Starting again at 329 <sigh>

**Richt** · September 14, 2006, 07:07 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Helena, I read your post with interest. I am behind you 100% and know you will succeed this time.

Good luck (although I don't think you will need it.) you will be great.

Rich

**Waterbabe_Helena** · September 14, 2006, 07:18 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Thanks Rich

Your own transformation is staggering. You don't look like the same person. Pity your most recent pic is so tiny. Wish it was as close up as the others. How much weight did you lose just shaving off the beard? LOL

Please, if you feel like it, write me something eulogising how you feel now compared with then. I want to start imagining myself fitter, how I'd feel. That might spur me on.

When I tried to give up smoking, I used to "give up" every Monday, and by the evening I'd always give in and buy a pakcet. People got bored of hearing that I was trying to give up - yet again!

But, you know what, one of those times, no different from any other time, I actually did it. And I haven't smoked one fag for 20 years.

Luckily, on this board no-one ever gives up on anyone. Nor should they.

Love

Helena

**2big4mysize** · September 14, 2006, 08:34 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

welcome back to ADBB and to Atkins. we have a former admin who lost 0 pounds during her induction and less then a yr later was a goalie. if you have been screwing around on various diets your metabolism needs time to fix itself. eating Atkins will stabilze your blood sugar as you have discovered and allow your cells to get used to less insulin and ract faster when they recieve it plus they need to switch over to 24/7 fat burning by making mire of the chemicals and cell parts needed to burn fats. it takes time you can't just drive your gas car up to a disel pump and expect it to run on that without taking the time to modify the engine some.

If you haven't already post your menus with amounts and foods and maybe somebody can spot if you are eating something you shouldn't from your burst of energy it sounds like you are in ketosis and fat burning now you just need to speed up your fat burning metabolism unless you are over eating your Atkins.

Good for you getting thsat mandatory exercise part of your Atkins going. so many super heavy weights say I'll wait till I'm smaller not realizing the body metabolism slows dow when losing weight and without the added exercise to speed it up they will have a much more difficult time getting smaller. Walking is a great exercise I walked all the way to goal and still do just much faster and longer then when I started at 313 pounds. and swimming is great too.

**Jace** · September 14, 2006, 08:48 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Welcome back to Atkins Helena!

It may seem like slow going right now, but patience and persistence will allow you to win out in the end!

Best of luck on your weight loss journey and if you need anything feel free to give a shout!

~Far la bella figura!

**Waterbabe_Helena** · September 14, 2006, 11:04 PM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Thanks for replying!

I know I need to learn patience.
I have not lost any weight but boy do I feel GREEEATTT!
Now that the sugar and other carbs aren't making my blood-glucose roller-coaster I do feel better in myself, but I am waiting for that whoosh fairy who never seems to drop by.

One thing I find puzzling: half the people on this board seem to be saying "You must eat plenty. If you don't eat plenty, you won't lose; your body will go into starvation mode; you must teach your body that you are not starving it, and it will let go its fat stores."

The other half seem to say: "You must also eat small portions AND keep your calories down."

These are, obviously, opposing viewpoints. How can I know what I am supposed to do?

I have clicked on a few people's Fitday and browsed a few days and was shocked to find people having only 500 to 800 calories. I thought that was considered to be starvation mode?

I've had two independent nutritionists tell me that my body needs 2,700 calories per day just for normal living, and if I walk two miles and do an hour's swim, I need 3,600 to maintain my weight.

Going by that, I need only drop to, say, 2000 and the weight should be falling off me.

Can anyone help with this puzzle?

