Desperate for help please

[jaks40]

Hi,
I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Jacqui and i live in australia and need to lose weight due to diabetic problems,high blood pressure etc. I have been doing induction now for 7 weeks as i have about 45 kilos to lose.
My problem is the first two weeks i lost 3 kilos yipee and the last four weeks I havent lost a thing infact put on a kilo
Sadly I am on alot of the meds that could be a problem but cant go off them yet until i lose some weight. I am trying so hard to stay possitive but its driving me insane that i cant lose the weight and its only early days yet.
I have been sticking to the diet religiously.I was drinking too much diet sodas so removed them completely and still havent lost anything.I want this so badly but feeling rather down about it.Dont want to give up as i have worked so hard the last few weeks at not eating a thing that i shoulnt.
My days go something like this.

breakfast
3 slices bacon

lunch
2 cups of salad vegetables
tbsp mayo
medium handful grated cheese
medium size tin tuna with oil
splash of vinegar.

Dinner
what ever meat I have bought

supper
1 cup of diet jelly.

if i get peckish i have a slice of cheese and would have about 3 cups of decaff coffee a day with a splash of cream.
I also drink about 5 glasses of water a day.

Any advise would be great.

thanks
jacqui

[julirama723]

Re: Desperate for help please

Hi Jacqui! I'm glad you posted! Sometimes it's hard to see little things to fix on your own...can't see the forest for the trees sort of thing, I guess. I see a few things that can be tweaked with your menu.

1) WATER--you should be drinking AT LEAST 64oz. of water (2 litre) per day, plus 8oz for every 25 pounds you want to lose. I drink at least a gallon per day--it keeps me hydrated, flushes fat from my system, and has improved my skin!

2) COFFEE--I'm glad you're drinking decaf and have ditched the diet soda. Caffiene inhibits weightloss and also gives many people cravings. However, coffee has carbs, usually 1 or 2 per coffee cup, so 3 cups could be adding up to 3-9 extra carbs, depending on how big your mug is!

3) VEGGIES--we are allowed 3 cups of veggies per day on Atkins, and these veggies give us nutrients and fiber not found in other foods. There are 54 veggies on the induction foods list to choose from. You may have 3 cups salad veggies OR 2 cups salad veggies plus 1 cup "other" veggies. It's best to spread the veggies out throughout the day to prevent blood sugar spikes. By ditching the veggies, you're not improving your chance for weightloss. In fact, many people lose MORE when they ADD veggies, during Rung 1 of OWL. And I would also suggest that you move on to OWL--you'll be adding another serving of veggies, and often moving to OWL kickstarts people into losing again.

4) MEASURING FOODS--how big is a handful? How big are your hands!??! Measuring cups will become your best friend. Measure out exact portions and servings to make sure you're not underestimating on carbs on things like veggies, cheese, heavy cream, mayo, etc.

5) YOUR MEASUREMENTS--Have you lost inches? Sometimes we lose inches and even if no weight is lost, this is not technically a stall. If you're NOT losing, it could be due to not enough water, too much sodium, hormones--these things make you retain water, which is why it's important to drink so much of it! The more water you drink, the less water you retain.

6) EXERCISE--Are you exercising? Exercise is non-negotiable! Even if it's 20 minutes a day, going for a walk, doing lunges, jogging in the park, dancing to music, get up and get your heart going. It's with exercise that people notice DRASTIC changes in their body! If you ARE exercising, you could be replacing fat with muscle, which is more dense and takes up less room. This means no change on the scale, but a big change in your clothing!

7) YOUR BODY IS CATCHING UP--It could be that your body is catching up to the weight loss. It's not uncommon to lose in spurts. Stay on plan, watch your foods and water carefully, and the weight should start to come off.

8. THE BOOK--Do you have or have you read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002 edition)? If not, READ IT! It explains each phase of the diet, the science of how it works, has success stories, food lists, a carb counter, recipes, and more. It's your best friend on this WOL.

I hope this helps...I know it's a lot of info, but I'd like to see you making some positive changes and I want to hear about your successes!

--Jules

[Erin68]

Re: Desperate for help please

Hi Jacqui! Welcome aboard!

From the menu you posted, doesn't seem you're gettin enough veggies. I'm not certain what diet jelly is, but I'd guess even though its diet, it has alot of added sugars and a cup seems like alot. It could be something holding you back too.

