Some serious help needed before I give up!

[mmm cake]

Ok I have been on induction for 2 weeks now and I lost about 3-4 pounds.Now in my 3rd week I am stalled and it's making me insane. I haven't dropped any weight, matter of fact I have gained a pound or two. Every time I think something is OK to eat, I read somewhere that it is not.

Can someone please make me a simple menu (I suck at cooking so it has to be way easy).. that I can eat and still be on induction. I thought I was doing ok by giving up soda and drinking tea with splenda but no... splenda and caffiene are bad.. I thought I was doing good by eating all meat and cheese but no... too much cheese is bad.. now all of the sudden I read that calories matter.. .UGh! I tried to find carb free/low carb bbq sauce in 8 different stores.. none have it! I ended up eating DRY bbq brisket... anyone know how gross that is? I just need a menu to stick to of stuff that's easy to find and that won't jack me up! I am .01 seconds away from giving in! - frustrated

[mmm cake]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

I forgot to mention that I am trying harder than I have ever tried at anything in my life and to see it not working is absolutely unnerving. Any help is appreciated.

[sporty]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Why dont you check out linda's site? If it has an * by it then it is in inductino friendly.

Here is my menu today:

Egg quiche with sausage in it (no veggies this mroning - I know bad!)
Lunch - Chicken on salad (one cup of lettuce) drizzled with some home made dressing
Snack - smaller portion of lunch
Dinner - Stuffed green bell peppers


You really just need to research and plan out your menu a week ahead. Lots of things can be cooked ahead of time and then just grab and go.

A few ideas - make a quiche with some spinach in it. Stores WELL in the fridge. I just cut up into my servings and store in baggies and grab it and head out the door. You can eat these cold or warm in a microwave.

Clean your veggies and slice and prepare ahead of time and store in baggies. Grab these and go as well.

Meats - I try to cook mine on sunday's for a 5 day supply so that I have them and can just get them out and take to work or have them ready when I get home. Makes life easier. I do not do this with fish which I have at least once a week. I just steam it in a zip lock steamer bag and eat with my veggies.


The key is to PLAN AHEAD! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sporty]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Ps. Just because the scale is NOT moving does not mean you are not lsoing. You did not get here overnight and sometimes it just takes time. Some folks can stay on induction longer than others. Some folks need to move up the rungs to lose weight. You will have to find what works for you.

Also are you exercising? Are you getting in your water?

Hang in there - you can not give up because of one week of no change.

I will also mention you can have splenda - just only like 3 packets a day. I have one unsweet tea a day with my 3 splenda's and I ahve lost 23 pounds since 8/15. I would read the DANDR 2002 book and plan our your menus and LOG everything.


Here is linda's site:

http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/

[barrnone]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

I agree - planning is key.

My menu today:
breakfast - 2 hard boiled eggs, dipped in mayo
snack - zucchini dipped in ranch
lunch - large chicken breast, with mayo
snack - pre-cut veggies
dinner - not sure yet...but will be side salad w/meat or fish

I do drink about 2-3 cups of black coffee in the morning, other than that - just plain water.

If I have a sweet craving, which doesn't happen much anymore - I may have a couple of olives or a pickle.

Good luck! Don't give up.

[Georgiana]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Ok I have been on induction for 2 weeks now and I lost about 3-4 pounds.Now in my 3rd week I am stalled and it's making me insane. I haven't dropped any weight, matter of fact I have gained a pound or two. Every time I think something is OK to eat, I read somewhere that it is not.

Can someone please make me a simple menu (I suck at cooking so it has to be way easy).. that I can eat and still be on induction. I thought I was doing ok by giving up soda and drinking tea with splenda but no... splenda and caffiene are bad.. I thought I was doing good by eating all meat and cheese but no... too much cheese is bad.. now all of the sudden I read that calories matter.. .UGh! I tried to find carb free/low carb bbq sauce in 8 different stores.. none have it! I ended up eating DRY bbq brisket... anyone know how gross that is? I just need a menu to stick to of stuff that's easy to find and that won't jack me up! I am .01 seconds away from giving in! - frustrated

I forgot to mention that I am trying harder than I have ever tried at anything in my life and to see it not working is absolutely unnerving. Any help is appreciated.

If you are trying this harder than anything, then the first step you need to do is read the book. Otherwise you'll be trying in vain and you saw how frustrating that can be (although 3-4 lbs is not bad and see the PS about losing weight).

This is the list of foods allowed during Induction: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...induction.html
These are the Rules of Induction: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...induction.html

As you can see from the lists, cheese is limited to 3-4 oz. These lists are in the book (Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, 2002), so if you read the book (or the stickies here, at least) before you begin Atkins, then you will start by knowing what is the limit on cheese, how many veggies you need to eat, whether Splenda is bad for you, whether it's allowed to drink regular coffee, etc.

