intro and a few questions

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StrengthWisdom - 23 Mar 2004 16:06 GMT

My wife and I have started Atkins together. We've been on induction
for about 2 weeks now and we've both lost about 12 lbs in that time.
It seems that the weight just sortof fell off that first week (mostly
water, I understand) and we've lost about 2 lbs in the last week.
Neither of us have had a really feel-good movement in the last week or
so and maybe that has something to do with the slow-down. Not that 2
lbs per week is slow by any means. This is despite ingesting a couple
of fiber tabs each morning. I'm about to combine that with Psyllium
husk in capsule form.

A coffee in the morning always seems to get things moving with me -so
I'm wondering how seriously to take Atkin's cautions about caffeine.
I'm also not sure if it's the coffee or just having something hot -but
tea doesn't seem to do it for me. What do you think?

I'm T2 and my doctor was about to put me on insulin. Instead, I
convinced him to just add a third med in addition to Glucophage and
Glyburide, Actose, and let me try to make some changes. Well, I
decided to do the diet and of course my BGs went very low without an
adjustment in medication. I quickly adjusted my medication by
stopping the Glyburide. Since then my BGs have been remarkably stable
without the punch-to-the-pancreas of glyburide. I called my doctor to
discuss the change in meds but he was on vacation so I don't think it
will hurt me to continue with my adjustment for a few days until he
gets back. I realize it's better to discuss these things _before_
taking action but I didn't want to sabotage my progress or have
dangerously low BGs. I've been testing BGs 4 times per day and with
the exception of the mornings (where the BG rises to 140 for some
strange reason) my levels have been 95->110 throughout the day. Yay
Low-Carb! Does this match other T2's experiences?

I'm 27 and was diagnosed T2 3 years ago, I'm hoping I haven't done too
much damage to my body from Diabetes, and hoping I can make things
work with just oral meds. And hey, if my insulin resistance improves
by losing weight, maybe even drop the meds some day.

-RA

6'2"
240/228/185

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Emil Luca - 23 Mar 2004 16:14 GMT

I am controlling my levels using low carb diet. I was on 2 [500mg]
Metformin twice a day and one Glogophage and had readings of 7.2. I started
low carb and dropped the Glogophage and my readings at the last test was
5.9.
As you said keep the DR informed. Keep on Keepin on. I have stalled fro 3
weeks and am working on a remodel of my house. I should be done the end of
this week and will try induction again.
I switched to decaf from fresh ground beans and that has helped me with my
coffee craving. All the other crave are mostly gone. I don't miss bread or
potatoes any more.
Bye for Now

Signature

Emil Luca
08-12-03
369/314/200

> My wife and I have started Atkins together. We've been on induction
> for about 2 weeks now and we've both lost about 12 lbs in that time.
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> 6'2"
> 240/228/185

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Lee - 23 Mar 2004 21:11 GMT

> Neither of us have had a really feel-good movement in the last week or
> so and maybe that has something to do with the slow-down. Not that 2
> lbs per week is slow by any means. This is despite ingesting a couple
> of fiber tabs each morning. I'm about to combine that with Psyllium
> husk in capsule form.

I hear ya...I run into the same problem whenever I do a little
"induction" type boost to get me on track, after falling off the
wagon. Make sure you're drinking enough water and eating enough foods
that help to keep things moving along - dark leafy veggies,
brocolli...

When I get "stuck" I'll take two cascara sagrada capsules before bed
for a day or two, and that seems to get things moving again. I'm
really hesitant to take anything specifically to make things happen,
for fear of becoming dependent. So, I'm really, really careful about
using an aid only occasionally.

I don't know what Atkins' deal is on caffeine...I do another LC diet.
But, I've read other people saying that they cut their coffee intake
to a cup a day from several cups. Maybe just one cup (8-12oz.)
wouldn't be so bad?

Good luck.

