Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 ed


Some links to read (while you are ordering the book---not meant to take the place of reading the book):

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6782-what-rules-induction.html

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

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/77558-atkins-diet-induction-faqs.html

Atkins Low Carb Dieting - FAQ's - Atkins Diet

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/useful_files/CARB_COUNT.pdf


Recipes

The Lighter Side of Low-Carb

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home

Atkins Food and Recipes - Atkins Diet

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html

Drink at least 64 ounces of plain water every day

Don’t Forget to Start Moving and Fit Some Exercise into your Day.


*It helps everyone answer your questions better if you put your info in your signature so it can be seen everytime you post.
*Click the "profile" button at the top of the forum and then set up your signature with the following: start weight/current weight/goal weight also----height, start date, is helpful as well as age and sex.
*None of this is required, just helps us help you.)

Tese will show you how to get in all your required veggies---
Go to this journal, and click on her blog link in her siggy. Then navigate around until you find her 11 in 3 series.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ournal-14.html

Or try this link- you are looking for her 11 in 3 series...It shows how to get 11g of carbs in 3 cups. Scroll thru menu 1, menu 2, etc. She did a lot of work putting this together:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ml#comment3330

[sydney7389]

Re: Help!

Thank You!!!!!!!!! I will read the book and the links and look forward to posting my new eating habits and the success I'm sure I'll have with it.
Connie (sydney 7389)

[poobears1972]

Re: Help!

Even sweet and low is limited, all sweetners are. Also doesn't Diet coke have splenda or something in it? That is a sweetner count too.

If you really want results for your vacation you need get tough now. Cut out all the cokes and switch to a little bit of heavy cream in your coffee.

You'll have to be super strict since you don't have a lot to lose. I assume you aren't going to do atkins long term? Or will you go back on after vacation?

[sydney7389]

Re: Help!

Thanks poobears. I do plan to continue on Atkins when I return home and I appreciate the advice to "get tough". I know I can do this...there was a time i didn't think through the day without eating triscuits so I know I can do this. Congrats on your success btw.

[Farley]

Re: Help!

Aspartame, which is in diet coke is not recommended and you need to count it as 1g of carb per serving. Caffeine is also not allowed (diet coke). Sucralose is an acceptable sweetener, but I don't know of a mainstream soft drink containing it.

Side note:
I stuck to Atkins during my one week vacation to an all inclusive in the Dominican... It was tough, and there was some not-by-the-book snacks, but I still lost 6 lbs during that week.

[sydney7389]

Re: Help!

Thanks Farley. If I could lose 6 lbs. in a week I would be over the moon!
If I could in two, or even three!

[poobears1972]

Re: Help!

Glad to hear you are planning on getting back on afterwards. Don't be surprised though if you have a lot of swelling or bloating if you over do it on vaca. If you suddenly introduce alcohol (no idea if you drink), salty foods and lots of carbs you'll lose the diaretic effect you have while in ketosis.

We are going on vaca for 2 weeks in June. I plan on taking along a bunch of homemade jerky, fruitroll ups, nuts etc. to snack on in the parks. It helps that we don't drink alcohol or pop so that won't be a problem. I'm sure we'll have off plan meals here and there but I want to at least try to stay as much on plan as possible. We should both be high in the rungs by then or fingers crossed I'll be around maintanence.

When we get back it will probably be back on induction for a bit to undo all we did LOL Have fun and good luck reaching your goals before then.

[imagood1]

Re: Help!

Make sure you are eating only foods on the acceptable food list...you need more vegetables other than lettuce - there is barely any nutrition in lettuce - you need broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, celery, radish .... the greener the more nutrition.

GOod luck.

[Farley]

Re: Help!

If you're going to eat salad greens, the best ones are the dark ones, like baby spinach. Yum.

[sydney7389]

Re: Help!

I just wanted to let everyone know since cutting out coffeemate and back on sweeteners I have lost 6 lbs. in the last two weeks. I am over the moon about that!
I had a major relapse last night eating crackers and white bread but I'm back at it today.
I just hope I haven't undone any progress. Thanks to all of you who responded to cry for help two weeks ago!