I lost 10 lbs in the first week, and then a total of twenty in the first two months. But now for the last three months I haven't lost a pound! For the majority of this time I am in ketosis, and staying at the indusction level of carbs (except a bit more veggies and some almonds). It's getting frustrating. Any advice??

Hi Evie! Are you measuring? Exercising? Clothes fit better? Are you drinking lots of water? I'm sure someone will ask you to post a couple days of your actual menu. So, Ummm could you post a couple of days menus?

Thanks!

Help

Have no fear, we are here, to support 1lb at a time...

222/214/150
Started Atkins 8/19/2003

Even without seeing your menus, your stall is probably because you are not eating enough! You need to move beyond induction level and up your carbs by way more than a few almonds a day. Legal veggies!!!! But, post away, too!

Kellie, F38
Started Atkins 8/1/03 (off and on for the last few years but sticking to it this time!)
206/193/160 -- 10.75 inches GONE! (as of 9/28)

ACK! How did I skip right over the <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> For the majority of this time I am in ketosis, and staying at the indusction level of carbs (except a bit more veggies and some almonds). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I do not understand HOW I do this! grrr...

Anyway...Kellie is right! ADD some more veggies! And try to keep them up there all the time (my problem-I eat enough one day and not the next 2) And KEEP adding veggies! (lots of veggies out there-so we all don't get sick of eating the same ones-and so many ways to cook them)

Sorry, should have got this all in one post...I'm still trying to figure it out...must be time to hit the sack!

Have no fear, we are here, to support 1lb at a time...

222/214/150
Started Atkins 8/19/2003

Like a dummy, I didn't measure. But I have obviously dropped a size and get a lot of compliments. However, during this 3-mo. stall, I don't feel my clothes fitting better. I do pretty well with my water, but am a little inconsistent. I love veggies, and will try adding more, although I usually have a salad at lunch and dinner, as well as a veggie with dinner.

Evie
started 4/25/03 - 190/170

Here's a sample menu
Breakfast:
decaf with cream and splenda
2 eggs
2 turkey sausages
w/ a little cheese and salsa

Lunch:
Chicken caesar salad or
chef's sald

Snack:
A couple of bites of an Atkins bar
or an ounce of cheese

Dinner:
Meat
Salad
Cooked veggie (cabbage/caul/spinach, etc)

Snack:
Handful of almonds
or a bite or two of a chocolate bar

I've read that these sugar-free items can stall people, however, I've done without them and didn't seem to do better.

Evie
started 4/25/03 - 190/170

Get rid of the bars!! EEeyahh....

Somebody should make a sticky thread about those bars. They're evil, I say. Evil!

***********************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

After a 3-mo stall, my advice would be to start measuring food portions. I agree that more veggies would be a good idea.

I went through a similar scenario in that I lost weight well for a few months and then just kept gaining and losing the same 2-3 pounds for months.

I experimented with all the various remedies (more water, fewer carbs, more carbs, not eating after 8 pm, and so on). But, what it took was eating less of the high calorie foods (cheeses, dairy, nuts, meats) and more of the low calorie foods (veggies).

While Atkins' books don't specifically say to measure food and count calories, there is the implication portion control is a part of his diet. He frequently says to eat "satisfying" portions. He also implied that some food measuring was in order -- to keep that tablespoon of cream in your coffee from turning iinto a "quarter cup splash".

The thing is, my appetite, doesn't recognize the difference between "satisfied" & "stuffed". So, I needed to control portions mechanically by weighing and measuring foods. I also started looking at total calories in the nutrition tracker I use and setting some limits on total calories and not just carbs.

The other thing to keep in mind is that as you lose weight, your body needs less fuel. So, the portions you ate when you first started losing weight may be too much after you become smaller.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

Thanks, I have heard some have trouble with the bars, so I never eat a whole one. But I'll go without for awhile and see if it helps. I will also look at the portion idea. I don't think I am overeating the high fat things, but I know how that can creep up. I just hoped that I wouldn't have to make this so much of a "diet", because I really want to live with this, and not go "off my diet".

Evie
started 4/25/03 - 190/170

Dear Teelbee,

I am curious about the nutrition tracker you use?

Evie
started 4/25/03 - 190/170

Evie, I am not sure about the tracker that TeelBee uses. I am thinking she might use the diet power or something like that (set me straight TB). You can get a free tracker at www.fitday.com. This is what I use and like I said it is free, always a plus .

Now I am going to go against Dr. I (although he is a very good resource of info on LC), I eat the bars and they do not make me gain weight. I do not eat them everyday. I had one today for lunch. I keep them at school in case of emergencies and today was one. I did nbot have anything to take for lunch and I forgot to order a salad. I most certainly was not going to eat the nachoes & cheese, mini corn dogs, peas & carrots and the blueberry fluff they had for dessert (it is no wonder kids tend to shut down after lunch).

I think you should try adding more veggie carbs and see what happens.

Good Luck!

Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/176/160

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Evie:
Dear Teelbee, I am curious about the nutrition tracker you use? Evie<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I started out using Fitday.com, but I got frustrated with the time it took for online look-ups and it was really awkward for handling recipes.

Now I use DietPower (www.dietpower.com). It was recommended by another LCE poster, Cue-Bald-One. I love it, frankly. It's really helped keep me on track; I think it keeps me focused and motivated.

It has a great utility that will calculate the carbs, and everything else for any recipe. You just list the ingredients and number of portions and DietPower does the rest. It will even print out your recipe in a recipe card format with the nutrional analysis on the back, if you want.

Here is a link to a detailed review I wrote: http://66.165.154.60/BonnyDune/Miau/DietPower.asp

They have a 15-30 day free trial.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

Thank you Teelbee and Sharon,
I'll take a look at both of those trackers! Do either of you worry about the amount of veggies you eat? Despite the 2-3 cups of salad and 1 cup of veggies that the book suggests, it sounds like most people eat all they want of the good veggies (thereby lowering the higher cal/fat foods).

Evie
started 4/25/03 - 190/170

Evie, don't forget that the "2-3 cups of salad and 1 cup of veggies" is the INDUCTION recommendation ONLY!

After two weeks, Dr. A recommends that you begin to add in complex carbs at around 5g/carbs per day until you reach your Critical Carb Level for Losing (CCLL).

THIS is why so many of us eat tons of veggies! We find we have more 'reasonable' CCCLs (mine's around 70 g/day). We still lose - and get great nutrients - by not limiting the legal veggies. Remember: No one got fat eating broccoli!

Cheers,
Emelia

"We can only learn to love by loving." - Iris Murdoch, Irish writer
294/208/174 LC since 25-Nov-01

Yes, I eat as much brocolli, zucchini, mustard greens, salad greens, cauliflower, celery, green beans, spinach, etc, as I can. The only time I limit such vegetable portions is if they are tricked up in a dish with a lot of cheese.

I really don't see how we can go wrong eating lots of good LC veggies.

(granted there are some good veggies which should be used in moderation: bell pepper, onion, carrots, tomatoes).

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic