Hey everyone! I'm in my 6th week on Atkins and seemed to be cruising along (loving the weight loss and the disappearance of my severe hypoglycemic symptoms,) and then discovered the "low carb" treats (candy, ice cream) etc... Even though they say "Atkins" I think they have slowed my loss to zero! (I am in Induction still.) I have 70 more pounds to lose and do not want to stall! Has anyone else had this problem? I was dilligent through Thanksgiving, and not one pound dropped. I'm not PMS'ing right now, so it can't be that! Has anyone else experience this with the supposed "low carb" goodies? The only thing that doesn't slow me is the Atkins Cafe Au Lait shake! Oh by the way, thanks for the great info and cheerleading, I've been lurking for a while. Y'all are the best!

Originally posted by TxRedHead:
Hey everyone! I'm in my 6th week on Atkins and seemed to be cruising along (loving the weight loss and the disappearance of my severe hypoglycemic symptoms,) and then discovered the "low carb" treats (candy, ice cream) etc... Even though they say "Atkins" I think they have slowed my loss to zero! (I am in Induction still.) I have 70 more pounds to lose and do not want to stall! Has anyone else had this problem? I was dilligent through Thanksgiving, and not one pound dropped. I'm not PMS'ing right now, so it can't be that! Has anyone else experience this with the supposed "low carb" goodies? The only thing that doesn't slow me is the Atkins Cafe Au Lait shake! Oh by the way, thanks for the great info and cheerleading, I've been lurking for a while. Y'all are the best!

"Living a healthy lifestyle will only deprive you of poor health, lethargy, and fat."

~Jill Johnson

I had HUGE problems with all those yummy goodies that Atkins says is ok with Net Carbs....Well WRONG-O I didnt realize this for about 10-12 days and had a HUGE stall for about 2 weeks or so.... Didnt gain Thank Goodness But didnt lose anything because of it! I can eat the breads and bagels and muffins etc...LC versions...but the candy bars and breakfast bars...with the Sugar Alcohols are NO good....Kick me outta ketosis big time! But for some it doesnt bother them?? Oh well I hope it all works out for you! and Im sure a once in awhile treat its ok... I do have one once in a blue moon...usually during TOM time to help with Chocolate cravings.....

Hugs, Lisa

LC WOL since 8-8-03
298/259.5
want to be 175/165
"Where every you go There you are"

Thanks, Lisa! Yes, the shakes don't bother me but the candy has stopped my progress. I also noted that the hunger cravings had come back a little, I don't EVEN want to deal with that again! It's nice to have help and kudos on the journey!

Thanks again!

Shay Michele - many, many of us have found these products (shakes and bars) to be anathema to weight loss. They are loaded with sugar alcohols - some of us can't metabolize these at all, which is not nice to the bowels, and some of us metabolize these just like sugar. many of us have found that the more of a "food replacement" a product seems to be, the more problems you will have. Fresh is best, in my humble opinion. My advice is to leave such products strictly alone. BTW, the Atkins cookbook has some great recipes for low carb ice cream that are easy to make and will defintely satisfy even the most die hard sweet tooth.

Jen
175/129/120

Thanks, Jen! It's good to know I'm not losing my mind. Everyone else gorged at Thanksgiving and I didn't and still didn't lose weight. Forget the low carb treats, I'm in this for results!

Have a fabulous Monday and weight loss for everyone!

Hi, Shay Michele.

I noticed that you're in your sixth week of Induction and I wanted to give you some things to consider in that regard. Since you are aiming for results, I'm guessing that the results you want are to normalize your weight and maintain that for a lifetime.

It is very difficult to make this a way of life if one stays at the most restrictive phase of a four phase program. The extended period of induction often leads people to feel bored and deprived, because of the narrow spectrum of food choices. IMHO, that is crash dieting, and no matter what kind of crash diet one does, the weight will return when the "diet" is over.

