Keeping things flowing - diet, constipation, low carb and more

Everyday I am finding a new reason to eat sensible and exercise.  Today I have two.

I have a habit of getting people started on things - I guess I am so enthusiastic that some people just like to jump right in with me.  This was the case about 5 weeks ago when I was desperate and decided to take one more shot at the Atkins High Protein diet.

Well, many of you will remember that I lasted about 2 weeks and felt lousy the whole time and on the second week i GAINED a pound.  My mother and my honey jumped right in and followed along, but when I jumped off, they stayed on.



My honey went to the doctor today and in the 5 weeks he lost 16 ounces - NOT pounds - ounces on the Low Carb plan. And my mother is in a worse state - she is 82 years old (and doesn't read this blog, so don't tell her I told you) and she hasn't had a bathroom movement in 3 days.

Boy oh boy am I glad that I am on my nice sensible plan of trying to watch what I eat, making it a nice healthy variety and moving a little more.

I think the two of them we join me soon :)

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The Induction Flu - Feeling Weak

Here it is Day 9 on the Atkins, low carb high protein way of life and for most of the day I have felt really bad. The call it the "induction flu" because it really feels like you have the sickness.



Most of the time you feel weak and maybe a little nauseous for the first few days and then you feel better, get your energy back and feel better than ever. I felt weak the first few days, but nothing like this.

I have read that induction flu is simply the body burning its last remaining glucose and stored glycogen for energy, and suffering withdrawal effects. It is very similar to what happens when runners “hit the wall”.  Your body is basically detoxing from too many carbs, and glucose stores are depleted.

They say it is a good thing - it shows that the process is working and your body is going through withdrawal from sugar, caffeine and unrefined carbohydrates.

mmmmm.......... I am ready to graduate.

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Benefits of Atkins - low carb high protein diet

It is day 8 on the Atkins diet and I am thrilled at some of the benefits to my new lifestyle.

* No hunger - I am not hungry - I have often heard people say "I forgot to eat" and I could never understand how this could happen - now I do, it has happened to me this week

* No cravings - I do not crave the sweets and this is a major benefit for me.  I have the ultimate sweet tooth, especially when on a "diet" - this week has been amazing.

* Unlimited quantity - I have to admit that this is the main reason I chose this lifestyle - I can eat all I want of certain foods.  No counting calories or going to bed hungry.

* Fast Weightloss - of course this is the main reason - and not everyone will lose fast - but it has always worked that way for me.  7 pounds in my first week!

Each day I seem to find out something new about the diet!

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Atkins Diet - low carb day 7

So it is day 7 on the low carb lifestyle.  I tend to call it a diet but it has to be a lifestyle.  This is my 4th attempt in the past 20 years - 3 times before I have gone on the Atkins diet religiously for 4 months and didn't cheat at all.  Each time I have lost 45 pounds.  At that point, for some reason, I would go back to eating carbs and slowly gain the weight back. 

This time my goal is to make it a lifestyle and not go off the program.  Of course my mini goal is to break the 45 lb barrier.  If I can do that  When I do that I will feel so much better and mentally feel successful.

I read a lot of blogs and forums on the Atkins, South Beach, Protein Power or other low carb diets and I have seen where some people have a one time shot at losing with the program, and when they go off and  come back at a later date, they do not get the same fast results.  Fortunately this has never happened to me.  I have lost 7 pounds in the first week and am thrilled.  I think the repeat dieters might be a little to liberal in their food choices and learned a little low carb cheats from the first time around.

I have to be careful though.  I know from experience I cannot go by "net carbs" - this is when they take the actually carbohydrate grams and subtract the fiber grams and come up with the net carbs (ex: 10 carb grams - 7 fiber grams = 3 net carbs).  If I count this way I usually don't gain, but I don't lose either.

Other people, however, like my mother, lose good by counting "net carbs".  So if you are doing the low carb lifestyle experiment and see what works for you.

I do as a treat occasionally have an Atkins bar (tastes like a candy).  If net carbs work for you, the prepackaged snacks and baked good are a great help - you feel like you can have a treat.

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The Low Carb Lifestyle

Finally after struggling with the counting calories and watching the fat - and not really getting anywhere - I am back on the Atkins Low Carb diet and the scale if starting to move.

It is day four and I am feeling good, but a little weak without the carb energy - The trainer is coming today and this will be a hard workout.  I have not exercised much in the first three days of the diet.  This will be the first time doing the low carb and the exercise at the same time.  I usually go with the low carb, high protein because you can lose great WITHOUT exercise.

I am hoping to see really good results with the exercise and diet this time.

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Weight loss Plateau

I seem to have hit a plateau - which can be good or bad - bad because I am not seeing the scale move - good because it means I am not gaining, and when I do lose it will, hopefully, be substantial.

So here is what I am doing:

- trying not to eat too much - I need to look more at the calories and nutrient value

- exercising on the Tony Little Gazelle - I feel like I am getting a good workout -    generally for 30 minutes a day - wondering if it is a good enough workout

- strength exercises - right no with 3 lb weights - arms mainly - and then squats, leg lifts, arm circles

In a month, the scales are done 7 pounds - which is not bad - I have been used to losing more, but that was because I was really strick on a diet - the diet of choice was usually the Atkins, low carb diet - I have lost 45 lbs 3 different times.... and of course have gained it all back.

So this time I am trying the slow and steady, lifestyle change.

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