Thread: When do you leave induction? One Answer

Originally Posted by LauraQ

What does DANDR stand for? I would like to read it, but need more info.........

Hold your cursor over those letters. It will pop up a little help bubble (New goodies from Goddess) with "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution."

There is a list of abbreviations somewhere here that will have that and many others in there.

Thanks for posting in here. It was very good for me to read Goddess' first post again. Gonna copy that and post it in my PDA for personal reference.
Thanks Goddess!!

Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, New and Revised Edition | LowCarbEating

oops! I was too slow.

DANDR (sounds like dog dander to me lol) is short for
Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution. Its definitely available at Amazon (new and used). I often find copies of it at my local book store.

Here's my 2 cents worth: I have a long and boring food history, ranging from childhood body image problems (not fat but I thought I was) to anorexia and bulimia to extreme obesity, with everything bizarre in between except eating inappropriate objects (unless you count totally manufactured food, which I don't eat at all anymore). I have had success and failure in everything from the cabbage soup diet, to "real" diets such as Weight Watchers, Heart Association (that was the least successful by the way, and the quickest abandoned), obsessive exercise, Atkins, Weigh Down (from church), more obsessive exercise, South Beach, Diabetes diet (family history, I'm not diabetic, I was hypoglycemic). Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. to the tune of 316 pounds of me stuffed into my swimsuit this summer. If I could stop and add up all the pounds Ive lost and gained over the years, I think it would be in the 4 digit range!

It got to be that I was actually panic stricken about dieting because I have had such disastrous results. I never want to be a slave to food and food choices again, whether from an anorexic point of view, or binge eating, or dieting. I also think I destroyed my health, body, metabolism, and mental state with dieting.

I decided that I had plenty of "head" information about diet and nutrition after years of reading, studying, and trying, and failing. What I needed was a change of attitude and lifestyle. I knew from past results-- personal and with friends and family-- that low carbing and cutting out refined foods worked the best for me. A year ago I stumbled on Jonny Bowden's book about low carb diets and grabbed it because it was on the $1.00 table, and i can pass up a plate of fry bread, sopapillas or a double fudge cake easier than I can pass up a bargain book that I might want to read. Even so, I rebelled and put it on the shelf for a year or so.

Then one night I started reading, and it reaffirmed my previous opinions about dieting and lowcarbing. It was great stuff, but instead of choosing a diet, which I thought I would do, I decided not to adopt any one plan, just because the thought brought on a real live panic attack, complete with dizziness, dry mouth and shortness of breath, lol.

I just started my own "induction" plan, ie. cutting out all sugar, corn syrup, wheat, rice, bread, and even most fruits and vegetables. I had to go cold turkey from carbs, just as if I was trying to get off nicotine, drugs, or alcohol. I practically had the DTs for a while I can assure you, or more politely stated: Induction Flu.

I didn't give up coffee, and probably ate quite a bit less than 20 grams of carbs for the first week. I tried to cut out all beverages except water and coffee and sometimes Iced tea (contrary to some plans, Atkins included) and to really up my water intake. I didn't tell anyone or actually weigh till the first month was over, so i am not sure exactly how much I have lost, but I know I was at least 316 pounds on the scale at the sleep clinic last spring. It might have been more, because I was really making bad choices all spring and till Mid July. By the time I finally weighed, and people were noticing; I was back down to about 280 on my home scale-- prior to that I wasn't sure at home because the scale stopped at 300.

I started Ketosis almost immediately, and if anything got more strict with myself for a while. I felt so good i didn't want to stop losing weight. Then some "alarm bells" of OCD behavior popped up into my head--- trying to be in control of my life through rigid control of food was definitely a MAJOR issue in my anorexia days, and my SUPER EXERCISE FREAK days as well. I added a few carbs into my diet and felt really good and kept losing inches and pounds without being enslaved to the scale, my food intake, etc.

I was using fitday to keep track of nutrients, percents of fat, etc. But when school started back i didn't have time to keep it up. I am working on that. Stress, stress, and more stress and probably too many calories stalled me out in August, and I was seriously considering buying DANDR and trying "Real" induction again. I don't know where my copy went.

MY DH has often accidentally sabotaged me in the past--He is vehemently opposed to Splenda or any other artificial sweeteners, for example. I finally said: "Look, right now my chances of dying from obesity related issues are really high. I am not ready to do this without a little splenda and some sugarfree Toroni syrup and I really need your help, so please keep your opinion to yourself. When I hit goal weight, we can examine this issue again." That really seemed to make him think, and he has been super encouraging ever since.

When I wanted to go "on" Atkins officially, he said "Diets don't work for you but you have changed the way you live, eat, and cook for us. You are losing weight really fast and you look and feel terrific. If I were you, I would stick with what you are doing and keep at it, even through the slow periods, because it is really working". That seemed sensible, and I have done so.

I don't even consider any foods "forbidden", even though I know that eating sugar and wheat or too many carbs brings on a Fibromyalgia flare. I just don't choose to eat them very often. About once every 6 weeks I eat something that is not locarb, but I have eaten slowly, eaten a small amount, and enjoyed it thoroughly and then put it aside for a while. Sometimes the food doesn't even taste good anymore to me. Bread I used to like tasted like wallpaper paste, so I spit it out. I don't think I actually miss anything, not even my favorites. I like the foods I am eating, I feel better, and I am continually losing inches and pounds.

I am not going to rule out the possibility of Induction, the real ATKINS way, and I certainly look through my South Beach, Locarb Cookbook and Atkins for Life books for recipes and inspiration. This web site is one of the things that really keeps me going.

I would never tell someone else to do what I am doing, most people probably benefit from choosing a plan and sticking to it. I simply decided to use my self knowledge, for once, and make some healthy choices for me. I tell everyone over and over "It's not a diet, it's the way I eat because I like it-- I will always eat this way". Technically, I guess I am somewhere between Induction and OWL by the book. Last time I weighed I was about 267.

Results so far: May 09: 316/ End of July 09: 260/ Mid August 275/ Sept 23: 267 --@50 lbs lost so far-----Goal is about 149. I was a powerful runner, fencer, martial artist and weight lifter at about 155, but I am considerably older now and I see that 150 is still in the OVERWEIGHT section on all the BMI charts for someone my height. Right now, hitting 200 on the way back DOWN will seem like a miracle. I am going to win this battle.

Absolutely, everybody has to find their own path. We usually harp to some degree on choosing a plan because most commonly, folks do better with a plan. Lots of the folks winging it seem to be hoping to speed things up (by cutting out all carbs, including veggies), some prone to obsessive behavior, and for some, not having a plan still = eat whatever you want category. So overall, the ones that start "by the book" tend to do much better than the ones that don't. But if you've been there/done that, used and understand the plans, and know what works for YOU personally, then you have pretty much fulfilled the function of using an established plan.

Tom - Thanks for your kind words. Always appreciated!

Goddess, your pics are one of the things that KEEP me going if I feel discouraged.
I am totally with you on choosing a plan--- I'm always a bit different and I have learned to love that part of myself. I definitely am eating veggies, veggies, veggies! I am probably eating more carbs in veggies than I think, because I don't do fitday right now-- But I know they are such great sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and FLAVOR that I am not worried about it. I have almost converted my pastaholic family: they EXPECT to eat their sauces over steamed veggies or raw greens now, and they are loving it. The first week or two I cooked pasta for them, but no one even asks me anymore. Nutrition scores again!!! : ).

Hi, Oonagh. I appreciated reading your story--a story many of us with lifelong weight management issues relate to. I especially noted your little speech to your husband. Well put! Support from our significant others makes a big difference.

Hope you'll post often here.

Best wishes.