Tips for Guaranteed Success w/Atkins

[BigPants]

I just have to reply to the coca-cola information that was posted above. This information is incorrect. You can check my sources here:

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp

This is just one more crazy E-mail hoax that has been floating around for years.

[msanjelpie]

Not all phosphoric acid (PA) is created equal... there are strong and weak solutions... It is the weaker solution that is in the things we eat and use...

Such as "baking soda"... Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) contains PA. It is used as an antacid for short-term relief of stomach upset, to correct acidosis in kidney disorders, to make the urine alkaline during bladder infections, and to minimize uric acid crystallization during gout treatment. (Which is why coke is often recommended for an upset stomach...) A prescription sodium bicarbonate product is given by injection to treat metabolic acidosis and some drug intoxications. PA is considered one of the 'good guys' when it comes to our bodies...

PA is also used as a flavoring agent in carbonated beverages, beer, jams and jellies, and cheeses. In foods, phosphoric acid provides a tart, acidic flavor.

Phosphorus is one of the elements essential for plant growth.

All chemicals can be good or bad dependant on how they are used...



I'm hoping that what this thread will provide is usable advice, not the usual soapbox ethics attributed to those who love to tear down well intentioned subjects by pinpointing imperfect nuances in each of our ways of accomplishing the Atkins lifestyle...

If we were all capable of living perfect nutritional lives we wouldn't be here in the first place... The harder you make something to do the more likely the majority will fail...

I think that it is more beneficial to stress the positive physical changes that can occur with Atkins (regardless of how well it is done...) without harping on the variations that are inherent when different individuals all try the same formula.

I think the best advice would be to JUST DO IT, strive to follow the rules as closely as you can, but don't give up if you can't... Just keep on chugging...

[BigPants]

"I'm hoping that what this thread will provide is usable advice, not the usual soapbox ethics attributed to those who love to tear down well intentioned subjects by pinpointing imperfect nuances in each of our ways of accomplishing the Atkins lifestyle... "


Were you referring directly to my post which corrected the Coca-Cola information? I thought my post was both helpful and useful, as well as educational.

[msanjelpie]

Nope - I found your post most helpful and informative :love

[Cherie_25]

"I'm hoping that what this thread will provide is usable advice, not the usual soapbox ethics attributed to those who love to tear down well intentioned subjects by pinpointing imperfect nuances in each of our ways of accomplishing the Atkins lifestyle... "

Hmmm..Well, we may have gotten off topic of "how to succeed" a little bit but I think everyones posts have contributed some useful advice And if you look at it the way I am:
These subtle disagreements on how to accomplish the Atkins WOE all help out by paving some understanding of which steps work for the majority of atkineers and why they are proven to work. The articles are lovely!
My question is: Where is Skank??? He started this thread and is no where to be found since! LOL

I have one more tip to add:
DONT start Atkins when under serious stress in your life or so financially in debt that you have to resort to food donations..It really does NOT do the body good
You need to be able to afford the food. Quitting the diet because you cant afford the lettuce or cream is harsh on your body if you have already went through 2 weeks of induction. It causes mass pollution<--I call it pollution..Sugar, carbs, processed food all being thrown into your blood stream can make you tremendously ill, very depressed, and of course Fat Again!

Too much stress can make this WOE too difficult to manage
Although this lifestyle can relieve stress and mood swings and depression associated with being overweight, it also takes MIND POWER and determination to keep going..If you are trying to balance too many objects in mid air at this time, this WOE may cause you to drop everything. This has happened to me. I need to FOCUS. I need to pray everyday and narrow in one on goal. That goal is to be thin and healthy. For some, it may come naturally but for myself and others, it's tough!
Sometimes it gets confusing as where your priorities lie. Losing weight may mean so much to you that you can put important things such as work, family, school...on the back burner and really mess things up.
I suggest a not so bumpy road ahead of you in your regular lifestyle before beginning Atkins..We all have problems and road jams of course but if you are living in a box, dont start yet! LOL
I strongly believe that low carb food, excersise, water, and a better mind set is incredibly important but sometimes you just have to hold off on your goals if it just simply is not feasible.

