Hi Guys and Girls

I am new to this so I am gonna need all of the support I need... I have been getting great info and advice from April (SHE'S GREAT!!)
But what I want to know is.. Was the induction the hardest part of your new WOE??? I officially start tomorrow and just want to know what to expect... I can't start today because I ate 1 serving of grits...

All advice needed and excepted... HELP!!!!

Trying.... i think it all depends on the person. Some folks have very rough Inductions due to massive detox - while i didnt have that problem - to me it was the whole mindset thing.

I was counting down the days til Induction was over... I think if you have the right knowledge and knowing that *this isn't a DIET* but a complete new way of eating... it goes a bit easier.

Also, having a wide variety of foods to eat makes it easier.. that way you don't get bored.

but - Yes, i think i did find once off Induction, i found it easier but you will hit bumps in the road - just don't let them get you feeling like *it isn't working* because we all hit bumps in the road... it's not how fast we get there, just enjoying the ride to our new bodies.

Hope this helps a bit

Terese
LCE Member since 12/00
My LC web site

Thanks alot... I am looking forward to getting started... I bought the Atkins New Revolution a while back and CALLED myself doing it, but I wasnt doing it right AT ALL... I think I was more scared of change than anything so I gave up, but with everyone's support I have the confidence this time that I didn't have the last time.

Hi Trying!

DON'T PANIC! You're gonna be fine - you CAN do this!

It sounds like you've already identified the biggest challenge for you - changing. For me, when I worry about change, the thing that makes me feel better is to be as informed as possible before making the change needed. So I would recommend you re-read DANDR, and take the time to really understand the hows and whys of this WOE. Especially read the induction section several times so you know exactly what to do and what to expect. Also the Atkins website has alot of the same great information.

Personally, I was a bit worried about starting Atkins having been a long-time adherant to the low fat mantra. So I made a deal with myself - I'd do the two week induction faithfully, then reevaluate. I committed to giving the plan a chance. After two weeks, if I still felt cruddy or wasn't seeing any kind of results, then I'd go back to low fat eating. If I felt better, was happy with the food, and losing a bit (I'm close to goal so I wasn't expecting spectacular results), then I'd stick with it.

And here I am, 5 weeks later still LCing. Because I do feel better - my blood sugar is so much more stable and that's a big deal for me. I've lost a few pounds which is nice, too. And, for the most part, I'm sleeping better. I was lucky during induction and only had one day really of feeling bad - my tummy wasn't sure it wanted all that fat! But day 2 was much better, and things have only improved since. But I think how your body reacts to induction is truly a personal thing and nobody can tell you how YOU will react.

Anyways, the point I was going to make was, if you think this approach will work for you, is to tell yourself you will change your eating habits for only two weeks. And then really DO IT for two weeks - and do it RIGHT. Because I think it may be easier to make a commitment for life, once you've felt how this may benefit you.

Well, sorry to write you such a book - I hope it helps a little!

***********
...wishes come true, not free!
-from Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods

Thank You!!!!! I love to read books so that's fine

I appreciate you taking out the time to share your feelings and experiences...

Well, here's my lecture for Newbies. I have to post it so you can get some tips on how to be successful and to share what has worked for me. Hope this helps:

First:
WELCOME!!!!!

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.
18) READ labels!!!!!!!
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
174/150.4/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."