more induction questions

[Fiyeroboi22]

i get horrible cravings and cheat all the time..

when will these go away

why do i feel aweful and tired alot when i start atkins

when will this go away

and if i work out only 2 or 3 times each week for 30 minutes on an elliptical and 30 minutes doing wieghts is that good?

[ValidRouge]

Fiyeroboi,

Here's what I think happens...We are all addicted to carbohydrates. It's a mental addiction, and it's a physical addiction. When you start induction, you are literally detoxing your body of the carbohydrates. Now, your body has gotten REALLY used to being a couch potatoe when it comes to converting the food you eat into fuel. It's really easy to turn fructose, sucrose and refined carbohydrates (flour, chips, junk food) into glucose(which is the fuel our bodies use for energy). The body doesn't have to put much effort into it. When you take carbohydrates away from the body, it just sits there on its couch potatoe lard *** and waits for you to give it the carbs. After a few days, you start feeling really tired and sluggish...the body's not converting enough fuel. Then the body starts to throw a temper tantrum...it tries to trick you into reading the cues all around you (on tv commercials, what's in the fridge, on radio, in print media, the big Golden Arches) and give it the junk that's easy to turn into the glucose. When you don't give in...then it starts to throw a temper tantrum....headache, fatigue, sluggishness, even sick to your stomach.

Now, think of it as a child in the supermarket checkout throwing a tantrum for the candy they display there....Would you reward that child for throwing the tantrum and buy it something that is not good for it? Don't reward your body for throwing the tantrum either. It just makes it harder the next time and the next time. The body throws bigger and bigger fits each time you restart.

So, you go through feeling bad a couple days...it'll only last a couple days, because the body MUST get up and go turn something into glucose (FUEL). Where is it going to get it??? From your fat stores. Once your body makes that change, then you will get a HUGE reward of energy, you'll feel wonderful, your body will so busy working to convert that fat to fuel, it won't have time to crave the bad stuff anymore. You won't feel hungry anymore either!

Maybe this will help you get through it all. I hope so, because it is SOOOOO worth it.

Now, as for exercise....I am a firm believer (if not a regular participant) in the cardio/weight training routine. Do 30 minutes on the ellip one day (it's great for working leg muscles and the heart muscle) and then weight train the next. Do 3 days cardio, and 3 days weights. When weight training, do upper body one time, lower body the next, then upper body again. The next week, it'll be lower body, then upper body, then lower body again. You'll be amazed at how much a difference it'll make in your body.

[G-Mom]

because the body MUST get up and go turn something into glucose (FUEL).

Great post Joy, however, I believe during ketosis, the body breaks down fat and uses it for fuel, but fat is not converted to glucose then used. The liver will make glucose for the parts of the body which can only use glucose.

[bizzlekitty]

Some foods can also trigger cravings, in addition to Induction causing cravings since you're detoxing from the carbs. This is also why it important to not cheat, especially on Induction.

Set short term goals. make it one meal without cheating, then one day. If you feel tempted, "cheat" on Atkins safe foods like veggies or deli meat and cheese.

You might also get cravings if you are not eating enough veggies (I did).

Make sure your menu is correct and reviewed periodically (here or in the Review My Menu). It could be something you are eating is a known trigger food too.

As for the exercise, maybe try increasing what you do a bit by joining in an exercise challenge. More exercise can never hurt, even if it's just walking.

[Fiyeroboi22]

thanks alot.. i just keep thinking.. woah there is the bbq with homemade ice cream this weekend ill miss out! ill start atkins after.. or its martys birthday next weekk... i mean there is always something out there that will make me want to start later.. okay well here i go

eggs and bacon for breakfast hotdogs for lunch and a cup of lettuce and chicken breast for dinner (or a hamburger patty)

[Elizellen]

Good planning, fiyeroboi.

Can you also sort out some legal snacks to have available so that if/when you feel those cravings you can eat something 'legal' instead of cheating?

Barbecues are made for Atkineers - eat plenty of meat and some grilled vegetables so you wont have room for any icecream - or even eat a legal meal before you go there, so you can truthfully say - I am not hungry!

[IWannaBeThin]

Hey Fiyeroboi,

They are right! If you can stick to the induction just as the book describes for 2 weeks....believe me the cravings for sweets will go away and you will not feel deprived.
I did the same thing and I didn't realize that this only works if you start out right and follow the plan. You will not be as hungry and be more satisfied once the sugar gets out of your bloodstream.

Hang in there!

[ValidRouge]

True, in the absence of large quantities of carbohydrate, the liver will turn the protein into glucose for energy, and when there is deficit of that, it switches gears and starts burning it's own stored fat for fuel, and that is called ketosis/lipolysis.

Originally Posted by G-Mom

Great post Joy, however, I believe during ketosis, the body breaks down fat and uses it for fuel, but fat is not converted to glucose then used. The liver will make glucose for the parts of the body which can only use glucose.

[presidentholmes]

OP, you posted similar before and it was apparant that you hadn't read the book.
Have you read the book yet?

[higgies]

HEy man. There's always going to be something coming up that will give you an excuse not to start. You need to decide if this is what you want to do and just do it. There are so many options out there now that you don't have to go without (except the carbs of course). I've never eaten so well before! There are so many great fattening foods we can have...how can that be bad?!?!