So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

[pinkfeathers]

Well... This has been a tough day. I started Atkins for the 2nd time Sept 5th. I was happy that my jeans were feeling looser. Now, the same jeans are now tight. I weighed myself today. I weigh 185. After a month and a half I weigh the same as when I started. No wonder my jeans still feel tight. I am so discouraged. After a month I am the same. I thought I was doing well. I always show colors on the ketostix. I have not cheated once on Atkins since starting. I keep my carbs to under 20 a day.

I have heard that cheese and fake sweeteners (like Sweet n Low) can stall some people. I'm going to cut them out.

Also, I haven't been really strict to working out. I have maybe 2 times a week but I'm going to have to do it more.

I also notice I am much hungrier now than I was after I first started. I don't know why. I think I maybe have been eating too many calories. I've never measured my mayo or butter - and am very relaxed about it.

I am seriously considering quitting Atkins and going back on a protein shake diet. If I would have done protein shakes I would be 15 lbs down by now at least.

I appreciate any comments. Thank you.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

Ok ... so if you were on a protein shake diet, you would have lost 15 pounds ... and then when you started to eat food again ... you would regain them quite quickly. And a protein shake diet doesn't teach you anything about keeping the weight off, does it?

Ok ... let's start at the beginning.

Can you post a few day's worth of menus with quantities and net carbs? That way we can see if there's an undereating problem (believe it or not, I've found that that is often the problem to not losing!).

How much WATER are you drinking?

[funkytofabs?]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

Oh no you DON'T girl!!!!! You can't quit! Is TOM creeping? He gave me 5 pounds. Rat bastard. Are you posting or logging your menus? Maybe it is the little things. I'm still learning everyday myself, but reading here enlightens me. I've been VERY emotional off and on for the last few weeks myself. Our bodies are purging the gunk we've been shoving in and I guess we get a little whacky. How 'bout measurements? have you been doing that?
I don't want you to throw in the towel Pinkfeathers. You are a GORGEOUS girl! I know!! I've seen your pictures! Start a blog or a journal. I did. It DOES help. I promise!! I got ready to quit, but decided against it. I'm really glad I haven't
Tweak some things and see what happens. Our bodies are all different and we all react different. Some people drop crazy weight and others, like US (you are NOT alone!!) trudge and pudge along. You CAN do this, I promise!!! Georgiana and Liv and Carole are great for advice as well as sooooo many other wonderful people here!

Many hugs to you, Miss Beautiful Pinkfeathers!! Muah! You can do this girl!!!!

[pinkfeathers]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

Ok ... so if you were on a protein shake diet, you would have lost 15 pounds ... and then when you started to eat food again ... you would regain them quite quickly. And a protein shake diet doesn't teach you anything about keeping the weight off, does it?

Ok ... let's start at the beginning.

Can you post a few day's worth of menus with quantities and net carbs? That way we can see if there's an undereating problem (believe it or not, I've found that that is often the problem to not losing!).

How much WATER are you drinking?

Hello, thanks for your reply.

Ok a normal day for me:

breakfast - 2 eggs fried in butter and coffee/1 T. heavy whipping cream, 3 sweet n low packets

lunch - 2 small hamburgers and mayo with small 1 cup of spinach/no carb dressing, cheese, orange peppers (maybe 1 T), bacon bits

dinner - 2 turkey patties with mayo, 1 cup brocolli with butter/1 oz cheese

Snack - 1 egg, 2 sweet n low packets, 2 oz. cream cheese, beat microwaved with 1 T. heavy whipping cream on top.


You mentioned that this teaches us how to eat. I'm not so sure about that at this point. I just feel like giving up.

Oh, and for water, I do ok on water some days. Others I think I am not drinking enough. Thanks for that reminder.

