I am barely losing...

[sadie147]

I really think the key to Atkins is looking at it as a change in your lifestyle. NOT a diet where you are going to lose x lbs by x date. If you look at the people that have reached goal, are close to goal etc on this board, you will see that none of them have this 'crash diet lose weight quick' mindset. We have all changed our way of eating for life. Not just until so-and-so's wedding, an upcoming high school reunion, a family reunion. It is a day to day way of life, and a new way of eating, a healthy lifestyle change.

I can tell you this is exactly why, although i did lose weigh on WW, I gained it back (plus more). Once the meetings were finished, i just went back to my old ways. K, lost weight, done with that, diet over...that thinking just DOESN"T WORK.

Be patient, the weight will come off. I lost 26 lbs in 10 months, which seems to be slow to alot of people, but it really wasn't. I would have loved to lose it all in 2 or 3 months. but i didn't. I changed my way of eating for life, I've gone from a size 10 to a 2, i'm healthier and i exercise daily.

Follow the diet as written. If you stall, be patient, move to OWL, try eliminating certain foods (cheese, cream) that could possibly be the cause or any new ones you've added, cut out the frankenfoods, up your exercise, and watch for carb creep. Taking a chance on carb loading is just not worth it in my opinion Like TTdriver said you will just wreak havoc on your blood sugar, and that's just not healthy. Dont' treat this WOE like a crash diet. Treat it like a way of life and the weight will come off and you will be far healthier.

[not2late]

I'm glad not2late posted her reply. I have the older version of the book and I was sure that Dr. Atkins suggested this for plateaus, or I would not have done it before. Yes, it worked for me! If I hadn't lost for a few weeks, I would have a carb day and then I was back to losing. I lost over 60 pounds last time on Atkins. I now know that I need to eat this way forever and won't make the mistake of going off this WOE again.

Michele

Yes, it was in the 1992 version, but it was taken out of the 2002 edition. Furthermore, it was to be done as a "last resort" type thing---after you've ruled out the usual suspects like food intolerance, sloppy carb counting, lack of exercise, thyroid or other hormonal problems, candida, etc.

Furthermore, the newer Atkins Nutritionals Inc publications don't mention that or the Fat Fast. Makes you wonder why......

[Reveal]

I've heard about this method for a long time, but I have to say that, for me, my problem is that having a lot of carbs reawakens all of the cravings and blood sugar issues, so I don't do it.

I WILL say, however, that when I go through a period of a stall I have found that eating more fat, or just more calories over the course of the day of acceptable food, has the same effect on me that your friend mentioned. The body is very smart - it can get used to anything - and I have a tendency to eat around the same calorie range every day because Atkins leaves me feeling satisfied with less food. So when it seems like I need to rev my metabolism up a bit, I try to eat more fat. I did this yesterday, in fact. I was stuck at 218 for a week, so last night I put sour cream on my cheeseburgers at dinner, and let myself have more cheese during the day than I normally eat, and I sauteed my chicken in butter/olive oil at lunch. This morning I was down two pounds.

I'm sure I would have lost them eventually anyway, but I just find that varying my dietary habits a bit can jump-start my body.

But I stay away from carbs. If I carbed out someone would have to drag me out from under a table at Jonny Carrino's, where I'd be eating bread and pasta, and mumbling to myself. :yes

[iwillbethin]

I cheated a while back and still had a loss but I felt HORRIBLE!

[tickletussler]

I'm not saying that "ketosizing" in and out of carb weekends are good, but after nearly 4 months, I just wanted a break and I did try for one weekend to be "non-Atkins"

It was a controlled decision and not a result of any binge.

I was very surprised to find that I didn't enjoy my spaghetti, rice, potato, bread like I used to and was even more surprised to find I didn't overeat.

By the time I returned to Atkins on the Monday, I had reached a different level on my Atkins trip - and that is I know I'm less likely to crave because my "old" foods aren't as good as they used to be and that I actually enjoy being on Atkins.

PS. luckily I didn't gain as a result from my "ATkins break"

[not2late]

I WILL say, however, that when I go through a period of a stall I have found that eating more fat, or just more calories over the course of the day of acceptable food, has the same effect on me that your friend mentioned. The body is very smart - it can get used to anything - and I have a tendency to eat around the same calorie range every day because Atkins leaves me feeling satisfied with less food. So when it seems like I need to rev my metabolism up a bit, I try to eat more fat. I did this yesterday, in fact. I was stuck at 218 for a week, so last night I put sour cream on my cheeseburgers at dinner, and let myself have more cheese during the day than I normally eat, and I sauteed my chicken in butter/olive oil at lunch. This morning I was down two pounds.

