Hi All,

This is my first message and I'm hoping that you like-minded people can offer some constructive advice.

I have been on Atkins for over a year now - ok I have had my carb binges here and there but I've always got back on track easily enough.
Anyway, I seem to have come to a standstill with the weight loss. I am stuck at 140 pounds, which is pretty good but I would like to drop to around 130 - 133. Some say this may to be too much but I was 120 pounds with no effort until I was around 24 years old (I'm 29 now) and know that my body suits a more petite figure.
I do some exercise, albeit sporadic, but I have an active lifestyle it's just that the extra pounds won't budge. I have also stayed on induction for long periods but this doesn't seem to work.
Any advice and info and getting past this final hurdle would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Fiona

First of all, welcome Fiona! Secondly, I think we ALL have had standstills or stalls. Now is the time you really have to become a body detective! Various people have done different things to break a stall. More calories, less calories, more exercise, more carbs, less carbs. Sigh. I wish it was easy!

If you have stayed on induction for long periods without that helping, that may be a clue to increase your carbs. Go back to the book and read it. Have you tried any tracking software like FitDay or Diet Power where you log all your foods and exercise? Many people find they are eating way more or less than they should. Be careful of cutting calories too low, however.

Here's one basal matabolic rate calculator you can try:
http://www.weightlossforgood.co.uk/bmr_calculator.htm
This is to find out the approximate calories your body needs just to exist. If you consistently eat fewer calories than your BMR, your body could be in a starvation mode.

And some people just live with a stall for a while. Since this way of eating really should be a lifestyle change, they just plug along and sooner or later the body finally responds.

Are you eating any of the LC processed foods? Too many nuts or too much heavy cream or cheese? These items cause a lot of people to stall, along with low carb bars.

You could post a few days worth of menus here and let us try to see if a culprit or two is there.

I am very close to goal. Actually more pre-maintenance. Would love to lose 5 more. But now it's about choices. Do I really want that glass of wine? If the answer is yes, I know I won't lose the next day! But that's OK. It's my choice.

Good luck and keep in touch!

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Thank you so much for your reply.
It may be the wine, or the cheese - I have a weakness for both. I generally eat eggs and sausage (or just eggs) for breakfast, lunch is usually a salad (lettuce, cheese, eggs, mayonaisse, chicken/ham, a little onion) and dinner is either omlette with meat or steak and some salad. I guess more variety may be the key? Do you think I'm eating the right/worng things?
Thanks again,
Fiona

Last year, I endured a prolonged plateau, got discouraged, and took a little LC vacation. Not a good idea.

However, when I went back to induction in January, I added quite a bit of fiber to my daily nutrition. I'm at goal now.

Perhaps adding more veggies would be a good idea? Concentrate on ones with big nutritional and fiber advantages, like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach. Consider adding ground flaxseed to your salad.

Since I like wine myself, I'm sorry to say that wine really does seem to slow down the weight loss, or stop it altogether. It's a readily accessible fuel source, and your body has to burn that before it gets on with the fat-burning.

Also, even though water weight is temporary, salty meats like sausage can cause your body to retain water and the weight that goes with it. Try eliminating the sausage for a week or two.

Finally, with only a few pounds left to lose, you'll find that exercise is your best friend. Try to add at least 30 minutes of walking every day. It perks up your metabolism and gets those brain cells energized, too.

Best wishes.

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


My Fitday Journal

I think you may be on to something with the salt. I have a terrible habit of salting all foods and I really crave salty flavours.
From today I'm going to stop (or at least reduce) any additional salt and I'll avoid the sausage. I don't think I get enough fibre from veg - I really only eat green salads - so I'll begin steaming brocolli and cauliflower.
Thanks for this, definately food for thought!!

fiona-it sounds like you have some good starter ideas already. particuarly the wine and cheese, from what i've seen, can slow things down, as well as salt.

you may have to look at things like playing with carb levels, watching calories, and increasing exercise. and my belief is that drinking any kind of alcohol is incompatible with losing for a few days afterward. not to mention, at the place you're at, losing vs. maintaining is a very delicate balance from what i've seen.

you don't mention how long you've been "stuck" or if you have noticed other signs of progress during that time, like lost inches. (and YES, that does happen!) please be aware that sometimes your body does need time to adjust.

however, if it continues, you may want to post several days worth of menus here. the folks are fab about helping you find whatever may be the issue.

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

I had a stall from october of 04 to resent. Just began losing again....talk about aggitating!

Quote:

Originally Posted by violeteyes I had a stall from october of 04 to resent. Just began losing again....talk about aggitating!

Violet,

Did you find yourself doing anything differently then what you had been doing since you started this WOE? Were you drinking fair amounts of water? Water consumption has really become a big "problem fixer" for those who have been stalling or not loosing like they would like to. Mild exercise and fair amount of water consumption will allow your body to speed up your metabolism and burn fat quick, allowing your body to absorb the goods out of the protein, fruits, and veggies that you?re eating, giving you plenty of energy!


I'm glad your back loosing again and just keep in mind for the next stall (hopefully never again) make sure you?re drinking lots of water! Water, water, water

Thanks all of you for your input. I think it must be the water. I have a tendency to drink tea (black with sweetner, of course) throughout my work day. It's more a habit than a desire, so since yesterday I have been replacing my tea with a top up in my water bottle. This morning I weighed myself and I've lost 2 pounds - Unbelievable!! I also ate some brocolli and tuna salad (instead of my usual chicken wings, steak or omelette) and felt lighter after dinner, but still satisfied. I am finding it impossible not to salt my eggs but I'll increase the water intake and hopefully that will compensate for the salt. It's great becuase I feel excited again - as opposed to the frustration of the plateau. You guys rock!! I'm so pleased I found this web-site. The low carb phenomenon is only beginning to take off in Ireland so we don't have all the info and options other nationalities (especially USA) have.

fiona- in some cases, not having lc "taking off" may be a blessing. that means you'll have less of those so-called lc convienience foods available that cause problems for so many folks. while some people can get away with indulging some of the time, they are one of the number-one stall-causers from what i've seen. so just keep on doing what you're doing: and drink that water!

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

Hey Fiona-
Well its been a months since your original post and I was wondering how eerything was going? Have you seen more improvement? In what?
Curious from another Newbie

__________________
My June Challenge

• Eat Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dinner like a Pauper
• Counting TOTAL CARBS at 25
• Calories: 1200-1400/day

:bellydanc