new to atkins from UK

[karinaj]

Hi everyone,
started atkins yesterday, at the minute im about a stone overweight Ive just had my 2nd child 10 weeks ago and the extra weight just wont budge. Iv tried eating healthy but not lost a single pound in about 8 weeks and im desperate now. I feel quite depressed over it which is quite new to me as my weight has never been an issue before. Really need to do something positive as i think my baby can feel im irritated and stressed most of the time, I just need to feel a bit more like me again so I can start enjoying my baby instead of worrying about my size and Im hoping atkins will do this for me. Im planning on losing a full stone but to be honest id be happy just to se the scale move during the induction Anyone got any tips for me?? Id be really gratefull for any advice as im a total carb junkie. And the water is really posing a problem for me, yesterday I only managed 3 bottles of 330ml and i felt so bloated i coudnt eat or drink anything else.

[angelstar]

Hi there fellow UK person!

I posted the below on another thread but I thought you might find it useful!

Welcome to the board. This is a FANTASTIC place for advice and support, you will feel right at home in a few days! You asked for a few tips and here they are:

* Induction can be hard to get through, headaches, feeling sick and other side effects will make you feel like pants. BUT stick with it, it will only last a week or so. You're body is just getting rid of all the cr*p in ur body from the carbs you were eating previously.
* As Dot said, keep plenty of legal snacks around so if you are hungry then you can grab something that you're allowed to eat. There are loads of recipe ideas on the Food forum, check it out!
*Drink plenty of water, esp in the first 2 weeks. This will help your body flush out the nasty toxins. Aim for at least 2 litres a day, more if the weather is warmer.
*Exercise. At least 3 hours a week. Split it up into how ever you want to. But find something that you enjoy doing, dont pick something that you wont like or you wont do it and feel bad about it. Try walking or cycling or swimming, whatever floats ur boat! You said about snacking in the evenings so maybe it is best for you to use this time for exercise so your mind is focused on something else, not eating. Plus you will feel alot better for exercising instead of snacking.
*Weigh urself once a week and only once! Try not to get upset you find urself not losing weight, post a typical days menu and people on the boards may be able to pin point something that could be stalling you. Do your best to give up caffiene and fizzy drinks with sweetners as they are the common weight loss stallers
*Set goals, realistic ones and treat yourself to something when you reach them, a beauty treatment or a new item of clothing

Ermmm thats it for now! I'm sure someone else can add on a few more!

[Richt]

Welcome to the wonderful world of ADBB, Karina. Angelstar's advice above is good stuff.

From a fellow brit also.

Rich

[13_jane]

Hi Karina

Welcome to a fellow Northerner! I'm pretty close to you, I live in Widnes!!

I find this website fantastic - the biggest piece of advice I would give is to just read as many threads as possible, there is soo much information on here! Some of the meal ideas are great - things I wouldnt think of putting together!

As for the water - I dont like still water either, so I get sparkling and my new thing is to get little bottles, chill in the fridge, and drink through a straw, and just pretend I'm drinking small bottles of champagne!!! hehe!! They go pretty quickly when you're slurping through a straw!!

Good luck with your induction, I'm a restarter, and I finish my first week tomorrow, but I think after the first two weeks, I'll go onto extended induction, as I find the plan really easy to stick to!!

think thin

jane x

[kary]

hey,
just joined this group, been on atkins 3 weeks today, only lost about 5 llbs the first 8 days then up a pound, down a pound every day with no weight loss at all last 2 weeks!!! Getting very discouraged and had half a can of pringles last night! i find porkies(pork scrathings) good for a snack when you crave something crunchy but not keen on the high fat content.
How are you doing now??
Karen, Not far from london, uk.

[dreamof145]

Welcome! The advice you've received is great. Another thing is to measure yourself. Even if you aren't losing pounds, you are probably losing inches. Taking a walk with the baby and talking to her/him is good exercise for both of you. I watch my grandbaby and sometimes I put her on a blanket on the floor while I do exercises. She loves the music and watching me.

Make your ATKINS EXPERIENCE a pleasant one, don't struggle and get yourself stressed. Write out your plans and stick to them. Once they become a habit, you'll quit worrying and enjoy the pounds/inches drop.

[karinaj]

thanks for all the advice im going to take it on board. Its day 3 today and im feeling dreadful, have headache ear ache and feeling very nauseus, not sure if its related to atkins but its not nice. Im not sure if ive lost any weight but i doubt it, trying to steer clear of the scales for a little while longer BECKY, RICHT and angelstar you all look fantastic, seeing your pics has made me even more determined to stick this out.13 JANE Il give that a go lol, pretend its vodka hehe, .

[boonie stomper]

Welcome, Karinaj. You've gotten good info so far; here's a little more possibilities. Do you breastfeed? That can help take fat off.
Sipping warm salty broths through a straw can be easier the first 1/2 week of induction than chugging plain water. That way you won't become dehydrated due to lost electrolytes. During the transition period between when your body is operating on carbs (including reserve glycogen in the liver last of all), you system can become out of balance with all the changes going on. This is probably the point you are at now.

The good news is, you can get through this phase in less than a day (if you don't cheat!) and suddenly your body unleashes fat for energy, and begins to establish systemic equilibrium again. Your energy level will probably soar, and appetite diminsh. Hang in there! I wish you success!!

[prfctlildvl]

Wow! So many nice people from all over the world. My husband is from Holland but has lived in upstate New York for the past 6 years. We're so close to Canada that Montreal is less than 45 minutes away.

Karinaj: I'm so glad to see that you're also new to Atkins and the ADBB and I can't wait to see your progress. I started the day after you did - this is my second attempt at Atkins. I didn't stick it out through induction last time because I didn't feel like I was loosing weight. Truth was that I never really gave it a chance.

I am going to stick it out this time - I'm determined. I do remember not feeling well for the first few days so I expected it this time but I think it's because I'm a sugar addict and not having it was causing "withdrawal". Once I made it past day two, I was feeling much better.

The only thing that concerned me last time was all the fat and how it effects your cholesterol - does everyone have good counts?

[13_jane]

Karina

I felt soo sick the other day too!! It lasted two days, but now I feel fantastic - I've just come off the step machine after 45 minutes and I still have lots of energy!!

Good luck with your first week - and enjoy the vodka!! hehe!

think thin!!
Jane xxx