What if I don't have that much to lose?

[MySongAngel]

Before you hate me for asking a question like this, let me just tell you that I've lost 40 lbs (like my signature says) the HARD way. I cut calories to about 1200 a day, exercised regularly, lost about 10 at a time and basically just stayed hungry a lot and weighed daily in order to keep my weight down between losses.
So I've got this last 10 lbs that WON'T come off. It seems to have gotten harder the lower the weight has gotten. I finally stopped being stubborn and decided to try Atkins, because my boyfriend's father has had great success with it. I just really didn't want to give up ice cream or biscuits or cookie dough or....etc...

I'm on my third day of induction, and I'm wondering if someone like me will lose MORE or LESS than the average Atkins participant. Also... what if I am at my goal weight at the end of induction? Should I jump straight to life maintenance? The book doesn't seem to speak to people like me. It seems to be speaking to people that have at least 100 lbs to lose. I'm just wondering if there is anyone else in my situation. Also... I feel stupid for not trying this from the beginning. I feel 100% better than I ever did on a low-calorie diet.

[not2late]

Congrats on your weight loss.

The average person can expect to lose between 5-10% of the weight needed to lose during Induction. So for a person with 100 pounds to lose, that's about 5-10 pounds. For a person with 10 pounds to lose, that's about 1/2 to 1 pound.

As for the last 10 pounds, yes, they are difficult to take off no matter what diet program you are following. As you have read in your book, Dr. Atkins devised his diet in phases because he knew that not only was it important to lose the weight, it was even more important to learn how to keep that weight off by developing good eating habits, lifestyle habits and food attitudes.

If you lose the 10 pounds while on Induction, I suggest you move onto the OWL/Pre-Maintenance phase where you will be reintroducing foods and finding how many carbs you can eat before you begin gaining weight.

Good luck to you.

[Elizellen]

It is hard to say for sure.
If you have been dieting previous to induction I don't think you will have the water weight to lose like heavier non-dieting people do so you may not see a large loss immediately.

But as to how to work your Atkins well perhaps it would be an idea to do the 14 day induction then move on to OWL but maybe introduce the rungs one week at a time instead of 2 weeks at a time.

[MySongAngel]

So you're saying after 2 weeks of this, I might only lose 1 or 2 lbs? :yikes That doesn't sound much easier than the low calorie thing, but I'll hang in there and see what happens.

[Elizellen]

But if you follow through with all 4 stages of Atkins you should emerge well prepared to continue with your maintenance level of eating for the rest of your life at goal weight and never have to go on a 'diet' again :joy

[not2late]

don't make the mistake of comparing your weight loss to a man...Men lose weight faster than women for a number of reasons, including our monthly hormonal cycle.

[Sallyb]

Hi MySongAngel

Like you I have a lowish amount to lose - 7lbs. It is hard, whatever way
you try it. Although you should enter this with the mindset of a longer term goal of heathly eating not dieting.

It does work and it works quite quickly, mostly unlike other methods you will have energy while you lose weight.

While I was on induction I lost 4.5 lbs, and I have continued to lose inches since then. The best advise is avoid cheating, it sets you back every time and your body becomes familular with what you are doing and it then gets harder :anger!

All the best luck :hug
Sally

[Moochiecat]

Not all of this is going to apply to you, but it may help you realize that time and patience is needed when it comes to losing weight. :yes

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=63916

[future_perfect]

Hey
I started at 131lbs and dropped to 125lbs in a week. I think a lot of it was water (I felt thirsty a lot that week) but the way I look at it, 6lbs is 6lbs! It's impossible for anybody to predict how it's going to go for you - everyone's body is different and everyone's metabolism adjusts to new situations differently.

However it sounds like you stand a good chance of kicking those last 10lbs fairly easily. Your metabolism, by the sound of it, isn't used to proteins or fat, so atkins should be enough of a shock to cause big changes. I'm probably talking rubbish - but this is what happened with me

[MySongAngel]

Well, you're right about that... My old diet was 1200 calories a day, and I would guess 70% of it was carb-rich foods. No wonder it was such agonizingly slow weight loss. When I would go off my diet... it was all about the chocolate. I always HAVE loved my eggs, though. I'm sure my body is in shock right now. I can feel it, actually. My whole body seems to thump with every heart beat. It's wondering what the heck is going on.

Anyway... I guess I'll find out in 9 days. It's just so hard to stay off the scale that long. The suspense is killing me. I know what to do if I step on the scale, and still have some pounds to lose, but I'm not sure what to do if I get on the scale and see my goal weight.

[Elizellen]

I know what to do if I step on the scale, and still have some pounds to lose, but I'm not sure what to do if I get on the scale and see my goal weight.

I think if that happens you ought to move to OWL and add gthe food groups in the way suggested but perhaps add 10 carbs instead of 5.

But why not post your question in the OWL forum to get info from the real experts in OWL who may not neccesarily visit this forum? You don't have to be on OWL to go there and read and post :hug

[cosmogirl]

hi, im in a very similar situation, ive dropped 25lbs since november doing low cal, now at 131 im starting atkins hoping to get somewhere like 120-125lbs.
thought id post and bump the thread to see if youd made ne more progress or any one else had some imput?
thanxs
mia
x

[Isabeau]

Hi and welcome. I guess I have a question for you. Are you doing Atkins just to drop the weight, or are you really going to make it your lifetime way of eating? The reason I ask is if you're just trying to lose the weight by a different method you may be dissappointed once you reach your goal. We just want everyone to be successful! :wave

[cosmogirl]

well to be honest i havent decided yet, im finding atkins easier than i thought i would, and i have bin reading up about the other stages to try and work out wether i can see myself being low carb always. i guess its just a cases of seeing how i go and doing some more reseach
mia
x

[cosmogirl]

oh and hi :wave
this forums a great help, so much useful info!
mia
x