Please Read and Help!!

[FutureMrs]

I started a clean induction on Feb 2nd at 203 pounds. Yesterday, Feb 5th I was down to 194.0... today the scale says 196.6. I'm drinking OVER 100 ounces of water per day, I'm eating the strictest protein meals - such as eggs and turkey roll ups with a small bit of Hellmans. I'm at the gym 5 days per week - one of which with a trainer. I'm not even using the 20 alotted carbs... so why did my weight go up 2.6 pounds this morning? Is it because I'm scale-addicted? Should I not be checking everyday? Last night I had two eggs and a ham steak (smoked, not honey)... This morning my rings feel tight. As i was eating the ham i thought, wow this is salty. Is it possible that i'm holding onto 2.6 pounds of water weight??? I know I should probably be happy with the success so far, but I'm wanting more. I have TRULY TRULY not stepped out of line even once or even slightly in the past week. I was hoping a few of you could weigh in on the following:
~Do you think it's possible that the 2.6 pounds is water retention?
~Have you found yourself more sucessful by leaning toward low-sodium meals?
~Am i sabotaging myself by having only 7-10 carbs per day?
~Do you think it's counter-productive to check the scale EVERY DAY?
~Do you think I can lose the 30 pounds i need to in the next 56 days?
~Is there anything that i've said above that leads you to believe i'm doing something wrong?

I appreciate any feedback you can give!

[Georgiana]

Re: Please Read and Help!!

Hi! Let's see, one by one...

~Do you think it's possible that the 2.6 pounds is water retention?

It is definitely water weight, don't worry. You cannot gain 2.6 lbs of fat in one day unless you eat a whole elephant.

~Have you found yourself more sucessful by leaning toward low-sodium meals?

Actually, no. I am pretty careful with my sodium and I try to keep it at a reasonable level (not only for not gaining water weight, but too much sodium is not good for you anyway), but I lost 10-15 lbs right when I started Atkins without watching my sodium intake. Notice I don't have a lot to lose, so 10-15 lbs meant about 30% of my extra weight.

~Am i sabotaging myself by having only 7-10 carbs per day?

Depends where you are taking those carbs from. How many cups of veggies are you eating? Could you post a menu?

~Do you think it's counter-productive to check the scale EVERY DAY?

From your post, I'd say 'yes'. I usually weigh myself daily, but I don't freak out for sudden changes if I know I was on plan. If it affects you seeing extra water weight, weigh yourself only weekly.

~Do you think I can lose the 30 pounds i need to in the next 56 days?

Why 56? "Need to" for what? It doesn't matter what we think. If you follow the plan, you will definitely be slimmer in 56 days. Whether you will lose 30 lbs, no one can tell. Setting deadlines for your goals is nothing else than setting yourself to failure, imo.

~Is there anything that i've said above that leads you to believe i'm doing something wrong?

I also said it above. Post a menu and we can take a look over it. Otherwise, we simply don't have enough info.

[FutureMrs]

Re: Please Read and Help!!

56 Days = May 1st = My Wedding Day = my size 12 dress.
It fit me snugly when i bought it 18 months ago... now it's about 2 inches from being zipped all the way up.

[Georgiana]

Re: Please Read and Help!!

Oh, I see! There are people who lose 2 inches without losing a lot of weight, so do not obsess about the scale. Did you take measurements? They are often more reliable.

You cannot schedule the way your body will lose weight or the speed at which this will happen. Follow the plan by the book, eat your veggies, make sure your fat intake is high, drink water, take supplements and exercise. That's the most you can do. I'll keep my fingers crossed for that dress to zip all the way up by May!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Please Read and Help!!

I think your protein sounds less than the quality you should be eating. If your turkey roll-ups are made with deli turkey, it most likely has sugar. Smoked ham is injected with a sugar/salt brine. All ham has some sugar.

I'm eating the strictest protein meals - such as eggs and turkey roll ups with a small bit of Hellmans.

Why all the protein and a small amount of mayo? Atkins is high fat, not high protein. You get into ketosis by eating a lot of fat. Excess protein will be converted to glucose and stored as fat. The body cannot store excess protein any other way. As soon as the body is done repairing and making muscle and whatever other body processes needs protein, it has to convert it to glucose for storage.

Why are you not eating your veggies? Are you thinking you will lose faster if you don't? Not true. You need the nutrition and fiber from the veggies to take advantage of the body processes needed for digestion and utilization of the nutrients in the fat and protein.

I certainly think you could be holding that much water weight from eating processed meats with a lot of chemicals in it. If you are not eating veggies for fiber, you will get constipated and it will appear that your are gaining weight from compacted stool.

Do I think you can lose 30 pounds in 56 days? No. I do think that if you do Atkins right and keep up the exercise, you will lose a lot of weight and will firm up. If you up your fat and make your protein less processed, you will lose inches even when you don't lose pounds. Use butter and extra virgin olive oil for extra energy when you exercise. Make sure you are eating enough food in general.

Stay off the scale. Stress makes you store belly fat.