I'm so discouraged

[ceecee29]

Hi all,
Sorry for the downer post, but I'm really having a hard time. I've been trying to do atkins for the last three months and although I'm pretty strict I've been gaining and losing the same five pounds for the last three months and I'm getting very sick of it! I'm 5"4, currently weigh 153, and my goal weight is 130. I have done atkins before, several times over the last 8 years and I've usually seen very good results...until now. The scale isn't moving, my clothes aren't getting any looser, I'm tired all the time and I'm thoroughly sick of the food I'm allowed to eat.
I know there is a logical reason why I'm not losing. The reasons I can think of are:
- I drink coffee- not decaf- two or three cups a day, with a little splenda and 1/2 & 1/2.
- Every three weeks or so I cheat. Like really cheat for a whole day and sometimes two days.
-I'm so sick of eating meat that I just had to add nuts and berries.
Usually what happens is that I'll "recommit" to induction and then after a week of no loss slide a little and then get really discouraged and cheat. I know that I'm not really doing the diet properly, but is why is it that even when I do do it properly I don't lose anything anyway? I do exercise 3-4 times a week.
help! I'm tired of being tired and fat!
thanks
ceecee

[makinbiscuits]

Re: I'm so discouraged

it sounds like atkins may not be the diet that's best for you.

also maybe you need to find some extra motivation as well after that week instead of cheating. you need to figure out within yourself what it's gonna take to commit to any diet plan.

only you can find that "what it takes" to push yourself over the edge and be successful with your weightloss.

[Jace]

Re: I'm so discouraged

Aside from the obvious problems of not eating on plan, having coffee and an affinity for cheating, you also mention that you've done Atkins several times over the past 8 years. Jumping in and out of ketosis has been known to seriously mess up the metabolism...you may just be extremely resistant after all you've put your body through.

Also, how long do you usually stay on induction? If you're getting bored of the food choices...get through a clean induction then move directly to OWL and open up a veritable cornucopia of choices. You're looking to lose a relatively small amount of weight, so you can't expect to see huge losses nor is there any valid reason to stay on induction more than 2 weeks.

Other than that, you really have answered your own question and makinbiscuits may be correct...perhaps Atkins just isn't for you? At least reevaulate whether or not you can stick to this or are in an emotional place where you are ready to lose the weight before you do more damage than good to your metabolism.

All the best,

~Far la bella figura!

[Sherri]

Re: I'm so discouraged

Hi all,
Sorry for the downer post, but I'm really having a hard time. I've been trying to do atkins for the last three months and although I'm pretty strict I've been gaining and losing the same five pounds for the last three months and I'm getting very sick of it! I'm 5"4, currently weigh 153, and my goal weight is 130. I have done atkins before, several times over the last 8 years and I've usually seen very good results...until now. The scale isn't moving, my clothes aren't getting any looser, I'm tired all the time and I'm thoroughly sick of the food I'm allowed to eat.
I know there is a logical reason why I'm not losing. The reasons I can think of are:
- I drink coffee- not decaf- two or three cups a day, with a little splenda and 1/2 & 1/2.
- Every three weeks or so I cheat. Like really cheat for a whole day and sometimes two days.
-I'm so sick of eating meat that I just had to add nuts and berries.
Usually what happens is that I'll "recommit" to induction and then after a week of no loss slide a little and then get really discouraged and cheat. I know that I'm not really doing the diet properly, but is why is it that even when I do do it properly I don't lose anything anyway? I do exercise 3-4 times a week.
help! I'm tired of being tired and fat!
thanks
ceecee

