Infuriatingly low CCLL

[Alexa]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to see how many people on here have relatively low CCLLs and get some chat going about it.

My CCLL seemed to be 35g for a long time, but lately this number seems to be my maintenance number - no more weight is being lost and sometimes I gain. I find this quite frustrating and am convinced I would enjoy this diet more if I could eat just a few more carbs!

I wonder if this low number is related to being hypothyroid? I am not a small person and I exercise quite a lot, so find this low number very annoying. Or is it not that low? Do some people have to have less?

Also with such a low carb intake I find it very hard to get away from high fat%. Without high fat % I just don't eat enough calories to sustain the amount of exercise I do.

Finally, I am wondering if anyone finds they can eat more of a certain kind of carb - for example I suspect I could eat more veggie carbs if I limited the dairy to induction levels, but then there would be calorie and hunger issues.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

I've always suspected that veggie carbs "weigh" lighter Atkins-wise than other carbs... if that makes sense. But have no scientific knowledge or experience to corroborate this. Would be interested to hear other views.

Alexa... 35 is a milestone for many people, I think... but if I were you I'd try switching "types" of carbs. You might be pleasantly surprised.

[Alexa]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

I've always suspected that veggie carbs "weigh" lighter Atkins-wise than other carbs... if that makes sense. But have no scientific knowledge or experience to corroborate this. Would be interested to hear other views.

Alexa... 35 is a milestone for many people, I think... but if I were you I'd try switching "types" of carbs. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Yes, I'm going to try that this week - by carrying on with the veggie challenge numbers and cutting back on dairy.

When you say a milestone for some do you mean lots of people get stuck at this number?

[not2late]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to see how many people on here have relatively low CCLLs and get some chat going about it.

My CCLL seemed to be 35g for a long time, but lately this number seems to be my maintenance number - no more weight is being lost and sometimes I gain. I find this quite frustrating and am convinced I would enjoy this diet more if I could eat just a few more carbs!

I wonder if this low number is related to being hypothyroid? I am not a small person and I exercise quite a lot, so find this low number very annoying. Or is it not that low? Do some people have to have less?

Also with such a low carb intake I find it very hard to get away from high fat%. Without high fat % I just don't eat enough calories to sustain the amount of exercise I do.

Finally, I am wondering if anyone finds they can eat more of a certain kind of carb - for example I suspect I could eat more veggie carbs if I limited the dairy to induction levels, but then there would be calorie and hunger issues.

First off your CCLL isn't "infuriatingly low". It's the average CCLL (15-40 grams per day)---look at the CCLL chart in the OWL chapter of the book, if you think that's hard to believe. People with average metabolic resistance are in the majority of the population---that's why they are within the "average". People with very low CCLLs are in the minority as are the people with very high CCLLs (greater than 40). So get it out of your head that your CCLL is "low". It's within the average.

OWL is still high fat. So if you eat "lean carbs" like vegetables, you need to make sure you are still eating fat. The fat balance problem usually comes about if someone eats 4 tablespoons of added fat, 1 ounce nuts, 4 ounces hard cheese and 5 net carbs of a dairy food all on the same day. That may skew the fat% very high.

[mothette]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

I'm still very new to this diet so I don't have any advice for you. But I do have a couple of questions. Are you on meds for your thyroid problem? I met every one of the criteria listed in the book for thyroid problems and I lost alot less on induction than I thought I would. If you are on meds and still have a low ccl then I'm afraid the same will be for me when I get on them. The other question I have is how long did you give yourself to determine your ccl. I stalled (went between + or - one pound) for two weeks after induction. I've seen a few people on here that have stalled for like 6 weeks. I'll be moving up from extended induction soon and I'm worried that I'm going to stall and think that low number is my ccl. How do you figure out the difference?

You have lost an amazing amount of weight. I am so proud of you. And to have been on this over a year. Did you celebrate your atkins anniversary? I've not been able to "diet" for more than a month before and now I've been on atkins for over one (I started 9/21/07) and it's been so different. I get frustrated when the scale doesn't show what I want it too but on the whole I've felt so much better than I have on any main stream diet. That may be because I'm not really treating this as a diet. It's been more of a change in the way I've thought and eaten, something I want to be permanent.

