New to LCF / delurking

[BufoDieter]

Hello!

Just thought I'd finally de-lurk and introduce myself. I've been lurking and reading on the LCF boards for about 6 months now.

While new to LCF, I'm not new to LC. Did Atkins for the first time in 2001, was cruising along really well, then got pregnant with DS #1 ("A"). Have been up and down, weight-wise since then (mostly gaining and losing the same 10 - 15 pounds ), and also had DS #2 ("J"). Well, J turned 2 in September. I re-committed to eating healthfully and exercising regularly in June of '07 (after a very brief stint with Kimkins) and am down almost 20 pounds since then (was at 199 just before the holidays, but then my MIL sent candy... ). My goal is buckle down and finally lose the rest of my weight in 2008 (it rhymes, so this should be the year to do it, right?)

So, ! You can call me...

[shell bell]

Welcome to the boards!! I started Atkins on 11-21-07 and am down 13lbs.
Had teh flu which was horrible, and now I have begun excercising. Can you give me a sample menu of a typical day. and also what excercises you are doing, you seem like you are doing great! Keep it up.

My day:

B-Moch Danish
L- salad w/ some kind of protein w/fat
Dinner- latley having lots of chicken, got sick of red meat.

and also water, usually flavored and fizzy.

[BufoDieter]

Hi Shell Bell ~

OK, sample menu:

Water
B: some sort of eggs (often an egg sandwich on the waffle-type buns recipe found on this board... yummy!)
Water
L: Either leftovers from last night's dinner or a serving of one of Linda Sue's casseroles & a splenda-sweetened pop
Water
D: protein and veggie
Water
If I need a snack I'll have a cheese stick or hard boiled egg or a few nuts
Did I mention water?

As for exercise:

I've been in a routine since A started kindergarten... I drop him off at school and then J and I head to the Y. I do some sort of cardio every day for 30 minutes- either hit the treadmill and walk on an incline or jog, or use the elliptical, and I also lift weights every day. I alternate between arms/upper body and legs/lower body. I also do crunches or reverse crunches daily, too.

Nothing magical, just a matter of sticking to it. And with the exercise, I'm always trying to challenge myself on the cardio... jog for a minute longer than before or increase my speed or incline. Shake it up, keep my body guessing.

[stephypoo99]

Hey ladies, I just wanted to introduce myself as well. I have been reading posts and not bothering to post. I figured why not.... . I am 26 and I just started Atkins a week ago. I am a little frustrated because I started without having a scale for the first 4 days! Crazy me, I know. I bought one 3 days ago, and I have been jumping from 217.6 to 218.8...... all over the place. I only weigh in the morning.

I know not to base it on the scale (but we all do ) I bought the strips and I have had moderate keytones the whole time. I am used to eating ALL day, but I feel as though I have been doing really well. In my mind, I have done well just eliminating ALL of the potatoes, pasta, rice, and of course BREAD that I used to eat. Here is a sample of what I have been eating:

B - eggs (crustless quiche with cheese or just 2 hard boiled)
L - sometimes sauteed shrimp and grape tomatoes or
lettuce wraps with turkey and/or salami with cheese
S - cucumbers or celery with cream cheese
D - some sort of protein with veggies (smashed cawliflower or asparagus, etc.)


as far as water goes.........I love it but have a hard time drinking tons of it. However, gives me those sparkling (Sam's Club?) and I'll down them cause I think it's soda! ...... they have zero everything down the board but has aspartame.

help! lol

[BufoDieter]

Hi Stephypoo!

How great you've started LCing - you're gonna love it!

A couple of suggestions (since you asked for help, lol!):

1. Get a tape measure and measure yourself top to bottom. Then record those measurements in a journal somewhere. Re-measure yourself every month and keep track of how you're doing. Sometimes, you'll not see results on the scale, but you will see them in inches lost. Plus it's a great motivator should you hit a stall - you may still be losing inches but just not seeing it on the scale.

2. Go ahead and weigh yourself every day if you want, but pick one day a week to be your "official" weigh-in day. That way, you hopefully won't drive yourself crazy with the little day-to-day fluctuations you see.

3. Lose the aspartame if you can. It really isn't doing you any favors. (But belive me, I feel your pain... I was a big Diet Coke addict for a long time). I've since switched to splenda-sweetened sodas (Like Pepsi One or Jones) and limit myself to 1 can a day. Other than that I drink plain water. I read a great article here that explains very simply why water helps you seemingly melt fat by making your liver work for you, not against you.

Good luck to you! Hope I've helped some and nice to meet ya!

[stephypoo99]

Thank you B........I knew posting on here would be beneficial for my moral! I will take your advice about the aspartame... I hear it effects some people and not others (of course I"m probably one! lol) I'll keep u posted!

[Boudica]

A hearty WELCOME to both of yous guys!

Glad to see a few more new people who have put lurking behind them and have joined the LC real world!