AWW, I feel your frustration,
Okay, this is how I see whats going on. First, you have 23 pounds you want to lose. You've been on this WOE (way of eating) for three months now. Besides the 8 previous years. Did you read DANDR and did you move up the Rungs correctly? Induction, Owl Rung 1 ,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,?
Why are you drinking 1/2 & 1/2? It's not allowed. We're allowed 3 Tbls. of cream a day on Induction, 1/2 cup heavy cream on OWL.
Nuts can be tricky. I have to stay away from them because I can't control my portions. Some nuts stall me and make me gain. Berries are great on Rung 4. Again watch the portion sizes.
Could you post a daily menu of what you are eating. Then we can maybe see if there's something we can help you with.
You should be getting most of your carbs in by eating your veggies. Meat, (protein), is not what we eat most of in this lifestyle.
You can do this! You need to pull your DANDR 2002 Book out and do some reviewing. Are you going by this book or the old one? This would make a difference in your weight loss success.
That's great that you're exercising 3-4 days a week, FANTASTIC!
Now All you need to do is stay off the SCALE and "recommit" to your woe, and move up the rungs correctly with the right foods and correct portion sizes. If you need help with recipes, ask. Start a journal if you havn't already and get involved with your Atkins Lifestyle.
This is something you've got to set your mind to CeeCee. Either you're doing Atkins 100% or you're not doing it at all. That scale is evil and will discourage the most consitant Atkineer, (including myself) if you allow it.
This is the healthiest lifestyle there is . There's no half stepping about it. You can't have it both ways. You get back what you put into it. Give it your 100% and you'll get 100% results. YOU CAN DO THIS!
I've been doing this for nearly four years. It hasn't all been easy. Yes, I have my bad days just like everyone does. Look, I'm on day 30 today cheat-free. I think that's a record for the last six months or so. This is a life syle not a diet. Don't expect instant results. It's not a race. "It's a goal to live a healthy today for a healthy tomorrow."
I hope you don't give up CeeCee. Think about the things I've mentioned and see if you can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Called HOPE!
Sincerely, Sherri}{

[biogeek]

Re: I'm so discouraged

What a great response, Sherri! I couldn't have said it better myself.

[ceecee29]

Re: I'm so discouraged

thanks so much Sheri!
You really said what I needed to hear. I just needed some encouragement. And actually atkins IS the diet for me because I am hypoglycemic and a total carb addict and atkins is the way that I have dealt with that over the last 8 years- I didn't talk about that in my post but that has been a big success for me with atkins. That is why I have been "off and on" the diet and keep coming back to it - becuase it helps me to control my crazy food cravings (and, really, I can't imagine ANYONE who has been "on" a diet for 8 solid years. I mean come on, what a way to live. I'd rather exercise and be kind of chubby then never eat a piece of bread again.)
Also, to the people who cautioned that I am doing some kind of harm to my metabolism, I have read that it is actually quite difficult to "slow down" your metabolism and that reason that it happens, if it does, is because of severely restricting calories.
I think, in the end, that I had gotten cocky about how easily weight had come off before with atkins, even when I wasn't doing it by the book and so I was frustrated that it wasn't working the same way this time. I'm going to get the book and re-read it.
thanks again Sheri!

[ceecee29]

Re: I'm so discouraged

Oh and also:
my regular eating is something like:

scrambled eggs and a little cheese
handful of almonds
a salad, with olive oil and mustard dressing
cheese/ salami/ olives
plus a lot of coffee
gee, writing that out I really see why I'm not losing...all i eat is cheese!

[Sherri]

Re: I'm so discouraged

thanks so much Sheri!
You really said what I needed to hear. I just needed some encouragement. And actually atkins IS the diet for me because I am hypoglycemic and a total carb addict and atkins is the way that I have dealt with that over the last 8 years- I didn't talk about that in my post but that has been a big success for me with atkins. That is why I have been "off and on" the diet and keep coming back to it - becuase it helps me to control my crazy food cravings (and, really, I can't imagine ANYONE who has been "on" a diet for 8 solid years. I mean come on, what a way to live. I'd rather exercise and be kind of chubby then never eat a piece of bread again.)
Also, to the people who cautioned that I am doing some kind of harm to my metabolism, I have read that it is actually quite difficult to "slow down" your metabolism and that reason that it happens, if it does, is because of severely restricting calories.
I think, in the end, that I had gotten cocky about how easily weight had come off before with atkins, even when I wasn't doing it by the book and so I was frustrated that it wasn't working the same way this time. I'm going to get the book and re-read it.
thanks again Sheri!

