newby- portion control and questions

[jojofreo]

ok. I have been trying this for about a week, just got on the scales and have gone up 1.3 kilo's! Is this likely to be some bulk build up (Have been a little constipated, although not this morning) or am I still just eating too much. Maybe I have been over compensating for the hungry feeling that carbs used to fill by eating too bigger portions? Should I be following general diet rules of a piece of meat as big as your palm etc? hmmm, trying to get my head around it all, when I read others diet plans I seem to comparable. I also wake up with a yucky taste in mouth, can't seem to find anything on here about that? And one more question, is fluid retention an issue, drinking loads of water but pissing average amounts...

[amiga74]

well the yucky taste in your mouth sounds alot like "ketosis" -that topic is all over the place on these boards!
as for portion sizes etc, one thing i suggest is tracking your food using fitday or the daily plate, maybe Australia has a version as these here in the US obviously use non-metric stuff, but its possible to convert, and some measurements on these sites are in grams.

i'm not really sure what accounts for the kg increase, but my suggestion is to give it some more time. are you a woman? if so, the gain could be cycle related. also, have you lost any cm?

[Dee1111]

fluid retention has been an issue for me as well

[flatferenghi]

even us oldbys are still challenged by it. (well, some of us are.) I am working very hard at my ancient age of 57 keeping my portions within the parameters of WEIGHT WATCHERS, while simultaneously doing phase of 2 of ATKINS. I am experimenting seriously with putting down my utensils after each bite, and trying to prolong the mealtime experience w/o prolonging the quantity of food. Of course, i will succeed in time, and SO WILL YOU. (I must say, i find it quite exhilarating communicating with AUSTRALIA!!!) I wish you every success. Love & Profits FLATFERENGHI (in town & in con-TROLL)

[Nigel]

Originally Posted by jojofreo

ok. I have been trying this for about a week, just got on the scales and have gone up 1.3 kilo's! Is this likely to be some bulk build up (Have been a little constipated, although not this morning) or am I still just eating too much. Maybe I have been over compensating for the hungry feeling that carbs used to fill by eating too bigger portions? Should I be following general diet rules of a piece of meat as big as your palm etc? hmmm, trying to get my head around it all, when I read others diet plans I seem to comparable. I also wake up with a yucky taste in mouth, can't seem to find anything on here about that? And one more question, is fluid retention an issue, drinking loads of water but pissing average amounts...

If you are doing Atkins, there is no portion control on the legal foods. You can eat as much meat or eggs as you want. Be sure and get in your salads or veggies each day. Eating some sunflower kernels will help with the constipation or eating a dill pickle seems to help. Sometimes when we first start out, we actually gain weight because our body is adjusting to the radical food changes we have made, but that weight gain is temporary--if you eat enough, you will start losing. And make sure you eat enough fats, so you won't get constipated.