Is this a pretty good routine for success?

[samiam1272]

My new found day routine currently go's like this:

up at 4:30, go to work, drink water till 9:00, no hunger.
8:30 first dose of No2 Black
9:00 Atkins bar 16-18g protein

11:30 second dose of No2 Black
12:00 Atkins shake 15g protien and a banana if I have one handy

Home by 6:00, Sometimes get a tad hungry on the way home, which I sometimes cure with some beef jerky.

Healthy meal with lean meats and veggies/ salad, with some days eating pasta, or pizza, but I've switched to whole grain pasta.

No deserts and plenty of water. and a coke zero here and there to satisfy my need for somthing interesting to drink.

Any comments appreciated.

Also; Question, say If I eat pizza or somthing with plenty of carbs 2 or 3 times a week but keep my days the same, and the other evenings eat really healthy protien rich foods. Will I still be in Ketosis or whatever long enough to see the good effects?

Thanks

Sam

Ohh and P.S. Lift Weights 3 or 4 times a week for 30 mins or so, and cardio when I get time, once a week or so currently.

[Sherri]

Good Morning Sam,
Do you have the copy of DANDR 2002 and read it? That is what we go by at ADBBWhat I can see in your menu, you're not following Atkins.
No whole grain pasta allowed during Induction. You have to wait until Rung 9 whole grains to be able to eat that. The Atkins bars and shakes shouldn't be eaten during Induction aswell. You should be following the allowed foods list on pages 124-129 DANDR for Induction. You are to keep your carb intake at 20 grams for Induction. Getting most of your carbs in from veggies.
What kind of pizza are you eating? Take out? Or are you making Induction friendly pizza at home? Here's a great site for recipes- Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home some great recipes there.
Hope this helps you with setting a healthy eating routine. It takes time to change healthy eating habbits. Good to see you getting all your water in. Great job on the exercise aswell!
Wishing you the best of health and lite!
Sincerely, Sherri
Here's a Sticky from the Induction Thread, with great info to help you get started on your healthy journey with ATKINS

Before you begin:

1. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition.
At the very least, read chapters 10 through 14. These chapters tell you how to do the diet, what to expect, and why the first 14 days are so important.

ADBB uses DANDR 2002 as its reference. Granted there are other publications by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. but we like to do the diet as it was written by Dr. Robert C. Atkins because in our collective experience Dr. Atkins' diet is more effective than Atkins Nutritionals, Inc's version.

2. See your physician.
Dr. Atkins recommended this himself. See your physician for a complete physical exam, including blood tests before beginning this or any other diet and exercise program.

Also take the Blood Sugar Symptom Test found in the book.

3. Make a commitment.
Commit yourself to giving the 14 day Induction a fair shot. If you can't commit yourself to 14 days of following rules and eating the foods listed in the acceptable foods list, this diet might not be for you.

4. Prepare your kitchen
If it's not on the list, remove it from your home. If you live with people who aren't on a low carb diet, then put your food(s) in areas separate from theirs. Also make sure you have low carb snacks available to you at all times, in case you get hungry.

5. Recruit your family and friends.
You are about to embark on a completely new lifestyle. Getting the support of your family and friends will help you through this. Be frank with them and tell them your intentions and that this is very important to you. If they have any doubts about this diet, ask them to read the book because knowledge is power.

6. Keep the Induction Rules and Foods List handy.
Make two copies of these documents: keep one on your refrigerator at home and keep the other one on your person at all times. This will save you a lot of guesswork and worry when eating out or grocery shopping.

The Rules of Induction can be found here:
What are the Rules of Induction?

The Induction Acceptable Foods List can be found here:
What foods can be eaten on Induction?

7. Read the entire label, including the ingredients.
Some foods have little carbs, but contain things like hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and sugar, which makes them unacceptable for Induction.

8. Keep a food diary
It is of utmost importance to keep track of your daily carbohydrate intake to make sure you are not exceeding 20 net carbohydrates daily.

