Help! Support needed!

[kasar]

Help! For the first time in 3 weeks, I feel myself questioning this whole Atkins thing. I know that some weeks are better than others and for the first 2 I was very happy (almost 10lbs, which while slower than some I was still happy about). This week? Nothing! I'm doing everything right, didn't even have cake for my birthday! (I wish our bodies knew what we COULD have had and didn't - there should be some bonus losses for extra good behavior!) Maybe I'm just having a bit of a slump and it will all come off soon, but I must admit to wanting to go through the Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru for a nice Boston Creme since all this work doesn't seem to be paying off this week.

I'm NOT quitting, just griping. It's just hard when you're doing everything right (still doing induction) and it's not working. Someone please tell me that this will pass!

 

[MelanieC]

(((HUGS))),
I don't do Atkins, so I can't give you advise about that. I can however say congrats on your first 10lbs, and in two weeks! WOW. I would bet that your body is just trying to catch up. You won't and shouldn't continue to loose that much that fast. It wouldn't be good for you! Your body will go get into a groove and you will start loosing again. Just be patient. Maybe the other Atkin followers can tell you what foods are ones that you should watch for. Some people stall on certain foods. It's sort of a watch my body and see how it reacts kind of thing.

You are doing a great job, keep your chin high and remember, its not about the individual weeks, its about getting healthy and making this a lifestyle change. You won't loose every week.

Melanie

 

[BethR]

Oh kasar, I know what you are talking about! But I was about 3 months into Atkins with only about 13# off (I only lost 4# my first 2 weeks .) I wasn't hungry, but I was getting bored with the foods and I was getting impatient with the weight loss.

Then I got the results back on my blood tests. My cholesterol had gone down by 22 points!!! My bad cholesterol had gone down, my good cholesterol had gone up, and my tri-glycerides were WAY low - in the 40's!!! I was estatic. Atkins probably has saved me from having to go in a cholesterol lowering med.

My weight loss is still slow (but I have gone back on Induction and so have discontinued all of my low carb candy treats which probably stalled my weight loss) and sometimes I am still bored, but when I think of those numbers I can't NOT do Atkins.

On top of all of that - you have done GREAT!!! 10# off! Perhaps you are prementrual? I have noticed a significant slowdown in weight loss in the weeks preceding my period! Perhaps you have been eating more salt than usual? Then you could be retaining more water. Perhaps your body is just adjusting itself?

But HANG IN THERE! The weight will continue to come off if you stick to the plan.

{{{HUGS}}}

 

[mowsie dreamer]

It can be so frustrating when those scales don't cooperate. But you are doing just what you should be doing by posting here for help and advice!!

I don't do Atkins, so I can't help with that, but I know when I've lost a large amount in a relatively short time, sometimes the next week or two I have very small or no loss at all. Another thing that affects us all from time to time is water retention AKA the Bloat Fairy. This is especially troublesome for me when it is THAT time of month. Could it possibly be near TOM for you? Also, if I have too many high-sodium foods that will affect me too.

Way to go for hanging in there and resisting those Dunkin Donuts urges!! And no cake on your birthday?? You are superwoman!! You are making better choices (ones that will benefit your health!) and that WILL pay off in the long run!

 

[kasar]

Thanks everyone! I knew that I'd feel better by posting here. I've always been a little afraid of putting myself out there on message boards and mostly lurk. But am I glad that I joined WISH! I do feel like I'm part of the "fun" (and we ARE having fun, right, right?)not just a spectator. Thanks for being so welcoming!

And, yes, it is TOM! I know, I know - but come on, half a pound at least????? Mother nature can be so cruel!

 

[LisaTx]

You're perfectly normal. It's common to lose a lot the first 2 weeks then to slow down. I think a lot of that first loss is water. There is no way your body could continue losing at that pace.

It's also perfectly normal to gain a bit during TOM. Some gain lbs then. You can also expect to gain if you begin a new exercise program.

If you ever want to post your menus here, we'd be glad to look and see if there is anything there that is know to cause stalls.

Also, be sure and drink plenty of water. It makes a huge difference. A minimum of 64 oz plus another 8 oz for each 25 lbs you are overweight.

You're doing great! Don't get discouraged.

 

[kasar]

Here's a typical day:

B: either 2 eggs w/bacon or the mock danish (3 carbs)
L: Sometimes tuna or hamburger patty, if I'm not home I'll get a cheeseburger from Wendy's and remove the bun
S: cheese cubes or sugar free Jello
D: Some meat (usually chicken or steak), salad w/caesar dressing and maybe some green beans or broccoli.
S: either another Jello or some cheese or a few almonds

I'm choking down about 100oz of water, plus some Fruit 2 O and one diet coke a day (it's my one vice!)

Haven't touched a piece of bread or had any sweets in 3 weeks (ok, I did have one tiny Butterfinger on Halloween, but I hadn't had any carbs all day, it was only 13g )

Ketosis sticks couldn't be any darker, I'm walking for 30 min. a couple of times a week (not everyday, but probably 3-4 days/week) and trying to remember to take a vitamin every day (again, not every day but I try).

I'm thinking this is looking pretty good. Are there any flags that you Atkins experts see?

 

[LisaTx]

I think what you're doing looks great!

I would give it a few more days and see if you don't lose that TOM gain. I'm betting you will have a visit from the woosh fairy very soon and that extra weight will just fly away!

If you contine to gain or not lose there are a few things that could cause a problem. Occasionally people stall on sugar free jello, too much cheese, or diet coke. Some people are sensitive to certain artificial sweeteners like in the jello or coke. Also the caffeine in the diet coke can cause problems for some people. There are lots of people that eat and drink those items and do just fine too. I consume all of those and have been losing steadily.

Also, it's possible you are losing inches right now instead of weight. Did you measure yourself when you began? (I feel like Nativetexan. ) I find that when I'm losing weight, I don't lose inches, but when I'm not losing weight, the inches are melting away. Go figure how that works, but it does!

Keep up the good work! It all works out in the long run.