What's wrong with me??

**ladyinred** · September 11, 2006, 07:42 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Hi Shannon. Welcome! Can we have a bit more info on you? i.e. how old are you, how tall are you and how much are you looking to lose? Maybe you don't have too much weight to lose to begin with?

The first thing I notice from your sample menu is that you aren't eating enough veggies. We are allowed 3 cups a day (2 cups salad veggies, 1 cup other veggies). Take them! Eat them! Cutting them out will only hinder you.

The other thing is that you exercise quite a bit. Good for you. Are you new to exercise though? Sometimes the body retains water in response to exercise. It will go away after a while. You may also be gaining muscle while losing fat, so the scale won't show the difference (scales aren't very smart).

Did you take your measurements before you started? Perhaps you are losing inches but the loss isn't showing up on the scale.

These are the only things I can think of for why the scale might not show a loss. I'm sure others will be along shortly with some advice. Hang in there! You're on the right track.

**ShannonElisabeth** · September 11, 2006, 07:50 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Thank you so much for your response! I'm a 23 yr. old female, 5'10 and 210 pounds. I want to lose at least 50 pounds. I realize I don't eat enough veggies, but I thought the less carbs you take in the better, even if it means to forgo your cups of veggies. I haven't lost anything in inches. My body hasn't changed at all. If anything, I feel bloated and bigger. I'm just crying and literally stumped. I'll incorporate more veggies, but what else am I doing wrong? I don't get cravings or anything. I have been drinking either tea or diet sodas, maybe one or two a day. Will that hurt me that much? I thought I would still lose something.

**Bren** · September 11, 2006, 07:54 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Hi Shannon!

Welcome to the board! LIR has asked all the pertinent questions. One more, are you on any medications?
Also, THROW THE SCALE AWAY!!! just kidding. But, sometimes it can be your worst enemy. Make friends with the tape measure.
and FYI, diet soda is a known staller.

**ShannonElisabeth** · September 11, 2006, 08:02 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Thanks for your response Bren! I can easily quit the diet sodas, and unsweetened iced teas. I'm not on any medications. I do take acidophilus to keep me regular since I'm taking in less fiber and veggies, but that shouldn't cause any harm I wouldn't think. So at this point, I'm thinking it was the diet sodas and caffeine. I know I shouldn't have them, but many of my co-workers drink them liberally and still lose massive amounts of weight on this diet, during all of the phases of the diet. I guess I'm just different.

**Elsie150** · September 11, 2006, 08:22 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

((ShannonElizabeth)) Ditch the teas and sodas...up those vegies. Read the ingredients in the acidophilus to make sure there is no hidden sugar or startches in it. Take your measurements. A lot of the times those can change even though the scale isn't. Also...with all the exercise you could have lost fat but gained muscle and muscle weighs more so sometimes that scale is lying. That is one of the reasons everyones says measure.

Hmmm...just turkey in your turkey burger? Remember everyone is different...and just because your buddies can drink the diet stuff doesn't mean you can. For some even chewing sugarless gum affects them...for others it doesn't. This is a process about learning about your body as much as it is about losing weight. Good luck!

**Bren** · September 11, 2006, 08:27 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

YOU CAN DO IT! Don't get discouraged. Upping the vegies will help with the "bloat" too!
Always remember, every one is different and YMMV. But, diet sodas stall me and cause horrible cravings.

**ShannonElisabeth** · September 11, 2006, 08:50 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Will eating too much cheese hault my weight loss? I noticed that the shredded cheese has a gram of carbs yet the Cracker Barrell Cheese Sticks have absolutely no carbs. The first week I ate nothing but the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, but it had carbs, so now I only eat cheese that has no carbs. It's weird that the same exact type of cheese have carbs while others don't. Apparently they add something to the shredded cheeses that make it have carbs, versus the cheese sticks and some blocks that have none.

**msnicksmom** · September 11, 2006, 09:42 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Why hasn't anyone advised you to READ THE BOOK??? You are on the right track, but need a couple clarifications, and Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, the 2002 version, will clear those right up. For example, drink 8 oz water as a base, then add 8 more ounces for every 25lbs you want to lose. Also, 2-3 cups veggies (2 from the salad list, 1 from the other list) are MANDATORY. Cheese is to be limited to 3-4 ounces daily. That worked for me as one serving w/every meal and one snack.