Helena

**Momto6ix** · September 26, 2006, 10:16 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Hi Helena

I just read your post today. I'm one of those people such as yourself. A slow loser. I started this in February 06. The entire first month, I never cheated, and I never lost even one pound. But I kept going. I don't think I ever followed Induction to the letter. But I have followed the basic and simple plan of keeping my carbs under 20 each day. Today is September 26. I have lost 57 pounds. I wore a size 20 pants in December, I have on an old pair of my size 12 jeans today. Some of my months, I lost 10 pounds, some month, like last month, I lost only 4. But each month, I have indeed lost weight. I also read alot about people who lose 6 lbs the first week and I think holy wow, just like you did. But, I tell myself, I'm not in a race with anyone. I just want to lose weight. I did go ahead and make myself this goal. Gee, I'd like to weigh 125 lbs by June 1st, 2007. If I make that, I make it, if not, well, I'm not going to kill myself over it. as far as this Ketosis. hmpf. If I remember it correctly, I never actually went into full ketosis. even if I had a practically zero carb couple of days. Yes some people came reply back and say, well Theresa, you never did induction, you don't exercise, you don't etc....that's why you never went into ketosis, and your weight loss is slow. ok. so be it. As I said, I'm not in a race here. I am a firm believer in this diet. My bf is an excellent, oh my god he should be a chef, cook. He can make a meal with absolutely no carbs and it will taste like something sinful for sure. When I'm home though, eh, I stick to basics. Hotdogs. eggs. easy I can make this even if I'm not a cook, foods. My goal is to not be hungry and not eat alot of carbs. We're hard core bikers, and hit the biker bars often. I found tons of food I can eat, hot wings.....rueben sandwiches without the bread, etc. My drink of choice is Captain morgan and diet coke. In other words, I've managed to do this and continue my lifestyle as it was. oh, and yes, I get compliments from so many of our friends too. that always helps.

So I've been doing this for almost 8 months and have lost almost 60 lbs. that is hmmmmm well less then 10 lbs a month for sure. LOL. It's about 1.5 lbs a week. but remember, sometimes it was 2 lbs a week and sometimes it was 1/4 lb every other week, if you look at my averages. One thing it hasn't been is a gain. I've pretty much figured out that I'm going to be doing this forever. for me, eating what I please whenever I want isn't going to work. for me, this has to be a WOL way of life. could be worse eh? smile.

Helena, stick with it. I'll write back and forth to you. I live over here, in the good ole, US of A. New Jersey as a matter of fact. that's ok. But just because you don't see yourself losing "fast" or as much as you see others, doesn't mean you should quit on yourself. sometimes all we have is all there is.

if I ever figure out how to put pictures on here, I'll do it. There is a beauty of one from last June, at my grandbaby's first birthday. yep I'm a cow in this pic. it's a perfect as I was shot. I gotta figure that out. then I'll get one of me now. if I ever figure out how to do it........keep smiling and remember, "if you're going thru ****, keep on moving, face that fight, walk right thru it, you might get out 'fore the Devil even knows you're there....."

Theresa

**Waterbabe_Helena** · September 28, 2006, 04:40 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Theresa I am so grateful for your wise words. It is damned hard for us slow losers. I want to be a member of the "club" on here who lose and lose. I am a very impatient person by nature and so it's doubly hard for me to keep on believing when this diet gives me so little weight loss.

By Day 10 on this attempt I had lost only 3lb. Things went a bit haywire: it is now Day 16 and I have cheated three times: once with 5 cookies, once with a bar of chocolate and once with an ice cream dessert. So I have kept to Atkins 99% but it is that 1% that I have to eliminate.

My 3lb loss is now only a 1lb loss in 16 days, no doubt because my three cheats gained me 2lb. My counsellor says I am doing brilliantly keeping to it 99% of the time but she doesn't realise that Dr A demands 100% obedience not 99%.

I am trying my damndest to make that 100%.

I would love to be like you Theresa and drop 57 pounds in 7 months.

After the ice cream dessert on Tuesday night (a restaurant) the next day I felt dreadful: tired, sleepy, bloated and heavy. This is my body screaming out to me that it hates sugar, that sugar is a poison to me. Just got to stay firm and somehow stop giving in to temptation!

