Returning to Atkins....

[Bosk2420]

Hi. Name is Bill. I followed Atkins 10+ years ago, and it worked fine. Personal issues (women) and the fact that I love to cook led me astray.

Now, I am back. Here is the history

I hit about 340lbs, but felt fine, except for planter facallites (sp) in one heel. However, I finally discussed it with my wife, and decided to do something.

For some reason, I forgot about Atkins. A friend went on the HCG diet, with great results. I went on it for 28 days, and lost 31 lbs. However, you must cycle off for 3-4 weeks. Another friend ALSO lost about 30 lbs, going Atkins. Silly me, I would MUCH prefer the Atkins route, as the HCG diet is VERY restrictive, and basically a starvation diet. However, I did prove to myself that I can stick with a diet.

So, now, 10 days on Atkins, and NO weight loss. I am retired, but stay very busy. Today, for example, I cut logs and stacked them for 2 hours, split and stacked 1/2 cord of wood, and stayed outside working for about 5 hours. To me, much the same as exercise.

My typical diet is sausage and eggs for breakfast, tuna with 1/4 onion, 1 tomato, and some mayonnaise. Dinner tonight was pot roast, no gravy, 1/2 onion, 1 tomato, 1/2 avacado, with 3tb mayo. Some cheese for a snack. That is a VERY typical day for me. NO carbs, NO cheating. NO sugar, flour, crackers, snacks, etc. I drink close to a gallon of light tea, with Stevia for sweetener.

Oh, and my ketone sticks are in the 2nd from the top rating, which is to say I am well into ketosis.

Ideas? Is my body just adjusting from the very restrictive diet of the HCG system, and the weight loss will kick in soon?

[liv]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

I think your body is adjusting
Most people who come off a calorie restricted diet see this happening. The body is just programmed to hang on to stuff but it will let go so keep it up. Drink lots of clean water and throw in some greens there
I see you skipped lunch Try not to do that. Eating more often keeps up metabolism and after trying that other diet your metabolism needs to be adjusted to normal
Hope you are having a good day

[Bosk2420]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

Thank you so much. I agree, missing lunch is bad, but when I get going on the property, I just don't stop.

Felt a little better today, as the scale said I lost close to 3lbs since last I weighed. So, maybe now they will start dropping.

[lisa_marie]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

Hi Bill,
Welcome back to the Atkins WOL! I agree with the others I bet your body is just adjusting. Especially if the HGC diet is that restrictive. Best of luck to ya, I look forward to hearing about your success!

LisaMarie

[Bosk2420]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

The HCG is VERY restrictive. 100 grams of lean meat (no beef) twice a day, plus small amounts of veggies, a couple of apples or oranges, and some melba toast. 500 calories per day. You take a hormone that causes you to burn extra calories (built up fat) so you don't feel tired. Obviously, without the hormone, you would start having problems in a few days. I did feel good on the diet, but I REALLY wanted more food, especially meat.

On the plus side, all my cravings are gone. Going Atkins is like paradise compared to a month on HCG. It is VERY easy to follow Atkins. I haven't had a piece of bread, sugar, soda, chocolate, or any of the 'bad' foods for 5 weeks now.

Wife is also going OWL Atkins with me, so cooking is easy. She likes the meals we have now. She only needs (wants is a better word) to lose about 10 lbs, so she does not need to be as restrictive. She is very supportive of me, and got rid of all the temptations that we used to have (pop tarts, soda, crackers, etc). She has already lost 3 lbs in a week.

She bought some of the Atkins foods today, chocolate shake drink and some of the snack bars. Those will help me (I hope) with my missing mid day meals. When I get going on my projects, I just forget to eat. While not a perfect replacement for a meal, it is better than nothing (I think?)

I will keep updating my progress. Thanks for the replies.

[imagood1]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

Welcome! The shakes and bars are known to stall or slow people's weight loss so if you must use them use them sparingly. Most of the ingredients in them aren't induction friendly.

If you get busy you can eat some cheese or string cheese, deviled eggs, hard boiled eggs, cut up veggies, rolled up deli meat (watch the sodium & check for added sugar) with or without cream cheese inside, pickles (preferably no-sugar added - look for Mt Olive brand), and many other things. These are all better for you than the "frankenfood" the Atkins company has on the market. Remember - Atkins is about whole foods, not processed foods. We follow the 2002 Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution book here.

Technically vegetables are "carbs" you said you don't eat any carbs -- vegetables are a huge part of our daily eating and are considered "good carbs" -- starches are the "bad carbs".

Make sure you drink plenty of pure water (64oz plain water minimum) daily - if you think you are hungry drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes....if you still feel hungry, eat something. Many people need to learn the difference between dehydration and hunger.

I hope you get a copy of the book and read it so you know exactly how to follow the plan. Are you using www.fitday.com or some other free program to track your daily carbs/protein/fat ratios? Make sure you count net carbs - that's carbs minus fiber. Also, to keep from eating the same thing over and over or for new recipe ideas try Linda's site: Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Recipes. I couldn't live without it!

Good luck to you and to your wife!

[Bosk2420]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

Ima,

Thanks for the reply. I did figure the shakes and bars were somewhat evil, being processed foods. Not something I plan on eating multiples of on any day.

I do know veggie's are carbs, and I do count them. I only meant I don't partake of the high carb things like flour, corn, crackers, bread, etc. Basically it is eggs, bacon, sausage, (easy on the sausage, lots of fillers there) chicken, beef, pork, tomatoes, onions, asparagus, avocados, a few mushrooms, mayonnaise, and at spoon full of salsa. I usually BBQ my meat, or cook in butter. I just like to cut up my meat, add the veggies, and a spoon full of mayo. Kind of like a chicken salad. I really enjoy it, and have no craving for anything else. If I want a snack after hours, it is usually a stick or two of string cheese. Nothing else.

Unlike many who struggle here, (I have been lurking before I joined) being hungry is not the problem. If anything, exactly the opposite. I stay so busy, I forget to eat. I am working on that. I know the importance of several meals per day.

I will start working on the plain water thing also. I drink plenty of fluids per day, usually around a gallon. However, it has been a weak tea with stevia. I am going to try drinking just water during the day. The tea does not create cravings, but I have read the thread on the importance of pure water. I just like my tea.

Again, thanks for the advice. I am just hoping, since I did lose 3 lbs in the last couple of days, that my failure to drop in the first week was my body adjusting to more food after the HGC thing.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

>>sausage, (easy on the sausage, lots of fillers there)>>

You can get sausage without fillers.

>>I drink plenty of fluids per day, usually around a gallon. However, it has been a weak tea with stevia.>>

Then you're not drinking water! Only pure water is water!

>>failure to drop in the first week>>

Not everyone loses the first week.

[sham]

Re: Returning to Atkins....

Just wanted to say welcome!