my husband and i both started doing atkins at the begining of the year. we didn't read the book and i know we didn't do it right then we went to florida for my brothers wedding and while we tried to stick to it we both cheated.during our vacation my dh found out he was getting laid off and that sent us both into a major stress overload. we have 3 kids 7,5 and 4 and had no idea what we were going to do, i worked and he was going to get unemployment but it wouldn't be enough. i got the book from a friend from work and in the meantime dh found another job 16 hours away from our family. we moved within the month and the stress is still there because i am not working yet. we joined the ymca and go 4-5 times a week for an hour each time. we are starting induction over but all the different info out there is confusing.i have lost some inches and my dh is doing great.what are some of the things everyone does to ensure they stick to this way of eating. any tips. i know i need more veggies and need to eat more often right now its about 2 times a day with a snack. it gets frustrating because i know i can do thisand i know it works. i have about 40 lbs i would like to loose.

First off, Hello and welcome to the site. You will find help here with any question you may have. This is a great site.

Congrats on the inches loss. This means that you're off to a great start.

As with any stressful situation, remember to take it one day at a time. With this way of eating, advance preparation is key. Some people prepare foods in advance just so they won't make a bad food choice in a "crazy" day. I have to do this or else all my choices would be bad. And, when you're doing so well this is something you don't want to do. Personally, I have fought against the same 10 lbs over and over again. Gain it, lose it, etc.

You went through a lot in a short amount of time. Take some time to get yourself situated in your new home, neighborhood, etc. and things will work out. Good luck to you.

Take the best from each day...leave the rest.

I'm with you. I have yo-yo dieted all of my life, and have never found anything I could stick with. After reading posts on this website I realized that I wasn't following a low carb diet, just thinking I was. I was using the low carb bars for breakfast and lunch then having a protien and vegetable dinner. I couldn't understand why I wasn't losing weight or inches. It is so important to write down what you are eating, and what you are feeling when you eat so that you know if you are hungry or bored. I have just restarted the low carb lifestyle and plan to live this way the rest of my life. Good luck!

I think it also helps to try and get creative about the meals you are having. I realize it must be hard with the kids and all, but you can come up with some really delicious meals, many of which you find right here on this sight.You could make the protien and veggies for everyone and make some carbs for just the kids if you need.

Tomorrow, my DB are going to try a "Mock Danish." Barbara L. posted it a few days ago but here it is again. I'm curious how it will turn out. Also, I wonder if I could do it without the microwave.


My quickie version of the "Mock Danish"

One egg
Dash of cream (or not)
Dot of vanilla extract
Packet of Splenda
Scramble this in a bowl
Blob of cream cheese (I use whipped)
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Microwave for a minute + 20 sec

Eat hot, or refridge for the next day.

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003

Pokadotsox...that mock danish is THE BEST! I think I'll have one now....you will love it!!

227.5/217.5 helloooooo 150!
Gertie

I add 2 TBS of flaxmeal to mine to add extra fiber. It kinda makes it "breadier" too.

Here's my newbie schpiel:

WELCOME!!!!!

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 balance, detoxing, flushing, hydration, and to pevent headaches
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.
9) Use a food tracker program, at www.fitday.com. 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
174/146/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."