You're very welcome Ceecee,
I am a Type 2 diabetic. When I began Atkins I weighed 374 lbs. After on Atkins 48 days my glucose levels stablized and I no longer required 2 types of medications for the diabetes. It was and is today controlled by this Life Style alone. Not only did my glucose levels stablize but my high blood pressure returned to normal and I was able to throw away the meds for that as well. I reversed my Typ-2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and high lipids. Along with losing over 120 pounds. I got my life back and will continue this lifestyle for as long as I walk upon this earth.
I'm glad that you're getting your book out hon. That a girl. Also, I see after you wrote down your menu, you noticed things that needed changing. That's so important to keep a food diary at home. I've been keeping one now for nearly four years. It's the best referrence you will have. I can go back four years and see what I was eating, how much I weighed and what exercises I was doing on any given day. It's your personal refference to what is working and what's not for your unique metabolism. Everyone is different.
I see where you need to add vegetables from the list of Other Vegetables Page 126, DANDR. When on Induction you're allowed one cup of these along with 2 cups of salad veggies page125 DANDR or 3 cups of salad veggies and no other veggies. On Owl Rung 1 Veggies, you're just adding 5 grams more of Veggies.
It's very key to our weightloss success to get our veggies in. We should be getting most of our carbs in a day eating veggies.
Also, I'm seeing salami for your protein. Do you eat other protein throughout the day as well? On page 123 DANDR Dr. A discusses where you are allowed to eat protein from the allowed list (page 124) in liberal amounts. We're allowed 3-4 ounces of cheese (aged) a day during Induction from the induction dairy allowed list and 5 ounces of cheese, including fresh cheese during Rung 2 Dairy. 3-4 Tbls. of heavy cream during induction and 1/2 cup cream during Owl Rung 2.
Let me know if you need anymore encouragement. Or if you have any questions or concerns. I'm here rooting for you Ceecee.
Sincerely, Sherri}{

[Ketone]

Re: I'm so discouraged

Hi all,
Sorry for the downer post, but I'm really having a hard time. I've been trying to do atkins for the last three months and although I'm pretty strict I've been gaining and losing the same five pounds for the last three months and I'm getting very sick of it! I'm 5"4, currently weigh 153, and my goal weight is 130. I have done atkins before, several times over the last 8 years and I've usually seen very good results...until now. The scale isn't moving, my clothes aren't getting any looser, I'm tired all the time and I'm thoroughly sick of the food I'm allowed to eat.
I know there is a logical reason why I'm not losing. The reasons I can think of are:
- I drink coffee- not decaf- two or three cups a day, with a little splenda and 1/2 & 1/2.
- Every three weeks or so I cheat. Like really cheat for a whole day and sometimes two days.
-I'm so sick of eating meat that I just had to add nuts and berries.
Usually what happens is that I'll "recommit" to induction and then after a week of no loss slide a little and then get really discouraged and cheat. I know that I'm not really doing the diet properly, but is why is it that even when I do do it properly I don't lose anything anyway? I do exercise 3-4 times a week.
help! I'm tired of being tired and fat!
thanks
ceecee

I am sure none of us want you to give up on your goal of being healthy. The OWL phase has many food that are wonderful and in combination of your exercise 3-4 times a week is great! don't stop that! Now, from myself I use ketostik. Some on here like, others not so much. This is a tool. I think if you see your sticks go pink - white - purple - beige - peach - white.... well you will see that your jumping in and out of ketosis.... example, I was testing purple (high 80) and ate white rice! be it a few hours pass NEGATIVE ketones.... body stopped the diet... that is just how easy you fall out of it.
So, with that said. Once you get a plan stay on it best you can... then results will show. Best of Luck! Kathy

[kate58]

Re: I'm so discouraged

I can't imagine ANYONE who has been "on" a diet for 8 solid years. I mean come on, what a way to live.

Atkins is a way of life, a way of eating that is permanent, not a diet. There are plenty of people who have been eating that way for 8 years and more than it. Thinking of it as a temporary thing to be returned to again and again is inevitably going to lead to a cycle of losses and gains, and that is inevitably going to have an effect on metabolism.

Now induction for 8 years is unthinkable. But climbing the OWL rungs and then transitioning to pre-maintenance and finally maintenance is a different ball game. It may take time, it may mean a slower weight loss than you want, but it can be a permanent way of eating.

It isn't a case of no more bread (or anything else) ever, it's a case of choosing your bread, knowing how much of it you can have and how often. Neither induction nor OWL is the Atkins way of eating - they are just early phases - the real way of eating is maintenace, which is the part that does and can last for years and years, for the rest of your life.

I remember when there was all this stuff about the French paradox - how French women could eat baguette, croissants, chocolate, cake, rich sauces and so on and still stay thin. It sounded amazing, like a dream. What mysterious thing made it possible?

But having been to France a lot and watched these thin and elegant French women eating, it's less mysterious. Sure they eat all of those things, but not as we imagine. They might have croissants, but they have one small one maybe once a week or even less, the cake is another occasional treat and it's a tiny piece, they eat very decadent chocolate truffles but ones with very high cocoa content and very low sugar content and they eat, maybe, two of them, they have just one slice of that baguette - and their baguettes have about half the diameter of the ones commonly sold in other countries.

