I am having trouble loosing weight. I started Atkins as a last resort for breaking cicle of daily severe migraine headaches 5 weeks ago. I have been headaches free for four weeks and i am begining to cut down slowly on my meds [under my neurologist supervision] but I am not losing any weight and i am not in kitosis iven though I don't go over 20 carb a day. I'm drinking 2litter of water a day. any help?
many thanks, Rainbow

Rainbow...

Boy, I bet it feels great to be migraine free! As far as the lack of weight loss, you should post a day or two of typical menus so the veterans here can give you some tips. Also, up that water intake to 1/2 your body weight in ounces.

start 09.01.03 @225
current 203
goal 130ish



"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Yes please post a menu. You could be ingesting hidden carbs. Are you eating bars or other processed products? If so, stop now and eat clean. By this I mean natural proteins and legal vegetables.

Atkins Maintainer
Originally registered Feb. 2001
5"1" 96 to 102 lbs
HDL 102
Tryglicerides 64
Glucose 79

Ok hire is past two days menues, any suggestions will be helpful.
reduced the following meds to prevent migraines:
Nabumetone an antinflamatory from 500mg twice a day to 500 1xday
Topomax antconvulant agent from 75mg to 50mg
effexor75mgantidepressant from 75mg to half.
Breakfast:
2eggs /ricotta 4oz = 4
chiken breast half roasted =0
salad greens 1cp oil/vinegar1/2tsp = 3
1 bar Ross Dark chocolate = 1
afternoon snack mozzarella cheese 40z =4
Dinner:
grilled salmon about 40z =0
sauted Bok Choi 1cp =1.5
snack small cheesecake =2.5
juce of 1 lime 5Tbl =7[ I didn't measure ]
total for the day=23
Water 8 glasses 1 diet coke
Breakfast:
eggs 2 /monterey jack cheese =1
lunch:
2kosher hot dogs =2
1cp.Bok Choi =1.5
snack:
small cheesecake =2.5
dinner:
one very large filet about5 oz =0
cream/sauce [a little haevy cream mixed with the olive oil] =3
1cp salad oil/vinegar=1.3+0.4 =1.7
dessert ichocolate bar =1
almonds 2tbl = 3.6
3tbl lime juce =4.2
total for the day =21.5

I have been as accurate as I can and I will be more accurate in the future measuring lime juce for my water etc, I have been reading a lot on the effect of medications and resistence to weight loss but I am feeling so good for the first time in so long that I have stared exercising again so thank you for your support

LOSE the Russell Stover Chocolate bars. Your pancreas is obviously treating the sugar alcohols EXACTLY like real sugar. If this is the case, your insulin levels may well be the same as before you started. One of the objectives of this WOL is to get insulin under control, naturally. That is what begins the ketosis process. Is the cheesecake sugar-free?

You really need to add MORE veggies to your menu also.

Are you getting ANY exercise whatsoever?.......even just walking? Aim for at least 20 mins everyother day.

I think the RS chocolate is preventing you from going into Ketosis. You truly have to give those up.

It is wonderful that you are getting your migraines under control, rejoice about that!!!

Do you have the book of your plan choice? If not, you really want to read that. I would also suggest that you get Protein Power. It has some very medical advice, but is written so the average lay-person can understand it. Keep asking questions, and hopefully we can all help you fine tune your program.

HTH (hope this helps)



Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Ok thanks for your helpful suggestions Barb, I will give up the chocolate bars, will keep you posted as I increase exercise. My doctor is amazed about my progress with the headaches, and so am I, now I can concentrate on the weight, one thing I know, this has to be for me a way of life in order to feel well. Rainbow

Hi, I'm new to board. Just thought I'd give you some encouragement. My hubby & I both started same day, he started losing in 2nd week, It took me almost 5 weeks and dropping down to 15 carbs a day for about 3 days before I lost weight. I have lost 69lb. since 3/1/03 and been taken off 2 of my 3 high blood pressure medications. One thing I didn't realize was my medication added about 6 carbs daily to my diet so that could be some hidden carbs you're missing. Please don't get discouraged. I feel so much healthier now, I breath much better and I have noticed improvement in my mobility (legs/knees where injured in a car accident) I hope this helps you and good luck!

Thanks for the encouragment, I need every bit of it. i am also new to posting messages, i'm a terrible typist and an even worst speller, but you are correct about meds, more i read about the one I take, more I realize that my whole metabolisim has been compromized for quite some time. Today is , however, a great day.
Good luck to you and your husband.

Maybe you're eating too much cheese? Just a thought. I think I recall some of the veterans here saying it may stall your weight loss if you eat to much.

Shay
205/183/150
Atkins since 8/29/03
~Too blessed to be stressed~

Hi Rainbow! welcome to the boards here and congrats on the migraines - they can be absolutely debilitating, can't they! In terms of your menu... I agree with the others on the sweets, even the lo carb ones - many bodies treat the sugar alcohols like sugars - they are the first things to get burned so once the body has its fuel it won't bother burning the fats.

