Who's behind_the_mask!?

[behind_the_mask]

I have "done Atkins" before, off and on, as a diet. This time I am trying to make it a true lifestyle change! So, I think since I'll be on LCF for support, recipes, etc., I might as well use it to start journalling again too!

Here's my story...

My dad was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 12 and I watched him suffer through heart attacks, strokes, multiple amputations, other surgeries, insulin reactions, kidney failure, dialysis, etc. He chose to go off of dialysis after numerous complications and passed away about four years ago.

Just over two weeks ago, my mom died of a pulmonary embolism, probably caused by a blood clot from poor circuation from her adult-onset diabetes. It has FINALLY been the motivation I needed to START LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFE!!!

I am 26 years old, 5'6" and currently weigh 355 lbs. I have been overweight since I was about 8, although I remember feeling "fat" when I was a skinny little nothing in preschool. I've always been blessed with incredible friends, so I thought it didn't really matter if I was skinny or not. I remember hearing a quote from Kirstie Alley... she said she always thought she wanted to find people who would love her for her (as a fat person), but then she realized, when did she decide that who she was is the fat girl!? It made me realize that I've only ever known myself as the fat girl, and I want to know the skinny girl behind that mask (hence my user name)!

So far, my only health problem is slightly high blood pressure (which is a very recent thing)... I want that to be the end of it. I DO NOT want diabetes. I also DO want to have children and be healthy while I'm pregnant. I want my kids to have their parents until we're old!

I married my loving and supportive husband (who probably only has about 20 lbs to lose, but is willing to do this with me) in July. I know he loves me for who I am, but I want him to have a wife that he can really be proud of who she is on the outside as well as on the inside.

Anyway, I think putting this all in writing and sharing it will be good for me.

Please let me know any tips you have for induction, give me some encouragement and motivation, share your stories, favorite recipes, etc! I'd LOVE to hear from you!!!

[ardnek]

Welcome, and good luck! You're in good company, and if you haven't discovered this yet EVERYONE here is as supportive as you'll probably ever need (I'm a newbie too - only been here about a week, but I've been low-carbing for six months). It's GREAT that you're starting this journey early! Sorry to hear about your mom - I'm not sure I'd be able to produce such a coherent post so soon after losing my mommy (the thought brings tears to my eyes). Nevertheless, I'm sure she'd be proud!

Probably the best advice I have for induction is to make induction-friendly meals that can be stored in the fridge or freezer. I find that without the "well, there just wasn't anything to eat..." excuse, it's much easier. If you haven't yet, read the book (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution). I find that journaling food and exercise makes me stay honest to myself.

Once again, good luck!

[monet0329]

and ..

wow Heather.. your like a younger me.. except it was my grandmother who lost her legs.. ..we are the same height.. and about the same weight.. I am not sure.. I am scared to get on the scales..

I have been in over a year.. I did really well for the first 8 months I think it was.. lost 80 pounds and then came to a dead stop..
I have kept coming in here.. because I know if I stop.. I wont ever try this again.. I told myself last Christmas that I would take 2 weeks off.. so hopefully jump start my losing again,, didn't happen.... I could not for the life of me get my mojo back..
I truly believe I have gained it all back.. sad huh...

I have been reading in here.. keeping up with all the lovely people in here and learning that if I would not have stopped... I would have started losing again.. my body just needed to catch up with my brain..lol..so my advice to you is.. NEVER think you can take a few weeks off.. the addiction to sweets will over come you to no end.. .. it truly is like a drug addiction.. ..

I will be starting back up on Jan. 2nd.. I hope to have you here with me as a supporter.. I think we can really help each other.. ..

like you my dh is little..lol.. he just needs to tone himself back up to that sexy 6 pack that he used to have....lol..

ok I am at work and need to get.. bye for now..

[behind_the_mask]

Monet~ Thanks for your comments! I would LOVE to kind of be accountability partners in this weight loss process! Also, thank you for the advice about not taking any time off... that's what I've done in the past when I've tried to do Atkins and, just like you said, I'd never quite get up the oomph to really stick to it and end up feeling like a failure! I truly don't want that to be the case this time.

