Maybe a dumb question...need advice

[Hopin2Lose]

I need some advice. Hopefully I can make this brief, but I stink at making things cut and dry. I'll try.

I'm 32 years old. 5'7", 141.5 lbs. I have major hormone issues and take thyroid and adrenal hormones as well as progesterone and a ton of supplements.

I did Atkins induction for 4 months in early 2007 and went from 149 to 135 in about 13-14 weeks. I didn't lose anything for the first 5 weeks...nothing noticeable anyway. Stopped weighing and just stuck to it and one day my pants actually fell off. I was not fully treated for my hormone issues yet.

Had to go off the diet because doc wanted me to try some food elimination stuff and it was just too hard to do atkins without eggs or dairy or nuts.

Fast forward to now.

I was losing weight very slowly but steadily earlier this year doing Atkins and was sticking to it just fine and exercising. I didn't lose hardly any pounds, but I lost inches. Fine by me. My thyroid meds company changed the formula and I crashed. I couldn't exercise at all. I've been doing Atkins consistently since February except for a vacation in Mexico (but I came home and had lost 2 lbs) and a trip to see my brother (because he had nothing for me and although I could have done better, I didn't).

I'm just not losing like I should. I know I'm within the "normal" range, but I really do have lots of fat to lose. I know exercising would really help a lot, but I'm not quite ready to do that. I am walking 30-60 minutes everyday, but I can't do intense cardio or weight training quite yet. New thyroid meds are coming this week which are supposed to be very much like the one I was on before so here's hoping. I would really like to lose at least 5 more lbs and hopefully take care of the "look" and feel of my body with exercise once I'm good to go again.

I gave up nuts and reduced my dairy. I don't have artificial sweeteners. I went back to full induction last week and still nothing.

DH and I are going to TTC in December (assuming the hormone stuff is good to go). I know I can't do induction during pregnancy or any other weight loss phases, but it's not like I'm losing weight anyway. My doc doesn't want me to eat grains and would prefer I didn't eat dairy, but she's okay with it as long as it doesn't bother me.

I know Dr. Atkins says the last 5-10lbs should be lost in pre-maintenance, right? How can I get there though if I'm not losing and can't move up the OWL's ladder? I feel like I'm in a rush to lose the weight so I can move up the ladder and get to pre-maintenance, but that's not gonna happen within 7 weeks since I've only lost 2-3 lbs in the last 6-7 weeks. I used to hover in the upper 130's and now I'd kill just to be under 140. I know it's just a number, but it reflects the handfuls of fat I can grab on my stomach. I'm not exaggerating. For the first time EVER, I actually have some cellulite on my stomach. Yuck.

So, what would you do if you were in my position? Obviously I need to balance the hormones, but that's waaay better than it used to be and almost "there". Would you?

a. Stay in induction and tweak it like no diary, fewer carbs, etc and try to lose something?
b. Switch to pre-maintenance minus the grains, starchy veggies/beans, and just do it gradually? This option would allow me to tweak it before I need to be in it for pregnancy.
c. Just keep doing it as I was and add in the exercise when I'm able?
d. Something else I haven't thought of?

I want to lose something, but I don't want to go from induction to pregnancy without practicing eating more variety first.

I told you this wouldn't be short. Sorry. Thanks for reading my novel and for any support you can provide.

Thanks again.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

I wouldn't stay on Induction ... it may be too limiting for you.

Try adding more Induction vegetables. ... I would still move slowly so you don't "shock" your system.

How many net carbs are you eating right now?

>>add in the exercise when I'm able?>>

Yes.

[Georgiana]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

I sometimes moved from one rung to the next even if I lost nothing on that rung. Since I'm pretty close to goal, there are weeks when I lose nothing... no inches... no pounds. I just make sure that the foods I try don't give me blood sugar symptoms (there's that test in DANDR...).

You might want to also read Atkins for Life.

[Hopin2Lose]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Thanks ladies. One for getting through my novel and two for your advice.

When I enter my menus into fitday, my net carbs typically range from 12-22 but usually in the 18-21 range for net. I had moved up to OWL's rung 3 but still wasn't losing so I thought I was doing something wrong. I'm not gaining though so maybe I should just move up. I don't feel too restricted and I'm not craving.

I will check out Atkins for Life. Thanks. I didn't know I could move up the ladder if I wasn't losing. Since I only have a little left to lose, maybe I should just go for it and start moving up slowly and make sure I don't gain rather than looking for a loss. I would imagine if I can move up the ladder and stay the same as I am now, I would lose lbs/inches once I add the exercise back in.

Thanks again ladies.

[Hopin2Lose]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Oh, and where's that test in the book? I could only find the glucose tolerance test thingy. When I looked in the index for blood sugar, it said to see glucose and that's all that's there. Thanks.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

>>my net carbs typically range from 12-22 but usually in the 18-21 range for net.>>

12 is serious undereating.

18 is barely Induction ... if you believe that Induction is AT 20 net.

So ... my FIRST recommendation would be to make sure you're AT 20 net ... with 12-15 net carbs from Induction vegetables. I would do this for a few days at least.

THEN I would do the first rung of OWL ... and add 5 net carbs of Induction vegetables.

Your body may be telling you that it's at the weight it likes ... and it may be only exercise that will tone you up.

