Plateau

[RobinF]

So about a month in and I am totally stuck at 177. I had a medical incident that included a trip to the hospital (non diet related) so had about a 3 day hiccup in the plan but got right back on it...but since then...stuck.

Been trying to focus on the positives...clothes are looser, resisting goodies is easier, exercise is almost on auto pilot now...run, yoga, might hook up the wii fit soon for basic calisthenics.

Any plateau breaking advice out there. And I totally plan to eat a piece of cake on my birthday...and then just jump right back on the next day. No guilt...after all, if we fall down we shouldn't just lay there and wallow.
robin

[Georgiana]

Re: Plateau

If you are losing inches than you are not plateaued. A plateau is defined as 4 consecutive weeks without weight loss or loss of inches. How many inches did you lose and where do you measure?

So how did your weight loss go? You say you started Atkins a month ago. How much did you lose during Induction? When was your cheat? When did you stop losing weight?

Did you read Chapters 12 and 13 in DANDR? I'm asking because I'm not sure why you are still in Induction...

[Georgiana]

Re: Plateau

Sorry. Didn't notice the hospital part... "Cheat" is not the best word.

Are you still on some medication?

[RobinF]

Re: Plateau

I had back spasms that basically took my breath away...hospital for 2 days and actually managed to stay on until the meals stopped at 6pm...being someone who is normally up till midnight or later...I called for friend to bring me food...McDonalds, it was definately a cheat. Then a fourth of July party, but was still not up to par health wise so I really couldn't eat that much.

I lost the first 8 really fast and then it slowed. Now it seems to have stopped completely...was hoping for 172 by birthday, don't think it will happen.

No medication other than Ibuprofen. CT scan today on my spine, been seeing the Chiropractor.

This is the point on Atkins where I usually quit...I recognize that and am holding strong (except of course for the totally planned cheat on Monday) Actually, this has helped me stay on...making a list of things I want to eat as they come to me makes me not eat them now.

[Georgiana]

Re: Plateau

So if I understand correctly, you've lost 8 lbs in the first 2 weeks. With 40 lbs to lose, that means you have a low metabolic resistance. Besides, you do not have a lot of weight left to lose. I think it's time for you to move to OWL, add a few more veggie carbs and start climbing the Carbohydrate Ladder. This is what Dr. Atkins considered appropriate for those who have relatively little weight to lose and are not metabolically resistant. In fact, many people who unnecessary extend their Induction experience a stall or slowdown in their weight loss; very often their weight loss restarts once they move to OWL Rung 1.

Is your birthday this Monday? I wouldn't cheat. I know what you're going to say and I've seen it often around here, but cheating on and off only makes weight loss more difficult by increasing your resistance to insulin. Plus, having something really sugary (e.g. cake), produces hypoglycemia a few hours after ingestion, so you'll feel really crappy (on your birthday!) and won't do your health any good either. Why not celebrate your birthday by celebrating the new you? The new you that eats healthy, nutritious foods, that exercises and takes care of her body. This doesn't mean you can't have cake! Nope. You can have a "legal" cake instead of the sugary kind. Go to not2late's blog (in her siggy) and check the recipe she posted in December 2008. Elizellen posted pictures of it here: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ere-any-2.html

I think your birthday is the worst possible moment to cheat. For the new you, celebrations should not revolve around food. By cheating you are not treating yourself, because doing Atkins should not be seen as a punishment. Use your birthday to you prove yourself that Atkins is indeed your new way of eating for life not just another diet, and treat yourself with better health instead of cake.

[RobinF]

Re: Plateau

Thank you for the advise and the link to the cake recipe, however I have about 50 friends treating me to a wonderful party and life, love and friendship is worth a temporary pause...it's carrot cake if that makes it any better...I don't plan on gorging all day...although the thought did cross my mind. But you are right, it's not worth an all day cheat.

[imagood1]

Re: Plateau

Make sure your birthday is legal -- you're old enough not to need cake and ice cream - how about making pumpkin desert and having that for a treat if you really need one. For dinner have a steak, salad and loaded cauliflower -- all perfectly legal for you.

If you eat at McDonalds get a hamburger and ask for it low carb - they give you everything but the bun that way -- order a side salad and take the 2 slivers of carrot out of it - either take your own dressing or put the dressing on the side and dunk the salad into the dressing in place of drenching the salad with it.

When you were in hospital did you go out of keotsis since you weren't eating on plan? Are you in keotsis now? That might account for not loosing any weight. I agree with Georgia about moving on to Rung 1 - that's what did it for me --- I wasn't loosing and added the additional 5 net carbs of veggies and my weight started moving again.

