Frustrated and struggling

[SwissMiss]

I re-started Atkins with Induction 3 weeks ago and have barely lost weight. To be exact, only 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) have gone and my weight fluctuates a lot. This morning when I weighed myself I gained more 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) again. The first time I started Atkins I lost 5.6 kg (12.35 lbs) in 3 weeks.

Currently I'm pretty frustrated and totally struggling. I have followed Atkins to the book, actually re-read the book for motivation, but the scale isn't showing results and neither is the measuring tape.

I'm drinking enough, I'm in Ketosis, I'm withing the Netcarb range and I'm excercising. Can it be, that I'm working out too much? I do a 30 min Curcuit Training twice a week and 2 -3 times a week a work out on my Crosstrainern (elliptical trainer) for 40 minutes. Am I bulilding too much muscle?

The only thing I noticed with the help of Fitday.com, is that I eat more calories than last time. Do I have to start watching the calories too?

I haven't cheated in the past 3 weeks, but right now Chocolate looks pretty irresistible! I feel pretty week and wonder if I should continue or switch to counting calories.

[Bren]

So you have lost though, correct? IF you are in your third week this is the normal time for your body to put up its fight. Totally normal! HANG ON! DON'T GIVE UP! The scales will move soon. Remember to only eat until you are satisfied, not full. Congratulations on your exercise!

[Georgiana]

You can't put 1.5 kg of fat back in one day, so don't worry. It's probably water and it will go away if you decrease your sodium intake.

Your weight might fluctuate for the same reason, but you can easily see this on Fitday by comparing the sodium you have in your menu with the recommended daily intake. For example, I noticed that I never lost weight after days in which my sodium intake was above 2000-2200 mg. Just make a graph in Excel or some similar software, and this should come out really easy.

Congratulations on the 2.5 kg lost, and as Bren said - don't give up. Everyone has good and bad times on Atkins, but with a bit of patience you'll reach your goal if you stick to this way of eating.

[dpaca]

Hi SwissMiss,

I was the same as you in Induction and even asked whether my body was becoming resistant to Atkins (check out the thread Resistant to the Atkins Diet?) the second time round. However, due to the support of everyone here, I kept going and did not give up, and I managed to lose a further 2 kilos in one week. Also, sometimes on Atkins we have less bowl movement so the food accumulates, and thus we show an increase in weight. Basically, I started drinking even more water and that helped the bowl movement. I am now drinking almost 6 litters of water which also helps remove sodium and flush your system. Another culprit can be TOM, which causes water retention and thus an increase in weight. Please do not give up and I hope this helps.

Originally Posted by SwissMiss

I re-started Atkins with Induction 3 weeks ago and have barely lost weight. To be exact, only 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) have gone and my weight fluctuates a lot. This morning when I weighed myself I gained more 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) again. The first time I started Atkins I lost 5.6 kg (12.35 lbs) in 3 weeks.

Currently I'm pretty frustrated and totally struggling. I have followed Atkins to the book, actually re-read the book for motivation, but the scale isn't showing results and neither is the measuring tape.

I'm drinking enough, I'm in Ketosis, I'm withing the Netcarb range and I'm excercising. Can it be, that I'm working out too much? I do a 30 min Curcuit Training twice a week and 2 -3 times a week a work out on my Crosstrainern (elliptical trainer) for 40 minutes. Am I bulilding too much muscle?

The only thing I noticed with the help of Fitday.com, is that I eat more calories than last time. Do I have to start watching the calories too?

I haven't cheated in the past 3 weeks, but right now Chocolate looks pretty irresistible! I feel pretty week and wonder if I should continue or switch to counting calories.

[samira]

Yes, I'm sorry to say, calories definitely do count.

The Atkins WOE does burn a few more calories because you're in ketosis, and ketosis burns fat, and burning fat takes more energy than burning carbs, but that just gives you an edge, it's not really very many extra calories that you're burning.

One thing DANDR says, in the first couple of pages, is that the #1 reason low-fat diets fail is because people feel hungry. DANDR goes on to say the Atkins WOE will make you feel full, which is why it succeeds. So you can use the Atkins WOE to stick to lower-calorie eating. Which is what will make you lose weight.

Couple of suggestions:
1) If you're not already, use Fitday.
2) Calculate your BMR calories.
3) Enter everything into Fitday and stay around your BMR and 20 carbs or less. Important: stay around your base BMR, not your BMR plus activity level.
4) Get enough water. Your little fat cells will hang onto the water unless you get enough.
5) Keep exercising.
When that fat melts off of you those muscles will be absolutely awesome. Seriously. You're going to be fabulous. More fabulous.

After a week, run a report in Fitday. Run the "Calories eaten vs. Calories burned" report. Make sure your little bar graph is heading in the right direction. It is this graph to which I turn when I'm in a stall. I enter absolutely everything into Fitday and when I'm stalled I look at it and say to myself, "I know I'm eating less than I'm using, so my body will show results soon." And then it does. 62lbs and counting....

[sadie147]

have you taken your measurements? you'd be surprised how many inches can be lost even when you're not losing as many pounds!

[spazzyhilo]

I know it can be frustrating when weight fluctuates. With women everything can affect our bodies: too much water, not enough water, TOM, medications, etc etc etc etc. What stage of atkins are you on? If you're still on induction moving up to OWL would be a good idea - especially since it sounds like you're getting bored with current foods.

You can also try posting a couple menus see if there is something you're eating that might need some tweaking

[liv]

You are not working out too much (unless you feel exhausted). But your body is probably reacting to it and that is fine. If you get some muscle it will help you have a lean firm look. Measurements will help you feel more upbeat even if the scale is not moving as fast as you like.

I agree with Spazz. List your menu. I thought I was doing things absolutely "by the book" when I started and then it turned out I wasn't.

[SwissMiss]

Thanks you for all your replies and advice. I’m using Fitday and I am within range of 20 Netcarbs, fat and protein % as recommended by the book. Only my calorie intake was higher the first couple of days than the “basal” calorie amount. I have started to monitor and am reducing the calorie intake now to a max of 1300 – 1500 calories and will weigh again in 2 weeks and hope for a change. My measurements haven’t showed any change and my scale will soon fly out of the window … but as said, next time I step on the scale will be in 2 weeks.

Waterwise I am good – I drink at least 3 liters of water each day (100 fl oz). I also checked the sodium levels and they are within normal range.

I really hope the results start showing soon, I really do want to loose the weight and become healthy and fit.

Thanks again for your help and encouragement. You guys rock!

[samira]

Do the plan and let the plan do you.

Rok on, SwissMiss, ROK ON.