Wah!

[ragazzarossa]

I'm so bummed. I'm not scheduled to weigh myself for a couple of days, but I had to sneak on.

It did not budge. In fact, it's about .8 more than it was on April 12.

Despite the fact that I've been working out, and not cheating, and really looking forward to weighing myself...it did not move AT ALL.

I'm so sad. I'm not tempted to cheat - right now - but I'm so bummed. I can't believe that my body is doing this to me.

My one hope is that I've been suffering from some weird edema and that I'm retaining so much water right now that may account for 5 lbs or so (although I was hoping for 10 lbs of weight loss).

I guess I have to cut out the pepsi one again. I don't feel much like drinking it anyway. I guess I'll go to the gym. Hopefully when I weigh myself again on the 12th I've made some progress. This sucks.

[Elizellen]

Re: Wah!

Hang in there, RR

[cocobelle]

Re: Wah!

I weighed in today - gained three pounds... BUT.... I'm down an entire pant size now!! I'll take the scale being freaky-deeky, as long as I can wear the skinny pants, you know?

[julirama723]

Re: Wah!

ragazza, have you taken measurements? Are your clothes looser? These are the true indicators of "weight" loss. Losing pounds is great, but what we really want to lose is fat. Often the fat we lose is replaced with lean muscle, which is the goal. I had a month where I didn't lose any pounds, but lost inches and went down a whole pant size. I call that a success! Just be patient, and stay on track. Eventually your scale will show what your body already knows!

[SugarFreeSheila]

Re: Wah!

You will be dropping inches before you know it - but there is a chance you might have to make a modification or two. I know you say that you aren't cheating (which conjures up images of hot fudge sundaes, Twix, and fries, but that's just me lol), but are you having any processed commercial low-carb products like bread, tortillas, bars, and the like? These foods stall some, so I thought it prudent to double-check just in case!

As Elizelen said, hang in there, doll!

[ragazzarossa]

Re: Wah!

Thanks Eliz, Coco, Julie and Sheila...I don't know what I'd do without you! You're all very inspiring.

I have been losing inches, yes.

I have been really pretty faithful - I don't eat processed crap, but I think the two areas I could improve are diet soda and nuts. Also, I'm going to eat less cheese and more meat.

I do think it's the edema that's making me heavier. For some reason I've got lots of fluid in my legs. This is brand new for me, but I'm thinking it might have something to do with losing weight and releasing estrogen since it looks like it can be triggered by estrogen.

sigh.

I'm so glad you're all here - it was good to go to the gym. I talked it over with Mr. RR and he said we should try it for another month. I'm not going to quit - I've had success before, I think I just need to adjust my eating again.

The edema freaks me out - it never happened before - EVER! Other girls would say they were bloated and I would be like "oh, that sucks." I have a brand new perspective on it now.

[tmn]

Re: Wah!

I have been losing inches, yes.

I do think it's the edema that's making me heavier. For some reason I've got lots of fluid in my legs.

The edema freaks me out - it never happened before - EVER! Other girls would say they were bloated and I would be like "oh, that sucks." I have a brand new perspective on it now.

You may want to check on compression socks for your legs and feet if it's becoming an issue. I deal with lymphedema which will never be cured. I can make it better but it requires a lot of attention and good compression socks.

Drink LOTS of water instead of the pop and make sure you get your feet up. A very soft and gentle rubbing of your legs and feet will help move that water in your legs into the lymph system and move out. And I mean very light touch that just doesn't seem like it would do anything. Sometimes this causes a little head rush but it's ok.

And don't sweat the scale!! I finally learned my lesson and I'll tell you what, it's a whole different mentality gaining weight (from new muscle) and still be losing inches!! I've been pretty stuck for quite a while but I'm still getting into smaller and smaller clothes. Talk about freakie!!...

[mitzimarie]

Re: Wah!

I have been really pretty faithful - I don't eat processed crap, but I think the two areas I could improve are diet soda and nuts. Also, I'm going to eat less cheese and more meat.

Hi, RR...

