Day 5 of Atkins

[JillyB1967]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the boards and new to Atkins as well. A few of my friends have tried it and my partner was (though not any longer since he's seen what I can eat) really against my trying it.

I came back from holiday on Monday and decided it really was time that I did something to control my weight, it just seems to be going up and up, and the holidays don't help. On Monday I weighed in at 10st 6lb (146lb) - not too bad you may think, but consider that a few years ago I used to weigh 8st 7lb (119lb) and you'll see what I mean. It sort of creeps up on you, a couple of pounds here and then a few more and you think 'no problem I can shift a couple of pounds!'There used to be a time when I could lose the weight quite easily, but now (after getting beyond 40) I find it almost impossible.

I've been on calorie controlled diets and had to drop the calorie intake as low as 700-800 calories a day (which isn't good) just to see anything happen. It was sole destroying and I lived with a huge guilt complex over food. I was always hungry, but knew that if I ate anything I wouldn't lose weight. Even eating 1000 calories a day, would end up in my gaining weight. Every day was a struggle both emotionally and physically in my attempt to lose some weight.

On Monday I came back from holiday and decided that I had to do something. I found this website and read everything I could about the Induction Phase and the allowable foods. I ordered the book from Amazon - which has now come - and went shopping for all my new foods. I also found FitDay and registered on the website so I could record everything I'd eaten.

Tuesday - my first day was a revelation, I could eat cheese and not feel terrible about it. I love cheese and could quite happily snack on it, if I feel peckish. I consumed 1496 calories: 64% fat, 34% protein, 2% carbohydrate. I didn't feel hungry once and I allowed myself to snack whenever I felt like it. I did think that this surely couldn't work - how could I eat so much and still lose weight?

Wednesday morning weigh in - 10st 2lb (142 lb) I've lost 4lbs! It was incredible! However today the headache set in and rumbled around like a thunderstorm for all of the day. Never mind, I knew it would happen and I also know that it doesn't last. I went out in the evening to a barbeque and managed quite easily to stick to the diet without anyone noticing! I consumed 1423 calories: 54% fat, 43% protein, 3% carbohydrate.

Thursday morning weigh in - 10st 1.5lb (141.5lb) Still it's .5lb off. Probably because I had steak, spare rib and chicken off the bbq - too much protein and not enough fat. I consumed 1031 calories: 59% fat, 37% protein, 4% carbohydrate. (Mmm calories are coming down - but I'm not feeling hungry!)

Friday morning weigh in 10st 0.5lb (140.5). We're going out for a meal tonight to an Italian restaurant, so I'm going to have to be very careful. Definitely no pizza! Instead I order a selection of cured meats and roasted peppers, followed by baked sea-bass with a green salad. To finish with we share a plate of cheese and biscuits (I have the cheese, he has the biscuits). I consumed 2021 calories (eek!): 61% fat, 35% protein, 4% carbohydrate.

Saturday morning weigh in 10st (140lb) that's 6 lbs lost in total since Tuesday! I've just been out for lunch today with a friend and this is the first time I haven't worried about being out twice for a meal in two days. I had chicken, bacon and avocado salad.

It's the first time I've had avocado since I started the programme and I have a question for everyone. In the book it says that you can have 1/2 a small avocado on top of your daily allowance, so if the carbs for 1/2 avocado are 7g then does this mean your daily allowance of carbs is then 27g? It's the same with olives, my ten olives on Friday evening pushed it over 20g of carbs - but in the book it says 'in addition'.

Also the net carbs you calculate is this what fitday shows or is it minus the fibre intake?

Thanks

[Elizellen]

Welcome to our international ADBB family, Jilly

It looks as if you are off to a great start

It is good to hear that you dont feel deprived by all you have to give up to eat Atkins

As to the avocado or other foods on the 'special category' list, my interpretation is that they are to be counted within our 20 net carbs for induction rather than being an addition to them.

Fitday shows total carbs as a rule but you can get it to display the fibre carb totals so you can deduct them yourself by setting a goal for fibre in the goals section on fitday. I set mine for 1 just to get it to show them.

[JillyB1967]

Thanks for your reply and encouragement.

With regard to the Fitday carbs and fibre, do you mean that if it shows 20g carbs and say 7g fibre, then my total Atkins carbs for the day are 13g? Am I understanding this correctly?