Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

[Rake]

In the induction I lost around six lbs. I am around 4 weeks in now and haven't lost any more weight. I go up a lb and then back down. Probably more to do with water retention than fat loss. I am having difficulty adding any more carbs without stalling/gaining weight/getting out of Ketosis. I am currently consuming only 15 carbs a day in order to maintain my weight. I am following the diet strictly. I will include a sample menu to see if you might find the culprit.

I just wish there were more information on Atkins diet for people who aren't overweight but want to lose a few lbs and live a better life. I am assuming my stall is due to the fact that I am already at a healthy weight. Maybe I am metabolically resistant? (I find that hard to believe but why can't I begin to climb the carbohydrate ladder?) I want to be patient and wait it out, but I fear that I will harm myself if I stay on induction longer than six weeks. For those of you who are in maintenence, were the last ten lbs or so the hardest to lose? And do you think I should just move into OWL despite being in a stall?

Any input?

Breakfast:

Decaf coffee with one ounce of heavy cream. I use one packet of stevia with this.

2-4 Eggs, usually an omelet with cheddar cheese and sausage or bacon.

Snack: Two hard boiled eggs with a tablespoon of mayo

Lunch: Salad, two cups romaine lettuce, blue cheese, meat (chicken, turkey, bison or beef)

Snack: String cheese

dinner: Burgers, pork chops, fish. I use full fat dressing as a side and cook it in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. I use blue cheese or ranch dressing. Around three times a week I have a quarter of an avocado with dinner.

Writing it out, I think salt may have something to do with it. It is so hard to avoid though... I do drink the full eight glasses of water a day.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

>>I am assuming my stall is due to the fact that I am already at a healthy weight.>>

Yes.

Maybe your body is telling you that it's at the weight it is going to be.

How many net carbs from vegetables are you getting?

How many net carbs are you eating in total?

>>For those of you who are in maintenence, were the last ten lbs or so the hardest to lose?>>

Most certainly!

>>do you think I should just move into OWL despite being in a stall?>>

Yes.

Most likely, you should be in pre-maintenance. Which means you really do need to move to OWL!

[Lisa]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

Salt's an issue for a lot of folks--me too...but spice is life!

I agree--move up the rungs. Not knowing your height/body build etc., I'm going to stick an opinion out here and say that you're most likely where you need to be---healthy weight But if you're happy at where you're at and want to up your exercise---I would suggest doing that. You could even cut down inches and sculpt at your weight and look like your goal. Just food for thought!

Best wishes!

[Rake]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

wow! Quick reply!


>>How many net carbs from vegetables are you getting?>>

Last week I tried to begin rung 1 by adding 1 cup of broccoli to my daily menu, three times a week. I gained two lbs by the end of the week and my ketosis strips began to read negative. When I went back to the same menu I lost those two lbs again and went back into ketosis. Any suggestions on what vegetable I should try to add instead? And how much/often? I appreciate the input!


>>How many net carbs are you eating in total?>>
15g on average, though sometimes lower than that. Mostly lettuce/avacado. About 4g a day in salad dressing and cheese. Everything I buy is below 2g per serving.



>>Most likely, you should be in pre-maintenance. Which means you really do need to move to OWL!>>

What should I do if I begin to gain weight?

[Rake]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

Exercise could definitely be a factor. I am a pretty active person, but could probably use some strength training. Cardio only goes so far. And I suppose its definitely more of a body image issue than a weight issue. My weight is fine, but I would like change where it collects.

By the way I am only 5'0 with a medium frame.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

>> 15g on average, though sometimes lower than that.>>

This isn't even Induction level net carbs. You're starving your body ... which could explain why your weight bounced up when you ate some more food.

To me, it's not about the "cups" ... it's about the quantity of net carbs you're eating.

>>I would like change where it collects.>>

Eating isn't likely to do that. If anything will, it's exercise. And ... it may never happen the way you want.

[not2late]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

Are you losing inches?

Dr. Atkins defined a weight loss plateau as 4 consecutive weeks without the loss of pounds or inches.

Another thought...

Avocado is an allowed food, but it is listed as a "special category food" and limited to "half a small avocado" daily. Special category foods are foods that have the ability to stop or slow weight loss in some people.

Likewise, heavy cream is on the Special Category Foods list. How are you measuring the 1 ounce of heavy cream? Are you measuring it in a measuring cup or are you weighing it on a food scale? This is important because 1 fluid ounce of heavy cream does not equal 1 dry-weight (that is, weighed on a food scale) ounce of heavy cream.

And the final thought is are you eating until you are satisfied or are you eating just because you can eat? I ask this based on your breakfast and morning snack:

Breakfast:

Decaf coffee with one ounce of heavy cream. I use one packet of stevia with this.

