Need help

[bluedawg]

Hi can someone please help me? I have been doing the induction phase for 2 weeks and am still unable to get my strips to turn colors. (I bought a new box and same results) The only carbs I get is in my salad. (2cups)
I lost 8 lbs the first 4 days and nothing since. (no inches either)
This is the third time I have tried the atkins diet, and each time I give up after week 3 due to the same problem.
Typical meal for me is 2 slices deli (lean) ham for breakfast with 1 slice cheese
lunch-couple 3 slices ham, 2 slices cheese, couple pieces of beef jerky.
snack - hard boiled egg, dinner lean kabobs with squash or zucchini (less than 1/2 c.veg.) small salad w/ blue cheese.
What more can I do? (and yes I am exercising)
Kelly

[Bugaboo]

Re: Need help

First off let me say welcome to !

Well, I'm not an Atkins expert like some folks on the board but what's sticking out to me is you're not eating enough food. (We have a recipe section with lots of great recipes if ya need ideas.) I think your body might be in starvation mode and that's why it's not letting any weight go. I would suggest eating more and definately add more veggies. How are you doing for water? And I wouldn't rely on the strips too much...they're known to be a bit iffy. I hope that helps. It's a weekend so some of the experts may not see this very soon so if it gets lost in the mix bump it up.

[yemenitegreen]

Re: Need help

Hi Kelly,

Hi can someone please help me? I have been doing the induction phase for 2 weeks and am still unable to get my strips to turn colors. (I bought a new box and same results) The only carbs I get is in my salad. (2cups)
Typical meal for me is 2 slices deli (lean) ham for breakfast with 1 slice cheese
lunch-couple 3 slices ham, 2 slices cheese, couple pieces of beef jerky.
snack - hard boiled egg, dinner lean kabobs with squash or zucchini (less than 1/2 c.veg.) small salad w/ blue cheese.

First, don't worry too much about the strips. And then... this looks like a lot of sodium to me, with ham & cheese & jerky. Some people have problems with cheese & dairy products in general. How much water do you drink?

Maybe you should give it another try with plain meats (chicken, tuna, beef) instead of deli ham (which might also contain sugar), and try to go easy on dairy for another two weeks.

Please, don't get discouraged - you'll find all the help you need to make this work for you.

yemenitegreen

[bluedawg]

Re: Need help

Thanks for the suggestions, I am drinking alot of water so I don't think the problem lies there. I must tell you though, last night I actually got the strip to turn, when in fact it shouldn't of. We went night fishing, I had not eaten since
lunch (sm. salad) So I got a protien bar, and a bag of beef Jerky at the store. Then I had 3 light beers on top of that. And when I check the strip I had a medium color? What gives?
As for the deli ham it is the prepackaged Hillshire farm 95% lean with no added sugar. (Thin sliced) I probably eat no more than 2 - 3 slices per any given time. But don't worry, I don't intend to give up. Persistance counts in the battle of the bulge

[Bugaboo]

Re: Need help

Then I had 3 light beers on top of that. And when I check the strip I had a medium color? What gives?

Well, if I had to guess I'd say you finally gave your body enough food for it to feel comfortable to burn some fat off. You've got to eat more if you want your body to burn off fat. Otherwise it will freak out and just hold on to it. I'm not saying eat everything in sight but I definately think you need more food.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Need help

I also read that if they are submitted to humidity they sometimes just get damp and don't work. Bathrooms can get humid.
Trust those tight jeans that are suddenly falling off your bod before you trust those sticks.

[is thin possible?]

Re: Need help

I agree with Desertthorn! Go with how your clothes feel instead of the stix! I tried those in the beginning to see if I was actually in ketosis and I didn't hardly get any change in color of the stix to indicate that I was. I threw them out the window and kept reading the DANDR book. Take a look at my stats! I have been successful regardless of what the stix said, so...I don't think they are a reliable indicator!

Keep up the program and it will work!

Blessings!

[kbuchs]

Re: Need help

I agree with Bugaboo - you need to eat more!

[bluedawg]

Re: Need help

Thank you all for your help. I am allowing the stix to rule my head, and that has probably been my downfall in the past. I am in my 3rd week of induction, I feel I am doing really well, and have no desire to eat the carbs (except for fruit of course) but I am going to continue on the induction for awhile more.
But hey 10lbs so far, so I guess the fruit can wait awhile longer (Big Smile)
I shall win this war, cuz I am as bull headed as they come.
Thanks again,
Kelly