The past few weeks I've been cheating quite regularly. Two weeks ago my wife and I went out for pizza, the next night we had pasta AND desert! I've been drinking my share of Guinness on the weekends, and last sunday for the Super Bowl I was so stuffed I couldn't move!

Yet I've lost a pound per week the last two weeks.

I don't get it.

Don't get me wrong I'm not going buck wild with eating bad, I'd say I'm good 80% of the time, but usually when I eat like this I hold steady. To be losing weight while eating the way I have been has me a little puzzled.

Anyone have a similar experience?

you don't say how you were eating the rest of the time, beyond the off-plan stuff. it sounds like you were doing some of both? which i assume would account for the losses.

there are times when i've made poor eating decisions when i haven't gained weight or even lost a bit. i don't consider that to mean it's a good idea to do it consistently, though. i know the decisions i make most often are the ones that will impact my progress the most.

and then there's the other obvious question: how much better would your progress have been if you'd actually ate on-plan?

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

Similar experience?? If only. I pay the scale price for any and all off-plan eating.

Fact is, weight management IS a mystery, no matter what happens. Plateaus are a mystery. Gains are often a mystery. Losses can also be a mystery. The main thing is--what is your commitment to LC as a regular, long-term plan? That's the part that will give you long-term results.

The Weight Creep is a very sneaky character.

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


My Fitday Journal

I've been going strong with this way of life since 2002 now.

I've definitely seen my share of stalls, sudden drops/gains in weight, and I guess now I'm just seeing something else equally as unexplainable.

Believe me, I'm not foolish enough to think I can keep this up and keep losing... in fact I plan on getting back on track strong starting on Monday.

I just thought the past few weeks were interesting, I ate what I wanted, when I wanted, and I still managed to lose. Ahh, the mysteries of weight loss.

Matty, actually I "lied" to you. I only pay the price for off-plan eating if I carry on for a few days at a time--like on a trip. Otherwise, it's as though there were a glue spot on my scale. Since April 2005, my body has found a weight it likes, and doesn't vary an ounce up or down most days. I find that a mystery, too. I've tried tweaking my menus in various ways, just to see if I could shed another 5-10 lbs.--just to see if I could do it. No dice.

If I gain 5 lbs. from off-plan eating (which can easily happen in a week) I return to induction level for a few days, and I'm back to the glue spot. I don't think of this as reverting to my old yo-yo dieting days, because I don't do it often. The Weight Creep, y'know. I consider Atkins to be my strategy for weight management, not a diet. But after three years, I'm a long way yet from learning all the techniques--let alone all the consequences.

In fact, I think of this as a sort of ongoing scientific experiment. That's why accountability--keeping track of menus, blood work, etc.--is important and also helpful. Like you, I wish I knew what combination of calories, nutrients, exercise, supplements--you name it--would give me the absolute formula for predictably managing my weight. I don't know what it is yet, but I'm doing much better than ever. So far, only Atkins has given me a liveable technique for not continually gaining, and in fact, getting off that yo-yo treadmill.

I'm at a healthy weight. No need to think about losing anymore.:jump: The fear of gaining is forever with me, however, so I step on the scales every day to remind me what makes me happy, and eat accordingly.

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to make this little speech--which is directed not at you, but at myself.

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


My Fitday Journal

when you figure it out, barb, you'll be a VERY rich woman! can i have a loan then?

matt-glad to hear you're not simply tempting fates because you feel invincible. had me a bit worried at first.

and you guys are so right: it's hard to predict exactly what you're body is gonna do, other than in general, if you're kind to it, then it usually cooperates.

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

Hi,
I did an "experiment" once in which I incorporated not-so-good foods into my diet on purpose to see what would happen. I didn't gain any weight according to the scale, but I sure saw the effects in my body composition and how healthy I felt. I think we all have to find our own limits, and know the effects when we make our food choices. Straying is part of the process, I believe, and is the experience we fall back on when faced with off plan choices. Document everything!

Stacie
222/125