Hello ! Im new and i just wanted to say that this is a great site. My big problem is i've started atkin's about 2 weeks ago, (in all honesty I cheated one day in the first week; and then this weekend i drank bud light, which i found out that it really isn't low-carb!! :(!!) However...shouldn't i have lost even just a little bit of weight ???

I weigh 130 and want to loose 10-20 pounds by the end of october when i am taking a vacation.--This NEEDS to happen. I have a really hard time loosing weight.
I excersize at least 20 mins on the treadmill 5 days a week and do sit ups and other excersizes on the ball...but I'm short and still do not feel good enough about myself to put on a bathing suit.

Anyways, I've noticed that many other users have posted their "typical" menus and other more experienced users have analyzed them. So i'm hoping somebody can do the same to me. I am so frustrated and upset that i'm not seeing a difference.
Thank you so much to whever looks this over, I REALLY REALLY apprieciate your time.

DAY#1

BREAKFAST
3 eggs
fried in reg. margerine
6 pieces chicken bacon
orange pekoe tea w/ 1 tbsp whipping cream & 2 tbsp splenda
8-16oz Water

SNACK/LUNCH (since its summer ive been sleeping late)
1 med bag of reg. pork rinds
5-6 tbsp melted margerine
1/3 C splenda
1 diet soda (no caffeine w/ splenda)
2x8oz. Water

DINNER
1/2 Chicken w/ skin & seasoning (w/o sugar or if its take-out maybe a little)
4Cups Veggies (cauliflower,cellery,brocolli, radishes)
Dip (hommade :mayonaise, green onion, worchesteshire sauce,chopped olives)
OR Dip Ranchor CCeasar
*More than 4 oz Cheese
2-16 oz. Water

SNACK
Cheese
Tea w/ splenda & wh.cream
Water
sometimes diet pop sweet w/ splenda

**DAY#2**
BREAKFAST
3 eggs scrambled w/ margerine (3 tbsp)
6 pcs. Chicken bacon
8oz.Water

SNACK
1/2 Whipping cream (whipped in the mixer)
1 tbsp vanilla extract (immitation)
1/8 C Splenda
Diet pop sweetned w/ splenda

LUNCH
2 cans white tuna packed in water
1C lettuce
1/4 C Mayonaise
1 green onion chopped
8oz. Water
(probably more than recomended on indunction)-Cheese

DINNER
Fast food salad: remove little tomatoes
* Ceasar dressing
*Cheese
Shredded carrots
Lettuce
Small bag pecans sweetened w/ sorbitol
Diet coke or Water (bottle)

SNACK
whipped cream as above

**DAY#3**
BREAKFAST
Water
Large cheese Omlette fried in margerine
6 pcs. Chicken bacon

SNACK
Pork rinds
w/ sour cream&onion popcorn powder (no sugar in it)
2-4 bottles water (makes me thirsty)
Cheese

DINNER
Ceasar or ranch salad:
5-7 C lettuce
Crumbled up chicken bacon or normal bacon (4-6 pcs.)
Cheese

SNACK
Tea w/ cream & splenda
Slim fast carb select bar

Welcome, Meesha!

Many of us find that losing the last 10 to 20 pounds takes a little more effort than when there's a lot of weight to lose. I think I'm fairly typical in that I had to start reducing total calories to lose the last 10 lbs. What worked for me when I was bigger, just wasn't working any more - I had to start tweaking.

You asked for some feedback on your diet, so I took a look and this is how it seems to me. You are eating more carbs than the induction guidelines suggest: 20 net grams per day (net means total grams of carbs minus total grams of fiber). I'd suggest using a food tracker (check out the free online tracker at www.fitday.com) to show you just how many grams of carbs, fiber, protein, fat, and calories are in the foods eaten each day.

Unless you are really, really active, I'd suggest reducing all portion sizes by at least 25 to 30% - more if you can do so WITHOUT feeling hungry. Eating 6 pieces of bacon at a time and bags of pork rinds is adding a lot of calories and salt; that alone maybe stalling your weight loss efforts. The Splenda is probably much higher in carbs than you realize; each each packet of Splenda counts as 1 g. carb.- limit that to about 2 - 3 per day at the most. The low carb bars, such as Slim Fast, are NOTORIOUS for stalling weight loss. Avoid those like the PLAGUE!

