Help Me! I'm New

[tkellycu]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to Atkins, and just started yesterday. I am very, very determined and motivated to lose the 57 pounds that I wish to shed to get to my goal weight. I am a 5ft 3 in female, mother of 3, married for 5 years, and I am not even 30 yet. My oldest son is starting high school, yes high school, this upcoming school year, and I have carried this extra poundage around for long enough. Yesterday, I weighed myself, and I was whopping 207 pounds~! Yes I wanted to shoot myself, but instead, I started my new WOE. So far I have not deviated. See I am very different. I am not a junk food eater, Not a chocoholic, but I could live on Rice and Gravy till the next century. I was just a bad eater. And not only that. I am lazy! So I know that this is not going to be a walk in the park for me, but like I said, I am determined. Over all the diets that I have tried, I have never packed a lunch. Well I have packed 2 lunches, and 2 snacks for the 2 days that I have been on Atkins. Yesterday, I drank 5, 18 oz glasses of water for a 90ounce H2O intake. You can imagine that I stayed in the bathroom for the whole day, and through out the night. But I woke up refreshed, albeit with a crook in my neck! I am shooting for 90 ounces of water a day. Today, I make the big step of joining a gym. I have joined Bally's, Fitworks, and the YMCA. Between the three of them, I have given away about $2000. I can't tell you one time other than the time I signed up, that I actually used the facilities. But I have made a pact with myself that for every 7-10 pounds I lose, I will buy a new outfit. My kids and my husband are both supporting me through this, so I KNOW that this time I am going to make it. I do have a question though. What can I do about my breath? I have a compulsive disorder and my breath is one thing that I can smell. Is EXTRA sugarless gum okay? I checked the packaged and it has 0 grams of sugar, but 2 grams of sugar alcohol. What the heck is that? Please send me any suggestions. Thanks.

[Mickkey]

Welcome to the ADBB! Sounds like you are off to a great start. You're drinking your water, exercising, and you have great support. Can't honestly tell you what sugar alcohol is, but there is a search option on this board where you can find just about anything that has been asked before. Some people chew gum and are ok with it, some don't because it causes cravings for sweets. Make sure you just check the carb count. If it has carbs you have to count those. Post often and let us know how your doing.

[PaulaMM]

Welcome!

Wow! You really seem motivated! Good on ya!

About the gum, I try to stay away from it unless I know I'm going to be within breathing distance of someone other than my family. My family can just suffer it. The more water you drink, the less you will notice the ketone taste and breath.

Best of luck to you! Keep up the good work and happy carbing!

[MrsD]

Welcome to the boards and good luck. I don't think I can add anything to what the others have already posted. Keep us updated on how it goes!!

[Sherri]

Welcome! I can't remember who found the altoid breath mints made with splenda, but that's an option. Make sure you count the carbs like Mickkey said on the gum and mints. Sounds like your off to a good start.

[sillygirl]

Hi tkellycu! Welcome to the board. You say you're determined and that's 50% of the battle right there! Once you start eating this way, you won't want to go back to your old eating habits. It's not a quick weight loss thing, but rather a slower, steadier process in which you will learn to eat healthy foods and lose weight in the process. Best of luck to you!

[tkellycu]

Hello Everyone! Thank you for the wonderful comments....Today is Friday, June 15th, and this is my 3rd day on Atkins. I am feeling quite ill as of right now. No energy whatsoever, and a killer headache coming on! I couldn't even eat breakfast this morning, so when I got to work at 11:30, I had some cucumbers with Italian Dressing. In my fog, I forgot to check the Italian dressing label, since I normally have 0 carb, 0 sugar Caesar, and this Garden Goodness Italian Dressing, has 2 grams of sugar Thank Goodness, I didn't use much, but I had some carrots on the side, and I was about to take a bite of one, when it occured to my memory that I had not seen carrots on the list of acceptable foods for induction. I whipped out my book, and sure enough they are the enemy on induction. Whoo! Just missed another one. I don't know how I am feeling right now, everything is kinda of moving slow. Me and my husband usually use our weekends entertaining people, and of course drinking alcohol. At this point, I don't have a desire to drink it. I know I won't miss the hangover the next day. But it isn't just that. I don't have a desire to eat, or drink. My appetite is really gone. I have just wolfed down about 20 oz of water, so maybe that is it. Or maybe since I didn't have breakfast my metabolism is still asleep. I need a word of encouragement. I won't even consider quitting since that is not an option. My birthday is September 3, and I am determined to have lost 30 pounds by then. That is 11 weeks from now, so I can lose about 3 pounds per week, and still be good. I am hoping that it doesn't take that long, but if it does, it is ok. I haven't been a 177 pounds since the 9th grade. Sometimes, I just want to cry thinking about how big I really am. I am a size 16 comfortably, but my stomach is like a man's beer belly! I look about 4-5 months pregnant and it is not attractive. I am going to write my feelings in my journal now. If anyone wants to send me a word of encouragement, please do. I am depending on you guys for support, and want to support the other Atkineers as well. So long for now. I will post again in a few hours.

[sillygirl]

Hi tkelly. Don't focus on what is, focus on what you will be in a few months. It's great to see how conscientious you're being about reading labels. Try to read before you eat next time, LOL!!!!! Losing weight is a life altering experience, you should be extremely proud of eating this way!

you might want to start a journal for yourself at JOURNAL CHATS There's so much comaraderie over there, a great group of people! We all visit one another daily!

[tkellycu]

So Okay....I am definitely in induction flu, and since I haven't gotten around to buying any ketosis strips, don't know if I'm in ketosis or not. But I definitely feel it. The worst thing ever happened short of me cheating. My cube mate who has been a constant source of bad food for me, brought in a hugh snack tray of hot fudge brownies. Needless to say, I was disturbed by this sight, and actually had to get up and walk to the water fountain to regain my composure. I am determined. Letting everyone else eat those brownies, and not touching one myself, even after being coached to "just eat one", made me feel very good. I just wish this headache would go away and I didn't feel so sluggish. Have drank 36 oz of water so far today, and just filled up again....plain on drinking another 36 before the day is over....I don't think I can do my 90ounces today, I'm just not in the mood, but will get to 64, and if I can go further I will. Will post before I leave for the day. See you guys later

[sillygirl]

Sorryyou have the induction flu, that must mean you're doing this right! It'll get better in a few days, in the meantime drink lots of water!

great job passing up the goodies at work!