Looking for a Mentor

[Tampaman]

I am new to the Atkins diet and I am looking for a mentor.I’ll give you some background info on me. I am a 35 yr old male who now weighs 549 lbs and am 6ft 1 I cant believe I got this big. I was a big kid since about the age of 8. In high school I hovered around 200. I got as high as 320 in my mid 20's and then I started walking and got down to 270. I quit walking and have not done any serious dieting since. Now I am married and since we don’t have any kids we eat out alot and that is part of the reason I got this big. I started the Atkins diet on 9/19/08 because I friend of mine who had done it before was restarting again and I thought it would be a good time to start. I weighed myself for the first time in years on Saturday and I was surprised at how much I weighed. I didn’t read the book I was going by my friends advice but after I found this website I see he left a few things out. I am reading the book now. I am looking for a mentor to guide me thru this and help me reach my goal of 200.

[eclectikat]

You are sooooo in the right place. I am excited for you as you begin this new journey. I am glad to hear you are reading the book. It has become a ritual to read something from it each and every night.
While I am only still a newbie myself, with 61 lbs down, I look forward to chatting with you and encouraging you along the way.

I am sure you will find all the support you need to do what you have to do.

All I can say.. is be realistic. Set reasonable goals. MEASURE YOURSELF! that is critical. You will undoubtedly loose alot on induction if you do it strictly by the book.
DON'T cheat even a little tiny bit. Don't limit your portions... eat until you are full... and stop. Eat smaller amounts more often. You will feel like you are eating all the time but that is ok. Keep good snacks on hand. Cucumbers, celery, cauliflower. Use fats liberally. I fry up steak in butter and olive oil and when I do this I eat a much smaller portion because I am satisfied so much earlier. Boil a dozen eggs and keep them in the fridge. PORK rinds are great with lots of stuff. BE PREPARED. Clean out anything illegal from your home office or car!
Avoid the drive through's you are used to going through. if you pass them take the long way around on your way home or from work. THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!!
Drink lots of water. You will feel like you need a diaper... its annoying but the payoff is fantastic.
I could go on... but I will leave others to give you more incentive to do this.

I KNOW I will conquer this obesity I have always dealt with. NO MORE. I am getting smaller every day, I am getting fitter. ANd I know I have found the way I will eat for the rest of my life. I said good bye to flour and sugar last spring and I really meant it.

It has been more than 6 months since I have eaten a chocolate bar.

Isnt that a statement you want to make for yourself on March 23,2009??????? YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! if I can.... so can you!

be well can't wait to help along your journey!

Kath

[Tampaman]

Kath,
Thank you for the incouragment. I am drinking alot of water. I had my wife measure me. I admit they were surprising. I do hope to be able to say on March 23,2009 that I have not had a choclate bar in six months. Congratulations on the 61 lbs. I plan to weigh myself again on Staurday. I hope there is improvment. One question do you have a suggestion for a good multivitamin? I asked the pharmisct at Walgreens and theone he gave me has iron i didnt see it on the label until i got home.

Herb

[FLdoodette]

Hey, Tampa! Welcome from a fellow Floridian (Ocala) ... I've not been here all that long myself, but this is a great site ... EVERYONE mentors everyone else; lots of support, info, help, humor ... it's just great. The moderators and other veteran Atkineers are so helpful. Check in often (I'm here 2-3 times a day); join in the challenges, if you can ... they really help you stay on point. About the vitamins ... Walgreens (and every other chain drugstore or grocery) probably has a senior vitamin formula; they don't have iron in them. I give my husband the Winn-Dixie brand called "Centra-Vite." But I suspect all of the different stores' generic senior multis have the same formula.

[Greeneggs&ham]

Regarding the vitamins, I have a Walmart brand men's multi-vitamin which does not include iron -- I guess they figure that guy's get more than enough iron in their daily meat intake!

Congratulations on deciding to change your eating habits and follow this WOE (way of eating). I think that if you can stick with it, you'll likely see great results in just a couple of weeks. I know some people on this board tend to stick to certain forum sections so you may want to make a post about your desire for a mentor in the Century Club section. I'm betting a great mentor would be one who is farther along the same path you are just setting out on!

Of course, we're all here to support each other so feel free to ask questions and voice frustrations as you go. This board has been a great resource for me and I'm sure you'll be a great asset to the community! Welcome aboard.

[Asclepius]

TAMPAMAAAAAAAN!!! Welcome aboard. We've saved you a seat right here. Just be sure not to stay seated for too long! It's programed to swallow you whole if you don't get up and walk around on a regular basis.

I'm a newbie on induction as well. Nice to see a new face join the health cruise. My biggest words of wisdom so far: You'll be thrilled at first when a woosh of weight falls off right away. Don't get discouraged, though, if it seems you have come to a full stop out of nowhere. Be patient and keep on track while your body gets over it's "what the heck are you doing to me" moment. Also, don't be surprised if early on you feel like a spoiled brat begging for a cookie is living inside you. Coming off of "goodies" can make you downright cranky! It will pass - I promise. If you DO slip up and say walk downstairs at 3am rummage in your cupboards and find a hair covered stale cookie from the last ice age and shove the whole thing in your mouth.... er... uuuh.. not that I know anyone who did that.... where was I again??? Oh yes -- if you fall off the wagon, stand up and get RIGHT BACK ON. You've only failed if you fail to try again. Let it go and keep moving forward.

Good Luck and Good Health!!

[Tampaman]

No hair cover cookie for me.I have been strong for 5 days now so i hope i wont fallback. I weigh myseff again on Saturday and hopefully I will see progress.

[ceemarie]

You have a whole room full of mentors on this site. Remember you gained it one pound at a time and will lose it one pound at a time. Go for it!