I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up :(

[curvylass]

I have been lurking and getting great advice here and thanks to your great stories, I decided to to try Atkins. Now that I finally have a username/ID, I thought I may as well start posting as well!


So ...

I have been on induction for a week and 1/2. When I weighed on Monday and discovered I lost 8lbs I was estatic!! I was even good on Thanksgiving only having turkey, and salad with blue cheese dressing – and 1/4 cup of marscapone cheese (1/2 carb per serving) with a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and splenda for "dessert".

Today (thursday) I weighed and I have GAINED a 1/2 pound. Not only have I NOT LOST on 4 days, I GAINED! The ketone sticks are DARK PURPLE, so it shows I am burning fat, but no weight loss? What's going on?? I am so mad and have no idea what to do. I'm almost ready to give up

I am eating chicken breasts, cheese, eggs, a cup of salad and veggies each day and a ton of water. I eat about 1/4 cup of jalapenos every few days, (crazy for an Irish girl!) but those are low in carbs. I can't think of anything else I could be doing wrong. Again, the sticks are purple, why aren't I losing?

I need some help before I end up giving up. I'm getting married in Ireland on Jan 3, and I really want to feel beautiful for the wedding and honeymoon...

PS: I'm 5'11 and started the induction at 203, I am now 195.5 after 11 days.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

Whoa, don't give up that quickly!

What is your goal weight?

What is "pf salad"?

You've lost 7.5 lbs already! that is fantastic in only a week and 1/2, that averages .68 of a pound a day! (calculated on 11 days) That's QUICK! I don't understand what you're upset about!

[MidnightRain]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

Hi Curvylass, sorry to hear about the .5 lbs gain but you did LOSE great though! I know that after losing 8lbs and then going for 4 days without any loss and gaining .5 lbs it might throw you off. Really, I wouldn't give up yet! It could be that your body is just rearranging things, it sounds silly but it happens. I've been at this for several rounds, and I remember that there were times when I wouldn't lose anything and then one day boom! a bunch of pounds were gone all together.

I just started the Atkins diet myself and I'm commited to give it a whole month, good or bad... Remember that when our body prepares for our period that's another reason for the scale not show actual numbers. So I hope you can hang in there and not panic at the first sign of fire,ok?

Hang in there, give it a chance to work~

Wishing you a wonderful week!

MR

[2big4mysize]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

welcome to ADBB and to Atkins
Congrates and welcome to 100erlnd too.

First jalapenos are pepers and they are on the acceptable veggies lists for Atkins inductions. you should be having 3 cupd of vegies a day not 2
Do you Have DR ATKINS NEW DIET REVOLUTION 2002 edition. you know even though we hve great info you are doing a Cliff's Note version of Atkins if you don't read the book and you are worth more then that. the book is the best $7 investment you will ever make in yourself.

Now weight loss isn't going to be a linear thing. We have times when it goes down fast, times when it goes down slow, days of no change and even days of going up but in the end you go for begining to goal and you arrrive smaller healtheir you.

Induction is a crazy scale time you got glycogen burning off with stored fluids, you got fat body masses startign to get burned you got a scared body saying nono stay this shape I need it ofr complicated bio chem reactions so i'm stuffing fluid back in those tissues the fat is comeing out of ( hence you have seen the inches lost but no scale weight loss), oh i just found some cool aminoacids i think I'll stick them in this muscle tissue for now until i figure out where i want to use them. What the heck is she running from. I better store up some supplies so whatever is after us will not get us as i've been programed genetically to save her (message from newly exercised muscles).
So as you can see lots and lots of body changes going on and they don't all coordinate their actions with the brain part saying HEY I Wanted to lose that weight.

Be patient make friends with your measuring tape and watch the inches of fat being shed while all that crasy fluidness is going on.

Now about those sticks read the FAQs about them and you will see color of stix does not I repeat does not control weight loss. if you are overeating your Atkins you can be lovely purple and gaining weight. think not add 20 boxes of butter to your daily intake doe a fewdays and see how dark the stix are and how many pounds you have added.

Put your scales away fro now post your menues in the review my menu section and comiserate with your fellow 14 dayers in the induction forum about how eviel those scales are. On day 15 you will be a healthier smaller you that you were on day 1 and any one looking at you can see it.

Happy low carbing.

[MidnightRain]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

2B4MSize, you said something that has me wondering now. I didn't know that one could "overeat" on this diet. I've read that it's not a quantity diet but a quality diet(right from the book) Now I'm a little scared...LOL Should I check portions too in addition to carbs?

Thanks.

MR

[2big4mysize]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

right from the book in serveal places Dr Atkins tells us to eat to satisfy our hunger and STOP! if you are listening to your body and only feeding and satisfying your hunger then you are eting fine no matter how much or how little it takes today. Did you ever see a little kid eat they are very picky and eat little bits for several days and then they are eating like their will be no food tommorrow and you are wondering whee they are putting it. that is feeding your hunger. unfortunately we were all taught to clean our plates so we learned an empty plate with the seving bowls empty too for some houses signaled we were done eating. unlearn that and listen to your body. the only exception to that rule is the 6 hr rule cause Dr Atkins knew ketosis would suppress appetite some and he didn't want any blood sugar drops as a result.
read how he teaches you how to relearn by walking away from 1/2 the food on your plate cause you know you can eat again later. read how he describes the sensation of eating proteins and fats he knows we are going to find them to be self limiting if he controlled blood sugar spikes by limiting our carbohydrates. that is how Atkins works long term. you will learn it even if like some ADBB successes you don't know you did.

