Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

[Georgiana]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

I did eat the veggies and salad as instructed, but cut them back this week to see if that helped. In the old Atkins book, it says to cut out the salad if you're not losing weight.

I didn't know that. Anyway, we are following DANDR 2002 here, so all the advice you get is based on that book. It can indeed be very frustrating if you go by another book.

I don't think it's helpful for people to be so discouraged to try the Fat Fast. The Kekwick diet has been proven to be very helpful, and not just with Atkins followers who are metabolically resistant.

According to DANDR 2002, the Fat Fast should only be used as a last resort by those people who are very metabolically resistant and who have eliminated any other possible causes that might explain their weight loss issues, i.e. do a clean Induction (as per DANDR 2002), check for hyperinsulinism, thyroid problems and yeast overgrowth, and are not on any medication that might interfere with their weight loss. The Fat Fast should not be used to break stalls or to lose weight faster.

Here is more detailed information on the Fat Fast, as per DANDR 2002 as before: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...-fat-fast.html

[pagliaccia]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Hello from B.R! I too know the temptations of South LA food. Is it possible that you're close to your TOM? Also, have you considered moving to OWL? Please keep in mind too that you don't have all that much to lose, so it will probably move a little slower than gals like me that have loaaaads to drop.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Also - this may be a personal question, but it does affect weight loss...
are you still breast-feeding? If you are, that could be a reason why you're not losing weight...I don't know exactly what to do to fix that - but I know that could be a possible issue...there's specific diet guidelines you should follow if you are.

[Slapshot]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Ok, if you started at 165, and want to get down to say, 130, then you have 35lbs to lose. At 5lbs of weight loss in induction, you're just about average on the metabolic resistance scale (3 lbs would have put you in the High category, and 6 is average).

So, it's a close call whether you're a candidate for a Fat Fast. What concerns me more, however, is the lack of results since induction. Not even a pound. That's the one that makes me scratch my head.

P.S. Before going the FF route, you'll have to rule out the things Georgiana pointed out above. Are you in ketosis?

[whiteisle]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Ok - you KNOW that the weight did NOT come on over night and you're NOT going to lose it overnight. It's not going to happen. Believe me - ALL of us would LOVE to wake up tomorrow morning at our goal - but again - it's not going to happen.

Also - and I'm saying this because you stated that you're frustrated and that usually makes people go back to their old way of eating - don't think that going back to your old lifestyle will be the answer, instead of being patient and learning this new way of eating - because I've learned - too many times - the way I USED to eat is how I got to 200 pounds in the first place. If I want to be thin and healthy, I can't eat that way anymore in any way shape or form (and i'm talking low-fat dieting)...

You HAVE to make this your new LIFESTYLE and instead of concentrating on the scale every day - just sit back and realize that the new way you are teaching yourself to eat is #1 healthy for your body - and #2 once you re-train yourself to eat only WHOLE foods and not junk/processed foods - your baby will also grow up to emulate momma! that's ALWAYS a definite plus!

As far as what you're doing - absolutely cut out anything with aspartame. You don't need chemicals in your body. Cut out the "sweets" at night. It may take a while - but you WILL feel better. Plus, once you move up to the berries rung (rung 4) strawberries are my new dessert at night! And they're INCREDIBLE!

If you want nitrate free bacon - do you have a whole foods or trader joes around you? They have nitrate free meats. Granted, they're more expensive than wally world - but i'd rather pay for my health now a few more bucks at the grocery store than years of diabetes down the road...

Re-read the book's chapter on induction and follow it to a T. Then - move up the rungs! You WILL lose more weight when you follow the rungs correctly.

I wish you luck!!!!!

Thanks for the encouragement. I am holding my breath, not going back to fad dieting. I actually have never eaten this much food in my life (steak!!!)...well since I hit puberty and started dieting. But I really don't understand what causes people to stall for so long. I really think there's something to this fat/protein ratio. Protein is converted into glucose in the liver with about 58% accuracy, but fat is not. So, it makes sense to me to lower the protein and increase the fat. That coupled with the caloric restriction for up to 5 days should force the body into ketosis.