By the way, Atkins is a high fat diet, not high protein. So eating "dry" brisket is not necessary and can be even counterproductive. Your meals should be high fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate. Also, a reason why the brisket could have been too dry is overcooking.

If you are ready to commit to Atkins, then invest $8 in your health, get the book and read it. We have the "Read the book" challenge that will start soon, and you can still join. This is the link to it: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...challenge.html

PS: It's normal not to lose weight every day or even every week. This is a sticky thread explaining it: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ot-linear.html

[Whatsername]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

This is a fairly typical time to "stall" during Atkins. It happened to me and I got frustrated also. Based on advice here, I went on to OWL and upped my amount of veggies. That worked for me.

Are you eating enough veggies/salad? Fat?

Just my opinion, don't worry too much about calories. As long as you aren't eating non stop, it shouldn't be an issue now. I haven't really counted calories at all. Here and there, it will cross my mind but as long as I am eating according to plan, I don't worry about it (but as I progress through OWL, it is something I will pay more attention to).

Good luck and don't give up.
Jane

[liv]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Almost everyone see stall in the second or third week. Just natural - does not mean anything is wrong.

On induction my menu may go something like this (I like it simple)
boiled egg (if I am going to exercise)
If no exercise egg scrambe (egg, cheddar, bacon and some veggies)

Lunch egg scrambel (if I did not already have that)
or chef salad (veggies with ham or chicken, eggs, a bit of cheese)

Supper
Steak or ribs or porc or salmon or shrimp or other fish
Veggies (stir fried) or salad

Plenty of water to drink - all day long
(No sweeteners)

[mmm cake]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

tHANK you guys for your help.. I am going to do what the rules say even moreso... I am tired of being fat!

[Aways2Go]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

I have stalled more than once like that - no loss or several pounds up for as many as 5 or 6 days in a row. It always comes back off plus several more pounds if I wait it out just another few days and drink extra water. Absolutely happens if I eat much salty foods like hotdogs, lunchmeats, etc. and dont' follow that up with lots of water for the next day or so.

Simple guideline I jotted down for a friend who wanted the quickie version before she got the book to read for herself - not inclusive, just hitting the basics...


no more than 3 packs of splenda or stevia sweetener a day - drink lots of water - try to do some kind of exercise or activity every day even if it is just 5 minutes of laps up and down the hallway or lifting some soup cans - don't worry about calories too much until you settle in the diet for a while because your appetite will drop off and you will naturally eat less anyway - eat some vegetables daily from the list (mostly salad veggies, plus some green veggies) up to about 3 cups a day - don't try to coddle yourself with specialty "low carb" manufactured products like low carb chocolate bars, shakes, ice cream bars or tortillas and things like that because they often stall people. You can experiment with those later when you are losing more steadily.


Easiest and quickest foods -
eggs any way (boiled for snacks, an omelette, scrambled or fried in real butter - add some chopped bell pepper and onion or mushrooms in for some veggies, cheese or bacon for extra flavor)
pan fried or grilled chicken - fry in a little oil with no breading, just some seasoning
pork roast - hormel sells some small ones in 1 1/2 pound packs (not frozen) already seasoned with simple cooking directions (basically unwrap, put in the oven for an hour and a half or so)
fried hamburger patties - I cook extras to have ready for packing lunches or for a quick meal
bacon or sausage - make sure it doesn't have a bunch of sugar in it, maple syrup,etc
hotdogs (pick a brand with 1 carb or less per dog)
plain ham or turkey lunchmeats - eat plain or maybe wrap around a pickle spear
steak - cooked in a skillet, the oven, or on the grill - slice some of it off in thin strips and put in a baggie to put on a lunch salad for the next day, eat the rest
fish - fresh, or even easier, boxed frozen fillets with easy cooking instructions printed on them (check the box for carb listings in case it has seasonings, etc on it) - top with butter, lemon pepper seasonings, a little lemon juice, etc.

fry up about a pound of ground beef, drain off the fat, then back in the skillet with one small can of plain tomato sauce and some mexican type spices (onion, garlic powder, cumin, red pepper) and put a cup on top of a bowl of romaine lettuce with a little shredded cheese and a spoon of sour cream - taco salad minus the chips/shell - I use a little hot sauce too - don't use packaged taco seasoning envelopes which have WAY too many carbs in them - you'll have leftovers to put on another salad the next day

several pre-made dinner entrees are available that are relatively low carb - in the refrigerated section, not frozen - several brands, pork roast au jus, pot roast, etc etc - a few of them only have 6 to 10 carbs for the entire $6 carton which will easily make 2 meals, maybe 3

lean cuisine has two frozen dinners I have seen (but not tried) that only have about 5 carbs or so each - can't remember what they are, check the back of the box - chicken somethings

chicken or tuna salad (canned, drain and add some mayo and/or mustard, salt and pepper, chopped celery or green pepper, pickle relish maybe) - scoop up with some celery stalks or eat plain


lots of the above listed foods (processed meats) are high in sodium - try to space those out and drink extra water to offset that


salads - basically any type of lettuce, add a few cherry tomatoes, onion, green pepper, radishes, celery, bacon, eggs, cheese, mushrooms, etc etc. Top with any bottled dressing with no more than about 2 carbs per serving - eat 2 to 3 cups a day - chop up some raw veggies and spread a little cream cheese on them for a snack. Pick up a bag of those plain raw "slaw shreds" (string-like shredded cabbage mix) from the salad section to add some instant crunch to a salad if you don't have time to chop any veggies. A handful of that on some romaine with a little dressing is a decent 1 minute salad.

