Need to Vent........ Update!!!

[*Flower*]

Okay, so I've been doing Atkins since 7/20/03. and I've gotton rid of about 63 lbs so far.

I want to drop another 25 or so, and I really seem to be having problems getting rid of any. I've been hovering between the same 4 lbs or so for the last 3 or 4 weeks- and I'm getting REALLY frustrated.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can kick my metabolism into gear and get started again? 3 weeks ago my goal was 21 lbs away, and now it's about 25 lbs away. I haven't changed my eating habits- I do fall down on the water intake periodically, but I jump back on the bandwagon the minute that I remember that I forgot.

I'm starting to get discouraged, and I don't want to backslide. My weigh-in/measure day at Curves is tomorrow- and I don't even want to face that because I feel so FAT!!!!!!!!

HELP!!!!!!!

Well, after stalling out for a few weeks, I cut out the nuts and sugar alcohols- drank my water, and WOOOOSH!!!

Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[anniet]

I may be wrong, but I think this may be where Atkins fails. I tried Atkins a couple of times and all I wanted to lose was 30 pounds. I could only lose 10 and then I couldn't lose any more. I think at some point you HAVE to consider calorie count. It didn't help that I'm barely five feet tall and I really began to realize that WHAT I was eating was way too high calorically for me.

You might want to think about that angle, if you haven't already.

Good luck!

 

[NCRedding]

So sorry that you're feeling this way. Go to your weigh-in tomorrow--you may be surprised by what you hear. Congrats on 63 pounds--that is awesome!! I have 2 thoughts, both very different. I sometimes find that if I up my eating levels of meat, stay off the veggies, and no snack of nuts or sugar alcohols, it sometimes "shocks" my system into losing weight. If that doesn't work, then go the opposite way--eat leaner cuts of meat, more veggies (watch carb count).

Good luck--I know how hard this is--I've been there!! I just haven't had the success that you have!!

 

[DVCTiff]

63 pounds GONE is awesome and does show that eating this way works. Do you have any journals from your first few weeks on the program? Looking back to see what worked may help. It's been very slow going for me but I don't have that much to lose. I think the Atkins products are slowing me down so this week I'm doing strict Induction. No nuts, no sugar alcohols. See if you can tweak things here and there. Are you exercising? Can you boost that up? Your body may just need a little time to regroup. Then you'll be on your way back down that slide in no time.

 

[thotfulspot]

I've always heard that the last bit of weight -- particularly the last 10 pounds -- is the hardest to lose. Is your goal realistic? Could it be that it's hard to lose weight now because you're so close to your body's real ideal weight?

I've lost nowhere near what you've lost, but I have found that whenever my activity level rises, particularly if I climb hills, the weight whooshes off. Maybe you need to try a new sort of exercise, something that your body hasn't already adjusted to, to get a kick start.

You do at some point need to watch your caloric intake as well as the carbs, so maybe that would help.

And may I now do the Good-Gravy-63-Pounds-How-Cool-Is-THAT Dance?

Don't get so hung up on getting past this plateau that you lose sight of what you've accomplished!! You rock!!

 

[sha_lyn]

When I need a boost I find that takign the Atkins cleans and renew supplements help a lot.

You might also want to make sure you are avoiding "junk" low carb stuff. You might even want to try induction for a few days. Have you added back in any foods lately?

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I feel your frustration. You've had way more success than me so I feel awkward giving advise. I think I need advise from YOU!

anniet brought up a good point. Dr. Atkins actually addresses this in his book. Just because we only have 20 carbs in a day, doesn't mean we can have 3000 calories. I don't know if that is your problem though (it is mine sometimes ).

Have you put your food intake into fitday.com. Just curious. Sometimes that helps with knowing what to change.

Do you have much of the sugar alchohols?? I have to have them in small amounts.

Keep the faith, girl. You're doing terrific. Maybe your body is just catching up to all the weight you have lost.

 

[*Flower*]

Thanks everyone-

I've been doing Fitday to reinforce my brain........

I know that I haven't been going 'out of bounds' but I have been relying on nuts at snack time to get me through.

And I've been staying away from the 'sugar alcohols' for the past couple of days. I'm hoping that this will convince my body to get moving again. I haven't done the Keto stick- but that's next on my list.

