Is doing things right. It has been 3 weeks so far and she has only lost 4 pounds and 3/4 of an inch in most places...

We measure every monday night and weigh in.

I feel bad for her. She doesn't cheat and she drinks 8 8oz glasses of water a day, rides the bike 30 min 3 days a week and is in hard core Ketosis... Like it turns brite red as soon as it is used.

She is 5'4" and 240 atm. I am 5'9" and 182. I am really trying to help her with this diet because she is sooo tired of being over weight. For me it is hard to see her face when she measures me and see how much I have lost and how little she has.

What are some things I can do to help her? Is there a reason she is not loosing that anyone can think of? Should she excersize more?

Any help or ideas would be very appreciated. She is to shy to post herself.

Perhaps you could post some of her menus, to see what she is eating on a daily basis.

Don't forget that as she exercises, she will be creating muscle, which is heavier than fat.

Are you eating any of the Atkins bars or diet sodas? Both of these are not too helpful.

Welcome to the LCE forums!

The most glaring thing I see is that 64 ounces of water is not nearly enough for her!

The formula is 1/2 body weight in ounces of water daily. At 240, that means 120 ounces a day. Right at a gallon -- which is what a lot of us choose to do as a matter of course.

I can be absolutely perfect, exercise, the whole bit, but if my water is low, I won't lose at all.

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine" available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

I only lost 6 lbs. the first 3 weeks. Then it moved again, SLOWLY. she may be metabolically resistant, but tell her to hang in there. It will happen. Lifting weights is a sure cure for slow metabolism. Get her some 8 lb dumbells (Walmart, Target) and have her start doing 8 different types of exercises with them, keep a journal and add 2 more reps each time, every three days. It not only helps tone, but turns on the metabolism. She should do it on an empty stomach and then eat protein afterward and drink lots of water. Caution: this will add lean muscle, which will weigh more. So don't go by the scale. Post menues and let us see what you guys are eating. I think it's GREAT you are helping her with this and that you are doing this together. At least she IS losing, slowly, but nonetheless, losing. That's great news. It's not going in the wrong direction!!!!! Tell her to hang in there.
Oh and BTW, guys lose faster than gals, it's our curse. So she should NOT compare herself to you!!!!!

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

It's really hard to compare weight loss. Some people lose a large amount early in the diet, some don't. The important thing is that it sounds like, for the most part, she's doing things right. So I would call for patience. The more water and the dumbbells are good suggestions too, but I would tell her it's most important to keep on doing what she's already doing.

Men lose weight faster than women. Very fat people lose weight faster (at first) than the thin. There are a lot of factors involved that make it difficult to calculate how much or how fast you should be losing, so don't get upset over comparisons. Most people would consider 4 pounds in three weeks to be pretty good.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

For breakfast we have 2 eggs, and 2 sauage patties, lunch usually salami and cheddar or sting cheese, and dinner usually a salad with 3 cups of lettece and a chicken breast cut up on top with green onions, tomato, avocado and cheese, and ranch dressing.

We snack on macadamia nuts and almonds. She has eaten some of the bars and drinks diet caffine free soda. We like diet rite, and we drink crystal light mixed half straight and half water.

Can you could all liquid as water or only plain water as water? Like the Crystal light... no sugar and no caffine either.... would that be counted as water intake?

Thanks for the help, it is much appreciated.

I just have to jump in here and say... How wonderful you are Rob! I felt moved to know how much you love your girlfriend and want her to be healthy and happy.

You will get lots of advice here. Please tell your girlfriend not to be afraid to post her questions and/or thoughts. The folks around here are super nice and I have gotten so much inspiration and support from reading their posts!

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

140/135/115

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we faint not." Gal. 6:9

If she's eating ANY of the bars it's BAD - especially in the beginning. If she's been eating them and still losing then she's doing FINE! Cut out the bars and any other hidden carbs (count total carbs minus fiber) and increase the water and then watch the results!

225/194/170?

“I can conscientiously assert I never lived so well as under the new plan of dietary, which I should have formerly thought a dangerous, extravagant trespass upon health.” --William Banting (Thanks Lez)

Sounds good. I will ask her to stop eatting the bars for a while.... Where can i find a good list of the Foods to eat in induction and what is good to add.... I bought the adkins for life box set but it seems to be mostly for the on going part... I am still reading the book so I am not really sure where I would find it... I have not gotten to it yet is what I mean.

