Struggling to Stay Motivated

**cackleby** · January 24, 2009, 02:43 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Well, it would definatley help to know what your average day of eating is before any real advice can be given

**bsquare12** · January 24, 2009, 02:52 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

OK.. typical Day:

Breakfast:

2 eggs, mushrooms (maybe some fried halloumi cheese or bacon)
de-caf coffee, splenda & 0.5fluid ounce of single cream (I think it's light cream in the US)

Lunch:

chicken, bacon & full-fat Hellmans Mayo, salad totally around 8 carbs from the induction veggies - i.e. salad leaves, peppers, cucumber, celery and a couple of cherry tomatoes

Or.. tuna mayo

Dinner:

de-caf coffee, splenda & 0.5fluid ounce of single cream
meat (either steak, lamb chops, roast chicken, pork chops etc.. sometimes tuna fillet)
more salad using the remainder of my carbs.
Sometimes, I will use a few of my carbs for fresh garlic or ginger.

My total carbs are usually 18ish.

I never eat more than 100g of cheese a day.

I count the splenda as 1g per serving. I count the cream as 0.5 carbs per 0.5fluid ounce.

**Amber_Girl79** · January 24, 2009, 02:54 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Hi Beverley, what about your work out schedule? If you are working out now, maybe changing it up some, like adding a different cardio machine or upping the time you do. I stopped losing for a week, and then I couldn't get to then gym so I actually DIDN'T work out for about a week and then I lost 4lbs. So it could be that you just need to switch up your exercise routine. Jolting your body in doing something different exercise wise or even food wise (going to OWL, eating more often), usually is the answer. good luck!

**cackleby** · January 24, 2009, 02:57 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

well dang, seems as though your doing pretty well to me. Have you tryed upping your fat intake? Some around here need to really pile on with the fats to keep loosing lbs. myself included.

Are you using www.fitday.com to track your percentages. I use it alot when I get stuck in a rut.

hop it helps
steve

**bsquare12** · January 24, 2009, 03:07 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Thing is... I feel so tired, I just haven't been able to get in the gym. I feel totally fatigued most of the time. I will get in the gym tomorrow, and commit to forcing myself to go at least 3 times a week.

The irony is - pre-Atkins I was exercising 4 or even 5 times a week and had bags of energy!

I don't use Fitday, because it's a US site and that'll just get me all confused over the net carbs issue again. There is one in the UK, but it's not free.

As for fat... well, I never ever trim the fat off any of the meat I eat, and I eat all the chicken skin and crackling off the pork.

I sautee my mushrooms in butter.

To be honest, all this fat is making me feel sick. I feel that I am eating the most unhealthy diet I have ever eaten.

Beverley

**mamadee730** · January 24, 2009, 04:14 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

beverley,
I have found that doing low carb of any type is as much a state of mind as it is a way of life. You have to get it in your head that it is a healthy way of eating or you will never feel good about it.
Your menu looks pretty good except I dont see any water on it are you drinking water? I am not one to preach about anything (especially since I have an extrmemly hard time convincing myself to drink water) but the water is very important and will help with the energy and it helps flush all the fat and other things out of your system

now about the high fat thing you have to remember that now that you are eating low carb your body is using fat for fuel instead of carbs so you have to have that fat or your body will think it is starving

good luck with your journey

**judyintn** · January 24, 2009, 07:25 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

You may need to move on to some other veggies, like broccoli or asparagus. I started adding a little cottage cheese about 3 times a week and my weight loss has picked back up after a stall. Sometimes upping your carb intake to 25 or 30 grams will get things moving again.

**Parouz** · January 24, 2009, 07:35 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Hey there Bsquare12 I'm London too I find the Fitday tool so helpful I'd like to help you with that.What pacifically with the net carbs confuses the issue?
Halloumi cheese is incredibly salt and possibly had with bacon too could be water retention.This can cause lethargy.
Exercise really does give a nudge to losing weight just get down the gym tomorrow and get those endorphins and sweat going.Try a new exercise if you are bored with repetition.
Sometimes I feel like I'm full of cement but I drag myself and talk to myself (in my head) to exercise.Some days it's tough and slow but afterwards I feel much better in achieving that.The results get had.
Good luck,chin up enjoy the gym tomorrow....you can do this.

**marvid486** · January 25, 2009, 04:50 AM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Hi! I am on my third week. I could not exercise during induction because of injury. However, I lost 11lbs during induction and was eating at least 4oz of butter every day (usually spread on cold meat) as well as using olive oil for frying. Now I am exercising as well and I've lost 5lbs in my first week of OWL! I also drink at least 3 litres of water every day. If I don't drink that much I feel thirsty! So my advice to you would be fat, water & exercise! I know how difficult it is when the weather is so miserable to motivate yourself to exercise, but you WILL feel so much better when you've done it. Good luck!

**marvid486** · January 25, 2009, 04:54 AM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Just had a thought - are you feeling a bit constipated? That can make you feel low as well - yet another reason to get the water and exercise on the go!

**bsquare12** · January 25, 2009, 11:50 AM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

I'm drinking water all the time, so don't think it's that. I just drink water after water (sitting here with another pint in my hand).

I don't go to the toilet that often - have been grinding up Linseed (Flax). I might go every other day - and then not what I would call 'properly'.

As for other veggies, I already have asparagus/brocolli for with my evening meal sometimes (but not every day).

Today I had cabbage and broccoli with my roast pork.. with crackling!

I had a few strawberries and cream.

Let's see what happens. I am really tired (again), but am going to try to go in the gym. Even half an hour is better than nothing!

Thanks for all your replies.

Beverley

**not2late** · January 25, 2009, 12:08 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Beverly, why don't you move to OWL Phase?

You have a weight loss goal of 50 pounds and you lost 11 pounds during the first 14 days of Induction. According to the charts in the book, you have a low metabolic resistance to weight loss.

Dr. Atkins wrote that the only people who may benefit from extending their Induction phase longer than the initial 2 weeks are those with a high metabolic resistance to weight loss because staying on Induction longer may correct the metabolic imbalances that hinder weight loss for them.

Prolonging Induction doesn't guarantee weight loss or even a faster rate of weight loss. In fact, there have been others like you who stay on Induction and stop losing weight. They only begin losing again, when they move to OWL Phase. I don't know why that happens, but it might be that we each have a Criticial Carbohydrate Losing Level and if we continually eat well below that level, our bodies become very efficient at using that consistently low amount and stops losing weight to preserve its energy stores (fat)---a version of "starvation mode".

So consider moving to OWL Phase. You'll begin by adding 5 net carbs of any Induction vegetable to your current menu, then follow the Carbohydrate Ladder to incorporate other foods like nuts, dairy like yogurt, fruit, legumes, starchy veggies, and grains.

**ceemarie** · January 25, 2009, 12:16 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

My thoughts: are you on any medications>Some medications can slow or prohibit weight loss. Cut out cheese, some people find that can eat cheese during introduction as it slows weight loss. Have you read Atkins chapters on metibolic resistance? If not, read it - it may offer you some suggestions that can get the weight loss moving again.

**bsquare12** · January 25, 2009, 01:22 PM

Re: Struggling to Stay Motivated

Nope.. not on any medication at all.

I think I'll move to OWL - which I sort of did... in that I introduced berries... but never upped my carbs.

I will move 25g of carbs from tomorrow.

Am not going to weigh now all week. So, next weekend, I'll test the results.

Fingers crossed!!!

Thanks again everyone.

Beverley
off to the gym now

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Struggling to Stay Motivated

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