How did ya do last month

[Desertthorn]

Sorry this is so late, I thought it would be cool if we could do a monthly check in and I was going to do it end of Feb, but as some of you know, I was swamped last week with 'life'
So, how did you do during Feb. ?
Any weight loss, clothes-size loss?
Did you learn anything about this plan or your plan?
Did you set a goal and make it?
Did you try a new recipe?
Any ah-ha moments!!!!!

And since this is my stupid idea, I'll start.
Getting going again has been really difficult, more than in the past. I do beautifully until night and then I just lose it. I wondered what I did last time that I'm not doing this time and I think it's journalling. So back my journal
I did try some of your yummy recipes and some not so yummy I found on Linda site. I went back to see if I could find it to warn you,but maybe she didn't like it either.
Goals for March are
Get my 8 glasses of water in. I hate water
Go back down to induction and stick to it for a month.
Continue with exercise.

[Janice]

Thanks, Desertthorn for starting this thread. I needed to 'report' on my progress or lack of. I, too, have trouble with drinking my water. I'm hoping the warmer weather will make me more thirsty and it will get easier.
I was bringing home a set of really good 'balance' scales from my parents home and I broke them getting them here. UGH! I couldn't believe it. I do not know how much I've actually lost but one way I can tell I'm losing is in my clothes. I guess I'll have to buy another set of scales before I know my current weight.
The diet has not been too terribly hard this time. I don't think I even went through a slump in the beginning. This time around, I find myself dreaming of eating sweets. One time was M & M's and last night it was birthday cake. I don't know why except maybe somewhere in my brain I'm afraid I will 'slip'.
I have a question about diuretics. I stopped mine. I am taking Lisinopril for high blood pressure and the doctor added the diuretic instead of upping the BP meds when she thought my numbers needed to still be lower. Anyone else taking diuretics and doing Atkins? Am I jeopardizing my health by dropping it? I feel pretty good and that is what I'm going by.
So --- I'm doing good. I'll give a weight report soon.

[Desertthorn]

I am taking a diuretic and have been for years, they are really pretty mild as drugs go, but when I forget them or stop them, I bloat up like a balloon. Dr switched me from two pills, diuretic plus Cozarr to one pill that has both together. I have been light-headed ever since but can't get an appointment until April

[Mickkey]

I like your goals Desertthorn. I'm evidently not doing something right. I'm not trying hard enough. Like you, I do good until night fall and then want to snack. I'm exercising more than normal, going to the Y, and I can feel the difference it's making in the fit of my clothes. Just got over the flu, and making a renewed promise to once again read the book for inspiration, give up coffee, which will kill me, but it's probably stalling me, and track my food on fitday.com daily.

Janice..hummmm.. I don't know about the diuretics. Wish I did. Why are you stopping them? Sorry about your scales!

[Janice]

Mickkey, when I first re-started this WOE, I found my book and tried to read enough to refresh my memory on the key points. Before getting into the actual steps of the diet, the beginning chapters give some good hints as well as explain just how the diet works. On page 109 under 'Review Your Medications', it talked about diuretics. The first part of the last paragraph says that while on a controlled carbohydrate eating plan, you should be careful because reducing carb intake alone can have a 'dramatic' diuretic effect in itself. Taking an additional diuretic can evidently have adverse effects on one's body. It goes on to say that this WOE even 'has a strong blood pressure lowering effect and can easily convert blood pressure medications into an overdose'. That could be concerning for people in our category since 50+ is usually the ones taking these meds. I would not dare stop taking ANY medication prescribed by my doctor until I checked with him/her first. Like Lynne said, a diuretic is a rather mild drug, as drugs go, so I wanted to try not taking it. I want to keep a check on my blood pressure regardless and yesterday I checked it 'free' in the Wal-Mart pharmacy. It was fairly good (for me personally) at 127/72 and I haven't taken my diuretic in over a week. I haven't noticed any bloating like Lynne says she has. Here again, I would NOT drop my Lisinopril med.
I'm going to find some more scales. Wish me luck. I want a good pair, but I want them 'cheap'. lol
Mickkey, I hope you are feeling better and are fully recovered from the flu. I need to exercise more too. The weather in Alabama is beautiful right now so I don't have any excuses.

[Mickkey]

How is everyone doing?

I wish more 50's would report in here.

The weather is warming up and I just realized today I won't have a coat to hide behind soon. I need to step it up, and get back to the YMCA.

Have a great week-end everyone. Hope it's enjoyable.

[sallyseachange]

Cool thread Lynne!

Hope you're feeling better now Mickkey.
Janice... good to hear you're not bloating when not taking your diuretic.

As for me, well.... I've been battling the slight "wander" outside my "buffer zone" since mid January. Haven't wanted to go back to induction, as I only want to drop a few lbs. Just thought I'd cut out my evening wine and sugar free chocolate (allowed but still was getting too much). To me, induction is for dire emergencies. Terrified of going there too often and abusing it, thus putting metabolism at risk.

Anyway... Feb was not very successful and I stayed more or less still. March is looking a trifle more positive though...(like half a pound more positive), so hope to report progress at the end of this month. Don't mind the loss being very slow. Am more concerned by the direction. That's gotta be right.

[Louloo]

Good Morning ladies & Gents??.

I'm going to jump back in here. Been doing induction since monday and am down 3 lbs. This is my umpteenth time doing Atkins, but hopefully my last.

[Mickkey]

Welcome Louloo! Three pounds already, that's awesome!

Sally, a half a pound down is going in the right direction for certain. My scales registered less a pound and a half this morning, and I'll take it too!

I finally realized I have to step up my exercise as I've gotten older, because my metabolism has slowed down to a crawl. It's good for me anyway, and I feel so much better afterwards it's amazing. Younger and more limber too, so it's definitely worth it.

[Sunny_0ne]

Getting going again has been really difficult, more than in the past. I do beautifully until night and then I just lose it. I wondered what I did last time that I'm not doing this time and I think it's journalling. So back my journal

I used to be horrible about eating in the evenings. Would be so hungry I couldn't sleep if I went to bed without eating.... would just lie there thinking about food until I finally had to get up and eat.

What helps me is eating a lot more earlier in the day. And instead of just eating a snack in the afternoon, making a real little mini meal with protein, fat and veggies like radishes that have a lot of crunch to them.

Plus I moved dinner back a little later so there are less hours in the evening to get hungry.

It seems to be working for me. If I do have to have something, decaffeinated tea or coffee with cream in it helps a lot.