Moving into OWL is the real "educational" part (findng your CCLL, etc) of the program and what makes it a lifestyle change, as opposed to a crash diet. During this phase one learns a lot about one's own metabolism and how it reacts to various foods in different amounts. One also starts to realize just how MANY different foods one can eat and continue to lose and, ultimately, to maintain.

People who stay at induction levels for an extended period of time may lose large amounts of weight, but they're just "dieting." When they get at or close to goal, they have learned absolutely nothing about how to really (really!) enjoy this way of eating for the rest of their lives. In other words, they just don't know what to eat. Having failed to discover all the interesting and diversified they can eat, they make all the wrong choices (because they haven't learned any others) and regain all their lost weight.

I throw this out for your consideration, based on my experience and observation. Everyone is different, but I don't know anyone who got to goal on induction and stayed there.

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160+)
Maintaining nicely (110 +/-)
~~ Redhead until further notice!

Thanks Maggie! I have to keep in mind that this is a process, not liposuction with meat products! Keep me looking toward good health not just vanity!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> liposuction with meat products! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160+)
Maintaining nicely (110 +/-)
~~ Redhead until further notice!

Good discussion here. Maggie or anyone....can you tell me how to find one's CCL and move beyond induction when 1) the stix aren't showing up as in ketosis and 2) you aren't losing weight. People have advised me not to stay on induction, but I'm really leary of upping the carbs since I'm stalled in terms of weight loss and the stix are not showing me as in ketosis AS IT IS. Advice?

Jana

Jana Berghoefer

Hi, Jana.

I remember you saying that you were in ketosis once a couple of weeks ago. At that time, some people suggested that you increase your veggie intake.

Can you give us a couple of days menus (EVERYTHING you eat and drink) ? I'm sure we can give you some pointers. There have been many times when the veterans on this board have spotted things that had been overlooked.

Also, are you exercising? Are you on any medications? How much do you feel you need to lose?

Let's see if we can do some brainstorming here.

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160+)
Maintaining nicely (110 +/-)
~~ Redhead until further notice!

Oh gosh. This is a big one for me. I'm publicly admitting that I weigh 183 pounds and I'm 5 ft. 8 in. and probably need to be at least 150, if not lower.

Menus:

2 egg - breakfast
taco salad - 3 c. lettuce, hamburger, 2 T. sour cream and 2 T salsa
Dinner - 1.5 cup brocolli with regular dip (less than a tablespoon), hamburger, mozzerella cheese (4 oz or so), mayo

OR

1 egg + 3 slices bacon
turkey breast (3 oz), 1 oz. chees and lettuce salad (a few cucumbers and peppers) with oil and vinegar
pork roast and 3 celery stalks with 1 T. regular dip.

A couple of spoonfuls of SF jello and whipping cream and tofu....both days (YUM)

I've been drinking a gallon of water per day.

Exercise is sporadic. Some weeks 4xs per week and the next week only once. I'm on some meds...Efexor and Ortho-Tricyclin.

What do you think?

Jana Berghoefer

Jana:

Looks OK to me except i would increase your veggies even more. BIG salad for lunch and dinner, along with other veggies.

Jen
175/129/120

Thanks Jen!

I do have troubles reminding myself to get all of those veggies in. I'm going to purchase a couple of low carb cookbooks to help make things more interesting. Salads and veggies with dip can only excite me for so long! I'm going to get Dana Carpenter's 500 low carb recipe books. Other recommendations, anyone? There are so many to chose from!

Jana

Jana Berghoefer

I'm not sure what is wrong with your menu. It looks pretty good.

If 1) you're not in ketosis, 2) you're not losing weight, and 3) you're not just experiencing a short two or three week stall, then you may need to either increase your exercise or lower your carbs. But check all those conditions above first.

The Efexor might be a problem for you, especially if you started it just recently. Many anti-depressants (and I take them, too) can slow or stall your weight loss. Efexor doesn't have the worst reputation in this regard, but it could be a factor.

**************
"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."