Need advice please

[Carboholic]

Hi! I tried Atkins several years ago and lost 50 lbs. and maintained the weight loss for a little over 4 years. I stayed pretty close to the induction phase throughout those four years, not really adding in too much high carb fruits/vegs.

Then one day a family member said "go ahead and try this egg roll, just one won't kill you". I was totally shocked that that one egg roll didn't just plump me right back to my old weight. Sooo, over the last year I have slowly eaten just about every refined sugar, flour available and have gained 20 lbs. back.

I have tried induction again without any success. (5lbs loss over about 30 days) Very frustrating! When I do induction, I am not one to cheat at all and after 4 successful years, I know my triggers and how important it is to walk the line. (I do not like sodas, splenda etc.)

I am at such a loss as to what to do...now I am trying to jump start my metabolism by eating only meat. UGH! I am not a meat lover. I know this can be extreme so I plan to just try this for a few days. I have tried this before with great results, but it makes me sick to think about eating any meals. I am new to this web and would love any advice or mentorship with my fight ahead. Any advice would be greatly welcomed!! Thank You! Meg

[Lamby-pie]

Re: Need advice please

Hi Carbo,

I'm in the same boat you are in.
Are you doing any cardio to boost your metabolism & fat burning? Also, weight training builds those fat burning muscles.
You still lost five pounds, so at least it is coming off although slowly. I'd keep eating veggies, too, if I were you.
Hang in there, think about where you'll be six months from now!

[kate58]

Re: Need advice please

Welcome to the ADBB!!

5lbs loss over about 30 days is NOT a lack of success, it's great!!! You have 20lbs to lose - that means you have lost 25% of what you need to lose in 4 weeks, by any measure that is not failure. It even means you do not have a high metabolic resistance, so should get off induction and move on to OWL.

Eating only meat certainly won't work - too much protein will just raise your glucose and prevent you from getting into/staying in ketosis.

I don't really understand why you stayed close to induction while maintaining. The maintenance phase of Atkins is nothing like induction. Did you originally go up all the rungs of OWL? Do you know the level of carbs that allow you to maintain?

You have lost 5lbs, so there is no point in staying on induction now or in making up your own version of Atkins. Go on the first rung of OWL, eat more veg and have patience - you know it comes off cos you've been there before. It's not going to be the same as the last time, so don't expect the same results. You are 4 years older, your metabolism is different having been eating differently and it just never is the same.

[Carboholic]

Re: Need advice please

Thank you both for your encouragement. You are right about having success. I just had hoped I would have the same quick results initially that I did when I did induction the first time.

Yes, I do a cardio workout 5 days a week (and have always maintained that exercise, even while eating all the junk). I will power walk 2-3 miles a day. I haven't done weights (the Firm) in about a month just because I am eating virtually no carbs, (I will gain even on 5 carbs a day), and therefore get very tired with strenuous exercise. I will try to add mini workouts throughout my day with weights, that is good idea. Thanks!

I resorted to eating only meat because when I would eat salad with low carb dressing or lower carb veggies, I would gain weight. The meat only diet has worked in getting the 5 lbs off, my only problem is, since it is so extreme I usually lose weight and then get so hungry for veggies that I go off and start eating bad again. My plan was to lose the weight to get down to my goal and then start adding in veggies and nuts. I just need the power to stay the course. I guess the first time around it was so easy to stay on induction because I was seeing results and the transformation was rapid. I am very discouraged with myself because for so many years it had been so easy to eat well and low carb, it WASN'T even an option for me to eat sugar or flour. But now, I just am having trouble, seeing not much weight loss and depriving myself so much, it is very easy to say, "I haven't lost THAT much anyway, I'll just eat that chip."

To your question as to why I stayed close to induction for those years, I didn't really feel any need to eat differently. I really enjoyed eating that way. I had even gotten to point of eating popcorn everyday and wouldn't gain weight at all.

Thank you all for the advice, it really helps knowing I am not the only one who is struggling with second time weight loss and that I CAN do it.

Meg

[sallyseachange]

Re: Need advice please

Kate gave you spot on advice... now's the time to move to OWL. Do, do do continue to eat veggies... they are so important. You need those vits and mins!

It might be slower, but if you follow the plan to a T, you'll get to where you want to be, for sure.