Hi,

My name is Lynda and this is the first time I've tried any type of low carb diet, although I've tried a million others. I don't know if this is where I'm supposed to post my story, so I'll just ask some questions. Are pork rinds allowed in induction? I take xenical (fat inhibitor), and wonder if that's still OK. Has anyone tried any of the carb blockers, and if so, can I still take those?

Well that's enough for now. I just started induction yesterday and my scale says I lost 2 lbs. I think it's just water though. Thanks in advance for any help.

Lynda

165 lbs
goal 140

Welcome Lynda. What low carb plan are you following? Pork rinds are allowed during induction. I have not taken any carb blocker. The purpose of learning to eat a low/controlled carb WOE is to learn healthy eating habits that can sustain you throughout your life.

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Henry

Hi Henry,

Thanks for replying.

I am following, or attempting to follow , Atkins. I do want to change my eating habits, but was thinking maybe the carb blockers would give me an edge up.
So far I have stayed at or near 20 carbs per day, but I love sweets so alot of them are coming from Atkins Bars and shakes. I haven't lost the cravings for them. I take an antidepressent called Elavil, which I am now tapering off of because it inhibits weight loss and actually is one of the reasons I had gained so much weight so quickly.

So anyways thanks for the heads up on the pork rinds. Know anything about the xenical?


Lynda

Hi Lynda

Welcome to Low carb!!!

Xenical...let's start there. I so it blocks fat I am gathering. IF you are following atkins' then xenical is going to block the very thing that you body needs on low carb. Fat is my friend. It gives me energy, stays in the digestive track longer so it acts as a appetite suppresant. I would replace the fat blocker with some vitamins like E, potassium, and there are others that I take.

Have you had the chance to pick up the book for Atkins if that is what you are practicing?

Carb blockers: On Induction one is taking in 20 grams or less, so I don't see the need to block any carbs since you really aren't eating any. And I have found that there are so many ways around eating white flour, sugar and other bad carbs that I don't want to block the good carbs that I am eating. I have to admit early on (in 2001) I thought that I would try them they were chewable and I ate two prior to going to dinner, I was craving white bread and a desert from this one resturant. I ate what I wanted and they bloated me, gave me gas and I gained a pound anyway.

Now let's talk about the Atkins' bars and shakes. These should be used sparingly and they shouldn't be incorporated into Induction. I don't even use them during OWL. Neither of them do anything for me anyway so I don't use them. But, again back in the day I met a friend that admired my weightloss and she start LCE too and she brought a LC bar to work with her and it was chocolate, it IS my alltime weakness....(we are talking shakkles and chains here Lynda!!) I thought these are great and bought a bunch and it stalled my weightloss for a week......even after putting a hault to eating them. Those sugar alchols simply do me in!!!
The Elavil, might hold you back slightly but, I believe the atkin's bars and shakes will just frustrate you even more.

Good luck and keep us posted.

__________________
"Summer of PQ"
19 pounds down....
Atkins

Welcome, Lynda! Delighted to have you with us.

My first and strongest recommendation is that you get the book for the plan you pick. It sounds like you're on atkins, so we're talking six bucks for the paperback. It's well worth it, and will make a very big difference in your level of success.

On LC, you normally don't watch your fat intake, and instead, choose the full fat version of foods instead of low-fat.The fat is a lot of what makes you feel full when you eat. I know it's hard to think in terms of fat being ok since we've had years of low-fat conditioning, but that's how LC works (and why people are often hungry on low-fat, but not low-carb). Some LC plans, most notably South Beach I believe, watch the fat intake somewhat. But with LC overall, you really don't need to be concerned about that right out of the gate. Unless there is a medical reason for the Xenical (beyond simple weightloss), I'd probably check with my doc about getting off it if I were you. I think you'll find there just isn't any need, and if you've been eating low-fat, you'll no doubt find it deliciously indulgent to eat with fats being allowed again without any of the gastrointestinal side effects when eating the fat that you'll get with Xenical.

On carb levels...a lot of people think, if 20grms of carbs are good, 2 are better. That's really not the case and going too low seems to actually hinder losses, as if the body's going into starvation mode. You need some healthy carbs in the form of veggies, which is where you should be getting them from anyway. And you need those vitamins, and fiber, etc. anyway!

On carb blockers specifically, there are mixed feelings about their efficiency and usefullness in general. The one thing that is clear, though, is that they are NOT a free ticket to eat whatever you feel like. Don't let them give you a false sense of security! If you choose to use carb blockers, I would suggest only using them at times you're eating a particularly carby meal and want to minimize the impact. As such, they could be an occassional, helpful addition to your toolkit, but not a major component of your weightloss plan. There ain't no free ride, sister.

And As PQ said, on induction, you really aren't gonna need 'em anyway, because your carb intake is already very low on induction. And a very important part of the Atkins plan is actually monitoring your carb levels specifically to find out what your "magic number" is where you lose vs. where you maintain your weight.

You're right that your early losses are water, which is true of any weight-loss plan. But one of the perks of lc is that your losses usually start out pretty quickly in the beginning, which is a great motivator. So enjoy it!

On the bars and shakes...people seem to have less problems with the shakes than the bars, but overall, the more natural the foods you eat, the better you'll do. And particularly in induction, while Atkins says they are ok, I wouldn't eat 'em. If you actually stay away from the sweets during induction, you'll find those cravings greatly diminish (and that fruit starts to taste like a dessert!) At any rate, if you find your losses stalling out, this stuff (along with the stuff with sugar alcohols) are the first places to look.

And finally, I assume you're also in touch with your doc regarding the antidepressant withdrawl. If you and your doc decide you should still be on an antidpressent, do talk to him/her about other options. Specifically, I know Wellbutrin often helps with weightloss, and I think Prosac can as well.

Make sure you're drinking a boatload of water and taking a good multivitamin each day, and add some activity in your routine, and you'll do great!

Good luck and welcome!

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Thanks all for the info. It has been very helpful and you seem so nice, but I'm thinking low carb may not be the way for me afterall. I just don't see it working for me long term. I'm considering WW, as I really need my fruit. :silly: Maybe it's just all too overwhelming for me and just such a vast change, too quickly, but I applaud all of you, because you really seem to have such discipline.

Who know's maybe I'll try low carb again and I'll be back here posting again.

Thank you so much and God bless all of you on your journeys.

Lynda

lynda,
Sorry to see you go so quickly! You can have fruit on Low Carb? Just not the first 2 weeks that is all.
If you reconsider we are still here for you!
Best of luck in whatever you choose.

__________________
"Summer of PQ"
19 pounds down....
Atkins

lynda-actually, fruit is fine on low-carb; induction is the strictest period but as time goes on, you add more and more foods. and i've found low-carb to take less discipline than any other weight-loss method i'd tried (and there have been plenty)!

of course, everyone has to decide what's right for them. but i encourage you to actually find out about lc for yourself; i certainly didn't mean to discourage you with my advice/info or overwhelm you. it's my intention to be helpful and nothing else.

honestly, one or two days isn't much of a "trial," and you haven't even gone long enough to start experiencing fat-burning mode (also known as ketosis), where your appetite greatly diminishes and you get those wonderful energy surges. that's where the magic of lc really kicks in and most people find themselves feeling better than they have in years. for me, that was worth a week.

good luck regardless and peace out.

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