Day 15 - pounds gone but no inches?

[Chupa Cabras]

Today is day 15 for me. I lost 4 pounds in the first 4 days, then 1 more pound n the next 3 days. Nothing happened for 5 days, then *poof* 2 more pounds in 2 days. A total of 7 pounds lost.

But no inches. Not even a half. What gives? All water??

Also, not sure if I had a 'clean' induction or not. It wasn't easy, more like a science experiment. Ratio of fat/cars/protien, limited list of foods, eat every 4-6 hours, drink 64 oz of water, no caffiene, no alcohol, no aspartame, exercise...

Here's what I know I did wrong:
1 pickled egg (3rd day)
5 peanuts (spread over 2 weeks)
aspartame (during the first week...it's in everything!)
half n half or 2 tbsp of milk in my coffee and more than 3 packets of splenda (I drink a lot of decafe)

I missed breakfast a few times, didn't drink enough water, and had some caffiene on a few days.

What I know I did right:
never went over 20 carbs in a day.
never ate anything that wasn't on the list (except for what's listed above)
not a drop of alcohol (I miss my wine!!)
Exercised almost every day for at least 30 min, sometimes 40-60 minutes.

So, since I screwed up the first week, should I hang in there for another week to make it really 'clean'?

[Kate113]

I would go the extra week simply because I have a lot more weight to lose. But don't beat yourself up over it. You're doing well. Congrats on that 7 pound loss.

[Brook]

Your cells are still puffy. Seriously. 2big will explain it better in her 2big way, but trust me, cuz when you let go of the next few pounds I'm willing to bet you'll see a few inches lost. -And it'll happen over the course of a couple of days. I've done this and it's freakin' cool. LOL

If you feel the need to hang in there for another week, then do so. If you want more veggies and more veggie variety, OWL 1 is the way to go.

[Elizellen]

dont think of another week of induction as a punishment for straying, Chupa

what were you planning to do if you hadnt felt you have done things wrong?

[Chupa Cabras]

I was kinda thinkin about doing induction for another week or two. I really want to see a big change before I start OWL. If I have to look down at my big saggy gut for two months I'll get discouraged.

Now I'm getting the hang of it. I don't miss the carbs at all, and I'm still learning recipies and cool new things I can do with foods. I go home and eat!! No more starving.

And I will be the first to say I have been against Atkins for years because I didn't understand it. It makes TOTAL sense now.

[Elizellen]

It sounds like you have really got the hang of things - well done!!

[tabekat]

The only difference between induction and the first rung of owl is slightly more veggies. Since you don't have that much weight to lose, I personally wouldn't worry about getting induction nailed down perfectly but move on to Owl.

Alot of people, myself included, thought there was going to be a big change when you get to Owl. But the truth is the principles you learn during induction provide the basework for how you will eat and live the rest of your life.

So when you are doing Owl, you are still doing induction, and when you are doing lifetime maintenance you are still doing induction with some flexibility with different foods on certain days of the week. But still the core of it is induction.

The body should be allowed to set its own time frame for weight loss and I wouldn't worry about it.

Let yourself have a good 2 months on Atkins before drawing any conclusions. And stay away from the scale. You are not on a low fat diet.
You are not a scale slave.

[shawnamadonna1013]

I'm the same way. I'm almost done with 3 weeks and I've supposedly lost 11 lbs but I cant really see it at all. My face is a tad skinnier, my hips are a smidge smaller, but really, not much difference anywhere. I'm going to stick with induction a few more weeks and hope Brook's right about puffy cells.

[2big4mysize]

wow 7 pounds and not any inches? you must have lost inches where you didn't measure.

Good for you doing your exercise and trying to stick to a very cleasn induction you have lost over 30% of the weight you needed to lose so I would strongly recomend you move to OWL and add back 5 more net carbs of those induction veggies. Dr Atkins streesed in DANDR that the folk who do all 4 phases are the ones that are the most successful in not regaining. you have done a fine job building a good strong foundation with yor induction. Now is the time to work on those timbers for the framing so the walls you buils during OWL will hold your roof and support your House of Atkins eating when you move in at goal.
Happy low carbing.