...........and DON'T weigh yourself everyday. Once a week is sufficient.

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Hi Everybody,

I'm on day 14 of Induction, and I've lost 1 pound! How can this be??? I usually have a couple of fried eggs and 2 oz. of some kind of meat in the morning; For lunch, another couple of ounces of meat, or cheese and and 2 cups of romaine lettuce + 0 carb (full fat) dressing, or a cup of cucumber or sliced peppers (not exceeding 2 cups of lettuce plus 1 cup of "salad veggies" per day - usually less!!!); For dinner, a roasted turkey thigh, or pork chop or steak plus an Advantage bar for "dessert". I realize this is not ideal eating - but, it is ideal Induction fare, isn't it?

1 pound in 14 days is very, very discouraging. I did the Aktins for 1 1/2 years ago almost 3 years ago, and I lost almost 50 lbs. Just recently, I gained back 8 lbs (thanks to my old, dear friend sugar...) So, I figured I'd better nip that trend in the bud! I've still got at least 40 lbs to lose ... I'm so afraid that the Atkins diet won't work for me this time around. But why wouldn't it? Perhaps my body chemistry has changed in some way? I did a lot of "on again - off again" Atkins for the last 6 months of the diet (3 years ago) - have I ruined myself for weight loss? I sincerely hope not.

I'd really appreciate any advice or insight any of you can offer.

Increase your carbs--you need to move on to OWL--Ongoing Weight Loss--you body is also taking that famous 3rd week break--lots of people don't lose during the 3rd week at all . . . keep the faith and keep doing what you are doing--but increase the veggies. . .add 5gs of carbs all in veggies and don't panic--you will lose again soon enough!

Welcome and make yourself at home!

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

Kat,
Hi and welcome to LCE! Your menu looks okay except for one thing...the advantage bar. Everyone reacts differently to glycerine and sugar alcohols, but it looks like your body may be treating that bar the same as if it were 27 REAL carbs instead of the 2 or 3 gm the wrapper states. Your story is all to familiar...I did the same thing.
Try dropping the bars; use some sf gelatin with real whipped cream for your dessert, or some berries and see if things *kick* in for you.
Also, Atkins does say the first time is the *golden* opportunity to lose weight low carbing, but lots of folks have resumed this woe(way of eating) after being away for a while and have lost weight. It may take a little longer, but if you are making this a way of life, not just a diet, then you will get there.
Also, make sure your water intake is adequate; at least 8-10 8 oz glasses aday if not more. Try these little *tweaks* and see if things do better.
Post often and let us know how you are doing
HTH
Shelley

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Sometimes as a dessert, I enjoy a diet Hansens soda. It's sweetened with Splenda and it's so yummy. I sit and sip and enjoy it. Soon, I feel as though I've eaten something. My husband likes to make a float by filling a glass with ice and the diet root beer and adding about a tablespoon of cream. Get creative by whipping a little cream with flavoring like maple or coconut and Splenda. My favorite, though, is the soda. I make it my treat.

ALso, Kat, are you exercising at all? Atkins says that is NON negotiable!!!! Weight training is the best way to get the metabolism revved up because muscle burns more fat. I agree, lose the Advantage Bars. There's NO advantage with those. It would appear your body is treating that is if you ate real sugar. I agree with Husker, increase your veggies and add the WONDERFUL WORLD of berries. I eat strawberries ALL the time, fresh or frozen!!!! Blueberries are FABULOUS!!!! And they are full of fiber and antioxidants too.

Welcome to the boards!!!!! Keep posting your concerns, we've all "been there done that!!!!"

IP.S.
IF you are weight training, remember, muscle weighs more than fat, so a temporary weight GAIN might happen. But you will lose inches. And that's what really matters, that's what ppl see, not a number on the scale.

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Thank you all for the shared wisdom and the encouragement.

I stopped Induction this weekend and enjoyed a considerable helping of veggies and 1/2 a low-carb pita...day 16, and still only 1 pound down...why do I have the feeling of impending doom?

I'm totally guilty of not getting enough exercise - I'm glued to my desk from 9 to 6 - add to that, 2 hours of commuting to work. I get home and just spread myself liberally across the sofa. I do get in about two, 4 - 5 km walks per week, but that just doesn't seem to do the trick. I'll have to up the ante...

Thanks for the advice - I'll (try to) follow all of your tips: ditch the bars, up the carbs, and try to get some more exercise... the flavored whipped cream and the root beer float sound like a good substitute for "dessert". I'll give it a try!

Thanks again - I'll keep you posted.

Hey Kat, can you get yourself to a sporting goods store or Walmart or Target? Buy yourself some 5 or 8 lb hand weights and start working a routine while you are "liberally spread" across the sofa. I take it you might be watching TV while doing this???? If so, work your weights while watching TV. It's a great way to increase some muscle mass that will help burn fat. Try to come up with 8 different routines, jot them down in a journal and even draw yourself some stick figures to show you what to do the next time. Label them whatever will help you remember them. Write down how many you were able to do and increase that number by 2 more reps the next time you do it. Every other day is sufficient, you don't have to do this every day. This is what I started out doing in the beginning (must get back to it.............just have to find my journal. LOL)

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Supansa:
I would suggest eating regular eggs, rather than a fat and cholesterol free substitute. Dont' attempt to do a fat free version of anythign on Atkins,just follow his plan. Eggs are a great menu choice in induction, but make sure they are the real thing.

