Day 1 - So Far, So Good

[299lbs]

Hi all!

I just wanted to say that I decided to start one day early from the original plan (long story short: no sleep, went to grocery store, donated Low Calorie leftovers to colleague, annoyed at scale for only dropping 800 grams in five days) - and that I'm now working hard to become an Atkineer

I had scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, and a tuna salad with pepper and REAL sour cream for lunch. So far, so good - right?

For dinner it's salmon with cucumber on the side, also with a dash of REAL sour cream.

I love it so far - I haven't been this full or satisfied from two meals in a long, long time. OK, not that long, four or five weeks, but still. When you've been hungry for most of that time feeling full and having extra energy really brightens up your day

My question is; for how long is it realistic to stay on induction? I have 150 pounds to lose.

[Georgiana]

Make sure over half of your net carbs are coming from vegetables. Without knowing quantities, your net carbs seem low to me.

Also, eat enough calories.

a dash of REAL sour cream

How much is a "dash"? Sour cream is limited to 1 ounce.

I haven't been this full or satisfied from two meals in a long, long time. OK, not that long, four or five weeks, but still. When you've been hungry for most of that time feeling full and having extra energy really brightens up your day

Good for you!

My question is; for how long is it realistic to stay on induction? I have 150 pounds to lose.

I'm not sure how long is realistic for you. Dr. Atkins wrote that one can stay in Induction 6 months or more:

"if you are comfortable staying in this phase, and you still have a lot of weight to lose, you can do Induction safely for six months or more." (Chapter 13)

However, while you can certainly stay in Induction for 6 months, it doesn't mean it's the best strategy. From what I've seen around forums, staying so long in Induction often leads to failure. Furthermore, staying too long in Induction does not guarantee faster weight loss. Some people actually lose faster when they add more low carb vegetables to their menus.

Did you read Chapters 12 and 13 in DANDR 2002?

[299lbs]

Make sure over half of your net carbs are coming from vegetables. Without knowing quantities, your net carbs seem low to me.

Also, eat enough calories.

How much is a "dash"? Sour cream is limited to 1 ounce.

Good for you!

I'm not sure how long is realistic for you. Dr. Atkins wrote that one can stay in Induction 6 months or more:

"if you are comfortable staying in this phase, and you still have a lot of weight to lose, you can do Induction safely for six months or more." (Chapter 13)

However, while you can certainly stay in Induction for 6 months, it doesn't mean it's the best strategy. From what I've seen around forums, staying so long in Induction often leads to failure. Furthermore, staying too long in Induction does not guarantee faster weight loss. Some people actually lose faster when they add more low carb vegetables to their menus.

Did you read Chapters 12 and 13 in DANDR 2002?

Veggies for the day: 1 cup of peppers, 1.5 cups of lettuce, 2 cups of cucumber. Too little? This is one of the confusing parts to me... is it 20 net grams, or is it 4 cups? Or is it up for debate?

A "dash" of sour cream is IMO limited to one table spoon. I also had four "dashes", table spoons, of that with my lunch. Is that over the limit?

My book hasn't arrived in the mail yet - but I'm hopeful it will soon

[Georgiana]

is it 20 net grams, or is it 4 cups?

It certainly isn't 20 net carbs from vegetables, because other foods have carbs, too.

As for cups vs. carbs... you can have, let's say, 14 net carbs from vegetables eating 2 cups, 3 or 6. There are ways to increase your net carbs without eating more than 3 cups of vegetables, if that's what you want; simply choose vegetables higher in carbs.

In my opinion and from what I understood from people who worked with Dr. Atkins, "3 cups" was only used as an approximation... and if one eats only vegetables very low in carbohydrates, like lettuce or celery, then one will eat more than 3 cups. I was told by Jackie Eberstein that Dr. Atkins thought it will be easier for people to measure things in a cup rather than weigh them when they start the program. Eating only 3 cups of vegetables is unlikely to put one over 20 net carbs. Of course, it might also mean that one is unnecessarily cheating oneself of nutrition.

A "dash" of sour cream is IMO limited to one table spoon. I also had four "dashes", table spoons, of that with my lunch. Is that over the limit?

An ounce of sour cream is about 2 tablespoons.

[299lbs]

It certainly isn't 20 net carbs from vegetables, because other foods have carbs, too.

As for cups vs. carbs... you can have, let's say, 14 net carbs from vegetables eating 2 cups, 3 or 6. There are ways to increase your net carbs without eating more than 3 cups of vegetables, if that's what you want; simply choose vegetables higher in carbs.

In my opinion and from what I understood from people who worked with Dr. Atkins, "3 cups" was only used as an approximation... and if one eats only vegetables very low in carbohydrates, like lettuce or celery, then one will eat more than 3 cups. I was told by Jackie Eberstein that Dr. Atkins thought it will be easier for people to measure things in a cup rather than weigh them when they start the program. Eating only 3 cups of vegetables is unlikely to put one over 20 net carbs. Of course, it might also mean that one is unnecessarily cheating oneself of nutrition.

An ounce of sour cream is about 2 tablespoons.

OK, then I'll do these changes, less sour cream and more veggies, and do better tomorrow! And, I certainly won't have sour cream for dinner tonight - it's looking more like butter as per now

Thank you!

[liv]

Sounds very good. I hope this first day was great.

[299lbs]

Sounds very good. I hope this first day was great.

It has been! I like this new lifestyle - so far, so good

[sham]

Glad your doing well.Keep it up!

[299lbs]

Glad your doing well.Keep it up!

Thank you, sham! I intend to

Hope my book arrives soon tho... There is like no way I'm going out of induction until I can read up on OWL.

[sham]

I love induction(extended) as I lose faster.