I just wanted to let you all know I got on the scale yesterday - 10 days since I got advice from you guys and I lost 3 lbs. I am happy but still disappointed because I thought I would have lost more. At this point I don't know if I will ever go past induction. I did read the book to make sure I understand. Here is my diet:

B - 2 eggs with 2 strips bacon (everyday)
8 oz coffee w/1 pack Equal, 2 tsp cream
20 oz water

L - (Salad) 2 cups lettuce, 2 oz shredded cheese, bacon bits, one egg, ranch dressing. Sometimes, I add a piece of baked chicken
OR
Piece of meat with green veggies
20 oz water (approx)

D - 2 pieces of meat with green veggies
OR
Salad (same as bove) with a piece of meat
24-32 oz water

I will admit this wekend I had 2 Krispy Kreme donughts. Could that have messed it up? I don't want to give up on this but I just don't know. My weight is diminishing very slow. However, I do feel better overall thana I have before starting. Also, it looks like my hips have decreased because I noticed I have more room in my skirts and dresses than before. I cannot tell exactly how much since I did not measure my hips before but I can see it. I know that is good but I was hoping to have lost more by now. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!! I cut off coffee to one time a day and more water! One more thing - when reading the book with the recipes, it appears that eggs is pretty much eaten every day. Is there any substitutes for breakfast besides eggs, bacon. I had sausage once. It was okay. Will I ever be able to eat oatmeal or on occasion a bagel? Fruits? Be honest guys - do you really think this can work for me? Any advice is appreciated.

The menu ideas in the book are just that.. Ideas. There's nothing that says you must eat eggs every day, or that you must eat eggs at all. Often, during induction, my menu looked like this:

Breakfast - Leftovers from the previous night, or hamburger patties, a couple pieces of lunch meat wrapped in lettuce leaves with mayo & cheese, coffee/water.

Lunch - Egg salad, or tuna salad, or turkey salad, or cheddarwurst, or pork chops (you get the point), with broccoli, or asparagus, and a salad loaded with bacon bits, chopped eggs, cheese, and a bit of green onion.

Dinner - chicken, fish, steak, pork chops, another big salad, and another veggie. Sometimes I'd make huge omelette's instead.

Staying on induction is going to be of no benefit. All it does is eventually give your body a low tolerance for more carbs, and you don't want that. 3lbs in 10 days is a little over 1/4lb a day. A good weight loss should be no more than 1-2lbs a week. At that rate, it will be easier for you to maintain, and keep it off.

Patience is a virtue.

(296/223/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

Let me tell you, if I lost 3# in 10 days, I'd be over the moon!! I think that's awesome! Congrats!!! I lose soooooo slowly. To me, your menu looks pretty decent, but I'd advise you to go for upping your carbs. It will benefit you, believe me. It's a scary plunge to take, but well worth it. It gives you variety. Add some berries! You'd be amazed at how much they can jazz up a breakfast or snack.

As far as breakfast goes, try some flaxomeal (better than oatmeal!). Maggie has posted her 'formula' in the recipe section. I eat it every other day with berries or pecans w/SF maple syrup. I've even made chocolate flaxomeal. And who says you can only have eggs and bacon for breakfast?? Get some veggies in there! I make the meanest spinach/mushroom/swiss omelette! YUMMY! Or what about some ham, cheddar and a bit of tomato and onion in those scrambled eggs? If you're tired of salads, salads, salads, try making some coleslaw! I NEVER ate it when I was doing low-fat, now we eat it once a week (at least!). Don't get bored with this WOE, you don't have to! What's going to kill your success is getting into a rut, getting frustrated and binging on something that isn't good for you (Krispy Kreme? )

I know this can work for you! Be patient. Anything worth having is worth waiting (and working hard) for. Besides, 3# in 10 days is nothing to sniff at in my book! Congrats again!

Stay the course. You CAN do this!!!!

Cheers!

Jen
Started Atkins 5.5.03
196/181/155

Hi, Heavenbound.

You've gotten some good advice. 3 lbs in 10 days is very good indeed. I suspect that 2 krispy kremes would knock most people out of ketosis, but you should be able to get back in in a couple of days.

I always urge people to move on to OWL after a couple of weeks of induction, so that you can find your CCLL by introducing more variety into your menu. IMHO, a slower rate of loss is better for a number of reasons, one of which you have well described: becoming bored and getting into a "deprived" mindset, which then leads to ... well, a couple of krispy kremes! If your day to day menu has more variety, you'll be less tempted by junk.

The recipe section is not fully functional yet, so here's the flax recipe that Jen mentioned:


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> How I make it: Mix equal parts (by WEIGHT, not volume) Flax meal, soy protein isolate and unprocessed coarse wheat bran. Store it in an airtight canister (like tupperware) in the fridge. Flax and flax meal should always be refrigerated, since they have oils which would go rancid over time, if not kept cool. In the morning put about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup into a bowl and add boiling water while stirring until it's the consistency you like.