What are your calories?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Chapter 12 ... Blood Sugar Symptom Test.

[meow]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Hi, fellow thyroid patient....they have been messing with my meds since February, trying to find the balance between proper lab numbers and me being able to get out of bed in the morning. It has been very discouraging, because I have gained weight for the last 8 months, no matter what I ate. In the summer, carbs and sugar began creeping in, things I haven't eaten in YEARS. Fortunately, I do exercise a lot in the summer, so it didn't cause me to gain weight any faster. But still, almost 20 pounds since Feb. I have since gone back to Induction, and am holding steady--not gaining weight, but not losing, either.

My advice to you is to add more veggies, and get a short walk in every day, even if it's just 10 minutes. You might not be able to lose right now, like me, until your meds are right--- and you know it takes a few weeks for them to be at full effect, even when they get them right! However, you do not want to be gaining weight, and from what you wrote, it seems that you are not.
I am also 5'7", and my "fighting weight" in my 20s was 140. Size 10. Your body just may not want to weigh less than 140, but you do want to be in good shape for pregnancy, with energy and stable blood sugar.

[Hopin2Lose]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

>>my net carbs typically range from 12-22 but usually in the 18-21 range for net.>>

12 is serious undereating.

18 is barely Induction ... if you believe that Induction is AT 20 net.

So ... my FIRST recommendation would be to make sure you're AT 20 net ... with 12-15 net carbs from Induction vegetables. I would do this for a few days at least.

THEN I would do the first rung of OWL ... and add 5 net carbs of Induction vegetables.

Your body may be telling you that it's at the weight it likes ... and it may be only exercise that will tone you up.

What are your calories?

I really don't think I'm undereating. The only reason it's low sometimes is because I tend to have a lot of fiber. My total carbs can be as high as 30+. I really don't use Fitday often because it reminds me of my calorie counting days, but when I do enter them in, it's usually 1500-1900 ish.

[msanjelpie]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Just want you to keep in mind that you might not get pregnant right away. Some times it takes awhile...

I would focus on getting your body ready to be an incubator and think in terms of being as healthy as you can for the job ahead of you... The number on the scale doesn't matter at this point, as long as you aren't gaining you are good to go.

OWL rung 2 sounds like a good place for you to park yourself. There you are getting lots of veggies, and calcium from the dairy. You won't be going over 30 carbs per day.

Walking an hour a day is excellent. You can speed up the pace once you are feeling better and there's your cardio right there... That's something you can do through out the pregnancy as well...

[Hopin2Lose]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

I know I might not get pregnant right away, but I want to be ready for it if it does. I hope it's quick!

I did do rung 1 and 2 and even 3 for awhile with the same results, but I guess if I'm not gaining, then I might as well "park it there" like you said. At least I'd have more variety.

I think the biggest difference for me is going to be in the exercise, but I don't get why I'm not losing even though I'm being really strict. It might just be the meds too. I am eating very healthfully (I think) and think I am close to a good baby diet. I was just hoping to lose a little more. I'll just keep at it, but try not to be too upset. I don't want to count calories. The drives me insane and then I undereat. Here's today (induction):

breakfast - 2 eggs, 2-3oz steak, 1 slice of bacon
lunch - fajitas (unmarinated chicken and beef, green peppers, sour cream and guacamole) with a side salad (lettuce, 5 cherry tomatoes, ranch on the side)
snack - cup of beef stew (made with celery and green beans)
dinner - cheeseburger, side salad
snack (if needed) - hard boiled egg or 1 slice of cheese

I think for me a pre-maintenance/"baby diet" day in the life would look something like this:

breakfast - veggie quiche or omelet with bacon
snack - cottage cheese and berries
lunch - homemade stew or chicken sandwich (oopsie roll) with a side salad
snack - apple and peanut butter, or handful of almonds
dinner - chicken breast, green beans, fauxtatoes

That's so close to what I eat now minus the fruit and I stopped eating nuts 2 weeks ago because of self control issues.

I just took the Blood Sugar Test and I'm at a 17. He said over 50 is positive so I think I'm good now. Good to keep an eye on it though.

Thanks for all the help. I honestly really appreciate it so much!!!

[EverLosing]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Just a suggestion on your snack of an apple and peanut butter. I don't know if you've ever eaten those together but I have found I can get away with a whole apple as long as I combine it with protein and fat. I could never get away with eating the apple and peanut butter. Too many natural sugars all at once for me. It triggers me big time. However, it is a nice dream for me!! I know it sounds gross sometimes...the combination of food we have to eat to stay in the game but I actually eat tuna or egg salad and an apple in one meal and that doesn't crash me or affect ketosis like the apple with peanut butter. I find the apple is all the sweet I can handle. Just wondered if you had ever tried both at the same time and if you can do it regularly.

[Hopin2Lose]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Thanks so much for the tip! I appreciate it. That does make sense. Maybe if I end up doing it, I'll have it be part of my lunch and just eat 1/2 an apple instead. Thanks again.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

Apple and cheese is nice.

[Elizellen]

Re: Maybe a dumb question...need advice

But remember apples are rung 7 foods - could you make do with berries or melon? 5 net carbs of an apple is not much where 5 net carbs of strawberries is an ample portion.