why aren't i losing any weight?

[Wagamama]

i'm doing my no carb diet, walking alot, yet NO weight has come off! In fact, I think i've put ON some weight (1-2 pounds). whats up with this?!

 

[elisebutt]

Have you measured yourself - don't forget pound for pound, muscle is a lot denser so you may lose fat but build muscle, therefore weighing more, but streamlining your shape!

 

[Amelia]

First I would say you need to make sure your not getting any hidden carbs anywhere. Something as simple as Maalox or a cough drop could be the culprit. I keep a journal of everything I eat and believe me it's been an eye opener! For example I've found that when I eat things with peanuts or peanut butter in them I will stall on my weight loss. Dr. Atkins talks in his book about people who are sensitive to mold allergies having problems with peanuts and other nuts. Well that must be me, because when I stopped eating things with nuts in then I started losing very quickly!!

Then I would have to remind you that if your walking is something new that you just started, then maybe your adding muscle and that's coving up any weight loss that you've achieved.

The third thing to look for is how much weight do you need to lose? In my experience the more you have to lose the faster you see the results on the scales. Do take your measurements and keep track on some kind of a regular basis. I take mine the first of every month but some people take theirs every week.

Above all, don't give up!! We're all different and what might work for one may not work for another. You might try backing off on some of the walking for a day or two and see if that makes any difference.
Walking is good but it can be overdone just like anything else.

Good luck and let us know what happens!

 

[wovenwonder]

Please let us know what you've had to eat the past couple of days so we can give you some advice and suggestions. You said you have been eating 'no carb' -- I'd just like to be sure that some of your foods don't have carbs that you are not aware of. To eat almost no carb you have to basically stick to meat, eggs, cheese, butter, diet soda's, water, etc.

Are you using Ketostix? I don't use them -- but you may want to use them for a week or so to be sure you are in Ketosis. Are you drinking lots of water to flush your system out?

This WOE works! It will work for you too --- let us help you.

 

[Rhonda]

You say you're on a "no carb" diet. This is not healthy - and your body will fight back. If you follow Atkins (or basically any of the Controlled Carb diets) you should be eating vegetables to get some carbs. On Atkins, we get up to 20 carbs per day during the first two weeks.

Try adding a big salad at lunchtime with lots of fresh salad veggies, like lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, radishes, celery, tomato, etc., and top it with some cut up ham & cheese, or cooked chicken and your favorite dressing. (Try to use dressings that are under 2 carbs per tablespoon).

I'll bet you'll start dropping in no time!

 

[karebear1]

I had the same thing happen to me the first 2 weeks I ate low carb. I thought I had lost 6 lbs- but when I went to the gym and weighed myself I had lost NOTHING! Not only that- after 6 weeks of excercsing, I had not lost any inches either! It was extremely depressing for me. And my reaction really threw me for a loop. If I EVER felt close to giving up PERMANENTLY- it was then. That was just 3 1/2 weeks ago. I went nuts for 2 days- then saw my Blood sugar jump up into high ranges and decided that, even if I didn't lose weight it was better for me to eat low carb because I had cut my meds in half and my BS was relatively normal. So- I decided to start agian. I thought for me it would be better to drop going to Curves until I saw some weight drop. Personally I want to see 20 lbs get off before I go back. The reasoning behind that is that I think I will get discouraged (ESPECIALLY after my last experience) if I continued to workout and only lost a few pounds after going through 2 more weeks of induction. So- I've put excercising on hold until then. Last Sunday I started Atkins Induction. I journal my blood sugar everyday and everything I eat and the times. 4 days into induction- I had lost 4 lbs. In the first week I lost 7 lbs. After the first 4 days on Atkins the ketostix started to show a trace amount of ketones. That never happened when I was eating low carb those other 2 weeks. Yesterday, the ketostix showed a moderate amount of ketones- so it's getting better. I had to be ABSOLUTELY sure that I was following Atkins rules of induction- low carbing it for me didn't do it. Believe it or not , the first 2 weeks that I started I DID think I was eating only 20 carbs- but in reality- it was probably more like 50-60 carbs- just too much for my body to put it into ketosis or to see the weight drop off.
Stick with it. Journal your food and by all means follow ATKINS induction rules (I was doing the Curves diet the first time) . You will see it come off. It might be slow, but once you work out the kinks it will be worth it. Be sure you drink lots of water. AND Hang in there- keep tough. I know first hand how destructive not losing can be on your psyche. But you have done the right thing! Posting your frustrations and worries is a positive step! Just ask Nativetxn or beanie what my reaction was! They will tell you they thought I had left the building!!! But, thanks to really good friends and posititve reinforcement- I was able to get back into the good things of life and get back to losing weight again!

Oops!!! I just noticed you're not following Atkins!!! I wasn't tryng to sell that diet- I just assumed you were on Atkins because I have ATkins on the brain!! SORRY! The same message applies- just be sure you are following the Zone diet to the T- I think that's the key!!!

 

[wovenwonder]

I just wanted to clarify that I surely did not mean that you shouldn't be getting ANY carbs. It is very healthy to get in some carbs thru yummy low carb veggies. BUT, what I was trying to say was that if you are truly now eating 'no carb' you are likely limiting your eating to the items I first mentioned. (Meat, eggs, cheese, butter, etc). I agree that if this is all you are consuming -- you might want to try adding in some salad, cauliflower, aspargus, green beans, zuchinni, mushrroms, broccoli, etc.

I would also suggest to stay away from nuts, low carb convenience foods such as bars and shakes, etc. until you see how your body reacts without them. Then slowly add them back in one by one to see if any of these items are causing stalls for you.

Remember to drink, drink, drink!

 

[Wagamama]

wow! thanks for all the reply's! ok, so here i go!
I guess i should have mentioned that when i said "no carbs" i meant no potatoes, rice, pasta, flour, cake, etc. I'm eating a ton of veggies and fruits and drinking lots of flour. I'm not a big cheese person though...go figuire!
what have i been eating the past few days? well, yesterday i had fruit for breakfast, a grilled chicken breast and lots of veggies for lunch. for dinner i had a piece of grilled beef, some grilled veggies and a small salad. for my snacks i had an apple with a small piece of parmesan cheese and for my after dinner "treat" i had a Zone bar.

 

[Amelia]

I don't know the rules of the ZONE diet but on Atkins the fruit would be a no-no in the first couple of weeks. You might try dropping the fruit and see what happens. There's tons of carbs in fruit and maybe that's what's holding you back.

I do Atkins and can only tell you what the Atkins approach is but maybe someone else is familiar with the Zone and can help.

 

[wovenwonder]

And if you are eating 'tons' of veggies you could be getting more carbs than you wanted from them. And I don't know if I would recommend drinking 'flour'. (re-read your last post)

I'm eating a ton of veggies and fruits and drinking lots of flour. I'm not a big cheese person though...go figuire!

Be sure you are not counting things like peas, corn, lima beans, sweet potatoes, etc as veggies. They are very high in carb count and should be counted as carbs.

I agree -- try to cut the fruit for a couple days and see if you notice any difference.

 

[Wagamama]

hehehe!! i'm not drinking flour!!! i swear i'm not! lol! I think i meant water. i didn't know corn and peas were carb loaded veggies, i've been scarfing them down! as for fruit, i can cut those out too and see what happens. thanks guys!!!

 

[Rhonda]

Blech!! My mouth feels dry just thinking about it!!!!