Female age 43, Starting weight 180 5'7'' goal 150, convert from weight watchers(lost and gained the same 30lbs for fifteen years, then stopped loosing with the plan.) Stopped my hrt, limited my aspertame. Limit cheese to 4oz a day.

I am in tears today.

Started induction on 7/5/03 lost 0 on induction thought I must be metabolicly resistent, then slowy lost 10lbs over the next two and a half months. Hurray! That was great slow but going down untill two weeks ago it started coming back on, now up 8 lbs. I think part of it is those darn chocolate delight bars. They claim to have 1.1 carbs on the front and back of the wrapper. I am not going to eat those any more. How do you know if theese things are ok or not. I am craving sweets badly. Also added in some nuts, peanut butter, atkins shakes over the past few weeks, but not that much.

8 lbs!Has anyone else ever had this happen? It took so long to loose. Even on WW I never had a gain so fast when I binged for two weeks. How frustrated I am to be following this plan and gain weight!

What now? I am soooo depressed.

Sample Menu

Breakfast

Most of the time only coffee w/ cream or half&half. Sometimes on weekends eggs and bacon.

Lunch

is almost always a salad with chicken blue cheese or cezar and a few nuts.

Dinner

The same as lunch or meat and veggies.

Snacks

sugarfree jello
cheesecake snacks lc homemade
nuts
string cheese
the other items mentiond above that I will not use any more.

[This message was edited by beachcat on 09-30-03 at 11:57 AM.]

[This message was edited by beachcat on 10-02-03 at 06:24 PM.]

I think you have far too many snacks going, but yet not nearly enough (quality) food.

Eating breakfast jumpstarts your metabolism for the day. Try to make sure you eat something - even if it's just a hard boiled egg or a few slices of bacon, or even a small salad.

Lunch should consist of veggies *and* protein - have an extra chicken breast with your salad.. Throw some extra veggies on your salad..

Dinner should be more of the same.. Protein, a salad, *and* some other veggies (broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, etc.)

Also, water. Much, much, much water. At least half your body weight in ounces.. (If you weigh 150, at least 75oz of pure, plain water a day).

(296/225/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

I agree with all of Shrinky's advice. I think that will set you happily on the road to continued weight lost.

You made a wise decision regarding the low-carb candy and other treats. I think you found the same pitfall as so many of us - those commercially made low carb treats are a wolf in sheep's clothing. Many people report that they have HUGE cravings and stop losing or gain weight after eating them.

Your cravings should lessen in a day or so and the extra weight - quite possibly just water weight - will flush out of your system in 6 to 9 days (maybe less).

