Hi Everyone! I actually started dieting in Nov 04. Went from 316 - 295 on diet pills. Then watched food network and found Low Carb and Lovin It show. Ordered Georges cookbook and 4 others by Dana Carpender. Love the recipes.:cook: So I cleaned out my cabinets and got serious about LC way of life. Problem is, I never went into ketosis when I started LC dieting, but I was loosing weight. Now, I am stuck on 287 and feel like I am failing. So, how do I get back to loosing? I never did an introduction, should I have? Does the intro make a difference? And what about sugar alcohols in the sugar free candies and sweets, Do they count as carbs?

well... i dont know WHY you are stuck.. but since you have already lost almost 30 lbs.. it might be that your body is adjusting?
GEORGE STELLA was MY inspiration last january... been doin it over a year now..
how long have you been doing low carb?
are you eating many of the bars or treats with sugar alcohols? many people stall with them.. others even have GAINED! (OUCH!) ...
THEY CERTAINLY DO count as carbs... and while the packaging says to subtract the sugar alcohols and or glycerine .. MANY of us would either A) NOT USE EM!! OR B) only subtract the fiber and count the other carbs...

some of the sugar alcohols affect people differently... MALITOL seems to be either something that STALLS or that it causes stomach upset ..

depending on how long you have been doing LC.. and what you are currently eating... it MAY be helpful to do a clean induction for a bit to see if it breaks your stall... but are you TRULY in a stall? hard to say without knowing how long you have been not losing.. and exactly what you have been eating...
NICE MEETING ya.. and maybe ya could give us a bit more info eh?
kim

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
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Welcome Bittersweet. I know how you feel. After losing 54 pounds with this way of eating I stopped losing for a whole month. I figured it was my body adjusting to the quick weight loss. I am now doing induction (I didn't start on Atkins but another lc plan so I didn't have a proper one either) and I have begun to lose again.

This IS a great way of eating and the only "diet" I have even been able to stick to without diet pills. I never liked the side effects and after phen/fen never fully trusted them. Don't give up. You may get frustrated, I know I did, but you can get through it. Purchase the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution or another low carb book if you choose another plan and start from teh beginning. That may help you break your stall.

The sugar alcohols may also cause a stall. Try doing without for a couple weeks during induction (where they wouldn't be allowed).

You ARE NOT failing. You've done very well.

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Noël


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

I'm in a stall period myself. It's discouraging. But I know that if I stick with the plan, I'll start losing again. My body just needs to adjust.

You said you never went into ketosis. I've heard that some people don't, no matter how few carbs they ingest. So again, don't worry about it

Are you following a specific plan such as Atkins (higher fat) or South Beach (low fat)? If not, you may want to choose one and start from the beginning. (Many of us are on Atkins which has a two week "induction" that is very limited and gives your body the best chance to get into ketosis)

Are you monitoring the number of carbs you eat? If not, I would suggest you do just to make sure that the foods you eat and portions are within the right limits of the diet you choose.

I don't know much about sugar alcohols. The word on the site seems to be that if they don't give you the runs, then your body uses them like sugar and the full carbs need to be counted. That makes them kind of a lose-lose sugar-free option. I personally think that an occasional (monthly?) treat won't hurt...just don't overdo it.

Finally...Welcome to the site! You've found the most personable lowcarb eating site with the friendliest and most encouraging regulars. That in itself is a big step. Stick around here and you'll learn tons about lowcarb eating.

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Melissa

Thank you all very much.. All have helped answer questions I have had. I started LC lifestyle on Jan 13th. My Dr. suggested I go on the South Beach Diet, but I read it and didn't like it too much. I had read Atkins years ago and could never stick to the plan, I would get bored with it. I would lose 10 pounds and quit. But when I found Stella and Carpender's cook books, I thought this lifestyle would be do-able for me. The recipes were simple, not exotic, my husband would eat it, and THEY TASTE GOOD! I was never one who liked cooking but I like these cookbooks which is why I think I have stuck to it. BUT I was told that the alcohols didn't count as carbs, which I think is what has happened. I have a sweet tooth, so I eat a serving of sugar free chocolate a day. I only started doing this 2 weeks ago, and that's when I stopped loosing. SO, NO MORE OF THAT!
This morning I started writing down my carbs. I have come too far to just quit this time. So I will do this counting until I have it down, no more guessing and no more listening to people telling me "it doesn't count". I will now research more on what counts and what doesn't and make this site a part of my LC lifestyle change.
Again Thank You All for responding.. This site is a godsend for LC lifestyle!!!

