HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

[hippychikforever]

I'm 38 yrs old, married mom. I was a fit child & teenager but started to steadily gain after I turned 21. When I saw pictures of myself at my daughter's recent 4th birthday, I was disgusted. My husband & I decided to do this together. I cleaned out my entire pantry & fridge. I stocked it with only Atkins approved food. My starting weight was 258.6. We did induction for 4 weeks before moving on to OWL.
Hubby is doing great. He's lost 22lbs even though he's "cheated" here and there. Myself..NO! Although I have stuck to the plan 100% & begun exercising again (1 mile powerwalk every day at lunch), I have only lost 3lbs & 18". Last week I was down 6lbs at the 4 week weigh in & 19.5". I worked harder last week than any other really pushing myself witht he walks & even began toning. I was horrified & extremely upset to find that all my hard work was paid back with a 3lb gain & 3" gain as well. WTH is going on? I hear all these success stories and I'm really trying to not lose hope but it's really hard.

I've been keeping the journal and find I'm averaging between 10-14 carbs per day unless I'm not figuring carbs correctly with the veggies. Here is an example of what I typically eat in a day.

Breakfast: 2 hard boiled eggs w/butter- water to drink

MidMorning Snack: Atkins bar (usually 3 net carb)

Lunch: Boars Head chicken breast rolled up on 1 slice of gouda cheese with 3 black olives (usually have 2 roll ups)

Mid afternoon snack: pork rinds or 21 almonds (added almonds last week)

Dinner: steak with less than 1 handful of crumbled blue or gorgonzola cheese on top with salad consisting of 1 cup lettuce (romaine or spring mix), 1/2 diced plum tomato & 2 TBSP Marie's Blue Cheese dressing.

I drink at least 2 liters of water per day (4 1/2 liter bottles)
Once I've met the water intake, I allow myself a Fresca (0 carbs, sugar & calories) with dinner

I do not eat after 7pm & I take my multivitamin every morning with breakfast. I am not on any medication & my thyroid is functioning normally.

I eat until I feel full not stuffed but should I begin to measure my portions? Are the Atkins bars hurting me? I would not expect to have a bigger loss if I didn't have that much to lose but I have over 100lbs to shed and this is really disheartening.

No offense to the men but I need a woman's guidance on this. It irks me that my hubby can cheat here & there & still have lost so much but I have put in so much effort & am being rewarded with dismal results.

Thank You for listening and any help that you may be able to provide.

[Dryunderwater]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Hey there!

The Atkins bar, the almonds and Fresca should prob be dropped and check to see if a change occurs for the better.

I would also add in more veggies, doesn't look like you are consuming anywhere near enough.

Another poster will be along soon to give you some science behind it. I'm real simple and just try to follow step by step...lol...Best Wishes! Keep the faith!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Nuts aren't allowed on Induction. Your post says you're on OWL ... but you don't say what rung. You should add nuts on the correct rung ... not just when you want to.

Are you reading the book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002)?

>>salad consisting of 1 cup lettuce (romaine or spring mix), 1/2 diced plum tomato>>

This simply isn't enough vegetables. You should be getting MOST of your daily net carbs from Induction vegetables. You're not eating enough vegetables for Induction, much less OWL.

Please check these links:

www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6782-what-rules-induction.html

www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html

As to a "gain"? ... is it "that time of the month"?

You're probably not drinking enough water either ... 64 ounces is the MINIMUM. Most people do better with more. Many find that drinking 1/2 their current body weight in inches works best. If you don't drink enough water, or eat enough net carbs/food, your body will retain what it needs.

You might have put your body in famine mode ...

[ThinSoon]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Even though your weight loss is not there, you have really lost alot of inches - did I read that right - 19.5"! Did you drop some sizes? I know someone will probably pop in about it, but there are times when you'll see inches over the weight on the scale...

The atkins bars stall me and I don't eat them anymore. Pork rinds also stall me, not sure if its the salt or what. I have them occasionally but not every day. Do you know what your calorie count may be for the day? Do you use fitday? I would agree that veggies should be added.

A little tweaking needed but you are doing great!!!

Tracey

[hippychikforever]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Thanks for the speedy response. I guess I misread + my best friend did Atkins a few years ago & was eating nuts from the getgo & she lost 30lbs in 3 months. I did NOT eat the nuts during induction. I started OWL last week just because after 4weeks, I was getting bored. I guess according to the book I should have waited til I hit rung 3?

I will stop the bars, nuts & fresca. I'll add in more veggies this week too. I hope this will help. I was only limiting the veggies afraid I'd go over what I should have. Any other suggestions? Should I go back on induction?

[hippychikforever]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Thinsoon:

yes 19.5" but all over not just in 1 spot. Of course "the twins" were the 1st & most prominant loss but I also lost in my waist, hips & arms. My legs not so much but hubby thinks it may be because my miscles are building there. I did manage to get into a pair of jeans I hadn't worn in over a year.

