Stall? Not more than 1 LB. Loss A Week? READ THIS!

[Success101]

Taken from a post in the Induction Forum by pudellvr.

I had to copy and paste here because this particular post has helped me a lot.

The Atkin's 2 Week induction phase:- heady stuff, weight loss nearly every day, usually enormous and unbelievable amounts!

This is very often followed by complaints of "a stall" or only losses of "just 1lb per week".

Many people don't know that weight loss is rate limited, in other words the body has factors preventing more than a certain amount to be released from storage and even more factors that prevent these released fatty acids from being used up instead of stored back in the cells.

This is called the set point principle.

The priority of the human body is survival, anything that threatens that results in a cascade of events to maintain the previous status quo.

Water fluctuations are one way the body protects itself.z During induction you may have lost 10lbs during 2 weeks, possibly 7lbs 1st week and 3lbs 2nd, then weeks 3& 4 - no loss! & weeks 5&6 only 1/2lbs each- so what's happening?

Initially the body jettisons your carb-burning enzymes whilst building fat-buring ones(around 3lbs), and the water attatched to the glycogen stores that we diligently deplete to get into BDK. This amounts to 3-5 lbs water. In addition muscle stores of glycogen are not being replaced when used, which will account for most of the rest of your losses. All in all maybe 0.5lbs fat metabolised during 1st week & maybe same 2nd, so only 1lb fat lost, but 9lbs water and enzymes.

The body senses this diuretic effect, and the sirens go off, 'WARNING! Water loss occuring... New thing! get back to status quo!!"

The Brain tells body to produce vasosupression antidiuretic hormone - more water is retained and so, no weight loss is registered on the scale.

Fat loss is still occurring however- maybe 2lbs per week- because BDK is firmly established and appetite surpresssion is in effect- but water is hiding that weight loss.

The body is preventing dehydration and that is a Good Thing. However, from the perspective of the scale this can be very discouraging, and why we all say "Get the tape measure out!"

Which is why the mantra 'Water retention hides weight loss' is helpful!! Water retention will mask ongoing weight loss for as long as the body retains the water.

We can combat this by drinking more water but we can't overcome this natural mechanism during the initial water loss phase of Atkins.

By week 5&:6 things start to get back into balance and the scale will begin to reflect true weight loss - which is still rate limited.

Individuals vary but max weight loss runs to about 2lbs per week- under extreme optimal conditions or 1% of body weight whichever is the lowest number. THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE: EVEN WHEN SCALE IS IN STALL- FAT LOSS CAN BE OCCURING. DONT USE SCALE AS AN EXCUSE TO UNDERMINE YOU PROGRESS!! GET THAT TAPE MEASURE OUT!

Credits:

Low Carb in the UK - The 3rd week "stall"

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ing-pause.html (If you think you are stalling or in a pause...)

[hopejoy]

Hey, that is good news and certainly makes sense! Thanks for the post!
liz

[josie2]

The science behind it all is so interesting isn't it? Our bodies are fined tuned machines with everything interacting with one another. I know people want to see big numbers on the scales, but even at 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week, you will see your goal sooner than the amount of time it took you to put on the weight and keep it on. And measuring one's success with either that dream pair of jeans or tape measure can help keep oneself on track.

[Zarabelle]

Great post. Thanks x

[Sunny_0ne]

That information was very encouraging!

Hanging in there!

[Chynna]

Thanks for posting this! It's definitely encouraging to those who may hit a stall or who are wondering why their weight loss is so limited.

This definitely gave me some encouragement too. I hit a stall on week 3 and the scale didn't budge at all until week 5/6. But it's great to know that from here on out, it's actual fat that I'm losing rather than water weight!

[Tumtum]

WOW.. thank goodness as my scale has sat at the same number for an whole week or two.. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..
but TOM is here and today I have lost another inch on my tummy

so lets hope next week brings some new reflections (i will be in week 5)
xx

[cruisergal]

Thx for the post. That's exactly what happened to me over the last few weeks. It's nice to know that it's a common occurance!

[tangotori]

I knew about this... and knowing helped me over the last 1.5 weeks as my weight loss slowed down (appeared to stall)... but it was still frustrating! I just stuck to plan and pushed through the days. Thankfully the scales moved this morning so I know I'm going in the right direction - down!

[Success101]

I'm in that position too, where the scale's not my friend. My weight loss has slowed down and in fact seemingly stopped. But now I know what's happening and I'm hanging in there. I actually put the scale away in the closet. I made a deal with myself to only weigh-in once a week. In the meantime, that measuring tape IS our friend. It really is the only, truly accurate way to keep track of your losses to stay encouraged. I really do need that encouragement. Ok Everybody!! Let's hang in there!!