I was just wondering what phase of Atkins you are on. Is it Extended Induction? The reason I am asking is because I have been tweaking what I eat over the past 3 weeks and have gotten good results. I have been eating more veggies... more than I have ever eaten in my life. I eat less meat than I used to and am eating fewer calories as a result. It has jump-started my weight loss, I feel really good, and I am loving the variety. I am so proud that I have embraced, rather than fought, veggies. This would have never happened had it not been for the Veggie Challenge. (Thanks, Silly!)

If you are still on Extended Induction, I guess you know that nuts are not legal. And, when it comes to nuts, I'm nuts! I have very little control with them and know that the only ones I will be able to have are unsalted, natural almonds that I will count out to eat.

Keep us posted on your progress. You can do it!

[SandyL2002]

Re: Wah!

I too have learned NOT to let the scales rule my mood... I have noticed more swelling in my hands lately..and when that is happening I just drink drink drink my water...

[ragazzarossa]

Re: Wah!

You may want to check on compression socks for your legs and feet if it's becoming an issue. I deal with lymphedema which will never be cured. I can make it better but it requires a lot of attention and good compression socks.

TMN - thank you! I looked up lymphedema and wow - I admire you for working through it. It sounds like a serious pain to deal with. I think I'm more freaking out about it because I'm just noticing it happening. It doesn't hurt, although when they get really swollen, they feel weird. I broke my left ankle when I was in high school and so I've been wearing a compression sock when I work out. I may as well get one for my right foot as well, huh?

I was just wondering what phase of Atkins you are on. Is it Extended Induction? The reason I am asking is because I have been tweaking what I eat over the past 3 weeks and have gotten good results.

Mitzi - I'm with you on the nuts. I've moved on from extended induction (I should change my signature stuff) but I'm still new to the owl rungs. The first time I did the diet, I did not use the rungs (this was back in the late 90's) so I've bought the new book and I'm reading it. I'm not sure which one I'm on, but I'm trying to keep it fairly close to induction. I'm still purple on the ketostix, but it depends on what time of day I do it. Early evenings is best.

You're right about the veggies - one thing I did differently the first time was eat more veggies! I haven't been as circumspect as I should be. I feel like I've been eating too much pepperoni and cheese type stuff and not enough ground turkey and sour cream type of stuff. I bought a bunch of romaine and we're having salad with george foreman grilled chicken tonight, by golly. It got away from me. Thank you for the advice!

I too have learned NOT to let the scales rule my mood... I have noticed more swelling in my hands lately..and when that is happening I just drink drink drink my water...

Sandy - you are right (and you are looking quite well, if I may say so). It was just such a let-down. I was hoping/expecting to have lost another 10 lbs. This is why I can't weigh myself all the time. I can soldier on, but not if the stupid scale is blinking at me every day with a different weight.

Drink more water! Eat more veggies!

Do y'all think it's possible that I'm exercising too much? Doesn't feel like it, but I've been doing at least an hour of cardio every time I go...should I dial it back until I lose more?

[julirama723]

Re: Wah!

How many days a week are you exercising? (Sorry if I missed it...)

The max you should exercise is 6 days a week. You need AT LEAST 1 day of full rest so your body can repair itself, rest up, and recover.

[ragazzarossa]

Re: Wah!

I've been doing about 4 days a week of serious gym exercise - probably not too much. Wishful thinking...

[julirama723]

Re: Wah!

4 days a week is great. What is your schedule like? If you do weights, just make sure you're not weight training on consecutive days.

[Uk Girl]

Re: Wah!

Hi Keep up with the cardio - you are so good!

Don't worry about the weight - if you are being honest then it will come down - you will probably lose inches quicker than lbs - I have stuck at losing 12 lbs since week 2! week 5 now, but I know that inches are shifting - my jeans are getting loser - and I just love clothes shopping!!!

Keep up the good work!

Wow an hour of cardio - wears me out thinking about it!

anj

[ValidRouge]

Re: Wah!

You might be intolerant to one of the foods you're eating.

Gotta love low carb tortillas....and I do....but wheat gluten doesn't love me. I used them during my weight losing days, probably because I *was* really losing then. Now, while I'm losing so slowly, whenever I try to eat wheat product...I'll swell. My fingers, hands, legs get the edema. To the point that my ankles ache from it.

You might have an intolerance/allergy to some food that is making you retain water like mad.