I am new and very scared

[mjlanham2]

I am new to atkins, but I am scared to death! I have tried Nutrisystem, Slimfast, diet pills, protein shakes - the list goes on. When all comes down to it, I have never been heavier. I am 34 and 220 pounds. My husband has been deployed for 3 months and my 3 year old son and I are going to Georgia to see him for a few days. He got bit by something in Mississippi and his vessels in his brain are swollen now. He had to go to Georgia for further testing. But anyway, I want to start Atkins but nothing else has worked. Please help me through this.

Michelle

[ValidRouge]

Michelle,

Atkins does work--those other programs you listed do not. The reason why Atkins works is that you will be eating natural foods, real foods, meats, cheeses, and VEGETABLES.

Do you have the book? It's the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002 edition. If you haven't read it, you simply MUST. In the book he will tell you WHY it works and why all those others DO NOT. If you don't have it, go ahead and read all the sticky's at the top of the forums in the Induction forum especially and get started RIGHT THIS MINUTE.

Read these stickies especially
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=5781 (BEFORE you begin the Atkins Nutritional Approach...)

And this one is ESPECIALLY motivational
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=25000 (Tidbits from Tabekats Induction Journey.)

Good luck, and be sure to come and ask all your questions.

[staziaw]

Hello Michelle! My thoughts are with you and your family and hope that your husband gets well soon!

Look for the 2002 edition of DANDR on eBay - you can frequently find it for under a buck!

Joy's right - eat eat eat - all the glorious food that we are allowed. Whole nutritious lovely food. Stay away from "Frankenfood" - the bars, shakes, all the nonsense. Use www.fitday.com to put in what you eat, so you can see where your carbs are coming from and to keep your percentages in the right places.

Drink your water. Only water if you can! At least 80 ounces (personally, I'm at 100 to 120 ounces). Use diet sodas sweetened with Splenda only as a treat. Water is cool and cleansing, helps the body detox and keeps the tissues and organs hydrated.

Exercise? Heck yes! Anything and everything go in terms of exercise. Walking, biking, weight training, gardening, cleaning the house, chasing your son around. Just do it!! There are some great challenges on the Exercise Challenge forum. Very motiviating!

You might also want to start a Journal in Journal Chats. I have found it very helpful to pour out my feelings and apprehensions -- of course, everyone has been fantastic about being supportive and always there when I need them.

Good luck, my dear! Follow the plan, be patient, and be good to yourself.

Stacy

[changing]

Welcome aboard! Good for you for taking some steps to manage your weight and health. I hope your husband gets better soon.

You've been given some great advice already!

I just wanted you to know that I was scared when I started too, but now I feel great. In fact, I've never felt better! The foods that you eat with this way of eating are so delicious and health-promoting.

I'm looking forward from the post from you someday that says "I'm not scared anymore. I'm happy!"

Congratulations on taking these first steps.

[tabekat]

You are not alone. You have friends here.

Educate yourself here at the ADBB and you will find there is nothing to be scared of at all. Go to the induction forum and read all the stickys there.
Make sure you read a copy of the 2002 DANDR.

Check out all the inspiring pictures and stories.

There are many, many people who started Atkins feeling hopeless and afraid, yet found new freedom, weight loss and better health with Atkins.

You can do it too.

[angelstar]

Dont feel scared, feel excited that you are taking a step in the right direction to change ur body and ur eating habits forever! By the end of the year u are going to look absolutely stunning with ur new figure. U will be fitter and have more energy and look amazing, nothing to be scared of!
The diet does look daunting at first. Giving up alot of processed food that we have eaten and taken for granted in our everyday lives can seem abit scary. But this diet was created to make us better people and to look after our health.

*Drink at least 2 litres of Water a day - try and cut out soda as best u can
*Read the book
*Follow the diet as it is written
*Excercise - I work out in the gym 4 times a week and this is the best way for me as I can work out different parts of my body in one session come rain or shine! But do whatever works best for u and u know that u will stick to it.
*Have fun & make friends on this board, everyone is really supportive and will answer any little question u may have. There are loads of reciepe ideas on the boards and on websites, get cooking and experimenting!
*Keep motivated. Find ur 'biggest' picture and put it in places like the fridge door, somewhere that u will see it every day and it will keep you on track if you ever feel the urge to cheat. Keep a weight chart and see the weight come off each week and keep going. Dont give up, u are on ur way to becoming a fitter, healthier u!

PS - I'm sorry to hear about ur husband, I hope that he gets better soon

[SkaPaladin]

Just try your hardest to follow the book as best you can. If you cut corners, expect it to come back to you when you weigh in, or measure. You get what you put into it.

If you ever need advice, or if you just need someone to talk to, or anything, everyone here, myself included, will help you in any way we can.

We are all family here.

[G-Mom]

Congrats on trying Atkins! My advice though, is to remember that Atkins is a way of life, not a diet. You WILL NOT be carb-restricted forever, but you should remember that Atkins works because of proper adherence. I have returned to eating carbs before and it only made me gain loads of weight back and feel truly awful.

Atkins is so wonderful because it helps you return to eating carbs slowly and properly, while keeping you full and giving you lots of energy. Low-fat has monumentally failed to do this in the past for me anyway. Atkins will help you burn your fat for energy and that is exciting! On low-fat, you really must exercise a lot, plus get into the "fat-burning" stage in order to burn fat, but not on low carb! You see, ketosis is the process of burning fat for energy all the time. Normally, we are all in glycosis, or burning sugar for energy. This helps most folks lose weight quickly and painlessly, really, since ketosis curbs the appetite!

Anyway, the book will help you better understand this very important process. Good luck!!!