[Georgiana]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Haha! Yes, I did leave off my weight. That's because I will NOT tell my husband my weight, and he was sitting next to me when I registered. I've been about 125-135 ever since we met, and I can't bring myself to tell him I'm at 160 now. I was at 165 when I started induction (5 weeks ago). I lost all 5 lbs. the first few days, and then the scale stuck at 160. It will NOT budge. I get on it every morning before I climb on the Stepmill and just breathe a huge sigh of disgust. I really thought I found the way to lose the baby weight, and then we could have baby #2. But I have no way to know what will happen right now because it's just not coming off. I have never, ever been this patient with a "diet" and normally would have started a very unhealthy low calorie, low carb, low fat diet by now. But I want to be healthy too, now. I'm just so scared it won't work for me.

Thanks for the additional info. In the first two weeks of Induction, you've lost 17% of the weight you had to lose, so that's not bad at all (most folks lose 5-10%!). What we have seen at ADBB happening to those members who have little to lose is that their weight loss tends to stall if they extend their Induction phase. For these people, moving to OWL and adding more nutritious veggies very often restarts their weight loss. I started with about as many "extra" pounds as you and did Induction forever until I was advised here to move to OWL---that made the scale number and inches go down again.

[whiteisle]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

I didn't know that. Anyway, we are following DANDR 2002 here, so all the advice you get is based on that book. It can indeed be very frustrating if you go by another book.

According to DANDR 2002, the Fat Fast should only be used as a last resort by those people who are very metabolically resistant and who have eliminated any other possible causes that might explain their weight loss issues, i.e. do a clean Induction (as per DANDR 2002), check for hyperinsulinism, thyroid problems and yeast overgrowth, and are not on any medication that might interfere with their weight loss. The Fat Fast should not be used to break stalls or to lose weight faster.

Here is more detailed information on the Fat Fast, as per DANDR 2002 as before: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...-fat-fast.html

I had my thyroid checked because the weight just wouldn't move, and I know having a baby can throw it out of whack, but it's just fine. As far as the yeast issue, I don't know about that? Can you tell me more?
And meds- I take adderall for adult ADD. Can that interfere?

[whiteisle]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Thanks for the additional info. In the first two weeks of Induction, you've lost 17% of the weight you had to lose, so that's not bad at all (most folks lose 5-10%!). What we have seen at ADBB happening to those members who have little to lose is that their weight loss tends to stall if they extend their Induction phase. For these people, moving to OWL and adding more nutritious veggies very often restarts their weight loss. I started with about as many "extra" pounds as you and did Induction forever until I was advised here to move to OWL---that made the scale number and inches go down again.

Really? Well, if I can eat a few more carbs and lose weight, I'm all for it. I'm sorta torn right now between doing the Fat Fast or moving to OWL then.

[whiteisle]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Hello from B.R! I too know the temptations of South LA food. Is it possible that you're close to your TOM? Also, have you considered moving to OWL? Please keep in mind too that you don't have all that much to lose, so it will probably move a little slower than gals like me that have loaaaads to drop.

Hello there! I recently moved closer to Nola, but have lived in Baton Rouge my entire life, and still travel there about once a week for business. Have you found ANY stores around town that carry low-carb products, like BBQ sauce? Also, have you tried boiled crawfish on Atkins? I was wondering about the sodium...

[Georgiana]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

As far as the yeast issue, I don't know about that? Can you tell me more?

A stool test will determine if you have Candida overgrowth. Another way to test for Candida (though some doctors consider it inaccurate) is to spit in a glass of water first thing when you wake up in the morning: Candida Symptoms

And meds- I take adderall for adult ADD. Can that interfere?

I really don't know this... From what Google says, no.

[Georgiana]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Really? Well, if I can eat a few more carbs and lose weight, I'm all for it. I'm sorta torn right now between doing the Fat Fast or moving to OWL then.

I'd say move to OWL, that is the healthier thing to do. Also make sure you are taking a good multivitamin---vitamin deficiencies can also interfere with weight loss, which is one of the reasons why some of us lose better when moving to OWL. Also check Chapter 20 in DANDR 2002, the part where Dr. Atkins talks about other supplements that might help you overcome slow weight loss, such as L-carnitine, CoQ10 or chromium.

