The first day of induction; how hard was it?

girl81 · 12-18-2007, 11:36 PM

For those that remember; if you had a strong carb addiction, how hard was that first day of induction? How many days did it take for you to notice a reduction in cravings and appetite? Did you decrease slowly or jump right in?

steady · 12-19-2007, 07:07 AM

I was a carboholic and the main reason for doing Atkins. I had slowly reduced my carbs the week before jumping into strict induction, which in retrospect I think made it "harder". It is easier for me to go "cold turkey" and refocus on something else...weaning off was sort of a tease.

The first two weeks of strict induction were actually easy for me...I was so excited to be eating fat and protein, two things I restricted on my LF/HC diet. Looking back on it, days 3 & 4 were the worst, because I guess I had induction flu, but just thought I was sick so out of habit I wanted chicken noodle soup w/ saltine crackers...I refrained and just had broth and was very happy I didn't cave. Overall, the hardest part was breaking dietary habits, such as eating cereal and fruit for breakfast. I noticed a GREAT reduction in cravings in those two weeks, and now I rarely ever crave sugar or carbs, but now crave salty fatty foods like nuts, cheese and meats with skin on. I didn't cheat at all in induction and didn't have AS, SA or mock carby items for fear this would spur cravings...that may be something you want to consider. I never had a reduction in appetite, but I also never showed symptoms of ketosis.

liza15 · 12-19-2007, 07:21 AM

Last year I had started and re-started so many times before I finally got going. The cravings were so intense that I folded everytime.

The mistake I made- was the week before the diet, I loaded up on every carb I could get my hands on (since I wasn't going to have them anymore) And I think I was so polluted with carbs that I set myself up for a major carb hangover for the following diet week.
What I did this time was I took one month prior to start slowly cutting down on the starches until I was down to only 2 or 3 a week, making the transition smooth, and actually losing about 5 pounds that month before I started the diet.
I don't know if this helps you any.....maybe someone out there....just wondering if you 'did it up' the nights before? Might explain the difficultness of it for you right now.
I know you want to get going, but sometimes you have to take a step backwards to go forwards. Maybe include a baked potato, or some whole grain bread this week to get you over the hump, then go in totally strong next week and then after.

SonyaK · 12-19-2007, 08:18 AM

The first day was pretty easy - I had my excitability over the prospect of losing to keep me hyped up. After several false starts I finally figure out to state on a Tue. or a Wed. since my 3rd and 4th days were the hardest. I always suffer with the "induction flu" and that leaves me time to recoup over the weekend.

Remember even if you have a slip up, just jump right back into it with your very next bite of food. No more of this "well I screwed up today so I might as well eat up and restart tomorrow" that mind-set was the the kiss of death for me. My last "I just restart tomorrow" lasted a few years.

Best of Luck and good health to you!

SonyaK · 12-19-2007, 08:21 AM

Oh one other thing - and this might get me flamed but I am going to say it anyway.

This last re-start in Aug. I did the first 3 days on meat and eggs only. It quickly put me into ketoses and made the rest of this journey easier for me.

BellaHMB · 12-19-2007, 10:00 AM

Girl, are you trying to lose weight or gain weight? Looking at your avatar Im wondering...?

Bella

steady · 12-19-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaHMB

Girl, are you trying to lose weight or gain weight? Looking at your avatar Im wondering...?

Bella

I am wondering the same thing...I hope it is JUST to lose cravings.

girl81 · 12-19-2007, 09:56 PM

I would like to reduce cravings and appetite.

JuliaL · 12-20-2007, 04:48 AM

I don't want to sound judgemental, but if you weigh 90 lbs. and your WOE says "clean, high calorie", that tells me you might need to gain weight, so why do you want to lose your appetite? Cravings I get, but not appetite - having an appetite is a healthy, normal thing.

I know that eating sweets and junk makes me feel hungrier, and causes me to crave more, so if that's what you mean then I suggest you eat more of an OWL or South Beach way, including lots of veggies and some fruit. If fruit triggers your sweets cravings, try eating it with protein.

Best of luck!

JanMarie3 · 12-27-2007, 03:03 PM

I went shopping first and then jumped in with both feet!

The first three days were hard, then it got easier.

Good Luck!

newfocus · 12-28-2007, 06:18 AM

I kept saying for weeks "how am I going to start this diet?" until I got so frustrated and tired of feeling miserable because of the extra weight so just went cold turkey -it happened to be on a Monday - after eating everything on the weekend. It was two weeks before Christmas that I started eating less carbs. During Christmas last week, I did not eat any sweets or bread. I just kept telling myself that I was giving myself "the gift of being healthy" - saying this is what got me through Christmas. I would look at food and smell the cookies and desserts but never ate them. It has taken me about three weeks to lose the cravings and I am not as hungry as much.

12-18-2007, 11:36 PM	#1
girl81 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 559 Gallery: girl81 Stats: past/100/healthy WOE: unprocessed	The first day of induction; how hard was it? For those that remember; if you had a strong carb addiction, how hard was that first day of induction? How many days did it take for you to notice a reduction in cravings and appetite? Did you decrease slowly or jump right in?