2-4 Eggs, usually an omelet with cheddar cheese and sausage or bacon.

Snack: Two hard boiled eggs with a tablespoon of mayo

That breakfast---2-4 egg omelette with cheese sausage or bacon--- looks sort of like what I was eating when I started Atkins at 240+ pounds. Your morning snack looks more like the breakfast I eat currently (and I'm more or less at goal weight.)

It is possible to gain weight or not even lose weight if you overeat legal foods. So be aware of this. Don't eat a 4 egg omelette just because "on Atkins you are allowed to" eat a 4 egg omelette. If 1 egg and 1 piece of bacon satisfies your hunger, that's all you eat for that meal. If you aren't hungry between breakfast and lunch, don't eat a snack--unless you're past the 6 waking hours without eating mark.

[Rake]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

I've always had a very healthy appetite. My calories have decreased since starting atkins so I am not too concerned with overeating. Also, my lunch and dinner in comparison to my breakfast are relatively small. I also work out 5 days a week. I think you might be on to something with the special category foods though! I think I will try to cut the avocado and cream out and try adding the broccoli again this week. I'll let you know how I do with it! Thanks for you help!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

>>My calories have decreased since starting atkins>>

Decreased to what? Undereating, even in calories, can be counterproductive.

Increasing your carbs to at least Induction levels might help, too.

[Rake]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

From around 2000 to about 1500. I am definitely going to start adding carbs. Thanks for all of your help guys! It's hard to figure it all out on my own. Sometimes my over analyzing is counter productive too. haha. The answers are usually simple.

[Suzanne_H]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

Breakfast:

Decaf coffee with one ounce of heavy cream. I use one packet of stevia with this.

2-4 Eggs, usually an omelet with cheddar cheese and sausage or bacon.

Snack: Two hard boiled eggs with a tablespoon of mayo

Lunch: Salad, two cups romaine lettuce, blue cheese, meat (chicken, turkey, bison or beef)

Snack: String cheese

dinner: Burgers, pork chops, fish. I use full fat dressing as a side and cook it in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. I use blue cheese or ranch dressing. Around three times a week I have a quarter of an avocado with dinner.

Veggies... that's what's missing. I know there's the lettuce, but do you eat other veggies daily?

No but seriously your body probably thinks it's starvin' Marvin, and that'll put the brakes screeching on a decent metabolism.

To the breakfast omelet we can add diced tomato, green pepper, onion, jazz it up. The salad is pretty plain without some broccoli or cauliflower florets, radishes, pepper strips, onions... and let's not forget some stir-fry zucchini and yellow squash to go with those pork chops, burgers and fish. Do up the avocado with some tomato, onion, cilantro and dash of lime you got guacamole. Not all, but most of your daily carbs do need to come from veggies. It's what makes Atkins the healthiest choice for me.

[whereami]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

How are you measuring the 1 ounce of heavy cream? Are you measuring it in a measuring cup or are you weighing it on a food scale? This is important because 1 fluid ounce of heavy cream does not equal 1 dry-weight (that is, weighed on a food scale) ounce of heavy cream.

Hey not2late when you said this I feel like I've been hit by a rock because I dont know how to measure my 1 oz of cream so I usually throw it on the scale and measure out one ounce. This could have been causing me some problems. How would it measure out on a food scale? I think this is very important to me and alot of us cuz we tend to use cream in my soups and stuff. Plus today Im making zoodles - zucchini cream parmesan cheese and mushrooms. I wanna be sure to make the servings of this mixture with the right amounts of these things and the cream I would measure out on my food scale.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

>>I dont know how to measure my 1 oz of cream so I usually throw it on the scale and measure out one ounce.>>

You're measuring weight, not volume.

>>How would it measure out on a food scale? >>

You wouldn't use a food scale.

Do you have a shot glass?

Or a measuring spoon ... then you could measure by Tablespoonful.

[Elizellen]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

As Atkinsgal suggested it would probably be easier to use a measuring spoon

2 Tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce

[BigSouthernBoy]

Re: Is it more difficult to lose weight when you don't have much weight to lose?

I wouldn't necessarily say it's more difficult. More than anything, I believe the less you have to lose the slower your body is to lose it. As you come closer to your natural set weight, your body begins to slow down and adjust to the changes it has incurred.

A 100 lb. overweight individual's body knows that it won't need near the energy those 100 additional pounds has to offer, thusly it has no reason to reserve said weight. This is why extremely overweight individuals tend to lose more quickly, even though they may be working just as hard, if not less, than a 15 lb. overweight individual who may have only lost a couple pounds. The closer you come to your goal, the more conscious your body becomes of its fat/energy reserves.