Sometimes she thinks she might eat to much salad. She will eat a salad for lunch... and one for dinner. I did see that in induction you are allowed 3 cups of lettece OR 2 cups of lettece and 1 cup of broc, or zuchini. Is that really the limit to the vegetables we can eat... What about yellow squash.. I do the cooking so I am the one that needs to know.

Another of the issues I am looking at is that I have very little to loose. I weigh what seems alot but I am far from over weight. I am 5'9" and ATM I am 188lbs. But i wear 32 waist pants and 32 length. I wear med mens shirts. I do however have a bit of a tire to loose. I am not sure how long I will be able to eat the very low cabs and still be ok will I?

Her son is also over weight but doing great now. I have been pretty hard on both of them to stick to this... Getting them to drink the water is a struggle sometimes. She is doing great but he just tells me he can't do it. She is no happy but said she will drink more water.

Can they count there crystal light as water? Or maybe just sprinkle some in there water? I have read alot on this site and i have not gotted what I concider a solid yes or no.

One more thing.... what is up with the numbers with the slashes... like 180/140/120? I that starting/ current/ and goal weight?

Would a body fat % be a better judge?... I have been considered over weight and only at 11% body fat but told I was 25-30 over weight. Some things I just don't get... LOL

Anyway thanks so much for the help you have given and are continuing to give.

www.atkins.com has a list of legal induction foods. The best thing to do is eat plain meats and veggies for the first two weeks.

You will need to up your carbs so that you don't loose too much, but do it in the form of extra veggies and low glycemic fruits.

WATER -- nothing else counts for it.

If she still is having troubles, then check my site and the candida information I have there. The link is in my sig.

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

Rob, It really is great that you are supporting your girlfriend. you both will be so much healthier! Are you all doing Atkins? If so here's the link to the web sites induction list. there is also a list in the book.

there is a ton of good info on each phase of the Atkins Plan on the web site.

Induction Rules

Definitely she needs to LOSE those bars!!!!! check out the recipes here for ideas for desserts in place of those bars.
Protein Power by the Eades says any zero calorie drink can be counted as water intake, but your mileage may vary (YMMV) and purists will tell you, you have to drink plain water. If you have to flavor the water a bit with Crystal Lite, do whatever it takes. Try to have them drink it weak and taper off the flavoring. You SHOULD finish the book!!!!

How old is her son?????? Are you guys exercising? With a kid in the picture, you should be doing some very active stuff with him, in the form of play, maybe a little baseball game where he's running to "bases", "racing", and such.

As for Sharron's suggestion about Candida, that's a good point. Check it out. If she has candida, her son probably has a good chance of having it too. It gets passed on from the mother during the birth process and if she breast fed. Candida will certainly be a cause of a slow weight loss, as well as cause horrendous sweets cravings.

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

I agree with everyone else's comments. Just one to add: Cut back a some on the processed meats (sausage, salami, etc.), and add fresh meats instead. The processed meats have lots of salt, and some of them (most of them) have sugar too.
Instead of salami at lunch, have a medium sized steak or a couple (or several) chicken thighs or legs, deviled eggs, fish, etc. Fresh meat is ALWAYS better for you than processed meat. Processed meat is good for a treat or in a pinch.
Yes, drink water! Water makes all the difference in the world.
Yes, ditch the bars altogether! If she "metabolically resistant", then the bars will slow her down even more!
Is she on any meds? Sometimes this is slowing too.

Teri

exercise - I was always told that 3x a week maintains, 4+ helps you lose.... she might want to add another day or two of exercise.
thats my two cents.

http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03
327/298/150

1. It's nearly impossible to eat too much salad. If it's green and leafy, it's not a problem.

2. You can eat virtually any summer squash. Winter squashes are problematic and should be avoided. When you say "Yellow squash," I'm not sure which one you mean. If you mean the small yellow crookneck squashes, they are a summer squash and that is fine. If you mean the big banana squashes, no -- they're winter. Summer squashes are very low in carbohydrates.

3. I've NEVER known anybody that got TOO skinny just low-carbing. In fact, it will become more difficult to lose weight, the closer you get to your body's "set point," the weight that your body thinks is right for you.

That might be one of the drawbacks of low-carbing for some people.

I used to know a number of anorexics and bulimics in Overeaters Anonymous. None of them were low-carbers.

4. You should drink plenty of fluids. If your kid doesn't want to drink water, give him something else like decaf iced tea or diet soda. Try not to be too gung-ho with him -- you could alienate him towards the whole eating plan.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."