Help please

[finnlinn]

Hey everyone
I am on the brink of total discouragement. This is my second week on OWL and things are not going well. First of all, I only lost about 6 pounds on Induction, and since I started OWL, I've actually gained 2 pounds. I use fitday, and my carbs are hovering around 24/day. Can anyone offer me any help as to what can be going on? I'd be happy to post my menu. Thanks for the help.

[Brook]

Re: Help please

Your menus, your current stats, any meds you're on, exercise routines, supplements you're taking - all of this will be helpful.

[Promise]

Re: Help please

im sorry to hear your getting discouraged... dont beat yourself up! i only lost 2.5 lbs during my 2 weeks of Induction! PLEASE DO POST YOUR MENU'S SO WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN EATING... everyone will be glad to help you along... probably just something Minor... Dont worry...!

[finnlinn]

Re: Help please

Thanks to both of you. I'm not on any meds, take Green Tea and multi everyday. I drink about 100 oz of water every day.

Breakfast: Sliced turkey breast with 1 TBS cream cheese
Lunch: Tossed salad with grilled chicken breast, some mozz cheese, cucumbers, 1/2 tomato and ranch dressing
Dinner: 6 oz pork chop sauteed in olive oil, 1/2 cup spinach with garlic and olive oil
Snack: 1/2 avocado
I do have one Diet Rite ocassionally and I did have one yesterday.
This was yesterday's menu...other days are pretty similar. Last week I only bumped up my veggies 3 days and this week I'm doing the same.

[Brook]

Re: Help please

And exercise?
Current stats?
Male/Female?
Have you taken your measurements or are you only going by the scale?

You said you're tracking in fitday, correct?

Please post fat/protein/carb percentages as well as calorie intake.

[finnlinn]

Re: Help please

I am walking about 40 minutes 3 times a week. Starting weight was 185, current weight is 181, Female. I have not taken measurements. According to Fitday, yesterday my cals were 1057 with 51% fat, 2% carbs, 46% protein. Usually they are more like 60/5/35.

[Brook]

Re: Help please

Overall, I have to say that your menu choices look great.

Looking at your Fitday percentages/totals, however, there's definite room for some tweaking.

Your calories are low - but if you're satisfied and your energy levels are good, I wouldn't sweat it. I'm not a huge believer in BMR, myself - but plenty will disagree with me. However, as 2big4mysize would have said, "Your Atkins is upside down."

This is something I really have to watch or I do it too. Your percentages should be closer to 70/5/25 right now. Even 65/5/30 is just fine, but I would definitely advise you to up the fat.

The other thing is - you have *got* to take your measurements. The scale is the *least accurate* way to guage your progress or lack thereof.

The scale will fluctuate - day to day, week to week. If you're not consuming more than you're saying you're eating here, the 2lbs you're carrying isn't fat - it's water. Is TOM coming up soon? How's the sodium intake? Bathroom habits regular? - All of these things will affect the stupid scale. Take your measurements, up your fat, give it another week, track everything *very* closely -including amounts of what you're eating - and then see where it leaves you.

Honestly though, your menu choices look great.

[finnlinn]

Re: Help please

Thanks Brook. I have practiced this WOE before and been very successful. I guess I'm stumped as to why this is happening this time. I'm going to buy a measuring tape today...I promise...and use it!
As for the water weight, it's always been an issue for me. I'm not sure why I retain so much but it drives me crazy!
Thanks again for your help...all I can do is keep on keepin' on and see what happens. Giving up is not an option. Thanks!!

[Brook]

Re: Help please

Finn- you're absolutely correct! Giving up is not an option!

Also, remember, too much protein can covert to glucose - so keep those protein percentages in check. I usually stay between 30-40% and I have to work at it, even after all this time. It can be frustrating!

Keep the sodium intake in check as well, especially if you're a water retaining monster like me. Blahhh, eh?

The measuring tape will tell you a story the scale can't. Keep track and it'll keep you more in the know!

Continued success!
~Brook

[jimmyolsenblues]

Re: Help please

i am sure if you keep your carbs to 24/ day, and continue to walk.
Maybe even incorporate new exercises, like walking longer in the mall/food store/work.
Lifting silly things when no one is looking. ( i do that at work cause I am bored).
I am absolutely certain you weight loss will speed up.

[D-Termined]

Re: Help please

You may also want to check the ingredients on that ranch dressing. I've only found one that didn't have sugar (Walden Farms - also make great chocolate syrup).

I'm always surprised how often sugar, corn starch, corn syrup and others are thrown in to nearly everything that's bottled or packaged. I've yet to find any ham or sausage that didn't

Oh, and, have an egg or two

[not2late]

Re: Help please

Thanks to both of you. I'm not on any meds, take Green Tea and multi everyday. I drink about 100 oz of water every day.

Breakfast: Sliced turkey breast with 1 TBS cream cheese
Lunch: Tossed salad with grilled chicken breast, some mozz cheese, cucumbers, 1/2 tomato and ranch dressing
Dinner: 6 oz pork chop sauteed in olive oil, 1/2 cup spinach with garlic and olive oil
Snack: 1/2 avocado
I do have one Diet Rite ocassionally and I did have one yesterday.
This was yesterday's menu...other days are pretty similar. Last week I only bumped up my veggies 3 days and this week I'm doing the same.

Which of these veggies is your OWL 5 net carbs?

[Evermind]

Re: Help please

You aren't eating nearly enough calories. Eat more, and get more fat into the menu.

[finnlinn]

Re: Help please

Thanks everyone for the advice! It's so funny to hear someone say "You're not eating enough!" My weight issues beg to differ HA! Anyway, to answer not2late, the 1/2 avocado is my 5 xtra veggies. Tonight I am going to skip the xtra 5 and I'll add them again tomorrow. And I am going to try to add more fat as well. I'm going out to buy a tape measure tonight so that I can truly see what affect this is all having on me. Oh and by the way, my ketosticks have had me in ketosis since about 3 days into induction. I know they aren't all that reliable, but I don't get it!

[not2late]

Re: Help please

Thanks everyone for the advice! It's so funny to hear someone say "You're not eating enough!" My weight issues beg to differ HA! Anyway, to answer not2late, the 1/2 avocado is my 5 xtra veggies. Tonight I am going to skip the xtra 5 and I'll add them again tomorrow. And I am going to try to add more fat as well. I'm going out to buy a tape measure tonight so that I can truly see what affect this is all having on me. Oh and by the way, my ketosticks have had me in ketosis since about 3 days into induction. I know they aren't all that reliable, but I don't get it!

You do realize that spinach is on the "other vegetable" list and is limited to 1 cup during Induction right? So unless your tossed salad was a 2 1/2 cup salad, you are low on the vegetable department.

1/2 avocado is only about 2 or 3 net carbs, too. Plus avocado is on the Special Category list of Induction along with other foods that might cause weight loss difficulties for some folks.