If you're a slow loser...

[DarlingBri]

As someone having a slow Induction, it can be both hard and encouraging at the same time to see other people posting "I lost a zillion pounds in 2 hours!" (OK I know nobody ever posts that but sometimes it can feel that way )

Encouraging because I welcome every bit of anecdotal evidence this diet works and I like to read stories of people losing on Atkins; hard because, well, I'm not going to be one of those amazing results Induction stories and I suspect I'll be a slow loser all the way through.

My husband can lose a pound a day by sneezing. Historically, I may only lose a pound or even half a pound a week with diet and exercise. But every single time I think "arrgh!" I ask myself one question:

A year from now, would you rather weigh what you weigh now or be 26 pounds lighter? A year from now, would you rather weigh what you weigh now or be 52 pounds lighter?

Well duh, I'd rather be 52 or even 26 pounds lighter, thanks! Do I wish for super speedy Atkins results? You bet. But in the big picture, slow still gets the job done, and that's what I'm here to do.

Since I remind myself of this at least three times a day, I hoped it would be a helpful way to look at things for someone else so I thought I'd share

[Ohbehave007]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

[Butterbeanie]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

That is so true and I tell myself something similar, would I rather quit and be the same or (eek..) bigger a year from now or do I want to keep plugging along and lose even if slowly. You have a great attitude DarlingBri, you will succeed!!

[EmDee]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

I reckon as long as the scale is going down, then that's the right direction...speed may be better, but I'll take what I can get and just be happy with it.

[RitaCeleste]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

I'm kinda a slower looser. I opted to eat a few more things and shoot for a pound a week from here on out. I tried being stricter, I tried living on induction. But on induction foods it was easy to for me to cheat sometimes. Two years into it, I can eat things I couldn't two years ago and still loose a pound here and there. If it hadn't taken me this long, I wouldn't have commited to do maintance and I would have went out and gained a lot back. When I started I was gonna loose it all in x amount of time then go back to my evil ways! lol After stopping and starting, going off and trying to maintain with carbs and hunger pains, I changed my mind. And I'm stubborn and it really did take a long time to give up my dreams of carb fests after I hit goal weight! Yeah, it took longer but I can make sure I only have to do this ONCE!

[GRAPES]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

[QUOTE A year from now, would you rather weigh what you weigh now or be 26 pounds lighter? A year from now, would you rather weigh what you weigh now or be 52 pounds lighter?[/QUOTE]

Great attitude...and a great reminder to those of us that feel sorry for ourselves when we're in a slow losing phase to keep the big picture in mind...

[barrnone]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

I'm definitely a slow loser, but completely happy and comfortable. I noticed in the beginning I averaged a pound a week, wasn't too excited at first - but after 15 weeks - it was 15 pounds...how cool is that! So, now I'm thrilled. I slacked off for a while during the summer, but now - back on track - and doing great!

[DarlingBri]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

I noticed in the beginning I averaged a pound a week, wasn't too excited at first - but after 15 weeks - it was 15 pounds...how cool is that!

Two weeks in Induction, 3.4 pounds. That beats my previous one pound a week, so I'm pretty happy with that.

OK, I'm lying. I would really have loved to be one of those people who dropped ten or even twenty pounds on Induction, but I will totally take 3.4 pounds anyway

[barrnone]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

just keep moving forward - it's sooo worth it!

[Tiggy_Too]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

Good to know I'n not the only one out there. I just finished the first week of induction and I am a newbie to Atkins. I have about 70-80lbs to lose. I lost 2 pounds this week. I am glad someone posted so I know I am not alone in a slow weight loss and you help me to see that it is worthwhile staying on it.

[barrnone]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

just stick with it, you will be happy you did!

[iamran]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

I am a turtle also. I so get what you are saying when it makes you nuts that people can lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks and yet you have only lost 2. You know what they say, slow and steady wins the race!

[bizzlekitty]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

Slow loser here. 1 lb a week, on rare occasions 1.5-2 lbs if I'm lucky but not often enough to track but it's like a nice little bonus when it happens.

This has also been why I've fallen off the wagon once or twice, getting frustrated with the slow loss.

But I've got years of bad eating to reverse, health issues that make it slow, and sometimes, this WOE is trial and error as you figure out the right things to eat that work and keep from getting bored.

I kick myself because I stopped earlier this year for about 3 months and I look back now and realize that could have been 12 lbs more I could have lost. And I regained alot of what I lost the first time around, ugh.

So I re-evaluate what I'm doing this time and am trying my best to identify the things that cause me to slip... things like trigger foods, foods that stall, stress, etc. and find ways around them. What's helped me the most is logging my foods every day on Fitday to keep myself focused.

I keep reading that slow weight loss is perhaps best as our bodies adjust better and are more likely to keep off the weight. I sure hope that's true because I'm doing this for the long haul.

I don't really measure myself against others, but applaud them for their weight loss, because for all of us, it's getting us all closer to being healthy!
And a pound a week is still 52 lbs a year. I'll take that if I can keep at it and definitely lose it for good!

[Tiggy_Too]

Re: If you're a slow loser...

I agree -- no comparing myself to others -- it is too frustrating and this way of eating must be for the long haul. I have a lot to lose and this plan isn't so bad -- just have to get over my sugar addiction and figure out ways that I can eat on the road and stay on track. It's a learning experience. This board definitely helps and knowing that others have the same issues I have helps too (though I don't wish it on anyone) and lets me know it isn't unusual.