Carrot cake isn't a good cake but since you've already decided to cheat it might as well be a high calorie day.

[RobinF]

Re: Plateau

went out of ketosis and have gotten back in...it sort of went up 3 lbs then down 5 to even out to well, 177. And dinner will be chicken kabob, Greek Salad, and a double serving of veggies (replacing the rice they normally serve. And, sorry to disagree, I know it doesn't go well with the Atkins theme, but my family is far away on my birthday, and my friends have done this special thing for me...you are never too old for cake on your birthday...and with about 50 people sharing it...I don't think the slice will be too big. Denying myself will just make me feel deprived and I know that...that is the kind of thing that has made me jump ship completely in the past.

[RobinF]

Re: Plateau

Oh...and I convinced the gang at work that I didn't want cake on the Friday before...veggie tray and fruit tray instead...I'm bringing berries...

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Plateau

The problem with going off plan for a day is that the body doesn't digest all the fat you ate the day before as it is first ingested, and you likely are eating a higher fat concentration than on a "normal" diet. So when you wake up on your birthday and consume a slice of sugary carrot cake, the insulin is triggered and all that fat that was so beneficial yesterday is now back in the "lifetime on your hips" category.

Eating off plan for just one day on this WOL sets you back more than just 24 hours. If you've made up your mind to enjoy your birthday no matter what -- that's fine. Just accept that you will likely gain back 5-10 pounds previously lost and be forced to start over and/or work harder to get back to where you are today.

If you're fine with wasting all the hard work you put towards weight loss over the last month of your life, than go ahead and have your cake (and eat it too).

[RobinF]

Re: Plateau

Wow...ok, this will probably be my final post on this forum, so I want to make it a good one. I joined this site for the motivation...the positive motivation. The before and after pics, the recipes, but I've never been much of a "poster".

My life does not revolve around my weight, so one slice of cake will not waste my whole last months work even if I gain back 5 lbs. I have increased my running time and speed, become more flexible, and learned a lot. But I will no longer be posting as I have noticed a lot of negative vibes in some of the replies...not just my thread but other peoples as well. Life is about moderation, setting personal limits, and knowing what works for you. And it is friends, and family and birthday cake. I wish all of you success and happiness no matter what your size or shape.
Robin

[MelTin]

Re: Plateau

Well said Eric.

[imagood1]

Re: Plateau

If you aren't in keotsis that is the reason you aren't loosing weight. I spent the last week on re-induction to get back into keotsis after being held overnight in the hospital and going out of keotsis over that weekend. On July 12 I went into the hosptial -- on July 20 I finally got back to the weight I was on the 12th.

I have been through my husbands birthday, my nieces graduation from college and her birthday and didn't feel deprived by not eating the cake or other things there.

Also -- berries aren't an induction food.

Happy Birthday early.

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Plateau

Wow...ok, this will probably be my final post on this forum, so I want to make it a good one. I joined this site for the motivation...the positive motivation.

Positive motivation? Seems to me positive motivation would be people who are in the same boat you are trying to hold you accountable to an often criticized but successful WOE.

Perhaps you're looking instead for this kind of "positive motivation":
It's OK if you cheat now and then - it's only human. Just start over again the next day and stick with it until the weekend when a couple friends invite you to join them for margaritas. But hey, we understand you had a stressful day at work. Think positive vibes, and that fruity drink will be nothing more than a memory in a few days. We all want to be chummy and overlook any mistakes you might make because we care about your feelings more than your goal of losing weight.

Sorry, but that's not the kind of positive motivation I am seeking on this board. I get plenty of that from co-workers who want me to join them for a pizza buffet, or parents who think one small scoop of ice cream won't hurt. I look for accountability on ADBB to balance the "warm fuzzies" offered elsewhere.

I hope you have a fantastic birthday and look back on it afterwards without any regrets.

[pagliaccia]

Re: Plateau

I agree, Eric. This isn't the Good Time Bears Bulletin Board. This is a board designed to make its users as successful as possible on the Atkins plan. I could go to a million different boards on the internet to get people to justify my cheat; people that would say that Atkins is too unforgiving and unrealistic. This is the one place I can go to to get reliable, honest, blunt information and opinions regarding Atkins. The moderators and major players here are priceless and so helpful. Without them, I would absolutely have failed on this diet (just like every other time in the past that I've tried to diet). I guess different things work for different people, but I don't consider telling you the truth multiple times over and giving you alternatives to make you more successful "negative vibes." Best of luck to you.