I've been doing Atkins since July 1, 2003 and was initially pretty successful. I lost 9lbs during the induction phase and after the first two weeks moved to OWL and increased my carbs by 5 grams per day. Right now I try to keep my carb level between 25-30 per day and am vigilant about using my carb counter and food diary. My problem is this: over the last 7 weeks I have only lost another 5 pounds, it seems very slow to me. I was on a diuretic for my blood pressure and recently had my doctor switch me to a different type of medication. Could that be the problem? Any advice you could give me would me appreciated.

Thanks.

Yes, the diuretic can affect weight loss (as all medications can); OTC diuretics can put you into a stall. Obviously, don't do anything without your doctor's advice, but hopefully this WOE will naturally decrease your blood pressure and allow you to go off of it. Are you drinking enough water? You should be drinking at least 1/2 ounce for every pound of weight you carry. While this won't replace the purpose of the diuretic, it can only help matters.

For some people weight loss is very slow and others are lucky to have it come off fast. Like you, I seem to be a slow loser, too, but the proof is in the inches I have lost and how I feel. Hey, 15 pounds is a good loss...and it's not 15 pounds gained! How do you FEEL?

Kellie, F38
Started Atkins 8/1/03 (off and on for the last few years but sticking to it this time!)
206/194/160 -- 9.5 inches GONE! (as of 9/3)

I feel awesome. I'm rarely hungry and am sleeping better than I have in years. I can certainly see the weight loss and my clothes ar getting too big, the gym is helping, too. But, I've always known that I would need to shift my eating away from complex carbs, but was unwilling to do it. Now that I have, I want it to work NOW.

Thanks for your advice.

Hooven, give us more info. How much do you have to lose? Post a day or 2 typical menus. How much water are you getting in? Are you on any other meds, do you have any other health issue? With a bit more info we can give your more specific advice.



Always eat your veggies first!

Welcome, hooven.

7 lbs in 5 weeks is more than a pound a week. That's an excellent rate of loss and more than I averaged during OWL.

Remember that gradual loss puts less stress on systems and give your skin a chance to do it's best to shrink along with you.

If you view this as a way of life and not a race, you're doing great!

Maggie
5'1"
Atkins since '98 (160)
Maintaining nicely (110)

Redhead until further notice!

Let's see. I would like to lose 50 pounds and have no other medical problems other than high blood pressure. (borderline) Here's a typical day's menu - it's pretty indicative of what I eat each day:

Breakfast: nuts
Mid-morning snack - Atkins Bar
Lunch - salad w/dressing and some sort of protein
Afternoon Snack - cheese or chicken leg
Dinner - grilled meat/chicken/fish, salad w/dressing and vegetables
Snack - SF jello

Thanks for all the good feedback.

Here's some stuff I forgot:

water - 64-75 oz a day
exercise - gym three days a week cardio/strength training

I would lose the nuts for breakfast - and the atkins bar for snack. Work in something else. Both those items make me stall. The mock danish is very good for breakfast.

I have been doing this twice as long as you have - and I have lost the same amount of weight (14 lbs total with a 5 week stall). Be happy that yours is coming off faster that some.

Tia
170/157/130

Be still and know...

I have also been very frustrated. I started one month ago tomorrow and have lost only 10 pounds. I know I shouldn't say "only" but I get all jealous when I see others lose faster. I'm glad someone else is in the same boat (not to be read "glad it's happening to YOU TOO!). You know...just so I know it isn't just ME!
I added nuts and SF jello w/ whipped cream (that I whipped), and I am going to eliminate both of those and see how it goes.
I'm drinking more than enough water and still counting to 25 carbs per day.
I think another problem might be that I have started eating A LOT of mixed stuff. Like the pizza quiche, and other recipes. I think I get a little sloppy with the counting there.
One more thing, I've been eating out more, and you can't always be positive what's in out-to-eat food. So...gonna watch that.
that's my input...

Heather
181/171/140
atkins 8/5/03

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Mid-morning snack - Atkins Bar<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Definitely lose the Atkins Bar. While they are very convenient (and good), the sugar alchohols stall most people and increase the blood sugars. Try dropping this and replacing it with something else, and I'll bet you get over your stall.

Kellie, F38
Started Atkins 8/1/03 (off and on for the last few years but sticking to it this time!)
206/194/160 -- 9.5 inches GONE! (as of 9/3)

Here we go...you asked, so here's my response:

Ditch the Atkins bar and the nuts. The rest of your menu looks great. Up your veggies.

If you're not losing at the rate you think you should be, then don't eat anything that's not natural. In other words, nothing pre-packaged or pre-processed. No low carb bars or shakes or candy or no-sugar-added ice cream...nothing like that.

Take a look in the newbies section and read the post there about "possible help for newbies" please.

Hope this helps.

April
352 / 205 / 180
5'10", large frame, size 13 shoe
www.geocities.com/aprilreinhardt