I've lost 15 pounds on my low carb diet. In three weeks. That is pretty healthy. Ask me anything.

[applegrove]

[Catshrink]

1. No beer?

[applegrove]

4. I don't drink anymore. And it isn't easy. I think about alcohol all the time. It is the main thing

I need to work on in my life (now that I'm loosing weight) is to hit the acceptance phase of the end of my relationship with alcohol. I don't do much that is wrong. My desire for alcohol is the worst thing about me.

[Catshrink]

11. I don't drink that much...

and rarely during the work week. I like my microbrews and savor every sip. Could I do without? Probably, but it would be like giving up an occasional ice cream.

[applegrove]

13. Yep I just love alcohol. But I used to drink too much and it resulted in serious

problems so I don't drink anymore.

[flvegan]

2. What's your exercise routine?

[applegrove]

5. I eat three green vegetables a day and a little meat. I don't drink milk. I usually have a salad and

a small steak for dinner. No sweets. No starch. No fruits. And I stay away from sweet veggies like carrots & peas. I take a multivitamin, Vitamin D and psyllium husks for fiber. I'm never hungry. I did fall off the wagon for a day or so which put me back about 5 days in my diet. But I'm back on track.

[Catshrink]

7. What's a psyllium husk?

[applegrove]

12. Because I'm not getting much fiber I need to be on some anti-constipation

pills. Psyllium husks it is. I take 5 capsules and they work great.

[Catshrink]

14. Is that like metamucil or one of those?

[applegrove]

18. They are like a bran or somthing. I don't know what is in metamucil.

[astral]

49. yes metamucil is mainly psyllium husks, only with flavor. n/t

[flvegan]

25. Why no fruits nor "sweet veggies" on this, er diet?

[applegrove]

26. No sweet veggies so that I am on a very low carbohydrate diet and go into ketosis.

It is the induction phase of the atkins diet. That way my body will use fat as fuel not muscles (of course there are no carbs for my body to use as energy because I am on such a strict low carb diet). Of course I cannot be on this diet forever. When I've lost the weight I need to I'll add veggies, nuts, fruits back into my diet. And for sure I'll cheat and have cake once every so often. I won't miss potatoes or rice. I'm not a big eater of either one of those. I did eat bread about three times a week. I'll miss that.

[flvegan]

27. I wish you luck.

I feared this was an Atkins/ketogenics based "diet" hence my questions.

Take care of yourself.

[applegrove]

28. I will. Thanks.

[Shell Beau]

63. Best of luck to you. IMO though, any diet that prohibits fruit and

any veggies is somewhat unhealthy. Our bodies need those daily. But, I hope you can lose your weight in a healthy manner. It is hard, I know.

[applegrove]

64. So far I'm eating lots and lots of salad. And I have a really good dressing for it that I love.

The maintenance protion of this diet relies on fruits and all veggies. Until then I'm on a vitamin. Thanks for your encouragement.

[applegrove]

9. I walk to and from work some days. That is it. I'm not much of an excerciser. I should walk more.

[LeftyMom]

3. Have you had a visit with a dietitian yet?

[applegrove]

8. No but I'm taking a woman's multivitamin and Vitamin D. Lots of dark leaf lettuce.

Some macademia nuts. And whatever meat is on the menu or a small steak. I'm not hungry. Though I did imagine myself in a bathtub full of mashed potatoes....I do crave carbs but I can handle that.

[LeftyMom]

16. You really should talk to a professional before doing a big diet change.

A dietitian (not a nutritionist, there's no regulation of who can call themselves that) or a medical doctor with additional training in nutrition.

[MiddleFingerMom]

19. I LOVE the idea of a bathtub full of mashed potatoes, but...

.
...I don't think I'd want to be naked.
.
I wouldn't wear much.
.
Maybe just one of those really skimpy bathing suits.
.
Spuddos.
.
.
.
I'll be here all week.
.
Try the veal.
.
It's allowed on your diet.
.

