Hey Y'all...
I've been reading the post for a few days now, but am just now brave enough to post. I just started this diet about 5 days ago.. and I dont have the book or anything. I'm just kinda doing my own thing. I try not to eat any carbs, but some always slip in with a little ketchup.. and splenda and stuff like that. I forgot to weigh before I started, so I have no idea how much I have lost (if any). I had been doing really good until today, and I am craving something sweet soooo bad. Is there anything at all remotely sweet that I can eat? What are some good snack ideas? I would love ANY suggestions or advice y'all might have.. I have a big day in Feb. that I really want to look good for. I'm lookin to lose about 30 pounds. How long do you think that will take? Sorry.. Im just completely lost, and have no idea what I'm doing.. Thanks for any info y'all might have..

Brooke
180/150

I am not a low carber, hang on and I am sure someone will be along for a good tip and some great advice, in the meantime...step away from the kitchen, take a bath or a shower, call a friend, write a note, surf the web.
Hang in there!
-L

Hi Brooke. Welcome.
First of all, I can't stress enough how important it is to read one of the low carb books. One of the most popular and successful is Dr Atkins Diet Revolution. Many of the people at this site follow the Atkins plan. If that isnt an option for you, try going to one of the Atkins support websites where you will find lots of tips and recipes. By the way, we have a recipe site right here. You'll find it listed right under the Low Carb listing. There you'll find many sweet treats that are easy and yummy. But be very careful. With some of us carb addicts, just the taste of something sweet (even if it's artificial sweetener) can trigger even stronger cravings.

Hello Brooke and welcome!

I know how hard and confusing it is when you first start a program and you'renot sure what to do. I really recommend you goingto your local library and checking out some low carb program books and reading up on teh many plans out there. I started out 2 yearsago doing Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan program (CALP) butnow am doing Atkins. The moreinformation you can get means the more success you'll have. Please do keep coming back to the site and join uson the daily so we can get to know you!

Hi Brooke. I don't have anything new to add but wanted to add my welcome to you, too. So, ah, welcome, eh?

Go to www.atkinscenter.com

You can find TONS of information on how to do his lo-carb diet!

Good luck! And let us know how it works out!

PS - I eat Atkins Advantage Bars for a sweet treat.
Gina

Another warm welcome to you Brooke.

The chicks have already given you great advice. I just wanted to welcome you and add that the LC woe is just that, LOW carb, not NO carb. Choose your carbs wisely and you'll soon find that this woe is easy and you'll feel the other great benefits of it.

Definately check out the recipe section - wonderful LC recipes there!

Again, welcome to our "humble" chicken coop!

J

Welcome Y'all. She says "y'all", score one more for the South.

As for sweets, Atkins bars are good, so are Carbolite, and Pur-delite.

There's a ton of good info on the web about Low Carb diets, some are mostly commercial, but they still offer great tips.

Okay what I do for my sweet cravings:

Drink fruit herbal tea with one packet sweetner
Drink sugar free KOOL AID in cherry

I have sugar free cherry drops too, I love cherries.

For chocolate, I have a ROSS chocolate bar, they are the BEST, but that's only once in a blue moon....just for a taste...try those, you can get them on the Ross site or on Ebay. There's Atkin ones too, but they aren't that great, nor is the Carbolite ones....

Jenn

I've found Ross Mousse Pillows at CVS drugstores. Very good.

I get ross at CVS in many different flavors.

but for the record darc chololate is the best for eating cravings stuff.
but also drink water and drink more water. then take a few chromium and l-caratine too those also helo dispurse the cravings!!

Thanks so much for all the advice "y'all"!!! and yep.. I'm definitely from the south! I've still been doing good.. and Im planning on taking y'all's advice and gettin some books at the library tomorrow since I cant quite afford to buy them right now. One more question though.. Should I be counting my calories too? Or is just fine to eat cheese.. and fry the meat and stuff? Boy, I'm clueless.. but, I have lost a little weight! So, I must be doing a little something right.. I just really want to lose about 30 pounds before summer time.. is that unrealistic? Thanks so much girls.. Y'all are the greatest!