slow weight loss

[cmbyrd50]

Hi All, I'm still hanging on without cheating since Feb 27 when I started this diet.
It's getting hard for me to accept 19 pounds loss in almost 3 months.
Shouldn't it be more?? I'm very active. I'm an LMT and do body work which is hard plus I'm always running around here at my house doing something or other.
I have a disabled husband so I take care of him too.
It just seems like my weight loss is so slow.
I have to keep my calories below 1500 a day and my carbs 25-30 net.
If I go over either it seems my weight loss stalls for too long.
I want to eat.
Would it be ok to keep my calories down by eating more vegetables?
It seems the foods that are good for filling me up are high in calories.
any suggestions for foods to keep calories low but filling.
thanks

[julirama723]

Re: slow weight loss

Why do you have to keep your calories UNDER 1500? It seems to me that if you are very active, you'd need MUCH more than 1500 calories. I would venture a guess that you're not eating enough--your body could possibly be in starvation mode.

Perhaps posting a menu will give some clues?

[cmbyrd50]

Re: slow weight loss

breakfast 2 eggs with Canadian Bacon
Lunch time either meat and cheese roll ups or tuna salad, chicken salad with lettuce.
dinner I have vegetables and a meat.
in between times I eat pumpkin pie made with cream cheese.
Cole slaw made from Lindas low carb website
right now I'm going to fix myself some egg salad.
I love squashes so I found some great recipes on Lindas site for yellow squash.
I keep track of everything I eat counting the calories, carbs, fats and proteins.
Allot of times I do go over 1500 calories. More like 1600-2000.
But when I do I don't loose weight.
could it be my age? I'm 56. It just seems to me I should be loosing faster.

[julirama723]

Re: slow weight loss

Well, ultimately on Atkins, if we are hungry, we eat! You said you want to eat--if you have true hunger, feed it, don't ignore it.

One thing that you should find out is your daily caloric needs. This will help you see if you're in the "ballpark" for calories.

You are 56, 166 pounds, what is your height? Also, what is your activity level?
Would you consider yourself moderately active (exercise 3-5 days a week) or very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week)?

[julirama723]

Re: slow weight loss

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

I've got to go, so here's the link!

[cmbyrd50]

Re: slow weight loss

I'd say I'm Moderately Active.
I'm 5'5"
How do you figure your caloric needs?
and also what about the Carbs?
Don't you think 19 pounds is too little for the amount of time I've been on this diet?

[cmbyrd50]

Re: slow weight loss

Calculating my Calories I should be getting between 1900-2200 calories a day. WOW.....
If I keep my calories around 1500, could it be I'm not eating enough?

[mitzimarie]

Re: slow weight loss

Don't you think 19 pounds is too little for the amount of time I've been on this diet?

Hi,

Well, everyone is different, so it's really hard to compare weight loss numbers between people. Having said that, I am 47 years old and re-started Atkins on February 28 and have lost 22 pounds, so our losses are very similar. I am quite happy with my loss!

Depending upon your activity level, it is possible you are not eating enough. Maybe you can try upping your veggies. I have been eating 28-30 net carbs per day for the past few weeks, and 18-22 of those are net veggie carbs. My weight loss had slowed to a pound a week prior to that, and since upping my veggies, I have lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks.

Something to think about...

[cmbyrd50]

Re: slow weight loss

I'm eating allot of veggies I think.
Red Peppers, greens, squashes everyday, romaine, lettuce, tomatoes, cukes etc.
I seem to be keeping my fat, calorie, protein ratio around the same as when I first started.
Today I've eaten 1876 calories with 33 carbs.
oh well. I'll just keep moving along and hopefully all of a sudden the scale will come down.
I'm just getting anxious now. I'm starting to have a body shape and want it faster.

[not2late]

Re: slow weight loss

Don't you think 19 pounds is too little for the amount of time I've been on this diet?

19 pounds in 3 months is about 6 pounds a month or 1.3 pounds every week. Many people say that losing 1-2 pounds a week is a 'safe' weight loss.

One of the hardest things for me was to accept my body lost at the rate it wanted to lose, not at the rate I wanted. Once I accepted that fact, I didn't stress out that I wasn't losing as fast as someone else. My body was losing weight at the pace it deemed safe and healthy for it.

[mitzimarie]

Re: slow weight loss

I seem to be keeping my fat, calorie, protein ratio around the same as when I first started.
Today I've eaten 1876 calories with 33 carbs.
oh well. I'll just keep moving along and hopefully all of a sudden the scale will come down.
I'm just getting anxious now. I'm starting to have a body shape and want it faster.

Just a few comments...

1. Remember to subtract the fiber from the total carbs to get your "net" carbs.

2. As your carbs go up, your fat should go down proportionately and protein
should remain at 30%. (This probably isn't as big an issue yet as it will be
when you get further up the rungs.)

3. Our starting weights and goal weights are almost identical. I think we are
doing fine. If you read around the boards more, you will see that there
very many people who are loosing slower than we are.

4. I can't say this enough - this is a way of life, not a diet! It's not a race.
This is the way we eat now. Don't be so concerned with the numbers.
Enjoy the magnificent food we are able to eat, the fact that we can wear
smaller sized clothes, and just how great we feel! It is not a quick fix.

5. Best wishes to you!

[KryssieLyn]

Re: slow weight loss

Why are you having a hard time accepting 19 pounds lost??? I have been on plan since Jan 1 and I have lost 22... A LOT slower loser than you are (I am on BCP's which causes the slower losses), and I'm thrilled with my loss!

[ConfusedAndNeedHelp]

Re: slow weight loss

Probably because they are heavier than you?