Today ive decided..

[3nt0m3dh4c]

Hello my name is josh , and today i decided that losing weight is my number 1 priority , im 17 and weigh 290 pounds and after reading alot of success stories here its really fueled me to start the process , i wanna try the atkins diet that so many here have done and achieved but im not entirely sure what the atkins diet consists of , like what types of food am i going to have to eat , what am i not going to be able to eat etc etc , im mainly looking for someone who has done this diet or knows all about it so they can set me on my road to accomplishment , with all these fantastic results ive read im sure that this diet will do the same for me ,

So any help would be greatly appreciated thank you and have a nice day.

[AL W]

You should really get a copy of one of the Atkins books, or all of them for that matter, so you can read it and refer to it in the future. Knowledge is power.

[Mousesmom]

Welcome Josh. Good for you for taking charge of your weight at such a young age. I have a daughter who is 17.

I agree with Al that you need to get and read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (DANDR). It helps to understand WHY this program works as well as clearly laying out what to eat and what not to.

All the best, Julie

[bamagirl06]

Hi and Welcome! I too agree that it would be best to get a copy of the book so you will completely understand Atkins. I found this in another thread and thought it may help you get started with induction.


These are the foods you may eat liberally during Induction:
All fish,
including ... All fowl,
including ... All shellfish,
including ... All meat,
including ... All eggs,
including ...
tuna chicken oysters* beef scrambled
salmon turkey mussels* pork fried
sole duck lobster lamb poached
trout goose clams bacon** soft-boiled
flounder Cornish hen squid veal hard-boiled
sardines quail shrimp ham** deviled
herring pheasant crabmeat venison omelets
*Oysters and mussels are higher in carbs than other shellfish, so limit them to four ounces per day.

**Processed meats, such as ham, bacon, pepperoni, salami, hot dogs and other luncheon meats—and some fish—may be cured with added sugar and will contribute carbs. Try to avoid meat and fish products cured with nitrates, which are known carcinogens. Also beware of products that are not exclusively meat, fish or fowl, such as imitation fish, meatloaf and breaded foods. Finally, do not consume more than four ounces of organ meats a day.

OTHER FOODS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE DURING INDUCTION
Cheese
You can consume three to four ounces daily of the following full-fat, firm, soft and semisoft aged cheeses*, including:
• cheddar
• cow, sheep and goat cheese
• cream cheese
• Gouda
• mozzarella
• Roquefort and other blue cheeses
• Swiss

*All cheeses have some carbohydrate content. The quantity you eat should be governed by that knowledge. The rule of thumb is to count 1 ounce of cheese as equivalent to 1 gram of carbohydrate. Note that cottage cheese, farmer’s cheese and other fresh cheeses are not permitted during Induction. No "diet" cheese, cheese spreads or whey cheeses are permitted. Individuals with known yeast symptoms, dairy allergy or cheese intolerance must avoid cheese. Imitation cheese products are not allowed, except for soy or rice cheese—but check the carbohydrate content.
Vegetables
You can have two to three cups per day of:
• alfalfa sprouts
• daikon
• mushrooms
• arugula
• endive
• parsley
• bok choy
• escarole
• peppers
• celery
• fennel
• radicchio
• chicory
• jicama
• radishes
• chives
• lettuce
• romaine lettuce
• cucumber
• mâche
• sorrel

These salad vegetables are high in phytonutrients and provide a good source of fiber.
Other Vegetables
You can have one cup per day of these veggies if salad does not exceed two cups. The following vegetables are slightly higher in carbohydrate content than the salad vegetables:
• artichoke
• celery root
• pumpkin
• artichoke hearts
• rhubarb
• asparagus
• chard
• sauerkraut
• bamboo shoots
• collard greens
• scallions
• dandelion
• snow peas
• bean sprouts
• dandelion greens
• spaghetti squash
• beet greens
• eggplant
• spinach
• broccoli
• hearts of palm
• string or wax beans
• broccoli rabe
• kale
• summer squash
• brussels
• kohlrabi
• tomato
• bean sprouts
• leeks
• turnips
• cabbage
• okra
• water chestnuts
• cauliflower
• onion
• zucchini

If a vegetable, such as spinach or tomato, cooks down significantly, it must be measured raw so as not to underestimate its carb count.
Salad Garnishes
• crumbled crisp bacon
• grated cheese
• minced hard-boiled egg
• sautéed mushrooms
• sour cream
Spices
All spices to taste, but make sure none contain added sugar.
Herbs
• basil
• garlic
• rosemary
• cayenne pepper
• ginger
• sage
• cilantro
• oregano
• tarragon
• dill
• pepper
• thyme

For salad dressing, use oil and vinegar (but not balsamic vinegar, which contains sugar) or lemon juice and herbs and spices. Prepared salad dressings without added sugar and no more than two carbs per tablespoon serving are also fine.
Acceptable Fats and Oils
Many fats, especially certain oils, are essential to good nutrition. Olive oil is particularly valuable. All other vegetable oils are allowed, the best being canola, walnut, soybean, grapeseed, sesame, sunflower and safflower oils, especially if they are labeled "cold-pressed" or "expeller-pressed." Do not cook polyunsaturated oils, such as corn, soybean and sunflower oil, at high temperatures or allow to brown or smoke.
Butter is allowed. Margarine should be avoided, not because of its carbohydrate content, but because it is usually made of trans fats (hydrogenated oils), which are a serious health hazard. (Some nonhydrogenated margarines are available in health-food stores.)
You don't have to remove the skin and fat from meat or fowl. Salmon and other cold-water fish are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Remember that trying to do a low-fat version of the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM will interfere with fat burning and derail your weight loss.
Artificial Sweeteners
You must determine which artificial sweeteners agree with you, but the following are allowed: sucralose (marketed as Splenda™), saccharin, cyclamate and acesulfame-K. Natural sweeteners ending in the suffix "-ose," such as maltose, fructose, etc., should be avoided. However, certain sugar alcohols, such as maltitol, do not affect blood sugar and are acceptable.
Saccharin has been extensively studied, and harmful effects were produced in the lab when fed to rats only in extremely high doses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed saccharin from its list of carcinogens, basing its decision upon a thorough review of the medical literature and the National Institute of Science’s statement that there is "no clear association between saccharin and human cancer." It can be safely consumed in moderation, meaning no more than three packets a day. Saccharin is marketed as Sweet'n Low™.
The Atkins preference, however, is sucralose (Splenda™), the only sweetener made from sugar. Sucralose is safe, noncaloric and does not raise blood sugar. It has been used in Canada for years, and the FDA recently approved it after reviewing more than 100 studies conducted over the past 20 years. Note that each packet of sugar substitute contains about 1 gram of carbohydrate, so don’t forget to include the amount in your daily totals.
Acceptable Beverages
Be sure to drink a minimum of eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day, including:
• Filtered water
• Mineral water
• Spring water
• Tap water

Additionally, you can have the following:
• Clear broth/bouillon (not all brands; read the label)
• Club soda
• Cream, heavy or light (limit to two to three tablespoons a day; note carbohydrate content)
• Decaffeinated coffee or tea*
• Diet soda made with sucralose (Splenda™); be sure to count the carbs
• Essence-flavored seltzer (must say "no calories")
• Herb tea (without barley or any fruit sugar added)
• Lemon juice or lime juice (note that each contains 2.8 grams carbohydrate per ounce); limit to two to three tablespoons

*Excessive caffeine may cause unstable blood sugar and should be avoided by those who suspect they are caffeine dependent. Everyone should try to avoid caffeine. Grain beverages (coffee substitutes) are not allowed. Alcoholic beverages are also not permitted during Induction; those low in carbohydrates are an option, in moderation, in later phases.
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.
Convenience Foods
Although it is important that you eat primarily unprocessed foods, some controlled carb food products can come in handy when you are unable to find appropriate food, can’t take time for a meal or need a quick snack. More and more companies are creating healthy food products that can be eaten during the Induction phase of Atkins.


I hope its ok that I copied and pasted this from a different thread on the forum.

[IrishShrty]

I would suggest you research and READ all the info you can find:)

Here is a 2 week induction site that may be of some help to you!

http://www.everythingatkins.net/samplemenus.html

[AL W]

What you decide to put in your mouth is the most important thing you do everyday. You are young so it will not be hard to undo the damage done by your old habits but you need to make the committment to change. Researching this way of eating, even if you only do it on-line, is a great way to renew your resolve. Participating in this forum is also a great way to maintain your commitment to change.

AL

[tedw]

Hey Josh - I think it's great that you're making steps to change your weight now; even at 23, I wish I'd started years ago!

How does your family feel about you going onto Atkins? I was lucky to have a mother who was very supportive of me, and I think having people around you who will help you along is great. I tacked a list of foods that I could and could not have - copied directly from the book, but which you can find online on the official Atkins website - onto the fridge, which helped grocery shopping and meal planning for everyone.

[MicheleK]

Welcome to the forums Josh!! I'm glad you're joining us. This is a great place for support and ideas.

Best of luck :)