can't wait to be thinner and healthier!

[lunadormir]

i woke up yesterday and decided to go on adkins...i'm new to all this in a sense because the last time i did adkins was when i was 15 years old and at that time i weighed in at 260lbs...i was not at a healthy weight and was considered morbidly obese...i started adkins and the weight started to melt off of me and four months into the program(i stayed on induction the entire time) i had got down to 200 lbs...in fact my scale at home read 199...that's when i stopped the diet and lavished in my new body...since 2004 i had gained 20 pounds back...took about 3 years(averaged about 7 pounds weight gain a year)...then in the summer of 2007 i became pregnant with my son Ian and just before his birth i was a whopping 270!...1 month after his delivery my scale read 240 and has since stayed at that number up until now...my goal weight is 150(i pray to see the day)...but i will set mini goals until my ultimate goal can be met...i don't have a lot of money and adkins in somewhat expensive considering you go from a inexpensive carbohydrate diet with breads, pastas, sugary drinks, and snacks...really fairly cheap..to a limited carb diet where you are purchasing meats, dairy, fresh salads, nuts(expensive!)...those are expenisve items in comparison to the full on carb lifestyle...so i'll put my money where my mouth is and here i go...wish me luck and the best of luck to all here!!

[Chicklady]

Hi Luna Welcome aboard. Just a suggestion for cost control---buy in bulk and freeze stuff when you can. Use frozen veggies instead of fresh when you need to cut costs....better than canned and cheaper(usually) then fresh. And finally, consider a garden. good exercise and "free" veggies.....

[allyscharm]

Hi Luna! Welcome to the boards. I noticed we are about the same weight with the about the same goal so I will be checking on you to see how you are doing.

I go to Sams (Wholesale) and buy bags of chicken breasts and tenders that have been frozen seperately so I can just take two or three out at a time. If they say "frozen individually" then they won't all stick together. I have been working on that chicken for three weeks! When I buy meat that hasn't been frozen I freeze it in single servings in Ziploc bags.

BTW I have just had all my fillings replaced, two new crowns, a root canal, and soon one implant...thanks to sugar rotting my teeth. My dentist bill makes my grocery bill look like pocket change You are making a wise investment by doing Atkins! You are going to look and feel great!

Good luck!

[Sherri]

Hello Luna,
Welcome to ADBB and back to Atkins,
Congratulations on your baby boy!
This is a great board with volumes of info. Here's some info I like to share with everyone I welcome. It's a Stickie from the Induction Thread. There's great info there to help you along your way.
Post often join some challenges. A great way to meet people and make new friends.
I would like to invite you to come on over to the Century Club Roll Call each day to check in. Century Club is for those of us that have lost or will lose 100 pounds or more from their heaviest weight.
I would love to have you join us there.
Again, Welcome.
Sincerely, Sherri
Before you begin:

1. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition.
At the very least, read chapters 10 through 14. These chapters tell you how to do the diet, what to expect, and why the first 14 days are so important.

ADBB uses DANDR 2002 as its reference. Granted there are other publications by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. but we like to do the diet as it was written by Dr. Robert C. Atkins because in our collective experience Dr. Atkins' diet is more effective than Atkins Nutritionals, Inc's version.

2. See your physician.
Dr. Atkins recommended this himself. See your physician for a complete physical exam, including blood tests before beginning this or any other diet and exercise program.

Also take the Blood Sugar Symptom Test found in the book.

3. Make a commitment.
Commit yourself to giving the 14 day Induction a fair shot. If you can't commit yourself to 14 days of following rules and eating the foods listed in the acceptable foods list, this diet might not be for you.

4. Prepare your kitchen
If it's not on the list, remove it from your home. If you live with people who aren't on a low carb diet, then put your food(s) in areas separate from theirs. Also make sure you have low carb snacks available to you at all times, in case you get hungry.

