Trying Not To Be Frustrated

[nomoretears]

I'm new to this site - hi everyone! - but I've been doing a modified version of Atkins since August 20th.

First a bit of history - I've always been one of those chubby types and I've done Weight Watchers a few million times. I did the Phentermine aided diet until it was made illegal (probably safe) and I tried that Alli thing...but it scared me more than the Phentermine so I quit them all. Last year, I was down to a svelte 139 (down from the 221 post partum from baby #2). I admit I only got to 139 by starving myself and I had an unrealistic exercise schedule.

So - enter real life. I fell in love, no time for exercise classes, he actually wanted to eat more than a couple of Slim-Fast shakes during the day so I had to eat real food...5 pound gain became 10 by last Thanksgiving. I didn't worry, I'd lost it before and I could do it again...the 10 became 15...20...25...suddenly, I'd gained back 30 pounds and I had nothing to wear and I more or less freaked out.

I'm a very impatient person and while I know, logically, I did not gain it quickly, I want to lose more than a pound a week. I'm willing to work for it, I don't expect it handed to me on a platter (ha).

One of the girls I work with (a twiggy little size 2) introduced me to Atkins. Sure, I'd heard of it before. But as I'd avoided most meat products and had heard rumors of unhealthy cholesterol, I'd never looked into it. I studied it...it made sense. Plus, she told me that she had lost 16 pounds during her induction phase and everyone she knew that had tried it had lost a similar amount. ROCK ON! That was nearly half of what I wanted to lose!!

So...fast forward to present day and though I won't complain that I've lost "only" 13.5 pounds...it's been 7 weeks and I'd think I should have made more tround by now. She had me reduce my daily carbs from 20 to 15 to 10 and then down to 5. Highly difficult, but I tried it. And...still stuck.

My daily life doesn't leave much time for exercise (I know, I know) but I'm wondering if I'm stuck because I've hit that magic phase where my food and carb intake is matched by what my body is burning just to exist. So - I went out and raked and chopped leaves for nearly 2 hours yesterday. I'm more sore than I can express. I drank 5 liters of water. And...this morning...the scale didn't move. The numbers lit up so I know it's not dead (Although I had a burning desire to throw it out into the yard).

So - did I get bad advice by dropping my net carbs so low? Am I starving myself (I absolutely am not hungry ever)? I know this diet works....I just need to get past this plateau.

Thanks for reading my novel and I look forward to your words of advice!

[rozy]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

I found out some things that caused me not to lose as much as I should have and actually made me gain in a few cases.
Anything with asparme in it - but I do have 2 diet cokes w/splenda a day and that doesn't bother me.
Hot Dogs!
Lunch meat with nitrates or sugar
Sf whipped topping (Redi Whip in the can)
Processed cheeses
Flaxseed

I dropped all those things out of my diet last week and got a big whoosh on the scale!

[nomoretears]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Thank you, Rozy. I forgot the whole soda chapter. I can't stand drinking water - it's just uck to me. I've done all the crystal light flavor things and those work for a while.

But...I must confess...I'm a Diet Mtn Dew addict. In the past, most if not all of my fluid intake was that sweet yellow nector! However....the little twiggy girl I work with did some research about why I might not be losing as much as she had hyped and discovered that the soda may be the culprit, even though it had no carbs.

So - I went through a horrific 3 day detox from the "dew" and since then I've been drinking a minimum of 4 to 5 liters (yes, liters) of water a day. I spend most of my work day in the ladies room.

I confess I don't drink plain water; I spike it with the Wal-Mart brand of Cherry Limeade powder. Now - it says to mix 1/2 tube of the stuff into a 16.9 ounce bottle of water. I mix the whole thing into my liter bottle.

I just discovered this stuff is sweetened with that evil aspartame...could this be the source? Holy cow.

[rozy]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

I really think that is your issue - many years ago I was a regular Dr Pepper addict and hated drinking water with a passion - I did a low carb type diet and cut out sodas and juice and started drinking water like crazy and really got a taste for it - that was 10 years ago. I haven't stopped but I do like having a diet soda occasionally and my vice was diet dr pepper- well I found on this diet 1 a day would cause me to a. gain or b. not lose. So.....I started eating sugar free jello (with aspartame) - same thing happened with the dr pepper. So I cut those out and decided along with those I would cut out anything processed or anything that is iffy. So I am into more whole unprocessed foods and I drink tons and tons of water per day.
Also I started eating the mock danish and added flax to it last week - I wasn't losing and neither was my husband - we weren't gaining either like we did with the nitrate and aspartame products. We cut out the flaxseed and BOOM! lost a bunch within a few days

[nomoretears]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

omg. I've been drinking so much of that per day (fresh liter in front of me). I'm going to need therapy to be able to switch to plain water. Start your violins, folks!!

okay...I'm one of those "the proof is in the pudding (mmmm, pudding!)" people so I'll try it for what....two weeks, starting tomorrow.

This really stinks. Gaining it was SO much more entertaining than trying to lose it!!

[rozy]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Now that is SO true!

Im sure you will start craving water once you start drinking it - just imagine what it is doing to your body! It is cleaning out all the bad stuff and replinishing it and making it healthy

BTW - congrats on 13.5lbs that is very good!

