So discouraged

[Crisco - Fat in the Can!]

Tomorrow marks 21 days for me on Induction and I have lost a total of 6 pounds! Whoopie! I exercise everyday!! I am really sticking to the diet too! What the ****? I know that comes out to 2 lbs. a week... I am just discouraged. Reading all the I lost 10 lbs, I lost 15 lbs. etc. is just so depressing. I am happy for everyone that this diet is working but I think I am going to give up and eat some carbs.... might as well!

[CarbaholicJoe]

Re: So discouraged

Most of the big losses are water and harvested junk, not fat, so I wouldnt worry too much about that. 2lbs a week is over 100lb in a year, try doing that on a low calorie diet, its not fun. If you lost 6lb of 30lb goal, thats a better percentile than 20lb of 200lb goal.

Now is the exact time to stick it out, its the 3rd to 5th week where loss is lowest due to your body working its new food intake out.

Drink plenty of water and remember muscle weighs more than fat.

[Elizellen]

Re: So discouraged

Tomorrow marks 21 days for me on Induction and I have lost a total of 6 pounds! Whoopie! I exercise everyday!! I am really sticking to the diet too! What the ****? I know that comes out to 2 lbs. a week... I am just discouraged. Reading all the I lost 10 lbs, I lost 15 lbs. etc. is just so depressing. I am happy for everyone that this diet is working but I think I am going to give up and eat some carbs.... might as well!

I am hoping that last comment was a joke, Crisco
Now - how much weight are you hoping to lose to get to goal?
A loss of 5-10% of your hoped-for loss is average for most people on the first 14 days.
Have you lost inches as well? Are your clothes getting looser?

[pstansel]

Re: So discouraged

Seriously, without knowing what your starting weight is and your weight goals it's hard to judge whether that's fast or slow. Did I lose a lot in my first 3 weeks? Yep. You know why? Because I was really, really fat to start. And I had a weeklong vacation during induction where I could spend hours a day working out. So you HAVE to keep your numbers in perspective. Even with my initial loss I get bummed when I have a week like last week and only lose 3 pounds, or when I look in the mirror and don't feel smaller. It's a journey, not a race.

[Crisco - Fat in the Can!]

Re: So discouraged

No, it was no joke about eating carbs!! I am 5' 5" and my starting weight was 180 lbs. I would like to lose at least 45 lbs. I took my measurements last week and don't plan on doing the measurement thing until 4 weeks. Guess I should stay off of the scale until then too. I lost 5 lbs. in the first week and have lost 1 lb. a week since then. Can you all understand my point though... seriously? Everyone says "20, 15, even 10 lbs" lost during induction and I have lost a losey 6 lbs. in three weeks! UUUGGGGHHHHH!

[Crisco - Fat in the Can!]

Re: So discouraged

I do Tae-Bo 3times a week, 60 minutes of weight training 3 times a week and then on my "off" day I walk 4 miles. I am 5' 5" and weigh 174 lbs.

[ValidRouge]

Re: So discouraged

Crisco,

Let's put things in perspective. You want to lose 45 lbs. Another member here wants to lose 145 lbs. You lose 4.5 lbs during induction and 1 lb per week on ongoing weight loss. That other member loses 14.5 lbs during induction and 2 lbs per week on ongoing weight loss.

You both lost 10% of what you have to lose.

You'll reach your goal quicker losing 1 lb per week than they will losing 2 lbs per week.

It's all about perspective.

Since Dr. Atkins said we can expect to lose 5-10% of our total weight loss during the first two weeks. You lost over 10%!! You're AHEAD and doing better than some of the other members here!!!!!!

[ValidRouge]

Re: So discouraged

Oh, and I forgot to address your statement about how you might as well go eat some carbs.

When you get frustrated because things aren't going your way on this Way of Living (WOL) and go binge on carbs, you are only going to get MORE frustrated. If you do that, you'll have just undone all the hard work you did during induction and the weeks afterward. You will switch your body back to using glucose for fuel, instead of your fat. You'll have to detox AGAIN by going through induction AGAIN. You need to stick with it. If you work the plan the way it was intended, it WILL work for you.

