Why am I not losing?

[LittleLinda]

I've been on induction since 19 Aug 09, and I've lost the first few pounds very quickly. According to my ketostix I am in ketosis, but the weight just won't come off. I've been struggling with the same 4 or 5 pounds for about a week now. Some days I'm down a few, but tomorrow I've gained 2 pounds again, and I don't understand why.

Here's my typical menu:

Breakfast:
2 Eggs
2oz plain goats cheese
1 Tomato
Ground beef

Lunch:
Either ground beef or 2 eggs again
2tbsp Mayo
2tbsp Sour Cream
1 Tomato
And sometimes some cheese instead of the mayo & sour cream

Dinner:
Chicken
1c veggies, like mushrooms or cauliflower
Sometimes I'll have Sour Cream, or olives

Could it be that I'm not eating enough veggies? Are my carbs too low? Yesterday I ate some "cheese cake" from Linda's Low Carb recipes, but usually my carb count hovers between 13 and 18.

I'm drinking lots of water too.

Any ideas??

[mitzimarie]

Re: Why am I not losing?

Here's my typical menu:

Breakfast:
2 Eggs
2oz plain goats cheese
1 Tomato
Ground beef

Lunch:
Either ground beef or 2 eggs again
2tbsp Mayo
2tbsp Sour Cream
1 Tomato
And sometimes some cheese instead of the mayo & sour cream

Dinner:
Chicken
1c veggies, like mushrooms or cauliflower
Sometimes I'll have Sour Cream, or olives

Could it be that I'm not eating enough veggies? Are my carbs too low?

First thing I notice, is that you are choosing all of your vegetables from the "Other" List... you are to have at least 2 of your 3 cups come from the "Salad" List. The veggies you are choosing have a higher glycemic load than the ones from the Salad list. Tomatoes, in particular, spell trouble for some people.

Here are the lists:

Vegetables
You can have two to three cups per day of:

alfalfa sprouts
daikon
mushrooms
arugula
endive
parsley
bok choy
escarole
peppers
celery
fennel
radicchio
chicory
jicama
radishes
chives
lettuce
romaine lettuce
cucumber
moche
sorrel
These salad vegetables are high in phytonutrients and provide a good source of fiber.

Other Vegetables
You can have one cup per day of these veggies if salad does not exceed two cups. The following vegetables are slightly higher in carbohydrate content than the salad vegetables:

artichoke
celery root
pumpkin
artichoke hearts
rhubarb
asparagus
chard
sauerkraut
bamboo shoots
collard greens
scallions
dandelion
snow peas
bean sprouts
dandelion greens
spaghetti squash
beet greens
eggplant
spinach
broccoli
hearts of palm
string or wax beans
broccoli rabe
kale
summer squash
brussels
kohlrabi
tomato
bean sprouts
leeks
turnips
cabbage
okra
water chestnuts
cauliflower
onion
zucchini
If a vegetable, such as spinach or tomato, cooks down significantly, it must be measured raw so as not to underestimate its carb count.

[Georgiana]

Re: Why am I not losing?

Besides what Mitzi said, make sure you stay within the 1 oz limit for sour cream and remember sour cream is on the "Special Category Foods" list, meaning that it can slow down or stall weight loss for some people.

What are you doing for your exercise?

And you're not taking any medication, are you?

[LittleLinda]

Re: Why am I not losing?

Thank you Mitzi! I completely overlooked that point and didn't even realize that there were two separate categories for vegetables. I'll be off to the store shortly to go pick up what I need. (Still reading the book). I've been eating the higher carb veggies because I'm not very hungry anymore, but I've just been shooting myself in the foot! I'd like to be at, or close to, my goal weight by Christmas, so the weight better start dropping again soon Going to see my family for the first time in 2 1/2 years this Christmas, so I want to look my best. I haven't spent a Christmas with them in 9 years!

Thanks Georgiana! Once again, I didn't realize that sour cream could have such an effect. Actually, when I look back through my food diary I can see that I didn't eat sour cream when I was still losing! Interesting I'll avoid it now for a few days to see what happens.

And to answer your question, other than homeopathic remedies, I'm taking domperidone. The domperidone causes headaches and heartburn, so I sometimes have to take antacids a few times a day, and ibuprofin & tylenol now and again.

[EmDee]

Re: Why am I not losing?

tomatoes should be enjoyed sparingly!

[not2late]

Re: Why am I not losing?

Thank you Mitzi! I completely overlooked that point and didn't even realize that there were two separate categories for vegetables. I'll be off to the store shortly to go pick up what I need. (Still reading the book). I've been eating the higher carb veggies because I'm not very hungry anymore, but I've just been shooting myself in the foot! I'd like to be at, or close to, my goal weight by Christmas, so the weight better start dropping again soon Going to see my family for the first time in 2 1/2 years this Christmas, so I want to look my best. I haven't spent a Christmas with them in 9 years!

Thanks Georgiana! Once again, I didn't realize that sour cream could have such an effect. Actually, when I look back through my food diary I can see that I didn't eat sour cream when I was still losing! Interesting I'll avoid it now for a few days to see what happens.

And to answer your question, other than homeopathic remedies, I'm taking domperidone. The domperidone causes headaches and heartburn, so I sometimes have to take antacids a few times a day, and ibuprofin & tylenol now and again.

We follow Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002 edition on ADBB. In that book he said we eat 3 cups of vegetables daily. Either 3 cups from the salad vegetable list or 2 cups from the salad vegetable list and 1 cup from the "other" vegetable list. Tomatoes are on the "other" list and are limited to 1 cup.

[mission to lose]

Re: Why am I not losing?

tomatoes should be enjoyed sparingly!

What a shame! Tomatoes are so good for us, full of antioxidants! In the past we were eating 1-2 tomatoes per day each! I have cut back, but my DH still enjoys them in abundance! Lucky for him he has the best metabolism you could ever ask for!

[liv]

Re: Why am I not losing?

Plenty of anti oxidants in a lot of the different foods on our allowed list:
garlic, spinach, broccoli, rhubarb, pumpkin, onion, chard, peppers, snowpeas, liver, eggs.
Lycopene the stuff in tomatoes can also be found in bell peppers and pumpkin.

[sporty]

Re: Why am I not losing?

Are you exercising? Many folks do not do this part and the weight kind of stalls. Also are you taking your vitamins? I think if you get back on the strict list and exercise, drink your water it will come.

You could be changing on inches too instead of the scale. I would take weekly measurements!