[Alexa]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

First off your CCLL isn't "infuriatingly low". It's the average CCLL (15-40 grams per day)---look at the CCLL chart in the OWL chapter of the book, if you think that's hard to believe. People with average metabolic resistance are in the majority of the population---that's why they are within the "average". People with very low CCLLs are in the minority as are the people with very high CCLLs (greater than 40). So get it out of your head that your CCLL is "low". It's within the average.

OWL is still high fat. So if you eat "lean carbs" like vegetables, you need to make sure you are still eating fat. The fat balance problem usually comes about if someone eats 4 tablespoons of added fat, 1 ounce nuts, 4 ounces hard cheese and 5 net carbs of a dairy food all on the same day. That may skew the fat% very high.

I am surprised I'm in the average tbh, though I am not disputing what you say. In that case it's infuriatingly average I do still find it annoying and I doubt that will change - I just wanted to rant about it.

The idea of the fat being skewed because of eating each of those things everyday is interesting. I probably do that thinking about it, but as I said it is hard to feel full otherwise. I might try a kind if rotation idea though - thanks

[Alexa]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

I'm still very new to this diet so I don't have any advice for you. But I do have a couple of questions. Are you on meds for your thyroid problem? I met every one of the criteria listed in the book for thyroid problems and I lost alot less on induction than I thought I would. If you are on meds and still have a low ccl then I'm afraid the same will be for me when I get on them. The other question I have is how long did you give yourself to determine your ccl. I stalled (went between + or - one pound) for two weeks after induction. I've seen a few people on here that have stalled for like 6 weeks. I'll be moving up from extended induction soon and I'm worried that I'm going to stall and think that low number is my ccl. How do you figure out the difference?

You have lost an amazing amount of weight. I am so proud of you. And to have been on this over a year. Did you celebrate your atkins anniversary? I've not been able to "diet" for more than a month before and now I've been on atkins for over one (I started 9/21/07) and it's been so different. I get frustrated when the scale doesn't show what I want it too but on the whole I've felt so much better than I have on any main stream diet. That may be because I'm not really treating this as a diet. It's been more of a change in the way I've thought and eaten, something I want to be permanent.

Hi Mothette,

Thanks very much I think a lot of us here were like that - never lasting on a diet until we found Atkins. In comparison this is a breeze to stick with - as you've shown by staying on over a month when normally you don't.

I am being treated for the thyroid problem, though am having issues with what I think is over-dosage at the moment.

If you have the symptoms of a thyroid problem and are losing slowly I would strongly urge you to see a Dr if you haven't already. It will make life a lot easier, including with weight loss.

I don't know whether other thyroid sufferers have similar CCLLs or not - but everyone is different and also respond differently to treatment. I'd be interested to know.

Don't be afraid to leave extended induction - for many it boosts weight loss. It was not an issue for me. I came to 35g being my CCLL by the fact that I would stall or gain if I tried to eat 40g. I would try again, but maybe avoiding higher rungs foods only for it to be confirmed. I had several attempts to eat 40g but each time the same result. For me the result would be that week (normally a gain). I had a long stall at 177lbs for 2 months whilst on 35g, but it broke eventually without dropping the number of carbs I was eating.

I know I sound like a hypocrite because of my rant above, but it really is better to lose slowly than to give up and not lose at all or to gain, which is the likely alternative.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Yes, I'm going to try that this week - by carrying on with the veggie challenge numbers and cutting back on dairy.

When you say a milestone for some do you mean lots of people get stuck at this number?

I just mean that I've seen that number "35" seems to recur often, as people's CCLL... more often than "45"; but it's probably just that I registered it more than the higher number as it was mentioned more often in conjunction with people asking for advice. Not sure. Sorry not to be more precise.

I know how you feel about wanting your CCLL to be higher than it is... I felt the same way about mine, and went through a rather blue phase; but funnily enough, once I hit maintenance I found all sorts of ways of eating within the number which really satisfied, and still do. Then I forgot all about the number. My two big variables are exercise, which pushes the number up and wine which keeps it down, but of course that's no surprise! Lol.

[not2late]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Sally is correct about exercise potentially increasing your CCLL. According to the book, a 'regular exerciser' might have a CCLL of 60-90. Dr. Atkins defined "regular exerciser" as someone who does vigorous exercise five days a week for at least forty-five minutes.

