Scale not budging...HEELLPPPPP!!!

[pepperw23]

Arrgggg. Can someone please help me? What am I doing wrong? I have been dieting since Jan 14th (Southbeach). I have been going to the gym everyday doing one hour of cardio...etc...well, aerobics class so probably more like 40 min cardio, some toning etc...

I have dropped maybe two pounds and the inches don't seem to be moving either. What am I doing wrong? Last time I did SB and exercise I had lost ten pounds by this point.

How long did it take you guys to start moving that scale?

Here is a sample of my dayphase one of SB)

Breakfast: Two sausage patty's, Eggs
Lunch: Salad with lettuce, cheese, green peppers, onions, ranch dressing
snack: peanuts
dinner: hamburger patty, broccoli, deviled eggs

I hit the gym before dinner each evening and have been drinking my water.

Any advice would be very appreciated and followed.

BTW, this is very important because I have a bet with DH and the prize for me is Disney World...

I have 60 pounds to lose.

 

[Dr Pepsi]

I don't know the quantities of food you are eating in your sample menu, but it doesn't look at all low in calories. South Beach is fine for losing weight, but you have to pay attention to how many calories you are eating in addition to the carbs.

Also, you've only been at it for less than 2 weeks, putting you at or just over 1 lb/week for weight loss. 1-2 lbs/week is a pretty normal and desireable amount to lose.

To cut calories, you might consider ditching the sausage and eating fruit/veggies with your eggs (if SB allows this). If you are doing scrambled eggs, do one whole egg and 2 egg whites instead of 2 eggs (assuming you are eating 2 eggs). Use a spray of Pam instead of butter to cook your eggs.

For lunch, try not to use more than 2 tbls of dressing on your salad if it's full-fat dressing. You might also try a lunch that doesn't include sauces or dressings.

For a snack, how many peanuts are you eating? You can still get protein if you eat a boiled egg or have a couple of ounces of low fat cheese (maybe with an apple?) and the calories would be lower.

For dinner, skip the deviled eggs and eat a small portion of a bean salad instead (or maybe a small portion of salad, light on dressing, or even some fruit).

These are just some ideas that may or may not fit into your diet plan.

Just remember that weight loss is a function of calories in vs. calories out. If it's easier to diet with South Beach, then keep at it, but you still have to look at your calories.

www.nutritiondata.com is a good website for checking the amount of calories (and protein) in a food item.

I have lost over 100 lbs (and kept it off) so I know what I'm talking about.

Good luck and don't get discouraged if you "only" loose 1-2 lbs a week. That's really a great weight loss!

 

[pepperw23]

I don't know the quantities of food you are eating in your sample menu, but it doesn't look at all low in calories. South Beach is fine for losing weight, but you have to pay attention to how many calories you are eating in addition to the carbs.

Also, you've only been at it for less than 2 weeks, putting you at or just over 1 lb/week for weight loss. 1-2 lbs/week is a pretty normal and desireable amount to lose.

To cut calories, you might consider ditching the sausage and eating fruit/veggies with your eggs (if SB allows this). If you are doing scrambled eggs, do one whole egg and 2 egg whites instead of 2 eggs (assuming you are eating 2 eggs). Use a spray of Pam instead of butter to cook your eggs.

For lunch, try not to use more than 2 tbls of dressing on your salad if it's full-fat dressing. You might also try a lunch that doesn't include sauces or dressings.

For a snack, how many peanuts are you eating? You can still get protein if you eat a boiled egg or have a couple of ounces of low fat cheese (maybe with an apple?) and the calories would be lower.

For dinner, skip the deviled eggs and eat a small portion of a bean salad instead (or maybe a small portion of salad, light on dressing, or even some fruit).

These are just some ideas that may or may not fit into your diet plan.

Just remember that weight loss is a function of calories in vs. calories out. If it's easier to diet with South Beach, then keep at it, but you still have to look at your calories.

www.nutritiondata.com is a good website for checking the amount of calories (and protein) in a food item.

I have lost over 100 lbs (and kept it off) so I know what I'm talking about.

Good luck and don't get discouraged if you "only" loose 1-2 lbs a week. That's really a great weight loss!

Thank you so much. I printed this and am going to try your changes (Starting today of course)over the next week. I am on phase II as of today and can have most of the items you mentioned. I have to admit, I have been guilty of ignoring the calories.

