4th Weeks of Nuthin'

[westphalia]

I'm completely stuck in the mid-330s, and I can't break out of it. Here's what I had yesterday:

four hamburger patties with a sprinkling of cheese and seasoning, with mayo, a tablespoon of spicy mustard and a dill pickle

two chopped-up chicken breasts sauteed in olive oil with garlic, and a cup of broccoli/cauliflower mix

10-12 olives

plenty of water (not quite two gallons)

That's all I was hungry for, all I could eat, and I really had to fight to get the chicken meal in. I haven't lost a pound in four weeks - actually, I'm up half a pound. I was going gangbusters from April 1st to the day I bought that scale, and now I've stopped. If I move to OWL, and add carbs in progressively, I gain weight. I went up to 344 two weeks ago, and have had to fight like all get-out to get back to the mid-330s. But I can't go any lower, and I'm working out three hours a bloody day.

I spoke of my frustration to a fellow walker in the park yesterday, and he suggested (and I hear this a lot from non-Atkins folks) that my body is accustomed to what I'm doing, and I should change diets for a month or so, and see what happens - sort of give my metabolism a shock. What do I do? Am I Atkins-resistant now? Has my body decided that it will no longer respond to my diet?

I'm getting progressively more and more aggravated with this. My Halloween goal of 300 is coming up, and in late June it looked like I'd breeze right past it. Now, it's as far away as ever. I'm in a foul mood a lot, because this daily exercise is pounding the heck out of my body, and I'm seeing nothing at all in return.

[mitzimarie]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

Hi, Joe

You aren't eating enough veggies. The nutrients and fiber provided by wise veggie choices are crucial for success on Atkins. I don't know how you're not having major *potty* problems with so little fiber.

You said that you gained weight when you moved to OWL and added carbs. Which carbs did you add? I broke the weight loss slowdown I experienced after Induction by adding veggies (Rung 1). And if there are times when you just aren't very hungry, you need to make a point to tackle the veggies on your plate first before the meat and cheese. I started eating a lot less meat after adding so many veggies in OWL and therefore my calories are lower.

Olives are a special category food. Is it possible they are a staller for you? I don't like olives, so I don't know much about them.

What type of exercise are you doing?

As for that notion of switching diets to shock your system... personally, I think that's a recipe for disaster. I don't think you are Atkins resistant at all... it is a matter of honestly examining what you have been eating and tweaking it till you are losing again. I had to really break out of my box on the veggie thing... I hated veggies so much pre-Atkins that I wouldn't even eat mashed pototoes. (french fries were another story ) Having an open mind and a commitment to change my lifestyle without being in a hurry is what is sustaining me.

So, what do you think?

[Tack Candy]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

Are your clothes feeling looser? Have you taken measurements? I am thinking all that wonderful exercise has built up muscles and muscles weigh more that fat but look much better on the ole bod. I love olives and Mitzi is correct. They are listed as "special" and there is a limit on them. I think 5 lg. olives is the daily limit but don't quote me on that. We have all been frustrated with our weight loss a time or two. Tweeking what we are doing often helps. Try not filling up on protein (ie: chicken) but leave room for veggies. They are important for your health! OH, also, I didn't see a mention of how much water you drink. Water is extremely important as well.

I hope you have a major breakthrough soon. I agree with you, you DESERVE it!

Candy

[not2late]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

You might need to re-evaluate the amount of food you are eating....Does it really take 4 hamburger patties to satisfy your hunger? What happens if you only eat 2 patties, would you still be satisfied?

As we get smaller, our bodies do not need the same amount of food it did when we were larger.

Also, Atkins is not a high protein diet. IT's a high fat diet. Excess protein is eventually converted to glucose and any glucose your body doesn't use up immediately for energy is stored as fat.

So sit down and when you eat, ask yourself, "Am I not hungry anymore?" Once you are not, stop eating---it doesn't matter if you have only eaten 1/4 of the food on your plate.

