Hello all!

I only joined the forum about a week ago but I began this WOE again on 11/12. I lost 15 lb in my first three weeks but since then have gained 3 lb back.

I am eating between 1500 and 1700 calories a day and am up to about 25g or 30g of carbs. Most of my carbs come from veggies, nuts, or dairy (lc yogurt, cheese, etc.)

I have been drinking diet soda but last week limited it to only twice on the weekends. I also drink one 12oz cup of coffee each morning (I used to have 2-3 a day). I also have the occasional glass of dry red wine or lc beer.

I'm not sure what to do....

Should I start again, go back to induction for two weeks and then be more careful as I raise the carb level- can I/should I stay in induction indefinitely?

Or- should I keep going with 25g and try to be really careful about counting and cut out all artifical sweetners?

What do folks think?

I have about 48lb left to lose.

Thanks!!!!
Sarah

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Welcome maine,
First off congrats on the 15 lbs,
It is not unusual to have a good three weeks, then a stall....
most people will tell you it is the dreaded third week stall...
anyway.

You might want to post a couple days worth of menus for everyone to go over, to help you out and see where they problem might be.
I have noticed that the more I eat natural - ie no bread (lc), tortillas, diet drinks yogurt, etc.al the better I do with my food.

I try to eat salads for lunch and dinner along with other veggies...
you should be getting your carbs from veggis (mostlly), so if you aren't you need to add in more veggies.

watch lunch meats -ham pepperoni, lots of salt, some people stall...
also make sure you are drinking lots of water, at least 8 - 8oz glasses, but you should be doing 1/2 your body weight in ounces... ie if you weight 200 lbs, drink 100 oz of water.

hope some of this helps.
c

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http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

Hi Maine Excellent job losing those 15 pounds!
I'm sure you will be getting alot of great advice from the many many wonderful people on this board. Just remember that you ARE worth your good health. Your commitment to yourself to become healthy is the best present you can give yourself, and the ones who love you. You might be a bit discouraged now, and I'm sure there will be times in the furture where you will be discouraged again, but it will pass. YOU CAN DO IT! I KNOW you can!

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Shimmer
my blog

Welcome!

Sarah, are you getting enough exercise? If you start a program, it should help you jumpstart your weight loss. Also the nuts in your diet may be causing you to hold on to water if they are salted. I would cut out the nuts, cut back on cheese and increase your water. As for soda. I drank a Fresca a day with no problems but decided to go to Diet Rite since it is sweetned with Splenda, has no caffeine and is sodium free. Your lc yogurt may also contain the wrong kind of sweetner. Try and get the kind sweetened with Splenda (ie. Dannon). If you just started it may be a little soon to be adding lc beer and red wine.

Don't get too discouraged. Don't stay in induction indefinitely. Big No-No! You did great in your first few weeks. If you just tweak your eating a bit and stick with it I am sure you'll do great with your new way of eating in the long run.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

Thanks guys...I will post a few days here and see what folks think.

Day 1:

4 breakfast sausage links- 2g
coffee w/ cream- 3g
1 cup lobster salad (made with boiled lobster and regular mayo)- 2g
1 cup raw spinach- 1g
2tbs blue cheese dressing- 2g
1 serving smoked almonds- 4 g
1 small steak-0
1 serving brussell sprouts- 13g
1 serving pan fried mushrooms- 4g
2 glasses dry red wine- 4g

Also- 78 oz of water and two cups of green tea and one-a-day- weight smart multi-vitamin.

Day 2:

Crab and Cheddar Omlette- 2g
Coffee with cream- 3g
Salad with grilled chicken- 5g
2tbs blue cheese dressing- 2g
1 chicken breast- 0g
1 serving of broccoli- 5g
5 shrimp with coctail sauce 4g
1/4 cup low carb ice cream 7g
2 glasses dry red wine- 4g

Also- 64 oz of water, 1 diet coke

Day 3:

Low carb yogurt- 4g
Coffee with cream- 3g
mixed greens-4g
broiled haddock- 1g
string beans- 8g
buffalo wings-0
cheese snack- 4g
2tbs ranch dressing- 2g

Also- 80 oz of water

What do folks think? I think I am eating too much although fitday puts me between 1500-1700 calories a day I think I may be kidding myself about portion drift!

