Starting over-3rd Day

[redbelair]

Hi.

I have done the low carb cycle a few years ago and need to do it again. I just look lousy as it seems like all the extra pounds are in one place and I need to remove it as it almost prevents me from seeing my feet comfortably. I am concerned though as last time the weight seemed to be removed from my face, arms and legs and people said I looked like I was ill. I felt ok but did agree that the loss of weight in the face hurt and I have never gained back the arm mass--couldn't exercise as one knee is not so good and I had rotator cuff stuff done on both shoulders-they are pretty much OK now.

It once again seems like the biggest obstacle are trying to explain to others that there is a plan and things like vacation, a night out, a specially prepared meal or whatever are not good enough reasons to splurge as people like me who have so little self control will just get off the wagon.

Last time I drank tons of coffee( I normally drink 5 cups a day-extra cream/no sugar) and it kept me going. However I quit coffee cold turkey about 6 weeks ago and just do Green Tea or Decaf brown tea and I am pretty good with that. Again, I would like to go back to coffee but have not found a reason to and I am sleeping a bit better--albeit the 'trips' during the night are now considered 'exercise'! I did have a test or two and they found that the plumbing is OK which is good.

I am looking for some assistance from last-time memories. For the last couple of years I have taken two fiber capsules a day-the psyllium husk capsules-and I think they would help the single largest problem I remember-the sometimes severe cases on Constipation that resulted in very painful and very uncomfortable bowel movements. I believe from what I read that the psyllium husk carbs are not the kind that need be avoided, but I am not sure and that is the question I have for the group.

I have one of those 'ab-lounge' things that I use every morning-about 125 reps-and I am hoping to add 125 at night hoping that will be the exercise that prevents unsightly things from happening. I am unable to do the walking as it will bring on knee problems that I need to avoid. I am a bit tired of all the medical work -both shoulders, a heart ablation, cataract removal(the best) and assorted other things. I am done buying cars for the MD's for a while. I need to be sure my arms don't get smaller-the biceps in particular took a hit last time and my MD told me that lean muscle tissue is very difficult to get back.

Anyway, the fiber capsule thing and the need to not lose lean tissue are the biggest issues for me. I am OK with avoiding things but have not an ounce of self control which is why I had to completely quit smoking over 30 years ago and still miss it! Avoiding Alcohol is not an issue either.

[Georgiana]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

Welcome to ADBB!

What do you mean by "low carb cycle"? Some carb cycling thing?

ust do Green Tea or Decaf brown tea

Don't forget to count the carbs in tea.

I believe from what I read that the psyllium husk carbs are not the kind that need be avoided

Psyllium husks are fine. We count net carbs on Atkins (total minus fiber).

I am looking for some assistance from last-time memories.

Are you reading the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution?

[redbelair]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

Thanks for the note back.
By 'Carb cycle' I meant all phases from Induction through Maintenance--it is the Maintenance that I botched up!

According to my Biegelow Tea Boxes(Green and English Tea Time Decaf) there are no carbs in their tea. I do not add anything so I thought there were none. I also just ordered a box of loose Green Tea so as to be able to brew it to my taste.

Thanks for the reassurance on the Psyllium Husk thing--as I need to do anything to avoid past experiences in the bathroom.

I have read the book and even played it on tape in the car a few times but a refresher probably wouldn't hurt.
As I recall, it seemed like it was more stringent during the Induction Phase than people here talk about. I thought we were supposed to severely restrict the amount of food we eat, regardless of the content....and to just about eliminate carbs, especially the first two weeks and until we pass the p-strip test.

I know it will work.

Again, Thanks for the note.

[liv]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

It looks like you may need a refresher. Severely restrict the amount is definitely not in the book. We need to eat food to meet our nutritional and energy requirement every day.
Welcome to ADBB. Good luck on your restart
Tea sometimes do have illegal ingredients. So read the list of ingredients not just the label. Never read just the label.

[Georgiana]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

By 'Carb cycle' I meant all phases from Induction through Maintenance

Gotcha! Thanks for explaining.

According to my Biegelow Tea Boxes(Green and English Tea Time Decaf) there are no carbs in their tea. I do not add anything so I thought there were none.

Check out the USDA database for more accurate carb counts:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

On American labels, if the carbs are less than 0.5 g per serving, they will be reported as 0. You might not care about 0.4 net carbs, but if you have a few servings, the carbs will add up.

How are you doing with eating your vegetables?

[redbelair]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

Currently I am eating just about nothing. When I read the book a few years ago I think I remember that the less one eats during the first two weeks or until the test strips say you are now using the fat to produce energy, the better and quicker the weight loss will come. Hence, I am eating mostly green and black olive oil/cured olives amd a bit of meat. I won't check the strips for a couple of more days and then I will feel comfortable eating non carb foods. It seems to make sense that the less food of any type one eats the more the body will deal with the accumulated fat.
I may be wrong but I believe it.

I certainly am shying away from lettuce at this e-coli time! I plan on a steak and broccoli Mothers Day dinner--with some olives and a few glasses of water.

On the tea ingredients I find that the name brand non-flavored tea ingredient is only tea. At least that is what is on the Bigelow boxes I have. I cannot locate teh carb counter on the USDA web page but will take your word that there may be some carbs, but, for the first three days I have only had brewed green and black tea, olives and beaten-microwaved eggs(3).

I even feel lighter although the weighing in will not happen until MOnday when I reurn home to my scale!
I appreciate the note back.

[redbelair]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

It looks like you may need a refresher. Severely restrict the amount is definitely not in the book. We need to eat food to meet our nutritional and energy requirement every day.
Welcome to ADBB. Good luck on your restart
Tea sometimes do have illegal ingredients. So read the list of ingredients not just the label. Never read just the label.

Hi Liv
Re the label on the tea box and your note to never read the label--I am not sure what to do as, if I don't read the label how else can I determine what is inside?

I am surprised I did not receive comments about the severe constipation and the loss of lean tissue issues I brought up earlier.

Oh well, it is a Holiday Evening!

I certainly appreciate the support a group like this can provide.
Thanks

[liv]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

You are not doing the Atkins diet so it is hard for us to help you. To do the Atkins diet you have to know what is involved. This takes a bit of reading. I don't know what you read a few years back but it sounds nothing like Atkins. It sounds rather unhealthy to me
Do you want to do the Atkins diet like we do it here following the 2002 book? If that is your goal we can help you with some links and stuff but the book is the best thing

[Georgiana]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

I remember that the less one eats during the first two weeks or until the test strips say you are now using the fat to produce energy, the better and quicker the weight loss will come

You remember wrong.

The strips aren't even always telling you whether or not you're in ketosis. You can be in ketosis without changing their color.

And you can be in ketosis without following Atkins, too!

I am eating mostly green and black olive oil/cured olives amd a bit of meat.

And vegetables?

Undereating calories and net carbs won't do your health any good.

then I will feel comfortable eating non carb foods.

Atkins isn't about eating "non carb foods".

I may be wrong but I believe it.

Yes, you are wrong.

I plan on a steak and broccoli Mothers Day dinner

What other vegetables will you have during the day? How many net carbs of them?

On the tea ingredients I find that the name brand non-flavored tea ingredient is only tea.

Green tea has about 0.5 net carbs per cup, according to the nutritional info on mine (I'm in Europe, so our carb counts are more accurate).

You can find black tea in the USDA database.

for the first three days I have only had brewed green and black tea, olives and beaten-microwaved eggs(3).

That wasn't Atkins.

[Georgiana]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

your note to never read the label

That's definitely not what Liv wrote! You might want to reread her post.

You should not read just the label. You should read the list of ingredients, too.

if I don't read the label how else can I determine what is inside?

The label doesn't tell you what's inside, does it? The ingredients do.

I am surprised I did not receive comments about the severe constipation

What exactly would you like to know about that?

the loss of lean tissue issues

Atkins, followed correctly, actually helps preserve lean body mass. From what you are writing though, I'm not sure you followed Atkins correctly before.

[redbelair]

Re: Starting over-3rd Day

It appears I am off-base, so I will find the tapes and listen again.
Thanks for the patience and help.

Just to be sure I am on track a bit, I ask the following with regard to Induction andgeneral questions/statements:
..We are limited to 20 net carbs per day
..vegetables are not all carb free and must be watched
..it is OK to continue vitamins and supplements like fish oil, flaxseed oil, fiber capsules and similar dietary and health components
..coffee and caffeine, both in general and in particular are to be avoided
..tea is OK as long as it carb free( Ihave not found unflavored green tea that has carbs) and it does not contain ingredients other than tea
..the practice of induction is to nudge/convince the body into using fat for energy in lieu of the usual carbs it normally uses.
..from the posts replied to my posts it appears there are issues with limiting overall food intake during this phase. I do not understand what negatives can result from limiting food intake and don't think anyone encourages eating a lot of food during Induction or any other cycle.

...I am not 'medical' but as I understand it, once the body moves to intentional ketosis as a result of our actions, the quicker and faster we lose weight. Regardless of how the body 'normally' or otherwise gets into ketosis, (reduced carbing being how I want to get there) I recall from the book and current web info substantiating achieving ketosis is a sure tipping point into weight loss.

..I distinctly and painfully remember the constipation issue and was looking here for advice on the psyllium husk idea as it would seem to aid in that area. I received my answer and my posting apparently went downhill after that.
..I apologize for postings that apparently were not as accurate as tehy should be. I read the book and listened to it on tape more than a few times and will put the tapes in the car for listening again.
..I was chided for not reading the food containers that told me there were no carbs in Bigelow Green Tea and that it said the ingredient was just tea.
..I am just trying to start and, hence not knowing but looking for information and assistance.


I do not want to appear arrogant or unappreciative or the like but realize that there are a lot of options in Low Carb dieting that Dr.Atkins successfully promoted, but am amazed that deciding not to eat a lot of anything could possibly be negative. If someone can keep under 15 carbs a day regardless of what makes up those 15 how can that be bad? I thought one of the fundamental ideas was to have the body live off the fat of the land? I understand the need to keep the body healthy and if we are going to reference the USDA and look at their food pyramid, we would realize that they would not support this way of life-so why go there at all? For example, if we do an apple, an orange, a banana along with other recommendations like a bunch of milk the low carb idea is out the window.

Once again, I am trying to learn but also need to work within the group.

Happy Mothers Day!