HELP - Minimal weight loss

[maeg]

Hello everyone,
I am new to the board and I was hoping someone out there could answer my questions, because I am ready to give up and reach for the chips. Well, almost ready. I have been on induction for about two and a half weeks, and I have done very well regarding my diet. I have not cheated at all, kept to the acceptable foods list, not overdone it on the veggies etc. Although I haven't given up coffee, I am only having a cup in the morning. Aside from that I only drink water, admittedly not as much as I should be, but I am working on that. I have also been using the treadmill every other day, and taking my multivitamin. Since I started, my ketone strips have been anywhere from light pink to dark purple. So why is it that after losing an initital 5 lbs., I gained back two, and have been stuck there ever since, longer than a week? Why aren't I having the same results as my husband, who lost 7 in the 1st week? I have lost 3 inches off my tummy, 2 off my hips and 1 off my bust, but I still feel very frustrated that I havent lost anything. I can't keep losing inches forever and remain at 220lbs., lol.
When will I start losing the weight? Why haven't I already? Any advice would be great, it's very frustrating reading these stories of dramatic weight loss, when nothing is happening on your own scale.

[Alexa]

Hi Maeg,

That does sound very frustrating but don't despair! There is bound to be a reason.

First of all, don't compare yourself to others here or at home. You will lose at your pace. I'm pretty sure you''ll agree that losing slowly is better than no loss at all or a gain - which is likely if you do reach for the chips

Look VERY closely at ALL labels on absolutely everything you eat and drink - consider also what you eat out if you do. Look for hidden sugars, starches, fillers like breadcrumbs, syrups of any kind. Check your percentages of fat, protein and carbs at fitday or note down every carb you eat. Possibly post a menu in 'Review My Menu' so we can see if there's a problem.

Revisit the Atkins chapter on induction and make sure you are doing it exactly right.

You're not going to like this but consider losing the coffee altogether - it will be a pain but worth it in the end. A hot herbal tea (check for sugars and caffiene) can be a great prop whilst giving up so you don't feel deprived. I had a giant stall recently (of a month) and I began to lose again when I ditched caffiene, alcohol and splenda. Also drinking the water can make a big difference.

Also PLEASE focus on the inches! People will look at your size, not pick you up! It could be you are losing fat (and those inches suggest you are, as do the ketostix) and the weight will follow.

Are you exercising? How tall are you and what is your goal - if you put this in your signature then if you do post a menu we can get a bit of a fuller picture.

Finally Prettycricket was having this trouble and someone suggested it could be a yeast issue. The thread might be of interest: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...829#post685829 as might the forum about it: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...splay.php?f=61

Best of luck

[not2late]

Originally Posted by maeg

Since I started, my ketone strips have been anywhere from light pink to dark purple. So why is it that after losing an initital 5 lbs., I gained back two, and have been stuck there ever since, longer than a week? Why aren't I having the same results as my husband, who lost 7 in the 1st week? I have lost 3 inches off my tummy, 2 off my hips and 1 off my bust, but I still feel very frustrated that I havent lost anything. I can't keep losing inches forever and remain at 220lbs., lol.
When will I start losing the weight? Why haven't I already? Any advice would be great, it's very frustrating reading these stories of dramatic weight loss, when nothing is happening on your own scale.

The ketone sticks are only a guide. They only measure the excess ketones and that can be misleading because our bodies can use ketones as an energy source. So, go with the physical signs of ketosis instead.

As for inches and pounds....Dr. Atkins wrote that the loss of inches represents the fat emptying from our cells. So don't discount the inches lost---they indicate you've lost weight!

Also, the scale isn't always accurate because it doesn't tell you how much fat you lost or how much water you retained or how much muscle you gained. It only gives you your weight.

Let's say you lost 4 pounds of fat, gained 2 pounds of lean muscle and retained 2 pounds of water. That scale will only show you haven't "lost" any weight. The measuring tape, however, will show that you lost because you are smaller.

And from my personal experience, there was a period of several months where I didn't lose any pounds, but I lost dress sizes and I looked much smaller than what I weighed.

Unless you walk around with a sign that says "Hi. Today I weigh ____ pounds." No one will know what you weigh. However you and others will notice that your clothing fits better or that you can comfortably wear a size smaller.

So don't get hung up on the scale. Make friends with the measuring tape and remember that each 1/2 inch you lose from your body means you are losing fat.

[maeg]

If I am losing inches/fat, does that mean that I do not have yeast or thyriod problem? I have reread the chapters on yeast and metabolic resistance, the symptoms don'y really look like anything I suffer from - I feel great and have alot of energy. I will look into the yeast problem, and cut out those foods, just to see if that helps. As well as coffee...*sigh*

[boonie stomper]

Why aren't I having the same results as my husband, who lost 7 in the 1st week? I have lost 3 inches off my tummy, 2 off my hips and 1 off my bust, but I still feel very frustrated that I havent lost anything. I can't keep losing inches forever and remain at 220lbs.,

Look again at what you wrote.. "lost 3...2...and 1 (inches)"
then "haven't lost anything". What a contradiction! You (I hope) aim to look and feel better, reduce/eliminate present and/or future potentially obesity-related problems, improve your nutrition, stamina, overall fitness... (am I right?) yet you are focused on the number on the (evil) scales.

There are plenty of scenarios which could result in the up and down movements your scales report, as well as te lack of them. You should feel confident that progress is being made as you have seen your size shrinking, plus you are apparently wasting some ketones (which is burnt fat leftovers), and are feeling extra energetic.

Can I assume that your appetite has actually fallen off as well, and that your interest in the chips is mostly psychological? Try some porkskins as a substitute as you may find the salt and crunch is satisfying. Hang in there; as you yourself said, "I can't keep losing inches forever and remain at 220lbs., lol." You took more than 2 weeks (2 months/2 years?) to get to 220 - it is only logical your body wishes to take it's time getting away from there. In the mean time, keep up the good fat to muscle shift which is likely transforming you as you read...

[not2late]

Originally Posted by maeg

If I am losing inches/fat, does that mean that I do not have yeast or thyriod problem? I have reread the chapters on yeast and metabolic resistance, the symptoms don'y really look like anything I suffer from - I feel great and have alot of energy. I will look into the yeast problem, and cut out those foods, just to see if that helps. As well as coffee...*sigh*

If you are losing inches, then you are losing. So you don't have to worry about weight loss stalls or plateaus. Dr. Atkins defined a "weight loss plateau" as 4 consecutive weeks without the loss of pounds or inches.

It's the fat we want to lose. So if you are losing inches/fat, then that's more important than what the scale says.

I assume you are losing weight to become a smaller size than what you currently are right? So if you are 135 pounds and fit into a size 8, does it matter if you aren't 125 pounds and fit into a size 8? I mean, you still fit into a size 8 and you will still be 'smaller' size-wise no matter what the scale says, right?