-Cherie

[shawnee]

MAD LUNCHTIME RAMBLINGS FROM AN ATKINSEER

My life is full of stress, I'm a husband, father, boss & this year has been one of the worst I've seen in a longtime businesswise. I feed a lot of people & the stress never eases up. Sometimes I go w/o so that those around me may have

Anyhow I have to disagree w/you as I think this WOL has given me the energy, strength, & health to face up to these challenges that I would have never had with old diabetic overweight me.

**** yeah it's hard trying to do all these things + exercise too (the eating part is the easy part for me as I've figured out how to make great gorumet like Atkins meals) but it's still going to help me face up to all the difficulties I face every day.

My world is nuts, I do international trading & for me the cell phone, faxes, SMS's, E-Mails, Instant messages (**** now I have new program called Trillian that hooks me up to Instant Messages from 4 different types all at once, just the Trillian is a never ending onslaught of messages) create a constant cacophany of electronic noise & Because I work global markets somewhere in the world is always working so this literally goes on 24/7 (I wake up to take 'urgent' calls on average twice during any give night, yeah I've trained myself to do it, I keep a pad & pencil by the bed & write it down & go right back to sleep-this took over a decade to learn to do-go back to sleep that is)+ during the 'day' the meetings, budgets, reports etc of the office world also help to add to the constant barrage that would drive a lesser person crazy,

I would like to kill the person that invented the term multi-tasking :smileangel

Then there's the family needs too. The most important person in my life (besides my wife of course) right now is my 3&1/2 year old son; his cognitive processes are just starting to kick in & he likes daddy around to hang out w/& to teach him things too. Any of us who have raised children before know that these years are very important & can be all too fleeting, in the not too distant future he'll get all his input from his peers & wouldn't be caught dead hangin out w/dad so I need to put a lot of effort there.

Now my exercise time (1&1/2 Mile Swim or 3Mile Run)is my relaxing solo time to chill out from all this & work on the body that must substain this frenetic level of activity. Funny these exercise sessions are my most relaxing time of day now. Centering & meditative while pushing the body to it's physical limits exercisewise & oh yeah burning that fat.

I'm typing this from my desk while eating my Salad & Turkey Pastrami w/Cheese Lunch & all the electronic devices are going off around me.
So I'll finish this message, post it, clean off my desk & get back to it, hoping to get enough accomplished to somehow get out of here in time to do a 5KM Jungle Run before it gets dark (You gotta be out of the deep rainforest part by Sundown(7PM-which means I've got to be on the trail in motion by 6:15PM latest) or you are screwed, it get's dark fast underneath a 30-40 foot canopy!)

So what was my message, oh yeah, I'm sure Atkins has given me the strength to carry on w/all this. It certainly is not a hindrance, not from where I sit but a HUGE HELP.

Screw procrastination-Right now is always the right time to take control of your health!

[Cherie_25]