Lee

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LCer09 - 23 Mar 2004 22:43 GMT

>A coffee in the morning always seems to get things moving with me -so
>I'm wondering how seriously to take Atkin's cautions about caffeine.
>I'm also not sure if it's the coffee or just having something hot -but
>tea doesn't seem to do it for me. What do you think?

I think that since starting Atkins I've had more energy than ever in the
mornings. No stimulants needed. I can actually just wake up with my alarm clock
(and sometimes without!) and roll right out of bed. No more snooze button and
feeling half dead every morning.

LCing since 12/01/03-
Me- 5'7" 265/219/140
& hubby- 6' 310/238/180

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Lee - 24 Mar 2004 15:14 GMT

> >A coffee in the morning always seems to get things moving with me -so
> >I'm wondering how seriously to take Atkin's cautions about caffeine.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> (and sometimes without!) and roll right out of bed. No more snooze button and
> feeling half dead every morning.

Uh...I don't think the OP was talking about the coffee effects on
energy levels and being able to wake up in the morning...

Lee

> LCing since 12/01/03-
> Me- 5'7" 265/219/140
> & hubby- 6' 310/238/180

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Saffire - 24 Mar 2004 00:06 GMT

> My wife and I have started Atkins together. We've been on induction
> for about 2 weeks now and we've both lost about 12 lbs in that time.
> It seems that the weight just sortof fell off that first week (mostly
> water, I understand) and we've lost about 2 lbs in the last week.

Hi, RA, welcome to the group! Sounds like you're doing it right!

I rarely have what might be considered a "good movement" anymore as far as volume
goes. I'm one of those people that just drops little turds here and there
throughout the day (like a rabbit) and only occasionally drops a "log". Part of
the reason for that is that there simply isn't as much waste as there is with
higher-carb diets. It can take a little longer to pass through and it's
generally more compact. That's a BIG switch from my habits BEFORE low-carbing.
THEN I had symptoms of IBS (although it was never officially diagnosed), but
that's cleared up COMPLETELY since I started low-carbing. It's one of the MAIN
reasons I plan to STAY low-carb for the rest of my life. It's been nine months
and I'm STILL marveling at THAT change. Often now the turds look so perfect and
healthy and NORMAL that I just want to take a picture in case it never happens
again (I don't) :-)

2 lbs a week is GOOD! It's AVERAGE. It can be dismaying not to lose the same
amount that was lost during induction, but you are correct when you assume that
it's mostly water. That water was mostly bound to glycogen molecules in the
liver, and when those glycogen stores are used up just prior to going into
ketosis, the water is shed. Now that the water is shed, you can focus on the
REAL fat loss, which WILL be much slower. You can do it, though!

Signature

Saffire
205/164/125 - 5'2.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

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steve - 24 Mar 2004 01:25 GMT

> Often now the turds look so perfect and healthy and NORMAL that I
> just want to take a picture in case it never happens again (I don't)
> :-)

HAHAHAHAHA!

Signature

Steve
sconnet@coxDOTnet

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Saffire - 24 Mar 2004 01:49 GMT

> > Often now the turds look so perfect and healthy and NORMAL that I
> > just want to take a picture in case it never happens again (I don't)
> > :-)
>
> HAHAHAHAHA!

<grin!> Honestly, I'm like a toddler being potty-trained: "Mommy, Mommy!!! Look
what **I** did!!!"

Signature

Saffire
205/164/125 - 5'2.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

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Jean M. - 24 Mar 2004 05:33 GMT

>> > Often now the turds look so perfect and healthy and NORMAL that I
>> > just want to take a picture in case it never happens again (I don't)
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
><grin!> Honestly, I'm like a toddler being potty-trained: "Mommy, Mommy!!! Look
>what **I** did!!!"

I'm so happy when I finally go that I don't care what it looks like. I
feel like announcing it to the world. Dropping back to induction
levels after quitting smoking can be cause for calling roto rooter,
and not for the toilet. :(

--
Jean M.
New food of the week: water chestnuts

Do away with flipfloping to e-mail.

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