Just starting!

[indymom]

Welcome Michelle! Im new here too. One thing I can tell you is that you've come to the right place. Everyone is so friendly and encouraging.
Read the past posts..theyre very informative....and stay away from the ready made bars and shakes..just use real food and you'll be fine.
And if your out and about and didnt have time to make something ahead..its pretty easy to get a salad somewhere with grilled chicken on it (just make sure the dressing doesnt have sugar). You can do it!

[mish711]

Thanks IndyMom!! Yeah I've definitely reading up a lot! I'm really, REALLY anxious to make this change in my life!! My pant legs felt a little looser today! So that's good! Good luck with your goal too!! I'll be here to support you right back! Thank you!

[sensfan1960]

Welcome Michelle,
You are a beautiful attractive young lady...YOU CAN do this!
Induction is the key to success.
When you start go the full two weeks by the letter...you will be amazed at how GREAT you feel.
Be positive...keep your focus...start exercising and then go with the flow. Don't think of this as a diet but as a NEW WAY OF LIFE.
Don't forget to take your measurements before you start.
This is the best place for you to come when you feel things are getting hard....start a journal in the journal forum.
Don't worry about asking questions...ASK THEM...the wealth of knowledge here is incredible.
Good for you for making this choice...you will NEVER regret it.
Big hugs!!

[Lyssie]

Hey Michelle! Welcome to the board!! So... my only suggestion is to split up your veggies a bit... instead of having all of them at dinner, try and spread them throughout the day... and *up* your fat content. You should be eating 65% fat, 30% protein and 5% carbs. I think that's mostly protein, and then fat and carbs would be competing.

Like sensfan said - TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS!! www.mybodycomp.com is a free website that will track your measurements. You can use different profile dates and it gives you a bunch of information, then down the road as you're losing weight, you can compare different ones, and see how much the change is between the two!

Also, if you can, it's great to use a food journal like www.fitday.com or www.thedailyplate.com to track your food. They're pretty easy to use and will make sure that your percentages for the day are on. They help to pinpoint issues if there's something a bit off, or if you think something is safe, and it's actually not, or vice versa. They're an *awesome* tool.

I strongly recommend jumping in to an exercise challenge, like the 6 Week Exercise Challenge, if you're a beginner. You simply sign up for how many days a week you're going to do something for the six weeks. You report in daily whether you did exercise or didn't, and there's a nifty chart and stuff. It really kept me motivated in the beginning.

Oh, and come join us in the Journal Chats. It gives you a place to vent and rant, and have fun and joke around with everyone else.

[sallyseachange]

Michelle... seems like you've really got the idea of how to eat Atkins-style. That's great!
Lyssie's right in her suggestion to split up the veggies throughout the day. Doing that prevents nasty blood sugar surges which can cause cravings.
One thing I'd mention is that in induction we are limited to 3 cups of veggies a day (2 cups salad plus 1 cup "other veggies" on the acceptable list... or if you prefer, 3 cups salad - preferably not only lettuce, which is mostly water and not too nutrient dense). If that doesn't seem enough to you, you can make the move to OWL (ongoing weigh loss) after the two week induction and add in extra veggies. You can stay on rung one of OWL (extra veggies) for as long as you like.

Happy losing!

[Thin is possible!]

Welcome mish! I sooooooooo agree with all of the awesome advice already given here. I would deviate a bit though and that would be this piece of advice. PLEASE NOTE THAT WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS MEANT TO BE ONLY TEMPORARY!!!! Here goes: You seem to be very overwhelmed with the changes you are undertaking. We all were when we made a committmet to this lifestyle. I know when I started out I was trying to make so many changes that I almost failed. What I decided to do in the beginning is this: I focused only on induction eating and learning that phase...as well as increasing my water intake. That was it and that was enough. As that became a familiar lifestyle and I felt comfortable, I chose another habit to work on. Say, now add exercise in small increments. It is true that you will be able to lose weight on this plan without exercise in the beginning. And so, if that part of the plan intimidates you....Wait on it. HOWEVER, at some point you MUST undertake this part of the plan and make it a serious, concentrated, everyday part of your life to be successful long term. You will need it for maintenance, to help firm and tone your body, as well as to help center you mentally. At least the benefit my body receives from the stress I am able to release is way to good to pass up! So, in a nutshell, I am trying to say this. Exercise is a MUST! And you MUST implement it. BUT add it in a little at a time, maybe a few months down the road. I suggest this because we need to remember that Rome wan't built in a day, neither can we expect to change a life time of bad habits in a day either. Implementing a few things at a time is safer that trying it all and becoming overwhelmed and then quitting because the task is too monumental! READ THE BOOK AND EDUCATE YOURSELF AS WELL. Learn how your body works! Love it! It is beautiful! Take care of YOU my friend...you are the handiwork of God!

[Lyssie]

On the other hand, the most recent time I set out on this adventure, I jumped in with both feet, cleaned up my eating habits, and went from 0 exercise to working out twice a day at the same time, and am doing pretty ok for myself.

It varies from person to person. Exercise is non-negotiable. The earlier you add it in, the earlier you will see the results from it. It's really worth making the time for it right from the beginning. I really regret that I didn't make it a habit the first time around.

[mish711]

Hey guys! Ok I'm taking all of your advice! I really appreciate it! I don't think it's going to be as difficult to change my eating habits as I thought. At the store last night, I just went STRAIGHT to what was on my list!
I'm going to start trying to walk a little bit at night. I am not a morning person at all! I can never seem to drag myself out of bed in time for ANYTHING! But I could probably go a couple of rounds around my apartments complex every night!! And on the weekends I could go to the beach and walk!! That's another reason why I want this so bad!! I've lived in Wilmington almost 2 years now and I don't even own a swimsuit! I want to go to the beach!

SOOO I'm gonna try to just jump in feet first (Thanks Lyssie!)

I'm trying to spread my veggies out, I had some celery sticks with some cream cheese this morning for breakfast ... and I have hard boiled eggs in the fridge for later and I've got string cheese lol. I'll probably make another chicken breast for dinner.

I can do this!!! My mom and friends are really supporting me! I just really want my mom not to recognize me when I go home!!

I am already starting to feel a little better! I haven't had any bread and I've been chugging water like there was a drought! No sodas, no caffeine, nothing!

Wooo!!!! Thank you guys!!

[sensfan1960]

Way to go girl!!
GREAT attitude and we all know that 95% of this WOL is ATTITUDE!!

[mish711]

Thanks Sens fan!! BTW - good job to you!! You can definitely see a difference in your face in your pictures! Way to go!