Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

[catspirit2]

Tomorrow is day 14 of my induction, and I have not seen the weight loss I expected I lost 7 lbs in the first 5 days, then gained 2 back. I slowly lost the 2 lbs over the next week, but then gained them back again. I have not changed anything since the first 5 days, except I have actually cut out almost all artificial sweeteners since then (I was drinking a lot of diet soda and crystal light). I am being extremely strict (under 20 g net carbs per day) and drinking at least 100oz of water daily. Total loss to date is 4.4 lbs. Is it normal to lose some and gain some from day to day? Does anyone have any suggestions?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

Having expectation of what your body will lose is self-defeating.

Your body isn't a machine ... it's not like your car ... give it gas and you go.

>> I am being extremely strict (under 20 g net carbs per day)>>

How much under? For many, the closer you are to 20 net the better. It's more nutritionally sound.

>>Is it normal to lose some and gain some from day to day?>>

Yes.

>>Does anyone have any suggestions?>>

If you want to post a typical days menu, we can take a look.

[catspirit2]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

I don't know if I would call it so much an expectation as a hope. I am between 17 and 20 net carbs per day. Typical day's menu:
Breakfast: 1 cup coffee with 1 packet Splenda, 3 slices bacon, 1 slice crustless quiche
Lunch: 4 cups iceberg lettuce, 1/4 cup shredded cheese, 2-3 tbsp ranch dressing, and either 1 can tuna or cut up lunch meat on the salad
Dinner: ground beef, chicken or fish with 1 cup either brocolli or cauliflower
Snack: string cheese and/or lunch meat

I also have a small glass of diet soda with lunch and dinner. I have not had any carb cravings but still cut out most of the sweeteners in case it was making a difference.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

How many net carbs are each food item?

It's hard to tell if you're calculating correctly when you just give a total.

How much string cheese are you having as a snack.

Lunch meat isn't really a great choice ... it's very processed, and most likely has sugar.

You're probably over the limit of sweetener ... considering the lunch meat.

How much WATER are you drinking?

[catspirit2]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

I only buy lunchmeat that has 0 carbs and no added sugar. I just checked it again and sugar is not listed as an ingredient. I am drinking at least 100 oz of water each day on top of the soda. One piece of string cheese daily. I am counting net carbs as follows:

Breakfast:
1 cup coffee with 1 packet Splenda (1 carb)
3 slices bacon (0 carbs)
1 slice crustless quiche (3 carbs)

Lunch: 4 cups iceberg lettuce (4 carbs)
1/4 cup shredded cheese (1 carb)
2-3 tbsp ranch dressing (2 carbs)
1 can tuna or cut up lunch meat on the salad (0 carbs)

Dinner:
ground beef, chicken or fish (0 carbs)
1 cup either brocolli (3.5 carbs) or cauliflower (2 carbs)

Snack: string cheese (1 carb) and/or lunch meat

[Elizellen]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

Your food choices seem fine, but you could probably get better 'nutrient value' by choosing different 'salad veg' than lettuce. In fact on DANDR's list we are supposed to get up to 2 cups from that list, rather than the 4 cups of lettuce you are eating (but no-body ever got fat eating lettuce I am sure )

Lettuce is basically chewy water, so maybe change things up and eat some of the other more nutritious salad veg on the list - peppers, cucumber, radishes, jicama (if you live where you can buy it) etc.

Though you have checked the lunch meats for sugars, many of them do contain a lot of salt and other added stuff, so if you can work with plain meat it might be better for you. Maybe make a big roast or use a slow cooker to do a large piece to cut your own lunch meat from?

You did not mention much in the way of fat in your menus - eating 'excess' protein can cause problems - and Atkins is not a 'high protein' way of eating - I see the fullfat (?) ranch dressing, but are you cooking the meat in butter or oils?

Apart from the food question, you have already lost over 10% of the total amount you want to lose, so you are not doing badly

Our body will never lose in an even fashion, so you will learn over the next weeks what yours does. Some people find a short 'plateau' while their body seems to take stock of an initial loss which ceases once it knows this is the 'new normal' for food and exercise.

Have you lost inches too? Keep an eye on measurements as sometimes we lose those when the scales remain stubborn. And inches lost = fat lost!!!

I suggest you start to think about planning your next move - on to OWL to start to see how many carbs you can eat while losing weight.

And have you started exercise ?

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

It's not uncommon to have a slight stall after Induction. And overall, weight will fluctuate alot depending on what you're eating, activity level, etc. This is why it's typically best to weigh only once a week. You won't always lose weight every week, but you might lose inches. Are you measuring as well?

Also, you may want to cut out the diet sodas, especially if they contained aspartame, that is a very common staller.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

>> 1 cup coffee with 1 packet Splenda (1 carb)>>

This would be 2 net carbs ... 8 ounces of coffee has 1 net carb and a packet of Splenda has 1 net carb.

What exactly are the ingredients of your lunchmeat? Who makes it?

[lannerjarv]

Re: Day 13 of induction and getting frustrated

i "stalled" for about 2.5 weeks after induction.
try not to let it get you down, make sure you take your measurements because you can lose inches and not lbs!!

i would also cut out the diet soda.. it's bad for you all around.