Helena

**Momto6ix** · September 28, 2006, 08:07 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

hi helena,

ok, believe it or not, when i get cravings for sweets, i go and get heavy cream, which you can add splenda or any sugar substitute to, and make whipping cream. sometimes i eat that with sugar free jello, and sometimes i just eat that.

i have six daughters. yes six, yes all girls, no, no boys, and no, i wasn't trying for a boy. i'm going to be 50, HOLY WOW, on Nov 7 of this year. people tell me i look great for having 6 kids, and that always makes me wonder.........is that a compliment? LOL. but i kinda decided if i have to turn 50, and i do cuz the alternative isn't pleasant, then i'll be gosh darned if i'm going to LOOK 50. hence, the diet. however, i did have an ah ha moment, and i'm going to post that as a new thread.

now here's a suggestion. go to the store. look at every cookie pacakge, or ice cream package. i found one ice cream that has 10 carbs for 1. so. if i eat practically no carbs on that day, i can have one ice cream. remember, keep the carbs under 20. so find a cookie that is the lowest in carbs and say to yourself, i can have, 3 of these. or 1 or these. find what you can have without breaking the 20 rule. as far as i can figure, you're not in a race either right? you don't need to lose a tremendous amount each week, just lose. my weigh loss has been very slow. but it has been steady and in the end, that's what matters. i know so many people who have had that surgery. and i considered it. but, i didn't wanna have to give up food forever.......and i didn't want to have to deal with excess skin. this can work. it will work. customize it for YOU and it will work.

theresa

**Waterbabe_Helena** · September 28, 2006, 08:15 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Many thanks Theresa for your thoughtful suggestions. I always keep double cream (what you Americans call heavy lol) in the fridge, so I could stir a packet of Splenda into a tablespoon and eat that if I get absolutely desperate.

As for looking for low carb ice cream or cookies, I do not dare to "go there". If I start handling and looking at these kinds of things, and, God forbid, getting the smell of them up my nose, I will crack, I will be finished, they will have won. I'll buy a big tub of i.c and a packet of 6, 10, or 20 cookies go home and binge like crazy. I'm scared to go near them in the supermarket.

It's not possible for me to have a bit of ice cream or one cookie and put the rest away. I am not in control of myself around those kinds of things. I would rather keep well away from them as I know that I go "carb-crazy". It's such a slippery slope.

I really envy people like my b/f who can literally eat one biscuit and put the rest away for a week!

Helena

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**JackieMack** · September 28, 2006, 10:24 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Hi Helena,

I know exactly how you feel with the dreaded temptations - I have to avoid them like the plague too, I can't just have 'a little bit' of whatever it is - and once I get the taste of something sweet I just have to binge on it too. I do the cream thing too, but what I've found is, if I feel like I need something sweet, I have a little sip of single cream, unsweetened, and for some reason it seems to take the craving away.

My weight loss has slowed down drastically, I lost 9lb in the first week, 2nd week I'd put on 2lb and I'm now in the middle of my third week, couldn't resist this morning and jumped on the scales - only lost 1lb of the two that I'd put on last week. I was inconsolable because I've been so good on induction and had no cheats - even when my friend's daughter sat next to me eating a chocolate bar....... Oh, the smell......... !

I've decided to join the 8th to 21st no weigh challenge so I'm not going to weigh myself again until then and then again not until the 21st, hopefully I'll see some improvement then. Perhaps if you can try to avoid the scales for a couple of weeks you might get a nice surprise.

Keep up the good work though and try not to be disheartened.

Jackie

**julirama723** · September 30, 2006, 02:07 PM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Hi Helena--stick with it!

I did atkins before, about 3 years ago, and I wished I'd never stopped! I restarted in August, and I'm dedicated to making this a way of life, not a temporary plan.

Try not to put all your trust in the scale...by that I mean, measure yourself. If you are exercising, perhaps you are building muscle to replace the fat. This means though your actual weight may stay the same, you are getting smaller and leaner.

Also, concentrate on how you feel. That's one thing that is always inspiring. Some days I stop and think, "what if I never lost anymore weight, would I go back to my old ways again?" And I think to myself, no, not this time, because why would I want to give up the energy (rather than being tired), the feeling of being lean (rather than being bloated), and why would I ever want those mood swings again, totally due to eating too much sugar?

Last thing I can say...don't give up. If you make a mistake, big deal, just start back again as soon as possible. Nobody is perfect!

Best wishes, Helena!

