New to board, but not to diet

[ChichaR]

I've been doing moderate to low carbs for the last three years, and this is my third time hitting the reset button with Induction.

My main issue is with sugar cravings. I've found that I need to go super-low on the carbs or else they are strong. However, the dilemma is that when I go into deep ketosis, I feel lousy. I thought it eliminated my cravings, but now I wonder if I just feel too bad to have any, lol.

My main health issues started when I tried to be a vegetarian in my 30s (ten years ago). I eliminated about 95% of meat and dairy from my diet, and ate a lot of grains and processed soy.

I won't go into the depressing litany of problems that caused, but perhaps you won't be surprised to learn that I gained a lot of weight and probably damaged my metabolism.

This is when I started to get severe sugar cravings and fungal skin rashes. I get a splotchy red rash that fades to white, leaving my skin mottled-looking. A fungal cream works if I use it every day, but I can't stop or else the rash comes back.

Three years ago I tried to get serious about all this and that's when I tried my first attempt at LC dieting. But I couldn't get past the ketosis problems. I hope third time's the charm!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

Welcome to ADBB!

>> super-low on the carbs>>

What do you mean by "super-low"?

<<when I go into deep ketosis, I feel lousy.<<

What do you mean? There really isn't "deep" or not deep ketosis ...

It's possible that you feel lousy because you're not eating enough food.

[blueberrylady]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

Do you have the 2002 edition of the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution? It will explain the diet fully and if you're doing it right, you shouldn't have cravings or feel lousy except maybe for a day or two while your body adjusts to this way of eating.

Make sure you're not eating too many sweetners too because they can cause cravings.

[ChichaR]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

Do you have the 2002 edition of the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution?

I have both editions, but find that the older 1972 one is more effective for me, at least for the sugar cravings. But it causes severe dizzyness and muscle cramps. The cramps go away if I take magnesium, but it can also cause diarrhea if I'm not careful. This happens even if I eat 2 or 3 cups of lc veggies like cooked cabbage in one sitting.

Now that I've increased my carbs, I'm wondering if I would've had a better time if I had eaten more carbs than the 1972 Diet, but less than the 2002 one.

Make sure you're not eating too many sweetners too because they can cause cravings.

Knock on wood, I've been able to satisfy my cravings with decaf coffee and making a type of eggnog with coconut milk (the kind that comes in the carton, not the can), a couple of egg yolks, coconut oil and sweetener (mainly stevia).

[atkinsgal08]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

>>find that the older 1972 one is more effective for me, at least for the sugar cravings. But it causes severe dizzyness and muscle cramps.>>

Don't forget that the older version is more than just the first week ... you're still supposed to increase your carbs.

>>This happens even if I eat 2 or 3 cups of lc veggies like cooked cabbage in one sitting.
>>

That's why you should spread out your vegetables during the day. And that's not really enough variety nor enough net carbs.

>> coconut milk>>

Not an Induction food though.

>>I've been able to satisfy my cravings>>

Here's something to think about ... the goal is to get rid of your cravings, not "satisfy" them.

Satisfying them only keeps them alive ... and they demand more and more feeding.

If you really want to get rid of the cravings, then you would do better to not feed them.

Also, have you really done 2002 Induction "by the book"? Getting 20 net carbs, with MOST coming from Induction vegetables?

[ChichaR]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

That's why you should spread out your vegetables during the day. And that's not really enough variety nor enough net carbs.

I eat veggies with two, sometimes three meals every day.

>>I've been able to satisfy my cravings>>

Here's something to think about ... the goal is to get rid of your cravings, not "satisfy" them.

Satisfying them only keeps them alive ... and they demand more and more feeding.

If you really want to get rid of the cravings, then you would do better to not feed them.

The only way that I don't have any cravings is if I go by the 1972 diet, which only allows 2 cups of salad per day for Induction, and then gradually adding only five carbs a week for four weeks, getting up to only 20 carbs in about a month. I'm up to 15 to 20 carbs a day after three weeks.

Also, have you really done 2002 Induction "by the book"? Getting 20 net carbs, with MOST coming from Induction vegetables?

Yep. Starting with 20 net carbs is too many carbs for me—I still had strong sugar cravings.

[ChichaR]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

Welcome to ADBB!

Thanks! Sorry, I didn't see this message until I replied to your other one.

>> super-low on the carbs>>

What do you mean by "super-low"?

When I start off with just the two cups of salad a day, or sometimes skipping it for one meal.

<<when I go into deep ketosis, I feel lousy.<<

What do you mean? There really isn't "deep" or not deep ketosis ...

I go by ketostix color, and how I feel. The darker the color, the worse I feel.

It's possible that you feel lousy because you're not eating enough food.

I thought that might be the case, too, because on LC it's possible for me to not think about food for HOURS. But this past week I've started to pay attention, and to try to eat whenever I think about it. A hardboiled egg here, a piece of sausage there, between meals.