Good luck, and be sure to keep us posted with how it's going for you!

~~~Teelbee

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

Breakfast is key!!! Don't let yourself start the day without it. Like Shrinky said, it jumpstarts your metabolism. Eat something small! Also you might want to ditch the coffee. Yup, it's hard, but it might be a contributing factor.

Just don't give up. It takes time to figure the WOE out. It's not one-size-fits-all! Good luck.

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)

Is a little cool whip and a few peanuts ok for a snack?
Beth

Beth (bfleming), Cool Whip is fake food. Even though the carb count per serving may be low, it's not a good low-carb choice. Better far to grab the hand mixer and whip your own real cream.

Peanuts - if it's really a few, you might get by, but they're legumes, not tree nuts. I'm assuming that you're not in Atkins induction, because nuts aren't allowed at all for the first two weeks as far as I know.

Just by the way, it's better to start your own topic to ask a question, rather than 'hijacking' (untentionally, I'm sure) someone else's. It keeps people from being confused and will probably net you more answers.

Laurelyn


http://laurelyn.home.comcast.net/lowcarb/

Beachcat, I agree with everyone else posts about eating breakfast, limiting snacks, and upping your veggies. Have you read the book for Atkins. It is REALLY important to read the book and understand the dynamics of this WOE. It will really help you in the long run.
Hang in there!
Oh, yes the bars, candy, etc are evil. I quit all "not real" food last week and lost 1.5lb of a mystery weight gain that I am sure was caused by too much LC candy. Evil, for me, stuff.

Shortie19
224+/201/130
Since 1/1/03

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly to all of you who answerd. It gives me hope. When will I ever learn that if it seems too good to be true (lc chocolate) that it most likely is?

I have been drinking water not quite as much as was suggested above(I'll try), and I guess I should review the book, I have the new Atkins Revolution (Yellow Book)although its not very new and I found it to be somewhat unclear and vauge in some areas. Thats why Im glad I found this site and all of you. Are there newer books with up to date informaton and studies that any of you would recommend?

I found that I am eating more food than I did when doing low fat, or ww diets. I have also been drinking more and more water....and really don't crave the foods I have given up on this WOE/WOL. Sometimes its the TOM that gives you the cravings, and since I am no longer getting it, I don't really have that much cravings. Every once and a while I will have a craving for something and I decided that if it is something that I have to go and get, i dont get it, if it is something that is around the house, if I really want it, I have it. I don't do any of the low carb bars, but have tried them... ok, but if I want something sweet I can have a little. Or if I am going to a party or someone's house, I save those cravings for then.

Beachcat, the LC cheesecake gets me everytime. I have found I cannot tolerate very much cheese. I eat the stuff and gain a couple of pounds. I am not sure if this is because I am lactose intolerant. I have to limit my cheese intake considerably. I still eat the chocolates, but spareingly (sp?).

Beth, if you like the Cool Whip because you find it more convenient than whipping your own, I think it would be better to get the real canned whip cream. You should try to replace your peanuts with almonds or Macadamia nuts.

Welcome to both of you!

Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/176/160

Beachcat, You NEED to eat, it sounds like you are trying to starve yourself,Treat yourself to the new atkins book and read, don't skim it, cover to cover it will shed alot of light for you. Good Luck!!

Jackie

You have been given great advice. You asked how you know if a food (like lc choc bars)are ok. Well, if any food triggers a craving, like the craving for sweets you have been experiencing, then you know to avoid that food. I rarely ever have a craving for sweets. If I do it is usually around my TOM. The shakes don't seem to bother me and I have lost just fine even drinking one every morning before school.

I know your frustrated, but think positive. You have a great place to get the information you need to fill in those vague areas. Drink lots of water and eat only real foods. The weight should come back off in no time and your cravings should subside.

Good luck!

Red
7/24/02
186/110/110

Beachcat, I feel your pain. I went through a tough time the other night because I didn't feel I was losing fast enough. But one of the great moderators on this site pointed out that it took me a bit of time to get to the weight I am, and it's not going to come off overnite.

I know it's pretty tough to change eating habits, especially when the bad stuff tastes so darn good! But, as you adopt a new way of eating, you will find that the bad stuff is not really that tasty after all. It's amazing how many low carb options there are, and how many really good recipes there are. Stick with this - it's the best decision you have made. The results are worth it. I do have one suggestion: do you have a friend or spouse or loved one that can share this new lifestyle with you? If not, visit this website daily for encouragement. And most importantly, stick with the book. Don't try to manipulate the diet to fit your cravings - it will only make things worse. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Hang in there - if I can stick with this and give up my most favorite bad foods (french fries and cake - haven't had either for almost three months), you can do it too!

Best of luck to you, and like I said: stick with the book, and visit this website. You will succeed if you do!

Colleen Roney

>>Beth, if you like the Cool Whip because you find it more convenient than whipping your own, I think it would be better to get the real canned whip cream.<<

ummm... probably not unless you can find one that is sugar free.

There are some nifty little appliances that make whipping small amounts of cream extremely easy and with little to no extra clean up. There are cream whippers, which use a gas cylinder, that dispense cream just like the aerosol cans

A grea, inexpensive gadget for whipping cream is a milk frother. They range in price from about $7 to $20 (some have accessories like stands or carrying cases). Marcie's article describes how to use one: http://www.lowcarbeating.com/article...marcie_03.html

~~~Teelbee

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

Ditch the low carb candies and treats.
No Atkins shakes or other low carb products.
Eat foods from their natural state (nothing pre-packaged or processed).
Eat only until comfortably full.
Drink at least 90 ounces of water each day over and above any other beverages.
Eat unlimited vegetables...the low glycemic kind (no carrots, tomatoes, onions, squash, et cetera).
Cook your protein yourself and limit yourself to 4 ounces of cheese per day.

You'll see a difference...

April
352 / 201 / 180
5'10", large frame, size 13 shoe
www.geocities.com/aprilreinhardt
NOTE: my web site will be changing shortly...the Yahoo people deactivated my account for some silly reason