I've never gotton above 25 carbs (except for V&A's Chef's Table) for ages......... someone told me that I wasn't eating ENOUGH carbs.

I'll keep on fighting........

 

[sha_lyn]

I've never gotton above 25 carbs (except for V&A's Chef's Table) for ages......... someone told me that I wasn't eating ENOUGH carbs.

For your body it might be possible. I really don't think Atkins is for everyone. If you continue to stall you might want to try south beach

 

[DVCTiff]

The nuts are always a problem for me. Just too many calories I think. I've gained since I started using them as a snack. That's the first thing I'd cut out. I know, bummer.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the nuts. I'll sit there and snack, and before you know it, I've probably eaten 3/4 cup!! Very high calorie snack, but sooooo good for you. I just need to measure them out and learn how to stop.

 

[*Flower*]

I always measure my nuts, and try to only eat the 'good' ones. No cashews, no pecans- just the Atkins recommended Macadamias, almonds and walnuts. They're all high in fiber........ and peanuts.

However, maybe my body is just trying to get used to the 'new' me before it decides to continue.

As for my goal...... I think that it's realistic. The government guidelines say that the max weight for my height should be 8 lbs less than the goal I set for myself. And they'd really want me to be about 20 lbs less than my goal.

So, if I can make it to MY goal.... I'll see how I feel.

Thanks for keeping my spirits up everyone- I guess I'm not for the deep end yet!!!

 

[luv2nascar]

good luck
you've done great so far I'm sure you'll work through this too

 

[AlreadyexcitedGrammy]

I just joined Curves for a extra boost (I'm a WW pt counter but plateaued, too). I am still doing my morning treadmilling and adding Curves as extra - ok anyway.......... I bought the book and have been reading and it makes sense but I have to tell you I am a very "hard sell" on you must eat more to get your metabolism going again - I really do think it is correct - I just don't have "faith" that it will work for me ..... but then I am a person, who I think, has not eaten all that much and have been "fat" for a very long time. Even now, I have trouble always eating all my WW pts - because I am in the mindset of - eat less lose more - well I am, slowly but surely being converted - now I just have to put into practice what I read!

The Curves book recommends two diet styles, carbohydrate sensitive and calorie sensitive (I think Atkins dieters are right along the carb sensitive diet) and it is recommended that if you are not losing weight consistently (a least one pound per week) then you switch what you are doing (such as try going to the calorie sensative diet) BUT ALSO STRESSES THAT THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOUR METABOLISM NEEDS A TUNE-UP -

Quote from book
"The purpose of a Metabolic Tune-Up (MTU) is not to lose weight. Trying to lose weight with a sluggish metabolism is counterproductive and will only weaken your metabolism further. You need to increase your metabolism now and dieting will only further depress it, At the end of the MTU, you will not have gained weight or lost weight. You will have raised your metabolic rate so that you can diet successfully" the only way to increase your metabolism is to eat more food. Eat normally and healthfully 2,500 - 3,000 calories per day. I don't expect you to eat like an angel, but try not to revert to you BAD habits........."

it continues on with 3 simple steps to follow ( I have scanned the pages and would be happy to email to you if you are interested) page 36 & 37 of the book entitled, Curves 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week by Gary Heavin and Carol Holman

Hope this makes some sense to you - I think it finally is beginning to get through my "thick skull" - but I am still learning, researching, etc.

Anyone who would like me to send the info just PM me with your e-mail address

 

[disykat]

I'm familiar with the Curves plan too. Phase three is when you hit goal or plateau. You are supposed to eat "normally" until you gain three pounds then go immediately back to stage one (up to 20 carbs a day) for three days and then to stage two (up to 60 carbs).

I tried it recently and it worked to get me back to losing again. The idea is that eventually you want to be eating normally the majority of the time and going back to phase one and two as needed for weight maintenance. They claim that the time it takes to gain the three pounds is longer each time you cycle through (though I have yet to test that). It is obviously quite different than Atkins, but it makes sense to me as long as you are dilligent about weighing and going right back on at the three pound mark.

 

[*Flower*]

Well, I've cut out the nuts and sugar alcohols, and increased my water........ and am starting to see a downward trend again.

AlreadyexcitedGrammy; if you could email me those pages- it might help too!!

Thanks everyone........

email: figment13@usa.net