Also, NOT from the book. Nothing has "no" carbs except butter, oil and pure fat. Nothing. The labeling laws read if it's less than .5 g per serving, they can mark it 0. So beware. But if you are sticking to the cheese allowed on the plan, it should be fine, but the same holds true of eggs, meats, processed meats, olives, etc.

Also, I've seen lots of experiences of people who were eating pretty LOW-FAT just before starting Atkins have a slower start. Can't explain it. But you'll catch up. Stick to it, throw the scale away til day 15, use tape measure and clothes to judge. Read the book, stick to the plan, and wait for the miracle.

HTH!

Denise

**G-Mom** · September 12, 2006, 07:32 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Hi Shannon! Excellent name by the way!

I don't think you are eating enough fat, IMO. Up that fat! You will be pleasantly surprised by the results. Also, be aware that too much protein in your diet will be stored as fat, so I think, that is why we must eat our allotted veggies, for one (they have LOW carbs, LOW cals, HIGH fiber) and they prevent us from taking in too much protein.

Good luck, darlin'!

**Lyssie** · September 12, 2006, 07:59 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Hi Shannon... I didn't see your response on whether you just started with the exercise thing? Are you going up with weight training? That'll add some water weight until your muscles aren't enflamed anymore... Also, if your body "likes" being that weight - and it sounds like it does, then it's harder to get past it. Like, if you've been 210 for a while or that's a point where you can eat basically whatever and stay there, then chances are it's harder to break free from it. I get the same way around 210 which is how I can get really frustrated since it's like you're doing everything right but nothing changes. All I can say to that is just stick with it, maybe ditch the scale and the tape measure for a week or two, and see what happens... If you can't or don't want to ditch either of these, just keep telling yourself that this is a good thing, and it'll pay off. Besides, what are you losing? Low carb food tastes just as good as high carb food... just in a different way... or so I keep telling myself

**cristylp** · September 12, 2006, 08:15 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Originally posted by ShannonElisabeth

Will eating too much cheese hault my weight loss? I noticed that the shredded cheese has a gram of carbs yet the Cracker Barrell Cheese Sticks have absolutely no carbs. The first week I ate nothing but the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, but it had carbs, so now I only eat cheese that has no carbs. It's weird that the same exact type of cheese have carbs while others don't. Apparently they add something to the shredded cheeses that make it have carbs, versus the cheese sticks and some blocks that have none.

Shannon, the packages of pre-shredded cheese usually have some sort of starch to keep the cheese from clumping up. It's better for you and cheaper to get the blocks and shred it yourself.

Keep up the good work!

**Jasmain** · September 12, 2006, 08:26 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Cheese can stall weight loss for some. Try making sure that you don't have it daily, and if you do, no more than 3-4 oz in a day. It does cause problems for some people at even that amount, depending on the sensitivity of the person's body. Maybe try cutting it out for a whole week just to test to see if there is any change? Also, very good advice given earlier on the exercise. If you're exercising, your body can be shocked for a bit and retain fluid around the muscles to protect them from something they don't recognize. If you keep it up, eventually they'll say, "oh, this is normal, we don't need to protect from this!"

**ShannonElisabeth** · September 12, 2006, 08:49 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Oh wow! Great advice! I am concerned though... if I can't eat too much meat for fear of it being stored as fat, and I can't exceed 3 cups of veggies, and I have to do without cheese for awhile, what else can I eat? I guess I can survive on eggs. Also, how do you up the fat? I started cooking in butter... what else can I do?

**msnicksmom** · September 12, 2006, 09:02 AM

Re: What's wrong with me??

Think about what you CAN have, not what you can't.

Quick, off the top of my head sample menu:

B-2 eggs scrambled w/1/4 mushrooms, cook in butter w/2 slices ham on side

L-1/4 hamburger w/mustard, small caesar salad

Snack-2 deviled egg halves

Supper-regular sized grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup broccoli, small salad w/ranch and bacon bits

Plenty of fat, got your veggies, not too much meat. The protein stored as fat thing is valid, but YMMV, and it will take awhile to determine what that is. Just make sure ESP that you are eating when you are hungry, til you are full. Not when your bored, not cuz you're mad, not cuz it's in front of you. Because you're hungry. And til your satisfied, not stuffed.

Can't wait to see your progress in a couple weeks!!!

Announcement

What's wrong with me??

What's wrong with me??

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment