Low Carb Archive - Three weeks on Atkins...

I just wanted to say thanks to all the low carbers who helped me and gave advice when I started three weeks ago today. I was the one who asked about being a vegetarian doing low carb and how much can you lose, etc... well I have started eating eggs again (mostly eggbeaters brand egg whites) and some bacon. Havent branched out much more than that though. I feel I probably will try chicken again soon too. I just cant see me doing red meat though.
Anyway, I have lost 14.5 pounds in three weeks!! I am so happy, you just dont know!!:D :D :D Basically I have kept myself on induction. Dr Atkins said in the book some were on induction up to 6 months depending on how much they had to lose or how fast they wanted to lose. I still have a long way to go, so I plan on staying on induction until the end of the year, unless my body starts screaming for the carbs!!
Well, thanks again low carb chicks!
laura
313//248.5//160 goal
5'8

WOW! Great job!!! are you eating lots of veggies?? So excited for you!

WAY TO GO, LAURA!!!!!!!!! :cb: :dancer: :cb:
~~~Sil :flow1:

WHOOO HOOO I knew you could do it. what a great job. I am soo proud of you for your success. you are past the hard part now the rest is a breeze if you can keep your focus!!! If you find yourself tyrying to wander stop in again and we can deliver a swift kick in the buttox no matter how small it gets!!!

WOW! That is just fantastic Lorelei!!! You ought to try eating "real" eggs tho...... get rid of all those chemicals in the egg substitutes!
You're on the right track for sure! :D :dance:

Good going, Girlie! The hard part is the first part - ask me how I know. :( Please be sure to hang out here and let us know how things are going for you.
Just remember the veggies too, OK? Nag! Nag!

Wow, great job! I bet you feel fantastic. You have made it through the roughest part, keep up the great work!

That's INCREDIBLE! Congratulations! You are doing great!

Good going!!!! Try to keep very aware ... one of the cool things about Atkins is that if you go off the program, you may notice that you start craving again. The good thing is that you realize what you did that started the cravings and you know that if you get back on the program they will go away!

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement!! I really appreciate it. I am still plugging along! The funny thing is, I used to be a MAJOR carb addict, and I havent wanted them lately. I know that is the Atkins in action here. I even have two coworkers looking into now, too. I am finally getting to where people "notice" the weight loss. Isnt that something to be so big you need to lose 50 or 60 for people to say "wow are you losing weight or what?" Oh well! Compliments are great but I am in this for the long haul (I still have 90 pounds to go and then have to keep them off too!)
thanks again guys!
laura

I've lost about 25 pounds since I started "this time"and I, too, have a lot left to go (about 75?) ... and I've had some people start noticing as well. It does seem amazing, since I know I still look like such a blimp! Your face has probably starting slimming down some, and I think that's what prompts people to notice (since that's where they usually start looking at you!)

You didn't mention exercise, and I just wanted to encourage you to do it if you aren't already. I've become a die-hard weight lifting proponent -- I think it's because at my size, I just don't enjoy aerobic activities and really have to push myself to do it. I've gotten to the point now where I really look forward to my Sculpting classes and I've started learning more about weight training ... and I figure once I've dropped more weight and my muscles are getting stronger, I'll start having an easier time with aerobics and find them more enjoyable. I've been doing this for about 2 months now, and I really had to force myself at the beginning, but now I'm feeling better - stronger, more energetic - and I don't want to go back to the lethargic couch potato I was! At the risk of being obnoxious about it I'm finding I want to shout it from the mountaintops!

Good luck!
Pen

Lorelei, that is fantastic. An incredible amount of weight lost in such a short time. I haven't had that kind of success with Atkins in 20 years but I think first time is always the most productive. Good for you. I know what you mean about having to lose so much weight before people notice. I'm lower now (by about 35 lb)than I've been in about 8 years but not a single person (other than the ones who know I'm dieting) has said a word. But, as you said, we are doing this for ourselves. We'll show 'em! LOL

I know that story I am up at 4:30 every morning to exercise!!!

Thanks Mz Penn and Linda BC!! Sometimes I feel psyched about my loss and sometimes I think I want it off now and have to remember "its not a race"-we were discussing this today on the 100 pound board.
MzPenn-You are right-I didnt mention exercise because I am not doing any!! I know, I know-I have to do it. I keep thinking that if I exercise "when I get smaller". I am 88 pounds over my ideal weight. I know even if I just walked it's better than nothing-but I dont really even do that unless it's around the mall when shopping or something. Someone needs to kick my bootie! :lol:

I cant believe it's back to school next week. I have a son going into the 2nd grade. I volunteer at school on my day off and get a lot of walking on those days!

happy tuesday!
laura

Laura, I just can't help promoting my new discovery yet again (like I said, from the mountaintops!) -- and that is when you have a moment here and there do a little research on weight lifting (with all that spare time I'm sure you have with a 2nd grader!). At our size, even walking can be such a strain ... I've suffered joint pains, heel spurs, all kinds of unpleasantries. Not to say I think you shouldn't walk, you definitely should when you can! But you can find a short routine you can do with hand weights that you can do maybe 3 times a week, maybe for 15-30 minutes. The coolest thing about it is that you should start feeling a difference in your energy in short order. You can check out some other opinions elsewhere on the board, under exercise and maybe some other places ...

Pen

MzPenn-I think I probably could write a book about weight loss and exercise-its just getting me to do it that's the hard part. Something in my head must have told me if you lift weights then you will slow the "weight loss" since you gain muscle. I do know that of course even if you gain muscle weight you look smaller with muscles instead of fat. It's a mental thing I guess. I have a goal of having 100 pounds gone by the end of the year. So far I have lost 68. Only 32 to go! I wonder if lifting weights would slow the progress on the scale. Isnt that crazy??
laura
313//245//160

:yikes: You deserve to be commended. I am off and on agin with Atkins, that is the beauty of low carb, It simply works every time you start over. I plan on beginning induction Sep. 1st. I have been here with 3 fat chicks since Sept 99, and will always be greatful for the tremendous support this has been. I noticed that the low carb forum consistently has the most actvity. If you are around, Hi That Girl and MamaJ. I am still here!! Linda

Linda, ask MrsJim about that stuff ... you can find her under Diet Plans on the Body for Life section. All I can really say about it is that bigger muscles give you faster metabolism, and I think perhaps at first building them up can make the scale stop or slow down. I don't know, and I haven't bothered to look into that issue because I'm trying not to focus on the scale -- NOT EASY!

BTW, you've done GREAT!

Sue, do you really get up at 4:30 every morning? Ohhhhh, I need to do that. I really want to get an elliptical trainer when I can afford it. My treadmill is too loud to bring up from the basement. It is cold and stinky and creepy down there! Not much motivation to get up so early. Especially when I am up pecking on the keyboard until oh...almost that time! After we get the low carb section up and running, I am getting a new schedule. I will have to map it out and post it on my wall and LIVE BY IT.
Wow Sue, you really are motivating!