Problems in Induction.....

[glendam]

Can any of you help me? I have been in Induction now 12 days, and have NOT entered ketosis at all. I have only lost about 3-4 pounds during this time. Also, today I have real bad pains in my abdomen - related to digestion or constipation I suspect. I take fiber every day, and drink my water, so I don't know what is going on. I have been very faithful to the program - eating as directed, and ONLY what is on the plan. My exercise could be better, but I do swim and exercise in the pool almost every day. I am most concerned about my lack of weight loss, and not going into ketosis............

Thanks for whatever suggestions or comments you have.....

glenda

[liv]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Hi Glenda,
Could you tell us exactly what you eat and drink every day AND your stats - how tall you are how much you weigh and what you are hoping to lose.

[glendam]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Liv, I am 68 years old, 5/9, 212 lbs. Diabetic, and take insulin before every meal. I have made adjustments to the insulin, using much less according to the readings on my meter. I'd like to get below 200. I began the program a week ago last Monday, and weighed 216. I take Diovan for blood pressure and clean bladder, Tricor, fiber pills, Celebrex, Prempropill, every day. I went on Atkins before, but 30 years ago....

I drink the water, usually have bacon/sausage & eggs, a salad for lunch, and have been trying the various Atkins recipes with chicken, making the soups, and last night I had a pork chop recipe with salsa & chili that as good. I do still drink coffee. Hope thats enough about me!

Don't you think I should be in ketosis by now, and have lost more weight?

[Barb1965]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Are you using a program like fitday (www.fitday.com)? I'm suspecting some hidden carbs in there somewhere, that we won't be able to see based on the meal description.

[glendam]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

No, I never heard of fitday. I am using the Atkins book, and the cookbook as well. I find it hard to actually count the carbs, but I was SURE it was less than 20/day. As I said, for breakfast its eggs with some type of omelet or breakfast meat. Lunch is a salad with canned tuna/salmon or some chicken. I try to use only a small handfull of greens (they say a "fistfull"). I eat those pork rinds with my salad, and have a HB egg for snack or 1 oz. cheese. Salad dressings are 1 or 2 gram vinegar/oil type. dinners are as described - various chicken recipes for the most part. Also, cauliflower, broccoli, onion/tomatoe......I have been eating 6-10 sauteed cherry tomatoes a few times a week. Cream in my coffee. Diet soda. Don't know wht else to report.

[Barb1965]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Do all the recipes from the cookbook say "Induction friendly" or some version of that? Pork rinds are salty, can make you retain water. You may need to add some fat. Some people can't loose while using caffeine and artificial sweeteners. You may be eating too little and have gone into starvation mode, its really hard to tell. I say check out Fitday and report back with your actual counts for carbs, fat, protein and total calories.

[Sherri]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Hello Glendam,
Are you Type 1 or Type-2 Diabetic? Do you have the book DANDR 2002? Are you eating 2 cups of salad veggies a day and 1 cup of other veggies each day adding up to three cups a day? You may not be eating enough. You say that you're eating less than 20 carbs a day. If you're not taking in enough carbohydrates and or calories it will cause your metabolism to shut down to starvation mode. Which in turn will stop and or slow weightloss.
Sometimes artificial sweetners are known weightloss stallers aswell. Caffeine isn't a good idea if you are Diabetic because it causes unstable glucose levels.
Make sure you're getting enough fat in also. Fat burns fat!
Your ratios for Induction should be Fat 65%, Protein 30% and Carbs 5%. Using fitday may be a good idea for you to use to see where your ratios are on your food intake. That way you'll know if you're getting enough of whats required for Induction.
Here's a Sticky from the Induction Thread with some very important information. Please read through it and see if there's something there you can find useful.
Your weightloss looks great! As long as your losing I wouldn't worry about Ketosis. Is it Keto stick your using? They're not turning color?
Sincerely, Sherri
Before you begin:

1. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition.
At the very least, read chapters 10 through 14. These chapters tell you how to do the diet, what to expect, and why the first 14 days are so important.

ADBB uses DANDR 2002 as its reference. Granted there are other publications by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. but we like to do the diet as it was written by Dr. Robert C. Atkins because in our collective experience Dr. Atkins' diet is more effective than Atkins Nutritionals, Inc's version.

2. See your physician.
Dr. Atkins recommended this himself. See your physician for a complete physical exam, including blood tests before beginning this or any other diet and exercise program.

Also take the Blood Sugar Symptom Test found in the book.

3. Make a commitment.
Commit yourself to giving the 14 day Induction a fair shot. If you can't commit yourself to 14 days of following rules and eating the foods listed in the acceptable foods list, this diet might not be for you.

4. Prepare your kitchen
If it's not on the list, remove it from your home. If you live with people who aren't on a low carb diet, then put your food(s) in areas separate from theirs. Also make sure you have low carb snacks available to you at all times, in case you get hungry.