veggies - the easiest are canned green beans or greens or spinach, frozen broccoli or brussel sprouts or green beans or greens - eat a cup a day if you didn't eat over 2 cups of the salad items - quick to heat, top with some butter and salt and pepper or maybe a little cheese on the broccoli

cheese - buy a block of hard cheese and portion it out - don't eat over 3 or 4 ounces a day - some people find if they eat over 1 or 2 ounces daily it slows down their weight loss - I buy a few mozzerella string cheeses for easy to carry snacks - for sliced cheese, you can use REAL cheese slices like Deli Deluxe or other real cheese slices, but NOT processed cheese slices -

condiments - I put a little bit of heavy cream in my coffee, which is not decaf but does not cause food cravings for me so I drink a few cups anyway - mustard is fine, mayo is fine (check the brand you buy to make sure it isn't loaded with sugar), most bottled spices are fine (mixes sometimes have sugar) - sour pickles are okay, and they sell sweet pickles/pickle relish made with splenda - a spoon of sour cream here and there - butter, olive oil, a little lemon juice on veggies here and there, etc. AVOID ASPARTAME which is what most diet sodas/diet foods have - if you HAVE to have a can of diet soda, get one with splenda. Try not to have too many of these - use as a treat, not a staple. Like it or not, your main drink has to become water.

dessert-like instant treat - microwave a half a cup of canned plain pumpkin and put a pack of splenda, some butter and some pumpkin pie spices on it and stir it up



Anyway, this quickie list helped her get started for several days until she read the book, hope it helps you too. Reading the book (the 2002 version) truly is important, so try to find it at the bookstore, amazon, used bookstore or where ever.

Good luck, and wait out the stall - unless you are really eating some truly amazing amounts of food, you aren't going to gain several pounds over a day or two, so it's just water weight and it will come back off if you give it a little more time - drink some extra water and it may speed up the process.

[buzzukiwoman]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Logged in to ask for help and here was your Blog, matching me to a tee. Starting my third week and when I weighed this morning (was not going to weigh but once a month), but the devil made me do it - not a single pound. Been sticking to the Atkins and drinking lots of water. I know exercize is the key, been doing some squats and stretching exercizes. Reading all the responses has really helped me. I will hang in there and MMM Cake you hang in there to. The results will outweigh the way we are feeling now.

[pinkfeathers]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Hi there, you sound like me the first time I did Atkins. I was so frustrated because the scales stalled for me. That's why this time I'm not weighing myself except for once a month. I suggest you do the same. The stall you are seeing is called PISS (Post Induction Stall Syndrome) - it only lasts a short while but it feels like forever. People stall their 3rd and 4th week from what I've been reading. So, don't despair. In my opinion scales are the enemy. We should just go by how our clothes fit and don't worry so much your first month. You're going to stall.

The Atkins recipie forum is on this board so I'd try checking that out. They have tons of great stuff there.

Good luck and don't give up!!!

[chinadoll]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Don't be too hard on yourself. You are still learning how to do this. It takes awhile. Then it will become second nature. Georgiana gave you some great advice. The DANDR book is your best defense against making mistakes. If you don't have it at least read the links she has given you. There is nothing worse than working hard for a week and finding out that a food you thought was legal was actually tripping you up the entire time. That's why reading up first is so important. Hang in there. You will get it right.

[jennygirl]

Re: Some serious help needed before I give up!

Hi All and Happy Wednesday!! I thought it was just me who was having this issue. I jumped on the scale this morning and it looks like it moved only one pound since I weighed last Wednesday! Grrr...It may very well be my scale, it gave me several different readings...I think it's seen better days, and I hopped on and off about 10 times (LOL) I'm going to get a new one this weekend. I've been following the diet by the letter and drinking the water, etc., it is discouraging to not see the scale move BUT I keep telling myself, the weight did not pile on in 2 weeks and it's NOT going to magically all drop off in two weeks. I just started exercising this weekend, hopefully that will hep. Also, after reading all these posts, I think I'm going to cut back a bit on the cheese and eat more salad/veggies. It's so wonderful to read these posts and get ideas from others who have been through the same thing and those who are currently dealing with it. You guys/gals are great!

One pound lost is better than one pound gained, right?!

Have a great day!