New to Atkins. :D

[Lux]

Hello everyone. I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Lux, yup, Lux. Since last year I've lost 60lb on my own low calorie diet with mild exercise. 40 of those pounds were lost in the first 2 months. Since then it's been slightly stagnate as the other 20 slowly disappated. I thought I would give Atkins a try to boost the weight loss a little. I was 210 and now I am 150. My goal is 130. My boyfriend has done it before and recommended it for my impatient demenor as well as my desire to burn fat as I've increased my workouts. I did have a few questions though:

1. I don't really ever get "hungry" or "full." This seems like a good thing but it's a blessing and a curse. My body never tells me to stop and I am just someone who loves flavor. I lost most of my weight by eating less then 100 calories a day(bad I know) and drinking whatever I wanted(usually flavored waters) but I've never gained the weight back when eating normally again which is popular belief. My question here is, for someone who loves flavor so much what are acceptable drinks and snacks that amount to almost nothing on induction? I know my usually mindless eating treats like fruits, gum, and pretzels are a no-no and have read that water, green tea, and diet soda(in moderation) are allowed but I have quite the sweet tooth after eating salty foods all day.

2. I work out almost daily now and on day 3 of induction I notice great fatigue during my regular workout of 1 hour cardio. Should I cut back to just long walks instead of hard cardio?

3. At 150 with a goal to lose 20 lb is induction where to begin or should I start further along in the program. I want to make the fullest of the diet and am ok with sacrafice but am not sure that induction will be as effective on my system.

Any and all advice would be much appreciated!

[liv]

Welcome to ADBB
You have lost a lot of weight. However, I am not sure how your metabolism and thyroid is going to be after than kind of a regime. Have you had a checkup with the doctor to see if everything is still normal? I would really recommend that.

Can I as you how tall you are. It may or may not be easy to lose 20 lbs on Atkins. It all depends what it is you are trying to do.

OK on to your questions
1 When you say you love flavour it sounds like you mean some kind of chemical in a drink? To me eggs meat and caulflower has a lot of flavour. I even like chicken flavour. It is possible to eat chemical flavour on this diet but you have to watch out for the artifical sugar they add. We are limited to three servings of articial sugar. And some people will not lose if they have this kind of stuff. Herbal tea is fine. Just remember to drink clean unadulterated water (at least 64 oz of it) every day.

2 Work out - you may be transitioning to ketosis and it is normal to feel a bit weak. If this continue I would review the diet. Are you eating enough calories to sustain a lot of activity.

3 I think induction is the right place to start. You can always go to OWL as soon as those first 14 days are over.

I hope that helps. I wish you lots of luck.

[Lux]

I am 5'6". In regard to the flavor comment I just meant that I have somewhat of an oral fixation and am constantly drinking or snacking on something with flavor. And I did end up doing a work out today but not as strenuously as usual..I think I will stay on induction for a while and see how it begins to affect my body.

[blueberrylady]

Welcome to the board, Lux! And congrats on losing so much weight but starving yourself isn't the healthy way to do it.

On Atkins, you will be feeding your body what it needs to sustain itself and you will lose weight on it if you eat enough but not too much.

The hungry and full signals your body gives you are very subtle and you have to learn to listen for them. Lots of times I'm full after just a few bites so you have to be tuned in to your body at all times. When I'm hungry, my stomach growls. Until it does, the urge to eat is just habit and I try my darnest to resist it.

Please keep us posted on your progress and ask any questions you may have. Good luck to you!

[ldyj]

Don't be surprised or alarmed if you actually gain at first on Atkins. From what you've posted, you've basically been on a diet void of the things your body needs to stay balanced and healthy. When you start to feed your body the nutrients it needs, it may result in that gain until your body realizes, hey, she's actually going to feed me!