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  • Hello! First time here...

    Hi! This is my first time on the forum, and six days into "induction". I lost 25 lbs. two year ago - and have managed to keep most of it off since then with a lot of exercise and calorie counting. I got stuck after the first 25 came off and couldn't lose anymore. About a month ago, I actually gained a few back - My daughter started Atkins in early Feb. and she's lost weight so I thought I'd give it a try. I tried the original low-carb diet back in the mid-70s, and I recall it worked... but I didn't stick with it. It was different back then... only saccharin for sugar substitute (awful stuff!), virtually NO low carb products... ended up eating iceberg lettuce salads, meat and eggs for six months... I quit when I couldn't eat another hard boiled egg! For many years, I held my weight... but then in the late 80s, I quit smoking and that was "all she wrote" as they say. Over the next couple of years I gained 30 lbs. Managed to lose about 15 of it in the early 90s, but it came back within a couple of years - and went higher. At my highest weight, I weighed 194. After five years of avoiding scales and mirrors - and wearing really frumpy clothes to hide - I got sick of it and lost 25 I mentioned at the begining of this email. I don't yo-yo, and I didn't start watching 2 years ago until I could commit to keeping off whatever I managed to lose... Problem is, here I am two years later, and I can't get rid of the last 10-15 lbs no matter what I do. I am trying Atkins to see if it works, as is my husband who is having some of the same problems.

    I am happy to be here, and look forward to learning from you all. SO...

    I do have a couple of questions.. I read the Atkins book, and I am a bit confused.... I think I read in the book that the main thing in induction is to keep carbs to 20 per day.... but many posts I read indicate that people try to go much lower, AND watch calories. If I'm going to watch calories, I might as well go back to my old ways. I was looking forward to having more to eat, feeling less hungry and having fewer cravings. After six days, I think I'm back down the couple of lbs that I put back on recently.... but many people say they lost 10 lbs in that first week! Wondering about this... I do exercise regularly and do some resistance training, and have for two years. Given this and the fact that I lost 25 two years ago, will I lose weight on Atkins, or am I going to gain weight???

    Second question: I am sure I saw strawberry smoothie made with banana extract and silken yogurt somewhere as acceptable during induction... yet many posters talk about the things we can't eat - and lots of times these are things that I am sure I saw mentioned on the Atikins website as "OK" to eat ..... From what I've read already, it seems like a lot of people are trying to do low-calorie and low-carb at the same time.... can anyone clarify.

    Finally, what is the big deal about asparatame???? I like Coke Zero and there is no diet Jello that has splenda in it (and I'm not making my own!)
    Why is the water so important. Like many others here, I am having difficulty with all that water. I like diet coke (and by the way, why so much fuss about soda from atkins users???) and I like other 0 calorie drinks - why no drink them? I wrote the Aspartame manufacturers rep. and was told that Aspartame is made from proteins and is a "perfect complement" to the Atkins diet...

    Well, I have more.. but I'll post them again next time. Glad to meet everyone!

  • #2
    Re: Hello! First time here...

    HEY! Welcome!

    the aspartame... can be a problem for some people because I think there's evidence that some people's bodies react to it with blood sugar spikes and such...

    the water.. I too have an awful time with the water.. at first.. but after a while.. it gets easier...

    it's really not that much (64 ounce minimum I think it is.. ).. that's only like 3 20 ounce bottles... (plus a bit more).. I find that if I buy bottles... it's much easier... I take one with me when I jump in the truck to go the store or something.... and it helps me keep up better..

    and if I'm hungry,... I grab a bit of cheese... or a bite of meat... and down a half a bottle... and boom.. I'm not hungry for a long time...

    although I HAVE drunk stuff with aspartame (I have a hard time weaning myself off diet mtn dew).. and I have used diet jello... ( I make this stuff with cream cheese, sour cream and lime jello)... (I only eat like 1/2 cup a day or less)... but... I do agree it slows down weight loss... but sometimes it's a trade off I make to help me stay track as much as possible..

    (I'm definately one of the NOT PERFECT people here... )

    as for the induction/counting calories/lowering carbs even lower... .. my advice.. stick to the book..... it's pretty clear on most stuff..... maybe some people experiement with what works best for them... and it's gets confusing... but my advice.. just stick to what the book says.. especially in the beginning..

    welcome!
    2-15-10 194.8 - highest ever!
    2-20-10 190.4 - new scale
    3-20-10 177.8 - 1 month
    5-10-10 169.8 - 25 pounds gone!

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Hello! First time here...

      Welcome to ADBB!

      >>I read the Atkins book,>>

      Do you mean the 2002 book?

      >>I think I read in the book that the main thing in induction is to keep carbs to 20 per day>>

      It's 20 NET carbs ... and yes, if you want to be as nutritious as possible in your eating, then being as close to 20 net as possible on Induction is best.

      >>many posts I read indicate that people try to go much lower>>

      They're "doing it wrong" then ... in my opinion.

      >>many people say they lost 10 lbs in that first week!>>

      That all depends on how much one has to lose. Someone who has over 100 pounds to lose will likely lose more than someone who doesn't. There's no standard amount anyone will lose on Induction though. Best not to compare.