[pinkfeathers]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

Oh no you DON'T girl!!!!! You can't quit! Is TOM creeping? He gave me 5 pounds. Rat bastard. Are you posting or logging your menus? Maybe it is the little things. I'm still learning everyday myself, but reading here enlightens me. I've been VERY emotional off and on for the last few weeks myself. Our bodies are purging the gunk we've been shoving in and I guess we get a little whacky. How 'bout measurements? have you been doing that?
I don't want you to throw in the towel Pinkfeathers. You are a GORGEOUS girl! I know!! I've seen your pictures! Start a blog or a journal. I did. It DOES help. I promise!! I got ready to quit, but decided against it. I'm really glad I haven't
Tweak some things and see what happens. Our bodies are all different and we all react different. Some people drop crazy weight and others, like US (you are NOT alone!!) trudge and pudge along. You CAN do this, I promise!!! Georgiana and Liv and Carole are great for advice as well as sooooo many other wonderful people here!

Many hugs to you, Miss Beautiful Pinkfeathers!! Muah! You can do this girl!!!!

Hey sweetie, thanks for your note and the compliments. Girl, I want to quit right now so bad. I just got done eating 2 salmon patties. You also could be right about water weight due to TOM coming. But even so, I just thought by now I'd see SOME weight loss.

My mom did Atkins throughout my life and always lost weight SOOO FAST. I'm just barely moving. You're right, I think I'm the super slow type.

I don't know... does Atkins really work for everyone??? I may be the one it doesn't work for.

I haven't done measurements. I will do that today and keep better track. Thanks to you I am now doing a food journal/workout journal. So far today I've had 2 fried eggs in butter and now 2 salmon patties.

So you started soon after me, right? Did you lose 9 pounds then due to TOM put 5 back on again? (Did I read that right)? Thank you again for your kind words and I will try what you suggested. Thank you!

Muah!!

[SMKelly]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

oooh! No Sweet 'n Low! That's a no-no for life! Please get some Splenda (limit, 3 packets a day) or some Stevia instead. So not only is your current sweetener the wrong kind, it's almost twice as much as you're allowed.

Is your coffee decaffeinated? If not, the caffeine could cause stalls.

I just started FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal and it really really helps to track your food/carbs.

Good luck!
Shelley

[atkinsgal08]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

>>reakfast - 2 eggs fried in butter and coffee/1 T. heavy whipping cream, 3 sweet n low packets

lunch - 2 small hamburgers and mayo with small 1 cup of spinach/no carb dressing, cheese, orange peppers (maybe 1 T), bacon bits

dinner - 2 turkey patties with mayo, 1 cup brocolli with butter/1 oz cheese

Snack - 1 egg, 2 sweet n low packets, 2 oz. cream cheese, beat microwaved with 1 T. heavy whipping cream on top.>>

You didn't post any net carbs ... and that's helpful.

The limit of sweeteners is 3 servings per day ... you have 5.

Is the whipped cream made from the stuff in the carton ... that is, did you whip it yourself?

What exactly is the "no carb" dressing? Remember ... just because a label says 0 carbs, doesn't make it true.

You could certainly add more vegetables to what you're eating ... make that your snack instead of the egg, sweetener and cream cheese ... with whipped cream on top!

>>I do ok on water some days. Others I think I am not drinking enough.>>

What's "ok"? You can't think you're getting enough or not enough ... you have to KNOW.

Here's a little "tough love" ... you will get out of this what you put in to it ... Atkins (or any other weight loss plan) needs to be done seriously ... with a PLAN of action.

>> My mom did Atkins throughout my life and always lost weight SOOO FAST. I'm just barely moving.>>

You're not your mother. Comparing yourself to ANYONE else is counter-productive.

>>does Atkins really work for everyone???>>

I think the better question is ... are you "working" Atkins?

True ... Atkins as a lifestyle isn't for everyone ... and even as a diet, it's not for everyone.

Before you give up and move on to the next diet, you really need to sit back and consider what you're doing to your metabolism by doing all that "diet of the month".

Your body stops believing you after a while ... it's just waiting for you to give up or move on to the next thing.

So ... why should it respond now?

Seriously ... count your carbs ... eat your vegetables ... drink ALL your water (if not more) ... and be serious about this.

I bet you'll see results.

