HELP! Weight loss has slowed :-(

[shabutter587]

Okay, I am new here....and need advice from experienced atkins dieters.

I've been doing atkins for a month now. Everything was going good, but now my weight loss has slowed. I have tried to reduce my portions of splenda substitute and caffeine. Yesterday, it seemed like I couldn't get full. This was the first day I have felt hungry all day, not satisfied, on the diet. On this day I ate KFC grilled chicken, some green beans, and salad, a few strawberries, and had a carbquik biscuit with sf syrup. Maybe this was because I added fruit and more veggies? And carbquik? I have been avoiding all fruits and most veggies beside broccoli up to this point. I don't know. What do you suggest? Should I do an extended induction? I was started to feel constipated so I thought I should include more veggies. I am in a constant state of ketosis. Help me. I don't want to lose focus and give up. I really like this eating lifestyle and don't want to throw in the towel just because my weight loss has slowed. I have about 40 more pds to lose. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[imagood1]

Rung 1 is 5 additional net carbs of veggies - not strawberries and certainly not carbquick - that isn't allowed until further up the rungs. Do you have have acceptable food list and are you only eating foods on the list (not if you are eating strawberries & carbquick).

If you are experiencing constipation flax is recommended or psyllium seed (Metamucil) if additional vegetables don't help. Try raw veggies as opposed to cooked vegetables - cauliflower, broccoli, something other than salad veggies may help.

How much cheese do you eat daily - how many sweetners - caffeine consumption - any soda or crystal light? That may be causing the slowing of your weight loss. It would also be what we refer to as PISS Post Induction Stall Syndrome...keep eating foods on the acceptable food list, and your weight will move after your body adjusts to the new weight.

How much pure water do you drink each day? The 2002 DANDR book says 64 ounces of pure water daily - I drink much more than that to hydrate my muscles and keep everything moving in and out of my system.

You might want to go to the Rate My Menu forum, post your daily menu and see if anyone can find something you are overlooking. First you need to eat only allowed foods and see if that helps for a couple days.

Rules of Induction:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6782 (What are the Rules of Induction?)
Induction Acceptable Foods:nIF IT'S NOT ON THE LIST IT DOESN'T GO IN YOUR MOUTH
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6781 (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Daily Menus
Sugar Free Sheila's Atkins Low Carb Induction Friendly Recipes!
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...n-recipes.html (Never ending induction recipes)
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...pes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)

[shabutter587]

Thank you. I guess I just assumed I could eat the carbquik in moderation since I was off induction. One biscuit is only 2 net carbs. I definitely have a problem with splenda though. I have increased my water intake, but not enough. I only drink about 8 cups of water daily...i hate drinking it. I have stopped drinking crystal light too, but I was drinking crystal light during induction (rarely water) and lost weight fast. Thanks for the advice. I'm just going to cut everything out and eat protein and water. THanks again.

[pagliaccia]

No no no, you're supposed to get lots of veggies, whether you stay in OWL Rung 1 or go back to Induction. In Induction, you should be getting 3 cups of veggies (2 from the "salad" list plus 1 from either the "salad" list or the "other veggies" list), and in OWL Rung 1 you should be getting that plus 5 more carbs from veggies.

[shabutter587]

Is it unhealthy if I just cut all veggies out? Can't I just eat meat and eggs and lose more weight if I stuck to that? My husband who has never had any problems with weight thinks this diet is unhealthy because for a month I barely had veggies or fruit at all.

[Ryan.Stoeppel]

You need the veggies! They are giving you important nutrients and vitamins that you don't get from the meat and dairy items you are allowed. One of my favorites is spinach because it is high in potassium. Your body needs lots and lots of potassium, and meats/eggs/cheeses aren't high in it at all...and potassium HELPS with the weight loss process. It also helps to avoid those nasty legs cramps you'll get from working out. So in short NO, do not cut out veggies. Eat as many as you are allowed/can. Added bonus is the fiber helps clean out your insides if ya know what I mean.

[shabutter587]

I guess that would explain why I got all cramped up and constipated. Thanks Ryan for your input-I will definitely add more veggies in now that I know this. Thanks everyone

[Elizellen]

Unfortunately one of the reasons that Atkins often has a bad reputation is that many people think that less veggies is better, and so do not eat the 3 cups a day they are allowed - which as your husband suggested is not a particularly healthy way of eating.

[chinadoll]

Also, you should be adding one new food at a time. Why? because then if a particular food causes the kind of cravings you described, you will know which food it is and avoid it in the future. That is part of the purpose of doing the rungs slowly and correctly.

PLEASE PLEASE take the time to read the book. It is the difference between long term success and health vs. failure.

[shabutter587]

Thanks chinadoll. I do have the book, slowly finishing it.....