hi i want to use atkins but i have a lot of fears about.... if i gain weight instead loose it ???? can you please help me with the whole prgram .......thanks

I've found the best way to overcome fear in any arena of my life is to become informed. Same goes for eating regimens. We are only afraid of what we don't know. You need all of the information you can get your hands on about low carb as a way of life so that you can make an informed decision about the most important aspect of your life....you!

Please research all you can on the Internet, at libraries, and buy several books outlining low carb plans and then decide which one would best suit you and your lifestyle.

Come here OFTEN and post and ask questions and become informed. Your fears will vanish and so will the pounds you want to shed.

That's my two cents...

April
352 / 205 / 180
5'10", large frame, size 13 shoe
www.geocities.com/aprilreinhardt

Face your fear and try the diet. What exactly do you have to loose by trying except POUNDS! That fear is basically only an excuse your mind is using to avoid trying the diet. It's an excuse.

Do what April says and read all you can on the diet to be sure you're doing it right, and not sabotaging yourself, (the mind is a very tricky thing, it LIKES carbs, it's addicted to them, and it is going to do it's damnedest to convince you to stick with them, lol)... then, like Nike says... JUST DO IT.

315/301/150 (Started 8/17/03)

Ditto all of the above!!

Like MANY people here, I was a *professional dieter*. I had tried just about every diet out there and FAILED every one, so I was pretty cynical when I first began this woe (way of eating).
But this is the ONLY diet I have ever felt like I could follow THE REST OF MY LIFE. I am SO much happier eating this way and my health has responded so positively! And did I mention that I lost 50 pounds and have kept it off???

You NEED to read everything you can before you begin. Get the newest Atkins' book and read it cover-to-cover. For that matter, get the Protein Power book, too, and read that -- it actually does a *better* job of explaining how and why this woe works.
Get on the internet and go to these sites (like Atkins Center) and read all you can there, too. Education is key to success with this woe.
I wish you the best of luck!

Summer
www.herstorygirl.com

I personally have never heard of ANYONE gaining weight on a LC WOE. I've lost 20 lbs in 6 weeks, another co-worker lost 58 pounds in 3 weeks (but he has about 160 to lose so don't let his rapid loss discourage you), yet another co-worker lost 130 lbs on LC Atkins and has kept it off for over3 years now. I work at a hospital in St. Louis and anyone who is losing weight and everyone who has lost weight and kept it off is LC. Our docs are great supporters of LC. The few that are against LC, well.... we are just leavin' them in the dust!

Susan

LC and feeling better every day!

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

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.

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."