An Intro and some Questions (Atkins)

[LAinSEA]

I've been lurking on this board for a while and I'm impressed by the support and genuine kindness everyone shows towards each other. I need to lose weight, to get more excercise and be healthy.

I turned 40 on Nov. 16th - about 70 lbs heavier than when I got married at age 24. Over the past 15 1/2 years, my weight has gone up and down (mostly up) and I'm much less active. A prolonged bought of pnemonia (between 1995-1999) also left me with asthma - so being comfortable excercising is difficult, especially in colder months.

My husband and I both began the Atkins program in 1999. We both lost a significant amount of weight - both around 30 lbs. However, my husband has high blood pressure and very high cholesterol and our family physician convinced us that the Atkins plan was NOT SAFE for my husband with his medical condition. We began to eat as directed - low fat, low salt, high carbohydrates. Needless to say we have both gained that 30 lbs back plus more. When I've discussed my weight gain with my Dr. his advice is to eat less and excercise more. OK - makes sense, but since exercise for me can be difficult I've just tried to eat less. Prior to my birthday, I was down to one meal a day and one small snack - around 700-900 calories per day and still putting on weight.

I told my husband that I'm going back on Atkins during my birthday dinner and asked him for his support. He does most of the cooking (and he's a very good cook!) and he's been very supportive. I knew with the Thanksgiving holiday falling withing that two week induction period that it would be unrealistic to start that part of the diet. Instead I've been using the OWL menus and will start induction on Monday.

After eating low-carb for over a week prior to Thanksgiving and then having a little of the high-carb foods offered at my FIL's Thanksgiving dinner, I felt almost like I was on a drug induced "high" - my skin felt like it was crawling - I got a headache about an hour after I'd eaten that didn't go away with Advil. Wow, what a physiological message!

My questions:

1. In the Atkins book we own (printing 1999) cottage cheese was on the "free food" list during induction. On Atkins.com cottage cheese is prohibited from the induction. Anyone know the reason why?

2. Does anyone have any notes or ideas on what you ate during the first two induction weeks and can share some menu ideas?

3. I'm very caffeine dependent - mostly diet coke and some latte's are my fix. My blood pressure is extremely low (98 over 81 - pulse 61 this morning after 2 diet cokes). Without a diet coke in me in the first few hours on my work day, I have a headache that will not go away without caffeine. Any advice or help with this would be appreciated.

After showing my DH the most recently published studies regarding Atkins diet and high blood pressure/high cholesterol, he's willing to go back to it for himself as well. I guess we may need to find a new doctor. If any on you have these health problems as well and have experience with Atkins, please share those with us.

Thanks so much for listening and being there.

Laurie
age 40
height 5'3"
weight 185 lbs??? (haven't actually gotten on the scale since my birthday)
job TV graphics - very much stuck sitting in front of monitors for 10 hours straight

 

[LisaTx]

Welcome, Laurie.

I'm not sure about the cottage cheese.

During induction I would stick to whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible. It's boring, but if you can make it through those two weeks, it will be so much easier after. One of my favorites is chicken breast sauted in a little olive oil with some lemon pepper seasoning.

I didn't give up my morning Diet coke either. Some people do and some don't. I switched to Diet RC instead because it is sweetened with Splenda instead of aspertame.

Many people on Atkins reduce their blood pressure and cholesterol. My DH is type II diabetic and has heart rhythm problems. He has lost 40 lbs on Atkins with the full support of his cardiologist, electrophysiologist and endicrinologist. His diabetes is totally under control and he no longer has to take any meds for it.

I'm glad you're joining us at WISH. If you have any questions, just ask.

 

[NCRedding]

My 2002 book inidcates no cottage cheese on induction because carb count is too high.

I agree with LisaTX: stick to the simple unprocessed meats as much as possible. I generally ate eggs and sausage for breakfast; steak or chicken with salad and ranch dressing; dinner was much the same. I snakced on pork rinds when I just had to eat something salty or crunchy. When I grew incredibly weary of meat, I ate bratworst or smoked sausage--that seemed to help. I also weighed myself frequently to keep up the motivation. If I felt I just had to have a carb, I weighed, and usually said, "maybe not".

Unfortunately for me, I have developed an intolerance for eggs, which has limited my breakfast options. I am extremely lucky: my DH went on Atkins the same time I did, and having his support is soooo helpful. My doctor was delighted with my progress at my last check-up and indicated that he approved of Atkins; he now eats low carb himself.

Welcome to the WISH. This is a great place for support, which I need, especially now--I'm backsliding!! I'm here now to get my Motivation back.

 

[wovenwonder]

Check out my low carb favorite websites. You may be able to find your answers there. PLUS there is a link to a post that shows all the terrific things that low carb eating can do for your cholesterol, blood pressure, sugar readings, etc.

Click HERE

 

[septbride2002]

I just wanted to say congraulations on making a very difficult decision and starting a new way of life. Since your DH has had problems in the past I would reccomend staying away from a lot of red meat. Don't over do it on the bacon and steaks. Instead stick to pork, chicken, and white fish and load up on veggies such as salad, greenbeans, and broccoli in the induction period.

I know what you mean about caffiene - I am a huge addict of it. I have weaned myself off of it some what but I still need to have at least one Diet Coke everyday. Just be sure that you are drinking lots and lots of water as well.

Good Luck!

~Amanda

 

[LAinSEA]

I got on the scale this morning and I'm actually down 5 lbs from 2 weeks ago! We start induction tomorrow. My husband is pouring over the Atkins cookbook right now trying to figure out if there are some recipes that he can adjust for the next two weeks.

We do like to eat a lot of fish and shellfish - living in the Pacific Northwest we have great seafood. I think sticking with the leaner chicken and pork might be better than just going all out on steak, bacon and eggs would be good too.

I've decided that I'll try to wean myself off the caffeine slowly - try to have just one diet coke a day instread of 3 or more. I'm anticipating headaches from induction as well.

thanks again for all your support.

-Laurie

 

[RUDisney]

My SIL is going back on induction today, too.

You can do it and both you and your DH will feel great again... psychologically and physically.

One of my favorite Atkins meals is veal rollups. You can also do this with pork or chicken. Take your veal scallopini, or pounded out chicken, pork, etc., and place a piece of proscuitto on it, then a piece of provolone and some sage leaves. Roll it up and place toothpicks in to hold it in place and grill it.

That's it. And it's so delicious! The only carbs are from the cheese.

Don't forget to buy some sliced pepperoni and shredded mozzerella. They are good microwaved as a snack.

When you want something sweet, have some half and half in a glass with some diet root beer or diet orange soda.

These are some of the things that got us through induction. It's hard, but the benefits are so close to you and you'll feel good again within a couple of days.

Good luck!

 

[LAinSEA]

We picked up Dana Carpender's low-carb cookbook yesterday for some more ideas.

We also priced some Atkins low-carb bake mix (to use for dredging fish, chicken and pork in) and we sort of blown away by the price! In Carpender's book she gives some alternatives to the pre-packaged bake mix and we able to find all these at our local grocery store for about a third the price.

My husband is trying the watercress soup in the Atkins cookbook right now. He loves to cook - loves watching FoodTV and trying new things.

thanks again,
Laurie