Some people keep a notebook journal. Others like to track their progress online.

Here are some resources:
An Atkins spreadsheet:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=4570

http://www.fitday.com ---This is a free online service (registration required) that allows you to input your foods, track your exercise, etc.

Carbohydrate Counters:
http://www.atkins.com ---The Atkins site has a downloadable Carb Counter.
http://www.calorieking.com ---This site has nutritional information for most foods and beverages.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ ---This is the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Database.

9. Exercise
According to Dr. Atkins "exercise is non-negotiable"! So get moving. Begin according to your level of fitness. Visit the Exercise Forum.

10. Vitamin Supplements
These are also recommended by Dr. Atkins because many of us have poor nutrition and we need extra nutrients. Visit the Vita-Nutrient Forum.

11. Weigh AND Measure Yourself on Day 1

Make sure you weigh and measure yourself before you begin this diet. Contrary to what we are lead to believe, the scale isn't the best tool for measuring weight loss (fat loss). It doesn't tell you how much muscle you gained. It doesn't tell you how much water weight you gained or lost. It doesn't tell you that you will fit into that pair of jeans.

Tips for weighing:
a. Weigh yourself at the same time of day under the same conditions. You can weigh "more" after a meal or after you drink water or you can weigh "less" after you exercise or have a bowel movement. So pick a time and stick to it. Likewise, clothing can also add on "pounds". So if you choose to weigh yourself wearing clothes, make sure you are wearing the same clothing or nearly the same clothing.

b. Use the same scale. Scales differ slightly. So the scale in your doctor's office or at the gym might have you weighing more or less than the scale in your bathroom.

Tips for measuring:
a. You can measure whatever body areas you want: chest, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm, wrists and ankles. To make the measuring easier, you body landmarks like your belly button or a mole or scar, to guide your tape measure placement. For chest measurement, women can either measure under their armpits and/or under their breasts.

b. Don't "pull" on the measuring tape because that will give you a false reading (and stretch the tape). The tape should be snug, but not tight.

c. Don't suck in to make yourself smaller. Again, that will give you a false measurement.

Measuring tapes can be purchased at craft stores (the sewing section) for under $5.00. If you can't find one, you can use a piece of string. Just mark that string with a marker pen to indicate your "start" points". Or if you have an old belt, you can use that too.

Another good "measuring tool" is your clothing. Non-stretchy clothing like a dress shirt, jeans, or dress is the best thing to use. Stretchy fabric (like t-shirts or anything with spandex) will conform to your body as you shrink so you might not see the results. Try on this article of clothing periodically to see how you are losing inches.

Good luck to you on your 14 day Induction journey.

[samiam1272]

Well the bars I'm eating say there good for all phases of the atkins diet, and they say on the package they only have between 1g and 2g net carbs depending on which one I eat.
I havent actualy been doing induction yet 'per say', kinda half and half till I got all the groceries and got ,myself syked out.
My carb intake is low though. And I've lost 20 or so pounds.
It's alot better than what I was eating.
Where do I get that book btw.

[auntiesocial]

I got mine at Goodwill for 99 cents.

[liv]

Not sure what you are doing but it is not Atkins.
There is a FAQ forum here you can check out with stickies about the Atkins diet. Until you get the book that may be a way to start.

[MojosRising]

you are doing great, but many people here are not fond of the Atkins shakes and bars. Several people who were stalled in weight loss eliminated them from there diet and had results... they also say the first 2 wks you should try to cure your sweet tooth and the shakes and bars will keep you addicted to sweets. its really up to you how you use them, but most on adbb refer to them as 'off limits'....

good luck !!

[samiam1272]

you are doing great, but many people here are not fond of the Atkins shakes and bars. Several people who were stalled in weight loss eliminated them from there diet and had results... they also say the first 2 wks you should try to cure your sweet tooth and the shakes and bars will keep you addicted to sweets. its really up to you how you use them, but most on adbb refer to them as 'off limits'....

good luck !!

