I'm getting discouraged

[Secretminime]

I started Atkins, for the second time seriously, four weeks ago. Within two weeks I lost about 9 pounds. then another couple. But over the last two weeks anyway, I've been up and down a few pounds. I've been sticking to it very well and I'm still in ketosis.

At first I lost 3 inches around my waist but I've put those back on too.

I have been constipated and decided that was the problem and I've been using the sugar free Metamucil. It helped a bit but not much, I still feel kind of constipated.

I can't figure this out. It's really not like me at all..........first of all not to lose weight on low carb and second to be constipated at all.

I'm starting to think I need to have a day full of carbs to get things moving again but I don't really have any cravings or urge to go off of it. And I'm afraid that if I do go off for a day....I'll never get back on. I'll be dealing with cravings.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

[Lamby-pie]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

Secret, 9 pounds is a tremendous amount of weight for your body to drop suddenly. More than likely, your body needs a little breather, then will start losing again. I think you need to be patient.

Did you move up into the vegetable rung (OWL)? That may help "get things moving" again, I know the increase in vegetables helped me.

[julirama723]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

If you've been taking fiber, that could be adding to your weight gain. Fiber soaks up LOTS of water and can cause temporary weight gain. Make sure you're drinking enough water to "flush" it out of your body.

TOM can also cause water retention, bloating, and temporary weight gain. Might it be that time of month? I usually gain quite a few pounds and my waist increases as well.

And it's pretty common to lose a good amount of weight on induction, only to NOT lose for the next couple weeks. It's even got a name--Post Induction Stall Syndrome, or PISS. Your body will be hesitant to give up weight after losing a good amount. Just keep feeding your body good foods, drink your water, keep exercising, and soon you'll start losing again.

And I agree with Lamby's advice. Moving to OWL Rung 1, Veggies, jumpstarts weightloss in MANY people (myself included!). Rung 1 is just another serving of veggies from the induction list. And yes, these 5 extra carbs DO help! I don't suggest going on a carb binge when moving on to OWL will have a better and more desired effect.

Hope this helps!

[LuckyD]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

Please stick with the plan. Being discouraged at times is just part of the deal. It is real life after all, and real life rarely conforms to our wishes. Just know that in the long run the weight comes off. It will never come off as fast as it did during induction, as it shouldnt. Induction serves a purpose to kick start your body into a fat burning mode and dramatic weight loss accompanies it. But as your body adjusts itself to this WOE it will settle into a slower, steadier weight loss mode that sometimes includes weeks with no actual weight loss, or very little, while other weeks you will drop a few pounds. You just need to settle in and not get to upset if the scales dont move as fast as you want. As far as constipation, try upping your veggies, include broccoli and other fiber rich sources. Also a batch of flax pancakes can sometimes work wonders. Also watch your cheese intake. I have been losing very slow....but hey, I am still losing! So hang in there.

[Secretminime]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

Thank you all. So far I'm still being good.

However, still not budging. Today was extremely stressful and they had muffins at work. I still resisted but i nthe middle of a big fit I was taking, I ate a low carb protein bar (2.5 neg gr carb). I didn't have any of the muffins - thank god.

However, now we all have to go out to Boston Pizza for a birthday party. Given the way I feel - stressed and discouraged to boot - I am really going to have to work hard to just have what is right for the WOE. Wish me luck!

[julirama723]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

Do you eat the bars often? Many times they can stall people. Sugar alcohols can be a tricky thing, and most people who consume them have to count ALL the carbs (minus the fiber) because their body processes all the carbs. If you eat bars and are not having a laxative effect from them, you need to count all sugars, carbs, and sugar alcohols listed.

[The Procrastinatrix]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

Good job on resisting the muffins today!!! That was really hard to do, and YOU DID IT!!!

Don't let someone else's birthday derail you. You're discouraged now, but you HAVE made some progress just by changing your way of eating for the better. Just keep thinking how good you'll feel on your birthday, when you've stuck to your plan and taken good care of yourself!

You can do this. Good luck!

Protrix

[soliwit]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

Really stick to the diet !!!
I was not losing for the lomgest (also had to restart) and it is just resisting the loss, it took weeks for me to start moving again but now all of a sudden the weight is falling off me like crazy, please don't be discouraged, weightloss really takes time and I think especially second timers could have some problems getting it really started up again.
move up to owl, it will help you be able to eat a bit more, indeed get more fiber in and for me it really did the trick for getting the weightloss moving again.

[sadie147]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

Thank you all. So far I'm still being good.

However, still not budging. Today was extremely stressful and they had muffins at work. I still resisted but i nthe middle of a big fit I was taking, I ate a low carb protein bar (2.5 neg gr carb). I didn't have any of the muffins - thank god.

However, now we all have to go out to Boston Pizza for a birthday party. Given the way I feel - stressed and discouraged to boot - I am really going to have to work hard to just have what is right for the WOE. Wish me luck!

I've eaten at Boston Pizza a couple of times, and they do have legal choices in their salad menu and their wings. Just make sure you ask for your wings not breaded they hvae both breaded and not.

[Back2Back]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

I've eaten at Boston Pizza a couple of times, and they do have legal choices in their salad menu and their wings. Just make sure you ask for your wings not breaded they hvae both breaded and not.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm..............wings....

[Lyssie]

Re: I'm getting discouraged

I'm sorry you're feeling so discouraged right now... what they've said is totally true, I went through long periods of staying the same, or going up and down with the same 3-5 pounds without going off plan, or not exercising, but I couldn't shake them... Staying on plan is the *best* option available... drinking your water, trying to flush out your system... if you're still constipated, try the psyllum husks or ground flax seeds instead of the metamucil (less carbs) or doing what they all suggested and moving up to Rung 1. Or eat some jicama (sorry Joy), since this has a *ton* of fiber, it can help things get moving and is ok for induction.