[Quitstretchin']

Re: So discouraged

Hey Crisco,
I am sure glad I read your post....I was just about to post yself about how frustrated I am about not losing either. I've lost very llittle since starting the induction and then moving on to extended. Family members are having a get together for the 4th tomorrow and I was thinking the same things you are....
" I might as well eat every thing at the BBQ since I'm hardly losing ANYTHING anyway!@#**! What's the point of passing up all that stuff if I'm going to keep losing so slowly!!!"

I also get discourgaged by everybody else losing so easily and so quickly in large numbers!! I even get discouraged with my own past progress...the last time I started ATKINS, I lost 10lbs the first week!!! Now, A few weeks ago, I had only lost 2 lbs!!! BUT.....WE ARE STILL LOSING (as ssssssllllllllloooooooowwwwww as it may be!) So don't give up (and I won't either). You could still be 6 lbs heavier ya know! Keep going.
Do some research....have others here look over your menu to see if there are no hidden carbs to worry about...check your H20 intake... Maybe some of this is the problem.

[dreamof145]

Re: So discouraged

I totally agree with the advice that Joy gave you. One thing that you can't do is validate your weight loss with anybody elses. You are unique. Some people lose weight easier than others, some lose inches faster, some hit plateaus for long periods of time. The one thing you are in control of is your attitude about your weight loss. I never use the word 'diet'. I think of a diet as something I've failed at time and time again. When I refer to Atkins, it is my life-style change. I get mental power from using that phrase.

Don't give up...Give yourself positive affirmations. You are doing it. If you want more proof..go to the store and pick up six 1-pound bags of sugar. Thats how much you've already lost in three weeks.

Instead of giving up, sit down and make a plan for success. Work your plan and you will succeed.

[Twilight]

Re: So discouraged

I know it's discouraging. I've done diets before. I tried this once for a while before restarting last week.

My scale says I've lost 6 pounds since last Tuesday. Frankly, it's an unreliable scale, and I refuse to weigh myself after 9 in the morning, because morning weight is the lowest. Also, I'm sure a lot of it is water weight. Not an encouraging fact. Scales and numbers are depressing. It's a fact. There are people on here who stall. I've read their posts. Please, don't give up. Hang in there! You are still losing weight, even if it's a small amount. At least it's in the right direction.

If you give up now and eat a bundle of carbs, you'll regret it. You gain back the weight you have lost. You'll feel disgusting. I know, I've been there. Maybe add some variety into your workout? If the body gets used to workout routines, they become less effective. Throw in some dancing or a bike ride.

Also, keep in mind that everyone's body reacts differently to diet. I know you are getting all sorts of information thrown at you, but I think you should take into consideration that all these people wouldn't keep pushing you to do this diet if they didn't think it would be the best one for you.

Please stick in there. All those 1 pounds will add up!

Oh, and by the way, sliow weight loss means you're less likely to have saggy skin when you're done. This isn't a crash diet, it's a way of life.

Don't give up.

[Bren]

Re: So discouraged

Ok, you have been given EXCELLENT advise! Also, please remember that some people go through (and I hate the name for this) P I S S post induction stall syndrome. Can start after your first week and last up to 4 weeks. FEAR NOT! It is your body fighting back and adjusting to all the changes you have made.

AND...... looking at your exercise, well that could be another reason! Muscle is hanging on to whatever you have given it!

Patience......... you WILL be rewarded.

Also, I hope you took measurements before you started cause I bet the tape measure would be alot more "user friendly" then the scale right now.

KEEP IT UP! You can do it and you will see results.

[maggiedee]

Re: So discouraged

Hi Cisco
I know exactly how you feel, 3 weeks in and I stood on the scales last saturday and I had lost 0, so I cheated, and guess what, it did not make me feel better, I felt terrrible, and now I am waiting for the cheat to catch up on me and next saturday when I weight myself I hope that I wont of put on weight and I will be very pleased if I am the same weight. I am going to have to work so hard this week, so was my cheat worth it.....NO NO NO. Its over so quick and all you are left with is a heavy bloated feeling in your tummy and such a sence of failure.

[Crisco - Fat in the Can!]

Re: So discouraged

Bless all of your hearts

I didn't cheat and I haven't given up! I am still a bit depressed, I will admit, but I am hanging in there. Lots and lots of love to all who responded. It has helped me tremendously!!