[westphalia]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

Well, I'm walking the dog for half an hour in the morning, then I leave her at home and go to the park and do my own 5-mile walk. Every day. I do an hour's worth of bodyweight exercises (hindu squats, hindu pushups, back bridges, tables, crunches and leg-lifts) every afternoon, every day. At night, I do an hour of isometrics, every day. So, I don't know that exercise would be a problem.

I drink almost two gallons of water a day. I only had the olives yesterday because I was in the mood; that same jar has lasted me almost a month, and it holds about fifty small olives. I'll cut them out if they might pose a problem.

What I don't understand is why I would drop 90 pounds, only to completely stall. Completely. I understand a plateau, but this is ridiculous. And I can't imagine that I'm building so much muscle that it would completely mask any fat being burned off. It didn't before, so why would it do so now?


For the first time since May 2nd, I skipped my morning walk today, and I'm intently staring at the pizza joint across the street. I'll try again to add some more vegetables in my diet, but the last time I did that - incrementally adding first-rung veggies - I ballooned ten pounds.


Sorry to gripe. Just what everyone wants to read on a Friday.

[sallyseachange]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

I agree with the others. Up the veggies and reduce the protein. See how you go with that.
Changing way of eating to shock your metabolism is not a good idea imho. If you stick with Atkins and find what's causing this little pause, you'll be fine.

Halloween is still a way away!

[westphalia]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

I agree with the others. Up the veggies and reduce the protein. See how you go with that.

Apparently I've misunderstood Atkins from the outset, and can't read a book. Is there a magic number of grams of protein that I should be under, so that I know when I've had too many? I can track 20 carbs, but what amount of protein should I look toward? When is too much, too much?

I guess I thought protein was "free," as it were, fats were good, and all I had to watch was my carb cuont. If you, for example, aren't on as much protein as I am, how do you get such a high amount of fat without ingesting a lot of protein? Are you using oils, butter and the like? Is that where I'm failing?

I looked through the Atkins site again today, and it does seem like I'm way, way too low on vegetables, so I'll start upping those again.

I apologize if these questions seem pedestrian, but I didn't glean this meaning from the FAQs, the book, or the Atkins site. I'm also baffled as to why I'd do so well the way before, then suddenly stop.

Halloween is still a way away!

If I don't get this fixed soon, there will be a full-scale horror movie right here in my apartment. I'll be making my own Halloween. I don't want to quit, and I feel that starting to happen, and it's scaring me.

[hopejoy]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

Why can't you read the book? The book is great! So helpful! I keep re-reading it! and still learn something new each time!
You are doing a lot of exersize! Bet you are also gainin muscle! which also weighs more! and eat your vegetables!
bet you are due for a whooshi soon... hang in there and don't give up!
liz

[mitzimarie]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

Apparently I've misunderstood Atkins from the outset, and can't read a book. Is there a magic number of grams of protein that I should be under, so that I know when I've had too many? I can track 20 carbs, but what amount of protein should I look toward? When is too much, too much?

I guess I thought protein was "free," as it were, fats were good, and all I had to watch was my carb cuont. If you, for example, aren't on as much protein as I am, how do you get such a high amount of fat without ingesting a lot of protein? Are you using oils, butter and the like? Is that where I'm failing?

I looked through the Atkins site again today, and it does seem like I'm way, way too low on vegetables, so I'll start upping those again.

I apologize if these questions seem pedestrian, but I didn't glean this meaning from the FAQs, the book, or the Atkins site. I'm also baffled as to why I'd do so well the way before, then suddenly stop.

Joe,

My biggest help with this WOE has been using Fitday. Are you familiar with it? Whatever phase of Atkins you are in, at least half of your daily net carbs should come from veggies. And the first rung of OWL is more veggies! If I were you, I would continue for a week with how you have been eating and start tracking everything on Fitday. This will show you exactly how many carbs you have been eating so you will have a benchmark to start from so you can start adding carbs in 5 gram increments. And, Fitday takes practice before it becomes easy and quick. Track your fiber on Fitday, too. You do that by setting a fiber goal on the left side of the screen under Goals. It doesn't matter what number you set it at - mine is set at 1 just so it will count the fiber for me. Subtract the fiber from the total carbs to get your net carbs and this is the number you go by. Try to pick veggies that are high in nutrition and fiber.