So, NO breaking from induction during Christmas... that's my new mini-goal (although it will feel more like a major goal because I think it will be pretty hard).

Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you again!

[behind_the_mask]

12/14/2007

So, here I am at day #3... so far so good, I think. I don't have a scale, so my plan is to make myself get into the gym next week to see how I'm doing and start working out again. I'd been to the doctors for a check-up last week, so I know my starting weight is accurate. I think it might actually be good that I can't be weighing myself obsessively every day (or multiple times each day)... I'm in this for the loooooong haul and the scale can be discouraging (or really encouraging when you get to see a big number down!).

I thought I'd include my menus here and see if anyone has feedback on what I can improve, remove, need to count differently, or add...

Yesterday (and almost identical to day #1):
B- Atkins-like shake, lc yogurt (5)
L- 3 oz. cheese, pepperoni, 2 T cream cheese in a lc tortilla and 2 dill pickles (6)
S- sf jello cup, cheese stick (0)
D- jack-in-the-box club salad - minus tomatoes, croutons and onions - and 1 diet pop (4)
S- summer sausage, 1 hard boiled egg (1)
TOTAL CARBS: 16

Today:
B- Atkins shake, lc yogurt (4)
S- cheese stick, summer sausage (1)
L- egg salad on lc tortilla, 2 dill pickles, diet pop (5)
S- sf jello, 1 cheese stick
D- cobb salad (6)
TOTAL CARBS: 16

[Missy's Journey]

Hi again Heather...

just a word of advice...you might want to ditch the LC tortillas for induction. I've never been able to eat them and lose...just see how you do...but if you find you aren't losing the first thing i'd ditch is those...2nd thing the shake and yogurt if necessary. these are really items that most people add after induction and see if they are tolerated.

that being said...I can eat nuts every day and lose weight...along with tons of diet soda. so everyone is different... just pay attn to your own body and see what happens...and give it TIME...I too ditched the scale for the first time in my entire life. i've gone a whole month without weighing and my first weigh in is tomorrow. i see things so differently by reviewing an entire MONTHS eating patterns instead of just one day and wondering how it's going to affect the scale...1 spoonful of peanut butter twice in a month isn't really that bad...it's not going to kill me...but it might have killed that one day you know? it's much more relaxing as long as you are committed to making the best choices you can...

[monet0329]

Good morning Heather

I agree with Missy with the wraps.. how ever .. for me I used these to start out with and just the difference in the lc wraps and bread.. I lost.. but like she said.. we are all different.. you might finish the pack out.. then see at your weigh in.. maybe go a week without.. and see the difference.. .. its all a learning process... so.. go with the flow deary..

I didn't have the yogurt or the shakes.. so I don't know about those.. but from what I have read.. people are not having those during inductions..

everything else looks great.. ..

your mini goal is a great idea....you CAN do it !!..

bbl to check on ya.. have a great day!!

[Star Shine]

Hey BTM! I agree w/Missy and Monet...those LC tortillas can be a little tricky. I just bought some LC yogurt for the first time and haven't eaten it, so I can't really comment...I'm just going to add a little in and see how it goes.

I'm the same way as Missy...I eat a lot of almonds, almost every day, and I drink usually one giant cup of coffee in the a.m. and drink anywhere from 2 to 7 caffeinated diet sodas a day, depending on my schedule. So far, no problems. I also drink water, probably not quite as much as I should.

I like your mini-goal too: my goal was similar when I started..just get thru Thanksgiving w/out falling too far off the back of the Atkins wagon! My next goal is to only eat 3 total sugar cookies when I'm in Pennsylvania Dutch country w/my fiance's family over Xmas. Wish me luck!

Keep up the great work. You can do it!

