Newbie

[westphalia]

Hello, all. My name is Joe, and I'm 36 and 6'3". I weighed 428 on April 1st, started Atkins, and now weigh 340; my goal is to weigh 300 by Halloween and 250 by Valentine's Day, 2008. I walk 4.3 miles each morning in under an hour, do an hour's weightlifting in the afternoon, then an hour's isometrics before bed.

A week ago, I weighed 334.5. All of the sudden, the weight started to go up - 337, then 339, now 340. My ankles and calves are swollen - sufficiently so that my father noticed them today - but not at all painful or uncomfortable.

I admit that I've pretty much stayed on induction for the last three months, because I enjoyed it and loved the rapid weight loss. In fact, I've probably eaten just about the same things for the last three months, and my caloric intake is right between 1500-2000 calories. I'm not trying to keep the calories low - I'm just not hungry like I used to be, so I eat five or six small meals a day, and that's it. I drink two gallons of water a day, and drink nothing else. Could it be that my body is rebelling against too low an amount of carbs, and retaining water?

A week ago, the "300-by-Halloween" goal looked easy, and now the scale is going backward.

My compliments on a great forum.

[NoThanksI'mSweetEnough]

Re: Newbie

Hello and Welcome!

I won't waste your time trying to figure out the source of your gains, but I'm sure some of the "veterans" will be by shortly to ask some pointed questions and give some sound council. Being a "newbie" myself, I just wanted to be the first to introduce myself and offer some encouragement.

I'm anticipating you will also hear recommmendations for beginning your climb up the OWL ladder. For me, during past attempts, this has been a way to boost my weight loss, espeically during the veggie rung. Just something for you to consider.

Anyhow, whatever your decision, take good care, and keep up the great work. On Atkins, as long as you are on plan, all gains are temporary and part of the learning process.

[sillygirl]

Re: Newbie

Hey Joe! My neighbors had a Westphalia, and I haven't heard that word in years! Welcome to the board. Sounds like you're on track.

My opinion, yes, at your weight and height you should be eating lots more, and still losing weight. Go check out this site: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

you have to read around the site some to get the full understanding, but it will tell you exactly how many calories your individual body needs in order to stay the same, if you did absolutely nothing all day. In turn, by deducting 500 calories from that figure, that's your magic number. I think you will be surprised. I know hunger is minimal, but it's true that if you eat too little for your body, it will hold on to the weight!

Lastly, if you read around the board, you will see that those who moved on to the food rungs actually lose even more weight. It seems to kick starts it again when you stall.

C'mon 300 by Halloween!

[loo-see]

Re: Newbie

Hi westphalia,
congratulations on 88 pounds loss. I'm impressed.
Send your menu in Review my menu forum,you'll get the answers and suggestions to your question. Are you following Induction rules,taking supplements,eating up to 20g carbs daily?
Once more,congratulations!

[westphalia]

Re: Newbie

Hi westphalia,
congratulations on 88 pounds loss. I'm impressed.
Send your menu in Review my menu forum,you'll get the answers and suggestions to your question. Are you following Induction rules,taking supplements,eating up to 20g carbs daily?
Once more,congratulations!

I'm right at 20 per day, but I'm probably long overdue for OWL. I just got addicted to the feeling of dropping the weight as quickly as I did. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I'll take your advice on the menu forum.

Maybe moving up the OWL will get me kick-started again. Very discouraging, though, to come home drenched with sweat and weigh two pounds more than the day before.

[sillygirl]

Re: Newbie

Don't worry! Go read the OWL Forum. Also, in the Work It Labor Day Challenge (in Challenges Forum) many pages back we had a big discussion about this topic! Give it a try, you can always go back if you feel you need to!

[loo-see]

Re: Newbie

I just got addicted to the feeling of dropping the weight as quickly as I did. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Maybe moving up the OWL will get me kick-started again. Very discouraging, though, to come home drenched with sweat and weigh two pounds more than the day before.

Choise is yours.
Move to OWL!!!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Newbie

Hi Westphalia and welcome!
Ditto everything Silly said... I think you maybe need to eat more.
Remember that OWL doesn't mean you don't lose anymore... on the contrary, many people lose more on OWL... particularly rung 1 which is more veggies.

Hearty congrats on your success so far!

[Scooterjam]

Re: Newbie

Good job man!! I think that Halloween goal is very obtainable. I see you've gotten some great advice to your questions, make sure you're getting enough to eat! Keep up the great great work!!

Here are some other threads and links you may find help to get the wheel in motion. The intial step of moving that wheel is all you need, these links will keep to keep building up the momentum!

Rules of induction:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard....read.php?t=6782

Acceptable foods:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard....read.php?t=6781

Awesome Recipes:
http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/index.html

Caloric Counter/Carbs/Protein/Etc/Reports:
www.fitday.com (Free on-line, this is awesome!!) or some members use this one http://www.thedailyplate.com

Anyway, congrats on going low carb, make sure you jump around the forums and make your presence known, we are very happy to have you with us!!

Best of wishes! Life is good!

[Sherri]

Re: Newbie

Hello there! Post often and let us know how you're doing. Lots of support here!

