[Sowsunese]

I'm starting Atkins tomorrow. I'm kind of scared because I've never been able to stick to any other diet long enough to see real results and right now I really feel like this is my last chance. I've got to do something.

I've read the book several times so I'm familiar with how the plan works.

Two questions: 1. Will it be alright to eat more than 3 cups of veggies if my total carb count stays under 20g for Induction? I like veggies. 2. Do you count the carbs in spices?

Starting at 178.6



I don't have a long term goal. Short term? I'd like to lose at least 10 pounds by the end of the year. That will put me at 168...a number I haven't seen in over two years.

[Junrlaeh]

Hello and welcome, Dee!!!

Which book did you read? There's a new one that come out in March. When you ask questions, be sure to state which plan you're following since the diet has been changed between publications.

Absolutely, eat more veggies!!! I eat a minimum of 12ng per day... but since I'm in OWL, I will eat as much as 20ng some days. I'm a veggie lover, too!!!

Good luck... and fwiw, I think your 10# goal is reasonable IF you don't cheat. The holidays are fast approaching and there will be more temptations than usual. Stay strong, be determined and exercise your "no" muscles and you CAN lose 10# by Jan 1st. You CAN start off 2011 at your lowest weight in two years!!! Sound good?? Remember, every single day counts. Every single decision counts. Every single choice counts.

Advice:

Drink 64 oz of plain water a day. You can have coffee and diet drinks, but get the water in, too. The new rules allow you to count up to half of it from other liquids, but really... water IS best for your health. If drinking water is unpleasant to you.. try a wedge of lemon in it, try drinking it w/a straw, sip it all day long.

No alcohol. Literally. NONE. Alcohol is metabolized in your liver... your liver is also where fat is metabolized. But if you drink, your liver will not metabolize fat until the alcohol is gone... so you basically stall your weight loss while there is alcohol in your system That can be half a day. Do that twice a week and you just shortened your "diet" week to 6 days. Alcohol also weakens your resolve... don't do it.

Weigh/measure your food... not to be sure you're eating less, to be sure you're getting all you're entitled to!!!

Expect your weight loss to fluctuate... it won't go down every day, or every week, and sometimes, every month. But it WILL go down over time.

Don't stay in Induction longer than two weeks... why? Because you don't have a lot to lose. OWL is where you learn to eat a wider variety of foods. It's an important step to learning how to maintain your weight loss. You won't lose any faster or easier by staying in Induction. The faster wt loss of the first two weeks won't continue past then anyway.

Go to Atkins.com and do the Induction lessons there. There are also lessons for the other phases... learn all you can. Arm yourself with GOOD information. Don't listen to family members, co-workers or friends telling you how to "do Atkins". Learn from the source. Most people don't really know the diet... they just pass along what they think they know. Get your information from a reliable source. This goes for many other things in life, too.

Stick around here!!! The support of others is probably the most valuable gift you can give yourself. You're not doing this alone. There are many people just starting out like you, there are many ahead of you on their own journeys... and we can all help each other keep moving forward. Ask for help, ask for support, and then... give it back. Helping others is often the best way to help yourself. Now you know why I post so much. LOL

Again... welcome to the first day of the rest of your HEALTHY life!!

Tril

[Sowsunese]

Thanks for the welcomes and tips.

I have read the Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002.

I can't believe you guys don't think I have a lot to lose. Seems like a ton to me, but I guess is all relative.

My husband and I will be traveling for Thanksgiving so I will definitely have to exercise my "NO" muscles

[Junrlaeh]

Well... what's your goal weight, if you have one. You only talked about wanting to lose 10#s! How tall are you?

[Sowsunese]

I set 10 pounds as a short term goal.

I'm just under 5'2" so I really need to be between 130-140. That's still on the high end but I carry my weight evenly so I think I'll look okay plus I'm 35 and I'm not looking to be the size I was in high school.

[Junrlaeh]

Okay... it's still not a LOT compared to those who have 100+ to lose, but it's enough that it will take a while. Lots of time to learn what your body can handle and how to keep the weight off after it's gone!!!