[quottrethew]

Hello, I'm looking for some insperation, pep talk etc...

While at work I do fine, 6:30am I eat a hard boiled egg, 1/4 piece of bake skinless chicken, 10:30am a hard boiled egg with a Atkins shake, for lunch 2 weight watches cheese sticks, another piece of chicken and a Dannon Carb and Sugar control yogurt and another shake, 4:30pm at home a big salad with tomato, mushroom, onion, chicken and sometimes another egg with red wine vinegar and light olive oil for dressing, I am full after I eat it but then 10 to 15 minutes later I am craving carbs and end up eating 3 cereal bars, a handful of apricots, handful of potato chips, and sometimes even a bowl of cereal, then I'm stuffed and truly miserable.

I'm a light smoker, I usually have 4 or 5 cigerettes while at work, and I always tell myself before I get home that when I crave the carbs that I will go have a smoke, but I don't, instead my body is craving the sugar and salt and it takes over and eats the junk food.

I know smoking is not heathly, but overeating isn't either. I'm not trying to quit smoking, in fact, you'll probably think I'm crazy but I wish I would smoke 1 or 2 when I get home after work to kill the appetite like it use to do for me.

Any suggestions to stay on track would be greatly appreciated.

Point me to some sites, some readings, anything.

Thank you

[__CVineXPharm__]

You have not started Induction. This is an essential part of the Atkins diet and the cravings will subside rather quickly if you follow this process. I would suggest that you find a copy of the book and in the mean time read these two threads as they will help explain the basics. The book will also help to not only better explain but also encourage you to begin this new WOE.

Basic Rules of Induction
http://www.lowcarbsite.com/showthrea...s-of-Induction

Acceptable Foods List
http://www.lowcarbsite.com/showthrea...ds-(Induction)

You can do this! Read, Read, Read as much information as you can while on induction. I know for me getting so hyper-focused on information gathering in the beginning kept my mind from wandering.

One other thing to note, several people have struggled to lose when drinking the shakes and eating the bars from Atkins, myself included. They are also not part included as part of induction.

[Bejemoelemymn]

Lynnie... my suggestion/advice? Start over and do Atkins Induction. What you're doing right now isn't... go to the Atkins website and download the Induction foods list. It has the carb counts included. It tells you what you have to limit and what you don't. Follow it.

Another suggestion, based on MULTIPLE (as in MANY) firsthand experiences of people right here... ditch the Atkins shakes, the bars, the yogurt (it's not part of Atkins anyway). Only eat fresh. Fresh meats, cheese, eggs, vegetables.

More? I don't think you're eating enough earlier in the day. One egg and a tiny piece of skinless chicken for b'fast isn't enough. And EAT THE SKIN. When I'm having a "hungry" day I'll roast a pan of chicken parts and eat ALL of the skin... maybe a bite of the chicken. It will curb my hunger immediately. Eat the skin. Repeat. Eat the skin.

Still more? Your dinner isn't dinner. You HAVE to eat PROTEIN for it to be a meal. This isn't a low fat diet. Have a salad, but make sure it's only part of your meal. And spread those veggie carbs out over the day... you're having them all at once. When you do that, and you don't have any protein with it, it's like you had a carb binge for your body... you produce too much insulin... which starts the carb cravings for more. It's no surprise to me at all that your hardest time of day is after your salad dinner. Set yourself up for success... not struggles and failure.

And always, ALWAYS, remember... feeding carb cravings only makes them worse. It's like throwing gasoline on a fire instead of water. Feed carb cravings protein and fat.

So... get the Induction list. Read it. Print it. Live by it for 14 days. Ditch the "products". Eat fresh. Spread your carbs out over the day (12 to 15 of the 20 need to come from veggies). Drink water til you slosh. Feed carb cravings protein AND fat. Do whatever you have to do to get through the first 3 to 4 days without giving in.

Good luck!!!

Tril