[Evermind]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

First of all, add more carbs. You don't lose weight by reducing carbs when you are already under 20. Any amount of carbs UP TO 20 carbs will be fine. Anyone who is telling you to reduce to 10 or 5 has absolutely no clue what they are talking about.

Second of all, add some fat. Just a little extra per day will help you.

Thirdly, ditch the soda. All of it. Just go cold turkey.

Fourth, consider starting the OWL rungs. A lot of people find that they actually lose FASTER once they start adding some foods.

[rozy]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Oh yes....I forgot to add I started adding more fats in my meals and that helped too.

[sillygirl]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Hey nomore! Welcome to the board.

I'm afraid you have been given some very incorrect information from your friend. In fact, the exact opposite is true.

I have to ditto everything evermore said. That is the proper way to eat atkins style. The induction period is limited, but only for 2 weeks. From there you are to add foods back into your diet in 5 carb increments until you find the place where you stop losing, then you drop it down by 5 and continue losing while eating from many food groups.

Have you read the book? Reading that is the best way to fully understand how and why this works. It's a different mindset. Eating fat actually does help you lose weight, when you limit the carbs.

Lastly, make sure you're eating enough food to sustain bour body. It is said that no one should ever consume under 1200 calories per day, no matter what their weight is. If you are undereating, that too can cause you to stall.

You might want to post over at "review my menu". Other people will chime and guide you in proper food intake! Without seeing what you've been eating, it's hard to tell.

Best of luck to you!

[nomoretears]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

wow. that's a lot of information - I so appreciate it. I figgured twiggy girl knew what she was talking about since she used to be chubby. I have not read the book; I've only read the pages on the web but I have the book coming so I can study up. So...I guess 7 weeks on the modified induction phase is not the answer.

Now I'm more irritated at how much time has been wasted than frustrated by the lack of scale movement. I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars it moved at all, lol!

I have already ditched the soda and the 3 day migraine I had from the dew detox will make me reconsider going back down that path. Ugh - I promise I will suck it up and go to straight water.

Tomorrow, back to journaling what I eat. I guess I need to re-program my head that fat is my friend, lol.

What is the OWL rung? It sounds like a secret society, lol!

thank you guys - I have a super special dress to fit into by NY Eve and watching the weeks go by but the pounds staying still was causing me to freak!

[dreamof145]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Welcome. Glad you've decided to join us. The book is: Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, edition 2002. It will help you understand the program, why it works and what to do to achieve the best results.

You've been given great advice -- don't get discouraged -- get motivated. Make a plan to succeed and don't let anything or anybody stop you from reaching your goal. Best wishes!!

[sillygirl]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

OWl is a secret society, those who know about have continued success losing weight, LOL!

Here's a link for you. Read the stickies at the top opf the forum, it will help to explain!
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...splay.php?f=38

[sallyseachange]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Hi there and a warm welcome to you! So happy you're with us!

I'm late in my welcome, so will only underline all the advice you've been given so far:

Yes, you need to eat enough to lose weight... if you go into starvation mode (and this really does happen) you'll stop losing.

Yes, you need more carbs than five grams per day. At that level, you probably aren't eating enough veggies... and you need your three induction cups for good health, fibre, nutrients and weight loss (3 cups salad veggies - preferably more nutrient dense ones than lettuce - or two cups salad veggies and one cup "other" veggies. See the induction food lists in the FAQs).

Yes, you need to read the book. (Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution - 2002 edition). It's invaluable. If you follow the programme to a "T" it will work for you. For sure.

Don't forget exercise and loads of water!

You can do this! We'll help. Happy Atkineering!

[Hoping]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Welcome to ADBB
I have to say some of the things I read were just alarming. You're lucky to still lose weight after experimenting so much, that's a lot of messing around with your metabolism.

I suggest you read the book as well. It will help you a ton and allow you to understand how the whole process of losing weight works. Then you'll fully understand why reducing your carbs to five really wouldn't make you lose weight. Not a bad read either.

Your water intake is really good, but don't expect to see the scale go down every time you get on it. I have the same problem you do, I want lbs lost and I want them now! lol But it's not possible and to stick to this way of eating (woe) you need to condition your mind that you're not always going to lose a pound or more. Weight fluctuates due to fluid retention, etc. (It's all in the book)
I've made pant size goals for myself. Right now I'm a snug 18, I want to be a 16 by christmas time. I know that exercise is very important in acheiving my goal, so I HAVE to make time for it even if it's something minimal. And even though numbers are really important to me, pant sizes are sooo much better.
Try to set a goal for yourself other than weight, it'll help you keep your sanity. And yes, I still weight myself every morning but I know that it's okay if I don't lose on the scale because the inches are coming off.

Anyway, see you around the boar

[nomoretears]

Re: Trying Not To Be Frustrated

Thanks everyone - I do appreciate it. Let me be clear that I'm irritated, impatient and I'm frustrated but I'm not discouraged. No danger of me falling off the deep end and swimming in danishes!

I've got the 2002 version of the book coming, along with cook books and all kinds of goodies (I love ebay!) so I'll be up to speed shortly. Meanwhile I have read up on the Atkins web site for program info to get me through until the book gets here.

I vow I won't listen to uninformed people anymore unless I can validate the information! I dusted off my food journal and so I'm back to counting and calculating, which should help.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support. People who haven't been there just really don't have any idea what type of struggle it is.