[Alexa]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Sally is correct about exercise potentially increasing your CCLL. According to the book, a 'regular exerciser' might have a CCLL of 60-90. Dr. Atkins defined "regular exerciser" as someone who does vigorous exercise five days a week for at least forty-five minutes.

I think that is what is bugging me - I am definately in that category. I do two hours on a Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, and around 45 mins on 2 other days, including high impact running, football, and weight lifting.

I'm just feeling sorry for myself like Sally said she did for a while. I'll get over it

[mitzimarie]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Hello, Alexa

My weight loss has been quite steady... especially since I cut out greek yogurt and cottage cheese. In fact, except for an ounce of natural almonds everyday, I eat at rung 1. I still eat up to 50 net carbs, but all but about 10 - 12 net carbs come from veggies. I am convinced that Sally is right on when she said that veggie carbs "weigh" lighter Atkins-wise than other carbs. I went through all of the rungs, but when I saw how much carbs from rungs higher than 1 slowed my weight loss, I decided to get most of my carbs from veggies. I haven't been disappointed yet.

In the book, Dr. A says that each person will have to decide which is easier for them to live with - eating from the lower rungs and losing faster, or eating from a wider variety of foods and losing slower. I think that many people do need the variety from the upper rungs, so that they don't get bored and stray from the plan. Personally, I thrive on the lower rungs... so I have been able to lose steadily without getting bored (I have averaged a loss of between 1 and 2 pounds a week since I started). There are many examples on the board of those who need the variety, and are content to lose slower.

About fat - I guess that this could be one of those things that varies by individual... I always eat high fat. I just try to never go over 30% protein. As long as I am getting good carbs and fiber and don't overdo the protein, I don't care if my fat looks high. Again, this is a personal choice, and may not work for everyone. It works great for me, though.

I will be working in foods from the upper rungs again, starting next week, to try to slow my losses. I know it won't be hard... once I start eating greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and fruit again, I'll slow right down.

Awesome thread! I'm so glad you started it, and will be eager to hear from others.

[Alexa]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Hey Mitzi,

Thanks for the input. Interesting to hear you can eat more veggies. I suspect this is the same for me. I should try this theory more thoroughly.

I think maybe I could dabble more in the higher rungs when I had more to lose, but now I'm nearer goal I'm having to be more restrictive and this is frustrating because I know I need a certain amount of fruit and treat type foods to stop myself cheating.

BTW you have done so well and so fast! 4lbs from goal is amazing

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Alexa, when i started getting most of my carbs from veggies i noticed 2 things: I am not bloated anymore, and i had a 2 lb weightloss after being stalled for 8 weeks and bloated for 8 weeks....i think they key is to get most of your carbs from veggies.....i don't know if that will work for you, but it really worked for me. then maybe you will see your CCLL go up.

[mitzimarie]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

I think maybe I could dabble more in the higher rungs when I had more to lose, but now I'm nearer goal I'm having to be more restrictive and this is frustrating because I know I need a certain amount of fruit and treat type foods to stop myself cheating.

Believe me, Alexa - it broke my heart, and I pouted for a couple of days, when I dertemined that the cottage cheese, greek yogurt, and berries were slowing my loses. It was so clear, though, that they were the culprits. Once I got over my temper tantrum , I made up my mind that I could do without them until Pre-Maintenance. I just keep telling myself... "it won't be long until you can have them again... it's only temporary". So far, so good. Once I got a week without them under my belt, I didn't miss them so much.

Atkins has taught me a lot of things besides which foods are healthy... it has developed a self-discipline that I never knew I had in me. I get pissed over things (like giving up those items), and then I get over it. I'm stronger than I thought I was!

Hang in there, and keep us posted on what you're doing, and how it's going. Good Luck!

[Alexa]

Re: Infuriatingly low CCLL

Hey Blazing and Mitzi,

Well it seems clear what needs to be done - I need to make it even more about the veggies! I do love them, but I will miss my smoothies, fruit and desserts.

I have already had a good long pout in my journal, so hopefully I'll move on and get over it

Mitzi - it's nice to hear I'm not the only one struggling with leaving off some favourite foods. And you're so right - a week later I'll be thinking 'why the fuss?'

Thank you both for your input