New to Atkins... my last "diet" ever, I hope!

[Adena]

I know, I know -- it's not a diet! My point exactly... no more diets for me. I'm so glad to have found this board. I'm on day 5 of induction and feeling very good. I had always heard people weren't hungry on Atkins, but thought it was just people who had drank the (sugar-free) Kool-Aid and BELIEVED they weren't hungry, when in actuality they were! But my gosh, it's really true!

I've been overweight my whole life, tried tons of diets. I just recently was my heaviest at 280 !! Started Atkins at 275 and am down about 5 lbs now. I am very much an "all or nothing" type of person, so this way of eating is perfect for me. And, I truly am amazed that my cravings for carbs and sugar have really subsided.

I'm a mom of 2 little ones, and both my husband and I are 100+ pounds overweight. My kids don't need that.... neither the baggage of "fat" parents nor, more importantly, the unhealthy eating and examples in our household.

Looking around on the site last night, I found someone who had posted photos of her bare stomach (I don't recall her name, but would like to reach out to her if anyone knows...?) -- and I saw my own!! First of all, how cool that she was brave enough to post it -- and it is even well before she has lost all she wants. It inspired me to take my own (very scary) photos this morning. I won't post quite yet.... but perhaps if (I mean, WHEN!) I have some progress to show in another month or so.

I do have a few of questions about induction:

1. I've read the allowed foods list. But, have also read we can eat anything with NO carbs or sugar. For example, pork skins aren't on the list (except as a salad topping) -- but they have no carbs. So, are they allowed or not? What about other things that have no carbs (or only one or two carbs) -- if you count them carefully and stay under 20, can you have them?
2. Are you allowed to eat hotdogs, if you count the one gram of carbs each?
3. When can I realisitically expect to see my keto stix turn purple? I checked yesterday, and they are changing colors for sure... sorta very light plum/lavendar now. But, when is realistic to experience/expect full ketosis?

This seems like a great board with lots of nice, supportive folks! Thanks for taking the time to help out us newbies.

Adena

Brief bio
Married
Kids: 3 and 4
Home: Atlanta, Ga.
Age: 33
Starting weight: 275
First mini goal: Below 250

[pstansel]

1) Pork rinds are allowed, lots of people eat them. I just can't bring myself to do it but if you like them then great!

2) Yes, but check the ingredients. You want to try and find ones with little or no sugar, and watch the nitrates. I've heard Hebrew Nationals are good. Check around.

3) If they are changing color you are in ketosis. Some people show the effects more strongly than others. Congrats!

[jcapulet]

Congrats to joining the Atkins way of life!

I like pork rinds, but have to be careful about how much of them I eat. I've gotten stalled because of water retention (too much salt). Same with hot dogs, I have them but make sure it's not too much because they're kinda salty.

Remember that sugar substitutes count as carbs too...I think it's one packet= 1 carb. I chew sugar free chewing gum (1 carb each ) so I found I have to cut down on those. Every carb counts toward your daily total.

Good luck and best wishes!

Lisa

[Adena]

Thanks, pstansel and Lisa. That's great to know! If can can eat pork rinds, then can I also eat other no carb, no sugar stuff (can't think of another example at the moment....) or other very low carb stuff IF I count it (such as full-fat cottage cheese, for example)?

As for the sugar substitue.... I have all three packets at once everyday at lunch in my unsweet tea. It feels like a great treat!

Adena

[ValidRouge]

Hi there Adena, welcome to ADBB! Taking pictures for you to compare is an EXCELLENT idea, even if you don't post them. In a couple months, take some more and you are going to be AMAZED at the changes.

As for your questions:
1) Pork skins, I would say fall in the category of "Pork" because the ingredients would only include the pork skin. (Unless they are flavored...those are the ones to watch out for). However, you should really limit your portions of them because they do have sodium as well. Plus, one of the things we are learning in induction is PORTION CONTROL and re-learning our thirst and hunger cues. Only eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. If you have other foods that you aren't sure of, come and ask us first before you eat it just so you know if it's okay. There are other foods that have no carbs and no sugar that could hinder your efforts such as sugar free jello sweetened with aspartame!
2) You are allowed hotdogs, but check the ingredient list to see if there are fillers and additives that you are not allowed to have. You are looking for sugar, corn syrup, starches, wheat products, etc. Count the carbs.
3) As long as your keto stix turn ANY color, you are in ketosis and burning fat. There is a VERY interesting thread around here somewhere about why you would NOT want them to turn deep purple. The deeper the color IS NOT AN INDICATOR OF THE AMOUNT OF BODY FAT YOU ARE BURNING! You could be overeating your fats and your body is burning those fats and spilling ketones making the sticks purple...but you wouldn't be burning ANY of your own fat....and the objective here is to burn the fat on your body, right???

If you are eating from the acceptable foods list, drinking your water and exercising, this plan WILL work for you.
2)

[ValidRouge]

Cottage Cheese is not allowed during induction, nor is ricotta cheese. Those are allowed in the Ongoing Weight Loss Phase that you can start after your 14 day induction. But even then, they aren't allowed until you get to the appropriate
rung of OWL. (Go visit the OWL forum)

[Adena]

Thanks, Joy -- and wow! You look great!! You're right about portion control. I don't have trouble with anything else, but for some reason, when I eat pork skins, I find it hard to stop. That should tell me something... I do like sugar-free jello and have one or two of those a day. But I haven't noticed it affecting me. I guess the key is that we are all different and just have to see how our own bodies react, huh?

Thanks again!
Adena

[dreamof145]

Welcome Adena. Congratulations on making the decision to join us and get healthy. Is your husband doing the program with you? That will be great incentive for both of you to do the WOE and exercise together.

I agree, we have to be good examples for our children. There are way too many stories about families who loved their kids with food and then the children end up with weight problems.

Have you read the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, edition 2002? You'll want to do that as his words are gold as far as success on doing Atkins correctly.

I started out a bit heavier than you when I began Atkins. I can tell you if you follow the WOE, Exercise, Drink Water and take your supplements, you will lose the weight. I couldn't be happier with my results. We are all here for you. People in the ADBB want to see you succeed and the board is full of advice, knowledge, and friends to help you make it happen. BEST WISHES!!!

[Adena]

Thanks so much, Becky. My husband is "sort of" doing it with me. He is a few days behind me, but has seen me feeling so good and being so positive about it that he is jumping on the bandwagon. I actually think his eating plan will end up being more low carb than pure Atkins, but that's okay -- he actually loses weight pretty easily, and I suspect that will work for him just fine.

I am reading the New Diet Revolution now (I actually found it for $4.99 in the bargin bin at Barnes & Noble -- it had NDR, the cookbook, and the Atkins carb counter all in one hardcover book!). And you're right -- it does help a lot. I skip around in it, and read a little every night.

You know, while I'm not hungry most of the time, I have found that you guys are really right when it comes to not missing meals, because when I AM hungry, I feel famished!! And it comes on suddenly. I can see how that would be a dangerous situation to be in. So, am trying to eat regularly, hungry or not.

Won't it be to wonderful to get to the point where I'm eating to live and not living to eat?! I've wanted that my whole life. For the first time, I feel like I may just get there.

Thanks again to everyone for the support!

[Teresavz]

Hi I am new to this site but not Atkins, I've been on for about a month and have lost 15 lbs. I am having trouble getting all the water drank--diet coke is soo much better. Congrats to all those with me.