Atkins, exercise and sloooow loss! (long)

[MsDisney]

Ok, I figured I'd post a thread and see what people have to say that have been on Atkins for awhile. Before I started this WOL almost 4 weeks ago, I drank lots of beer, ate lots of fried, fatty food and carbs, etc. and didn't exercise. I hit rock bottom and decided I needed to change everything! I had NO idea how on earth I could live without carbs, by the way, since they were such a HUGE staple for me...not so much sugar, but definitely carbs!

Anyway, during the first week, I started exercising and am now up to doing the WATP 2 mile everyday (with one day off maybe per week) - some days I throw in the 3 mile. I also use the total gym every other day. I have been following induction for all 4 weeks basically (give or take a breakfast bar one or two mornings) and have kept within the 20 carbs per day the whole time. If anything, I might be not having 20, but more like 10-15. I drink nothing but water now either. (I was at times having a drop of crystal light mixed with it or unsweetened tea)

So here's my question...why have I only lost 7 pounds??? My DH2B has lost 18 or so...and he eats only what I give him...which is what I'm eating, but I probably eat smaller portions. I am not getting hugely smaller, I mean, I've lost about as many inches as pounds...I know I'm firmer though, for sure. I have a large amount of muscle in my legs anyway. I haven't gone down a size yet though, so I'm not losing more inches than pounds.

I KNOW this is better for me, but what I don't understand is...just adding the exercise alone should have caused me to lose. I have cut out so much and am eating so much healthier, so I don't really understand. I'm going to keep going, but has anyone else found that exercise initially kept them from losing much (muscle being added) but then it picked up after a few weeks? I see all these clippies at 20-30 pounds for people who only started in July, and I'll be lucky to get a 10 pounder at the 6 week point!

So I'd love to hear how your weight loss went, especially those who exercised regularly vs. those who didn't. I have to say it's frustrating to have DH2B sitting there 18 pounds lighter while I workout every day!!!

Help! I really want to continue this WOL, I think it's good for both of us, but I'm admittedly a little frustrated and wondering if I'm just not going to lose my weight at all on this plan...is that possible?

Thanks for any input...sorry this is so long!
Karen

 

[dizneegirl]

If you don't have a lot of weight to lose, you're not going to lose a lot of weight quickly.

On the average, people lose about 10% of the weight they need to lose on induction. Frequently, after induction, there's a pause or stall in weight loss.

If you're all of a sudden working out intensely, you're DEFINITELY going to be increasing your muscle mass. That's DEFINITELY going to affect the scale.

Contrary to the low-fat way of life, eating fewing carbs doesn't make you lose faster. In fact, it can hinder weight loss. Get as close to those 20 carbs as possible.

What kind of foods do you eat? You probably already know that the bars can be a staller... but what else are you eating? Getting plenty of veggies in? Eating enough protein? Enough fat? Maybe even increasing your carbs (5 or so at a time) would cause faster weight loss.

7 pounds in 4 weeks isn't bad... that's nearly 2 pounds a week, which is what's recommended for healthy, maintainable weight loss. 7 inches in 2 weeks is fairly amazing.

Every body is different. Don't frustrate yourself by comparing your body to someone else's (ESPECIALLY women's and men's... they ALWAYS lose faster).

 

[anniet]

How tall are you? Shorter people lose slower, not that 7 pounds in 4 weeks isn't a good loss, I think it's great!!! I'm 5 feet tall and it took me 5 months to get my 10 pound clippie, but I also think it had to do with the way I was exercising.

I used to split my days of the week into either aerobic days or weight training days and I would work out for about an hour 3 or 4 times a week. Now I do a half hour of aerobic exercise and a half hour of weight training and I aim for 6 days a week. I've definitely seen a difference in how I feel mentally and physically.

Good luck!

 

[dzneprincess]

I feel your pain. I have been Atkins for about 5 weeks now. I have been only drinking water for 2 months now! I have been doing 3 mile WATP a min of 4 times a week for 6 weeks now! See my clippie down below? 5 frickin pounds! Grr I feel that just getting off the cokes I should have lost 5 lbs! Then add to that walking 3 miles a day? I used to do NOthing and drink about 3-4 cokes a day and NO water. But I am going to hang in there. something has to budge, and hopefully it is the scale. BTW I do have alot of weight to lose, but I am only 5 ft tall.

 

[nancyj_pa]

I've been on low carb Protein Power (similar to Atkins) about 6 weeks now. Just reached my 10 pound weight loss. I only drink water or coffee. I have very poor metabolism due to a thyroid disorder, but I keep plugging away. It gets frustrating when you read about the 45 lb weight loss in 6 weeks and know that you haven't been cheating and your loss is so much smaller!

I exercise almost every day, but it's bike riding or walking outside for about 25 minutes. I have bad knees and can't do a whole lot, although I did buy a tape for the winter..WATP 2 mile.

I find that if I don't eat enough or skip some of my 8 to 10 glasses of water, I don't lose as fast. Make sure you do eat some carbs and enough protein and fat. I find I do better when eating chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, etc. ...things with mayo...rather than cheeses.

Don't give up, though. Even 2 pounds a week is good. That's 100 pound in a year!

 

[Mickey527]

Well, I am glad to hear that it is not just me. We need to start our own group, the "slow losers".
I started on Atkins on July 14th. Today is the start of week 9.
Here are my stats: 5'5" started at 192 lbs. now 179lbs.
8 weeks on induction. Started out thinking I needed to cut carbs all together and at none except my 2 eggs every day. After 2 weeks this group told me to eat more carbs so I added a salad a day. Still no loss
I did the fat fast for almost 4 days and lost 10 lbs. That was on week 4 or 5 I think. Since then I have stuck to fish, eggs, chicken, fish and 2 cups of salad a day. I have lost another 5 lbs for a total of 15 lbs.
I walk between 4 and 5 miles a day both uphill and level walking. If I can't get out I do 30 minutes on the stairclimber, 15 reps of 5 different exercises on the Body by Jake, and the 3 mile WATP.
I didn't read this group until I was in my 2nd week of Atkins so I didn't measure myself. I was wearing a tight I can hardly breath, size 16 and now am wearing breathing room but a little tight size 12's. I don't want to buy any 14's because they will be loose too soon for me to spend alot of money.
I had my thyroid checked and found it to be functioning better than normal, and the hormones although a little off because of my age (49) are within normal limits. I am guessing that since I have done so many diets in my lifetime that my body is telling itself to just go into the holding pattern and wait, and soon I will start eating junk again.
I don't plan on eating all the junk that I did in the past once I get to where I want to be, but I do plan on eating a garlic cheese roll when I go to Red Lobster and a garlic bread stick when I eat at Olive Garden. But once in a while, not 5 or 6 a day like I did in the past.
Don't give up, lean on this group if you need to, complain a little when you need to, but know that you are getting healthy, even if the weight is not coming off fast. Peggie