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You should see this as the first step on your way to sustainable weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. Seeing the induction phase in your broader plan can motivate you stick with it through these first weeks. Having regular phases and regular goals can help you to maintain your commitment and support you in your long-term weight loss plan. Having attainable, specific and plausible goals will be the most productive way to map out your progress. Couple your Atkins goals with some for specific amounts of regular exercise, such as thirty minutes running twice a week. Sticking to Atkins throughout the induction phase will require focus and commitment, but you don't want it to dominate your thoughts every waking minute. If you are constantly obsessing about net carbs it could all become too overbearing. Try to keep it to something you think about at meal times and forget about it the rest of the time. Carrying on your life as normal while you are dieting will help you to stick to it and show that you can make dietary changes that are sustainable and not disruptive. This is hardest in the induction phase when the drop in carbs in most pronounced, so plan some activities with friends to take your mind off it. If you don't look after yourself well during the induction phase you could fall ill and end up coming off the diet prematurely. The most likely causes of of feeling unwell are dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance. There are some things you can do to help you avoid these and stay as healthy as possible in the first weeks of Atkins. Drinking eight (eight ounce) glasses of water a day will keep you well hydrated and negate the effects of a loss in water weight in the induction phase. The loss of water weight can lead to light-headedness and a loss of energy. To ward these off combine good hydration with consuming sufficient salt. Be sure to consume sufficient protein, three servings a day of four to six ounces, to maintain lean muscle mass. One way to help you maintain motivation and stay on track during induction is to keep good records of your progress. Having a graph or chart that shows how far you have come will help push you forwards in the following days. Plot out small milestones even in the induction phase to give yourself a trajectory to follow. Being consistent in your net carb intake is key in the induction phase, so devise a plan that illustrates this. Try for level and progress steady rather than any peaks or troughs. Once you complete the induction phase you should take a moment to feel proud and reward yourself. This doesn't mean pigging out on chips, but reward yourself with something that isn't food. You could buy yourself a new CD or DVD, or go to a movie. Having frequent smaller rewards as you meet your goals and progress through the Atkins programme can be more effective than one big reward at the end. Small rewards will help to keep you motivated and to feel tangible benefits beyond just your weight loss. Instead of a material reward you could give yourself an afternoon off from work or study to have fun.
Plan out your goals. Don't obsess too much. Maintain your health during the diet. Measure your progress. Reward your success.