Hi everyone - I've read a lot of your posts before deciding to jump in; this is a great place; very inspirational.

Well - here's I am. I've been thin my whole life, even after 3 kids - never had to worry about what I ate. I am a carb junkie - not sweets, but crackers, chips, salty stuff. I am now 38 and over the past year or so have gained 15 pounds for no apparent reason. Not only that, I've noticed fat in areas I don't want it. I exercise moderately but that is having no effect.
I know some of you may rake me over the coals for complaining about 15 pounds, but I've always been small and this change is bothering me. I also don't want to be like my mother who isn't terribly overweight either, but has sky high cholesterol and other problems.
I've read Atkin's book and done a good bit of research before deciding to try this - I really think it's how we're supposed to eat. So I'm not doing it to drop a lot of weight, but to feel better and live healthy into later years.
Today is day 2 for me and I'm having a really hard time. I ate a lot today; had chicken w/a really yummy sauce and a huge salad for dinner and even though I'm full, have a terrible urge to open the pantry and tear into the sun chips, pretzels, tortilla chips....ANYTHING. It's awful - I'm obsessing over it and my mouth even starts watering when I think about it. I can't even sit and watch TV with my kids. I also feel irritable and tired with a slight headache. I couldn't bring myself to exercise tonight - don't think I'd get through it. \
I know, logically, that I am going through withdrawal, but this is really, really hard. That's why I'm writing this - to keep my hands busy doing something else.

I have a question - what's a really good snack food? I am a snacker and would like to at least pretend.

Thanks for listening and glad to be here.

Hi, Im only on day 4 myself but I am snacking on cream cheese and perreroni and olives. The pepperoni will stop you from getting to constipated as well

Hey Astagirl,

Break your meals up into snacks, instead of eating 3 meals a day have 6 spread out over the course of the day. Just make sure you take what you'd usually eat and break it down, don't eat the same size meal you'd usually eat, you know what I mean, don't cha! anyway I also like to snack and will usually do with a handful of cashews, or some nice sharp cheese, but watch the cheese, sometimes the salt content will help one retain water wieght, same with the cashews, get the non salted type for best results.

Sometimes I will eat a few celery sticks with peanut butter or tuna salad stuffed or cream cheese. Of course there is always pork skins....lol a main stay of many here.

Be creative and you'll find your snacks,

Good luck!

Hi and welcome! As far as finding weight where its never been, etc. it happens to the best of us girl! I think you're really wise to catch the problem early before it becomes a huge one. I promise your cravings will get better! Induction is hard but after the first week things really began to change for me. Now, almost 8 weeks in I have no cravings and trust me I was a huge foodaholic. I lived for carbs. If you can, I really feel like it helps to do a clean induction. That's what I did...by the book, no cheating. I felt like crap for a week but it has really paid off for me. Just hang in there girl. Good luck!
Lori

hi, from an ex carb junkie(most of the time). i like to have 6 small meals like icedancer.i snack on celery with cream cheese, parmasan crackers, grated cheese rolled up in turkey slices and pepararmi.

christine