Some people do better if they increase their fat percentages slightly. Likewise, I think some folks over-eat protein. Excess protein will be converted to glycogen and ultimately fat.

tickle, I'm not sure what phase you are in, but have you ever considered the possibility that you might be one of those people who have a high CCLL and can eat a high amount of carbs, stay in ketosis and still lose weight?

[island reina]

What are different types of FrankenFoods?

[Peytonn]

I think they mean any of the pre-packaged commercial stuff like the bars, shakes, etc...

[island reina]

ohh, boy do I feel slow, :no lol

[bree630]

I'm sure most people will not like what I am about to say... but I can only speak from my experiences...

I started Atkins October of 2003. Since then, I have allowed myself a million and one "carb fests" for bdays, holidays, vacations, what have you. I plan them, decide how many days I'll do it, and then go right back to Atkins. I know that I'll have to eat mainly low-carb for the rest of my life in order NOT to gain back the 75 pounds I've lost, but I also do still enjoy the foods I used to eat. I will not even lie and say that when I cheated I didn't enjoy the foods. Damn right I enjoyed them. But I also enjoy being thinner, so I always am able to go back to Atkins. I have been successful, ridiculously so, and will not stop doing what works for me

Fortunately, I am able to control myself. Luckily, I do not have bad cravings when I go back to Atkins nor am I sick when I eat carbs. I also do not overeat when I eat carbs. I find that allowing myself these small "vacations" help me to stay sane. My results are mind-blowing and I will prove everyone wrong... those who say that going back to my old ways of eating for short periods of time will sabotage my weight loss. Nah. I will weigh LESS than this the same time next year. Eating carbs didn't make me fat... overeating and fast food did.

Just my 2 cents...

[tickletussler]

Bridget, as Megs suggested to me, maybe you have a high CCLL and you don't know it yet? Maybe that's why you go on these "carb vacations" and you are still losing?

[Peytonn]

all my mistakes have finally caught up with me I fear... my 'official' weigh in day is Monday... but I weigh every day anyway... and so far.. nothing this week...

I certainly can't complain about what I lost the first 3 weeks... but I am not TOO discouraged.... I know I'm doing it right..... I'm in ketosis, and I know it will happen.....

I'm not giving up....

[Elizellen]

I'm not giving up....

Good for you :hug
If you haven't already make sure you read the sticky in the 14 day induction forum called 'Weightloss is not linear' for reassurance that it will work for you and that a temporary 'hesitation' is perfectly normal for us all :yes

[Skyhawk747]

What is wierd for me was I found it hard to get into ketosis and then when I did it was quite deep then without any difference in my diet at all one day I just came out of it! weird!

[sugarfreeone]

Re: Well, I will try anything at this point...

If this doesn't work, I am going to go back on Weight Watchers in June. I am tired of working hard and not seeing the results. I know I will lose on WW, plus I have more control over losing. I don't like the lack of control with Atkins. I lost quite a bit during January, but have only lost 9 pounds since Feb 14th. I have 60 to lose...

Kristik99, what you have to understand is that this is not a quick weight loss diet. It did not appear on your body overnight and it will not disappear any faster. This is a way of eating for life and it takes time. For this to really work, you have to commit to it and hang in there even when the scales are not moving. Are you drinking enough water? Eating your veggies? Did you measure yourself when you started? It is not just about weight. Are you using artificial sweeteners? How much? Which ones? Are you excercising? Some of that weight could be muscle mass.


On WW you don't have control over losing any differently than you do with this program. I did WW for three months and could only shed 11 pounds no matter how much I excercised and tried to follow the program to the letter.........WW allows sugar and carbs in moderation...for some people moderation with carbs/sugar is not a freedom,luxury or an option that their metabolism can afford.

I have lost 25 pounds in 4 months with Atkins...and it is continuing to change my life. I had a very frustrating stall recently and I know how you feel believe me! My scales are moving again and I know I will eat the Atkins way for the rest of my life. I don't mean induction eating either. I had to move into OWL to get the scale moving again....

I had just over 50 to lose when I started...Now I am about half way to my goal.....There have been times my scale has stopped moving...but you have to just stick to it because it works. If you lost a bunch of weight in Jan and have since lost 9 pounds, it will work for you. Don't give up.

Hang in There!
Kat