New to WISH board/Have Atkins ?

[grinningghost]

Hi everyone! This is my first time on the WISH board. DH started the Atkins Diet 4 days ago, and I'm wondering if he's going to make it. He was a big coffee drinker - lots of sugar and caffeine. He also ate alot of carbs, mostly from rolls and bread for sandwiches. He's really dragging since he started Atkins. Does anyone have any encouraging words I could share with him?

 

[nativetxn]

Hi, sweetie My husband had withdrawal from refined carbohydrates when he started Atkins. His went away by the end of the fourth day. It sometimes takes about a week for it to pass, though.

My husband never gave up his diet drinks and I never gave up my coffee. Atkins says that caffeine <i>might</i> cause cravings for some people. We didn't experience any cravings and I don't know if I would have been able to go without my coffee.

If your husband can just hang in there he should start noticing that he feels "really good" soon. My husbands exact words at the end of his fourth day were, "I just feel <b>good</b>!"

If he can hold on a little bit longer, I think that your husband will be glad that he did. My husband lost 13.5 pounds in the first week and after three weeks his lipids and triglycerides were vastly improved. (His triglycerides, alone, dropped 98 points in only 3 weeks and even lower after 3 months).

Let us know how he does

OH! And if your dh decides to try coffee? Get him some packets of Splenda, it tastes very much like sugar because it is a derivative of sugar.

Katholyn

 

[grinningghost]

Thank you thank you thank you! I can't wait to share this with him, and I DID buy Splenda last night but he hasn't tried it yet. I just couldn't see him suffering with that sugarless coffee anymore. One of his biggest complaints is only drinking decaf sugarless coffee and water. He really wants to drink something with "taste".

 

[glo]

I agree with Kath. If your DH was a big carb and sugar addict he will go through withdrawl. Everyone is different and will respond differently, but many have experienced bad headaches, sluggishness, tired, and flu like symptoms. It take a few days to a week to get yourself into ketosis and get that out of your system. I hope he hangs on, it is well worth it, though this diet is not for everyone, and the best diet is the one that works for you!!!

 

[wovenwonder]

My first week I felt HORRIBLE! I had awful headaches and even felt flu like. It was difficult for me to make it thru the day before I hit the couch.

I also use caffeine -- but usually only until mid afternoon. Since eating this way I am very sensitive to the caffeine and if I have it any later I have a hard time sleeping.

He might want to not go more than a couple hours without some sort of food source. I've heard where that helps alot of people. Mini meals thru the day --- rather than just 3 main meals. Try to have protein snacks during the day.

One or Two Deviled Eggs
Ham with cream cheese wrapped around dill pickle
Celery sticks with SF P.Butter
Couple Olives with Cheddar Cheese Chunks
Side of Tuna or Chicken Salad

Tell him about Webmaster Alex's success story for inspiration. Also ask him to read Nicks Low Carb Success Story .

And finally ---- be sure he knows that the WISH is a wonderful place to come for support ---- and we'd LOVE to have him join us!

 

[Rhonda]

DaVinci makes sugar-free syrups that are sweetened with Splenda. There are so many different flavors - and most of them are great in coffee! My dh swore he would always drink his coffee black, but when I starting using the flavored syrups - he changed his mind! LOL!

Here's a link to a low-carb product site that has all the different kinds of syrups - try a couple! I bet your dh will love them too!
Netrition

 

[nativetxn]

<b>grinningghost</b>? How is your husband doing today? Is he still hanging in there?

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by nativetxn
<b>grinningghost</b>? How is your husband doing today? Is he still hanging in there?

Yes - and thanks so much for asking! I had him come on the computer and read all the posts regarding Atkins last night. I think it gave him a some motivation. He'll probably be lurking frequently. He's wondering about ketosis strips - what's the deal with them?

 

[nativetxn]

Ketostix. You use them to test your urine for ketones. Ketones are the by products created when your body uses it's stored fat for fuel (instead of carbohydrates which cause glucosis instead).

When your urine tests positive for ketones that means you are in ketosis and that is a <i>good</i> thing.

Once you get into ketosis you stop being hungry, no cravings, high energy.

I paid too much for mine. I bought them at Rite Aid. Bean paid about $10 less and ordered hers from www.netrition.com I think.

Checking for ketosis isn't a requirement but I like to make sure that I'm still burning fat every once in a while. If you eat too many carbs it can knock you out of ketosis (40 or 50 would do it). So it can be a helpful tool.

I'm glad he found a little help here on WISH. We have other men here, he should delurk and join us. We don't bite, well not very often

Katholyn

 

[grinningghost]

I tried to tell him that!