I'm a blog noob and an Atkins noob :)

[GroovinMonkey]

So I guess I am supposed to introduce myself here. I am usually the one who reads the posts, but never interacts ... but here goes!

My name is Melissa, I am married to a fab man, Colin, and we are both in College. I am a late 'return-er' to the world of academics, having just completed my A.S., but the hubby is old hat, having just been accepted for his doctoral at UC Davis. Anywho...

I was a slender one until I was 18 - nicknamed 'stringbean' for a good part of it. I was a dancer too, so that helped. Things were tough and right before I turned 18 I moved out of my parents, and into depression and some bigger pants. (Hold the pity! It's old news) Anyhow, I got bigger and bigger... tried slimfast once, but I bet every one knows how that doesn't work long term. Then I did nothing until I did weight watchers. Now I know that a lot of people like that program, and it did work - I lost almost 50 pounds... but I was freaking starving all the time! It was incredibly hard to not cheat...and those pounds came off soooo sloooow.

So here I am. I remembered my dad having luck with Atkins in the past, so I read up on the subject and gave it a go. At first it was awesome. I lost 8 pounds in 8 days. I haven't cheated once, and I log my foods religiously in fitday so that I can watch my calories simultaneously. Then came the reason that I joined this board. After the 8 days I stalled for a day or two, and then I gained 2 pounds, and then another .5 pound. My habits from the first 8 days haven't changed. I have a max of 20 carbs, 12-15 of them veg from the approved list, drink 4 qts of water, I watch my salt, eat at least 1600 cals but no more than 1850...etc. I'm frustrated at this , but I keep reading to push through it. So I have. I still have not cheated, but the last day that I lost was 5 days ago.

Sorry if I rambled too long, blame my message board ignorance

[Chicklady]

Hi Monkey Where are you moving to?

[GroovinMonkey]

Hey Chicklady - I am actually moving back home to California. My husband and I were out here in NY for school the past two years (jr. college for me, and masters program for him). I tell you though, I can't wait to be home! I miss my family, the weather, the people, the food...

[chinadoll]

It could be the standard Post Induction stall or TOM or maybe your body just needs time to adjust. I tend not to drop anything for a couple weeks at a time then drop several at once. Sometimes the loss doesn't stick entirely and I gain one or two back. But a week or so later my body figures out that it really doesn't need it and I will dip back down again.

It took me about 3-6 months to figure out my own body's wacky patterns. In fact, I had kind of forgotten about all this until replying to a couple threads tonight (I am just recently returned to the fold) but writing all this down helps remind me that my patience will pay off and I need to trust the WOE. It will work for you too, just don't expect that every trip to the scale will be encouraging. Our bodies work in mysterious ways.