      >>I am sure I saw strawberry smoothie made with banana extract and silken yogurt somewhere as acceptable during induction>>

      Silken yogurt ... or any yogurt isn't acceptable on Induction. You must remember that not everyone follows the rules.

      >>these are things that I am sure I saw mentioned on the Atikins website as "OK" to eat>>

      The Atkins website (atkins.com) deviates from the Rules of Induction as in DANDR 2002 (they haven't had the Induction food list correct since August of 2008!) and now they're using the new Atkins book just published for their guidelines.

      >>it seems like a lot of people are trying to do low-calorie and low-carb at the same time.>>

      People do the oddest things.

      >>what is the big deal about asparatame???? I like Coke Zero and there is no diet Jello that has splenda in it (and I'm not making my own!)>>

      In DANDR, Dr. Atkins said not to use aspartame. You won't be the first person to ignore the advice.

      >> Why is the water so important. Like many others here, I am having difficulty with all that water.>>

      Well, water is what our bodies want, need, and crave. 64 ounces of WATER is the minimum on Atkins. Again, you won't be the first person to ignore the rules.

      >>I like diet coke (and by the way, why so much fuss about soda from atkins users???)>>

      There's a limit of 3 servings a day of sweeteners ... and each 8 ounces of diet soda or other artificially sweetened drink counts as a serving.

      Dr. Atkins is quite clear at the end of Chapter 12 in your DANDR that nothing other than water counts as water.

      "We need water because it is a cleansing fluid. It cleanses our body, dilutes toxin and replenishes our body's water supply. Every process that occur in our body will produce a product. Some of them such as urea is toxic and must be excreted. Water helps our body to exrete toxins through urine and perspiration.

      It also cools our body because water has a high specific heat capacity. It regulates our body temperature to make our body temperature at constant and optimal level.

      >>I wrote the Aspartame manufacturers rep. and was told that Aspartame is made from proteins and is a "perfect complement" to the Atkins diet...>>

      What would you expect them to say ... that it, as many people find, stalls them?
      J.

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

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Hello! First time here...

        Super welcome Flora.
        I was just going to tell you since it sounds like our ages may be close that for some of us ladies getting way down in weight (like we could when we were teens) may not be possible or even desirable. I am not sure how low you are wanting to go but there comes a time when you may have to embrace an extra fold and an added bulge. Focus on strength training to keep up muscle and bone strenght.


        I do have a couple of questions.. I read the Atkins book, and I am a bit confused.... I think I read in the book that the main thing in induction is to keep carbs to 20 per day.... but many posts I read indicate that people try to go much lower, AND watch calories. If I'm going to watch calories, I might as well go back to my old ways. I was looking forward to having more to eat, feeling less hungry and having fewer cravings. After six days, I think I'm back down the couple of lbs that I put back on recently.... but many people say they lost 10 lbs in that first week! Wondering about this... I do exercise regularly and do some resistance training, and have for two years. Given this and the fact that I lost 25 two years ago, will I lose weight on Atkins, or am I going to gain weight???
        Not sure what you are asking. If you have weight to lose Atkins works for most people if we follow it. I do not personally count calories. And I only suggest looking on calories for others if they are having an issue. Many people eat too few calories when they start the programme. If you were starving yourself before you started Atkins you may put on a pound of two as the body get happy when it gets food but once fat burning starts it should work (if you have weight to lose)



        Second question: I am sure I saw strawberry smoothie made with banana extract and silken yogurt somewhere as acceptable during induction... yet many posters talk about the things we can't eat - and lots of times these are things that I am sure I saw mentioned on the Atikins website as "OK" to eat ..... From what I've read already, it seems like a lot of people are trying to do low-calorie and low-carb at the same time.... can anyone clarify.
        The Atkins website is a bit confused at times. We follow DANDR. So yogurt is not allowed. Is silken yogurt a soy product?


        Finally, what is the big deal about asparatame???? I like Coke Zero and there is no diet Jello that has splenda in it (and I'm not making my own!)
        Why is the water so important. Like many others here, I am having difficulty with all that water. I like diet coke (and by the way, why so much fuss about soda from atkins users???) and I like other 0 calorie drinks - why no drink them? I wrote the Aspartame manufacturers rep. and was told that Aspartame is made from proteins and is a "perfect complement" to the Atkins diet...
        Water is very clean. Kidneys can concentrate on fat burning and do not have to shuffle around a lot chemicals that you do not need in your body. Why would you want to drink artificially sweetened water with a bunch of crap it it Well that is my take in it. Most of us feel that we lose better if we get our water in. And it does no harm what so ever. Flush out those organs (It is what my yoga teacher says)

        Welcome to the board
        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

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Hello! First time here...

          Welcome to the board, Flora!

          You are supposed to eat 20 or less net carbs a day, coming mostly from allowed veggies. Those veggies are very important to how the diet works so don't skimp on them. You can't go by what the official Atkins website says because after Dr. Atkins died, they became more interested in selling their products than in how much any of us weigh. It's all about the bottom line for them now. We go by what the Dr. said while he was alive, not what they say now.

          And pure water is what our bodies are designed to drink and when you add anything to it, you are just polluting it and yourself.
          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

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