Room for another Newbie?

[quitecontrary]

Actually, I'm not new to low-carb, just new to this forum. I've been registered for a while, but due to my defeated attitude I'm just now making the decision to get serious with my health.

My name is Carol Ann, and I live in Pittsburgh, PA, having moved here only a couple of months ago. Five years ago, I weighed 196 lbs. before starting a low-carb diet. After about 6 months I weighed in at 137 lbs. and felt like I could take on the world. I had been walking during the weight loss phase and had taken up hiking on long nature trails. Being that healthy and feeling that good was like a dream come true. Then life happened and I slipped. . . no. . .fell headlong. . .into the same bad eating habits that had kept me obese most of my adult life.

After my weight loss, I ended up going through a divorce, moving in with a man who hated 'fat' people (and he let me know it every day), having a hysterectomy, losing my mom to emphysema, then finally meeting my dream man to whom I am currently (and hopefully forever) married. I kept my weight down to 155 after gaining up to that until about 2 years ago. I started eating sugar again for some insane reason that I can't even pinpoint. My hubby is a skinny little guy who can't keep weight on, so I feed him for weight gain. I know I can't eat like he does. I just have to get that through my thick skull.

Anyway, although I had lost quite a bit of weight, I didn't do it right. I used lots and lots of bars and shakes and low-carb cookies and chips. I ate meat maybe once a day. I was basically living on chemicals. If I could have eaten a bar a day and had healthy low-carb wholesome foods the rest of the time, I would have been so much better off. Then the low-carb industry started spiraling, and I couldn't find the bars and snacks that were now the staple of my diet. So what did I do? I started eating sugary candy bars and real potato chips and the pounds came back with a vengeance. In fact, they invited 4 more friends to move in with them.

Now I weigh 200 lbs., and I'm so disgusted with myself. I am starting back on strict induction tomorrow. My goal is to lose 70 lbs. I am not hung up on a time limit. I just want to get back into a size 8 and feel healthy and vital again. I am tired of hiding in my apartment afraid of what other people think of me. I am 41 years old, and I feel like I'm 81. I'm so embarrassed by how I look that I've almost become a hermit.

So with the support of you lovely people and the inner strength that I know I still have, I am changing my ways. . .and my weighs!

[usetababrickhouse]

There is always room for one more... Welcome to the journey of a lifetime!!

[imagood1]

Hi Carol Ann -- I'm Carole Lea (but I only go by Carole -- I only hear Carole Lea from my mom and an Aunt who thought it was 1 name!) ...lol! As I was reading your post I was thinking how much you sounded like me. I am a few steps older than you but not wiser per se!

You have come to the right place - we're all here to support each other and to make sure you are doing things right. Ok 1st - the shakes and bars aren't allowed here - we use the 2002 Edition of DANDR - the shake and bar industry of Atkins was changed after his death and it's more frankenfood that real food - we believe as Dr Atkins said, in real wholesome foods - not chemicals.

Tonight write down exactly what you are going to eat all day tomorrow -- get a plan together and eat nothing else - planning is key the first few days. Once you have your food plan done then find the largest mug, glass, cup whatever you can drink out of and fill it up with PLAIN water first thing in the morning.....drink AT LEAST 64 ounces of plain clear water each day (I started out at 217 and have drank 120 to 150 ounces daily). Once you have your food plan and water glass figured out the next thing you need to do is figure out what type of exercise you are going to start tomorrow. No excuses - start tomorrow. If you can walk up a few flights of stairs where you live that's good -- go for a walk, put on some fast music and dance around the room -- whatever - just get up and move! You will loose quicker, firm up faster and feel so much better about yourself.

Here are some links I always send newbies - they helped me when I first started and I still revert to them now (after 4 months on plan). Good luck - if you need anything just ask!

Rules of Induction:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6782 (What are the Rules of Induction?)

Induction Acceptable Foods List:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6781 (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)

Recipe Sites
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html
http://www.sugarfreesheila.com/RecipesPage.html
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html

This is from the "Read before you start" thread in the Induction area
Drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day, including:
Filtered water
Mineral water
Spring water
Tap water

Additionally (after your 64 ounces daily), you can have the following:
Clear broth/bouillon (not all brands; read the label)
Club soda
Cream, heavy or light (limit to two to three Tablespoons a day; note carb content)
Decaffeinated coffee or tea*
Diet soda made with sucralose (Splenda); be sure to count the carbs (may cause a stall in weight loss)
Essence-flavored seltzer (must say "no calories" and should not contain aspartame)
Herb tea (without barley or any fruit sugar added)
Lemon juice or lime juice (note that each contains 2.8 grams carbohydrate per ounce); limit to two to three Tablespoons


*Excessive caffeine may cause unstable blood sugar and should be avoided by those who suspect they are caffeine dependent. Everyone should try to avoid caffeine.
Grain beverages (coffee substitutes) are not allowed. Alcoholic beverages are also not permitted during Induction; those low in carbohydrates are an option, in moderation, in later phases.

[quitecontrary]

Originally Posted by usetababrickhouse

There is always room for one more... Welcome to the journey of a lifetime!!

Thank you so much! Good to be here!

[quitecontrary]

Carol, your information is very valuable to me! I actually have the 2002 edition of DANDR. I'm going to dust it off and start reading it today! I almost bought a box of bars this morning, but then I decided against it. If I eat one, I want the whole box. Anyway, I want to do it right this time!

I will drink my water tomorrow, and I'll make a menu for the whole day so as to be prepared! I will also do some exercise. It's been a long time. But I have to start somewhere!