The Fat Fast was recommended by Dr. Atkins for those who are very metabolically resistant and can't lose weight even by doing Induction. This is clearly not your case as you did lose 5 lbs in the first two weeks, which puts you to an average resistance. If I were you, I'd try the OWL path first.

[whiteisle]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Ok, if you started at 165, and want to get down to say, 130, then you have 35lbs to lose. At 5lbs of weight loss in induction, you're just about average on the metabolic resistance scale (3 lbs would have put you in the High category, and 6 is average).

So, it's a close call whether you're a candidate for a Fat Fast. What concerns me more, however, is the lack of results since induction. Not even a pound. That's the one that makes me scratch my head.

P.S. Before going the FF route, you'll have to rule out the things Georgiana pointed out above. Are you in ketosis?

The thing about ketosis, the strips only turned light pink. I thought maybe it was because I workout, but I take off Sundays, so I tried testing on Sunday after lazing around. I still get the same result. Lately, however, I've barely gotten pink, and sometimes it's negative. This has me really confused. How can I possibly not be in ketosis while eating less than 20 grams of carbs per day? I even went online and ordered the liquid sucralose for my tea to cut out the fillers in the splenda packets.

[whiteisle]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

I'd say move to OWL, that is the healthier thing to do. Also make sure you are taking a good multivitamin---vitamin deficiencies can also interfere with weight loss, which is one of the reasons why some of us lose better when moving to OWL. Also check Chapter 20 in DANDR 2002, the part where Dr. Atkins talks about other supplements that might help you overcome slow weight loss, such as L-carnitine, CoQ10 or chromium.

The Fat Fast was recommended by Dr. Atkins for those who are very metabolically resistant and can't lose weight even by doing Induction. This is clearly not your case as you did lose 5 lbs in the first two weeks, which puts you to an average resistance. If I were you, I'd try the OWL path first.

Thank you Ma'am. I appreciate all the advice and time.

[pagliaccia]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Hello there! I recently moved closer to Nola, but have lived in Baton Rouge my entire life, and still travel there about once a week for business. Have you found ANY stores around town that carry low-carb products, like BBQ sauce? Also, have you tried boiled crawfish on Atkins? I was wondering about the sodium...

To be honest with you, I haven't messed too much with low-carb products. The most I've done is bought Capella Flavor drops, but that's online. Have you checked out Linda's Recipe site? Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Recipes Mainly, I've been trying best I can to cook from whole foods and seasonings. Prior to Atkins, I never really cooked, just bought ravioli or one of those god-awful SupperBakes. In comparison, last night my husband and I made a jambalaya with riced cauliflower instead of rice, and it was heavenly!

[ThinSoon]

Re: Lengthy, but I need help! Pretty Please

Here's my typical day:
2 eggs with 1 ounce cheese
2 slices of bacon (I cut out the bacon this week to see if the nitrates were affecting my non-existent weight loss)

2 boiled eggs for a snack

Lunch is just a meat source- steak, chicken, pork. If I use bbq sauce, I made it so I know the carb content is about 1 carb per piece of chicken.

Atkins bar for a snack (I also cut these out for 2 weeks- no change)
Pork Rinds if not the bar

Dinner is a meat portion and about 1-2 cups salad
2.5 ozs cream cheese with liquid splenda, 1 tsp cocoa, vanilla
or sugar-free jello with heavy whipping cream

Lots of water


Just from experience for me - while doing induction, I can't have anything that has "sugar" in it like the low carb bbq sauce, it may be low in carb content but is there any sugar in it? Cheese is a staller for me... I WISH it wasn't but if I go over 2 ounces in a day, I will see the stall, no matter if I'm under the carb counts for the day or not. Cocoa, has a small amount of sugar in it also.

You could do a strick meat, salad and veggie for two days and see what happens. No jello, no cream cheese mixture etc. Some things work for some, some not. You may just be one of those people.. I am too.

I hope you find what is causing your stall - Hang in there!!!

Tracey