Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

[Suzy]

Hi all, glad to be here. I have 60 pounds to go and am recovering from several sports-related surgeries and injuries. I've lost nearly 10 pounds on Atkins in about 11 days. I'm on this wierd "high" and am not at all hungry so have started to restrict what I eat almost completely, and exercise a lot. Problem is, I also have a history of eating disorders, so the empty-feels-good feeling is wierding me out a little. I just need to feel healthy and fit into my size 6 clothes again! I'm not as shallow as that sounds, really. Anyone out there with disordered eating? I could use (and will try to give) all the support possible...

[imagood1]

Re: Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

Hi and welcome --

Congratulations on your weight loss this far. I hope you have a copy of the 2002 Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (DANDR) it's the book we follow here. It would be a helpful for you to have a copy of the book to refer to (www.amazon.com or www.half.com have inexpensive copies). At the top of the induction page you’ll find a condensed version of the book - (Atkins Diet Induction FAQs)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/77558-atkins-diet-induction-faqs.html

Since you aren't real hungry make sure you get all your veggies in every day (2 cups loosly packed salad veggies [not just lettuce - look at the list] and 1 cup from the "other veggie" list. You need to make sure you are getting some food in daily - even if you aren't hungry to keep your strength up and also to keep your nutrition in check. Make a copy of this list (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html and take it with you when you go to the store. If a food isn’t listed on the acceptable food list don’t eat it. Learn to read the label on all foods you buy - don’t just look at the “carb” number look at the ingredients list of everything and check the ingredients against your list. Just because it says "low carb" doesn't mean you can eat it. Also check for hidden sugars (learn the names used in place of the word “sugar”).

Make sure you drink a minimum of 64 ounces of pure water (nothing added), exercise starting today and taking a multi-vitamin without iron (you should get enough iron with the foods you are eating on Atkins).

Check all around the board for everything there is to, there is a challenge section with both exercise and non exercise challenges, Rate My Menu for help with your food, journaling – something for everyone.

The recipe sites are helpful for meal planning – just make sure you use Induction Recipes to begin with.
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html (Linda’s)
(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html (Induction recipes)
(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics)

If you need anything we’re here to help you!! Good luck to you!

[Suzy]

Re: Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

Thanks Carole. Your weight loss is amazing. I have a question about caffeine - the book says NO, I think, but I don't understand why. It really helps me feel better and don't get sweets cravings from it. Is a cup or two a day OK? Is there a way I can search forum threads for that topic?

[tasteslikechicken]

Re: Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

Hi Suzy,

Welcome to the board. I’m also new here, started Induction 3 days ago. When you say you’ve started to restrict what you eat almost completely, are you talking about carbs or about not eating? I have friends who go to therapy, OA meetings, acupuncture, etc and all that helps them with their eating disorders. Can ask around and find out more info if you’d like. Feel free to PM me.

[imagood1]

Re: Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

If you don't have any problem with cravings I guess coffee would be ok but since you are just getting started on induction you don't know if it will effect you or not. Decaf may be better than regular - 1 drink 1 cup of decaf in the morning and sometimes another in the evening.

[neutronnorman]

Re: Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

I'm on this wierd "high" and am not at all hungry so have started to restrict what I eat almost completely, and exercise a lot. Problem is, I also have a history of eating disorders, so the empty-feels-good feeling is wierding me out a little. I just need to feel healthy and fit into my size 6 clothes again! I'm not as shallow as that sounds, really. Anyone out there with disordered eating? I could use (and will try to give) all the support possible...

Everybody here probably has an eating disorder. Any eating pattern that disrupts physical or psychological health I'd consider an eating disorder. I don't understand what you meant by: "so have started to restrict what I eat almost completely." Do you mean you are not eating? Also, exercising in excess will lead to over-training. Usually, when a person over-trains and / or under-eats their body cannibalize lean protein tissue (muscles), organ tissue etc. What these people do not realize is that they look awful after the weight loss. They look far worse than they did before starting the diet.

On Atkins, the weight come off primarily as body fat. The loss of lean tissue is minimized. If the individual chooses to gain muscle mass the AD opens up that possibility. Simply, the person can up their caloric intake just enough to either stall or increase the movement on the scale while losing inches where fat deposits accumulate genetically.

I'm not hungry most of the time but I try to eat something every 4 hours or so. That's me. Honestly, you shouldn't be dropping your calories under 1,200. Lower than that, your body will go into a starvation mode.

When the body "thinks" there's no food coming it will conserve body fat. If you starve yourself you'll end up fatter than you are.

Also it takes time to lose body fat. It will not happen in a few weeks. It will take more like months.

Use Atkins as a tool to retrain yourself into notching up to a healthy WOE that is unique for your metabolism. This is not a "diet." Diets are temporary. You have to make the commitment to changing your life style.

[neutronnorman]

Re: Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

Sorry Suzy! I messed up. I had a long day at school. I didn't read the part about you having sports related injuries, etc. So you know about training, diet etc. I can be a dunce at times!

[Suzy]

Re: Newbie with a long way to go and ED problems

Thanks Norman, and everyone else, for your comments. I know I need to feed myself, so my body doesn't start to hang on to the fat. I'm just not hungry during the day. I'm eating a big dinner at night (e.g., last night: 2 cups of salad greens mixed with 2 small grilled pork cutlets, about 1/4 cup home-made blue cheese dressing (blue cheese, real mayo, a little cream, a little vinegar), a "mega-muffin" made with butter, ground flax seed, egg, spices, splenda and a dab of cream cheese) Yummy and I was stuffed. That was it for the day. Also cycling for 1 hour and I threw in a bunch of sit-ups, too. And some vitimins. I've been doing this (more or less; mnu changes) for two weeks now and have lost 11 pounds.

Does this seem like a reasonable amount of food and exercise? I hate eating when I'm not hungry, and I'll start to twitch if I don't work out fairly rigorously. So what do you think? I dont want to mess myself up, but so far, it's working and I feel great. I also realize I may have to adjust as I re-introduce other foods into my plan, or if I start to get hungry during the day.