Hi to everyone

I have just recently found this site, I'm hoping it will be helpful in my attempt to lose aprox. 30 lbs. I have lost weight in the past by following a low fat diet (-50 lbs) but I'm ready for a change for my final 30 lb loss. I will be following the Dr Atkins diet. I have played around with it in the past, but now ready for a serious commitment! Any help with using this site would be greatly apprecaited, as this is all very new to me. I am a 49 yr old female from Missouri.
P.S. God bless our great U.S A.

Excellent choice of new way of eating Judy!

Have you read the Atkins book yet? I noticed in your stats that nothing was filled in.

Be prepared for a possible bit of slow going, especially if you have been protein starved on a low-fat diet. Protein builds muscle mass which is very good but you may not see much movement on the scale at first, so take your measurements before you begin. Muscle takes up less volume than fat.

When you come to the site, click on support forums at the upper right. When the page opens, under 'welcome back Judyanne' you will see 'View new posts'. Click that and all new posts that have appeared since your last visit will be there.

In the orange bar at the top of the page is tons of useful information. Click and learn!

Have a look at the Journal/Bootcamp forum and consider keeping a journal there.

Karen

Hello there Judy and welcome to this great forum!

I've found all kinds of great advice and suggestions here from lots of really knowledgable people.

<--this is me with my new energy from this WOL!

Raven

P.S. Did I mention how much I love the new smileys??



Raven

Thanks for the replies, info and encouragement so far, everyone !and yes, I have the Dr Atkins book, also the Zone, Carbohydrate Addict and Protien Power...I researched them all and decided on the Dr Atkins. I have also been reading alot of the site info here. It is all very helpful
Bye for now..everyone have a great day!!!
Judy

Hey there Judyanne-
Welcome to the best place ever to get inspiration and lots of information. I've been coming since June and believe me, it has kept me on track. Whenever I feel the urge to "fall off the wagon" I just come here and voila, instant motivation! Anyway, glad you found us. Keep the faith and check in lots. Have a great day.
Cheers,
Lara
A Canadian in support of the great U.S.A.

Hi to everyone !!!!!!! I Started on the Atkins plan Monday and for the most part feel great. dealing with little hunger and no cravings..but I am experiencing a temporary shortness of breath on exertion..nothing serious, doestn't last long, but just a bit short winded, is this a common thing at the start?

Thanks again to everyone who has replied! the motivation here is great so far!
Judy

There's a few symptoms related to carbohydrate withdrawal and changing over your metabolism to fat burning that many people experience and are rather common. Fatigue, irritibility, headaches, nausea, fuzzy feeling etc are quite frequent. Good news is that it usually only lasts a week and as short as a few days, and after it's all over you'll be feeling great. Make sure you're getting enough magnesium, calcium and potassium. You're muscles need these nutrients and you're likely losing a lot of them due to increased fluid loss during the first week. And make sure you're drinking a LOT of water.

Thanks again for the reply Raven, my multi vitamin (which I haven't been religious enough in taking ) contains 100 mg magnesium----80 mg potassium---165 mg calcium is this enough of the nutrients you spoke of? and thanks for the reminder about the water comsumption, I'm trying

Do I continue posting on my original thread here? or start another?
to all!
Judyanne

I'll just tell you what I had to do for me and what worked:

I would up the calcium to at least 1000 mg a day. We girls need our calcium! I had to take about 500 mg of magnesium and the potassium supplements weren't enough for me, so I supplemented with half-salt. I had some real problems with muscle fatigue though in the first week. (much better now by the way). If you go much over 500 mg of mag you might start getting some problems with diarrhea. After your body stops losing all that water, these nutrients won't be as much of an issue.

I'm sure there's some nutrition experts out there who might have some other advice.

About the thread, you might find it helpful to start one under Journals/Bootcamp section. You could post there everyday about what you're eating, drinking....what supplements you're taking, daily exercise, etc. Great place to post daily problems and concerns too.

Your info most helpful Raven, thanks! would welcome any advice or info anyone, that will keep me motivated, I will return the favour, as soon as I'm more then just a newbie here

welcome judyanne!



the introductions forum is really for introductions. it's a way for us to get to know each other and welcome newbies. it's really best to start a new thread in one of the other forums for a new question. we have sooo many wonderful forums! when you have some time, check them all out! you'll find the appropriate forum to post your questions. we even have a chit chat forum in the daily lowcarber for off topic discussions!