Hello

[Jodes]

Hi to all the extended inductors

I have lost 2.9kg or 6.38lbs since I started on Atkins on the 9th Feb, 2009 (2 weeks). So I have decided to do another week or two of induction before attempting OWL level 1...

I just want to make sure I have this WOE down to the last carb. I have not cheated once and I feel so good that I have been good (I have cheated on many plans before this one).

I am reasonably confident with my carb counting and always manage to stay under the 20g with around 12-13g of veges as carbs. If there is a nutritional panel, I just count the total carbs (here in Australia, I dont have to remove the fibre content to get net carbs). If not, I use the good doctors carb counter in the book.

I have noticed quite a difference in some foods, for example our eggs total carb is .3 for 2 eggs. Where as I think you count them as .6 each... Such a huge difference but I have been using the .3 as that is what is on the nutritional panel here. Spinach was another that was different too.

I don't have much of an appetite and the ketostix say I am definitely in ketosis, so that is good.

I wish I was losing a bit faster but at least the scale is going in the right direction.

Good luck to everyone and I look forward to chatting about extended induction with everyone.

[dolphin_butterflies]

Re: Hello

It sounds as though you are counting correctly. I am also in extended induction and I am on day 25. I have never used ketostix b/c I keep on forgetting them when I go to the pharmacy.

[daniwcca]

Re: Hello

hey jodes, just wondering how your extended induction is going?
we have (had) pretty similar stats for our intro and I am just about to move onto day 15. Hope all is well!
Danielle

[Jodes]

Re: Hello

Not so well, I don't think Danielle. My weight loss has completely stalled and actually gone the other way but I have lost good cms to date... I am never hungry, so that is a good thing. The ketostix no longer measure any change, so not sure if I am even in ketosis these days.

I am trying to stay away from the scales because they are doing my head in.

I noticed some jeans that were loose last week, fit again this week and I can't for the life of me work out what I have done wrong to gain weight.

I have had one cheat during the whole time I have been on Atkins (a bit of birthday cake a couple of weeks ago)...

I lost 4.1kg in the first 2 weeks and then it all just stopped. I have since (this last week) gained 2kg back - so I am only 2.1kg down since February 9th (over 4 weeks)..

It is hard when you see others lose 9lb a week and you can only do 1lb a week... Frustrating is a good word.

But I like this WOE and I figure something must kick in sooner or later for me to lose weight because I still have a lot to lose (about 20kg or 40 odd pounds)

[daniwcca]

Re: Hello

I haven't been tracking my cm's like you... and I should be, because I think i may be losing there. I definitely think the scales can be the worst thing... they get our hopes up! lol
well, i am glad to hear you are going to keep on with it. I also think some of the people who are losing a lot more then we are, weigh more. That seems to be helpful in some... the weight flys off faster for some reason.
I just love that I don't have to live on low fat food to lose the weight.
I might kill myself if I had to deal with another tasteless chicken breast!

by the way, I cheated last night, my day 15! 2 biscuits... but got back on the wagon this morning. I will probably stall too.

Cheers to you...
Danielle

[Elizellen]

Re: Hello

Many people experience a weightloss 'hiatus' in the weeks after the first 2 induction ones. It is sometimes called the 'post induction stall syndrome' which is a misnomer as a 'stall' is defined in DANDR as 4 weeks with no inches or weight lost.

It could be that your body is taking a break from dropping weight and reorganising itself, or it might be trying to tell you it is time to move to OWL and start adding more carbs.

[Sherrie_lc]

Re: Hello

Hello Jodes, do you exercise? I just flicked through your fitday and personally I don't think you eat enough.

[Jodes]

Re: Hello

Danielle, I agree that you should keep track with the tape measure - it is such a good thing to see the cm's coming off when the scale does not move.
No more cheating OK.. I guess I am pretty lucky, I don't crave or want anything anymore, just eat when the clock says too...

Elizellen, I would like to move to OWL but must confess I am terrified too. If I gain 2kg on extended induction, what is going to happen when I add back more carbs.. I am still thinking about it. Thanks for the info on the post induction stall, maybe that is what it it. I will be 5 weeks on induction/extended induction on Monday - so maybe I should weigh myself again to see if the stall has stopped and I have started losing again (not sure I could cope with another gain though - I really hate the way scales rule me)

Sherrie lc: Yep I do half an hour of step and half an hour walking the dog - mind you it is not hard exercise. Mostly done at a very comfortable pace.

I don't think I could fit any more food in to be honest. I am never hungry. I eat breakfast around 8 to 8.30am and then lunch at 1.30pm and dinner around 6.30 to 7pm of a night and I don't often have snacks because I really don't want them.

Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it.

I take no medication other than those suggested by Dr A in his book L Carnitine + multi vitamin.
I drink 3-4L of water a day, every day (have already done 1.5L today and it is only 10.45am).
I use fitday to count fat, protein and carbs (I don't really notice the calories - should I be looking at those too?)
I do use ketostix (I gave up the scale and need something to obsess about). They are light purple again today after not registering for over a week.
Could this be because I have had salad for lunch and dinner last night and removed most of the veg on the second list?

Thanks again - I just want to see some progress on weight loss.
I have lost good cm's to date (in 4 and a half weeks):
Bust: 122 to 114
Waist: 122 to 103
Hips: 124 to 115

But the pounds won't budge. I did lose 4.1kg in the first two weeks but have since gained 2kg back and can't understand what I did wrong last week to be up in weight...

Thanks so much for listening to me.

[Sherrie_lc]

Re: Hello

Hello Jodes I just looked at your fitday for yesterday and both your calories and fat is up from previous days so my guess is that would be why your sticks are measuring today. The thing to remember is, that these sticks only measure excess ketones, with your calories being around the 1200 calorie range which is pretty low then you're not going to have too many excess ketones floating around and thus the negative readings on the sticks. Theoretically, you're not meant to count calories on Atkins and usually it is not needed until your much closer to goal, as Atkins itself is naturally appetite suppressing but like in your case it can be handy where it can tell you that you're calories may be too low! The thing is, as you get older your metabolism naturally slows but this is only gradual and provided you don't do anything to maintain your metabolism like resistance exercise. But another thing that reduces your metabolism is dieting, part of this is harmless as, as you get lighter you will lose some muscle that is not needed anymore but our body will try to adapt to our calorie deficit (e.g. slow itself down to meet the new calorie intake). This could be happening for you as 1200 calories is pretty low and most people don't need to restrict so much until they are much closer to goal. Personally I think you should be eating much more then that at the start of the diet because naturally as you get closer to goal your intake will need to gradually reduce. If you start at 1200 now then later you will wind up under 1000 calories and pretty much doing a VLCD (very low calorie diet). If your metabolism is messed up (thyroid issues?) then adding some resistance training will help to bump it up. Those measurements however are really good, have they still been going down since your weight loss stopped? If so then that is a really good sign that you ARE losing fat and that is what is most important, not the number on a scale, remember that. We generally lose weight so we feel better in our clothes and look better in the mirror yes? If your diet was crappy before Atkins then there's a good chance you may be initially building some muscle whilst burning some fat and thus the decrease in measurements but no change on scales.

[daniwcca]

Re: Hello

Eliz..
thank you. what a wealth of knowledge you are!
i think i need to read my book a bit more closely!

danielle

[Jodes]

Re: Hello

Thanks Sherrie for the input - just not sure where I am going to add more calories (I have been trying but I am just not hungry - I guess a good and bad thing). I don't actually count the calories at all - the only numbers I watch are the fat, carb and protein percentages. Should I add more protein foods, fat based foods because I am well and truely eating 3 cups of veg a day (usually 2 from the first list and 1 from the second list)?

I understand now why the ketone stix were not registering - because my calorie intake was lower than it should be...

I am so glad I started this thread - it has been so helpful

Yes, my measurements only started going down when the weight loss stalled.

[Sherrie_lc]

Re: Hello

Yes something fatty is the best way as you can raise them quickly without needing to eat much more, veggies have bugger all so you would need to increase then substantially. Remember, if your measurements go down each week then that's not stalling, your still losing so sounds like you're doing well.

[Elizellen]

Re: Hello

Yes, my measurements only started going down when the weight loss stalled.

So you ARE still losing fat

Dr Atkins considered inches lost a far better way of showing fat loss, so in a way the weight shown by your metal monster is inconsequential and should be given less importance than how your clothes fit.

If you are losing clothes sizes everyone can see you are losing fat and unless you tell them or have a T-shirt printed with the info on it no-one can see what the scales are saying to you.

Personally I could not care less what the scales say if my body is getting leaner and more toned.

I would suggest moving to OWL now and using both inches lost and weight lost as your gauge as to whether new additions are allowing your losses to progress.

The first rung/level of OWL is only adding 5 net carbs of the same veggies you are already eating, so nothing to be scared of

[Jodes]

Re: Hello

Thanks Elizellen, I think I will start OWL today (day one of week five).
From what I have read, I am better off adding 5g of something I already eat. Then if I show no gain, I add in something I have not eaten before every other day.

OK here goes...
Thanks again