Just eat what you need to feel comfortably full. Focus on eating vegetables and high protein foods, and avoid processed foods (bacon, slim fast bars). Put a limit on high fat foods, too. I don't know who much whipped cream you are eating, but that could be contributing to your weight loss stall, too - it has both carbs and high fat.

If I get a chance later, I'll try putting your sample menu into Diet Power and get a read out of the total carbs, protein, fat, and calories.

... PS.. on re-reading your post, it struck me that at 130 lbs, unless you are very short and slightly built, you are probably in a pretty healthy weight range already. It can be very difficult to lose weight beyond what your body thinks is healthy for it. Have you checked your BMI?

... PPS... on wearing that swimsuit -- yeah, I always feel shy about wearing a swimsuit, too, even though I'm at my goal weight. I've discovered, though, that I can have fun in the water without wearing a teeny, tiny bikini. Now I wear a bathing suit that features quick dry shorts instead of the usual brief bottom. I have ~so~ much more fun in that suit because I feel more comfortable and less self-conscious. So, for me, it's about having fun more than showing off the bod (but, okay... yeah, I'm old, LOL!)

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Here's my two cents....

Ditch the Bud Light, or any alcohol for that matter during Induction.
Just eat the foods listed on the Induction menu. Nothing else.
If you "cheat", you won't lose, especially in the first two weeks (the Induction period).
Just eat the foods listed on the Induction menu. Nothing else.
Don't use margarine, which contains transfats....use butter instead.
Are you using whipped cream from the can, or whipping cream from the dairy case?
Just eat the foods listed on the Induction menu. Nothing else.
Do without the take-out chicken with "just a little" sugar, breading, etc.
Just eat the foods listed on the Induction menu. Nothing else.
Use tuna packed in oil instead of packed in water.
I don't believe that carrots are allowed on Induction.
Just eat the foods listed on the Induction menu. Nothing else.
Ditch the low carb bars anbd products -- fer sure.
Just eat the foods listed on the Induction menu. Nothing else.
Since you only have 20 pounds to lose, it may take a while.

If you want to make this a way of life, instead of a diet, you're mindset will be much better and you'll lose weight optimally. Please re-read the Rules of Induction. You're eating foods that are not permitted, and you're hardly eating any vegetables. Eat the lesser portion of protein (you're eating a lot of pork), and the greater amount of low glycemic vegetables.

The reason Induction "isn't working at all" for you, is because, frankly, you're not doing it correctly. I'm not trying to sound harsh....just truthful.

But, really.....ditch the low carb bars.

Hope this helps.

__________________
April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

With only a few pounds to lose, many of us discovered we had to pay attention to calories as well as carbs. The first thing that struck me on reading your menu is that you're eating WAY too much food, and excessive amounts of sodium. When you don't have much to lose, calories do count, and that sodium can make you retain water by the gallon. All that dairy could be stalling you, and continuing to retain your taste for sweets by eating so many sweet things could threaten your long term success.
Don't throw out the tomatoes and eat the sugared nuts! You're better off with the tomatoes!
And definitely, What April Said.


Stacie
222/129

In addition to the suggestions above, here are a couple more for reducing your total calorie intake.

Substitute half-and-half for the cream in your tea
Try sugar-free Jell-O with just a little bit of whipped cream for dessert.
Instead of pork rinds, try celery with cream cheese.
Check out Kraft Lite Done Right salad dressings. Low carb, lower cals.
Use a cereal for breakfast on alternate days. You need the fiber. See recipe for "Maggie's Cereal" on this site. Here's mine:

1/4 c. ground flaxseed
1/4 c. wheat bran (make sure it's bran, not whole wheat)
Scoop whey protein (I use Sportpharma vanilla from Costco)
1 cup water
Micro for one minute, stir and micro for another minute

Add splenda, if you want it sweeter. Add chopped almonds (measure!), sugar-free maple syrup, or other legal topping of your choice.

Use fitday.com to figure out an appropriate number of calories for you. As others have said, calories do count when you are close to goal. Usually, a low-carb menu will become calorie-appropriate over time. But you seem to be in a hurry, so check out the calories now. For me (5'3, 135) calories are in the 1500-1800 range most days for maintenance. Don't go below 1200.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Meesha,
Listen to April, she knows what she's talking about. The reason induction isn't working for you is that you're not really doing induction.
Go back and read the book, and follow the instructions to the letter. Read the labels on everything you eat, and know that "just a little" is too much. Avoid fast food, alcohol and ANY bars for now. Give up or cut WAY back on artificial sweeteners...the carbs add up fast and keep that sweet tooth alive and kicking.
It's only two weeks, and the difference it will make for the future of your woe (way of eating) will amaze you.
Good luck, and keep working at it; sometimes it takes some fine-tuning, but you'll do great!!

