Thanks for the invitation Ms Spot. I'll start poking around in other threads soon.

Feffy - I count every carb, ironicly enough. Every carb I KNOW about that is. I do count cheese and eggs- in most places I've seen eggs listed as .5 so that might give you a little more wiggle room. And you can have 3 cups of salad a day, so take advantage of that. I'm pretty sure you can substitute one cup of salad for a cup of another veg. I LOVE www.atkins.com for Induction info. It really lays it out for you. AND it even has info about Splenda which I either didn't read for failed to accuratly understand.

Honestly, I'm so relieved to find out what the problem probably is, I'm almost happy. I'm going to do two more weeks of NON Splendafied induction. I'm almost looking forward to it!

I agree with Mrs. Spotdog. Please join us on the daily and start new threads for questions that could get missed. We just can't read everything - although I'd like to be able to do that! This one was sort of a one person thread and has grown.

If you post your questions and concerns as separate threads, they will get more views and the advantage of support and info from all the experienced low carbers. we'd hate to miss an important question!

Thanks again for the invite. I think we're just all having a good time in each other's company here - just hadn't thought to post elsewere yet.

;)

It's up to you. Perhaps you can start a Part 2 thread called Newbies or something as this one is getting a bit long and takes a while to load. (Us moderators worry about stuff like that!)
Please also check out the information in the Frequently Asked Questions section of Low Carb Lifestyles.

Thank you for inviting us! I guess I feel sort of inexperienced still. Also, I didn't want to push my way into your conversations! :) I will try to branch out more though.

I have really enjoyed comparing notes with the ladies here (not that I wouldn't want to get the know the rest of you!). It's always nice to talk to people who are in the same place as you.

Nicole, I'm glad to hear you figured out what was holding you up. I just wish I could! And it's really encouraging to hear that your family had so much success.

Feffy, I also watch every little thing I eat. And be careful with the cheese, I think during induction you can only have 3 oz a day. That has proven to be the hardest part for me! I really like cheese!

Sunday will put me at two weeks since I started induction but I think I will stay on for at least another week. I'm finding it pretty easy to stick to so far and although I haven't seen results on the scale (still haven't put it away!) I feel really good and can tell I'm getting a little smaller.

But the weekend is always hard...

Ruth, on other boards within this forum there are threads that are 7 and 8 pages long, sometimes more. And people do sort of keep up with each other in single threads (for instance, on the "Buddy Up" or "Support" forum you might see "Middle Aged Moms #29) with 8 pages of posts. Is that not allowed in the Low Carb area?

I'm really happy to keep up with the same smallish groups of ladies who are in the same kind of starting out area I'm in. Not that I don't want to "meet" others - I certainly do, but when a few people kind of click, is that discouraged? Esp as these people have posted fairly often and been really supportive so far (thanks girls!).

Just trying to sort it out. I've been posting in other areas of the site for ages and I've never found mods asking that threads be kept short or people not group together. Wouldn't want to step on any toes, but it seems there maybe different rules in the "low carb" area or at the very least, a different vibe?

Lamby, I HOPE the Splenda thing was my hold up. Hope you figure out yours - or maybe the scale will just starting moving again. You never know! And hey, if you can tell you're getting smaller then you must be doing SOMETHING right ;) And I agree, weekends are hard but LAST weekend I just kept telling myself that I didn't want to let myself take two days and undo a whole WEEK of hard work! I'm sending you stay-strong vibes!

Thanks for the advice on the cheese Lamby. I loooooove cheese too! Thought I had a free ticket but maybe not. Nicole, I have checked out the Atkins site, It is really great! I am on there every day looking at something or other. Have you girls looked at all the before and after’s on that site? It’s pretty encouraging!

Well here I am sitting in my black one piece bathing suit. I look like a barrel with legs! We just bought this new house with a pool and I am hardly ever in it, because I am so embarrassed about my weight. My husband has allot of friends that like to Pop in on us! I don’t want to be caught in the pool in my bathing suit. Eeks! I can’t wait till I can look better in my bathing suit, and clothes. It was so hot today and I wore pants because yet again, my weight. :( Man, I have to loose this weight!

feffyy

Heaviest (267 pounds)
Current (264 pounds)
Goal (137 pounds)
Lightest (145 pounds)

Whew! Didn't mean to step on any toes!