[applegrove]

22. I can't eat veal. I just think of baby cows. I'll eat lobster though. In fact I had some for my

mom's birthday the other night.

[Pharlo]

6. Do you have to take some kind of fiber supplement when you're on a

low carb diet?

[applegrove]

15. Yes psyllium husks caplets. I take 5 a day. Works great.

[Forkboy]

10. I suppose the Mega Super Awesome Spaghetti Platter is right out?

:)

[applegrove]

17. I've been thinking of a big slice of that supermarket cake for the last two weeks. You know the

cake with the roses on it. Made with icing which is half icing sugar and half lard. That is what I really, really want right now.

[Forkboy]

20. You know, the supermarket bakery opens in 7 hours....

I can make it.... :D

[applegrove]

23. I WANT CAKE!!!

[PassingFair]

30. You can eat Suger-Free Cool Whip on that diet...

lots of it.

I have used the "South Beach"/ Atkins diet
twice in my life. Both time, the weight
came off as promised....

The problem is, once I started eating carbs
again, it came back with a VENGEANCE!

[GoCubsGo]

31. Mmmmm....Sugar-free hydrogenated oil...

...sodium caseinate, artificial flavor, xanthan and guar gums, and polysorbate 60. You're better off with real whipped cream. Seriously.

[PassingFair]

32. Which you can also eat...as long as it's sugar free.

But you can freeze the Cool Whip and pretend it's
ice cream.

[BuddhaGirl]

34. hydrogentated oil

is not healthy...yuck!

[GoCubsGo]

39. Exactly

Hydrogenated/trans fats are the worst forms of fat one can eat. They raise our LDL ("bad") cholesterol, and lower the HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. They increase the shelf life of the product, but in return, they shorten your life. Foul stuff. And, Cool Whip doesn't even taste all that good.

[applegrove]

47. I'll have to stay away from cool whip then.

[Lex]

56. just make it yourself

a little heavy cream in a bowl and whip it into cream, add a little splenda

[applegrove]

58. That is what I think I will do cause I am aloud cream.

[applegrove]

35. I did have some whipped cream this week. Maybe that is why I gained weight - it should have

been sugar free cool whip! That's it. You solved a mystery. (Everyone else had apple crumble with whipped cream. I just squirted the whipped cream on my hand and ate.

[Robeson]

21. No questions. Just congrats!...

...:thumbsup:

[applegrove]

24. Thanks.

[emilyg]

29. Congratulations.

[applegrove]

36. Thanks.

[Sky Masterson]

33. I've noticed that as soon as one stops doing this diet

The weight comes back and you even gain a bit more.
At least it has been my case.
I have found the best diet is a combo of exercise and counting your calories.
I wish you luck with your program.
Maybe you'll do better at it than I did.
:)

[applegrove]

37. I plan on staying on a low carb diet for my life. Not the induction phase which is so severe on the

atkins diet but on the maintenance part of it. I'll cheat perhaps once a week. But I'm not a big potato or rice or bread person. So I will only be depriving myself of sweets once I've lost the weight (which I really needed to do as I've been binging on sweets for the last year).

[Lex]

42. I've kept 65 pounds off for over 5 years that I lost on a low-carbish diet

that was something between Atkins and South Beach.

[applegrove]

45. That is my goal. About 70 pounds. I'll be happy with my weight then. I certainly don't want to be a

stick insect. I like to eat too much.

[Arkansas Granny]

50. I've kept 60 pounds off for over 3 years now, also on a modified Atkins/South Beach type diet.

I read the book "Atkins for Life" and chose my diet from their lists of foods that you could eat often, in moderation and sparingly. I never felt hungry and ate a wide variety of foods that were good for me.

