Since the sticky about Newbies getting discouraged is closed I thought I still wanted to state a couple of thoughts. Hubby and I are prime examples of giver uppers. If I would have just stuck with it I would have attained my weight loss and wouldn't have to lose 40 pounds again. I was too stuck on what the bathroom scale said, and got discouraged when it didn't cooperate with my time line. DH lost the weight and decided he could go back and start eating "NORMALLY" again. So he probably has at least 35 pounds to lose again. We would have been better off staying low carb and thus saving ourselves this time and trouble. So even if you don't think anything is happening stick with it, it is well worth the effort. Judy

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If at first you don't succeed, change your approach and try again

yeah, we often close those threads, because when newbies respond to older, stuck threads, it can get lost in the shuffle. we don't want to miss their messages.

thanks for the reminder that it's about a lot more than the bathroom scale. you've totally "got it" that diets don't work, man. only changing your life does.

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Hello. I just started a few weeks ago. First week lost 4 lbs, 2nd week lost 5 lbs, 3rd week, no pounds lost. I'm very discouraged and wondered if this is typical? Any advice or tips? Thank You

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Tiffany

Yes this is very typical and frustrating. Sometimes the stall lasts quite a long while. Just keep the fail. It will begin to fall again. Do keep track of measurements.

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Deb 5', 57 yrs., Atkins 6/9/03:175
Restart 10/1/05-155
Restart 9/18/06-156
Restart 1/2/08-159/117/115
Rung 4 berries but Carnivorous currently

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

hello tiffany, and welcome to lce!

it's very typical to have different rates of losses at different times, and it's extremely typical to have higher losses the first couple of weeks, and have pauses and slowdowns later. it does NOT mean your changes aren't working. while it would be really fun to be able to maintain a rate of losing 5 pounds a week, most of us don't.

so slow down and take a deep breath, hon. you just lost 9 pounds in three weeks! and you're complaining?
be happy. you're doing fine, really.

what plan are you following? have you bought the book for it yet? that will make a HUGE difference in how successful you are. we can help "talk you through" a lot of it, but nothing replaces really having a good understanding of what you're doing and why, and having a plan in place to guide you along the way. less likely to get lost that way!

glad to have you with us!

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Welcome, T_.

Which low carb plan are you following?

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Judy, good reminders for all newbies and returnees.

Tiffany, welcome. WTG on those 9 lbs!

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Nita

Tiffany Welcome, Hang in there hon, you are doing just fine. Just a suggestion keep track of what you are eating for a few days. Just to see how you are keeping on track. You can do this, Judy

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If at first you don't succeed, change your approach and try again

Hello Everyone! Thank you so much for the warm welcome, just what I needed. I'm following the Atkins plan but I don't have the book yet. I'm not sure which one is best to get as there are so many to choose from. Any suggestions? I just started keeping track of what I eat on Fitday, I was shocked at how much fat and calories I got from my lunch of a 3 egg omelette w/ cheese, sausage, mushrooms, and cooked in butter. Over 1000 calories and 113 grams of fat, half of that saturated. Am I doing something wrong or is this typical? Should I decrease something? I had to start induction over today as I kicked myself out of Ketosis b/c I ate too much sf jello and regular whip cream. Thanks so much for all of your help. I have no other support with this low carb lifestyle I'm embarking on. I won't give up, not with all of this help. I'm so very tired of missing out on my life and I want to be there to see my children grow up.

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Tiffany

It's good you are eating fat, You got to eat fat if you are gonna limit carbs. Don't worry though the fat turns into energy and burns away. I had the hardest time learning not to be afraid of fat. I thought for sure I would keel over with a heart attack. Hasn't happened, keep up the good work. I would suggest either Protein Power, or Atkins New Diet Revolution. Of course the final decision is yours.

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If at first you don't succeed, change your approach and try again

Thanks, and your thoughts were mine exactly thinking I will keel over with a heart attack. Thanks for the encouragement.

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Tiffany

Tiffany, you might want to check out Barry Groves website:

Online Nutritional Information and Nutritional Facts - Second Opinions, UK

He advocates saturated fats as necessary for us. He has some interesting info.

You might also like Dr. Michael Eades' (Protein Power) blog, look up saturated fat in his archives.

Health and Nutrition by Dr. Michael R. Eades, M.D.

And here's a link to Men's Health with an article on saturated fat:

Saturated Fat - Men's Health

(Yeah, I check out Men's Health, Adam Campbell has some really good stuff on low carb.)

I'm more concerned about all the years of eating high carbs than of eating fat. I wonder how much damage I did to my body eating that way, and if doing low carb reverses damage, much as quitting smoking can reverse smoke-related damage to the body. Food for thought, anyway.

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Nita

on atkins versions, different people like different versions of the plan. the older versions are more strict on carb counts, and atkins '72 doesn't allow for subtracted fiber and increases carb counts very slowly. i'm not personally a fan of the more restrictive plans and tend to gravitate towards newer versions. since most of your carbs are coming from veggies and i KNOW veggies are not what put my weight on, i prefer more leeway with 'em.

the only caveat i would mention with newer versions of atkins is that they say various convienience foods, and especially the "low carb bars" are ok, and i personally have seen many people have problems with these. the shakes, not as much. but in general, the more natural the food, the better you do.

on calories, it's rare for someone who has a hunk of weight to lose to have to watch calories early on. that doesn't mean it's a non-issue totally or that people should eat past when they're satisfied, but calories are a lot more likely to come into play in "the last 20" or so you're looking to lose, when it becomes more of an issue. often, though, calorie intake kind of self-corrects a lot as appetite decreases and people become more comfortable with their plan.

it's hard to switch from the low-fat mindset when you first start low carbing since we've had years of conditioning. but it is helpful to avoid reduced-fat products specifically, as they usually replace the fats with carbs to get a good flavor. fats also help you feel full...some folks are more careful about their fat intake than others, and those that like lower fat plans sometimes choose south beach. but over time, i think the results are the best way to make believers...

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I hear ya, I used to have literal night mares when I first started LCing. I just knew I was going to have a heart attack and clog every arterie in my body. The last time I went to the doc, she said she didn't know what I was doing but my labs looked great. I don't discuss my low carb with most people, and I never said a word to her either. It's just easier that way. As for the version of Atkins their is no wrong or right version, every person has to choose their own way. Judy

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If at first you don't succeed, change your approach and try again