I want this to work for me. I am confused on the first two weeks. I have the book, but have so many different things. Is it strickly meat and eggs and only 2 cups of greens with regular dressing for the first 2 weeks. What about bacon? All the sausage and bacon has some sugar in it according to the ingredients. I want to do this right and not get discouraged. Help!

hi mt,

well, take a deep breath

it is easier than it sounds, really

yes, it is pretty much protein, fat and veggies

you will get a few carbs from dairy products, like cream, cheese and cream cheese

some folks can not have bacon and luncheon meats due to the nitrates - but most do not have a problem with them

Does the book have some sample menus in the back?

I dont eat a normal breakfast - so i'm not too good with them.. but ya can't go wrong with eggs and some sort of meat.

if you have time, scrambled eggs are great, and toss in a bit of cheese, cream or half N half, and some veggies.

meat with a small salad for lunch and dinner

lots of water - and your supplements are very important too

as for the sugars in bacon - i thin i read here that it burns off ... but i could be wrong. I eat it and have no problems with it.

Welcome to the LCE message board!!

Terese
LCE Member since 12/00
My LC web site

Don't forget, NET CARBS. Always subtract the fiber.

Information gladly given, but safety requires no unnecessary conversation.
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJ...&Month=8&Day=2
LC - 7/3/03
290/245.6/169

To be totally honest.. I wouldn't worry about the net carbs (subtracting fiber) right off the bat... I think that there are so many other things you are worrying/thinking about that that will just confuse a newbie even more.

(Heck back when i started... there was no subtracting fiber on Atkins)

MichelleTerese... another thing - I have always felt that there is no such thing as consuming too many veggies... So, honestly, don't have your 2c measure cup out and think that is all you can have in a day. (veggies are a great source of fiber - one thing most diets lack... just don't sit and eat a huge head of broccoli for every meal)

You should know that there are veggies that are much higher in natural sugars than other - like corn is a no-no, as are peas

stock pile greens; beans, broccoli, spinach (all leafy stuff, except iceberg lettuce - it's basically devoid of nutrients) zucchini... you get the picture.
Tomatoes, carrots and onions are higher in carbs, so you may want to limit them for a while until you get the hang of what veggies are higher in carbs and what you can get away with.

Hope this helps a lil more...and if you find yourself struggling today -- hop right on line, we will get you thru it.

Terese
LCE Member since 12/00
My LC web site

Michelle T.
You just said meat, salad, but don't forget to be creative or else your meals will get old.
Try Chicken salad w/ mayo & Celery, or Tuna Salad. Spinach Quiche, Also sugar free jello is good if you have a sweet tooth..

Good Luck ~

Hi Michelleterese!!!!! WELCOME!!!!! I am posting my newbie schpiel because I keep giving the same advice every time.

OK, here's my schpiel for newbies:

