Newbie So far - without the books.

[Ted221]

Hello Everyone.

I am new to Atkins.
I ordered 5 or 6 different Atkins books & recipes, Still waiting for them, in the meantime.

I am trying to stay away from the carbs.
On a normal day i have about 5 or 6 cups of coffee with 1pk of sweet n low.
I also have about 10 16-20 oz cups of water flavored with Hawaiian Punch Singles To Go Low Calorie Drink, they are 1 carb each as well.
I think i have seen some alternative to this drink like crystal light or something that has zero carbs.
I don't think i can live without the flavored water or coffee in my daily routine. Which on average I'm guessing i drink about 20 carbs this way.

So now to the food.

A lot of the times i wake up and I'm not hungry till about noon.
So I either have some eggs scrambled with milk and 3 sausage links.
Or i skip right to lunch.
Lunch is (for right now) a rueben sandwich 30 carbs ( most of the carbs are from jewish rye bread 13 crabs each slice) or 4oz of turkey and 4oz of chicken deli sliced sandwich meat on a plate with 4 slices of jalepeno cheese heated up. 2 sandwich pickles, 2 tbs of italian dressing (2carbs)

With my luch and my dinner i usually always have 1/2 cup of mild cauliflower (pickled) , 3 pepperconi , (about 1/8 cup of jalepeno- dinner)
and 3 or 4 pepper chunks.

Dinner is usually a 6oz steak with 4 tablespoons of Ranch Dressing 4carbs.
along with the peppers i mentioned above.
Or a dozen wings, no sides(peppers), just dressing.

Somewhere in between if im still hungery i have 2cups of cauliflower & brocolli steamed with some cheese.
Or 2 cups Spaghetti Squash with butter.

These are the things im eating untill i get some recipes and such.
I have no problem eating this food everyday. I am very easy to please.
I only eat for taste anytime i crave food its usally a mouthwatering taste that im craving flavor.

About me

I am 5'6 235lbs , I think maybe 10 days ago i might have been 240lbs or more. I feel like i might have lost weight on the sides of my waist.

Possibly because of lowering my carb intake and
I started walking the Mckinley Monument steps and around the bottom about 5 times once a day, it takes about 40 - 50 minutes.
Those Steps are alot of work, search google for picture of the steps and you will understand what i mean, Or picture the steps in the rocky movies.


So Anyways thats a little about me right now.

My problems i forsee in the future of this diet.
I love my side dressings love love love.
Love the pickled veggies.
My coffee and my flavored water.

Any Suggestions or opinions on whether what i see as problems will in fact be problems.

Thanks,
Take care

[kibskix]

"I don't think i can live without the flavored water or coffee in my daily routine."
think about your mindset when you say things like that.
are you going to die without it?
Nope!

[liv]

Oh yes - there are indeed some "problems" in your future if you plant to do the Atkins diet
We go by some rather strict rules here - especially in the beginning. But the good news is that while it may seem hard to do when you think about it, it actually is doable. One reason it is doable is the process of ketosis - which is appetite suppressing and help us lose weight.

You only really need one book. Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002)

Here are some info to get you into preview mode:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...induction.html (What are the Rules of Induction?) (What are the Rules of Induction?)
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...induction.html (What foods can be eaten on Induction?) (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...lent-tips.html (A "MUST READ" for Newbies... 40 excellent tips!) (A "MUST READ" for Newbies... 40 excellent tips!)

And congratulations on taking the plunge. That is the first step. Good for you.

[imagood1]

Hi Ted --- you really need the 2002 DANDR book or until yours arrive you need to read the list of acceptable food and the rules of Atkins. I see many problems that you need to change before you can actually claim to be following the Atkins plan.

You need to drink AT LEAST 64 ounces of plain water each day -- not low carb flavored drinks - these do not count toward your water intake. Do you use Sweet and Low in EACH of your cups of coffee? We are allowed 3 packets of sweetner (Dr Atkins said Splenda) per day. And if you are drinking regular coffee you need to change to decaf and only drink a cup or two per day.

Bread is not allowed on induction - the pepperconi I've seen have 2 carbs per pepperconi, I hope you are counting them toward your total. Are you using FitDay or some other program that keeps track of your net carbs.

Here are links to the correct food and the rules of induction --- there are many other good informational stickies on the Induction forum that will be helpful for you. Also links to recipe sites to help you make legal foods. As soon as you start following the plan correctly and get into keotsis you will start feeling better and after a few days you will be able to live without the foods and drinks you think you can't now.

Good luck.

Rules of Induction:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6782 (What are the Rules of Induction?)
Induction Acceptable Foods:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6781 (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Daily Menus
Sheila's Low Carb, Atkins & Induction Friendly *ORIGINAL* Recipes Page!
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...n-recipes.html (Never ending induction recipes)
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...pes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)

[Ted221]

I have these and a few others coming
500 Low-Carb Recipes,
Low-Carb Dieting For Dummies,
Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution,
Dr. Atkins' New Carbohydrate Gram Counter.

1 or 2 cups of decaf Coffee Per day I think i need to find bigger cups.
So is this only during induction with the coffee or throughout the whole process ?

I'm not on the Atkins diet I'm just cutting back on my normal carb intake until i get my books and can properly start the diet like i mentioned in my post.
So I'm not in any induction, just trying out less carbs to see what it feels like.
You know i have noticed just eating fewer carbs my taste buds are changing.
Things that used to taste good have a funny taste to them now.


I also get that weird belly hunger as well after a few hours of just having something too eat, is that normal when lowering your carb intake?

Thanks,
Take care

[liv]

Most of the people here did Atkins induction (by the book) so it is hard for us to know what is "normal" for someone lowering carb intake. You are eating things on your diet that is very far from Atkins induction foods - like milk and bread and a heap of sweeteners.
Once you get your book and you start on induction let's see what happen. On induction the rule is to eat something with hunger (and never skip breakfast - regular meals are a must). A snack with good fats is usually recommended.
I don't know how much you have to lose but I think some of us eat so much crap that we have lost our ability to read our body signals. And one of the things we have to relearn on Atkins is to read when we are hungry and when we should eat or when we are just thirsty.
Anyways. Let us know how things go.