I've watched them eat in restaurants - they eat the meat and the veg, but often, even usually, have no starch accompaniement, or if they do leave most of it on the plate. In fact it's quite unusual to see a French person empty their plate at a meal, and the portions are small.

In many ways the way they eat is very like Atkins maintenance - no fear of fat, plenty of good meat and veg, limited carbohydrates, an emphasis on whole fresh food.

[ceecee29]

Re: I'm so discouraged

I completely agree Kate,
I think I was trying to get induction results from long-term maintenance carb levels, but with much of the restrictive mind-set of induction still in place - a recipe for disaster!
Thanks all for your advice and encouragement. I'm going to the bookstore today to buy the book - I'll post more about what happens (I'm especially curious if the people who think atkins doesn't work the third, fourth, fifth time one tries it are correct. My suspicion is that many of us who do it over and over are cheating a lot more than we think and thats why we don't lose the weight, not because our bodies become "resistant" to the diet)
good luck all!
ceecee

[Sherri]

Re: I'm so discouraged

Good Morning Ceecee,

Wishing you a wonderful Low Carb day! I hope you start a Journal if you havn't already. I would love to visit you and get better acquanted. It's a great way to also post your menu and exercise for the day and share your triumphs and vents. Also make friends that are experiencing all the things that you're going through. Just a thought.
Sincerely, Sherri

[ceecee29]

Re: I'm so discouraged

sounds like a good idea, Sherri. Is there a journal affiliated with this board?

[Sherri]

Re: I'm so discouraged

sounds like a good idea, Sherri. Is there a journal affiliated with this board?

Hello Ceecee,
Yes there is a journal thread. Just go down to the bottom of the page here and You'll see Forum Jump. Click on that and find Journal Chats and click on that. Read all the Stickys first then click on New Thread and start yourself a journal. By the way you're more than welcome to visit me in my journal anythime.
If you have any more questions regarding the start of your Journal, just ask.
See you at Journals!
Sherri}{

[canIdoIT]

Re: I'm so discouraged

*sigh of relief* for me- this post was NOT a downer at all- you actually made me feel better ok. we have MANY similarities. first, i'm 5'4" and second, i am actually stalled and i go from 160 lbs - 163 lbs (so i'm way jealous of your 150 lbs!! ) i want to reach 130
I too have 3-4 cups of coffee per day, i put reddi wip on everything hehe... and splenda i have pistacios- and for those days i need to cheat, i am stocked with sugar free candy- like twizzlers and nestle turtles - if your gonna cheat.. might as well stay within your carb range and plan for it, right?! nothing like sugar free jello (no carbs) with some whipped cream

ok... i started at 178 so i actually lost 18 pounds doing it this way- and this is in 19 days i've lost this- i don't exercise as much as i should... really hard to find time with an infant-- but i do move a lil.

i'm thrilled to be at the low 160's... but i think i might do induction *properly* ... for me i just had to get used to eating low carb- now that i'm used to it, its no big deal... and i don't think their is anything wrong with working sugar free candy into your diet because its low carb and come on... if this is a way of life, not a diet, who can really go the rest of their life eating a steak at the movies instead of candy like everyone else?!! -- p.s. i realized today that splenda and whip cream have one carb per serving which is prolly why my weight stalled- because i had not been counting that and that means i have like 40 carbs a day... i thought i was eating only 20-25 carbs a day.

but.. if you want a lil variety- to make your own low carb diet up, as opposed to BY THE BOOK atkins- i say do what works for you!
Here are some things i eat...

sugar free jello= 0 carbs it is sweet and carb free.
reddi whip- has less then one carb- really good in coffee or on jello.. makes a killer desert or snack
even though it has fillers- beef jerkey and beef sticks was something i was eating when i lost a ton of weight- its low carb
strawberries- in a 1/2 cup there are 3.5 carbs
blueberries are low as well in carbs.
string cheese
of course your eggs, roast chuck, salmon, talapia, steak, bacon, ranch dressing, tuna, mayonaise, hamburger, chicken, turkey
spinache
romaine lettuce
sugar free cookies
sugar free twizzlers (5 carbs for 3)
sugar free turtles (3 carbs for 3)

I say give it a whril. if your prone to cheat, just prepare- i freeze all my sugar free stuff by the way- taste like non sugar free to me. my husband cannot tell the difference! If it doesn't work out for you... you can alwayz go back to how it was