5. Recruit your family and friends.
You are about to embark on a completely new lifestyle. Getting the support of your family and friends will help you through this. Be frank with them and tell them your intentions and that this is very important to you. If they have any doubts about this diet, ask them to read the book because knowledge is power.

6. Keep the Induction Rules and Foods List handy.
Make two copies of these documents: keep one on your refrigerator at home and keep the other one on your person at all times. This will save you a lot of guesswork and worry when eating out or grocery shopping.

The Rules of Induction can be found here:
What are the Rules of Induction?

The Induction Acceptable Foods List can be found here:
What foods can be eaten on Induction?

7. Read the entire label, including the ingredients.
Some foods have little carbs, but contain things like hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and sugar, which makes them unacceptable for Induction.

8. Keep a food diary
It is of utmost importance to keep track of your daily carbohydrate intake to make sure you are not exceeding 20 net carbohydrates daily.

Some people keep a notebook journal. Others like to track their progress online.

Here are some resources:
An Atkins spreadsheet:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=4570

http://www.fitday.com ---This is a free online service (registration required) that allows you to input your foods, track your exercise, etc.

Carbohydrate Counters:
http://www.atkins.com ---The Atkins site has a downloadable Carb Counter.
http://www.calorieking.com ---This site has nutritional information for most foods and beverages.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ ---This is the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Database.

9. Exercise
According to Dr. Atkins "exercise is non-negotiable"! So get moving. Begin according to your level of fitness. Visit the Exercise Forum.

10. Vitamin Supplements
These are also recommended by Dr. Atkins because many of us have poor nutrition and we need extra nutrients. Visit the Vita-Nutrient Forum.

11. Weigh AND Measure Yourself on Day 1

Make sure you weigh and measure yourself before you begin this diet. Contrary to what we are lead to believe, the scale isn't the best tool for measuring weight loss (fat loss). It doesn't tell you how much muscle you gained. It doesn't tell you how much water weight you gained or lost. It doesn't tell you that you will fit into that pair of jeans.

Tips for weighing:
a. Weigh yourself at the same time of day under the same conditions. You can weigh "more" after a meal or after you drink water or you can weigh "less" after you exercise or have a bowel movement. So pick a time and stick to it. Likewise, clothing can also add on "pounds". So if you choose to weigh yourself wearing clothes, make sure you are wearing the same clothing or nearly the same clothing.

b. Use the same scale. Scales differ slightly. So the scale in your doctor's office or at the gym might have you weighing more or less than the scale in your bathroom.

Tips for measuring:
a. You can measure whatever body areas you want: chest, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm, wrists and ankles. To make the measuring easier, you body landmarks like your belly button or a mole or scar, to guide your tape measure placement. For chest measurement, women can either measure under their armpits and/or under their breasts.

b. Don't "pull" on the measuring tape because that will give you a false reading (and stretch the tape). The tape should be snug, but not tight.

c. Don't suck in to make yourself smaller. Again, that will give you a false measurement.

Measuring tapes can be purchased at craft stores (the sewing section) for under $5.00. If you can't find one, you can use a piece of string. Just mark that string with a marker pen to indicate your "start" points". Or if you have an old belt, you can use that too.

Another good "measuring tool" is your clothing. Non-stretchy clothing like a dress shirt, jeans, or dress is the best thing to use. Stretchy fabric (like t-shirts or anything with spandex) will conform to your body as you shrink so you might not see the results. Try on this article of clothing periodically to see how you are losing inches.

[glendam]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Thank you both, Sherri and Liv. I do think I am eating the proper amount of salad and veg. I do use sweetners, but only 2 a day. I know the cafeeine is bad, but I can't do without - have tried to cut down on my a.m. coffee, which is the only time I drink it, with about a Tbsp of cream total. I will go to fitday and see if I can get a better handle on the total carbs per day. I am using the ketone sticks - but I won't worry about it if I lose. My 2 weeks are up on Monday - 3 days from now - so we'll see what my scale says then. I still believe I should have a greater weight loss than what I am seeing. I see some in how my clothes fit, but not much. I am drinking water like crazy today, so hopefully that will help with the abdominal cramps. Any thoughts on those?

I know that low carbs are the way to go, and are better for my diabetes. I have Type 2, and have been on insulin for about 5 years. What is the book DANDR2002???

Again, thanks for your suggestions.