Hope to see LOTS of posts from you!
~D

[somethingblue2u]

This board is the best thing I found. It is awesome. And I'm glad you have decided to de-lerk and join in the fun!

[DolphinsOnMyMind777]

to the boards all!
I lurked briefly in the beginning and then jumped right in. It was the best thing I ever did. I am glad you decided to post.

[BufoDieter]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. Looking forward to getting to know you!

[shell bell]

Hi guys,

Stephypoo you mkay want to try vitamins. And do you have the Atkins book, if not you should, if so, read the chapter on Induction.

Toad Thanks for the menu, it looks good. How do you keep motivated to excercise everyday?

Shell

[BufoDieter]

Shell Bell - I don't exercise every day (and don't ask about this week!)... but what gets me there is routine. I take A to school and J & I just go to the Y from there. It's just become habit and routine. It's good for him too because he gets to play in the playroom with other kids for and hour or so. So that's most weekdays, but not always all. Life does get in the way sometimes (like this week, ugh!). And then I sometimes go on Saturday mornings because the playroom is open then, too, and A likes to go to that. It's more like taking them to play and then I go exercise for a bit.

But as far as my motivation? I dunno. I really am big on structure and routine. And, I used to (read: a long time ago in high school) run, and wanted to be able to do that again. So I've been jogging and trying to better my time each week. I started with only being able to jog for 2 minutes, now I can do 15. I've probably set myself back again this week, but I will continue.

I also got a really nice compliment from a woman who works out at the same time I do. She said she could tell I had been working really hard and it showed. It really helps to hear that from strangers - give you an extra boost, yanno?

I saw in the challenges that they do virtual 5K's... thought that would be fun as a future goal. I would have to see if I could go 3.1 miles first, though. I've only gone about 1.5, give or take, so far.

I'm also taking a break lifting weights with my arms. I hurt my shoulder a few months ago lifting, thought I had let it heal, but it flared up again 2 weeks ago. So I said I'd lay off the arms for the month of January just to let it heal. I have heard shoulder injuries take a while to heal. I think I was over-ambitious... really would love Jennifer Aniston's arms, or Jillian Michaels! Wow!

Good grief I rambled on! I don't know if I helped you at all but it is nice to talk!

[shell bell]

OMG!!! You really can talk, I could'nt get a word in edge wise, jeeze!! Just kidding!!! I'm glad that you are like you are, it actually motivates me in a way. I kind of started to use weights too. How many reps do you do?

Shell

[BufoDieter]

Originally Posted by shell bell

OMG!!! You really can talk, I could'nt get a word in edge wise, jeeze!!

I guess I was in a mood last night!

For reps, I do 10 - 15, depending on the day & my mood. Usually 2 sets, sometimes 3.

Actually made it to the gym today. No weights, just cardio and crunches, but it felt good to be there.

[stephypoo99]

You ladies are making me feel bad with all of your exercise talk! just kidding. I am a teacher, and find it hard to get out there seeing that when i get home I have to sit down an correct papers.. anyone wanna help?

Anyways, I know it is slow progress, but I have lost two pounds since Sunday. I actually cut out my cheese and have seemed to get away from that .2 loss each day! Hey I'm ok with 2 lbs!

[BufoDieter]

Oh Stephypoo! I feel your pain!

I was a teacher before we moved and had my 2 boys... it is definitely hard to find time to exercise! It seems like a never-ending job. If you're not teaching, you're grading papers or doing lesson plans. It's always something, huh? During the last year or so before I resigned I would meet up with another teacher friend of mine before work in the mornings (at 4:15am! yikes!) to work out. I'm a big morning exerciser - if I don't get it done in the morning I likely won't get it done that day.

What grade do you teach? I taught High School Biology (mostly) and later was the Technology Coordinator for my alma mater. I do miss it and plan to go back to teaching (maybe even this fall, if there is an opening).

[stephypoo99]

Awesome.. another teacher! I am a fourth grade teacher - oh yeah, the little ones. lol. I love it, but the demands of my "take-home" work often frustrates me. I am also in the process of getting master's so my weekends are filled with typing papers.... see where the excercise goes astray? After all that I do, I just want to put on my pj's , hop into bed and watch tv. Some "brainless" activity! You should go back!

[BufoDieter]

Ooh, 4th grade. God bless ya!

The youngest I ever taught was 6th grade. It was my very first teaching job, right after student teaching. The middle school I was at was 6-8 and I had one 6th grade Life Science class. I truly think the principal hand-picked these kids for me because they were just the sweetest.

I did do a stint in pre-school while I was in college. I'm convinced it's what drove me to be a high school teacher.

I'm sure I will go back - DH won't let me stay home forever (even though I'd like to) but the extra money is just too hard to pass up for too long KWIM? But when, oh when will I get my exercising done?!?

After all that I do, I just want to put on my pj's , hop into bed and watch tv.

Uh, were you spying on me when I was a single gal?