I lost 2 pounds in my second week of induction for a total of 12 pounds lost for the initial 2 weeks. I also lost in inches in all of the areas (I include upper arm, thigh, and neck in addition to bust, waist, and hips) so I am extremely happy with the results and plan on sticking with the induction for quite a while longer. I didn't feel restricted at all by the 'menu'.

315/303/150 (Started 8/17/03)

Horsemom,

BE careful. Induction is not intented to be a long-term way of eating (WOE). If you need more information, there is a lot on www.atkinscenter.com. It is not healthy to keep yourself so low on carbs. You should start adding more LC veggies for 5g of carbs additional per week. So, go to 25g one week, 30g the next week, etc. It can be scary to do this, but you need to. You don't want your body to slow down your metabolism if your body thinks you are starving it, if all the nutritional needs are not being met.

Ilse

380/304.6(WW)/154
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Edit, and a note to myself LOL... always wait until you've had a chance to 'move' before weighing in. I actually lost FOUR pounds this last week. After I had a chance to um... take a bathroom break, lol... things had changed quite a bit.

Kokle. Thanks for the advice I'll check into it again. On the Atkins site it in fact states that induction can and 'should' last longer than 2 weeks, if you have a lot of weight to loose, (I do)... are handling it well, etc... they actually incourage it. I'll look again though, and maybe write to their ask person.

Tami

315/301/150

Good for you, horsemom!

You're making excellent progress. Remember to eat the whole amount of veggies allowed, take a multi vitamin and keep drinking your water.

Everyone has to make their own decisions about what they eat, but let me share a bit of what I've observed over the years. You will probably not continue to lose at the same rate you have during the first two weeks of induction, even if you stay at 20 gms of carbs. The advantages of increasing your carbs at this point (to 25 per day the first week, 30 per day the second, etc.) until you find your CCL are several.

You won't "train" your body to an extremely low level of carbs. If you stay at 20 for a long enough time, it becomes a bit more difficult to add in good carbs without going through an extended stall. Since this is a way of life, you need to explore the various good food choices out there that work for you, so that you won't get to the point where you feel bored and/or deprived and chuck the way of life completely. Further, the problem with staying on induction until you're very close to goal (which I'm not saying is your intention, but lots of people try it) is that, when you get there, you have no clue what else you can eat to maintain your new weight for the rest of your life.

That having been said, you're in charge of you and have to make your own decisions. Hope this helps you analyze the various choices.

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

Redhead until further notice!

Thank you both for your extremly helpful advice. Good points Maggie, and very well taken. I do have an extreme amount to loose though, I have a LOOOONNNNG way to go before I get anywhere within spiting range of my goal. lol. I was thinking of staying on the induction level for another 2 weeks is all, but the thing is, I have a devil of a time getting all 20 carbs in now. I eat a salad at lunch, and vegies at dinner, (and drink 2 gallons of water a day) I am always under the 20 carbs and not really 'wanting' any more. I suppose I could get some nuts and use them for a evening snack once in a while. That would up them.

*Edited to add: my biggest demons pre-lowcarb WOE were sugar, and BREAD... the exclusion of those left me with a diet that was what I eat now on the LC WOE and feeling great.

315/301/150 (Started 8/17/03)

Someone once said, "That Maggie sure is a wise woman."..........Oh I think that's MY quote!!! LOL.

Listen to Maggie, she knows what she's talking about.

I know what you mean about NOT getting in more than 20g per day. I still have trouble getting that much in sometimes, and I eat LOTS of veggies. And I find that I am NEVER hungry, which is GREAT about this WOL, but I can't eat anymore. So just follow your plan, eat what's allowed and don't worry about it. I hardly count my carbs anymore, I just know what's allowed and what isn't. I do need to do some counting again (what a pain) and use it as a barometer to figure out my CCL (maintenance carb level) eventually.



Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/151/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Hey Horse Mom, 12 pounds!! Wow!! You are doing great! I am doing the happy dance for ya'.

I find there are days when I do not get enough carbs in, but it is usually when I do not eat my veggies. Even when I eat all the vegs, I still consume less that 30. My goal is to get to 40 and still lose. Since I lose weight so slowly I think increased carbs will be helpful.

Hang in there and you will reach your goal!

Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/178.5/160

Hi, I have a question, my hubby and I started atkins on 8-11-03, he lost 10 by the end of the 2nd wk, I lost 9. This week we both maintained. Still at or less then 20g of carbs. I feel great and I am down 1 pant size. My hubby, I think is getting discuraged... what should I do... is it bad that our carbs are less then 20g?
Hubby is a picky eater also, he does not like nuts or fruit.... Help

Hi Nursynurse.