**2big4mysize** · September 30, 2006, 02:45 PM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

the starvation mode folk do not know and understand the body very well remember. you have got 3500 cals stored in each pound of your fat cells. As long as you prtein vitamin and mineral needs are being met you will not be in starvation mode.
What Dr Atkins said was feed only your hunger and what folk here are saying is IF and that is a big if you are hungry eat as you will see many folk who were on calorie restricted plans posting about eating tiny propper ratio Atkins meals and were hungry but diudn't eat. We eat to feed our bodies what they need and our bodies tell us what they need by using hunger so you need to learn your hunger signals and what satisfying them means. Some folk mistakenly thing a full feling in your belly means your hunger has been satisfied. Get in touch with your hunger and it will tell you if you need a 600 cal breakfast today or a 200 or a 1000 cal and every day your food intake should be different. if you can't figure out your hunger do the method Dr Atkins tells you about in DANDR eat 1/2 of what you fixed and stop if you think you are not hungry put it u=p and know as soon as you get hungry you can have the rest. you will be amazed how on some days iot takes very little food and on others it takes more.

As to the big numbers your nutritionist are giving you they are not looking for you to rapidly lose this weight buit to make slow gradual changes and are are looking at long down the road health and weight loss. you want it yesterday. they are also most likely useing the Harris-Benedict formula for calculating your basal needs which assumes everybody at your age gender height and weight has the same metabolism. rock hard muscular 250 pounders need more cals then those who are fluffy marchmellow types.

Also cause you are exercising you will be what I call morphing your body. sclaes will only tell you the change in your total mass as effected by the force of gravity. since you are eating Atkins and atkins eatting exceeds protein minimum needs you are going to be able to add lean body mass to your frame as protein in the form of muscles and some storage in your organs for emergency times. this added protein has mass and will reflect an increase in scale weight if you did nothing else. BUT you are also burning body fat mass for fuel if you are not over eating your atkins so your body fat is shrinking and this will result in a sclae lowering if you did nothing else. BUT you are also adding lean body mass in the form of fluids as your body will add fluids to the tissues where it is removing fat from and your muscles will add fluid every time you increase your exercise load as they can't understand genetically that you are increasing that load cause you want to and not cause some form of danger forced you to. once they "learn" the new load is their normal load they will shed this fluid and once the fluids in your tissues reach a point they interfear with biochemical reactions your body will issue chemicals to remove them and you get what we call a visit from the whooshie fairy cause you just over night lost weight even though you didn't do anything different from the day before.

so to total it up you get plus weight from mueclse growth, you get minus weight from fat mass bing burned and you get a constant fluctuation in total fluid mass so you could have a big scale loss no scal lose or even a scale gain and still have been shedding fat mass.
because fat is a very fluffy molecule and protein isn't nor is water you can better see the lose of fat with a tape measure. your scale will not validate your hard work but your tape measure wiull always show you the inches of fat you have shed forever. that is why Dr Atkins defined stalss as 4 weeks of no weight loss nor inches lost. So, measure off the inches of fat gone as you shrink your body working your Atkins.

**ozzie gel** · October 2, 2006, 05:14 PM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

HI Helena,

you have made the best decision. I have been back with Atkins for 3 weeks now and have lost slowly in weight but faster in size. Did you measure yourself? If not do that asap so that you can chart your success in terms of cm lost on upper arms, neck thighs etc. I have found the measuring thing works really well.

I have lived in the UK and know that you can in fact get Atkins products there more easily than I can now I am back home in Australia.

Keep going through the down days! It's as you say a long slow process. Hang in there!

**Waterbabe_Helena** · October 3, 2006, 01:29 AM

Re: Starting again at 329 <sigh>

Yes I did take all my measurements when I started last month. I cannot feel my clothes looser so I am not going to measure again until 2007. I don't want to become addicted to the tape measure like I always get addicted to the scale! It just leads me back into the impatience/envy vicious circle.

The way I feel at the moment, I feel that it will be fairly easy to eat like this for as long as it takes.

The hardest thing is eating out in restaurants. Not that I cannot get the right food, but the temptations that lie therein. I'm avoiding them right now, as I know I'm weak. A friend offered to take me out for a slap up meal this week but I have invited him round here instead, to be safer.

I'm enjoying the food immensely! Roast chicken for breakfast - woo woo it don't get much better than this!

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Starting again at 329 <sigh>

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