Atkins suggest that in induction, 4 oz of cheese is the max. I find that it matters what kind of cheese i eat--hard cheeses dont stall me like cream cheese does.

During Induction, you should only eat the "acceptable foods." If you are following the Atkins plan, it will tell you what you can add in when you are off INduction.

Induction normally lasts 14 days. Why have you chosen to contuinue it longer? doing that causes some people to stall, because your body gets used to having so few carbs and your metabolism slows down. Its probably time for you to start adding in carbs in the order that Atkins specifies. More veggies first.

Good luck and welcome to the board!

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Renee
1/19/04
261/220/160
41 lbs off
60 lbs to goal



Race to 199 Challenge
Labor Day Challenge: Focusing on the Journey
Personal Goal: 199 by 12/31/05

Thanks Barb, that sounds like a great idea. I've been wanting to try using weights for quite a while...now's a good time to start. My legs are quite muscular (my only flab-free zone) due to the fact that I walk quite a bit while carrying a considerable amount of excess weight. Free weights would be perfect to tone up my upper body (aka. my flabby zone) for sure. I've dropped 1 more pound, bringing the grand total up to 2 pounds in 24 days...ouch, that hurts. Still, I'm not going to give up just yet! I've noticed that since I gave up the Advantage bars a week ago - I haven't been dropping weight but I have been producing more ketones (dark pink to purple, usually). Is that a sure sign that fat is fading despite the needle on the scale not budging? I'm looking for hope here!

Thanks so much for your support! I really appreciate it

Kat

Kat, I would say DEFINITELY those bars were keeping you out of ketosis. So........stay off those bad boys, and wait awhile longer. Don't weigh yourself for a good week after stopping them. Up your water and add that exercise. Come and join us in the Couch Fauxtato Thread. We just started a new thread for November. All are welcome and we love seeing new faces there. Here's a link to it. November Couch Fauxtato Thread Maybe we can inspire you to increase your exercise, albeit minute, an increase is better than nuthin'!!!!

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Hello -

As of today I have been in induction for exactly 30 days, and have lost zero pounds. I have been in moderate to heavy ketosis every day since about day 4.

I lift weights 3 days a week for about 45 min, and do 30 min to 1 hr cardio 4 days a week.

I cannot eat eggs without getting a severely upset stomach, so usually in the morning I'll have about 6oz of lean chicken breast or turkey.

For lunch I'll have a plain 6oz chicken breast, and for dinner, the same amount of chicken, turkey, or red meat. I can usually have a handfull of small carrot sticks or celery with each meal during the day, but any more than that and I immediately drop out of ketosis for 2 days. I drink 3 liters of water every day.

I have had some blood tests done to determine if I have a thyroid problem, and the results are negative. I have plenty of energy, no hunger pangs and no cravings, and my ketosis level is steady, but after a month, I'm not really sure what the point is, as I have had no progress.

Advice?

-Robert

Welcome, Robert.

I can't tell from your menu what plan you are following. Your menu, as you describe it, is really short on vegetablesand contains almost no fat. Have you read the book which goes with your program?

Did you start this exercise regimine about the same time that you started this way of eating? If so, you may be trading fat for muscle. Muscle is considerably heavier than fat - cubic inch for cubic inch.

Many of our members have found that remaining on induction for extended periods actually stalls them.

How tall are you and what do you currently weigh?

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I'm 6' 184. I would guess I'm currently carrying 20-25lbs of fat. I would've gotten off of induction sooner, but I'd seen no results. In the past, with the same amount of muscle mass I have now, I weighed 160. My workout regiment is high-rep, low weight: not a building, but a strengthening/toning regimen. I have few vegetables on my menu because if I have any more, I drop out of ketosis almost instantly for about 2 days. I suppose I could add some cheese for fat, but...

-Robert

Robert -
I just want to let you know that I recently read an article (sorry I don't remember where I saw it - online somewhere) which explained that in the 70's many people did a high protien diet combined with low fat intake - over 50 people died of heart failure. It is my understanding that the heart needs either glucose or fat to burn (some say it actually prefers fat). Fat is essential in low carb dieting - especially those who are in ketosis. Usually you want about 60 % of your intake to be fat.

It was really hard for me to accept that fat was ok to eat. But after reading Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution I now understand its importance to my body's good health. Generally I get a fair amount of my fat though olive oil (salad dressing, cooking), some nuts and a little animal fat through cheese (my favorite).

Since you are in ketosis are you following Atkins or another plan? Have you read the book ? - so very important and helpful.

Welcome aboard.
Karen

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