Controlling portion size

[knowledge-power]

Hi everyone,

So I made it to day 15 of my 28 carb a day induction. The scale says I lost 2 lb, but I don't notice any difference in the way my clothes fit. My favorite jeans are still waiting in the closet...

I recognise the fact that with only 10 lb to loose it will be difficult for me to see drastic changes. On top of this the most significant change I have made is only the number of carbs/day. I have banned regular breads, pasta, rice, all fruit and all desserts. I have however consumed some 5g carbs/slice bread, yougurt, caffeine, splenda sweetened sodas Atkins candy bars and nuts (always within 28-30 carb/day limit). The last few days I have given up cheese too.

My biggest challenge is in controlling portion size. I am not that hungry really, but I have gotten so used to feeling full and the bad habbit of eating while watching TV just to stay busy. I know this is hurting me, but I am having a hard time changing this behavior. I bought a knitting set to stay engaged in the evenings and stop thinking about food. That has helped a bit. I also need to get back to my exercise routine. I love the outdoors, but it's getting cold... I have an aerobics/power yoga tape at home that has served me well in the past, but I am lacking motivation...

Does anyone have any suggestions, words of wisdom, encouragement of any kind???

I could really use a hand now

[cleochatra]

So I made it to day 15 of my 28 carb a day induction

OK. I'm an Aquarius, but I'm still confused here. Induction is 20 net carbs per day?

Aside from this, bread and yogurt aren't even looked at until OWL because we're trying to cleanse the blood stream and only slowly add carbs back in on a rotational diet-type basis. I really think portion control comes from the beginning where we cut out nearly every carb. Then, as you slowly add items back in you'll find portion control comes fairly naturally.

It's really hard to feel full when you're still eating carbs like bread and yogurt. Don't worry so much about portion sizes when you are eating proteins and fats in induction-- those are self-limiting.

As you move on then you might want to look at eating only when hungry and stopping as soon as you are no longer hungry. Feeding the body is a 6-times per day proposition for many people. And you'll find that yopu won't think about food as much as you go and you'll have to make yourself eat. I love it!

Hang in there and put the carbs on hold. We need to get you into a good ketosis and away from the carbs initially.

[Elizellen]

I agree with what Cleo says - try giving yourself a 'clean' induction first and you might find that portion control comes naturally.

I was amazed to find I was able to limit quantities almost without thinking about it once I started on OWL.

[soliwit]

Yah indeed, instead of just 'cutting the carbs', try to go and read the Atkins book, best thing is the 2002 version and do it exactly by the book, you would even be able to snack sometimes and still lose weight, even though you only need to lose this little.
Only eating lower in carbs is not going to help you and is not going to learn you to change your lifestyle, cause if anything you will only get back to where you were before and then you will end up saying how Atkins is a bad thing, well, it's deffinitely not !!!
You can do it hun, I am sure, just start by reading some of the stickies here and buy the book !!!!!!!!

[Alienore]

If you stick to this WOE (way of eating) for the longterm you'll find that you eat less anyway so portion control becomes less of an issue.

I know I can't eat the quantities I ate over a year or so ago before I started Atkins - but then again most of what I was eating then was so high in carbs and sugars and generally very very bad for me.

Buy the book, read the book and follow it. Then post here and tell us how you're doing - doing Atkins by the book will work if you give it your best attention and give yourself the best chance you can of being fitter and healthier.


Deborah

[PrinceJeff]

This may be slightly OT, but IIRC, the old versions of DADR said cheese could be eaten liberally, but the 2002 DANDR says 3-4 ounces a day. Any particular reason? Can you add more in later phases?

[Alienore]

Cheese is roughly one carb per oz so if you eat lots of it then you'll go over your 20-carb limit for induction.

You can add other cheeses when you get to the dairy rung of OWL but again I wouldn't rush and overdo it.

Please follow the 2002 edition of DANDR as that's the book we go by here - older versions needed to be updated and the 2002 version supercedes the older editions.


Deborah

[Kent]

Cheese (or eating an excess of it) has also been known to stall lots of people, and it is usually one of the first suggestions of mine to cut when people start complaining of slow weight loss. The lactose in cheese is just one of the allergenic foods that can mess with lots of people, who aren't necessarily full blown lactose intolerant.

[PrinceJeff]

That does make alot of sense. Cheese is something I love as an addition to eggs or hamburgers. Would one slice of deli-sliced cheese count the same way then?