Happy low carbing

[not2late]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

2B4MSize, you said something that has me wondering now. I didn't know that one could "overeat" on this diet. I've read that it's not a quantity diet but a quality diet(right from the book) Now I'm a little scared...LOL Should I check portions too in addition to carbs?

Thanks.

MR

Oh yes, it's possible to overeat on this diet. Alot of people think that Dr. Atkins said "it's okay to stuff yourself like a Thanksgiving turkey because you'll still lose weight."

We don't need to count calories because Dr. Atkins hoped that we would re-learn our natural hunger and satiety cues, hence the advice, only eat that amount to satisfy your hunger and to make sure you go no more than 6 waking hours without eating. Ketosis is a strong appetite suppressant that aids in us re-learning how to eat proper amounts of food for our bodies---if we listen to our bodies and eat only what our bodies need, not what we think we need.

Some people do count calories to aid them in re-learning those natural appetite cues. But once you learn to listen to your body, you really don't need to count calories because you will self-regulate your appetite and you'll find that some days you'll eat more than others depending on our daily energy needs. That's why it is a "quality" diet: as you go through your Atkins stages, you'll find that some foods are "worth" eating and some "aren't", in terms of giving you energy and the proper amount of carbs for your body. So you'll (hopefully) eat the foods that are "worth it", hence, the "quality" diet part.

[softnred]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

I don't think water has been discussed yet. Are you drinking your water? How much?? Water is a very critical part of Atkins, and one doesn't lose much weight if you're not getting all your water in. Here's a sticky that talks about it in detail...
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6778


Not enough water could be a reason why your ketostix are purple. If you're drinking enough water, in most cases they aren't dark. Here's a post about why they aren't the most accurate indicator of what's going on in your body...
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=20567

Don't give up yet!!! Adjust as necessary and keep on track. You'll be very glad you did!!

[curvylass]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

Thanks for all the posts! I know I should be thrilled at my loss so far, and I am! It's just scary to be stalled and to GAIN. It's nice having this kind of support to keep me going.

I don't think I am overeating; as a matter of fact, I eat a lot less now that I am on Atkins - and I haven't had any cravings for sugar at all. I drink about 7 liters of water a day. That's the only fluid I have had since I started. I have been drinking still water as well as Perrier.

Here is an example of meals:

2 eggs, a few pieces of turkey bacon

Tuna w/ mayo on lettuce

A salad with a couple ounces of cheese and chicken breast dressed with a bit of olive oil and herbs

A serving of steak with veggies and a salad

Grilled shrimp

Sauteed scallops in a little butter and garlic

Snacks:

A few pieces of steak dipped in mayo (one tablespoon)

Jalapenos rolled in thinly sliced cheese

Crisp turkey bacon

A deviled egg or two

1/2 an onion dipped in mayo (1 Tablespoon)

sliced cheese

...sigh

[2big4mysize]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

you have your Atkins terms wrong stalled is defined in DANDR by DR ATKINS as 4 weeks of no scale los NOR inches lost so you to a long way to go to be stalled. you just has a slight hesitation in the scale.

hang in there stalls happen to everybody I had 4 long ones during my journey and hesitations in weight loss are very coomon you didn't gain it every day and you willnot lose it everyday if you did we'd all be done in less then a yr.

[curvylass]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

PS: My goal weight is 150

[Chris]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

Curvy,

Please understand that although your situation with a slight gain during the second week is not the most common situation, it does happen from time to time, and is not abnormal. Please don't think there's anything wrong with the program or anything wrong with you.

The amount you lose on induction is directly related to how much you need to lose. On the average, most folks lose about 10% of their excess weight during that first two weeks. However, as with everything concerning the human body, "your mileage may vary!"

Also (it seems to be more true with women than men) you may experience what's called a post induction hesitation. Some new Atkineers go for as long as three weeks after the induction phase before the scale drops again. Sadly, this is when many drop out and say that Atkins doesn't work. Atkins DOES work -- very, very well -- and those who stick with it are always rewarded in the end.

I strongly urge you to hang in there. Try not to obsess over the scale, and concentrate, for now, on just doing the program exactly as prescribed. In addition to the weight loss, you'll soon find yourself with new energy, a new feeling of well-being, and a bounce to your step!

[Curveegrrl]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

Hi curvylass! I'm curveegrrl! *waves*

I just wanted to congratulate you on all you've accomplished so far. This is a difficult journey to start. We really have to change how we think about food and our bodies. It ain't easy! But we can do it!

Please don't stress about a 1/2 pound blip on the scale. These things happen, and it doesn't mean you're not losing fat. Keep eating on plan. Keep drinking your water. Keep exercising. (You are exercising, right? RIGHT??) The weight will come off. Do not despair!

We're all rooting for you!

[Alienore]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

Hi there

As others have been saying, don't panic. Your body is wondering why everything is changing around it and will grab onto anything it can to keep it working the way IT wants to work, regardless of what you want it to do.

Keep eating the induction-friendly foods, keep getting the water down and do get some exercise in. You are doing very very well and I wouldn't beat myself up over a half pound gain.

Relax and enjoy this new way of eating and your new way of life here on Atkins. Give yourself a big hug for how well you have done so far.


Deborah

[curvylass]

Re: I'm new and need help - Almost ready to give up

Thanks for all the great advice! I'm down to 193 now - so in 2 weeks I'm down 10 lbs, I shouldn't be complaining! Better that I've done on any other diet, that's for sure.

All of your advice sure helped - I love this place!!