:butterfly

Take a look at www.fitday.com. It's a nifty online tracking system that will help you keep track of your carbs and calories.

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Melissa

For some of us the sugar alcohols really don't make any difference,but we usually react to them negatively in other ways...me, I can't have them without a quick date with my bathroom for several hours. The only one tha doesn't do that to me is Erythritol and I count every one of those carbs.

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Lori

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

Windy,
Welcome to LCE. You have done well! You have also heard some good advice here. The only other things I would encourage you to do is get the book and read it for the plan you are going to follow, drink your water...most important, and in a week or two, add in some exercise. Atkins says exercise is NOT an option, but a requirement. I think that's where some folks lose interest sometimes. Pick an exercise/activity you enjoy and start slowly and build your way up...heck, even if you take a 10 minute walk in one direction from your house, by the time you turn around and go back, you've gotten in a 20 minute walk
Also, sometimes you will be losing inches, but the scales aren't necessarily moving in a downward motion...as frustrating as it seems...you hang in there!

A food journal is an excellent way to keep *carb creep* from sneaking up on you
If you can, try and stay with foods in their most natural form, in other words, avoid the processed LC junk foods, bars, and shakes.
Post often and let us know how you are doing Good luck on your journey to better health and weight loss!

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!

Bittersweet....I can't offer you any more advice than what you've already been given. But I'd like to welcome you and thank you for your kind words in my journal. We share a close current weight so if you ever need to "vent", I'm here!

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LC Since January 04
Highest Weight: 340
Rededicated 1/1/07: 295/ /240

“Self-delusion is pulling in your stomach when you step on the scales”

hey windy! first off, congrats on the weight you've already lost. that's great, and important to acknowledge.

i know you've gotten this advice already in this thread, but it's important enough to repeat in my opinion...

1. if you're doing atkins, get the book. it's your roadmap, explains how everything works, and helps you troubleshoot any problems that come your way.

2. drink lots of water, and do it BEFORE you drink other beverages whenever possible. it does make a difference.

3. ketosis is immaterial if you're doing ok. some people never get it, some get it without losing much, so it's really just another way to measure your progress.

4. ditch the candy. i would be willing to bet money this is what is stopping your losses right there. first of all, you need to be looking at carb counts for everything, and just because something says it's "sugar-free" doesn't mean it's carb friendly. then, even the stuff that is for low-carb is made with these sugar alochols, and for some, their body processes it the same way as sugar. but even if you don't, that stuff is famous for stalling people out and/or causing gains.

5. get moving. it doesn't matter what, it doesn't matter how much. only that you a) are moving and b)you like it. that's it.

6. when you experience a slowdown or "stall" or whatever, please DON'T characterize this as a failure. ever! this is a process, and you're learning what works for you and what doesn't. the only way to really "fail" is to stop working on improving your life and your health. you're here, so you're not failing, k?

7. have lots of ways to measure your progress. the scale is only one, and probably the least important at that. how do you feel? how are your clothes fitting? have you lost inches? how is your energy level? appetite?

i find the biggest battles aren't about food; they are psychological. if you can keep you're attitude positive, you've got it 1/2way licked already. hang tough!

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EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

Great post Goddess!!

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Carlee
291/275/130
I am not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing.

Hello, and welcome!

Of course I agree with all that has been said - lots of great advice.

I would stress (from personal experience...) to focus less on the weight loss and more on how you feel overall. For me, not getting heatburn and migraines is a great motivator when I'm frustrated with the weight loss. Boredom is also a big threat to making LC a LIFESTYLE change rather than a quick (or not-so-quick) fix. You are on the right track with the LC cookbooks. I LOVE Dana Carpender's cookbooks and use them all the time.

Sugar alcohols definitely make me stall or even gain weight, so I avoid most of the processed products and candies. I use Carb Countdown chocolate milk when I need a sweet fix and this hasn't caused me any problems.

Good luck, you are on the right path!

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Staci