Hi all!

My name's Alvin and I'm 24. I live in Rockford, IL and I'm starting my Low-Carb lifestyle. I did Atkins a few years back when I needed to lose weight for the Marine Corps. I'm totally determined now to live the healthy, low-carb lifestyle. I just wanted to introduce myself to this great community (I've been reading the posts, and everyone seems very friendly). I'm glad to be a part of it :biggrin:.

Alvin.

PS. What exactly are Kefir Grains used for? I looked at wikipedia, but it's still unclear.

Welcome Alvin!! Are you still in the Marines?

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Heather

Welcome, Alvin.

Kefir is a fermented milk product and the microbes which do the work tend to "build" their own dwelling (which are referred to as grains - but which are not grains at all.) If you search the forum for posts on kefir, you'll find a good deal of discussion and some links to other sources of information.

Hope you'll make yourself at home.

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Welcome Alvin. I look forward to gettting to know you.

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Henry

Welcome to LCE, Alvin!

I think you'll like it here. This IS a friendly, helpful bunch. Of course, I may be a little biased, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.

Looking forward to getting to know you as well.

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Thanks for the warm welcomes I just got done eating steak and eggs , which makes me excited about this new lifestyle.

To Heather: I finished my five year contract June 3, 2006.

To Goddess: I like your hair!

Welcome, Alvin. Good to see some "youngsters" joining us. We enjoy the enthusiasm that comes with youth. And you are a youth if you're under 30. Take it from us middle-agers. What we'd give to be 24 again!

Wishing you much success.

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Nita

Alvin-Thank you about my hair! I enjoy having bright hair, but it does raise some eyeballs here in smalltown KS where I live....somehow, though, that doesn't bother me all that much. I consider it an anti-fuddy-duddy device. People who aren't cool stay way far away!

On your eating, don't forget the veggies!

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As long as your genius device works, that's all that matters!

About the veggies... During the two-week period at the beginning (I forget the name of it), am I allowed to eat vegetables? I'm kinda doing this out of memory.

What I wouldn't give to eat some jalapenos right now... makes my mouth water just thinking about them.

mmm.... spicy....

Welcome alvin!! If im not mistaken you can eat Jalapeno's...I love them stuffed with cheese or better yet cream cheese...Great snack!
Have a great day!

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LISA
start date: 09/28/09...171.4
Current: 168.2
Goal: 150lbs!

Alvin, jalapenos are definitely allowed. 1 cup of sliced jalapenos only has about 2 net carbs. I use them as a regular ingredient in my omelets. I suggest you dust off DANDR and read it to renew your knowledge of what you should be doing to follow the Atkins methodology. Here is a link to a website that I use to check the carb count on various foods so you can stay on plan.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

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Henry

That's a GREAT website, thanks! I had to order a new DANDR because my old one got lost in the move . On the bright side, Amazon.com had the books for $.01!!! With shipping, I got a great deal and got my DANDR and a cookbook for $8.00.

I'm really excited!

alvin-oh YEAH, veggies are not only allowed, they're vital! veggies are a staple of lc'ing....low Carb is not no carb contrary to popular myths, and veggies are where you want to get your allowed carbs from, not to mention fiber and all those great vitamins and minerals. mmmm, veggies! low carbers eat more veggies than any 12 people you might meet on the street, man.

you need to get yourself a copy of the book posthaste. i assume you're doing atkins? in which case it's Dr. atkins' new diet revolution. we're talking under 10 bucks here, and i can tell you without reservation: that's the BEST investment of 10 bucks i have ever spent. a nice LC cookbook is usually a good investment, too. even if you don't do much cooking, it can help you get ideas about how to adapt what you're eating.

you might want to take a gander at the atkins website in the meantime, to get some more details of the plan. but basically, during atkins induction, you will be eating about 20 grams of carbs a day net carbs (meaning carb grams minus fiber grams). the only caveat I'd mention: atkins books and website say that eating the LC specialty products like bars and such are fine with induction. don't do it! I've seen those specialty products that we like to call "frankenfoods" around here stall out more people than anything else. and if it's got sugar alcohols in something like the "low carb sweet" stuff, it's probably bad news, especially early on. save anything like that for after induction and as a rare indulgence, and you'll be much better off for it. natural, whole foods will give you your best results.

hope that helps! peace out, fellow traveler.

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ooh, you beat me to buying the book while i was typing the message. good!

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Great to have you with us, Alvin With your good attitude, you are bound to do well.

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108