Ketosis, but no weight loss?

[Ltrain]

Hello all!

After a period of stable maintenance, I started eating poorly and gained all but 8 pounds back of my original weight loss. Two weeks ago, I started Atkins again.

I've achieved ketosis -- I have the breath to prove it! But I've lost only about 1.5 pounds. This is so unlike my experience the first time, where I lost 7 pounds in the first two weeks.

I know one differentiator is caffeine -- tried to give it up but the headaches and malaise interfered with my job. I'm not in a position to take off 2 weeks while my body adapts.

Besides -- I thought caffiene merely sparked cravings (which I've been able to control, thankfully.) What other factors could inhibit my weight loss?

thanks for any insight!

[iyamamaschke]

Could you give us a little more info like your daily menu and also height and weight becuase if you have less to lose it will come off slower. Also suppliments you are taking if any.

Thanks

Sarah

[pjade1]

This is interesting and I have tried induction in the past drinking coffee as lattes with Carb Countdown milk. I had no problem going into ketosis and losing weight. I am now on day 3 of induction after taking a month off of Atkins. Yes, I did gain back 4 lbs with all those carbs but I am back and feeling better already. I am still drinking my coffee too. ~Linda

[Ltrain]

Hello!

My height is 5"7; weight is 149. My goal is 130 -- which is the weight I acheived in 2003.

I've mainly been eating eggs, cheese, meats. Atkins shakes for breakfast. Salads at with lunch w/ mostly letttuce, ham and turkey, bell peppers, olives and caesar dressing. Snacks include pork rinds (bleh!), morning start bars (no more than 2 per day) or Atkins snack bars. Mixed nuts, mainly peanuts, cashew, almonds or macadamias. Usually a couple of diet rites per day as well.

Lots of water, though probably not enough. I also drink 1 to 2 cups of decaf chammomile/peppermint tea in the evenings. Oh, and the aforementioned coffee -- around 4 cups per day, w/ cream and 2 splenda packets. Sometime a sugar-free red bull (my job is stressful and I need the energy!) Oh, and I do chew sugar-free gum -- helps the breath!

I'm taking a multi-vitamin supplement daily, as well as a potassium-magnesium (500 mg) supplement before bed. Helps me sleep, plus, I had a scary potassium imbalance episode the last time I was on induction.

As I read this, I think I'm probably taking in more carbs than I thought. But again -- I'm still in ketosis. I haven't measured w/ ketostix, but that taste in my mouth and unpleasant breath are tell-tale signs.

Any ideas?

[not2late]

Ketosis is very general...it only tells you that fat is being metabolized, but it doesn't tell you if that fat is the fat you're eating or the fat on your body.

Here's some links to the ketosis FAQs on this site
Ketostix color

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=68063

When to test ketones

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=68065

Physical signs of ketosis/lipolysis

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=68113

As for your menu, the bars and shakes have been known to stop or slow down weight loss in some folks. In fact, the newer publications from Atkins nutritionals, Inc. place a limit on those products to 2 servings daily during Induction and a warning that states if your weight loss stops or stalls to drop those products and eat whole, natural, minimally processed foods.

If you are still within the first 14 days of Induction, drop the nuts. The rules have changed over the last 12 years and the last version of the diet that Dr. Atkins wrote did not include nuts or seeds during the first 14 days of the Diet. By the way, cashews and peanuts are the worst possible nuts to eat due to their relatively higher carb content per ounce.

[Ltrain]

Thanks for the explanation, not2late.

After reading your info, I think I'm probably burning up the fat I eat but not on my body.

How do I change this? Just lower the carbs? Do types of carbs make any difference? (Ie -- fresh vs. processed) ?

I'll definitely eliminate the bars and nuts --

This was so much easier the 1st time, somehow.

[2big4mysize]

don't forget you have les weight to lose this time and weight loss is all realative. 3 pounds for somebody needing to lose 10 pounds is likw 30 ofr somebody needing to lose 100.

Also on this time around you should not have those large gylcogen stores you had the first time with all that fluid too.


As Megs wrote Atkins has changed in response to struggling Atkiner diets exercise is now mandatory too.

If you don't have a copy of Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002 or nwer you really owe it to yourself to invest the$7 and get one. The acceptabel carbs for induction are listed in chapter 11 and are all veggies yep you got to eat 3 cups of veggies now on Induction anfd the majority of your carbs need to come from those veggies. Cheese is limited too to only 4 ounces a day max!

We have copies of the food lists in the induction forums if you'd like to look and a printably carb is there too that Tammy created for us.

Happy low carbing.

[Elizellen]

And as regards caffeine - take a look at this FAQ about its effects.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=68090

It might change your mind.

[hulagrl1120]

drop the bars, shakes, nuts and red bull... all which are factors in your weight loss...if it's not on the induction list don't put it in your mouth and you should see a drop in your weight.

[spazzyhilo]

I agree with all the other posts I just wanted to drop a little tidbit about the lettuce:

It has the least nutritions and doesn't really do anything - good or bad - try some variety with that, i personally am in love with spinach but there are many other varieties available that have more nutrients than lettuce and are induction friendly.

Also if your saying bleh to the pork rinds, why are you eating them? There are so many foods out there that are induction friendly and taste better than pork rinds. If you're looking for a crunch have some celery sticks w/ cream cheese, cream cheese goes w/ everything!