Just Need More Eyes On My Menu :)

[ARUBoo]

Hi I've been reading the board for a few months and never really needed to ask a question. I've found answers from everyone else's questions

I would like opinions with my menu however. I started Atkins about 3-4 weeks ago. I lost 11 pounds the first two weeks! I lost nothing the third (TOM) and the fourth I lost 5 pounds. Since I've been losing so fast I expected a slow or a stall so my body can adjust, after all i'm not THAT overweight. However the last 3 days I've gone up from 155 on Thursday to 158 today. If it's a temp adjustment gain that's fine it just got me worried that I'm doing to much or to little in the food department. It just bothered me that I've gone up a pound a day for 3 days. Anywoo, here's my menu:

Breakfast - 2 cups iceberg lettuce & 1/8 cup cheddar cheese & 3 oz. grilled chicken

Lunch - 1 lb. Steak(usually sirloin & grilled) w/ 2 tablespoons garlic powder - OR grilled hamburger w/ 3/4 oz of cheddar cheese

Dinner - 1 cup iceberg lettuce & 1/8 cup cheddar cheese

10 glasses of water EVERYDAY & usually 2 Diet Rite w/splenda's
& 40-60 mins cardio 6 days a week


** I know it looks boring to most of you lol. I like eating the same things everyday. I've never been a variety person so I have no complaints. Breakfast & dinner are always the same salad it's only lunch that varies between the two or occasionally just grilled chicken.

Let me know what you think the problem (if there even is one) might be. Like I said I expected a slowing down but the 3 pound gain in 3 days worried me

Thanks for the help. Sorry this is so long just wanted to get all the info out there. Oh, and FYI, I had my gallbladder taken out on Sept. 19 when I was 170 pounds & I had already lost 40 pounds before that on a low fat diet. So Atkins is new & I wanna do it right.

Danke, ARU

[Elizellen]

Re: Just Need More Eyes On My Menu

Hi Aru

wow - what great losses for only 4 weeks!!

Fluctuations in weight are normal on all eating regimes, dependant on many factors, so there may be nothing wrong. Here is a link to a post discussing just this situation http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=5090 which may help reassure you.

I noticed you are choosing only iceberg lettuce which is really only 'chewy water' in terms of nutrients, so you might be better served by choosing other vegetables from the two allowed vegetables lists.

Also try to have some veggies at each meal to spread your carbs more evenly across the day.

Boring is fine as long as you are not getting bored with the foods and tempted to eat off-plan, but many people experience 'burn-out' and even develop dislike of foods if they eat them too often, also you might end up short of some nutrients if you restrict your options too much.

I use a website called www.fitday.com where you can enter all the food you eat and check on how much of the recommended daily amount you are having, and add supplements if you are short on any vital vitamins/minerals.

[julirama723]

Re: Just Need More Eyes On My Menu

Wow my first reaction is "is ARU really hungry enough to eat a 1lb steak!??!" Make sure you're eating only until full, not until stuffed. Try giving yourself smaller portions, and if you are still hungry, have a bit more. It takes 20 minutes to realize you're full. ALSO that's a heckuva lotta protein--excess protein converts to glucose in the blood, leaving you back at square one--you don't want MORE sugar in your body!

Is Diet Rite caffiene free? I can't remember...

Perhaps you are building muscle. Working out 6x a week is sure to add muscle mass--muscle is more dense than fat, meaning the same pound amount takes up less space. This means your scale may not change or you may gain "weight" but really you're losing fat and replacing it with muscle.

[ARUBoo]

Re: Just Need More Eyes On My Menu

Thanks for the comments. I cut down the red meat & the 3 pounds is gone already

Diet Rite is caffeine & sodium free & sweetened with Splenda. That's why I drink it. It's the only soda option I feel comfortable with.

Again thanks for the comments I just wanted to make sure there were not any blaring misses I was making, and I am going to vary my veggies for better nutrition.