It's not working

[Josiebeanie]

Please help me. I started induction 5 weeks ago and lost 7 pounds the first five days. I never changed anything since. I drink at least as much water as I should, and I never eat more than 20 grams of carbs per day, the carbs I get are from vegetables.
I am now down the same 7 pounds as I was the first week, and I am so frustrated that I have been crying for 2 days and I feel like giving up. I feel like if this doesn't work I'm doomed, I don't know what else to do. Can anybody help me?

If that isn't bad enough, my husband started at the same time. He drinks a lot of beer and occasionally eats breaded foods like chicken nuggets. He's down 22 pounds. It's so not fair.

[ThinSoon]

Josie

Don't give up. Post a menu of what your typical menu looks like so people can check it out. There may be something in there that is not right, too many or too little calories etc. do you exercise as well. Also, what is your starting weight.

Thanks! Hang in there!

Tracey

[FwL]

Sounds like you need to move into the OWL phase.

It's not uncommon for people to stall out after induction. Moving into OWL usually gets the process started again.

[mitzimarie]

I would suggest putting some info into your siggie. It will help us to help you, if you ever need some advice. You do that by going to the blue bar at the top, and clicking on "Quick Links". Then click on "Edit Signature" and add whatever info you wish. That way, it will show every time that you post. Some good info to include would be your age, height, start date, start weight, current weight, and goal weight.

Also, when giving us a sample menu, please include exact quantities of everything; even beverages.

[RavenP]

For me, I notice that stalls sometimes have good reasons for happening but sometimes they also happen for no good reason at all.

Here is a little list of the things that I try to avoid which could cause a stall.
Cheating on my diet
Stress or having a bad attitude
Constipation
Monthly cycle
being physically sick
not exercising
Dehydration
Sugar substitute
not measuring
not counting little bites
not making my own food
not writing everything down
eating too much salt

Sometimes also you don't loose weight, you loose inches. I'm in the habit of measuring with a tape measure. Alot of times the weight comes off after the inches.

about the men, try not to compare your weight loss to a mans. They loose weight faster because they have more lean body mass and their metabolisms work faster. The advantage you have is that you are thorough and you take it seriously. When you get closer to your goal weight, man or woman, the pounds come off slowly. Only dedicated people will get there, people who eat breaded food and beer are going to have a hard time towards the end. Slow and steady wins the race, sometimes its better to do it right rather than fast.

[Josiebeanie]

Wow, thanks everyone, that was quick. You are really great people because nobody in my life gets what I'm going through and how hard it's been for me.

A typical day is 2 eggs or egg salad for breakfast, salad with a little cheese and some ham or grilled (skin on) chicken for lunch, and steak or chicken for dinner with roasted broccoli and caulifower or grilled asparagus. I don't generally drink anything until I drank my minimum of water, but always drink at least 16 ounces more water. I may have 1 cup of coffee with half a splenda and a little heavy cream. Occasional diet soda, but maybe 8-10 ounces every 2 days or less.
I do not write down what I eat. Rarely I snackon a string cheese, but rarely snack at all because I'm not that hungry with all the water I drink.
As far as exercise, it's a big problem. I have a couple of herniated discs and back pain. I'm sure exercising would help my back and my diet, it's so hard to start. I am unemployed and have become very sedate. (I'm only 35... sounds like I'm 70, huh?)

I wonder if this just doesn't work for me. If I'm just one of those people, if I believe it actually can work, I won't give up.

[RavenP]

Don't give up. It works for everyone who is willing to stick with it.

[almond thin]

Hi Josie, this is my first post on this forum but I read about your situation and thought I'd reply. I am in the same predicament as you. I started induction 5 weeks ago, lost 3.2kg (7 pounds) in the first week and after that - no weight loss (however, measurements have reduced so I am still hopeful). Although it is tempting to give up I have decided first to try out every possible way of overcoming my stall - increase/decrease calories, carbs, fat, drink more water, increase/decrease exercise, giving each change a week to work, then, if nothing else is effective, try a meat or fat fast.

The bottom line is, I have never felt as well as on Atkins and even if my weight stays the same forever, there is so much I have already gained!! Don't give up!!

[atkinsgal08]

>> I do not write down what I eat.>>

You might try doing that for a few days ... including the net carbs. It's really the only way you're going to problem solve!

>> I wonder if this just doesn't work for me.>>

Probably not true.

Generally when I see someone stall early, it's because they're not eating enough ... carbs and/or calories.

That's why you need to track what you're doing.

[atkinsgal08]

>>hen, if nothing else is effective, try a meat or fat fast.>>

That's a very very bad idea!

Since you've lost weight, you're not a candidate for the fat fast.

And the fat fast can be dangerous if you're not severally metabolically resistant ... and doing it under the care of your doctor.

A meat fast? How exactly is that healthy?