I found that one of the things I missed the least was bread, so I rarely eat it these days. Anything I can make a sandwich out of goes good on a cracker, too. When it comes to rice, pasta etc., I just eat the same amount or more of veggies than starch. I eat anything I want to, I just use a little judgment and moderation on some foods.

[applegrove]

61. I weighed 190 pounds when I was thirty (about 15 years ago). I weighed about 130 when I was 25.

My goal is to weigh somewhere in between the two of them. I don't want to be skinny. I don't want a spare tire. So my goal is to loose about 70 pounds.

[Arkansas Granny]

62. Good luck and I hope you reach your goal. It's certainly easier to stick

with something when you see the results that you've seen so far.

:thumbsup:

[pitohui]

44. yes, sky, of course that is the case w. every diet

i had my husband on a low fat/high carb mediterraean diet for 20 yrs

i almost killed my husband

low carb works for some people, esp. those prone to metabolic syndrome/pre diabetes

any diet, once you quit it, if you are metabolic syndrome you're gonna get fat and get a big belly, but w. a low fat diet you're hungry all the time and can't keep the diet, with a low carb diet, you eat enough fat/olive oil that you don't have cravings

[Skittles]

48. that IS the best way

restricting food groups is insanity

[Scout]

51. "restricting food groups is insanity"

like the low-fat/no-fat diet recommended by many?

it's insanity to restrict that food group, right?

[GoCubsGo]

55. Excessively restricting any food group is insanity.

I think that's what Skittles meant. Yes, fats should be restricted--if they currently make up more than roughly 30% of one's diet. But, yes, restricting them down to much less than that IS insanity. BTW, it's not possible to have a "no-fat" diet. Even plant material has some fat in it, granted it's only trace amounts in some items, like tomatoes.

[Skittles]

57. CORRECT

right on, GoCubsGo :thumbsup:

[cbdo2007]

53. I've noticed the same thing about exercise and counting calories.

And just about everything else in the world.

Yeah, if you take your foot off the gas pedal your car is going to stop going forward also.

Oh and I've noticed if I don't take a shower then I don't get clean.

Also just for FYI, I've noticed that if I turn my computer on then it turns on.

[demmiblue]

38. Honestly...

pretty not healthy.

Although, I do applaud you on your weight loss. Good luck!

P.S. make sure your kidneys are OK.

[SeattleGirl]

40. Good for you! I've been doing the low carb diet too, and have

lost over 25 pounds in the last couple of months.

[applegrove]

41. Last week I cheated and since then I've had litle treats. And darn if I didn't gain 3 pounds back.

I'll just have to be a vigilant as I was the first week. As I'm falling asleep I daydream about junk food and things like grocery store bought cake or a donair. I can almost taste them. That will have to do for now.

Good luck to you. 25 pounds is great.

[Coventina]

54. Your body may also be reacting to the weight loss.

15 pounds in 3 weeks is a LOT to lose, unless you were VERY heavy to begin with.

Your body may be trying to slow/reverse what it perceives as a dramatic reduction in its resources.

I've been doing Weight Watchers, and I've noticed that when I have a dramatic loss one week, I tend to gain a little the next week, no matter what I do food or exercise-wise.

Congrats to you! Making a lifestyle change is hard! I know what you are going through!

:toast:

[applegrove]

59. Thanks.

[pitohui]

43. congrats -- my husband has lost/kept off 40 lbs on low carb diet for several yrs now

i must admit that i have had to make a lot of changes in my assumptions since observing his success

he has also reduced his blood pressure and gotten his blood sugar down to where he doesn't have to take meds for it

it may depend on yr genetics but for some people clearly low carb is a LIFE saver

[applegrove]

46. Thanks for the info. It gives me hope.

[NewJeffCT]

52. What is your goal?

for losing weight? did you want to lose 10 and lost 15?

[applegrove]

60. No I want to loose about 70. I had lost 15 but went back up a few pounds. Now I am trying

and trying to loose weight the same way but I've hit a plateau. Very frustrating but I will persevere.