__________________
Trina

Vice-President of the Intergalactic Order of Brussels Sprouts Haters

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Hello, I found this site to be very helpful, so I thought I would join.



I too want to lose 10 lbs. rather quickly, and I am in my second week, but haven't lost much or any. I don't cook so I do have to improvise a lot on the diet, but I am assuming if I stay away from the bad food list I should be ok, no?

Here is what I am eating.



Breakfast -

Egg whites cooked in olive oil

Low fat cheese



Snack- Cheese stick - low fat

OR
nuts


Lunch -

Salad w/ grilled chicken

Egg whites

Olive oil and vinegar on the side
Mixed peppers

Snack-
Nuts - a bag

Dinner -

Some type of meat

Salad

OR

Cottage Cheese w/

Turkey/Ham slices



Dessert
Low Fat - Fudge Bar w/ no added sugar
and SouthBeach - 10 calorie jello cup
few sugar fee candies (2)


I find myself hungry a lot; I was a big candy and carbs person before and have cut them out totally, but still nothing. Could I be eating too much fat in the nuts and cheese, etc? I find it rather hard to stick to the suggested 15 nuts per serving, and find myself eating a few bags a day. I was drinking a few diet drinks and switched now to caffeine free coke. But I have a few of them, and regular coffee in the morning. Think that is what it is?



We can have black beans right?

And salt? I know that retains water, but can we still use sparingly?



Thanks, wish me luck. I want to start losing, I?ve been so good w/ the carbs and sugar, please help me figure out what I am doing wrong.



With working out, I work out often run 5 to 6 miles a day, but have been very lethargic, tired, and barley can get through my workouts; have any of you experience this?



I do feel tighter, and my stomach feels leaner, though, but the scale doesn't show.

Thanks!

Thank you so much for all your input!! *lol* a friend of mine told me about atkins and she said it was great cause you can eat as much as you want f the acceptable foods and still drop weight like crazy..i realize now that it worked that way for her cause she was bigger than i am.

Anyways to answer your question i'm 5'2, 130 is still in my healthy weight range, but quite honestly it doesnt look too good!
I was happiest when i was 115-120 and am desperate to gt back there.

Thank you so so so soooooo much for all the info, it sheds light on my otherwise depressing former situation.

*JUST WONDERING>>> how long approx. will it take for me to start to see weight loss??

Meesha

meesha- nobody knows how long it will take you to start to see weight loss or get to your own goal. when you just have a bit to go, it takes longer. and it's completely different for everybody. but you are right: in general, the more you have to lose, the faster it comes off, especially in the beginning.

a couple things to remember-

you Don'T need to go hungry for atkins. you DO need to stop eating when you're not hungry, though, and not wait for that stuffed feeling.

since your current weight is within what is considered a normal range for your height, it may be difficult and/or slow to lose weight. your body doesn't use the "swimsuit comfort level" measure to determine homostatis, after all.

you don't have to count every calorie normally with low-carb. but you do need to realize that as you're close to your goal, calories may matter.

your best results will always be with natural, non-processed foods.

you will have to continue to watch your carbs if you want to maintain any losses you do have. so having a goal date, while i understand it and you want things to be perfect for your vacation and whatever...well, sometimes it does more harm than good in terms of getting us discouraged if we don't make the sort of progress we think we "should." your body will do what it wants to do and not always on our schedule. you have to think more in terms of long-term changes, and not dieting until vacation if you want it to work for you long-term.


that being said...if you want the absolute best (and fastest) results possible from atkins, get the atkins book (dr. atkins new diet revolution), read it from cover to cover and follow it faithfully. it sounds like you've gotten the low-down from your friend, but probably haven't read the book. if you have read it, review it! (and no matter what the book does say, stay away from the bars! they are not your friends... )

good luck to you.

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

I see that this is your first post. So welcome to a good place for information and encouragement.

However, you'd get more personal attention if you'd repost your question on a NEW THREAD instead of jumping in the middle of this one.

Go back to the Low Carb Newbies Forum and look for the New Thread button. Make up a good title like "Please look over my menu" and see what people have to say.

Best wishes.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

The closer you are to your goal weight the harder it will be to lose the weight. I think both typical menus posted on this thread need lots more vegetables.