Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

[Diver Down]

I'm on my third attempt with Atkins and my weight loss during this induction phase is the most severe of them all: I've lost 11-13 pounds in just 6 days. Typically, my weight loss during the other two inductions (roughly) followed a pattern of losing 10 pounds in 10 days, 18 pounds in 18 days...which is still rather extreme, but nowhere near what I'm going through now. I'm starting from a much heavier weight this time around; could that be part of the reason? In any event, is this type of rapid weight loss something I should be concerned about? I'm eating steadily, plenty of meats and cheeses, but maintaining a very low carb intake. I'm even drinking diet sodas with caffeine, sodium, and aspartame. Not to mention having some carb bars and low carb ice cream treats along the way. Why am I losing weight at this pace, even doing things which are known to slow weight loss? I love the results, don't get me wrong, but I'm a little concerned and mostly just terribly confused. I can't explain the cause and I'm really looking for some kind of explanation since it's beyond my realm of understanding.

[EverLosing]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

When you weigh more, generally, you'll lose more. I'd like to caution you though that this little honeymoon won't last forever. I wouldn't continue to tempt fate if I were you. I'm hoping other newbies don't read this and consider it permission to chose the same types of "foods" you are. Your naughty "foods" are not allowed on induction. Most people wouldn't lose anything near what you are, eating garbage on induction. They'd be lucky to even maintain much less lose.

I would encourage you to start following the rules of induction. If you aren't going to follow Atkins, please don't tell other people you're on Atkins. It really makes it an uphill climb for the rest of us.

[BikiniBy2010]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

First off, congratulations!! I am not completely Atkins-Savy yet as I just started.. But I am thinking that you may of been retaining a lot of water and that is what the bulk of the loss is so far..
Plus the more you weigh, the more your lose at first.

[BikiniBy2010]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

If you aren't going to follow Atkins, please don't tell other people you're on Atkins. It really makes it an uphill climb for the rest of us.

Not to pick on the poster, but I agree.. I find a lot of people have misconceptions about Atkins because a lot of people don't follow the rules.. (and in your defense..currently, I am not following the rules because it's been more then 6 hours since I've eaten which is a huge no no!)

[Simona]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

The higher weight could account for the higher loss.

A co-worker told me today she's doing South Beach. I told her I was doing Atkins. Surprisingly we started the same week. I lost 8lbs, she lost 3lbs in her first week and was SO angry when I told her I lost 8lbs. My starting weight is 350lbs, hers is 140lbs. HUGE difference. I had to explain that to her so she wouldnt get discouraged.

[Diver Down]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

When you weigh more, generally, you'll lose more. I'd like to caution you though that this little honeymoon won't last forever. I wouldn't continue to tempt fate if I were you. I'm hoping other newbies don't read this and consider it permission to chose the same types of "foods" you are. Your naughty "foods" are not allowed on induction. Most people wouldn't lose anything near what you are, eating garbage on induction. They'd be lucky to even maintain much less lose.

I would encourage you to start following the rules of induction. If you aren't going to follow Atkins, please don't tell other people you're on Atkins. It really makes it an uphill climb for the rest of us.

For your information, on my other two inductions I lost tons of weight drinking caffeine and having the occasional carb bar or low carb ice cream snack. I'm sorry if that bothers you, but it worked for me. I really don't appreciate your condescending attitude, as if I'm not doing Atkins because *gasp* I was able to drink caffeine while doing induction. Every one of us reacts differently to things like caffeine or artificial sweeteners. Obviously I'm able to consume them and still manage to lose weight...so what?! That's MY body, not yours. And P.S. my diet is comprised of various meats and cheeses, as I wrote above; I'm not stuffing myself with low carb snacks. I've eaten one or two carb bars over a period of several days, snacking in little bits, while I did have a net 5 carb ice cream snack the other night. 9.5/10 of what I'm consuming is strictly zero-to-low carb and fresh so please don't refer to my induction regimen as "eating garbage". I didn't come here to brag, I came here for technical answers as to why my weight loss has been so rapid during this latest induction. I certainly didn't come here to be criticized and demonized by the likes of you so if that's all you're offering then please take it elsewhere.

[EverLosing]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

For your information, on my other two inductions I lost tons of weight drinking caffeine and having the occasional carb bar or low carb ice cream snack. I'm sorry if that bothers you, but it worked for me. I really don't appreciate your condescending attitude, as if I'm not doing Atkins because *gasp* I was able to drink caffeine while doing induction. Every one of us reacts differently to things like caffeine or artificial sweeteners. Obviously I'm able to consume them and still manage to lose weight...so what?! That's MY body, not yours. And P.S. my diet is comprised of various meats and cheeses, as I wrote above; I'm not stuffing myself with low carb snacks. I've eaten one or two carb bars over a period of several days, snacking in little bits, while I did have a net 5 carb ice cream snack the other night. 9.5/10 of what I'm consuming is strictly zero-to-low carb and fresh so please don't refer to my induction regimen as "eating garbage". I didn't come here to brag, I came here for technical answers as to why my weight loss has been so rapid during this latest induction. I certainly didn't come here to be criticized and demonized by the likes of you so if that's all you're offering then please take it elsewhere.

There's no need for you to be rude to anyone here. This board isn't a soft pillow to fall on. We tell it like it is...and always have. Your post did have a bragging tone to it whether you want to believe it or not. I just don't want other newbies to read a post like that and think eating outside the rules of induction works for you, so it would work for them too. Look at your subject line. Imagine someone new to the board reading that and then clicking on it and thinking they could gain some insight by what you wrote. It's about responsible posting. I'm sorry that notion offends you. All I had to go on was you actual post. You don't list any stats at all. I didn't read anything about veggies in your diet either. Meat and cheese were the only things that weren't junk.

