FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

[shannon07016]

OK. I'm on day 9 of induction, and all of a sudden, my pee strips are white again. What the duece? I did have a cup of LC pasta yesterday, but seriously, I had had less than 5 carbs all day prior. How could that have knocked me out of ketosis? I have been trying so damn hard, and I haven't cheated once, which is a feat unto itself for my track record. No illegal foods, that is. I went to an ice cream shop with my mom and my son today, and didn't even have one bite. That, my friends, is insanity incarnate. But I'm seriously committed to this WOE/WOL. But now that I'm not in ketosis anymore, I'm like, what for? I haven't lost a bleeping pound either. When I've done induction in the past, I've dropped at least 8-10lbs effortlessly, without exercising. Now, I'm hard-core induction crazy, working out at least 3-4 hours a week. What gives? I don't know what to do anymore

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

I did have a cup of LC pasta yesterday, but seriously, I had had less than 5 carbs all day prior.

Shannon, if you had less than 5 carbs all day prior, you are not doing Atkins.

I have been trying so damn hard, and I haven't cheated once

I did have a cup of LC pasta yesterday

Shannon, have you read the book? Or even the rules for induction on this website?

There is no way you can expect success if you don't follow the plan as written. But if you will read and follow it, you can make it.

Why don't you start fresh tomorrow... after taking another look at the rules for induction. Here are a couple of links to get you started:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6782-what-rules-induction.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html

[OzLover]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Outstanding words of advice from Sunny_One.

Are you following the rules of Induction from DANDR or from the Atkins website?

[shannon07016]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Yes, I have read the rules of induction, about a million times. And I have the links on this website, about 100 times. I understand perfectly the rules, but by day 9, and only 1 cup of LC pasta, I've hardly ever had this much problem losing weight until now. In fact, I've always had Atkin's processed foods on induction and never had a problem getting into ketosis and staying there. This time, per advice from this website, I've stayed away from such products, with little success. Although I agree with your premise of following the induction rules strictly, we all make mistakes along the way. Thanks for your "help."

[liv]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

I would not eat pasta till rung 9. I am on rung 9 but I have not tried it yet. I think it may be tricky for me.
So what about following the rules. They work for just about everyone. Pasta is not allowed on induction either per DANDR or per the ANA people.
And remember we change between the times we do the diet. In DANDR Atkins write "Send your complaints to Father Time, Box Office Eternity" (pg 282)

[mare]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Hi Shannon. Sorry about your frustrations. I get it - I did this WOE a year ago and just recently got back into it. My body is losing a bit slower than I remembered from the last time. It's all good, though - I just need to work hard and keep at it. Maybe your body is just re-adjusting? You might wake up one morning soon and find a 3-4 lb. loss. I've read about it happening to others on this board. Just remember that our bodies are way smarter than we think - we gotta keep 'em on thier toes when we want them to change. I wish you success!

p.s. --- you can't always trust your ketostix so don't let that get you down

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Shannon, what really concerns me is the 5 carbs per day. The pasta is no biggie.

You really do need to take care of your body.

I was anorexic when I was in my teens and twenties, so I understand the compulsion to keep carbs as low as humanly possible. But you do need to nourish your body, and 5 carbs won't do it.

I'm not trying to be hateful.... but based on my own personal history, I am very concerned for you.

[phil h]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Maybe i missed something but I read you had 5 gms of carbs before eating the pasta that day.Not that you are only eating 5gms every day.I'm not sure i would trust myself with the pasta.Stick with the fats, proteins and low GI carbs and you'll lose and get in ketosis.If your hunger is curbed you are in enough ketosis.With my intake and exercise,mine should be dark purple but it is barely over mild shade.Good enough for me.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

hi shannon. please don't take offense (if that is indeed how you feel.) when we write on the internet, sometimes what we say is given a "tone" that is not really intended.

without making assumptions, it sounds like your frustration is due to what you believe to be "following the plan" and not getting the desired results. many of us make "mistakes" and that is why this board is SO valuable. it has KEPT me from making some doozies.

i am not really a pro at this even though i've been "doing it" for a long time. this IS what i know. induction is really strict. it is strict for a reason. i do not know WHY you got kicked out of ketosis but i would not completely trust the sticks. also, well, i just would not "go there" with the pasta...heck, for me, i don't even eat it now. it is tooooo easy for me to have too much!

my best advice is what i know worked for ME. i actually copied models of good induction menus and followed them to the letter for a totally clean induction. that way i had no way to mess up or use my own ideas to substitute. it just worked for me.

no jumping off ledges girl. you'll never meet your goal that way. but DO keep this in mind. weight loss is NOT EVER going to be linear. just keep to a strict induction and see what happens after two weeks. let us know how it goes!

[Desertthorn]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Hi Shannon, I think I've mentioned before to ditch the strips and don't depend on them as they really don't tell you anything worthwhile and frustrate you
One thing that really helps folks is to start a journal. Don't ask me why but it helps to talk to yourself and talk about how your diet is coming and post your meals and your exercise and your water and folks will come to visit, some might even bring you a house warming gift or two.

