Appetite increase, anyone?

[rocketgrrl]

Hi! I have been losing steadily, sticking mostly to the induction foods for these last two weeks (four weeks altogether on Atkins) and about three days ago, suddenly found myself almost ravenous between snacks/meals! I eat three meals and two snacks and before could barely finish an egg for breakfast, a cup of salad for lunch and a small steak for dinner. Now I can barely make it the two hours between meals!

Any ideas what's going on?? I'm afraid to increase my portions or the amount of snacks as I don't want the loss to stop (been averaging 4lbs. a week).

Thanks!!!

[CATBLUE]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

It sounds like you are not eating enough and your body is screaming at you... Go back and read your book. You have to at least meet the minimum basic requirements that your body needs to live. Failure to do so can cause your body to think it's starving.. and it will be right!! It will start holding onto everything it can and your weight loss will slow to a crawl..

Remember anorexia is eating too little to sustain the bodily functions.. Eating to little can cause liver, heart and organ damage..

Get thee to a table and eat! Just use the book and don't eat " mostly induction foods". Do it the right way and you'll succeed...

Dr. Adkins spent years developing this to help us.. we should take that help to heart.

[rocketgrrl]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

Thx...I know, starvation is no good But I truly do eat healthy portions. No single piece of lettuce for me! My energy has also dropped...BIG TIME. So I'm thinking that eating more (which I have done the last two days to fix for the hunger) is what's causing the energy decline as before I had a ton of energy. On the Atkins site, they say that you can stay on induction longer than two weeks, so I figured I'd do mostly induction till I get to my goal weight and then start maintenance as until now I've felt great and seen a steady weight loss.

[Mia*Bella]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

I get that way when it's that TOM. Is it about that time??

[Hoping]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

I was thinking TOM as well. Or maybe you're just hungry? If you're drinking all of your water--b/c remember sometimes thirst can make us think we're hungry--and you're still hungry then eat more. You're body's asking for food.

[Mia*Bella]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

Another thought...any chance you are PG?????????????

[sallyseachange]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

...On the Atkins site, they say that you can stay on induction longer than two weeks, so I figured I'd do mostly induction till I get to my goal weight and then start maintenance as until now I've felt great and seen a steady weight loss.

I'd strongly advise against doing this. Don't delay moving to OWL too long. Also, don't be afraid of OWL... you still get to lose weight and very many people lose more, particularly on the first rung, which is more veggies. You can stay on each rung for a long time if you want to and if you aren't nearing goal.

It takes time to move up the rungs and you need to do this before goal. You need to know how various foods affect you and you need to find your CCLL (critical carb level for losing).

Dr Atkins recommended remaining in extended induction mainly if you have metabolism probs... if not, it's wise to move in good time, before maintenance.

I made the mistake of staying in induction for too long, and have always regretted that. I lost perfectly well in OWL, and the extra food choices were so welcome.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

I had that happen off and on the whole time I was losing 100 pounds pretty fast. I kept trying to figure it out and noticed every time my weight loss would slow down, I would start to get really hungry for no reason. If I stuck it out, soon I would have a woosh (big loss overnight). I decided my body was trying to keep me from losing so much or thought it was protectiing me from starvation by signalling me to eat more, even when I'd had enough. I told it I didn't need it's help, thank you very much, I wasn't about to be starving with 40 or 50 pounds left to lose. When my weight loss stalled and became really slow, after 100 pounds, it stopped happening. Except when Aunt Flow is about to visit.

Sunny!

[Brook]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

What Sally and Sunny said!

[cutecourters]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

Yeah, I also get real hungry around TOM. And when I've been hitting the gym extra hard.

[rocketgrrl]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

So stick through it? Don't increase my portions? It's not TOM (I am on pills that avoid that whole deal) and definately not PG! Turned out I only lost 1 lb. this week (I weigh in at work every week on Sat Morn) which is pretty scary considering how well I'd been doing. Guess I celebrated too soon! My metabolism is the reason I've stayed on induction so long as it had pretty much slowed to a crawl the past couple of years. I don't want to go onto the next step until my weight loss is back to being slightly predictable. urgh. Frustrating to be doing so well and then suddenly stall for what seems like no reason! Today my appetite is normal, but energy is still non-existant. Guess I will just hang tight! No cupcakes yet.....

[fatty mcfatison]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

For about the first week and a half the thought of food made me sick. Then around week 3, I got my usual hunger back and have had it ever since. I have 3 meals a day and usually 2 snacks (depending on how busy I am). I do not count calories, but fitday has I average around 1400 and I watch my carbs, but besides that I just eat when I am hungry. I haven't lost weight on the scale in about a week and a half, but I lose 2-4 inches a week (which makes me smile wide). Hope that makes you feel somewhat better about being hungry. I am not an expert, but that my experience.

[rocketgrrl]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

It does, thanks!!!

[Adena]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

Actually, staying on induction won't necessarily make you lose faster. Many people find they lose more when they move on to rung 1 -- which is adding more veggies. I'd strongly recommend considering it.

Also, you only have a little more than 20 pounds to lose... while 4 pounds a week losses have been great, you really can't expect that to continue.

Atkins tells us to eat when we're hungry -- so as long as you're sure it's true hunger, then eat! Good, healthy, legal choices. Watch things that are high in salt.... deli meats, hotdogs, etc.... which will can cause you to retain water and not reflect your true losses on the scale.

Best of luck to you!

[Evermind]

Re: Appetite increase, anyone?

I just finished my fourth week (3d time around) and once again experienced an inexplicable week last week of utter and complete exhaustion. Bone tired. I was taking my supplements, exercising, and eating just fine. It's happened each time, and I dimly recall that it happens again sometime around week 12. I have no idea why, but it does pass.

My appetite fluctuates. I go from having to absolutely force myself to eat to being starving. A lot of it relates to hormones, as others have said, but sometimes I'm just hungry more often. And so I eat. It does NOT interfere with my weight loss, either scale or inches. The LAST thing you should do is limit your food - that will cause you to have cravings.

Now, I also agree with those who are telling you to move to OWL. I stayed on extended induction the last two times I did this woe, and after 6 months I fell off the wagon, didn't come back, and gained it all back and more. This time, I went straight to OWL, and I'm losing faster, am happier, and my menu is more varied. So don't hold back on that part, either.