Glenda

[Sherri]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

DANDR 2002 is Dr. Atkins last book he wrote and the one we go by on this site. Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002. Is this the book you have? If not, try to get a copy and read it. Then you'll be on the right track of what you're allowed and what you're not.
That's great that you're going to go to fitday.com to see what your actual carb count is. That is really important to know. Along with the ratios.
I had Type 2 Diabetes before I began Atkins over 4 years ago. It went away ater 48 days into Induction.
Have you tried taking Chromium Pic as a supplement for your Diabetes? It will help stablize your glucose levels. People who are lacking in Chromium pic in there bodies are borderline Diabetic or Diabetic. It's an excellent supplement and I highly recommned it.
Also, I chose foods lower on the Glycemic Index,(GI). That was extremely helpful in reversing my Diabetes and losing the weight more quickly. You can go to www.glycemicindex.com and learn more about the GI and GL (glycemic load). A very useful tool.
If you had DANDR 2002, Dr. Atkins describes the GI on page78-84,92. He describes the GI as "A beautiful tool" He certainly was right about that!
Make sure you measure your body with a tape measure so you can keep track of inches loss. I know that when the scale isn't moving the tape measure becomes a better friend by showing inches lost.
Here's another site for you to check out that shows Glycemic Index in foods. The lower the better.
Table 1. Glycemic Load Values For All Food Types
Glycemic Load of Carb Foods - GI in Food Serving


Sincerely,Sherri

[kellyf48]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Also check the breakfast meat for sugar.

[glendam]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Thank you all again for your comments, but I am very discouraged about being able to do this program. I have had abdominal cramps all day, despite my drinking lots of water. I will take Senocot tonight, and hope that this is just all about constipation - although I have been having regular BMs in the morning.

I'm pretty careful about labels and ingredients, and I don't really think I have unwittingly eaten a high carb food. This is such a restrictive program in this phase, that if I don't see a weight loss that is worth it on Monday (at least 6 lbs. over 2 weeks), and if I don't begin to feel better re the cramps, I may pack it in.

Thanks!

[mygoyal]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

You've lost six pounds in two weeks? That's excellent! That's not a bad number. It's a good one. Plus scales really shouldn't be the only thing you measure your progress with. Scales are misleading sometimes. You could be losing inches and not pounds. Your body could just be trying it's best to keep up with the big changes you're making to it. I know mine lost little during induction but then started catching up with bigger numbers down the road.

I think I read in one of your posts that you are using those ketone sticks and that they are not showing you in ketosis... Those sticks aren't always an accurate picture of how much ketosis you are in. Mine was showing trace even though I was strict and didn't even eat processed foods, salt, or sugar. Come to find out the amount of water I was drinking diluted my urine.

I feel for you on the cramps thing. Nothing is worse than stomach pains.

I hope you feel better soon and that things work out for you.

[glendam]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Thanks mygoyal - actually, I am HOPING I have lost 6 lbs.by Monday. So far the scale shows 4. Thanks for sympathizing re cramps - all day I have suffered. I am ASSUMING it is caused by constipation. I'm taking the Senokot tonight and hopefully will feel better tomorrrow. This is a tough diet program to follow if you get discouraged as it is so restrictive.

glenda

[Sherri]

Re: Problems in Induction.....

Are you feeling better this morning?
Yes, can do this! Take one day at a time, and put your best Atkins foot forward everyday. Remember, this isn't a diet, it's a Lifestyle. It's not a race either. It takes time to make lifestyle changes. Patience is all part of the process! You're changing eating habbits for life! You are going to become the healthiest that you've ever been on the Atkins plan. Follow the plan 100% and you'll get 100% results.
Not only will you lose the weight but you will become healthy internally, just as, if not, more important! Good health starts internally! Weightloss is only one of the fantastic benifits of being in the Atkins Lifestyle!
One of the tools that benefited my weightloss was using the GI (Glycemic Index) to choose foods lowest on the GI off of each rung.
Dr. Atkins explains the GI on page78-84, 92 DANDR. He describes it as a "Beautiful Tool". It certainly is for me. 48 days into Extended Induction my Type-2 Dibetes disappeared, never to return again. I lost 100 pounds in ten months. I noticed that choosing foods from the GI kept my glucose levels at a steady level without any spikes and dives. Nice and steady! So important for weightloss. I didn't eat fruit for a year. I stayed mainly at Rung 3.
Here's a link that Jimmie gave me to help choose foods lower on the GI. It's easy to do. Just go over your allowed foods on your list on page 125, 126 DANDR and choose those foods lower on the GI. For example- Yellow onions are high on the GI, leeks and green onions are lower than the other onions allowed. So those are the types of onions I chose.
Table 1. Glycemic Load Values For All Food Types
Glycemic Load of Carb Foods - GI in Food Serving
Also you can go to www.glycemicindex.com to learn more about the GI and GL (glycemic load). I really believe in this tool to help with your glucose level to stay nice and steady and to benifit weightloss. You don't have to be Diabetic for this tool to work. Try it, what do you have to lose, except POUNDS.
Wishing all of you the best of health and lite.
Sincerely, Sherri