A BIG question

[time2doit]

So, I was bemoaning my lack of weight loss for two weeks to my hubby and he said, "Well, what difference does it make if it is slow, as long as you stick with it." I realized, that is theoretically true on low calorie diets, but not this one. Am I correct? I mean, don't you have to be in ketosis to lose on this diet?

On a low calorie diet one can choose to cheat one day and "make up for it" the next by fasting (in theory, at least). But my understanding of this WOE is that if I am in ketosis I am potentially losing and if not, then I am not losing. SO that if I need to be at 20 carbs/day to lose and I am at 25 every day for a month, then I will not lose that month. While on a low calorie diet (not that I would ever consider these again), if I needed to bee at 1200 calories a day to lose 10 lbs/month and instead I was at 1500, I might still lose 5 lbs.

I ask this partly because my daughter is doing this WOE with me and she is not able to be as strict with herself. She was losing, seems to be losing, but she isn't weighing so who knows?

And my neighbor, who has been doing this casually for years, seems to be losing (he was quite heavy), but he also seems to plateau.

[LowCarbLara]

Re: A BIG question

Ketosis is not necessary for fat loss - but some of the side-effects are nice and potentially helpful (suppressed appetite, for example).

[ValidRouge]

Re: A BIG question

time2doit welcome to ADBB. 20 carbs is the maximum amount for just the first two weeks. Then we start adding more foods in and CONTINUE to lose weight, adding more and more carbs. There are some people who can eat as many as 100 grams of carbs per day and still lose weight!!

However, it's all very methodological and layed out very specific in Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution version 2002. If you read the book and understand how and why it works, it will be much easier.

Seriously forget everything you know about low calorie diets--it doesn't apply to Atkins. AND THEN...AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART--forget everything your neighbor, friend, daughter, daughters aunts mechanics friend told you about how to do Atkins. Read the book and find out from Dr. Atkins himself. There are some very very distorted misinformation out there about Atkins.

The only way you are going to be long term successful with this is to do it properly. If you're going to go to the trouble, might as well do it right...Right??

Keep in mind, it's not the NUMBER of carbs you eat in a day, but the TYPE of carbs you eat in a day. So, tell us what you are eating and how much...maybe we can point you in the right direction until you get the book read

[dreamof145]

Re: A BIG question

I second the motion to read the book and apply the program to your unique life-style. Everyone is different in the way they lose, the foods they eat, the types of exercise they do and so forth. But the thing that is the same is that if you follow the program the way Dr. Atkins suggests, you will get results. Don't compare yourself to others and what they do or don't do. Do it right, learn to make wise choices and you won't be yo-yo dieting, you'll be changing your life-style and learning healthy habits that will stick with you forever.

Plateaus happen to almost all of us...regardless of what program we are on. Take your measurements and you will stay motivated cause if you are doing it right...the inches will drop even when the weight doesn't.