Hello, I am about two weeks into the Atkins diet and I was hoping for some comments:

I did 'slip' a little this weekend, it was my friends birthday and I did have a few beers, but I checked the strips yesterday and I got a VERY dark reaction.

Here is my routine:

1) Breakfast: two-three eggs, maybe some bacon or sausage patty. Decaf coffee (two 16 oz cups, w/half-and-half).

2) Lunch: Grilled chicken breast and a medium size salad.

3) Dinner: Grilled chicken breast, maybe some cream cheese as dessert.

I'm drinking between 64 and 128 oz of water per day, I take a multi-vitamin, a 'C' and a potassium. I've also been trying a stack (thermogeneic) but I'm not sure I'll stick with that.

I did the 'Zone' about two years ago and was exercising regularly (4-6 mile walk per day, 5-6 days/week). I lost pretty good, I really don't know exactly because I NEVER weigh myself - but I probably dropped a good 6+ inches off my waist (the lbs don't bother me, it's the way I look). Now I don't have as much time to exercise (new job) so I figured I'd go all out and do the Atkins this time - trying to add some weight lifting in the NEAR future.

I do drink diet sodas, I never had a problem with them doing the Zone so I will probably not stop. I don't drink excessive amounts. I'm going to lay off the alcohol for a few months to see how this goes.

Any comments, suggestions, etc?

Welcome, MOP and congrats on your loss so far, you must feel so much better.

Just a comment and a suggestion: Ketostixs measure the remains of burned up ketone bodies that have spilled over into your urine; Your body takes alcohol and turns it into ketone bodies regarless of whether you're eating LC or not. So, yes, the strips would be purple as a matter of course. It's important when you do drink alcohol that you also drink plenty of water, you do not want to be dehydrated.

The suggestion is that you should probably be eating more. I know atkins says not to count calories, and I think that's important when following this WOE, but it is also important you eat enough. For basal metabolic functioning you need a minimum of 10 to 12 times your body weight. In your case that would be 2300 cals. From what you've described above, I don't think you're getting anywhere near that much. Yes, its bizarre, but you do need to eat more, and you need to eat more fat Butter, olive oil, mayo, salad dressings and eat that chicken skin!.

Opps, I have a second suggestion, I would add Magnesium to your supplements. Magnesium is something most of us are deficient in to begin with, which is a bad thing; magnesium controls the fate of potassium and calcium and plays a major part in over 325 chemical reactions w/in our bodies. RDA for mag is 400 - 500 mg day. Be sure to get the chelated kind as it is more easily absorped.

Nat

Nat,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try some pork rinds for added calories since I am really not hungy and am quite satisfied with what I am consuming. In fact I think it's drink all that water that is filling me up.

I hadn't consumed any alcohol since Saturday night, so I don't think that would have turned the strip purple on Teusday and again today (Wednesday) - I was hoping it was a GOOD sign - but now you've got me doubting that.

I want to add some excercise as soon as things settle down - I'm in the process of starting a business so time is at a minimum.

Thanks again for your help!

Good luck, MOP, just watch that your calories don't get too low, you run the risk of slowing your progress. Next time you're surfing the web type in "Basal Metabolic Rate"; its really quite interesting.

Nat

Hi MOP - welcome!

Don't be afraid to fling a legal veggie on your dinner plate with a couple of pats of butter.