So Discouraged

[picklebummy]

I am a 29yo female. I started Atkins at 302lbs. This is my first time ever trying this type of eating and today is day 15. I have lost a grand total of 2lbs. I did not cheat once on induction and originally planned on an extended induction as I have about 150lbs to lose.

I know they say Ketostix are not always accurate, but I have tested on the darkest purple every time I have tested. I always test in the morning on my second urination of the day BEFORE I have eaten anything.

A typical day:

B: 3 eggs, 4pcs bacon, diet rite

L: iceburg lettuce with ceasar dressing (lable says >1carb) (sometimes I add crumbled bacon and a hard boiled egg), 8oz meat, 1 slice of cheddar, diet rite

D: Asparagus, collard greens or broccoli with real butter, 8oz meat, diet rite

Dessert-- 2 tb cream cheese with splenda packet
I have also had a few of the 'all stages' atkins bars as well. About every 3 days or so.

I am drinking about 64oz of water a day as well.

I know my meat portions are large. Could this alone be causing minimal loss?

I hear stories about how you are supposed to lose like 14 lbs within the first 2 weeks. What is going wrong here? Are the atkins bars stalling me so much that I've only lost 2 lbs?

Help, I want to quit!!

[ReporterGirl87]

Is Diet Rite soda? Make sure if it is you are counting the splenda they add or whatever sweetener is used instead of sugar as 1 net carb.
1 Packet of Splenda = 1 net Carb. As far as the atkins bars that are ok for induction...I was eating them too and I could see a stall in my weight loss so I stop eating them for 2 days and I lost another 2 pounds. So, it's up to you to decide on those. Don't Give Up...it's hard trust me. I live with my boyfriend who eats practically crap every day and doesnt gain a thing and it's frustrating, but I just keep thinking of how good I will feel in a couple months. Also, check the cesear dressing you're using...it could have sugar in it as well and lunchmeat is processed meat which isn't allowed in induction. Good Luck and Hang in There!!

[surreys_princess]

I dont think it would be portions, and after a while that will slow down anyway. The diet rite, no no. And atkins bars. Another bad one. Those 2 things will stall a ton of people. And you have to increase your water. 64 ounces a day isnt but the *recomended*. I think you should always aim for 100 ounces a day, and I never ever allow myself a *drink treat* unless I have drank 85 or more ounces of water, and it is always a caffeine free drink, and only once a week. Caffeine is a huge stall issue. A good rule of thumb for water is 65 ounces plus 10 ounces for every 25 pounds you have to loose. Maybe you can enter your diet in fitday and post your menu so someone can make sure you have the right ratios and enough vegetables. Your fat intake is a huge contributor to your losses. Good luck.

Sam

[picklebummy]

Thank you very much for your response. I think I could do well on this diet if I were actually seeing results. I am doing Ok with what I am eating but not seeing the scale move is disheartening.

I checked the dressing again, it says less than 1g cars and 0 sugars. I figured the bars would stall me somewhat, but only 2lbs in 2 weeks is not what I expected.

I don't eat any lunchmeat. It is either roasted or boiled chicken breast, ground beef, or pork chops. I did have crab legs one day, and shrimp one day.

Oh, and the diet rite is 0 everything sweetened with splenda... I thought that was ok?

I forgot to mention that I did NOT take any measurements, but I am not feeling any change in the way my clothes are fitting. (I have to suck my gut in the same amount as usual LOL)

Thanks again,
Jessi

[BFGarner]

1) Read the Book
2) Cut out the Diet drinks. Atkins says no more than 3 servings of artificial sweetener a day. Some people get stalled by drinking soft drink, fortunately for me I am ok.
3) Same thing with Atkins bars. They don't phase me, but most people will stall, get rid of them.
4) Bacon. Everyone thinks they can eat all kinds of bacon on this diet. Try to cut back on that as well. 4 pieces max, and try not EVERY day.
5) I didn't hear the magic words. Exercise is not optional. You have to get some exercise to get this going right.


Please go out and buy the book. I think I have read it at least 10 times and still continue to do so. Many people try this diet using just what they have hear from other people. Those who read the book and go by the book tend to do much better than those who try to "wing it."

Good Luck and Keep your head up. 2 pounds is good, but I think if you read the book and follow it strictly you will be amazed at how easy the weight comes off. Stay away from the Atkins bars and soft drinks!!!

[liv]

Yup what they said.
Cut out the artifical sugar. You are only allowed three servings a day - a box of drink probably have two and those bars are loaded with them. (There are also ingredients in the bars that you should not have while in induction so I would cut them out.) Then you eat sugars in the dressings. Good clean whole food only from the allowed lists - and plenty of water. You have lots to lose so you can drink way more water. I think apart from the sweetener your menu looked good. Keep it up. It will happen

[Skeptika23]

Hey, Jessi, I strongly encourage you to measure - I'll go weeks without losing a pounds but the inches are just melting off... it's awesome.

Also - I suggest you enter in your daily diet into fitday and see if you have that magic 65/35/5 ratio (65% fat, 35% protein, 5% carb) in your diet - that also tells you how many calories you are consuming and you might be eating too little if you're not careful (I struggle with this - the fats make me simply not hungry).

Are your meats fatty or lean? What you listed sounds fine to me.

I also encourage you to read this: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ot-linear.html (Weight loss is not linear)

Some people don't lose a lot to begin with, then, WHOOSH.

[picklebummy]

Thank you everyone. I will definately get the book today. So far I have been going off of the Atkins website.

[Skeptika23]

Oh, yes, please do get the book - it'll make a huge difference for you!

Don't get discouraged - you can do it!

[surreys_princess]

It is the caffeine in the pop as well as the sweetener. Dr A talks about it within the Induction Phase in the book. Dr A also talks about what to do if you arent loosing but are doing everything right. So, if you cut out the pop and bars and still arent loosing, you post your menus and they are good, you should read up on the other options for Induction. Good luck, and dont get discouraged. It is a learning process and it will all come together soon.

Sam