Hello from Toronto

[haifawehbe]

Hi, this is my first day on Atkins after doing it once before 7 years ago. After my daughter was born I used Atkins to reduce about 30 lbs in 3 months.

I have never really had an unhealthy BMI except of course when I was pregnant. I am now 5'4 and 120 lbs and 37 years old. I would really like to return to my pre-pregnancy weight of 110 and hoping Atkins will help me again. I've tried to shed these lbs for years through other diets, but think Atkins might be the only one that might work. Although I'm not sure if Atkins if all that effective in the healthy BMI range?

Nice to meet you all in here!

[Desertthorn]

Hi Toronto, welcome. Welcome Glad you found us and joined.
You'll make a lot of friends here and you should be able to shed that weight fairly quickly.

[ariesdragon]

Hi haifawehbe,

I'm in my 2nd week of induction and have dropped 4.5 lbs so far. Like you I too only have a small amount of weigth to lose and so I'm very curious to hear how you do. I have wondered the same thing as you - is Atkins effective for those who have a healthy BMI? My theory is that calories will count more for us. I am eating about 1200-1300 cals a day (a little more than what I would eat on a regular weight reduction diet). The big benefit for me has been the lack of hunger!! I don't feel deprived eating 1200 cals/day whereas previoulsy I did. Honestly, I never expected this benefit. I am also sleeping better - again because of the lack of hunger. I couldn't get to sleep because of the hunger pangs on other diets.

Please stay in touch and share your experience.

E

[haifawehbe]

...in 24 hours ...is that possible? I'm at 118 today after climibing up and down on not one but two scales about 10 times !

Thansk for your welcome desertthorn. Ariesdragon, I will definitely keep my progress updated and I would be interested in knowing your progress too.

As for calories, I definitely think that is of concern to us because our overall calorie intake wasn't high in the first place. I tend to go to to extremes and my calorie count can be pretty low..sometimes around 800..

You are right about the hunger though..within 24 hours I stopped feeling hungry, but felt shaky and tired this morning.

Good day to all!

[ariesdragon]

There you go! Excellent results! Its working for you. Yeah - I lost 2.5 lbs after day 1!

E

[haifawehbe]

after 2 days of induction by the book, on Friday while preparing for a mediation with my co-attorny on the case, I started shaking, sweating and felt my head ride on a merry-go-round. I had this intense need for sugar that I got from a yoghurt, and felt better. But after that I really need a carb meal to continue my work.

I don't know what caused this. Maybe a steep drop in blood sugar? I am back on induction over the weekend but have to rethink this if its going to affect my work. I guess it wasn't a problem when I stayed home after a baby many years ago, but at work its seem way different. Any suggestions?

[ariesdragon]

Hi - perhaps you'll find that if you give it another few days this won't happen. It sounds like your body is still in glucosis ie burning glucose for fuel. You had a blood sugar dip. In a few days, if you're faithful to induction, your body will shift into lipolysis ie burning fat for fuel. You won't have blood sugar dips once you're trully in lipolysis.

Other questions for you: are you drinking enough water? Dehydration can make your blood pressure fall and make you feel lightheaded/dizzy. Are you eating plenty of fat? If you're not, your body will burn protein for fuel and protein is converted to glucose so you may still get the blood sugar dips.

Finally - I'm not a medical doctor. If this continues you may want to get yourself to a doctor for a check-up.

Give yourself a few more days and my guess is that this'll stop happening.

Best of luck,

E

[ariesdragon]

ps. btw - are you eating every few hours? If you're going to long without food (or water) - esp. while still in glucosis, you will get dizzy/weak/shaky.

E

[MommaRuthie]

Great tips Ariesdragon! I too had these same symptoms for a day or two during induction. they passed and have yet to return...