You said, "In any event, is this type of rapid weight loss something I should be concerned about? I'm eating steadily, plenty of meats and cheeses, but maintaining a very low carb intake. I'm even drinking diet sodas with caffeine, sodium, and aspartame. Not to mention having some carb bars and low carb ice cream treats along the way. Why am I losing weight at this pace, even doing things which are known to slow weight loss?" If you're eating those things and managing to maintain a very low carb intake, it does give credence to the idea you're not following Atkins. That's what my post was based on, your words. It wasn't peppered with daggers or calls for your ex-communication from the low carb life. You asked for opinions. I gave you mine. I'm sorry you feel I should have offered a group hug and congratulated you on your "success." It's just important for other new members to know, eating the things you mentioned on Induction will most likely have negative results for them.

If it's "technical" answers you want about why you're losing weight while not doing Induction according to Dr. Atkins' rules, you probably posted on the wrong site. Most of us here follow DANDR 2002. That's what we do. That's not what you're doing according to your post.

[Diver Down]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

This board isn't a soft pillow to fall on. We tell it like it is

As do I. I wrote that I had eaten Atkins low carb treats because that is "telling it like it is". I gave an idea of what I had lost before, on previous inductions, compared to what I'm losing now, because that is "telling it like it is". I provided relevant information in the hopes of getting answers to my question, not to have my diet regimen graded which is all you came here to do. If I had wanted someone to give me an evaluation of my diet, I would have asked for it. I'm simply trying to understand the science involved here. Be that as it may, you're not offering any support (quite the opposite) and your attitude is certainly not helpful. All you're doing here is acting to derail my thread so please take it elsewhere. I came to this forum seeking understanding and maybe a little support, not to engage in an online war of words.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

I came to this forum seeking understanding and maybe a little support, not to engage in an online war of words.

Hello! I just wanted to say I must actually agree with Everlosing here - I understand you came seeking support, as this is what the board is for - HOWEVER - you must understand that everyone on this board "lives by the rules" of the 2002 DANDR book - and the fact that you came here talking of how you are not following those rules yet still losing weight may make some new people think that that would work for them too - and that's not what we want to encourage at all because to be on Atkins there are rules you must follow otherwise you are not actually on Atkins. That's the point Everlosing was trying to make.

The fact of the matter is - what is working for you IS technically "low-carb" but it is not "atkins" the way we all follow it and encourage and support everyone to do so.

It'd be the same as if someone who's following south beach to come on here and ask specific questions saying they drink milk and eat fruit during "induction" but according to the ATKINS rules, that's not following atkins.

Please don't get offended wen you come to a specific place where we adhere to specific rules and you aren't following those rules yet expect everyone to say it's "OK"...

as far as explaining your rapid weight loss - you might just have a high tolerance of carbs - many people do not.

[mitzimarie]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

I provided relevant information in the hopes of getting answers to my question, not to have my diet regimen graded which is all you came here to do. If I had wanted someone to give me an evaluation of my diet, I would have asked for it. I'm simply trying to understand the science involved here. Be that as it may, you're not offering any support (quite the opposite) and your attitude is certainly not helpful.

Frankly, I don't understand the motivation behind your question. You want to know why you are losing quickly, yet you don't want people to comment on your menu. Why did you include it, then?

I must agree with Everlosing... you are not doing Atkins by the book if you are not eating 3 cups of vegetables, and "eating steadily, plenty of meats and cheeses, but maintaining a very low carb intake. I'm even drinking diet sodas with caffeine, sodium, and aspartame. Not to mention having some carb bars and low carb ice cream treats along the way."

Next, you pretty much answered your own question when you wrote: "Every one of us reacts differently to things like caffeine or artificial sweeteners. Obviously I'm able to consume them and still manage to lose weight...so what?!" If you already realize that each of us reacts differently, what else do you want us to say? You "came to this forum seeking understanding and maybe a little support." Do you mean that you want us to support the notion that it's OK to skip veggies to make you lose weight faster? To not worry about the health risks associated with aspartame, as long as it doesn't stall you?

Congrats on your losses thus far. Other than that, I'm not sure what else there is to be said.

[Kawispice]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

My thinking: the question why you are losing weight, is not fair. How would people who follow a particular chemical process such as Atkins, guess at why you are losing weight even though it is (somewhat) outside of the method that we here are familiar with?

I think you are lucky and may it keep up for you. Enjoy it. Those of us who are struggling with trying to lose every once are envious.

[liv]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

I would not be that envious Kawi. Because this is a pattern by Diver Down. Not following the rules of induction - not learning how to deal with any cravings what so ever then suddenly go off the diet and put on more weight than he started with. The end result is weight gain.
I suggest following the rules. There is a good reason why we should not have some of those things on Atkins induction.

[phil h]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

At least no one said the infamous "Have you read the book?".

[Diver Down]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

At least no one said the infamous "Have you read the book?".

Yes, thankfully...this place is dogmatic enough! I'm interested in communicating with rational people about the weight loss principles involved with Atkins as a means of understanding my own weight loss, not arguing with dogmatic fanatics. I believe it's important to question and understand why a given proposition is true or false, not just take it on faith because it appeared in a book somewhere.

[Diver Down]

Re: Can you help explain my rapid weight loss?

as far as explaining your rapid weight loss - you might just have a high tolerance of carbs

On average, my carb count has been 0-5 grams per day, not including the day or two when I consumed a low carb bar or ice cream snack...so I'm a little confused what you mean. Even assuming net carbs are a complete fraud, the total for one of the ice cream bars I consumed was 9g of carbs with a net of 5g. But even at the full 9g, taking into account I had only eaten meat the rest of the day, I remained under 20g by a large margin.