As I read every post, I'd prefer shorter threads but I can survive. Nothing is discouraged in here except criticism of others.

My point was that by not reading and asking questions elsewhere you might miss some info. This Forum is specific to Low Carb diets rather than a general Buddy Up or Support and we get lots of new folks every week. I wouldn't want them to restrict themselves to only one thread of the Forum.

Something to think about.

I'll shut up now.

Thanks for the tip. Just wanted to make sure we weren't unknowingly violating some community standards.

And I'm still checking out other threads all the time. A lot of my questions have already been addressed.

Thanks again!

feffyy, hadn't checked out the before and afters - but I will. I could use some encouragment right now. As for that pool - girl, you need to teach people to call before they come over (ok, maybe I'm the only anti-social one who has to have warning). A pool is a GREAT place to get exercise (hint, hint) but not if you have to worry about someone busting in on ya!

THE MORE INFO THE BETTER!!!
 

...that's my motto. I LOVE this board, and have been a faithful reader...but I also visit other boards which have many more threads dedicated to low carb and specifically Atkins.

For those that are interested you may wish to visit:

www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com

or

www.lowcarber.org (and click on the blue bar on top, in the right corner where is says "support forum).

Both these sites also have some good recipes and ideas and I have been "collecting" them for future use!

Have fun!;)

Froufy

Thanks for the info! I'm always trying to find more sources!

Down 7 pounds so far!!!
 

WOW, got on the scale this morning and it says I am down 7 pounds now! Cool! (this is my 4th day)

Hope it stays this way! I am sure I will be hitting a stall soon too.

Hey great advice on exercising in the pool Nicole, I will try to get out there early enough in the morning that I don’t have to worry about pop-inns! I am also wanting to get a tread mill. We moved here from an apartment complex that had a work out room, and I was there 5 days a week on the tread mill. This was last year of corse and have since gained the weight back. I know if I get one I would use it!

Thanks for the links Froufy I will have to check them out!

Hope everyone has a great day!

feffyy

Heaviest (267 pounds)
Current (260 pounds)
Goal (137 pounds)
Lightest (145 pounds)

Yay feffy! Congratulations!

We have very similar numbers - I was 268 when I started Atkins (I was 285 at my heaviest) and I'm now 260.

Again, congrats. Nothing like a big woosh to keep you motivated!

Hi all. Just jumping in here to say hello.
I can't believe how many of you are hooked on soft drinks. I can honestly say that of all my many sins, that at least, is not one of them. I don't like the way the bubbles go up the back of my nose. :p I've also found that they make me thirstier.

As for slow or non-existent weight loss after the first few days, I really don't think it makes much difference if you have a lot or a little bit to lose. I think it has to do with age, medication and general metabolism. When I was in my early 30s (I'm 60 now), I went on Atkins for the first time and lost almost 100 lb in just a few months eating lots of bacon, whipped cream, nuts, cheese. It was incredible and, for the first time in my life, I felt like I had a normal person's appetite. It also cured my wild mood swings and constant heartburn. Back in those days, there was a real backlash against low carb diets though, and I let myself get talked out of sticking with the plan. Back came all the weight, plus a whole bunch more. Now, many years and pounds later, I find it difficult to lose weight no matter what diet I try. It doesn't help to be on medications for various ailments either. So, to all you younger chicks, I implore you. Stick with the low carb plan. Don't let anybody talk you out of it and don't go back to your old ways of eating once you lose your weight. It really IS much harder to lose the older you get.

Thanks for the advice LindaBC! Actually a few days ago I was thinking of going off of Atkins. I was looking around the success pages and stumbled apon one that was really bagging the whole low carb thing. They almost had even me talked out of it, saying that it was unhealthy etc. I feel better since doing this diet then I have in along time so I think I will keep going for now, until I feel differently.

Nicole, wow, our #’s are about the same! It’s great to know I am not alone in this journey!


feffyy
Heaviest (267 pounds)
Current (260 pounds)
Goal (137 pounds)
Lightest (145 pounds)

Hey all, I have been doing atkins for 1 week. I started at 176 and am down to 169.

It has been really helpful to read this thread - I have one question, though...

A lot of you are saying that you had problems with heartburn BEFORE the diet. I have never had this problem, but it has been getting worse with each day of this nutritional approach. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? Maybe my body can't take all the protein?

