I started Atkins 1 month ago at 253 pound. I lost 9 pounds the first 2 weeks. Now nothing. I am not sure if I am doing something wrong or not. Should I be counting carbs every day?

I would suggest that you post a couple of days menus so the Veterans around here can look at your plan and make sure you're not eating anything that could stall you such as sugar-free candy and those nasty little atkins bars. Also, know that stalls happen. I stalled out on my 3rd and 4th week and then I lost some more!

I hope this helps!

193(march 2003, lost 10 with exercise and cutting back)
Started LCing on Aug. 25,2003
183/175/150

You definitely should be counting carbs every day - especially during induction.

As stated, post 2 days worth of *complete* menus, including every thing you put in your mouth.

Also, what are you consuming as far as beverages, and how much?

(296/222/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

Welcome, Coco-me.

Nine pounds during induction is excellent progress! Congratulations.

It would certainly get you a lot of valuable input if you posted a couple of days worth of eating, as Shrinky suggests.

Keep in mind, however, even IF you are doing things perfectly, it is very, very common to experience the third week stall, also known as P.I.S.S. - "post induction stall syndrome." After losing the initial pounds, it is almost as if the body requires a "rest period" to "catch up" to the loss.

Let's look at what you're eating and see if any experinced low carb eaters can offer suggestions.

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160)/Maintaining nicely (110) ~~ Redhead until further notice!

Thanks for the tips. I realize I need to start counting my carbs which I have not been doing. I will write down what I eat for the next few days and then post it in the middle of the week for your review. I really appreciate all the help.

You probably need to count calories, as well as carbs. That's what I had to do while losing and now also maintaining. While losing, I was eating about 1,000 calories a day and about 25 carbs. I know people would say that the calories are too low, but I was always satisfied and never hungry. Calories do count!!

Nicolle
145/120/120 - 5'6"

Coco-Me
Like you I lost a bunch on induction then stalled at weeks 3&4. I was so frustrated, but i kept with it and added a few more carbs. Like I would eat 2 eggs for breakfast, a salad with ranch at lunch and I alot of green vegies at dinner and all thru the day. Plus I drank tons of water, i really upped it and of course i exercised myself silly, but all of a sudden i got on the scale and whoosh...4 pounds were gone and its still going. Not as fast as I would like of course, but slow but sure. Also don't get on the scale everyday. I get on now and measure once a month. It really helped. Hope that helps and stick with it k!!!

Tracy

Hi, Coco-Me. Yes, it helps to write down everything you eat, and count the carbs. At first, you DON'T need to count calories. Maybe as you get closer to your goal.

In any event, the appropriate number of calories FOR YOU will be based on your current weight. You need a certain number of calories to support your body's essential functions at the weight you are now. If you reduce calories too far, your body will begin to conserve energy, and that would be counterproductive.

For now, just count carbs. Drink lots of water. Eat legal fats like butter, olive oil, regular salad dressings (ones that have less than 1 carb per TBSP), and mayonnaise. Did I mention drink lots of water?

Be patient, and you'll see results.

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/135/140

I wrote this in a different thread, but I'm adding it here for the same reasons.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I just need to post here for those new to this way of eating and who, like me, do not find it conceivable to live a whole lifetime (or even more than a couple of months) tracking caloric intake.

First of all, at this point, there is much research to support the proposition that the laws of thermodynamics do not apply in the usual way when it comes to carbon based life forms. There are hormones and other biodynamic processes which change the equation. If a calorie in and a calorie out were an immutable truth, then type one diabetes - among many other things - remains unexplained.

I have never counted anything but carbs since I started this way of eating. Indeed, that is what attracted me to it, initially. I followed the advice to count my carbs and eat until satisfied, not stuffed. In the beginning, I counted carbs on paper and I "reality checked" myself by doing blood sugars (since that was a pre-existing issue for me). Now I do a running count in my head and return to journaling only when trying some new concoction, or for a week or so, anytime I feel a need for "re-training." Fortunately, the need for retraining does not come up very often.

I suppose that it is possible to destroy the normal satiety signal by years of poor eating habits and "dieting." For those who can tell the difference between satisfied and stuffed, counting calories does NOT seem to be necessary. (Fortunately my "yo-yo" years did not destroy my feedback mechanism.)

For those who cannot distinguish between these two states, I expect that some calorie counting might be necessary initially, to learn portion control by a different means. Indeed this may be the only way to learn to eat differently for those who do not have a reliable satiety signal. Even in those cases, I suspect that after tracking for some period of time, one can learn to eyeball things for the most part, returning to calorie counting only occasionally, to "retrain" the eyeball, as needed.

I just don't want anyone to become discouraged from adopting this way of eating by thinking that EVERYONE must track calories to lose and maintain for a lifetime. For many of us, this simply is not true.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160)/Maintaining nicely (110) ~~ Redhead until further notice!

Some of us seem to have an "on and off" weight loss pattern. That is to say, the weight comes off quickly for a bit, then nothing for a while, then WHOOSH, a couple pounds falls off almost overnight. I know it's hard to be patient during those "lulls" when the scale doesn't move. I just figure the body is getting set-up for the next big loss.

Many people report that they lose inches even when the scale isn't moving. So, if you haven't already, take your measurements (upper arm, chest, waist, hips and thigh).

I really did not need to track calories until I got within about 5-7 lbs of my goal weight. Up to then, I did fine tracking carbs only.

~~~Teelbee

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

I did great my first 2 weeks also losing 12 lbs., then I stalled and lost nothing for the next 4 weeks!!!! I was really getting discouraged but stuck with it and then I lost 4 lbs. this last week and half. Finally! So don't give up and hang in there!

I do not count calories, nor carbs, nor do I weigh myself, and I usually don't restrict my portion sizes. All I do is stay in ketosis every day and verify it with Ketostix. I eliminate any foods that kick me out of ketosis.

That sounds absurdly simple, I know, and some people are going to think I'm exceptional, but I don't think so. I've tried all the other methods, including calorie counting and keeping journals and adding my carbs up. I trashed my metabolism, lost hair, binged like a fiend, and did a lot of crazy yo-yo things that must have taken some permanent toll on my health. I was able to lose weight that way but it was just so damned hard that, deep down, I always knew it was never a permanent way of eating. This is. I'm deliberately doing this in the easiest manner I can.

If my weight loss stalled tomorrow and I was stuck where I am now (I'm guessing about 225), I'd be a happy, grateful man. Gratitude goes a long way towards keeping me on track.

**************
"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."