Atkins help - Not working on an old pro!!!

[mrsltg]

Hi All-

I love the low-carb lifestyle and it has helped me loose weight in the past. I went off when I became pregnant. I am now 6 weeks post and have been following Atkins for the last four weeks. I have lost weight, but only a very modest amount. I am exercising about 45 minutes per day and I feel like it's the only reason I'm loosing weight at all.

Ok, my question... can anyone give me some tips to jumpstart my weight loss? I've thought of doing induction again but the idea really doesn't thrill me to be honest! I'm wondering if the problem is the hormonal trainwreck going on in me right now. Does anyone know if that's even possible? I guess I just need a pep talk and some advice....

Thanks!
Erin

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Hormones will always affect weight loss, no matter how "good" you are.

There is a "fat fast" I've heard of where you eat 1000 calories a day, as close to 0 grams of carbs as possible and as much of it as possible in fat- deviled eggs with mayo, macadamia nuts, bacon, etc. It supposedly works really fast to jump start your weight loss.

Personally, it's a little too extreme for me, I wouldn't feel good not having veggies. Regular Atkins is better health wise. How many carbs are you having each day now?

If it makes you feel any better, I am doing the Curves diet and I've been really strict since the beginning of June. I've lost 9 lbs. But in the past 2 weeks, I've only lost 1.5 lb! I'm really frustrated because I am trying so hard.

I currently use fitday to monitor my intake and I am trying to get more protein and to vary my calories- ie instead of 1400 each day, I try 1200, 1800, 1000, 1600, 1500, etc. but the average is still about the same. I've done Atkins too and for me, I need to count cals and carbs. Eating low cal and high carb or low carb and high cal - either way I gain. Frustrating!

Also drink as much water as you can stand, the more I drink the more I lose usually.

Good luck!!!

 

[mrsltg]

Thanks Lulu!

My carbs are in the 25-30 range (should be ok) but I realized last night how much caffeine I am drinking (new baby!!!). Today I am going cold turkey - no more caffeine. I hear that it can make weight hang on. I'm just going to keep on keepin' on - it'll come off eventually!

Thanks!
Erin

Oh, and good luck with your goals!

 

[wiskband]

hi and congrats!
Well, I dont know too much about the body and hormones however, I have had four kids (3,6,9 and 12) and I can say that the body is a tricky thing during and post pregnancy! I was fortunate enough to losose baby weight easliy, I think that may have been due to breast feeding. My weight problems were in between all my kids! I too live a low carb lifestyle. I never did induction of hard core atkins just kinda made up my own rules along the way. I try and stay about the same as you 25 carbs a day! I have become so used to it that even on days that I am cheating, I still cant eat bread ( my cheats are with sweets). However, every once in a while, my body just wont lose any weight! I know how frustrating this can be and at this point, it is easy to to give up! This is where you need to be so strong and just keep on keepin on! I have come to wishers and asked the very same question you are asking us and have gotten the same anwser you predicted you would get and thats go back to induction! Like you, I too, am not interested in induction! lol...........(who is?) I, myself, have never been able to follow things strictly so induction is not for me. If I were you, I would just really keep on doing 25 carbs a day and perhaps change the exercise program. Switch that up a little! Make sure you are sweating! drink lots of water. I line up 8 bottle next to the sink ( cause I always seem to be there doing dishes) this way I can;t forget to drink nor do I lose track of how much water I need to drink. As far as caffine......well, I have recently become a caffine junkie. Not soda, just lots of coffee. Seriuosly, as much as I know the atkins way is NO caffine this just recently happened to me. I started working lots of hours ( late into the night )and with the kids home for the summer, I cant get enough caffine. All in all, I truel;y think that your body's chemistry may have a lot to do with it. Us mom's like to think we are super woman and want to just lose it so fast after baby. After being prego for what sometimes feels like an eternity, we are just so anxious to lose it. I know I started thinking about how quick I was gonna lose weight back in my first trimesters! lol. I have to say, I give you credit for finding 45 minutes day to exercise with a new baby. I mean I knwo they sleep alot but get it all in now, cause in a few months that may be hard. good luck keep me posted on you situation.
renee

 

[Purrrrfecta]

When I am really dieting, and the scale stops moving I know I have to cut down on my calories. I make sure I am only doing around 1400 a day, and maintain the carbs at around 25 grams per day.

Make a diary and check your calorie intake as well.

Connie

 

[mrsltg]

Thanks so much for the advice! This is my third and I have already lost all of my "baby" weight, it's the extra that I was carrying before pregnancy that I am trying to rid myself of. Last Summer, due to several family deaths, I gained about 20 pounds of depression weight on top of the 50 I wanted to loose anyway. So I conceived and I was already behind the 8-ball. YUCK! I have to say, even when I feel like cheating I don't do it. I just can't. I am doing everything in my power to get through this and I am doing better these last few days. My keto-sticks are turning a kind of hot-pink now, so I'm definitely headed in the right direction. I just have to keep telling myself that I am in it for the long haul, and this is just a hiccup!

Thanks again!
Erin

 

[nativetxn]

Congratulations on the new baby.

Sometimes you just need induction to kick start the weight loss but that is very difficult to do after the first time (I speak from experience).

I think you may need to give your body a little more time to rebound from the pregnancy. You have all kinds of hormones floating around and I think that could easily hamper weight loss.

One thing you might want to consider. It's not just the carbs that you are consuming that affects your weight loss, it's also the calories. Keep an eye on those too and you might see a quicker loss.

Katholyn