[momlatte]

Hi Heather,

I just saw your post regarding your Mom and I am really sorry for your loss. I lost my Mom three years ago and I still struggle with it at times. Just remember she would want you to take good care of yourself. I understand completely what you are going through and if you ever need some to talk to please feel free to chat away with me. You are in my prayers, take care of yourself.

It sounds like you are doing great on your plan and everyone has real great advice you will be able to do it. Keep up the great work!!

Take Care,
Jean

[behind_the_mask]

Thank you, everyone, for your encouragement and wisdom! I LOVE hearing all of the tried and true methods to living the ANA!

I did REALLY well in staying OP this weekend, but I still haven't been to the gym to weigh myself, so I don't know what I've lost. *I THINK* that I can see a difference in how my shirts fit...? We'll see if I'm imagining it (although, from what I've read on here, I know that I can lose inches while not losing numbers on the scale, so I'm promising myself not to get too discouraged if I haven't lost much).

I am choosing to have caffeine, mostly because I'm not addicted and I only have about one diet pop a day, mostly to fulfill my sweet tooth. If I stall, I now know I might need to just let that one go. I've decided to pass on the SF candies... I'm not really craving them anyway.

Besides that, I think I will wait to see how my weight loss is (probably on Wed.) to decide whether or not to cut out the LC tortillas (I just LOVE them... so I'm hoping I'll be one of the lucky people who can lose while eating them). BTW, I'm using the Mission brand, wheat, smallest size tortillas, so they are only 4 Net Carbs each and I am only eating one a day max. BUT, like with the caffeine, if they cause me to stall, they'll have to go!

Today's Menu:
B- Atkins shake (1)
L- 3 oz. cheese and pepperoni in a lc tortilla and 2 dill pickles (4)
S- 2 cheesesticks, 4 olives (2)
D- ?chicken breast, cauliflour/broccoli mix with butter or cheese? (4)
TOTAL CARBS: 11*

*This is my plan... I'll update it later if I change it. Is it ok that I'm under 20 grams of carbs/day? I'm trying to be as accurate in my count as possible, but I also try to keep it low in case there are carbs sneaking in there that I'm not counting!?!

[monet0329]

Good morning Heather.. ..

I think the menu looks good.. as far as the 11 carbs.. there were many days I was like that.. as long as your feeling satisfied hun.. don't make yourself feel like your starving or it could result in the desire to want fooood..lol.. know what I mean.. leaving some room for those hidden carbs is an awesome idea....

I think your doing great!!,,,

and yes.. some times the weigh doesn't show.. but the inches do.. weird huh..lol.. but me.. I wouldn't care if I weighed 500 pounds.. as long as I was in a size 12.... I know I know.. that wont happen.. but you know what I mean.. hehe..

you have a great day and remember....

your beautiful on the inside and out.. and your SO worth this effort your putting into making yourself healthy..

[behind_the_mask]

Today I'm feeling good! I think my appetite is decreasing a bit, which is great, and I am still completely on plan... oh, except that I had a half of a tequila filled chocolate last night... but I counted the carbs and was still under 20, so I'm not thinking of it as a cheat.

Today's Menu:
B- nothing (I slept in)
L- 10 meatballs with alfredo sauce, cauliflour with cheese and 1 strip of bacon, 1 diet pop (13)
S- 6 olives, 2 string cheese (3)
D- cobb salad with chicken breast, hb eggs, bacon bits, cheese, and blue cheese dressing (2)
TOTAL CARBS: 18

I am HORRIBLE about drinking water! I usually have about 1 glass or maybe 2 per day... and that's only because I take BC pills... any helpful suggestions on ways to start getting myself to drink more water?

Also, are bell peppers (green, red, yellow) induction friendly? How about avacados???

[monet0329]

Originally Posted by behind_the_mask

Today I'm feeling good! I think my appetite is decreasing a bit, which is great, and I am still completely on plan... oh, except that I had a half of a tequila filled chocolate last night... but I counted the carbs and was still under 20, so I'm not thinking of it as a cheat.

