Successful Induction!

[redfoxglove]

Lost 6.3lb, 7.75 inches WOO HOO!

Totally, totally happy with my results!

What I learned:

1. Salt, not sugar is my thing. Read labels, eg, tomato sauce, or make my own. Cravings for salty food (crackers, chips, fritoes) can be quelled with more water!

2. Aspartame is suspect. Eliminating it for now. On Day 8 I made a key lime pie w/SF Jello, ate 3/8 of it over Day 8-10, scale did not move until Day 13. It's a little challenging for the scales not to move but other signs were positive, ie clothes were getting bigger all the time, so was aspartame really stalling me? Nevertheless...aspartame is out for now. Ditto for vodka drinks...maybe after I've met my 10% goal, to celebrate! (See Item 5)

3. Scales often show no change for 2-3 days at a time, then a 2+ pound loss.

4. I love to cook. Want to make it a habit like anything else I do to take care of myself. Want to continue to take care of myself in the face of stress, deadlines, not feeling so hot. Want to share my culinary inventions with friends and family, maybe they will stop saying "Atkins is boring and tedious, meat and fat, ugh"...

5. A holistic approach includes social occasions that are celebrated with food and wine or spirits. I want to practice what Dr. Atkins preaches: "I equate healthy eating with gastronomic pleasure." See also Item 4.

6. Getting right back on plan after a detour, deviation, or mistake feels so much better than beating myself up for days while allowing all kinds of garbage past my lips.

7. I like how my hands look with the tendons on the back of them showing, haven't seen that it years!

8. My average daily carb count (recorded Day 7-13) was 18.9g. Some days it was 12g, one day it was 24g, one day it was 32g! when I overdid it with legal foods. Most of my carbs came from veg, average 3-4g/day came from heavy cream and cheese.

9. Cheese is constipating. Use as a condiment.

Notes: Out of deference to those who preach and practice "clean induction", I'm calling this Successful Induction. When I started I already knew I had 2 social occasions that would detour me on Day 5-6. Also I had a deadline to meet, with school starting tomorrow, to use the 2 weeks I had to practice so I'd be ready for school and not blow it. To me it was more important to get started, get rolling, than it was to do it "clean". Some will call it cheating, some will call it fooling myself. I call it learn by doing.

Thanks a million to Dr. Atkins and to all you wonderful, courageous Atkineers!

ON MY WAY! FEELING EMPOWERED! HAVING FUN!

[Elizellen]

Great positive post weigh to go!!

And I love how you have been able to analyse what you learned from your first 14 days!

[charene]

fantastic

i'm having fun too! :bananadance

[redfoxglove]

Thanks, Elizellen and Charene. There just aren't enough words or !! to say how excited I am. This ADBB has been a big part of my success. I'm so thankful for the support...

[Barb1965]

Congrats on a successful induction, keep up the good work!

[DLS]

Great work! Extended induction here for at least another 10 lbs!

Keep up the good work!

[Asclepius]

Oh Red, you are SUCH a smart cookie! err uuuh i mean um celery stick. Good work, m'dear.

[redfoxglove]

Thanks a million, ladies, let's just see if I can sustain it after the stress level revs up! Yea, I'd rather be a smart celery stick than a smart cookie! lol Where'd I put that cream cheese...

[blueberrylady]

Good going, girl. Keep up the good work and keep those spirits high!

[redfoxglove]

Thanks, blueberrylady, yes it's true this successful induction has given me a huge self esteem boost. I feel radiantly happy, and I'm going to ride this wave as far as it will take me! BTW how come your name, do you grow blueberries, or are they your fave fruit? Also, the quote you have about the quiet courage at the end of the day is one I've really taken to heart, I've repeated it to myself lots of times...