[shannon07016]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Thank you all for your responses. SunnyOne, I appreciated your concern, so I apologize if I was a little bitchy. It was only that particular day that I limited myself to 5 carbs (an approximation), and my mom made beef stroganoff, and I fooled myself into believing that I was in the clear, since my strips had been consistently getting darker. I should never have had pasta, LC or not. I just thought I could get away with it, but was rudely surprised. I'm having a rough couple of days with cravings, today being the worst because of the pasta incident. It's like I'm starting over, and the cravings and hunger are back. I realize now that even the slightest misstep can result in a setback. Point taken, Dr. Atkins.

[Sharon_Wants_Help]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

That a girl, Shannon! Be strong It's the only way we'll eventually get rid of this.

Hun, I know EXACTLY what you meant by how "this time" around it feels like you're not losing anything. I remember very distinctly losing up to 10 pounds on the first time I ever did induction! And NOW, I'm afraid to step on the scale, because I know from previous go-rounds at this that my induction weight-loss had dramatically gotten smaller....

and smaller...

and smaller...

It sucks. We both know it sucks. We're both experiencing it. But we have to pull through with it, because we both know this is the only WOE that's ever helped us lose our weight without us both feeling like we're starving! The weight loss will be slower this time around, yes. That's why we have to try EXTRA hard to be strict! Let's kick our asses back in shape together!

[Scotslass]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Hi All

I weigh 200lbs

I am on Atkins for the second time. First time I did really well and was more than happy wiith my weight loss. I have been on Atkins for 3 weeks and have lost a pound and gained a pound each week. End result is I have had 0 weight loss for 3 weeks of Atkins. I am very frustrated and dissapointed and can't figure out where I am going wrong.

I am a coffee addict, but have cut down to 3 cups per day of either decaf or half caf. Have had 500ml in total of caffeine and sugar free coke during the last 3 weeks. Drinking almost 2litres of water each day (8 times 8 oz glasses)

I struggle to get my carbs up to 20 each day, actually having approx 10-12 carbs per day. I don't take much excercise, but this week have walked 6 miles and swum 750 metres and still no weight loss.

I read the book first time and am reading it again. Mistakes i have made this time.
1 Had some berries (once this week)
2 Had some Brazil nuts and Macademia nuts each day during Induction
3 Had some red wine in week 2, but nothing in the last 5 days.

Can anyone help with some advice or ideas? I am so frustrated with it that I am considering giving it only one more week, and if I do not drop any weight then I shall have to come off of Atkins.

[Sharon_Wants_Help]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

Hi All
Can anyone help with some advice or ideas? I am so frustrated with it that I am considering giving it only one more week, and if I do not drop any weight then I shall have to come off of Atkins.

Technically you're not doing Atkins, sweetie. It looks like you've made some changes to the induction rules, and it seems to me that you jumped right on the board with OWL.

I'll tell you something.

Our bodies are not designed to lose weight. Period. We're only designed to gain weight, back when food was scarse and we needed to glutton up on every ounce of fat to survive in the wild.

Imagine this: You invite a friend to come over for a while and to stay with you. During this time your friend invited ALL of her friends over for late night parties, completely raided your refridgerator, and just ABSOLUTELY left your house a MESS!

What happens when you ask your friend to come over again? You go "**** NO, Stay outta my house!"

In this scenario, your body is yourself, and your friend is ketosis.

Ketosis does exactly what your body DOESN'T want to do. It makes you spend all your fat reserve! The first time you do induction, your body doesn't expect it and you lose LOTS. And you keep losing lots.

The second time... well, as you were, your body says: "**** no!" And will resist ketosis and its attempt to burn your fat.

And that resistance gets STRONGER, and STRONGER... each time you redo induction.

For people like us, for Stacers, we have to be ON THE BALL! We have to kick our asses in gear and follow it by the rules. Yes, we know it was oh-so-easy to lose weight the first time, but this isn't the first time anymore. IN fact, if anything we should expect it to be harder.

Have you taken measurements? Have you noticed any health benefits? Cling to these like no tomorrow. I personally enjoy NOT being able to sleep in... it's helped me get to work on time every day this damn week

Cut out the berries, don't resume drinking the wine, and stop with the nuts. Your carb count is really low - make it go up by eating vegetables! Make yourself some cucumber salad, or just snack more on broccoli! Do NOT resort to going to things off of your induction list to help make up for the carbs! And incase I didn't make my self clear, ONLY snack on Veggies and cheese to make your carb count go up! (but mostly veggies!)

[shannon07016]

Re: FRUSTRATED...talk me down from my ledge

I hate to admit it, but she's right, Scotslass. I tried to do the same thing you're doing, and fool my body into ketosis by limiting my carbs, but eating things that weren't allowed during induction, such as berries, alcohol, and nuts. I wasn't losing a damn pound either, and ready to call it all off. You just have to buckle down, and follow the rules of induction in the book. Don't try to fool yourself. You'll keep frustrating yourself and give up. Don't let your cravings get the best of you. Remember: you are in control of what goes in your mouth! You can do this!