12-19-2007, 07:07 AM	#2
steady Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 982 Gallery: steady Stats: 110/85-90 5'2 WOE: ATKINS Start Date: Feb 2007	I was a carboholic and the main reason for doing Atkins. I had slowly reduced my carbs the week before jumping into strict induction, which in retrospect I think made it "harder". It is easier for me to go "cold turkey" and refocus on something else...weaning off was sort of a tease. The first two weeks of strict induction were actually easy for me...I was so excited to be eating fat and protein, two things I restricted on my LF/HC diet. Looking back on it, days 3 & 4 were the worst, because I guess I had induction flu, but just thought I was sick so out of habit I wanted chicken noodle soup w/ saltine crackers...I refrained and just had broth and was very happy I didn't cave. Overall, the hardest part was breaking dietary habits, such as eating cereal and fruit for breakfast. I noticed a GREAT reduction in cravings in those two weeks, and now I rarely ever crave sugar or carbs, but now crave salty fatty foods like nuts, cheese and meats with skin on. I didn't cheat at all in induction and didn't have AS, SA or mock carby items for fear this would spur cravings...that may be something you want to consider. I never had a reduction in appetite, but I also never showed symptoms of ketosis. __________________ "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food" -- Hippocrates

12-20-2007, 04:48 AM	#9
JuliaL Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 17,180 Gallery: JuliaL Stats: 190/142/140 16/8/6, height 5'8", age 48 WOE: Atkins/BFFM Start Date: 4/22/03	I don't want to sound judgemental, but if you weigh 90 lbs. and your WOE says "clean, high calorie", that tells me you might need to gain weight, so why do you want to lose your appetite? Cravings I get, but not appetite - having an appetite is a healthy, normal thing. I know that eating sweets and junk makes me feel hungrier, and causes me to crave more, so if that's what you mean then I suggest you eat more of an OWL or South Beach way, including lots of veggies and some fruit. If fruit triggers your sweets cravings, try eating it with protein. Best of luck! __________________ *"Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on our own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon." -Denis Waitley*

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12-19-2007, 07:21 AM	#3
liza15 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: height 5'7 Posts: 823 Gallery: liza15 Stats: 160/113/113 now 125/115/115 Start Date: 2007 / 2008	Last year I had started and re-started so many times before I finally got going. The cravings were so intense that I folded everytime. The mistake I made- was the week before the diet, I loaded up on every carb I could get my hands on (since I wasn't going to have them anymore) And I think I was so polluted with carbs that I set myself up for a major carb hangover for the following diet week. What I did this time was I took one month prior to start slowly cutting down on the starches until I was down to only 2 or 3 a week, making the transition smooth, and actually losing about 5 pounds that month before I started the diet. I don't know if this helps you any.....maybe someone out there....just wondering if you 'did it up' the nights before? Might explain the difficultness of it for you right now. I know you want to get going, but sometimes you have to take a step backwards to go forwards. Maybe include a baked potato, or some whole grain bread this week to get you over the hump, then go in totally strong next week and then after.

12-19-2007, 08:18 AM	#4
SonyaK Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: S.W. FL Posts: 114 Gallery: SonyaK Stats: 205/168.5/135 WOE: all of them Start Date: Aug. 2007	The first day was pretty easy - I had my excitability over the prospect of losing to keep me hyped up. After several false starts I finally figure out to state on a Tue. or a Wed. since my 3rd and 4th days were the hardest. I always suffer with the "induction flu" and that leaves me time to recoup over the weekend. Remember even if you have a slip up, just jump right back into it with your very next bite of food. No more of this "well I screwed up today so I might as well eat up and restart tomorrow" that mind-set was the the kiss of death for me. My last "I just restart tomorrow" lasted a few years. Best of Luck and good health to you!

12-19-2007, 08:21 AM	#5
SonyaK Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: S.W. FL Posts: 114 Gallery: SonyaK Stats: 205/168.5/135 WOE: all of them Start Date: Aug. 2007	Oh one other thing - and this might get me flamed but I am going to say it anyway. This last re-start in Aug. I did the first 3 days on meat and eggs only. It quickly put me into ketoses and made the rest of this journey easier for me.

12-19-2007, 10:00 AM	#6
BellaHMB Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern California Coast Posts: 3,199 Gallery: BellaHMB Stats: 210/143/140 original goal met 5.27.07 WOE: Maintenance Atkins Start Date: 1-16-07	Girl, are you trying to lose weight or gain weight? Looking at your avatar Im wondering...? Bella

12-19-2007, 09:56 PM	#8
girl81 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 559 Gallery: girl81 Stats: past/100/healthy WOE: unprocessed	I would like to reduce cravings and appetite.

12-27-2007, 03:03 PM	#10
JanMarie3 Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Under the Gateway Arch Posts: 3,581 Gallery: JanMarie3 Stats: 140/134/125 5'3" WOE: Atkins Start Date: Registered: August 2000	I went shopping first and then jumped in with both feet! The first three days were hard, then it got easier. Good Luck!

12-28-2007, 06:18 AM	#11
newfocus Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 104 Gallery: newfocus Stats: 197/163/155 WOE: Portion Control/Trying To Eat More Natural Foods Start Date: February 2007	I kept saying for weeks "how am I going to start this diet?" until I got so frustrated and tired of feeling miserable because of the extra weight so just went cold turkey -it happened to be on a Monday - after eating everything on the weekend. It was two weeks before Christmas that I started eating less carbs. During Christmas last week, I did not eat any sweets or bread. I just kept telling myself that I was giving myself "the gift of being healthy" - saying this is what got me through Christmas. I would look at food and smell the cookies and desserts but never ate them. It has taken me about three weeks to lose the cravings and I am not as hungry as much.