Thanks for the encouragement.
Yea while browsing threads, I've noticed some general hatred for atkins products on here.
I personally don't see the problem with them as long as your tracking your carb intake and not using these bars as "extra snacks".
I mean, it's low carb protien that satisfies your hunger. And with my busy life I don't have to worry about finding the time to carfully construct meals in stupid ziplocks for daily life. And so far, they seem to work.
I dont see how it's not atkins. I know pizza/ pasta and breads ect should be avoided, thats a given for anyone trying to loose weight, and I'm comming off of that stuff.

I mean 1 bar has 2 net carbs and 1 shake has only 5 grams fiber and 1g sugar. Plus the fiber from the banana.
31 grams of protien in all, then when I get home, like last night for example, I had steak, salad with olive oil and vinigar and a couple spoon fulls of the whole grain rice I made for my wife.
Ohh and some jerky on the way home that has 2 grams of carbs and like 30 grams of protien.

So why is this so far from atkins?
And the No2 I take is a bodybuilding supplement that increases blood flow and nitric oxide delivery for muscle growth and for better nutrient delivery throughout your body.

Ohh and strangely enough i guess, since I've been eating them and doing this, I havent had a single craving for any other sweet stuff.
I guess they taste good enough that that 1 bar is a good enough fix for the day plus I pretty much always feel full.
When I started, the scale maxed out at 300 so I dont know how far over I have been for the last year or so, but just got into the 280's range. Seems the last week or 2 I've been loosing about 3-5 lbs a week and gaining muscle.

[ttdriver]

All I see is PROCESSED foods, LC or not.

Whether those foods can/do help you lose weight, I'm not going to debate. But they are most certainly NOT healthy for the long-term. Can you honestly see yourself eating that stuff for the rest of your life?

What *is* healthy are whole, unprocessed foods. (think: shop the perimeter of the grocery store!)

Non-starchy vegetables, low-glycemic fruits, meats, eggs, cheese, cream, butter ARE healthy and you need those essential vitamins and minerals if you really want to build strength/endurance.

I am a marathon runner who has successfully maintained with LC eating since 2002. I don't do body-building supplements; what I do is EAT REAL FOOD. LC has taught me how to enjoy REAL FOODS I wouldn't have even considered before. And you know what? THEY TASTE GREAT.

Honestly, it doesn't take alot of time to make good nutritious meals.

Betty

[samiam1272]

Yea, I know what your saying, but honestly, yes I could see myself eating this stuff for a long time.
I't really works with my schedule to just eat out of neccesity in my 30 mins lunch break during my 4:30-6:00 day, and then really enjoy my evening meals.
And the only things processed is the shake and bar, everything else is natural foods, lean meat, vegies/ fruits/ water, or maby you didnt read my whole post or all my posts in this thread.
And you probly don't take body builder suppliments because your a marrithon runner, and beceuse most girls don't anyway.
I however am a guy who wants to put on a couple pounds of muscle and loose weight at the same time. So I am going for an almost opposite of a marrithon runners physique (excuse spelling). But lean and mean yet cuddly is my approach not quite marithon leanness.

I guess the results will tell the tale. Maby after it;s said and done I will do the whole post your before and after pics up.
I do plan on trying a 100% so called "clean" induction soon though.

[MojosRising]

Imo, keep doing it if its working for you! If you have any trouble, or see a stall, then think about dropping one and then both.

I think I've read others say its the sugar alcohols or something in the product that is the problem, but I really don't know why.

You could say it was healthier to be getting all your carbs from veggies instead of the bars, but I know that sometimes doesn't work out. Its much harder to keep veggies on hand than bars and shakes. But I think its worth it ( you can tell I'm still trying to convince myself here!)

Remember its a work in progress and what works for you might not work for others. So take everyones advice in stride... you know whats best for you

again good luck... let me know how it goes