Hey I LOVE trillion except for the bugs in Yahoo messaging. Good for you Skank!! You must be one of those people that strive on pressure I know what it is like to have your own business and be a parent as well..It's soooo tough! We should have a board of how to raise kids and lose weight on this WOE....For me, Atkins has NOT made me stronger in the sense that I can handle more stress..It HAS made me healthier, thinner, and happier simply because I'm doing something good for myself and looking good while I do it But honestly?, I'm struggling tremendously with everyday life. There has been times when I have simply ran out of money and had to get food from the bank and accept money from friends to pay the rent. I've put my weight loss ahead of school work and failed an exam because I chose to work out and shower instead of studying for an extra, crucial 90 mins. I've also gotten very ill because the combination of not enough sleep, constant studying/work and too much worrying(from stress) combined with the detoxing of induction(first few days) made me collapse from physical exhaustion...These are some examples of what I meant by not Beginning Atkins during these sort of times. I've been doing Atkins for 3 years off and on and I would have been at my goal along time ago had it not been for these sort of episodes. I've thankfully dropped 58 pounds but I still have 50 more to go! The constant problems and quitting can drive a person to give up alltogether on this WOE..I am just so stubborn about everything that I've kept picking up and starting over. I do think my advice is not for everyone, especially those with medical issues that are required to make a change; but I certainly dont want anyone to fail because they have similar issues and Atkins is just too much for them. This may seem as though I am suggesting not to "Just do it"..I whole heartedly believe this is the way everyone in the world should eat, live. My main points are just to look ahead, plan ahead and dont BEGIN this WOE if you can visualise a break in the bridge in front of you. I think that if a person has been dieting for a while and has the experience to curb around life's problems; this WOE can be more productive. If you are just starting out and dont know when you can shop for low carb foods again, waiting a month or two to start will not hurt(unless of course your doctor advises). I agree procastination is a terrible waste of time. I just see a huge difference between mental procrastinating and being physical indebt.
Well OK, now that my daughter is finished with HER homework and asking for help every five mins; showered, and gone to bed it's my turn to study for MY exam tomorrow morn :grimble So much for sleep. Toodles
-Cherie
ps; I found 3 gray hairs today!!! <sigh>

[webdreamy]

How can I put my body into order if the world my body lives in is not in order? I've been on several diets before and it wasn't until I finally got my life in order, less stress more bliss (yes-bliss... even with overdue bills, less stress), worry free living, and a somewhat clean house, food in my fridge, and clean laundry that I could really jump headfirst into a diet like Atkins.

Why? Let's look at my life a year ago when I went into WW:

My house was a mess and I was frantic ALL the time. My daughter was in school from 9am to 5:30pm and somehow I never got anything done. I started going to Curves to excersise but only managed to go maybe 5 times because my house needed cleaning, work needed doing, or by the time I felt like going my daughter was home from school. I started Weight Watchers and lost 3lbs my first week, gained 1.5 my second, and lost 2 my third. (a pattern is forming) We ate a LOT of fast food. I merely "counted my points" for full sugar sodas. I was constantly cranky and frantic. Eventually I stopped going to WW due to the cost, and dropped Curves as well. I then gained 14lbs.

A year later:
My house is tidy and clean, most of my bills are paid and I have a somewhat decent work schedule (i work from home), my daughter is now at home and isn't it amazing that a year ago I would have had to have been comitted after spending a week with her in the house, but now there is nothing more special to me than spending time with her. Because of these things, with the addition of me having made menus and shopping for my menus only for about a month and a half before Atkins; I am now able to do Atkins without stress. I am not sure why some people have a problem fitting the food into their budgets; maybe its because I only buy what I eat now, and try to keep impulse (usually carbloaded anyways) buys to a minimum. Because I am not frantic I have my food ready and cooked. AND the best thing is that when it's time to exercise I just get up and go. I don't have any excuses; everything is done!

Get your life in order (or some semblance thereof) before you do this WOL and then, no matter what life throws at you you will be able to handle it. Please notice that I said START... I don't believe that the minute troubles come into your life you should quit or you will quit. It's just that the start of ANYTHING is the hardest, longest part. The less stress you have when you start, the better. Then, as you continue and your body and spirit are used to this WOL you will be able to handle anything.

[Sirine]

Thanks for that...Even if you already know all that info, you still need to hear it once in awhile :laughing

[stjohnba]

:tweety
I am like everybody else, I HATE DRINKING WATER. I have found one drink other than diet soda that works wonders - RASPBERRY CRYSTAL LITE

This is a life saver, nothing but flavored water with no carbonation. I make mine at work and keep a 64 oz jug on my desk and drink it all day long.....

Try it, it can't hurt!