I DEFINITELY agree with more veggies... here is one of my Induction menus for a week... notice all the greens at lunch, at least a salad and steamed or roasted veggies with dinner and snack on cukes or other 'legal' veggies.

DAY ONE
B: fried eggs (in butter or bacon grease), bacon or sausage
L: tuna salad on at least a cup of romaine or mixed greens (iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value so it’s not worth it)
D: Costco Roasted chicken, steamed string beans served with lots of butter, small mixed green salad (with 3-4 additions in it: like the scallions, celery, etc) with plenty of dressing.
SN: string cheese, drumsticks, raw string beans and celery dipped into Ranch or blue cheese dressing or mayo, or homemade sour cream based dips.

DAY TWO
B: hard boiled eggs with smoked salmon-cream cheese roll-ups.
L: drumsticks from last night’s chicken, at least one large cucumber sliced long and dipped into mayo or dressing.
D: grilled steaks, grilled red peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and a small salad.
SN: a little tuna salad spooned into a romaine leaf (use it like a wrap).

DAY THREE
B: scrambled eggs mixed with leftover veggies (from last night – chopped finely) and grated cheddar cheese, bacon/sausage
L: chicken salad on a large bed of romaine lettuce or eaten with celery stalks
D: Pork Tenderloin (see recipe above), and lots of steamed asparagus with plenty of butter and a little lemon (OR… make a Hollandaise – they have packets now!), and a small salad.
SN: drumsticks or wings or thighs, beef jerky (We buy fresh made beef sticks at the Amish market – like Slim jims but without all the chemicals and nitrates), celery dipped into either salsa or guacamole.

DAY FOUR
B: Asparagus, scallion and cheese omelet!
L: leftover steak, sliced really fine with swiss cheese on a big bed of lettuce (with scallions, I’d add sliced fresh mushrooms and tomatoes too)
D: Sole or Flounder, dipped in egg and dredged in soy flour (you can buy at any supermarket – keep it in the fridge once it’s opened), fried in plenty of butter, and steamed broccoli, and a small salad.
SN: chicken salad wrapped into a romaine lettuce leaf, celery stalks stuffed with cream cheese, large green olives stuffed with garlic (or any olives!)

DAY FIVE
B: Poached eggs with salmon-cream cheese roll-ups
L: Egg salad on a large bed of romaine or mixed greens, or with a handful of celery stalks for some crunch!
D: Hamburgers and franks on the grill… with ALL the fixings, cheese, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato slices, dill pickles, etc… except the bun and the ketchup (you can probably find no-sugar ketchup at the market, though), and steam a lot of zucchini – serve with lots of butter and covered with grated fresh parmesan cheese.
SN: deviled eggs, fresh deli sliced turkey breast

DAY SIX
B: fried eggs with bacon or sausage
L: leftover franks and burger in the microwave with grated cheese
D: Brisket! Roasted red peppers and cauliflower in the oven with lots of olive oil, garlic powder and some cayenne powder (really!), and serve with fresh cut cilantro mixed into it.
SN: deli fresh turkey pastrami with cream cheese spread on it and wrapped in rolls.

DAY SEVEN
B: hardboiled eggs chopped up with tuna salad
L: Fresh deli meats with mayo or mustard for dipping – and a large cucumber peeled, pared and chopped into a bowl with a T of sour cream, a T of mayo, a tsp of dill weed, and a tsp of celery salt – yummy!
D: Italian (or turkey) sausages on the grill (Aidells has wonderful ones at Costco) with roasted or grilled summer squash and zucchini.
SN: finely sliced deli swiss cheese and ham wrapped together and in a roll.

Lastly: consider tracking your foods on Fitday. It's a free on-line software and it has made a HUGE difference for me. by tracking on Fitday I discovered that I wasn't getting enough water (you may not be either, you should try to get closer to a gallon a day), I was getting to FEW carbs (! true, happens a lot in the beginning because people forget to subtract the fiber grams to get a total of 'net' carb grams), and I was eating way too many calories. Fitday really helped me help myself adjust my eating so it was healthier. www.fitday.com !

good, good luck and keep checking in with us so we can cheer on your progress!

Hugs,
Rachel
165/138/128
Haec trutina errat. (Latin for,"There is something wrong with this scale".)

Excellent menu suggestions, Rachel....this would be valuable info to post in the "Newbies" forum, too.

Sky
Atkins since 8/02
186/144/under 150

Gave up the chocolate, keto sticks are turning a nice dark mauve, I am measuring the water I am drinking and I am increasing the liqids, I am also measuring every thing I eat. I am exercizing every day.
Next, I will weigh myself when I am turning purple.
I am decreasing my meds and I am doing well.
thanks to all of you, and a big hug.
Rainbow