Thanks,
Sarah

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I will re-start my workout- that's a good idea! I did pilates 3-4 times a week during induction and cardio 3 times but have fallen off. Funny that I never thought stopping exercise could be the problem!!!

Maybe it is too early for wine and beer. I have a very social job and am often at lunches, dinners, and coctail hours where I like to partake in one or two drinks. Do you think it would be better to have a coctail with a non-sugar mixer than beer or wine or is all alcohol the same?

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Maine, Cushie's advice is a ditto here. I would cut back on the cheese and ditch the wine and beer now. That's really something more for a special treat now or later when on maintenance. Of course, you can always have it . . . just don't be surprised if the scale doesn't move down! The choice is yours. When I am in a drinking environment, I do the old Club Soda routine. Sometimes, if the bar has sugar free DaVinci's Syrup, I'll have them add some of that. I have even taken my own small bottle of DaVinci's with me in my purse, along with my liquid Splenda! May be tacky, but hey! it's my body!

Also, nuts can really put me in a mini stall. They are so calorie dense! And as for your calories, I have lost eating 1,500 cals/day, but do much better around 1,300 . . . but I am 5'1" with 10 more pounds to go. 1,700 may not be too much . . . it just all depends on how much you weigh and how much exercise you get.

Another thing (small, I know) but I noticed your salad dressing is 2 carbs for 2 T. Have you tried any of the 0 carb dressings? Some of them are really good!

Good luck and please keep us posted!

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Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Maine - Exercise is always a metabolism boost, so restarting that should be a big help. As far as red wine, that's one of my favorite things and I allow myself some every week. But I have a rule that if I drink red wine on one day then the next 2 days have to be alcohol free. Alcohol will at first dehydrate you but then will cause you to retain water. And wait at least 2 or 3 days after alcohol consumption to weigh yourself.

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personally, i've found there are several things i have to be careful of if i want to lose that week...

cheese, cream cheese, nuts and heavy cream, in particular, will stop me from losing. although the carbs can be fine, there are a lot of calories in these foods and it does stop me. and with the booze, well, i indulge occassionally myself, but i also realize that when i drink, i won't lose at the same time. so it's a tradeoff when i decide to do it.

i'm not the best with menu help so i usually leave it to others, but overall your menu looks pretty good to me. i suspect there are one or two "problem" areas that aren't a big deal occassionally or individually, but in concert, may stall you up a bit.

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my advice.. added to the terrific advice given so far...
GO LOOK AT THE BEFORE AND AFTER pictures and stories.. and when you are done looking at these.. go on the net and look for MORE before and after pictures and stories..
we have all been befores... some of us will be AFTERS... some of us will be.. SOMEDAY...
only you have the power to decide... who you want to be..
put a mental picture in your mind of what you want ... keep it there...

as far as the actual LC advice.. theres plenty of it here to be found.. but YOU have to make the mental leap to making that possible in your head... and your heart..

dont set yourself up for failure... dont keep things around that arent what the NEW YOU would eat..
WALK.. WALK walk...
DRINK alot of water...
set a goal of not a WEIGHT.. but a picture of a HEALTHY new you..

MUCH success!
kim

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Thanks everyone- I have been following the tips and today had a 1lb loss- I think I am back on track and mentally committed again- the before and after pictures helped too! I can't wait to be an after.

I am really glad I stumbled upon this site!

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thats the spirit maine! we're glad you stumbled upon this place too!
you will find that you end up GIVING just as much inspiration as you get..
hang in!
kim

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG