yes, i'm new. wussypuff pretty much shows my dieting status...i'm a wuss to try new thungs and i'm a powder puff when it comes to sticking with a diet. sooo, i'm hoping this will help. i've been on this diet a week *with a couple binges which i'm quitting...* and i've lost 7 lbs. i really need support because food has taken over my life and i'm sick of it. i'm 17, female, and as a teenager constantly given crap about my looks. my best friend is a pencil, and while i don't want to be horribly thin, i want to have energy and be happy!!! i'd love any advice and anyone who wants to be a diet buddy to PLEASE e-mail me...it's great to be here everyone, although the site still overwhelms me, i'm hoping i'll figure it all out soon.

-wussypuff

Hi, Wussypuff, welcome to the gang!

How are you managing low-carb eating? Do you have control in the kitchen, or does someone else prepare your food? Is your family supportive?

Jump in with any questions, maybe we can help!

Rachel

Hi wp,

Kudos to you for realizing that you don't want to be controlled by food early on in life! 7 pounds in a week is a great start!

Don't worry about how other people want you to be--they are not doing the "walk" in your shoes.

Do it for YOURSELF! You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life. It's much easier if you are at peace with the way you eat.

The site gets easier to use the more you use it. What plan are you following?

Karen

hey, people replied!!!!! i'm so impressed : ) anyway, i do have control in the kitchen for the most part...i'm terrible at cooking, but i'm learning : D soo i'm hooked on whippingcream, which isn't good...but oh well. whipping cream and peanut butter...eek. i'm learning to save those for the occassional treat. i bought the atkins book, so i'm a bit confused and overwhelmed by all the information (i'm the type that needs full structure...and i'm too poor for a nutritionist's help) so i've been living off bacon and cheesy scrambled eggs. that's not good, is it. as for my friends and family, they're very supportive, which helps greatly : ) but they stull offer me treats *which is sometimes very hard to refuse* argh. but they're great : ) umm...that's it for now. thank you for the responses : ) i really appreciate it!!! oh, one question...i'm not sure how many carbs i should be eating a day and where i should get them from...help?? the book just confuses me...i'm not a reading learner. eek.

-wussypuff

Yes, we answered, we *ARE* wonderful, aren't we!

Click on the 'tips' section in the red bar on the top of this page. This will give you some basic information on low-carbing. There's loads and loads of information on this site - way too much to absorb in one go!

If you're on Atkins, start with about 20 grams of carbs per day. That's about 3 cups of salad (lettuce plus other salad veggies) or 2 cups of cooked veggies (not including tomatoes, carrots, squash, potatoes, or other sweet/starchy veggies). After the first two weeks ('Induction'), you can start adding a few more carbs in; try five extra carbs per day, keep it at that level for a couple of weeks to see how you're feeling and if you're still losing, then maybe add another five per day. Most of here seem to eat between 20 and 35 carbs per day.

Bacon and scrambled eggs are OK, but you'll get tired of it pretty quickly, and you need veggies. If you can handle frying chops, hamburger (don't use breadcrumbs or flour to stick it together), steak, chicken strips (no breading), fish, or other protein, and having it with salad or cooked veggies, that would be a start while you're learning to cook other things. Or open a tin of tuna or salmon, mix with a bit of mayo, and eat on top of lettuce.

I'm glad your family is supportive, but shame on them for offering you treats! Don't be guilted into accepting them; I know it's easy to fall into that trap!

Bye for now!
Rachel

Hi wp,

Just read the section in the Atkins book on induction. Then, read it again. Make a list of the low-carb vegetables you like to eat from the list provided there, then go wild! Not enough vegetables is a bad thing.

Don't worry about the rest of the bookfor now. It's fairly easy to understand once you have been with the LC WOE for a while.

The basics of LC don't require much cooking skill, but the more you do it, the better you'll get. Read the recipes in the Recipe section. There is more "gourmet" style stuff under Karen.

Karen

Hey wussypuff! I am a fellow Wisconsinite! I'd love to be your "buddy" if you are still looking for one. Keep up the good work. I've been on the plan for two weeks and my sweets cravings are gone. It may just take some time for your body to get used to the new/better way of eating. As I posted in my intro I used to eat a whole box of Stove Top stuffing in one sitting and then complain about how tired I was. I have so much more energy now and I think, with support I can make this a way of life. Looking forward to hearing from ya!

What a great attitude, (I also have a 17 year old daughter and I know being 17 isn't always easy....!!!!), and it's wonderful you've decided to take charge of your diet and eating life style. It's a great time to start learn heathier ways of eating... (Don't wait until you're over 40, like me!!!) When these friends and family see how wonderful you start to feel and look, they'll be more supportive and stop offering you treats.

Good luck....post often and let us know how you're doing. After you read your Atkins book lots, make sure you read the forum too...there's lots of great ideas, recipes and tips.

ooookay, i cheated and went on a carb binge *BAD, i know : ( * but i'm not dwelling. i did it, can't take it back short of purging *no thank you* and life goes on. right?? i'll just work extra hard to get it back out of my system again...although i feel sick now because sugar is the devil when you're on this. ugh!!!! oh well, i'm getting better : ) yes, i NEED veggies...shame shame shame. oh, does popcorn ever fit into this diet?? i'm a popcorn freak...i can live without anything but popcorn. *heh* mmmm....anyway, time to go study *ugh* please tell me life gets better after high school

ooookay, i cheated and went on a carb binge *BAD, i know : ( * but i'm not dwelling. i did it, can't take it back short of purging *no thank you* and life goes on. right?? i'll just work extra hard to get it back out of my system again...although i feel sick now because sugar is the devil when you're on this. ugh!!!! oh well, i'm getting better : ) yes, i NEED veggies...shame shame shame. oh, does popcorn ever fit into this diet?? i'm a popcorn freak...i can live without anything but popcorn. *heh* mmmm....anyway, time to go study *ugh* please tell me life gets better after high school

-wussypuff

Just get back on the horse.

And in the immortal words of Scarlet O Hara - "Tomorrow is another day".

Nicola

Hi Wuss..

I'm almost 33 and I've been telling the same story that you are since I was 16, maybe before. I am back to my all-time high again of 180 and you are correct...all that matters is your health and how happy you are...I've been thin and fat but always unhappy...this time I hope to do it the right way. I wish you the greatest strength...be well..I'm sure we'll chat again..

MA