Today's Menu:
B- nothing (I slept in)
L- 10 meatballs with alfredo sauce, cauliflour with cheese and 1 strip of bacon, 1 diet pop (13)
S- 6 olives, 2 string cheese (3)
D- cobb salad with chicken breast, hb eggs, bacon bits, cheese, and blue cheese dressing (2)
TOTAL CARBS: 18

I am HORRIBLE about drinking water! I usually have about 1 glass or maybe 2 per day... and that's only because I take BC pills... any helpful suggestions on ways to start getting myself to drink more water?

Also, are bell peppers (green, red, yellow) induction friendly? How about avacados???

bell peppers.. not sure.. but I had them.... avocados? I have no idea.. you can go to FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal and check out carbs.. calories and such..

about the water.. you can go to the $ store and get you some sugar free drink mix things to add to your water,, they have different flavors.. or the Crystal lite stuff....

hope that helps... congrats on another great day..

[ardnek]

peppers are induction-friendly, just be careful with the sweeter ones (orange, yellow, red) because they're carbier.

avocados are included in the 'special foods' section.

"Special Category Foods

To add variety, each day you can also eat 10 to 20 olives, half a small avocado, an ounce of sour cream or three ounces of unsweetened heavy cream, as well as two to three tablespoons of lemon juice or lime juice. But be aware that these foods occasionally slow down weight loss in some people, and may need to be avoided in the first two weeks. If you seem to be losing slowly, moderate your intake of these foods."

taken from the Atkins website

[behind_the_mask]

THANK YOU!!! I'm ecxited to incorporate some peppers as a snack! I really only have a little bit of avacado on my cobb salads from restaurants, so it's good to know that they are ok, in moderation!

I need to get myself a copy of the Atkins New Diet Revolution book... it would help to have that information at my fingertips!

[ardnek]

When I first tried induction, it was about a week before I could get to a bookstore - the Atkin's website has all the info you need to do induction - it just lacks most of the 'why this diet works' info. My advice would be to read through the site until you get a chance to grab the book. It summarizes most things pretty well.

Keep it up and you'll be a success story soon

[behind_the_mask]

I posted this on a different thread, but thought I'd include it here as well...

Like many others I've found on here, I'm also a nanny! I work full-time for an amazing family with a 5-yr-old son and an 11-yr-old daughter. I've always worked with kids (through Sunday School, as a public school substitute teacher, babysitting, etc.), but this is the first year I've been a full-time nanny! I love it. I'm not sure I'll do it forever, but I do really enjoy it!

The Biggest Loser finale was great!!! I am always so impressed by how amazing they all look... and to see video and pictures of them from their first couple of weeks... it's inspiring! I want to be one of those inspiring "afters" too!!! I'm on my way...

...I just don't know how far on my way because I'm not able to get to the gym today to weight myself... so that means I'll have to wait until at least tomorrow to see what I've lost during my induction. Argh! I just want to know (although, I have to admit, part of me is nervous because I've been so good at not cheating and I know I'll be a bit discouraged if the scale doesn't reveal a loss).

My menu today:
B- lc tortilla, pepperoni, cheese (5)
L- 2 dill pickles, 3 slices of summer sausage, 2 string cheese (2)
S- 1 Atkins shake, lc yogurt (4)
D- cobb salad (1)
S- lc peanut butter cookie(s) (?)
TOTAL CARBS: 12 + carbs in cookie(s)*

*I'm going to a Christmas cookie exchange party tomorrow (talk about torture!), so my hubby and I are going to try a low carb pb cookie recipe tonight that I found on here... I haven't figured out how many carbs are in each cookie, but I'm sure I'll have at least one tonight to try them out. Then, tomorrow, I plan to eat a BIG LC dinner before the party... wish me luck!!!

[ardnek]

Good luck!

[behind_the_mask]

We made the pb cookies... YUM!!! I definitely give them 2 thumbs up! And they end up being just under 3 carbs per cookie... not bad at all!

LC PB Cookie Recipe:
1 cup peanut butter (I used creamy Jif)
1 1/3 cups Splenda
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

*Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. Don't forget to do the cute little criss cross pattern on top!

