Kamiro, if you can find a copy of THE WHEAT BELLY DIET, you may really like it. It's very carb restricted, has positive things to say about Atkins, but allows small amounts of berries and nuts from the beginning, no oatmeal though. There're also really good explanations of the "why" of the eating plan. I haven't had any success constructing my own eating plan; it always ends up where I abandon all good sense and just eat whatever I want. I have been most successful both losing and maintaining weight loss and healthy eating when I'm eating Atkins. I wish you lots of success whatever path you choose to health. (I hope you stick with us on the board, though)

I managed to log in 45 minutes at the gym today....the first time in ahhh probably a year!!!

I don't think I'm going to follow Atkins verbatim. I've been back and forth because I hear so many success stories. But I don't think I could keep up a veggie lifestyle. (Sorry Kim!)

Today, so far, I had roughly less than 27 carbs. I had less than 11 grams carbs from lite syrup I put in my coffee this morning (didn't finish it) with less than 2 grams sweetener (because I didn't finish it.) Then I had about 14 carbs in a salad, the salad being 10 carbs and the dressing being 4 carbs, but it was less than 14 carbs because I didn't finish the salad. So, so far today I had less than 27 carbs.

I've been looking at Linda's recipes (lots sound good to me!) and later today I'm going to pick up some things to try the recipes. And I plan to have no more carbs for the rest of the day - later I'll just have some hamburger or something.

So, how'd I do for today so far?

Good job on the exercise Summer2010! Just don't overdo it.

So after my gym outing yesterday we had people over again and I gave in and had some red grapes and 10-15 cherries. I did this consciously and planned I would most likely have a gain this morning and yes, I registered +1.
So I am now at a point where I have to figure out how to continue on this weigh loss journey--I have been doing Induction since Jul 3rd.
First week 7 lbs
Second week no loss
Third week 2 lbs
Fourth week 1.5
With the gain this morning, I am at a total weight loss of about 9 lbs-which is fantastic.
I feel I should move to OWL by increasing my carbs by 5 a week (or longer) as long as I continue to lose weight. I feel that since I've lost up to 2 lbs in the last two weeks, I am not likely to see that big loss of 7 lbs from the first week again regadless of how long I stay in induction. OWL would be easier for me to follow as I would incorporate more veggies and make it more livable.
What do you think?

So I decided to see what Atkins could do for me if I really gave it my all-out best. That said, I grocery shopped and grilled and chopped so I wouldn't have a reason to fail once I got to work and was surrounded by the massive stash of Carb snacks they keep in the kitchen here for all of us.

Yesterday was on track all day and I lifted weights and did 30 min on the exercise bike while watching a movie. Today I'm at work and holding steady. There's plenty to grab to eat when I get home as well.

I'm here for the company and the accountability. I've developed this 'healthy, intense curiosity' about just how much this could help my stalled weight loss and as to whether I can hang with the challenge of a strict 14 days' induction.

Let's find out!

spanky