I'm very new here, and also very new to the Atkins diet as well. Just like you I started just a few weeks ago (8/17)... it can be discouraging if the scale doesn't budge, but if you're loosing inches that's probably the best indication of all that it's working! Sometimes them old scales are mean. I was all upset (figuratively) for the first five days of this second week. The first week pounds came off everyday, it was great.. then screeeeeeeeeeech, nothing... it stayed the same. However when I measured myself I found that I was loosing, but in inches not pounds. Then on the this last day of the 2nd week I weighed myself and the pounds had just fallen off.

Also, I started my cycle this morning. Luckily, all my life I've never really had any real indication of it, no cramps, etc... only a slightly elevated craving for sweets... hey, NO cravings this time, so I didn't even realize that it was coming. HOWEVER... that may be why the pounds stubbornly hung inthere during the earlier part of the week. That might be something you want to keep in mind as well for youself. (Wouldn't be much consolation for your hubby though LOL).

315/301/150 (Started 8/17/03)

Hi, nursynurs.

You are both experiencing the infamous third week stall. It's not truly a stall in that, usually, a stall is a period of no loss which lasts weeks and weeks.

The induction loss is usually enough that your body needs to sort of adjust to the new way you are providing energy to it. It is not uncommon for your metabolism to go into a kind of protective mode and slow down as if it's "waiting to see what will happen next."

The best general approach is just continue on your program and be patient. I know it's hard to do after the initial losses of induction, but remember that it's not a race, it's a way of life. An average rate of loss (including the inevitable stalls) of between 1/2 lb and 2 lbs per week is a good one. It doesn't cause any stress to your system and allows your skin the chance to do it's best to "shrink" with you.

Hang in there!

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

Redhead until further notice!

Nursynurse,

The newest rev of the Atkins book has an intersting section about fat/protein balance. Some folks are ketosis resistant, and the way to overcome it is to shift the balance towards fat, it can help move your resistant system into ketosis. (Interestingly, for those that are ketosis resistant; if you're eating a lot of protein and not much fat; your body starts doing the same thing to protein that it does to carbs; converts it to body fat!)

The book explains a radical, almost terroristic diet called the Fat Fast that served as an inspiration point for the A diet. It is 1,000 calories a day, spread over 5 eating moments, 90% fat!!! Imagine 5 sittings of 200 calories a day, mostly fat. But, for some, that's what it takes. A couple of weeks go, I was stalling bad, dropped to just a trace of ketones (you DO have pee sticks, right?), and I was only eating 30g a day. So, I remembered that part, and ate mostly fat that night and the next day, and blammo! right back in ketosis and moving downward! Bacon is a wonderful thing.

Cheers!
Phil "Llarion: The Jazzinator" Traynor
7/20/03 - 244/217/185
Visit Llarion's Lair!
- Do not meddle in the affiars of dragons; for you are crunchy; and go well with ketchup

Wow, horsemom, you're doing great!

Point of fact (for me, that is): when it's my TOM (time of month), I tend to gain anywhere between 3 - 6 pounds of water weight the week before, and then I shed those the week during and after. So, chin up. Don't fret about the stall. No worries. It'll disappear in time.

My two cents.

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

Hey horsemom and Maggie,
Thanks for the info! I will share it w/ hubby.
I am not going to quit, thats for sure. I have been on almost every "diet" out there and this is the only one that I am NOT hungry. My hubby on the other hand has never dieted in his life, so there for he wants a change now! now! now! Im trying all that I can to keep him positive too... it seems to be working for now. Thanks again
nursynurs

That third-week stall is a true bummer. I just finished my fourth week and was terrified that all this work was for nothing. My third week proved nothing in terms of losing pounds or inches. Well, yesterday I got the guts up to measure and found I had lost 8.5 inches!!!! And my "week three stall" was over...I dropped 3 pounds last week. Thanks to these boards, I didn't give up and somewhat patiently waited for that nasty week to be over. HANG IN THERE!!!

Kellie
F38
Started Atkins 8/1/03 (off and on for the last few years but sticking to it this time!)
206/195/160

I started Atkins 9-1-03 and I've lost 2 pounds. Is that an ideal loss or am I doing something wrong?

I really like the way I feel having more energy in all but I would like the weight to come off as it should.