New to Atkins and begging for help!!!

[septbride2002]

Hello. I've been trying to do Weight Watchers for about 3 months now and have lost 5 lbs and then stopped. I have lost a lot of weight on a version of Atkins called Protein Power before. I think it just works better with my metabolism. My Mom is currently concentrating on low carbs and has lost 20 lbs. I really want to get back into the swing of Atkins again but it is hard. I tend to be lazy with my cooking and make a lot of pasta dishes.

How hard is the first 2 weeks? Also I am young (24) and we tend to go out and drink with friends, I don't drink beer usually mixed drinks is there any drinks that I can have that won't completely blow everything?

Any tips on the Induction period would be great. I am going to use the rest of this week to ease myself into this lifestyle and then start hardcore on Monday. Goal is to be 10 lbs lighter by Thanksgiving. And 20 lbs lighter by Christmas.

Current weight is 163 lbs

 

[Rhonda]

You are making a great, healthy decision!

The first 2 weeks are obviously the hardest. You need to stay under 20 carbs per day, but get as close to 20 as you can. You can have all the meat you want, cheese, eggs, and 1 big salad a day (or a smaller salad for lunch and veggies for dinner). That's the Induction period.

After Induction, you start the "real" Atkins diet, by slowly adding more carbs into your diet in the form of more veggies, nuts, berries, low-carb products, etc.

As for alcohol - you need to remember this - your body burns fuels in order: 1) alcohol 2) sugar/carbs 3) fat

So, if you have alcohol in your body, your body will be busy burning that, and it won't have time left to burn carbs or fat. So, you won't be losing the weight as fast. If you don't drink, then your body will burn carbs/sugars. When you are keeping your carbs low, then it can focus on burning the fat.

If you must have a drink, then stick to red wine (the drier the better) or "clear" alcohols (vodka, gin, etc) and obviously drink them with diet pop. (i.e., vodka-diet coke or gin-diet tonic) Just remember, you will probably not have a weight loss in the day or two following.

Good luck!!!

 

[septbride2002]

Rhonda thanks for getting back to me. Regarding eating the salad what kind of dressings can I use. I have to have something! Can can I put peppers in my salad.

Here is the meal plan I am composing for tomorrow:

B: Eggs and Cheese
S: Slices of Green Peppers
L: Big Salad w/dressing (if I can have it) and sliced grilled chicken breast added.
S: ???? Probably some cubes of cheese
D: Fajitas without the Tortilla, steak, greenpeppers, onions, salsa, and sour cream.

Not sure how to get 20 grams of carbs into that day....

~Amanda

 

[Otto's Doll]

Yes, you can have salad dressings, just check the carb count. Walden Farms makes sugar free/carb free salad dressings, and if you check other brands there are a lot that are very low in carbs (1 or 2). I love blue cheese and ceasar dressings, and have found low carb varieties in both.
Hope this helps!

 

[Rhonda]

Yes, as long as you stick with the dressings that have 2 or less carbs per tablespoon, you'll be ok. Stay away from the low-fat or non-fat dressings!! They are loaded with sugar!!

Be careful with the green peppers too - they have a little higher sugar count than something like cucumbers, celery, broccoli, etc.

Otherwise, your meal plan sounds great!!! Be sure to be getting your water!

 

[mum4jenn]

Don't forget that for the first few days you will probably feel pretty bad with carb and caffeine withdrawal. Once you make it past those first few days you will feel wonderful!!!! You will do a wonderful job if you dedicate yourself to following the woy of eating. I would stay away from the alchohol if at all possible. It is possible to have a great time without having a drink. Just go and have a diet soda or better yet some water with lemon.

Several people go to www.fitday.com and entere what they eat everyday to keep up with their carb counts. I just use it for keeping track of where I am on my weight loss.

If you come to us we will help. I know I have had success because of the folks here on the DIS.

 

[mrsltg]

Hi, and welcome to Atkins! I've been on for 5.5 weeks and have lost 18 pounds. I have struggled with various diets most of my life and none have ever been successful. Atkins is definitely the way for me!

I agree with all of the information given to you above except for one thing - during induction you should not eat a big salad for lunch. If you do, you'll be ingesting all of your carbs at once and causing a blood sugar spike which will result in the whole insulin/glucose mess talked about in the first chapters of the book. You are only supposed to eat 2 cups of salad at a time to keep a steady blood sugar level. Other than that, you're good to go!!!

Good luck!

Erin

 

[RUDisney]

Welcome to "our side." I recommend going to www.atkins.com and printing the carb counter that they have. I take this to restaurants with me to know what I'm eating in terms of net carbs. Be careful of both the onions and peppers in the fajitas... especially during induction. Both are higher in net carbs. Marie's makes a zero-carb bleu cheese dressing that has nice chunks of cheese in it.

As for drinking, I am a drinker. (Social not drunkard... probably 2-3 drinks per week.) I have a wine cellar in my house that at capacity would store 900 bottles, although I currently have "only" about 300 now. I have a 14 foot, very well stocked bar off of my family room. I tell you this to put my statement into the proper perspective. Alcohol is a part of my life that I enjoy. During induction, I didn't even so much as have a martini without an olive (2 large ones are 1g carbs.) I felt so great and was doing so well in the loss category that I never missed it. We have been out with friends and I've not had any alcohol. Since September 12th, when I started, I have had maybe 2 drinks. It's not impossible to be with friends and not drink, too. I know at 24 it seems more difficult, but it's not impossible... and you won't have a headache the next morning.

I plan to have a couple of glasses of wine tomorrow night, as we are having friends over who are eonophiles, just like me. Larry and I try to outdo each other with our wine selections. I'll budget for these in tomorrow's intake of carbs.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

You CAN do it!

 

[Rhonda]

RUDisney: LOL - I'm glad you clarified that for us!! (Social-not drunkard)