Stick with it, hang out around here and you'll be feelin great!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Desperate for help please

Hello Jacqui and welcome!

Glad you found us here and asked for help.
I'd ditto what Julie and Erin said, so this is just to welcome you aboard. Keep focused on the prize and you'll get there. Happy low carbing!

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: Desperate for help please

you've gotten some great advice....I just want to add that we are here with you and you aren't alone! I'm looking forward to celebrating your accomplishments with you and believe me....you will have them

[Ginasfuntime]

Re: Desperate for help please

Hi what if...you started eating a bit more breakfast letting go of your jelly and drinking more water just for one week??if it works then maybe it was the jelly?also limiting your coffee to 2 cups?

[Tracie515]

Re: Desperate for help please

I heard somewhere that you should eat like a king for breakfast a prince for lunch and a pauper for dinner. 3 slices of bacon to me is pauper. Maybe add 2-3 eggs or something to bring up that meal.

[Adena]

Re: Desperate for help please

You've gotten some great advice here. With Atkins, it's those little things that make a difference. Measure and count everything, especially when you're starting out. And don't assume that less food is good. Some people's bodies really need to move up the rungs. I found I lost more weight when I did. The first rung is... veggies! And we've already clarified that you need more of those anyway!

Hang in there, take the advice you've been given here, and let us know how it goes. We're rooting for you!

[jaks40]

Re: Desperate for help please

Thank you all so much for you kind words and support..firstly diet jelly is like your low calorie jello I think..lol..I use 1/2 c of tomatoes and 1/c cucumber and 1 cup of lettuce for my salad and in my book thats what it says to have...3 cups of salad but if you are having a cup of tomatoes then one cup of the other salad vegetable. Wouldnt adding more vegetables as they are a carb increase my carbs and cause me not to lose weight?
I am confused but glad you are out there for me.

jacqui

[Lyssie]

Re: Desperate for help please

Hi Jacqui,

If you go through a clean induction for 14 days, it puts your body into ketosis where it's basically a fat burning machine... by putting your carb count at 20g per day, it enables your body to burn off the extra carbs in your system since you actually *can* burn off more than 20g per day. So when you go through induction, you don't have excess stored to burn off, which means you can eat more carbs and still have the benefit of losing weight. Does that make sense?

As you move up the rungs of OWL, you find your Critical Carb Level which is the number of grams of carbs per day your body burns off.... If you stay below this level (whether it's 30 or 100) you keep burning fat for energy and losing weight. A person shouldn't stay on induction the entire time, which means you're going to have to bring back some carbs at some point, whether it's now or later is your choice.

Have you read the DANDR 2002 edition?? It should be able to clarify better and tell you the exact way to do OWL with adding back things, and ladders. I know the stickies around the board should also give some instruction.

[jaks40]

Re: Desperate for help please

Thanks lyssie, that makes more sense to me. I thought if i had more carbs I wouldnt lose any weight. I have read about OWL but the way you put it makes more sense to me.
I thought if i stayed on induction until i am closer to the end and then work my way through the stages to maintenance that it would work better and burn weight faster.

Jacqui

[Lyssie]

Re: Desperate for help please

A lot of people actually lose more weight by moving through the rungs instead of staying at induction levels the whole time... Like Julirama and Adena who are both eating grains and fruit and losing insane inches each week.

[jaks40]

Re: Desperate for help please

Well thanks for the support...guess what i finally dropped a kilo...i am thrilled. Four weeks of waiting has paid off and its given me the strength to keep going...not sure if thes drinking of more water that i have been doing the last four days or dropping diet sodas, but whatever it is, i am thrilled and i am going to eat more vegetables.thanks heaps

[Lyssie]

Re: Desperate for help please

That's great!!! Congratulations!!!

[lisaloo]

Re: Desperate for help please

Hi Jacquie - Lisa here, I also live in Aus. -down south. As a 2nd timer I know that you can loose wieght on Atkins but more importantly, as a diabetic also, my blood sugars were never better.
I returned to Atkins 3 days ago after previously loosing 23kg. How easily it came back on when my guard was down. Never mind, 2nd time lucky.
I haven't weighed myself yet but have entered ketosis so I know something good is happening.
Happy to help out if you want to ask me anything about either Atkins or diabetic experiences.
Watched the beginning of the new 'biggest looser' tonigh & that was a great inspioration for me.
Good luck