Ive done Atkins, South Beach and other Low Carb plans many times over the past 2 years, but I've never been able to stick with it.

So I started again last week swearing to myself that this would be a lifestyle change and not just a diet. Anyway, for some reason it doesn't seem to be working.

I don't use scales- they depress me...but my clothes are definetely tighter and I feel and look really bloated. Usually when I start a lo-carb plan I lose weight really fast and shrink best the first week.

Did I break myself? I mean, have I gone off and on the diet so manytimes that now it won't work?

In a typical day I will eat:

1.5 liters of water
1 turkey patty with mustard
1 chicken sausage link
1 beef patty with a slice of melted cheddar
1/2 cup all meat chili on top
1 bag low-carb success gummy bears

I am not doing any specific weight loss plan....just lowering my carb intake by lots!
So....what is wrong??

I know my veggies are low, but I eat a huge salad every other or every three days.

Any help would be appreciated!

Live on the veggies--not jsut every other or every third day--two or three big salads every day!!!! Add cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, green peppers, asperagus, spaghetti squash, aartichoke hearts, zucchini, spinach, you name it and lots of lettuce and other green leafies, have green beans or steamed veggies (preferrably green ones) every day!!!! No wonder you can't stay with this plan it is meat AND VEGGIES and lots of the veggies!!! You need the nutrients from the veggies as well as the fat and protein from the meat. I agree you reduced your carbs--but not in a healthy way--your body still won't give up the sugar and fat since it isn't getting many of the nutrients it needs to survive! I know this sounds harsh, but get a book, or several of hte books, read them mold them to fit your needs, but by all means eat veggies. minimum--3 cups of raw and 1 of cooked--even better 5 cups of raw and 1.5-2 cups of cooked/steamed. The bloated is part of too much salt--look at your choices of meats, many are salty and will make you retain water not get rid of excess. You need to increase your water to at least 2 liters--64oz and around 100 would be even better. A good rule of thumb is no less than 64oz but half you body weight is better unless it is below that 64 oz mark.

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Lori

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

where are your veggies... if you just started over you shouldnt be haveing the gummie bears... you should be clean eating.. and even tho the all meat chili dont have beans ... it has carbs from tomato sauce...
#2 i think you need to clean eat.. your eating alot of highly processed foods.. you need some holsome foods.. pure foods.. and pure veggies..
try some grilled chicken thighs leggs breast .. instead of sausage, instead of turkey patty, how about a steak.. or some sea food... you realy need veggies and watch your processed foods probly causeing you to retain water..
try haveing an egg or something for breakfest.. a salad for lunch... some grilled or baked meat for dinner w/ salad and steamed veggies.. eat some raw veggies for a snack...

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01/02/04-248{ 4/29/04- 218} 6/30/04- 204
7-05-04 198 8/30/04 - 190 (got lost after that-)
4/03/08- 261 -
Goal-140-145

Mamacita - I know you have done several LC plans over the past few years, but I think you need to pick one and read the book.

If you are doing Atkins induction, I would lose the mustard, the gummy bears (many of us find that those things and many other supposed LC "goodies" stall us due to sugar alcohols), and increase your veggies (a lot). One thing I see is that you are not eating enough. You are probably bloated because of all the processed stuff you are eating.

I don't want to sound like I am coming down hard, but eating NO CARB is not good for you. An LC lifestyle means just that - low, healthy carbs, not no carb. Please do yourself a fvaor a read the book.

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Jen



179/179/120

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>So I started again last week swearing to myself that this would be a lifestyle change and not just a diet. Anyway, for some reason it doesn't seem to be working. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, no WONDER.

Do you really think that you can make a lifestyle change by existing on the menu you provided? What nutrtional value does that have? The reason it isn't working is because you're not eating enough food, your not eating enough of the right food, and you're not eating vegetables.

The whole premis behind low carb is to control your blood insulin levels by not ingesting sugar (carbohydrates). Your only source of carbs will be from vegetables. This is not a meat-and-cheese diet. Far, far, FAR from it!

No one could lose weight and be healthy eating the menu you have provided.

Please do not be offended by what I just said. I am simply stating the obvious. You need to find a plan and research all you can about it and follow that plan.

I do not mean to come down hard on you. I'm not. I'm just making a general statement here: It just simply galls me when people decide to "do low carb", they don't buy or read a book or follow any certain plan, and then throw their hands up in exasperation when it doesn't work for them.

It will work if you have a plan and follow the plan.

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April

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

My Blog

Stay away from those gummie bears! they have sugar alcohols in them. That is reason you are bloating up, If I eat anything with sugar alcohol in it I bloat up and look like im two months pregnant. Please eat more, more, and more veggies. Good Luck!!

Ditto!!!!!!!!! LOSE the gummie bears. Your body obviously treats the sugar alcohols EXACTLY as if you are eating PURE sugar!!!!!!! If you need something sweet like that try this:

Homemade Jello:
1 pkt unflavored gelatin
2/3 cup pourable splenda + 1 tsp.
1/2 pkt Kool-aid any flavor
1 cup boiling water
1 cup COLD water

Dissolve the gelatin in the hot water until completely dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and refrigerate overnight. You could add a bit more of the Kool-aid if you like a stronger flavor. If you want it more "gummy" decrease the cold water by 1/2 cup. I haven't tried this, but it might turn out more like jigglers.

And by all means, ADD the VEGGIES!!!! Eat them raw with a homemade sour cream and mayo dip if you have to do that to get them in. I love raw cauliflower with dips. I add dried minced garlic and onion (just a pinch) to a whole container of sour cream or half sour cream and half mayo. Add a pinch of salt (seasalt preferably) and maybe some other spices, whatever I'm in the mood for. Mrs. Dash adds nice flavor to dips too. Use this dip with other veggies too: cukes, celery, radishes, raw zucchini, jicama, sweet peppers, etc.

HTH

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Everybody is giving you really good advice. You have had success in the past doing what you are doing now but it's not working for you anymore so you need to make a change. Going onto this forum and asking the veterans of low carb eating was a smart decision. They can really steer you in the right direction so you should listen to what they have to tell you. I am a newbie myself. This forum has been invaluable to me. I have lost 9.5 lbs this month but I don't think I'd have had that success without the guiding lights of "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution" and this forum. You just need more info chick!

The easist way for you to get yourself up to speed would be, as everybody said, to read a book about low carb eating and then decide if it's for you. If it is, formulate your plan and then just do it. What you are eating now is, no offense, garbage. If you tried to make a lifestyle change eating the way you are now, you'd probably get scurvy or something nasty like that due to lack of nutrients. Now, you don't want scurvy do you?

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Cindy
161.5/153.5/120