[pinkfeathers]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

oooh! No Sweet 'n Low! That's a no-no for life! Please get some Splenda (limit, 3 packets a day) or some Stevia instead. So not only is your current sweetener the wrong kind, it's almost twice as much as you're allowed.

Is your coffee decaffeinated? If not, the caffeine could cause stalls.

I just started FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal and it really really helps to track your food/carbs.

Good luck!
Shelley

Hello Shelley,

Thanks for taking time to respond. I didn't realize that Sweet n Low was on the no-no list. Hm.... Interesting.

As for coffee, no, it's not decaf. Oh god... the horror.... I cannot imagine cutting that out.

[liv]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

Hello, thanks for your reply.

Ok a normal day for me:

breakfast - 2 eggs fried in butter and coffee/1 T. heavy whipping cream, 3 sweet n low packets

lunch - 2 small hamburgers and mayo with small 1 cup of spinach/no carb dressing, cheese, orange peppers (maybe 1 T), bacon bits

dinner - 2 turkey patties with mayo, 1 cup brocolli with butter/1 oz cheese

Snack - 1 egg, 2 sweet n low packets, 2 oz. cream cheese, beat microwaved with 1 T. heavy whipping cream on top.


You mentioned that this teaches us how to eat. I'm not so sure about that at this point. I just feel like giving up.

Oh, and for water, I do ok on water some days. Others I think I am not drinking enough. Thanks for that reminder.

I do think you deserve a whoosh. Give that silly scale a kick from me.


About your menu - maybe I can say something that will help you
While sweeteners are allowed - not everyone can have them and lose. You just may be one of those people. I lose better when I cut them out and I cut them out last time I did induction

Bacon bits - are those real - If they are not real they will have wheat and stuff in them

Vegetables - you still are not eating only one cup from the n0n-salad list it looks like - so you could work on that. But I don't think this is a major problem

Dairy - yeah - could be a problem I would add some oils, avocado, and perhaps cut down on the dairy a bit and see if that helped.

I know you mentioned nuts in a post a couple of days ago - what happended with those?

Are you taking supplements - good nutrition is a help (especially if you are a yo yo er and have done those shakes in the past - body will be starved for nutrition so feed it well)

Water drink as much as you can stomach.

I so wish for a whoosh for you soon.
Maybe give the scale a break and concentrate on clean eating, measurements and exercise for a bit.
Hang in there.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

>>no, it's not decaf. Oh god... the horror.... I cannot imagine cutting that out.>>

Not everyone eliminates caffeine.

As to not being able to imagine a life without it ... well, I used to think a life without chocolate wasn't worth living.

Turned out I was wrong.

I hope you see the point.

[pinkfeathers]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

I do think you deserve a whoosh. Give that silly scale a kick from me.


About your menu - maybe I can say something that will help you
While sweeteners are allowed - not everyone can have them and lose. You just may be one of those people. I lose better when I cut them out and I cut them out last time I did induction

Bacon bits - are those real - If they are not real they will have wheat and stuff in them

Vegetables - you still are not eating only one cup from the n0n-salad list it looks like - so you could work on that. But I don't think this is a major problem

Dairy - yeah - could be a problem I would add some oils, avocado, and perhaps cut down on the dairy a bit and see if that helped.

I know you mentioned nuts in a post a couple of days ago - what happended with those?

Are you taking supplements - good nutrition is a help (especially if you are a yo yo er and have done those shakes in the past - body will be starved for nutrition so feed it well)

Water drink as much as you can stomach.

I so wish for a whoosh for you soon.
Maybe give the scale a break and concentrate on clean eating, measurements and exercise for a bit.
Hang in there.

Hi there,

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my posts. You really have a great memory! Yes, I did eat some almonds the other day. In fact, I added almonds in in small doses a few days ago. I've been eating about 10 almonds a day for about 4 days or so.

As for sweeteners, I'm going to cut them out and see what happens. You may be right. I might be somewhat allergic to them.