Today's Menu:
B- Atkins shake, 2 lc pb cookies (7)
L- 3 hb eggs, 2 pickles, 1 diet pop (0)
S- pepperoni slices with string cheese (1)
D- salad with turkey and cheese (3)
S- 3 lc pb cookies at the party? (9)
TOTAL CARBS: 20

Keep wishing me luck for the cookie Christmas party tonight! I realize that I'm splurging a little on the cookies today, but I figure it's better to splurge on these cookies than on all the others that will be there!

Oh, and I still haven't weighed in (argh!), but I DID finally pick up some Ketostix and I am consistently between "moderate" and the first "large" bar!!! I hope that means this is working for me!

[monet0329]

Heather....

Those pb cookies are yummy.. but be careful.. just because they are low carb doesn't mean we can eat alot..lol.. ask me.. I know all about it.. I got to where I would dip them in cool whip.. so delish..

anywho good luck tonight. .. have fun.. ..

oh and we have even more in common.. I have always worked with kiddos as well.. till about 5 years ago maybe.. I would baby sit.. then I was a Day Care Director.. best job I ever had.. then the owner closed it down so she could stay at home with her first child.. so we split the kiddos.. then my kids grew up to where their parents thought they could stay at home with older siblings.. ..now I work at a car lot.. .. but I love working with kiddos.. ..


ok have a great great day!!

Oh and The biggest Looser rocked huh.. I cried,, I am a big cry baby.. lol.. later tater

[behind_the_mask]

I don't even want to write this, but I'll be honest... I FELL OFF THE WAGON!

I had been all pumped up about the new lc pb cookie recipe I made ahead of time so that I could be good at my friend's Christmas cookie party last night... and then, really out of nowhere, I was tempted and ate three sugar cookies with frosting that were at my work place! I never even made it to the party (which I'll explain why later). BLAH!

I "confessed" to my DH, who is doing induction with me, and so then he decided that he wants to go off of Atkins until after Christmas. Then, to make a long story short, before the Christmas party, my Dh was in a car accident last night (he's ok, TG!). My car was totalled. Amidts dealing with all of those details for hours, we ended up eating out (burgers and fries!). NOW WHAT DO I DO??? I feel so disappointed that I gave in to temptation, and in such a BIG way... but I think it might be more realistic to re-start induction after Christmas. BUT, part of me knows that there will ALWAYS be temptations... I mean, there's New Year's Eve party, my birthday Jan 10th, Valentine's Day... you know how it goes.

Anyway, I just wanted to be honest, vent a bit, and get some advice! What's the best way to climb back on board after falling this hard? Is any weight that I lost bound to come back on at this point?

[monet0329]

Hello Heather..

First off.. remember.. you are human.. and old habits will try to creep back in.. sad but true.. Life happens and we just need to move on.. shake it off and go on.. I myself am waiting till after the Holidays to restart,, maybe you can to.. at least till after the first,, then ask yourself.. can you go without Birthday cake on your big day? maybe ask everyone to not make/ buy you one.. and have another treat.. like the low carb cheese cake stuff.. yummm..

there are so many good recipes you can have to substitute for the sweets we love.. That is why I love this site so much..

I hope you don't beat yourself up for being human hun.. its just something we all have to deal with.. I don't care if you went 5 years of clean eating.. lost lots of weight .. those bad habits can and will creep back .. .. that temptation will ALWAYS be there.. we just have to learn how to control it.. try and replace bad habits with good healthy ones....

I would suggest you waiting at least till after New years.. but don't go over board.. 1 cookie is better then 3.. a few bites of something bad is better then a whole serving,, lots better if your serving sizes are anything like mine..

If you feel you need to start right back up... that's good too.. just what ever you do.. don't give up all together ok... your so worth everything your putting into this.. Your a beautiful lady with what I can tell a beautiful soul..
Do this for yourself and everyone around you.. but mostly yourself..

you CAN do this..

smile sweetie.. its ok..