[ChichaR]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

>> coconut milk>>

Not an Induction food though.

Do you think it could be causing trouble? It has 1 gram of net carb per cup, and I only use a cup at a time, at most two times a day.

[liv]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

Welcome to the board.
This is a Atkins 2002 board and so we try to help people on this diet. All of the mods here and probably almost all of the members are doing that particular version so that is what we know. If you are doing a different version you may not get the kind of help that that version require.
So I recommend doing Atkins induction 2002 right - it works

[Georgiana]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

Do you think it could be causing trouble?

It could, if you have an intolerance to it. That's why foods should be added one by one in OWL, instead of eating anything low in carbs during Induction.

It has 1 gram of net carb per cup, and I only use a cup at a time, at most two times a day.

Do I read this wrong or are you having 1-2 cups of coconut milk per day?

And what are the calories, protein and fat in one cup?

[Georgiana]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

I go by ketostix color, and how I feel. The darker the color, the worse I feel.

A dark color might mean that you are dehydrated or that you just happen to excrete a lot of excess ketones at that time of testing.

You can be in ketosis without changing the color of the sticks.

[Georgiana]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

This happens even if I eat 2 or 3 cups of lc veggies like cooked cabbage in one sitting.

2-3 cups of cooked cabbage have 10.8-16.2 net carbs (only net carbs are digested). Eating that many carbs in one sitting could be a problem for you. That's why J. wrote that you should spread your net carbs thoughout the day, instead of eating 2-3 cups of cooked cabbage in a sitting.

The only way that I don't have any cravings

I don't think it's realistic to expect to never crave anything again on Atkins.

this past week I've started to pay attention, and to try to eat whenever I think about it. A hardboiled egg here, a piece of sausage there, between meals.

And do you feel better eating more and eating more often?

How much water are you drinking?

I would also suggest you post a menu, with amounts for all foods.

[ChichaR]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

Welcome to the board.

Thank you!!!

This is a Atkins 2002 board and so we try to help people on this diet.

I've been impressed with the responses. What a great resource this forum is—I wish I had gotten on it three years ago. Oh well, better late than never!

All of the mods here and probably almost all of the members are doing that particular version so that is what we know. If you are doing a different version you may not get the kind of help that that version require.

I disagree—you guys have been immensely helpful to me, in the few posts that I read. I'm already feeling about 90% better.

So I recommend doing Atkins induction 2002 right - it works

The only reason why I'm not doing that version is because the starting amount of carbs is not low enough for me. But I'm basically up to 2002 Induction-level carbs now.

[ChichaR]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

It could, if you have an intolerance to it. That's why foods should be added one by one in OWL, instead of eating anything low in carbs during Induction.

I didn't have any of it during Induction. Just added it after, because I missed it. I've been drinking it for a few months, and using coconut products (like oil and flour) for years.

Do I read this wrong or are you having 1-2 cups of coconut milk per day?

Yes, one or two cups a day, depending on my cravings.

And what are the calories, protein and fat in one cup?

It has fifty calories, five grams of fat and one gram of carb, no sugar or protein.

[ChichaR]

Re: New to board, but not to diet

2-3 cups of cooked cabbage have 10.8-16.2 net carbs (only net carbs are digested). Eating that many carbs in one sitting could be a problem for you. That's why J. wrote that you should spread your net carbs thoughout the day, instead of eating 2-3 cups of cooked cabbage in a sitting.

Believe it or not, eating cabbage or lettuce wasn't very helpful. I had some guacamole the last couple of days, and am feeling much better—probably because of the magnesium. I think I needed to add veggies that have more carbs.

I don't think it's realistic to expect to never crave anything again on Atkins.

That's true. But it is pretty much the only diet that helps get them mostly under control.

After I posted on here the other day, I looked on the calendar and noticed that it's been almost a month on the diet, and I haven't cheated or even been tempted to cheat! That is definitely a first.

And do you feel better eating more and eating more often?

Yes. I think another source of trouble is that I have a very sporadic part-time work schedule. I can work one day or up to three days a week, usually on the weekends.

I'm pretty active when I'm there, but I wasn't eating more carbs since I started the diet. Yesterday I brought some guacamole to work, in addition to extra water. A couple of weeks ago I was so grumpy, but this time I was fine.

How much water are you drinking?

I try to drink at least 8 large glasses, but I don't keep track like I should.

I think my trouble with the diet is that I lose too much weight too fast if I'm not careful, especially if I lower the carbs drastically. But I think I've finally turned the corner, because I feel pretty good.

Thank you so much everyone for all your posts! I hope any lurkers reading this will feel encouraged to post an introduction or any trouble their having with the diet. The posts have helped me be critical of what I'm doing, and see what I'm doing in a new light.