Atkins 2 Week Induction

Thank you for starting this challenge! I needed a kick in the rear to get going. The last time I followed the Atkins diet- 11 years ago, pre-marriage, pre-babies, it was the healthiest and most energetic I have ever felt- even without exercise. I can't wait to get there again. This time with the understanding that exercise is necessary, for my mental as well as physical health. This afternoon the snacks were calling to me, but I made it through to dinner (with the help of a deviled egg and some celery with cream chesse) Yum! Better go drink some more water.

Congrats! I haven't ate dinner yet. Haven't been hungry today. And I've only drank about 8 glasses of water (usually its 14 by now). I hope I'm not coming down sick! I agree, I need the exercise as well. I better go get some dinner. Normally I never eat past 8! Ugh!!

I'm so impressed that you can get in 14 glasses of water on a typical day. That's amazing! I'm always trying to find the time to get in 8 glasses! I've never had good drinking habits- when it comes to water. And considering I perspire whenever the temperature rises above 60 (and it was about 80 here today) I need to be drinking much more. At least you're listening to your body. That's where I've lost touch, and hope this challenge will bring me back in control of what I eat. Hopefully I can remember that it's for nourishment, not emotional fulfillment.

Best wishes for no ailments! Get lots of rest!

Well, I was used to drinking up to a 12 pack of sodas a day and eating only once a day. So, I guess I just replaced the water (only thing I drink until 8 glasses are in for the day) for the sodas I was drinking. And I drink from a 12 ounces cup so that gets me more water After the 8 glasses of water, I drink one coffee, one water, etc. Coffee is always black. As far as eating the 3-5 meals. I have done well, but I find I plan ahead to make sure I don't go over carbs. But I eat alot of salad instead of the veggies since I don't like most of the veggies (I only eat green beans and peas -getting old!!) so the salad doesn't stay long with me, so I am able to eat a couple regular meals with protein and fat. I don't stay hungry on Atkins -which I love!! And since starting Atkins, I have cut my carbs by over 100%, and my protein/fat has been about the same. Only difference is before I got it in one meal...now I get it in three meals. Which when all the weight is gone, I am sure I will be used to eating 3 meals and then hopefully this all will help with portion control when it comes to my favorite foods that I have to have seconds of even though I am full...Ugh!

Hey Shawna, Sorry I missed your reply until now. I find that I'm having trouble figuring out where I'm posting messages while I'm getting used to this website. Messages I think are private, might not be, and some I thought were public are actually private. Oh well!

I remember eating in much the same way you described, when I was in my 20's and working as a teacher. All my calories were in the evening, with only sodas to keep me going the rest of the time. Now, at 38, and at home with kids, I often don't know when one meal has stopped and the next started. As the kids and hubby are lean and healthy, and I'm the only one struggling with my weight, I'm not putting anyone else on Atkins, but that means there is still a lot of stuff I can't eat around. Right now it's all Easter candy and pasta. But if it's completely off limits- not just something I need to be careful of- it's kind of like quitting food cold turkey- which is easier for me than moderation. Phase II of Atkins actually scares me more than phase I, but for me, it will just mean more vegetables. I'm so sorry that you don't like veggies. The only one I can think of that I don't like are turnips. But then again, I believe anything is edible when tossed in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasted until crispy on the edges in the oven.

Oh- and please be careful with the water. Your body might be used to the salt that the sodas provided. Now, combined with the Atkins diet (which naturally flushes out salts) you can flush your body clean of all electrolytes which are needed for all muscle function (including your heart) if you drink too much. I had a friend in her early 30's that went into cardiac arrest and had to be admitted to the hospital because she had OVER hydrated.

Sorry for the health lesson! I'm no doctor, so follow her advice over mine, always. I was a chemistry/biology teacher, before kids. Which means, as my husband puts it, that I THINK I know everything and like to preach about it.

Oh its ok! Thanks for the advice!! I have cut back on water. I am just getting sick of nothing but water. I am drinking some coffee now. Miss having much of it! Thats exactly how it is at my house. The hubby and kids are tall and skinny and I am the only one with a weight issue and doing Atkins. Snacks, fattening foods, fried foods, etc EVERYWHERE! Its a struggle especially as the foods are getting old. Oh yeah, adding foods in OWL scares me too. I'll probably pick the worst ones to add in first, stalling out my weight-loss...Right now my weight is at a stand still. Going to get more exercise in every day and see if that helps. That dreaded time of the month is coming up, so I think that is why my weight-loss has halted. Trying not to get disappointed since I have lost 12 lbs so far in 13 days -even though it all came off in the first 8 days. Today is Day 14 for me. Good luck! Happy Weight-Loss to you

I was reading your conversation and the part that 1pink1blue said having trouble figuring out where to post things was a concern of mine as well. Shawna, do you think if you started a "Check In" thread that the team mates might have a thread to "chat" on for support. I don't know much about my fellow challengers and it's hard to support and receive support without some kind of combined "meeting place". I think I've posted a "cheerleading" kind of post on a few random challenge walls and I'm not sure if people feel the need to connect on the challenge. (different strokes, you know) Anyway. I'm the kind of person who likes to have my nose in the challenge business. I like to see how everyone is doing. It helps me get some good ideas and learn how to do Atkins program better. What do you think?

Glad I'm not the only one unsure of where I'm posting my soapbox dialogs.