5. Recruit your family and friends.
You are about to embark on a completely new lifestyle. Getting the support of your family and friends will help you through this. Be frank with them and tell them your intentions and that this is very important to you. If they have any doubts about this diet, ask them to read the book because knowledge is power.

6. Keep the Induction Rules and Foods List handy.
Make two copies of these documents: keep one on your refrigerator at home and keep the other one on your person at all times. This will save you a lot of guesswork and worry when eating out or grocery shopping.

The Rules of Induction can be found here:
What are the Rules of Induction?

The Induction Acceptable Foods List can be found here:
What foods can be eaten on Induction?

7. Read the entire label, including the ingredients.
Some foods have little carbs, but contain things like hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and sugar, which makes them unacceptable for Induction.

8. Keep a food diary
It is of utmost importance to keep track of your daily carbohydrate intake to make sure you are not exceeding 20 net carbohydrates daily.

Some people keep a notebook journal. Others like to track their progress online.

Here are some resources:
An Atkins spreadsheet:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=4570

http://www.fitday.com ---This is a free online service (registration required) that allows you to input your foods, track your exercise, etc.

Carbohydrate Counters:
http://www.atkins.com ---The Atkins site has a downloadable Carb Counter.
http://www.calorieking.com ---This site has nutritional information for most foods and beverages.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ ---This is the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Database.

9. Exercise
According to Dr. Atkins "exercise is non-negotiable"! So get moving. Begin according to your level of fitness. Visit the Exercise Forum.

10. Vitamin Supplements
These are also recommended by Dr. Atkins because many of us have poor nutrition and we need extra nutrients. Visit the Vita-Nutrient Forum.

11. Weigh AND Measure Yourself on Day 1

Make sure you weigh and measure yourself before you begin this diet. Contrary to what we are lead to believe, the scale isn't the best tool for measuring weight loss (fat loss). It doesn't tell you how much muscle you gained. It doesn't tell you how much water weight you gained or lost. It doesn't tell you that you will fit into that pair of jeans.

Tips for weighing:
a. Weigh yourself at the same time of day under the same conditions. You can weigh "more" after a meal or after you drink water or you can weigh "less" after you exercise or have a bowel movement. So pick a time and stick to it. Likewise, clothing can also add on "pounds". So if you choose to weigh yourself wearing clothes, make sure you are wearing the same clothing or nearly the same clothing.

b. Use the same scale. Scales differ slightly. So the scale in your doctor's office or at the gym might have you weighing more or less than the scale in your bathroom.

Tips for measuring:
a. You can measure whatever body areas you want: chest, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm, wrists and ankles. To make the measuring easier, you body landmarks like your belly button or a mole or scar, to guide your tape measure placement. For chest measurement, women can either measure under their armpits and/or under their breasts.

b. Don't "pull" on the measuring tape because that will give you a false reading (and stretch the tape). The tape should be snug, but not tight.

c. Don't suck in to make yourself smaller. Again, that will give you a false measurement.

Measuring tapes can be purchased at craft stores (the sewing section) for under $5.00. If you can't find one, you can use a piece of string. Just mark that string with a marker pen to indicate your "start" points". Or if you have an old belt, you can use that too.

Another good "measuring tool" is your clothing. Non-stretchy clothing like a dress shirt, jeans, or dress is the best thing to use. Stretchy fabric (like t-shirts or anything with spandex) will conform to your body as you shrink so you might not see the results. Try on this article of clothing periodically to see how you are losing inches.

Good luck to you on your 14 day Induction journey.

[Holdingon2hope]

It may be just me but eventually you don't need to eat as much. Earlier on in the diet, I can see it. You need more to satisfy you but as you go on, you shouldn't be hungry all the time and like me before Atkins, feeding your face with anything in arms reach. Now I really do feel like I'm saving money, not just in doctors and dentists visits, but because when you add it all up junk food costs a ton! giggles

Welcome and best of luck on your weight loss. Ps. When I started (about a month ago) I was 280 and I am now 250. It feels darn good and you can do it! You'll see!