True Confessions...

[SarahWants2BSkinny]

OK, so I did awesome the first week and dropped 10 lbs. But I haven't dropped any since. What gives? I've been under my carb alottment every day. There are 3 things that I can think of off hand that may be contributing -

1) Diet Coke...the first week I had hardly any and the second week I had way more that I should.

2) Sugar Free, Net Carb Free Candy...I'm thinking maybe I'm sensitive to the sugar alcohols? Are these even allowed? It was the week before my period and I figured it was safer that to fall off the wagon totally.

3) My period is this week - I know, I know TOTAL TMI but I'm thinking it's a contributing factor.

So I'm hoping by kicking out the soda totally and just drinking water and iced tea occasionally and erradicationg the sugar-free net carb-free candy thing and dropping all the retaining weight from my period that next week will look better. We shall see. If anyone has any ideas, that'd be awesome. HELP!

[ChantillyLace88]

All 3 may be contributing factors. I know when I drink diet mountain dew, I retain water weight. Also, it can cause sugar cravings which might be why you have eaten sugar free candy. I know when I drink plain water and take L-glutamine, I have absolutely no cravings. And the TOM is a big one for people. I gain 5 pounds during it, so try not to weigh during that time. Hope this helps!

[Empyre]

Eww diet coke is gross !!!

Don't count the first 10 pounds you lose, I think its mostly water weight and that comes and goes. I could be wrong about that though.

[Alaskansonya]

I think you have guessed correctly and have found the solutions correctly. But also know this...weeks 3 and 4 sometimes after such a nice large weight loss in the first two weeks your body has to adjust and it kinda takes a time off and settles into the 'program'...you might see a 'whooosh' weightloss after this time...But your guess's seem correct...I cannot eat the carb free candy at all...very very bad and it does cause bloating and will more than likely stall weightloss! Good Luck! My TOM is this week too (TMI also)...so I know what you mean!!

[liv]

Stay away from that candy. It is not an allowed induction food.
And yes some of us absorb sugar alcohol just like sugar. The American Diabetes Association tells its members to count half the carb in everything with sugar alcohol.

[SarahWants2BSkinny]

OK, thanks guys. I threw the other two bags I had "for emergencies" in the trash last night. I wasn't even really having "cravings" so it was stupid to eat them. I was eating them because it was there. OK, no more, back to the regime - and straight water (which I love as well so it's not a difficult task). I'm kicking myself for it, but hey, live and learn right?

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by Empyre

Don't count the first 10 pounds you lose, I think its mostly water weight and that comes and goes. I could be wrong about that though.

The first 5 or 10 or whatever pounds should also be counted, even if part of them is only water weight. Pounds gone are pounds gone, and less stress on your body. The water that comes off in the first few days is mainly due to depletion of glycogen (which is stored with water); on the other hand, the water weight one might retain some days further into the diet has nothing to do with glycogen (unless one cheats, of course).

Originally Posted by SarahWants2BSkinny

OK, thanks guys. I threw the other two bags I had "for emergencies" in the trash last night. I wasn't even really having "cravings" so it was stupid to eat them. I was eating them because it was there. OK, no more, back to the regime - and straight water (which I love as well so it's not a difficult task). I'm kicking myself for it, but hey, live and learn right?

Good for you, Sarah.

So will you be extending your Induction or moving to OWL?

[SarahWants2BSkinny]

I have quite a bit to lose so I'm planning on staying on Induction as long as my brain will let me. Then if I just MUST have more carbs, I'll proceed with the rest of the program. If I can do it the way I want, I'll stay on induction for the first 140 lbs and then when I get down to the last 50 or so I'll progress through the OWL rungs, Pre-maintenance, etc. I'm hoping by then it'll be a piece of cake (not literally of course!) and it will be a breeze to walk through the rungs. I'm such a carb addict that truthfully, I'm scared to add too many carbs back in for fear it will knock me off the wagon. If I'm doing well here, I don't see why I need to move up until I'm closer to my goal. I've got 187 lbs to play with so I've got time.

Also, thanks for the encouragement on the counting the 10 lbs. Hearing that I shouldn't count it because it was all water weight sorta sucked the wind out of my sails and bummed me out because I hadn't lost anything this week so I was like "Great I lost water...another diet plan that isn't working for me...fabulous" Then once I snapped out of my melodramatic moment, I realized nothing can be decided to "work" or "not work" in a matter of weeks so I adjusted my attitude accordingly. I was just SO excited about that 10 lbs and then to hear not to count it really bummed me out. Thanks for giving me the thumbs up to count it and be excited again!

[sarbirus]

Stay with it girl!

I am in the same situation, lost about 17 pounds at my peak in the first week, then thought I would supercharge the burn by adding going to the gym to do some cardio this week... out of 3 days I have been twice and I have gained 3 or 4 pounds back!!!

It sucks at the moment, I just want to say to **** with it and buy a bag of donuts. But I can stick with it if you can!!! (there, emotional blackmail)

Being serious though, take a look at some of the people in the before and after section and remember this can be you soon.. its what I do and its keeping me sane at the moment!

[SarahWants2BSkinny]

I'm a sucker for emotional black-mail so you leave me no choice but to keep on keepin' on! Scale still isn't moving, but when I did my measurements last night I am down inches. So that was helpful. Maybe once the "girlie issue" departs, I'll start dropping again...What I'm really focusing on (aside from the pics, like you stated) is how much better I feel. My blood pressure is now close to normal (124/76 instead of 135/92 where it usually is), my ankles are now ankles instead of cankles and I can see my ankle bones again, and I have way more energy. I've been doing yoga or walking (alternating) every night which I hadn't done in a while.