Add cream, splenda and whatever strikes your fancy, nuts, fruit, davinci syrup, cocoa, etc.


a 1/2 cup serving (dry) has:

160 calories
6g fat
16g carb.
11.6g fiber
4.4g ECC
18g Protein <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Keep up the good work!

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160)/Maintaining nicely (110) ~~ Redhead until further notice!

I agree with shrinky about breakfast not having to be eggs. I get tired of eggs if i have them more than 3 times a week, usually 2. I had maggies cereal this morning (with hazelnut syrup) and a chicken drumstick from last nights dinner. 3 pounds is a respectable loss, don't be disappointed. You're doing well.

Rob

What is maggies cereal??? And I thought we were not allowed syrup? Where do you find hazelnut syrup?

Davinci makes a line of sugar free syrups that are calorie, fat, carb free.

If you have a super Walmart by you, they may carry a couple of them there; otherwise most people order them online at http://www.davincigourmet.com, or www.netrition.com.
(296/223/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

Hi!

I am so sorry to be a pain but I really want this to work for me so I have lots of questions:

1. I need some food suggestions on ways to up my carbs. I am really nervous about doing this because I am afraid it will cause me to gain but according to the book (and what you guys have said), I really should move on from induction.

2. Is SF maple syrup sugar-free syrup. I haven't seen that in the store. I used to buy reduced-fat or reduced-sugar (I can't remember) syrup. So where do you get this syrup from and other things mentioned here like the ingredients for flaxmeal - a health food store?

3. Does flaxmeal taste like oatmeal? Sorry, but the ingredients does not look very yummy so I would hate to waste money if I will not like it. Also, 16g carb in one serving of flaxmeal - is that not too much considering that is only one meal and I still have lunch, dinner and maybe a snack to go in a days meal. I am not criticizing it by no means. I just don't want to overdo it on the carbs.

Thanks for posting your recipe, Maggie. I just do it from mem'bery now. I buy SF Davinci at TJMaxx/Marshall's, too. Now that the holidays are coming up they really have a pretty good selection, too!! I can also get the SF Atkins maple syrup in my grocery store's health food section.

The impact carbs in the Flaxomeal are about 5 per 1/2 cup. There's a lot of fiber in that there cereal. It's awesome for 'getting things moving' if you know what I mean.

I'll admit, the flaxomeal itself isn't really a thrill, but neither is oatmeal to me. It's all in what you put on it. A little vanilla extract, a packet of Splenda, some butter and 1T of cream and you have a great basic breakfast!

Cheers!

Jen
Started Atkins 5.5.03
196/181/155

1. To up your carbs add some flax cereal; eat celery with SF peanut butter; add squash; eat a larger salad or more veggies; experiment with higher-carb recipes (get Sharron's book!!!); add a bit more tomatoe or onion (YMMV).

2. The DaVinci syrups are made with LIQUID Splenda so they are surger and carb free. They are fantastic. The pancake syrup is the best I've tried yet and not maple-flavored water like Atkins brand.

3. Flax cereal is great; to me it tastes more like cream of wheat (at least the recipe I use does). I haven't tried Maggie's recipe yet, but here's a link to the one I like:

Cinnamon hot cereal

Good luck, and I am sure others will share their ideas!

Kellie, F38
Started Atkins 8/1/03 (off and on for the last few years but sticking to it this time!)
206/191/170-160 -- 11.75 inches GONE! (as of 10/05)

Post an average of 2 days menus complete with water intake, supplements, etc, and we'll be able to give you a lot more detailed advice on what to add, and what to cut out...

If you want SF pancake syrup, your local grocery store may carry a brand called Carey's. It's relatively cheap (Well, comparable to regular syrup), and tastes pretty good. I do NOT recommend Atkins SF pancake syrup. It tastes like water, and soaks right in to pancakes, and waffles, and you're left with a watery tasting pile of goo that has no flavor.

(296/223/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

Shrinky and Kellie, thanks for posting that info about other pancake syrups. I've been disappointed with the Atkins, but if you doctor it up with a little Davinci SF caramel or amaretto, it's not horrible. LOL!

Cheers!

Jen
Started Atkins 5.5.03
196/181/155

I would think that 2 doughnuts would knock you out of ketosis for 2-3 days. So if you look at it that way you lost 3# in a week!!

If you ate one doughnut on saturday and one on sunday, that means you werent in ketosis from saturday to tuesday and you lost 3# in 6 days!! thats .5 a day.

Kelli,

The Cinnamon hot ceral looks great. I can't wait to try it. Is there a website I can find the Davinci syrup? I haven't seen it here (Charleston, SC) but I will ask around.

What kind of pancake mix do you guys use?