Love the idea about the egg whites, I never would have thought of that.

Peanuts are probably my big snack item...and big downfall lol. Although allowed on the diet, I may be overdoing them.

I am a snacker for sure, so today I went out and bought this stuff called WASA multi Grain crackers. They ain't too bad.

100 pounds is awesome!!! I can't think of a better person to get advice from.

Thanks for the encouragement. I was so frustrated when I typed my OP so I went to the gym and took it out on an elliptical machine ha ha. It helped, but I was still feeling frustrated until I read your reply. Thank you so very much, it really meant a lot and did indeed brighten my outlook.

Mimi

 

[JudyS]

....Also, you've only been at it for less than 2 weeks, putting you at or just over 1 lb/week for weight loss. 1-2 lbs/week is a pretty normal and desireable amount to lose.

To cut calories, you might consider ditching the sausage and eating fruit/veggies with your eggs (if SB allows this)....

Fruit isn't allowed on the first 2 weeks of SB.

While a pound or two a week is good for ongoing weight loss, most people lose a lot more during the first two weeks of a diet, especially if the diet is low carb. This large weight loss is mostly water, not fat. It happens because the body uses up its supply of glycogen (animal starch), which is bound with water. (There's about 4 grams of water for every 1 gram of animal starch. Since starch has 4 calories per gram and there are 454 grams per pound, you lose 1 gram of water/starch mixture for every .8 calories burned off, or about 1 pound of of water and glycogen lost for every 400 calories below what your body needs.)

It sounds like you aren't having that initial glycogen loss. I see 3 possible reasons for this:
1) You might not have much glycogen stored, so there's none to be lost. This could happen if you had been following a low-carb diet all along, for example. However, if you've gained weight since the last time you've dieted, or if you haven't dieted before, it's very unlikely.
2) There are some theories that if you go on low-carb diets repeatedly, your body becomes less willing to use its glycogen supply with each subsequent diet. I know of no actual evidence for this, however.
3) You just aren't running much of a calorie deficit. I think this is the most likely cause, unless you've been doing a lot of low-carb dieting in the past.

I follow a reduced-carb diet, but I also count calories. It is a royal pain, I must say. (Yesterday, I spent a full hour looking up calories and carbs and recording them in my food journal. I don't spend that much time on most days, but we are still talking a couple of hours a week. ) But, it seems to be working for me, at least combined with Byetta, ephedrine, and green tea.

Remember that all the exercise is good for you, even if the scale isn't giving you the results you want! (The SB diet is probably also good for you, but it depends on how much saturated fat you eat.) Keep up the good work, and try to be patient!

 

[Donald's Shrink]

Don't get discouraged and be persistent. Think of how long it took you to put on those extra 60 lbs. Probably didn't happen overnight, did it? Now think of losing those 60 lbs. in the same way. It's not going to happen overnight. It sounds like you're doing everything right. Just stick to it and the weight will come off eventually. Good luck and be sure to check in here for support when you need it.

 

[monymony3471]

I find if I want results on SB I stay away from read meat. I limit it to once a week. I eat lots of chicken and fish.

Red meat and cheeses stay with me longer.

Good luck.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I am doing SB as well and am having good success right now. Again, you do need to watch fat grams when on the Beach. Too much nuts, cheese, or red meat can be diet busters.

When are you eating in relation to working out? Your will burn more (and gain lean muscle mass) if you have a protein meal AFTER your work-out. Whey protein is best (found in many items or you can find a supplement...whey protein is all protein, carbs and little to no fat).

Good luck!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I don't have any advice to add that would be of much help. Seems like the advice is excellent so far.

I just want to say that I am proud of you that you are working at this. You've come to get encouragement and advice so you are being a good detective. With your determination, I know that you will find the success soon.

 

[MunkyMe13]

I don't know about SB carbs and stuff but drink a ton of water. A. It will help you flush body water and B. It will fill you up a bit more so your food intake will be down. I've found for me, watching calories is far more important than carbs. I eat between 1000-1200 a day and I am not starving. I pretty much eliminated red meat from my diet. I do 30 minutes of cardio 4-5 days a week and strength training 3 days a week. I've lost about 17 lbs since the 3rd of January. I hope this helps