Anyway, great job all - keep up the good work.

Linda - I've cut back on the Diet Coke, that has to count for something ;) And I hear you about the age thing - when I was in my teens and early 20s it was like the weight just fell off when I THOUGHT about losing weight. It's a much bigger battle now and I'm only 30.

Feffy - don't let anyone talk you out of what you know is right for you. Now if for some reason you should find that it's not working - and I don't really think you can tell in just a few days time - then you can re-think the whole thing. MOST PEOPLE JUDGE LOW CARB DIETS BY ATKINS INDUCTION and that's where they get their negative impressions. They also seem to think it's an all you can eat festival of fat for the rest of your life and WE know that's not the case :D Right? Right!

Bailey - congratulations on the weight you've already lost. I don't really have any advice on the heartburn but I can tell you what causes it for me - eating until I'm over-full, eating late at night, eating when I'm not hungry, onions, tomatos, garlic, etc late at night. Honestly, over-eating and eating when I'm not hungry seem to be the biggest issues - do you find maybe you're eating "just because" or possibly eating something you didn't eat before?

If I were you, and if you haven't alread, I would post this question in it's own thread. Chances are if you've had this problem then someone else has too. Hope you find a solution because I know how miserable it is. I am SO HAPPY to be heartburn/indigestion free! It is SUCH a relief! Hope someone has the answer for you.

Thanks Nicole!

The thing is I have been forcing myself to eat. Problem is, if I didn't I wouldn't really eat at all.

Today, for example, I had 2 eggs with a little cream cheese for breakfast, a slice of havarti for a snack. For lunch I made a salad, but could only get down 3 bites. The heartburn just built all day, plus I had massive abdominal cramps. Maybe its my appendix?? LOL I think it is the change in diet.

I finally had 3 bites of cereal with half-n-half and water to see if that might "get something going". I could not think of eating anything that was more acidic than basic. It is now 10 pm and I am still not at all hungry. Still having heartburn and cramps and the thought of any food, but especially meat or veggies, makes me gag.

I will post this question as its own thread to see what others have to say. Thanks again!

This does not sound good. In fact, this almost doesn't sound food related - are you possibly sick? In all honesty, if I were you I would either see a doctor or let go of this way of eating and go back to "normal" for a few days and see what happens. You've probably already posted this but - how long have you been doing this? Have you had these symptoms essentially since you started? Have you been careful to get in enough fiber? Not to get too personal, but if you've had a problem er..."getting something going" (to quote you) you may just need a few fiber-filled days to get back to normal. I'm sure alot of people find this way of eating quite...um, well - binding.

I feel awful for you. You must be miserable. I'd take a few days off and if you're not better then see a doctor.

Feel better! And keep asking this question in various forums, perhaps someone else will have something more informative (I hope!).

Thanks again Nicole!

I have been doing this since the fourth. I have had a lot of burping and a little heartburn the whole time, but the whole stomach thing just came out of nowhere on day eight. Well, not really out of nowhere - on day 7 I had NO veggies.

I can't say I was constipated, as I was quite regular on friday. But I finally broke down late last night and got phillips and gas-x and feel much better.

I am thinking I am going to try a few more days with all of my veggies and see how it goes.

Thanks for your advice!

I would say the lack of veggies could cause a pretty big problem all around...not a lot of fiber in meat, eggs, and cheese ;)

You get those veggies in! Hope it continues to work out for you!

Hi all!

Just a quick note - yesterday was the last day of our first two week induction. I've lost 9, hubby has 13. After finding my Splenda goof up, the scale has started to move again. My next big issue is fiber.

Hope you are all up and running and started on a great Monday and a wonderful week!

Yeay!! Way to go on induction!:D

Thanks - as of this morning, it's an even 10! Yay! I'm so encouraged - I really want to keep going and going.

My induction was over yesterday as well...my scale stood still at 7 lbs after 4 days for me and my husband has lost 15lbs. Both are still going strong with this. I need to exercise and hope to see the inches melt away!! I have been not so motivated considering I haven't seen any loss in over a week, but I am going to start moving and see if that will help me shed my pounds!!

Congratulations on your results!

I planned to start exercising this week but just haven't - no excuse. I have REALLY got to get going!

