....well, for the time being anyways. My name is SuNNy, and I quit smoking two and a half years ago. I gained 55 pounds stuffing my face with ice cream on a daily basis, candy bars nightly and of course any kind of bread money can buy. My cholesteral is up of course, and I'm 42.

I have done it all...walking, riding, badmitten, everything and have managed only to stop gaining at least. I do about 1.5 to 2.5 hours of Yoga daily, which has kept me fit (fat but flexible) and I am back to lifting weights three times a week.

Last week when the AHA came out and declared that the Atkins diet may not be such a dangerous and bad thing at all I figure, what have I got to loose but a youknowwhatload of fat.

I really need you guys. I know these forums work. This is how I quit smoking. I can't do it alone.

Okay, so when the heck does this nagging dizzylike headache go away? Day four here. Yes, drinking a lot of water, eating about every 5-6 hours, 20 grams or less of carbs, no sugar, no fruit, no bread, no carrots...got the print out right here and am really following the directions. Please make the pain stop someone!!!!

Welcome! Quite a few people have some of the carb-withdraw symptoms you are experiencing for the firts 5-6 days. Sound like you are doing things right - my only question is are you taking a multi-vitamin? If not, I'd suggest start taking one ASAP, it could help with your dizziness. You also may want to take a look at our supplement forum, pottasium is a common thing LC'ers are low in since this diet is naturally diuretic. Just check the warnings on taking a potassium supplement if you have high blood pressure!

Gosh you sound just like me......gaining weight after quitting smoking.......eating instead , and nervous about trying Atkins until TV kinda gave it the OK . I am not only dizzy but cold hands and feet! Hopefully this will pass as I also am on only day 4 today. Well just had to reply here as I can relate, and I too hope to find strength,(ha ha), and advice here!

SuNNy6

Glad to see you! Ah yes another non smoker. I quit over 20 years ago and kept the weight that I had gained on for almost that length of time.

At least you were smart to turn to a program of LCing to get the weight off as soon as possible.

I agree with Talon on the supplements and lots of water. I never had the dizziness that so many get on induction but I did have the massive carb withdrawal headaches, but they went away
after a few days.

I look forward to following your LC journey in your journal.

HN

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome. Day Five here and I feel my head is a little more clearn this morning....YAHOOOOOO!!!

I am doing the supplements today, and postassium is one I intend to bone up on in addition to calcium, flax seed oil, E, A, C and a multivitamin. Lots of water here.

Thanks again for the encouragment. I know this is going to work. I'm even going to buy the Lipostix to see if I am in fat burning phase yet.

Good luck to you! I also am an ex-smoker. I quit about 10 years ago and am still blaming quitting for my weight gain! Actually, I've always had a weight problem and have been on so many diets--most of them unhealthy. I did Atkins the first time about 20 years ago and lost weight. But I didn't keep it up and gained it back and more.

Just like you, I saw the article about Atkins this week. The next day I started back. I can't believe how well it's gone so far. I had the new Atkins book from a short stint on it a couple of years ago. Now that we can eat salad and vegetables, I think I'm going to make it. Plus, when I first tried Atkins, there were not very many low carb prepared breads, etc, out there. I tried making my own from his recipe and it was awful.

I've lost 10 pounds since Tuesday. From what I'm reading elsewhere on the forum, I don't think most can expect to lose that much that quickly--I just have a LOT to lose and I guess it's probably mostly water weight. I'm averaging between 20-30 carbs daily and I'm using ketostix.

Keep up your exercising. I combine aerobic and strength training five days a week and have been doing that for 1-1/2 years. I think that will really help us as we lose the weight.

Anyway, I'm a newbie with you and wish you all the best!

Hey ya'll...still here, still on induction and haven't lost much weight. Extremely faithful to the regime, but have discovered perhaps that candida is the culprit to my weight loss. Am on meds to get that under control. Have lost 6 pounds total BUT...BUTTT I have gone from a size 14 to a size 8. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! My body shape has changed dramatically; the bloating is going, going, gone, and of course the Yoga and weights are really converting fat into muscle.

Thanks everyone for your support and to the webmaster/mistress for such a groovy site. I expect when this yeast deal is cleared away from the ole intestines, I will see a little more weight loss, and then I'll be onto the next phase of Atkins.

Peace!

Good to hear about your positive results. What medicines are the doctors treating you with for the candida?

A very intense 14 day treatment with Diflucan....three pills once per day, one every third day for a week, and then one a week for the remainder of the treatment. Stuff's expensive, but doctor says that I am "retaining yeast in the gut." Makes perfect sense when you think about making bread and mixing yeast with sugar in a warm cup of water....that's what's going on in my gut. We all have a little yeast in our bodies, and mix that with carbs and refined sugars in a nice dark place and I suppose it's just a haven for yeast. Also, it is suggested I cut back on yeasty foods like soy, mushrooms, cheeses, etc. for awhile until the candida is back under control. I guess one in three of us will produce yeast in this manner that leads to a number of problems...check out the list at the Atkins site, or in the book. Perhaps it's here too, I don't know really, but it is amazing that I had every symptom of someone with yeast overgrowth. Yuck!

Welcome to the group!!! I have lost 10lbs and counting in 2weeks. I feel wonderful. I had terrible withdrawals also.. But you know what? I stuck to it and now am wonderful. This is a great site for support and if you want a buddy feel free to visit my journal or send me a message on here anytime. Take care and Happy holidays!

I recommend starting up smoking again, that keeps me from eating all the time. It sounds more dangerous to eat ALL of the stuff that you do than to smoke a few cigarettes. 170-120? How tall are you?? I'd like to get down to 120 too, wouldn't we all?

good luck!!!!!!

I would not suggest starting up smoking again!

Elissa, most of us here are trying to get healthier - not get old bad habits back!

To each their own I guess. Die from smoking or excess food intake.
I was just letting you know what I do, not what you should do. I thought this was a place to share your stories and give people and idea of where you are at in life and what you do to try and keep the weight off. That's my method, probably not the best choice for everyone...but for some like me...yes.

Thanks!

Hi SuNNy!

Yup...those yeasties just love a dark warm place with lots of sugar to eat. All of us have some yeast in and on our bodies...they're all around us and for most it's not a problem. The problem comes in when the natural balance inside our bodies gets upset through antibiotics, infection or too much sugar and those yeasties take advantage of it and multiply like crazy. I had a big problem with yeast infections (at least once a month) until I got my blood sugar under control. Haven't had a single yeast infection in 19 months now.
Hope those meds get things under control! Diflucan is one of the better drugs out there for this.