Another question, would it be better to stick to chicken/turkey/seafood? I've been eating a lot of red meat. Could that be affecting me? I just checked on a conversion chart. 2 liters water = 67.62 fluid ounces of water. I'm easily drinking that and I'm running to the bathroom left & right. Should I increase to 3 liters?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

>>my best friend did Atkins a few years ago & was eating nuts from the getgo>>

She "said" she was doing Atkins ... but she wasn't following the book. Many people use the word "Atkins" without knowing a thing about the program.

>>I was only limiting the veggies afraid I'd go over what I should have.>>

If you count your carbs or measure, then you won't "go over".

>>Should I go back on induction?>>

No ... stick with OWL rung 1 and get your vegetables "up" ... you want to aim for around 17-20 net carbs worth, if you're counting the carbs.

>>would it be better to stick to chicken/turkey/seafood? I've been eating a lot of red meat.>>

You don't have to give up red meat.

>>I did manage to get into a pair of jeans I hadn't worn in over a year.>>

Cool, huh!

[Georgiana]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

I was only limiting the veggies afraid I'd go over what I should have.

Go over what? Your net carbs for the day?

I'm asking because you weren't afraid to use your net carbs on nuts and Atkins bars, so I'm wondering why vegetables are "scarier".

[Amy1983]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Well done on the 19.5" loss - thats great, and like other people have said weight will go up and down (depending on tom especially)
Dont be too disheartened - keep going and you will see the results....
I personally eat more chicken and seafood than red meat (as I prefer it) but that may also help...
Good Luck and keep us posted on how you get on!

[hippychikforever]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Georgiana,

The book says 2 cups daily + 1 cup other veggies. The items I posted were just an example. I do not eat the same thing every day. Some nights I fix a salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, 10 grilled shrimp, 1/2 avocado & shredded mexican cheese with 2 TBSP Marie's Chipolte ranch dressing. I posted here to get some help & pointers but your post read kind of like an attack and I don't appreciate it. I don't want to quit. I'm trying to succeed. If the book said absolutely no Atkins bars, I wouldn't eat them. Same with the nuts which weren't even introduced until week 4. I'm not eating a box of bars. 1 bar = 3 net carbs. I didn't realize it was such a no no particularly since the box says it's for all phases of Atkins. Others have kindly pointed out I may want to refrain from these things & I will heed their advice. I hope you were trying to be helpful but the tone of your post read otherwise.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

if you eat leaner meats (chicken/turkey/seafood), make sure you get sufficient fat in as well by adding fat in cooking or to the meal, such as using olive oil, butter, mayonaisse, etc. Personally, I eat alot of red meat and have never noticed any difference in weight loss.

I agree with the above, more veggies, get rid of the shakes and Fresca (that has aspartame in it, another known staller), also add up your calories and make sure you are eating enough, including 60-65% fat. Are you tracking your food in something like Fitday? It really helps for watching carb counts, calories and fat percentage.

The inches lost show that you are losing weight and that's great! I just think you need some tweaking. You won't always lose weight every week. Looks like you've lost 9 lbs already which is great!

As for water, it wouldn't hurt to increase it a bit. I drink at least 120 oz per day and usually more, and do not count non-water into that. If I have coffee or tea, I try and drink double that amount in water.

[Georgiana]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

The book says 2 cups daily + 1 cup other veggies. The items I posted were just an example. I do not eat the same thing every day.

Is the menu above a typical menu or an exception? Posting a typical menu would help us give better advice.

A cup of lettuce and 1/2 plum tomato is far from 3 cups.

I didn't realize you've read the book, since you weren't eating the 3 cups of vegetables and, in the menu you posted, less than half of your daily net carbs were coming from vegetables.

The thing is, you are now in OWL, not in Induction. You start OWL by adding 5 net carbs worth of Induction vegetables, so in OWL you are not going by cups anymore. That's why I asked why you were afraid not to go over your vegetables.

How are you tracking your foods? Are you using an accurate carb counter?

How many net carbs are in the menu you posted?

How many net carbs have you been eating, on average? How many from vegetables?

I worked harder last week than any other really pushing myself witht he walks & even began toning.

Increasing your exercise level can cause fluid retention, which would also reflect on the scale.

[hippychikforever]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

I'm tracking my food based on the lists located in the carb gram counter of the book & also reading labels of items not listed. I get it. I'll add more veggies. Thank you for the advise. Hopefully, this week willbe a better one.

[Georgiana]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

also reading labels of items not listed

American labels are not very accurate, since rounding is usually applied. For example, if something is listed with 0 g carbohydrate, all that means is that the carbs are less than 0.5 g per serving.

For accurate nutritional info, you might want to use the USDA database or FitDay:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

In FitDay, you can enter all the foods you eat each day, and it will calculate the grams of carbohydrate and dietary fiber for you. Then you just do the math to get net carbs.

pork rinds

What kind of pork rinds? Plain or flavored?

[hippychikforever]

Re: HELP!!!!! 5 weeks and little results

Thanks for directing me to fitday...Plain pork rinds