I am taking a TON of supplements. I think that I'm good on that. Fish oil, calcium/magnesium, multi, vitamin d, digestive enzymes, garlic oil...

Drinking as much water as I can handle. I will try that.

Thanks for the whoosh wishes. I certainly hope you're right.

[pinkfeathers]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

>>reakfast - 2 eggs fried in butter and coffee/1 T. heavy whipping cream, 3 sweet n low packets

lunch - 2 small hamburgers and mayo with small 1 cup of spinach/no carb dressing, cheese, orange peppers (maybe 1 T), bacon bits

dinner - 2 turkey patties with mayo, 1 cup brocolli with butter/1 oz cheese

Snack - 1 egg, 2 sweet n low packets, 2 oz. cream cheese, beat microwaved with 1 T. heavy whipping cream on top.>>

You didn't post any net carbs ... and that's helpful.

The limit of sweeteners is 3 servings per day ... you have 5.

Is the whipped cream made from the stuff in the carton ... that is, did you whip it yourself?

What exactly is the "no carb" dressing? Remember ... just because a label says 0 carbs, doesn't make it true.

You could certainly add more vegetables to what you're eating ... make that your snack instead of the egg, sweetener and cream cheese ... with whipped cream on top!

>>I do ok on water some days. Others I think I am not drinking enough.>>

What's "ok"? You can't think you're getting enough or not enough ... you have to KNOW.

Here's a little "tough love" ... you will get out of this what you put in to it ... Atkins (or any other weight loss plan) needs to be done seriously ... with a PLAN of action.

>> My mom did Atkins throughout my life and always lost weight SOOO FAST. I'm just barely moving.>>

You're not your mother. Comparing yourself to ANYONE else is counter-productive.

>>does Atkins really work for everyone???>>

I think the better question is ... are you "working" Atkins?

True ... Atkins as a lifestyle isn't for everyone ... and even as a diet, it's not for everyone.

Before you give up and move on to the next diet, you really need to sit back and consider what you're doing to your metabolism by doing all that "diet of the month".

Your body stops believing you after a while ... it's just waiting for you to give up or move on to the next thing.

So ... why should it respond now?

Seriously ... count your carbs ... eat your vegetables ... drink ALL your water (if not more) ... and be serious about this.

I bet you'll see results.

Hello,

Thanks for replying again to my message!

The whipped cream is heavy whipping cream whipped in a blender. I eat about 1 teaspoon of ceasar dressing that is 0 carbs, can't remember the brand.

You said not to compare to my mom. I will work on that. It does get very discouraging.

You also mentioned how Atkins might not be a diet for everyone. I appreciate your honesty. I will give it another few weeks of really trying. It seems to be a challenge for me more than I expected.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

>>No Sweet 'n Low! That's a no-no for life!>>

Why is it a "no-no" for life?

Dr. Atkins wrote:

"You must determine which artificial sweeteners agree with you, but the following are allowed: sucralose (marketed at Splenda®), saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame-K. ... Saccharin has been extensively studied, and harmful effects were produced in the lab when fed to rats only in extremely high doses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed saccharin from its list of carcinogens, basing its decision upon a thorough review of the medical literature and the National Institute of Science's statement that there is "no clear association between saccharin and human cancer." It can be safely consumed in moderation, meaning no more than three packets a day. Saccharin is marketed as Sweet 'N Low®. We discourage the use of aspartame (marketed as NutraSweet' and Equal®). ... My preference, however, is sucralose (Splenda®), the only sweetener made from sugar. Sucralose is safe, noncaloric and does not raise blood sugar."

Ch. 11

[atkinsgal08]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

>>I eat about 1 teaspoon of ceasar dressing that is 0 carbs,>>

What are the list of ingredients? Again ... just because something says it's 0 carbs doesn't mean it's true.

>>It seems to be a challenge for me more than I expected.>>

Life is like that!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: So discouraged - been crying - not losing on Atkins.

>> Drinking as much water as I can handle. I will try that.>>

Remember the minimum is 64 ounces.

More isn't likely to hurt.