[westphalia]

Re: Newbie

Thanks for the kind welcome; everyone here seems so friendly. It's nice to discuss these matters with folks who can empathize.

Tough week, this one. The water retention seems to have lapsed, finally. I came in yesterday at 334.5 again, down from 344 last week. So, I spent two weeks doing nothing but going up ten pounds, then down ten pounds. I hate the feeling of wasted time, especially with a goal bearing down on me.

I think one thing I've been doing wrong - throughout induction, for the last three months - is eating too few fats. I have some butter in my hard-boiled eggs in the morning, and use the right kind of mayo when I make chicken salad, but I don't have nearly enough, and not in the kind of percentages utilized by some of the folks on this forum. I guess I've suffered from a distinct lack of creativity when it comes to my menu.

[sillygirl]

Re: Newbie

At least you lost those 10 again! Congrats.

Sometimes it's hard to wrap our heads around the 'we need fat' theory, but it's really true. Eating fat will curb cravings! You need to venture out a little and try new fats. Do you like Avocado? Are you using full fat salad dressing (no sugar in it though)? Are you eating the skin of chicken and fat on steaks?

I gather since you know your percentages are off you're using somewhere to log it all? We all need to tweak our menus every so often, but I encourage you to eat more fat!

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Re: Newbie

Wow Joe!!! You're doing GREAT sweetie
I've dropped consistently since I started then I started haing little gains and was worried too. THEN it started dropping again. They say your body needs to catch up (I say it's like a hiccup ). I'd move up and eat some more veggies too. Your body will LOVE it!!!

[westphalia]

Re: Newbie

At least you lost those 10 again! Congrats.

I'm going to take this scale and leave it at a friend's house so that I don't weigh myself so much. I typed the "334.5" message this morning, was all excited about getting out of my water-retentive funk, then proceeded to weigh myself throughout the day - which I have no business doing - and freaked out because I was 339 tonight - which is ridiculous. This was my off day from walking, too (so I have a guilt trip about only exercising two hours today ), and I have a big job interview this afternoon, so I wasn't exactly in a peachy mood, anyway. I'd use a tape measure to track progress, but I can never remember to put it in the same spot, and I dislike wrapping anything around me when I'm this size. It's all I can do to look in the mirror to shower and shave.

I was making such good progress until I purchased this scale. As soon as I weighed myself the first time, I told my father that the only thing I really feared now was a plateau - then, BLAMMO! It is so difficult to walk an hour every day, lift weights for an hour, do isometrics for an hour, watch my diet and turn down all the stuff I like, only to watch my weight go up, not down, or linger endlessly like some drunken guest at a dinner party. You wonder if the blisters, the sunburn, the sweat, the worn-out walking shoes that need replaced every month or the spectacle I make of myself jiggling around the park like a jello mold is worth all this.

Maybe the scale is a thing of evil, like that cymbal-playing monkey in Stephen King's short story. Maybe I need to chuck it in a pond and walk away from it. I'd do it, but I'm not good at noticing the differences in my body from week to week, and need something to tell me I'm on the right track.

I don't want to be this size for another 18 years. I know it took me a long time to put on this weight, but I can't wait a long time to take it off. I've wasted so much time at this size.

Sometimes it's hard to wrap our heads around the 'we need fat' theory, but it's really true. Eating fat will curb cravings! You need to venture out a little and try new fats. Do you like Avocado? Are you using full fat salad dressing (no sugar in it though)? Are you eating the skin of chicken and fat on steaks?

I hear you. It's very hard for me to understand that, and no matter how many times I read my book, and logically understand what I'm being instructed to do, I instinctively try to avoid it. I look in the mirror and see all this fat I have to lose, and have a hard time letting myself have fat. I know it makes perfect sense, but it takes a horrifying leap of faith to execute what I know I should do.

I gather since you know your percentages are off you're using somewhere to log it all? We all need to tweak our menus every so often, but I encourage you to eat more fat!

I started logging two weeks ago, before I joined this forum. I made a lot of mistakes my first two months. I like too much sour cream on my seasoned beef, pork or chicken, for example. I'll follow your advice on the avocados - I love those things. I'm not as much a cheese fan as others are, though.

I boiled up a couple of chicken breasts tonight, lightly shredded them and sauteed them in olive oil with some garlic, crumbled gorgonzola and bacon crisps, then had some broccoli and cauliflower sauteed in garlic and olive oil. So, I guess I'm trying to put some good fat in, but it's hard.

I appreciate your encouragement, and the kind words of everyone on the board. Sorry for my rant.

[CDRAKE1234]

Re: Newbie

honey honey honey....you are weighing at morning and night?????

i ALWAYS gain approx 3-4 pounds it seems during the day....weigh first thing in the morning then hide the scale! remember...you eat..AND..you drink, during the day...but you don't get rid of it as fast! esp. if you are drinking 2 gal. of water a day!

take it easy...take a big breath in...look how far you've came already!!! that is awesome! try not to stress too much! i know how frustrating it can be...I have lost/gained the same 5 pounds for a month now! grrrr...but it's okay...i know i'll have a big whoooshie before to long!

CHEER UP! and Happy low-carbing!