You've chosen the BEST website for LC support. We are all in this together. We are ALL carb addicts. My weakness has always been French or Italian breads, cakes, cookies, potatoes and pasta. I did not think, in the beginning, that I would be able to do this. I am here to tell you I AM DOING THIS. I thought my cravings for these foods would be insurmountable. I scoured the internet for LC recipes. I read the book of my plan choice, Dr. Atkins New Diet (DANDR) I went to www.atkinscenter.com and read every article I could get my eyeballs on. I armed myself with KNOWLEDGE. I went to past posts here and read others' posts in order to see what people have struggled with and to get veterans' advice on how to do this successfully. I cleaned out my pantry and replaced it with allowed food. I cleaned out my fridge and stocked up on staples of this WOL (way of living.) I didn't exercise much the first couple of weeks. I just didn't have the energy and I suffered from headaches. I now know that I needed to de-tox and my blood sugar wasn't too happy with the lowered levels, but I adjusted. My body adjusted. I just had to give it time. I accepted that I wasn't going to lose weight overnight. The weight didn't come on overnight, so I know I won't lose it overnight. I am doing this for the rest of my life, so however long it takes, that's how long it will take. I like the fact that I can eat like a QUEEN, not go hungry and still LOSE weight. I love trying new recipes, so I now have a renewed interest in cooking. I had gotten into a rut and made the same old same old, night after night. Variety IS the spice of life. Here's what I have learned about this WOL and about myself through my journey and what you have to do to succeed:
1) Follow the book of your plan choice and the advice of LC veterans and read everything you can here and at other LC websites or other books-----KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
2) Drink TONS of water-for detoxing, flushing, hydration, to pevent headaches and balance
3) Take it one day at a time
4) Set small , reachable goals-imperative for success
5) Exercise AS SOON AS you feel up to it and as often as you can, even if it is just walking. Go to Target or Walmart and buy some 5 or 10 lb dumbells and come up with a routine of 8 different exercises, keep a journal and add 2 more repetitions the next time you do your routine.
6) Decide that you are going to do this the rest of your life, this is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change!!!!!! If you only do this temporarily, you will go back to the way you lived before and gain the weight back.
7) Create a notebook of recipes, articles, before pictures, journal your feelings and your goals.
8) Take beginning measurements and record them in a journal or at the Low Carb Tracker here at the top of the site.
9) Use a food tracker program, either here at the Low Carb Tracker link or at www.fitday.com. The tracker link here allows you to input your food intake, your stats, etc. It is imperative that you track your food intake for at least the 1st three weeks so you can evaluate what you consume to see if you have a correlation between loss and consumption., i.e., if you are not losing, you can look at what you are eating and change things.
10) Come here often for support. We have all been in the same boat you are and are here to help YOU. I personally want each and everyone of you to succeed. There is no greater feeling of satisfaction and acheivement than to take control of your life through this WOL!!! I am doing it, and I want this for you too!!!
11) Yes, post your menus so we can evaluate it for you.
12) Weighing daily will show minute fluctuations and can be discouraging. Only weigh yourself once a week!!!
13) Expect stalls every now and then. If you expect them, they won't come as such a shock. I seem to stall every 3 weeks. This is my pattern. Learn what your patterns are and then just ride them out. I think it has to do with the dreaded TOM!!! (curses being a woman sometimes, )
14) expect some detoxing symptoms: headaches, diahrrea or constipation, fatigue, nausea. These symptoms usually disappear after the first week or two. Pamper yourself, don't try to do any strenuous exercise and sleep whenever you feel you need to and when you can. After that, kick it up a notch and start exercising and try to build up your exercise regimen.
15) Do your homework, look up recipes here and at other lowcarb sites.
16) Clean your pantry, cabinets, fridge and freezer of foods you will or could cheat with.
17) Do NOT use Low-carb bars or shakes in the beginning, they will stall you.

An afterthought: Don't panic. What I did in the beginning may be somewhat helpful to you. Get yourself a good Food Counts book, available at any bookstore in the Nutrition section. Next, do you know how to use Excel? If so, make yourself a chart and label it: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack, and Water and then have a column for food descriptions and carb counts. Write down EVERYTHING that passes your lips for at least the first two weeks if not the first four. Print out a bunch of pages and put these in your notebook. This gets your head where it needs to be to recognize what foods you can eat and what size portions you can have. I have a little food scale, an invaluable tool. I would suggest you get one of those too. Some food labels only list their serving sizes in ounces, and /or kilograms/milligrams. Make sure your scale can measure in both.

I think I have rambled on enough, but there was a lot to squeeze in here. I couldn't leave anything out. If I have forgotten anything, I am sure other Vets will chime in and add to what I have said.
THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!!!! (I will stop now, my fingertips are raw, LOL)





Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/151/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Bacon is a low carb food, basically a free food on this diet. It's very unlikely that your bacon has so much sugar in it that it's a problem. I wouldn't even bother counting the carbs from it.

Welcome, Michelle!

I'm with the good doctor, here. During induction, go for the allowed foods that you LIKE! The trace amounts of sugar in bacon and sausage are unlikely to cause you any problem.

Keep in mind that bacon et al have a high sodium content, so you may retain some water. That's temporary. Remember water isn't fat and it will "wash out" as long as you keep your water intake high.

You'll do fine, I'm sure. Keep us posted.

Maggie
5'1"
Atkins since '98 (160)
Maintaining nicely (110)

Redhead until further notice!

Welcome
on induction i had bacon and 1 slice of bacon 4 b/fast every day
or as a snack and even mixed in a salad
just keep it low
good luck

I find bacon that has no sugar added!

LC and feeling better every day!

Atkins since 7/18/03
210/190/140