Hey girls!

I haven't been online in awhile because I've been studying for a final exam!

Just wondering if what everyone decided to do about induction.. continue or move on the Phase 2?

I've decided to stay on for a little longer. I'm not really tired of the food yet and the scale has just started to move for me again after a long plateau that began after a few days of induction.

Does anyone know how much weight loss slows down after you move on to phase two? I guess I'm losing around 2 pounds a week right now.. if it slowed down too much I'd start gaining!

Gee, Lamby, two pounds a week is good and really is the max you should lose during OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss). You may want to do another week of Induction as long as you are feeling OK and eating enough.
I hope your exam went well.

Well some of you know me, but I'm going to post for the first time on this post. I just (last week) got the Atkins book and today is my first day. I did screw up already, but I'm going to deal with it. Last night I went to hershey park and got a 5lb box of twizlers for my daughters. When I woke up this morning, i just out of habit, grabbed two of them and ate them. So that was 18 carbs to start the day off. But even though I will be over my carb limit for the day, I'm still going to finish the day as if I was op all day. Then I'll start totaly fresh tomorrow.

Well I'll keep posting how I am doing. Hope you all don't mind me butting in.

Bella23

Nicole WTG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! excellent girlie excellent.

Bella, I know the feeling, I was making hubby a pnutbutter sand and I got some on my fingers and licked it off...ooops to late.

Atkins is a learning experience thats for sure !!!
I'm on 1 1/2 weeks and still finding lots of errors that I am doing, but its not going to stop me yet.

Good Luck !!!

Pssssssssst.......if your butting in so am I.

:wave:

No one is butting in! :)

Good to know that two pounds is about what I should be losing. I guess I'll stay on induction for awhile longer then.

This past week I have increased my workouts from about 20 minutes a day to an hour (45 aerobic, 15 strength training) and for the past two days I have been up 2 pounds. I know that my weight will fluctuate but it's annoying since I have been exercising so much! I'm trying not to worry about it until Sunday.. that is when I normally record my weight.

I know how you both feel about accidentally cheating.. I ate something without reading the ingredients during my first week and gained back 4 pounds. Like you said Leens, I guess it's a learning experience.

I feel like I learn so much from reading the posts in this forum.

Lamby- 2 pounds a week sounds good to me!! Keep up the good work!!

I am continuing my induction phase too...I lost 7 lbs quit and haven't lost since so I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep going. I do think I was eating too much cheese the second week as something easy to grab so I have decided to watch that and contiue on the diet...also I am going to run!!!

Hope I lose more...though I did lose 3 inches from my waist without losing pounds so I am not too upset!!! Now to tone!!!!!

Wow! Three inches! That's great!!!

So are you feeling better now to start running again?

Yes I feel a lot better now. At the beginning I wasn't getting enough vitamins so I was light headed and my muscles were weak. I started taking Potassium and Magnessium and now I am wonderful!! I haven't felt this good in a long time!!! So, I will begin my running, even if I have to start with walking for the first little while just to get back in the groove!!

That's great! My husband was having similar problems in the beginning too. They seem to have worked themselves out though.

You're so lucky to live up north where you can actually get out and run! I am stuck inside (the heat here is awful!) with my stair stepper!

Yeah I don't like hot!! I think it's bad enough here...usually low 90's in the summer and HUMID!!!!!!! But, the days that it's in the 80's is wonderful!!!

I am going to Vegas this weekend where it's supposed to be almost 110...that's not my thing!!

I can't exercise inside I wait until about 9pm and then go for a run...it's usually beautiful about then!!

Ugh. Mark and I have taken two days off on account of hangovers. We're not eating every bit of sugar in sight - we're just pretty much not eating. Tho I will admit to orange juice and asprin yesterday and then salty fries in the afternoon. Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. We both plan to get back on in tomorrow.

And I swear, no more martinis ever.

Ok we're both back on track and proud of it. Our off track just consisted of eating what didn't make us ill and not counting carbs. Ugh. Never again. This was a great friend who was in from out of town and you know how you just get caught up talking and aren't paying attention till it's time to go home and you think - u-oh. This is not good.

So anyway, hope you all are still going strong!

I hope you ladies don't mind, but I'm going to start a continuation of this thread because this one is starting to get long.