As for protein amounts - Fitday gives you the actual number of grams of protein, fat, and carbs you are eating. It also expresses the figure as a percentage, and that is what I go by. When in Induction, you are striving for 65% Fat, 30% Protein, and 5% Carbs. As you add more carbs, your fat percentage goes down and your protein percentage should remain at 30%. And yes, the best way to add fat without adding protein is a little butter, oil, or salad dressing... it doesn't take much at all to change the percentages.

I will be the first to admit that using Fitday can be a pain in the a$$ at first. But, I enter most of my foods as custom foods when I have a label to go by - even stuff like eggs and cheese. Once you get your custom foods entered and get a little practice using Fitday, it only takes a few minutes a day to do it and I actually enjoy it now.

Give it a try, and come back with any questions you may have. Look for it at www.fitday.com . Adding veggies in 5 gram increments really should not make you gain weight... something else is going on there.

See ya!

[sallyseachange]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

I reckon the best Atkins diktat to follow is the "feed only your hunger" rule. If you do this (which isn't always easy at first) and try for a fairly varied diet, your percentages should be reasonably ok.

It's easy to overeat protein if you're an avid meat eater (as I am) and don't follow the "feed your hunger" thing. If you do... no prob.

Re fats... lots of people have trouble getting in enough fats, (I have the opposite prob with all the wonderful olive oil we get here )... but in reality it isn't hard to raise the fats. A tablespoon extra of oil/mayo/cream/butter will often do the trick. If you up your veggies... toss them in olive oil and garlic. That'll help with both.

Balanced diet and "feeding hunger only" is the way to go though, imho.

[Discolemonade]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

I just want to say that the more fat I have the more loss I experience. When I am low on fat percentages I don't lose. I haven't lost any weight in about 3 weeks but have lost more than 20 inches. Definitely up your fat, mine is usually around 70%. Keep going, you will get through this plateau.

[mitzimarie]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

I just want to say that the more fat I have the more loss I experience. When I am low on fat percentages I don't lose. I haven't lost any weight in about 3 weeks but have lost more than 20 inches. Definitely up your fat, mine is usually around 70%. Keep going, you will get through this plateau.

I usually have higher fat, too. As long as my proteins are somewhere in the 20%'s, I don't worry about not getting up to 30%. I make it a point to not go over 30%, though. A while back I was getting stressed over not getting the protein up to 30% everyday, but I stopped fighting it and just strive for somewhere in the 20's. This is easy for me because I love fat.

The feeding your hunger only point is important. I have to consciously not eat to the point of being stuffed. It was so normal for me to eat till I was miserable... a bad habit. I still have to reign myself in and stop eating on stuff that tastes really good, because controling portions is part of my new lifestyle.

[LooseShoes]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

You've done really wonderful to lose 90 pounds, Joe!

Have you measured? Sometimes you really are losing inches. When I went on a heavy exercise routine after doing basically nothing, I gained 2-3 pounds and it stuck for 3-4 weeks. I lost 8 pounds the week after, though.

Try to be patient, this isn't a race, it's a new way of life. The others have wonderful advice, so stick with it and ignore the pizza place--or at least just get a salad.

You really are doing great, up the veggies and fat and you'll be losing again!

[zencyn]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

Hi Joe -
Wow! 90 pounds is great!
Everyone had good advice for you. The only thing I would add is that after losing 90 pounds your body may just be taking a break.

[Kate113]

Re: 4th Weeks of Nuthin'

Joe, I really can't add any words of wisdom that haven't already been written here, but I want you to know that so far you have done great. You're off your butt and exercising! You're eating more healthy! That is amazing considering where you were before you started Atkins. Please don't give up! I need you as an inspiration!