Weight loss is not linear

[Moochiecat]

Originally Posted by Moochiecat

Just a note to the newbies and the not-so-newbies!

Something we hear again and again at ADBB from newbies is concern about the rate at which they lose. We see worried people posting about how they lost X many pounds the first week, and didn't lose, (or lost very little) the second week, maybe even went up a few during the second or third week, and then nothing at all happened for a while.

Normal.

It's all normal, and most of us here have our own stories about this. Most people will have a good little whoosh of water weight come off in the first week and then it's as if your body needs to pause and take stock of the situation during the second week. This is why we recommend strongly that people stay off the scale until day 14.
After that initial two weeks, there may or may not be another little pause, but rest assured, if you are following the Rules of Induction, and eating the proper amounts from the Acceptable Foods list, you will no doubt lose weight.

Weight can and will bobble around day to day before it truly comes off...and this is true for any stage of weight loss. It'd be terrific if we could bank on losing x amount every day, but that's just not how it works. Some days you'll be down, some days you can be up a little. It can depend on all sorts of things...for example the amount of sodium you ate the previous day, and in the case of women, it could be TOM messing around with you.
Don't sweat the day to day fluctuations. There's just no point to it. Set a day to weigh in, journal what the number is, and then put the scale away. At the end of each month, evaluate your progress, and check yourself to see if you're sticking to the Rules.

In the beginning of Atkins, I lost fairly steadily (I had the pause, and a 2 pound weight gain, then more weight loss, then another pause..been there done that! :yes ) and now my weight continues to slowly work it's way down. My body has it's own pace though, and I have to be patient. We all have to be patient.

Another thing to remember, which I keep telling myself now that I'm halfway to my goal, is that as you near your goal, your weight loss will start to slow down. This is why we see people who have large amounts of weight to lose having bigger losses on a regular basis than those who only have 20 or so to go.

On average, during the first two weeks of Induction, a person will lose from 5% to 10% of their desired amount.
Keep that in mind, and don't compare yourself to other people.

I think the biggest thing in the beginning weeks of Atkins is that we are all worried about how effective this diet is going to be, and we haven't learned to relax, enjoy our foods, and have faith that we will lose weight. Trust is something that is earned, and if you give Atkins the time, it will earn your trust. :yes

Have patience...give it a fair chance to show you how it can work for you, and do the best you can, people! :icondance

***edited to add an informative link***
http://www.low-carb.org.uk/3rdweekstall.htm