Last time I wrote about getting jittery and having a rapid heartbeat on VLC (very low carb). I cut way back on nuts a few weeks ago and felt remarkably better: more energy, and I can tell I lost a little weight because of the way my shoes and watchband fit. As I mentioned, taking a potassium pill helps the jitters and rapid heartbeat, and if it gets really bad, I can just eat a candy bar (we don't have safe starches at work). So for the first time, I tried Atkins induction. Why Atkins induction? It started with shorts. I'd been shopping for shorts and everything was very short (think Officer Jim Dangle on Reno 911), wildly patterned, ridiculous (where do you wear lace shorts if you're not starring in a Korean drama?) or knee length. There was even a high-waisted, pleated, acid washed pair from circa 1985. So when I saw a gray pair with sailor pant buttons, I bought them--even though they were pretty short (but not tight). Think Officer Dangle again. Being conscious of wearing short shorts at age 45, I took some selfies and realized I'd put on weight. I went out to buy new batteries for my scale, but knew enough already to buy Atkins induction foods on the same trip.
It turns out I've put on ten pounds from my ideal weight. Not the worst problem to have, but one to nip in the bud. I'm one of the few women in my family over 30 and under 200 pounds and I don't want to find out if I have to genes to become very overweight. Even though I've done LC for four years, I'd never tried Atkins induction. But a friend of mine is doing it now and she can't quit raving about it. I got out my copy of Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution from 1972 to see what I could eat:
Note there's no unlimited vegetables, no nuts, and no fruit. The book says very little about exercise (it's optional) or fasting. Readers are directed to eat only when they're hungry, eat only until they're full, take a high-strength multi-vitamin pill, and eat small frequent meals if possible. These things seem like common sense; when you accept that weight gain is hormone-driven and that it's mostly carbohydrate that drives those hormones, the whole diet looks like common sense. Unfortunately, quirky, counterintuitive ideas like eating vegetables by the pound, eating fat bombs when you're not hungry for them, or adding "safe starches" have captured people's imaginations lately.
I followed the diet pretty well today; I did have a few cherry tomatoes and went a little overboard on salad. I used cocoyo (homemade yogurt made of coconut milk and culture) as dressing; I figured it was fine. I had some guacamole with my pork rinds tonight; I figured that was fine, too. Results after one day? I craved coffee, just as I did when I started LC. I never liked it before that. I felt a little jittery and had a fast heartbeat once, but a potassium pill made me feel better. I had to pee every few hours. What was surprising was that I didn't feel like snacking, since I've always been a snacker. I couldn't even finish the lunch I brought. I do have a bad chocolate habit; I found it easier today to go without it entirely than to limit myself to a few pieces. I didn't have any LC flu symptoms--I wasn't tired or constipated (I take a magnesium supplement), but this wasn't a radical change.
My latest photo, where I'm in the gray and white sweater, shows me at around my current weight. I'll post more photos as I progress.
It turns out I've put on ten pounds from my ideal weight. Not the worst problem to have, but one to nip in the bud. I'm one of the few women in my family over 30 and under 200 pounds and I don't want to find out if I have to genes to become very overweight. Even though I've done LC for four years, I'd never tried Atkins induction. But a friend of mine is doing it now and she can't quit raving about it. I got out my copy of Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution from 1972 to see what I could eat:
- meat
- eggs
- two small green salads a day
- butter, lard, mayonnaise, broth, full-fat dressings
- olives, pickles
- pork rinds
- no-cal drinks like coffee, diet soda, tea, mineral water
- juice of one lemon or lime.
- condiments (salt, pepper, mustard, vinegar, vanilla and other extracts, artificial sweeteners, dry powdered spice with no sugar)
- gelatin dessert with artificial sweetener
- a small amount of hard cheese and a little cream, but I don't do well with dairy proteins.
Note there's no unlimited vegetables, no nuts, and no fruit. The book says very little about exercise (it's optional) or fasting. Readers are directed to eat only when they're hungry, eat only until they're full, take a high-strength multi-vitamin pill, and eat small frequent meals if possible. These things seem like common sense; when you accept that weight gain is hormone-driven and that it's mostly carbohydrate that drives those hormones, the whole diet looks like common sense. Unfortunately, quirky, counterintuitive ideas like eating vegetables by the pound, eating fat bombs when you're not hungry for them, or adding "safe starches" have captured people's imaginations lately.
I followed the diet pretty well today; I did have a few cherry tomatoes and went a little overboard on salad. I used cocoyo (homemade yogurt made of coconut milk and culture) as dressing; I figured it was fine. I had some guacamole with my pork rinds tonight; I figured that was fine, too. Results after one day? I craved coffee, just as I did when I started LC. I never liked it before that. I felt a little jittery and had a fast heartbeat once, but a potassium pill made me feel better. I had to pee every few hours. What was surprising was that I didn't feel like snacking, since I've always been a snacker. I couldn't even finish the lunch I brought. I do have a bad chocolate habit; I found it easier today to go without it entirely than to limit myself to a few pieces. I didn't have any LC flu symptoms--I wasn't tired or constipated (I take a magnesium supplement), but this wasn't a radical change.
My latest photo, where I'm in the gray and white sweater, shows me at around my current weight. I'll post more photos as I progress.
Comments
Keep up the great blog! I really enjoy reading your stuff.
I'm down 2.2 pounds total. I actually gained a little from my liquid diet day.