Total beginner, but optimistic

[HappyCat]

Hi all.

My name is Laura, and I am currently in Week 4 of Induction. I am SO happy this forum exists, because I am sure you all know that there are a lot of questions left unanswered in the Atkins book.

I have just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism when starting the diet - which came a a total shock to me. That said, I have no idea what my body is doing at the moment, as it is getting used to the 2nd week of Synthroid as well as getting used to Ketosis. Lovely.

I'm going to keep going, and despite a slow start, hopefully I'll see some real results soon. I'm holding steady at about a 4.5 - 5 lb loss. Who the heck are you people who lose 17 lbs in a couple of weeks????

Is it true that if you plateau, sometimes you need a "carb day" (eating more than the 20 grams of salad and veggies) to get it going again?

[Chicklady]

Hi Laura! where in CT are you? I'm in the northeast corner
Have you posted what you're eating for folks to review? How much you lose has a lot to do with how much you need to lose in the first place, and how high your metabolic resistance is. And yes, sort of....often, moving up to rung 1 will kickstart loss again.

[HappyCat]

Thanks for responding Chicklady!

I am in Fairfield. Love it here.

I have yet to post what I have been eating, but ideally I would love to ditch 50 lbs, then see how I feel at that weight. I am not looking to get model-thin. I just miss the days of tucking in t-shirts into jeans and not feeling like I don't look like what I am on the inside, you know?

I am SURE it is not recommended, but my friend recommended having a few glasses of wine (I know alcohol is verboten in Induction) to get the ball rolling again. He believes that the sugar in alcohol is easier for your bod to burn off, and won't set my ketosis back as far as, lets say, a big heap o' mashed potatoes.

What do you think?

[Chicklady]

LOL. Your boyfriend is an instigator!! Actually, if you're drinking dry wine, it'll only add a couple of carbs to your day, but, your body will burn alcohol (@ 7 calories per gram) before it burns anything else. But yeah, soemtimes your body will do odd things....like suddenly drop weight after you pull a stunt like that. HOWEVER....just because it works once, doesn't mean it will work twice....the second time you might well gain weight (of course, you might the first time too!) It's up to you to decide if you want to try or not....but if you gain, remember, it was your decision, not because you were following Atkins!(Do I sound like your mother )

[HappyCat]

Thanks!

I am just going to drink my 8 8z of water religiously first and see if that does the trick. Then, if not, hello something a little... happier.

And if I gain weight in trying it out, it's ok. I'm comitted to this for the long haul, so I figure there will be some bumps here and there along the way, no?

Thanks again.

[Chicklady]

Good attitude! Heck, I've had stalls by following the book....you just never know. As I said to DH...I sure can gain it quicker than I can lose it. Too bad Ben & Jerry's isn't diet food.......

[HappyCat]

Ok - I am going to start calling myself Cranky Cat. I have totally given up coffee, and almost completely eliminated cheese (if I do have any - it is way uner the 4 oz/day). I am eating mostly food cooked myself, have been scaning every label for sugars and carbs, and fall well under my 20 grams every day (unless eating about 1 1/2 cups of veggies on occasion as opposed to 1 cup will really screw everything up).

And yet - I still am not really in Ketosis - or so say those little strips. At best I am in the small range - and sometimes even trace. And, I am not losing weight... yet.

Any ideas what else I need to do. I am still struggling with the water, but that can't be the only reason, can it?

The bf and I have started to get more serious about hitting the gym too.

Can Synthroid completely undermine this diet?

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

[Chicklady]

A few things....have you tried the ketostix during different times of day, are you measuring as well as weighing(the tape measure is more reliable than the scale!!), and finally, have you hit the gym enough to have gained muscle weight?

[HappyCat]

I have been using the ketostix at different times - should I do it at the same time every day?

Nope - not enough gym to think that that is the culprit. Yet. Give me a few weeks for that one.

[Chicklady]

You may be one of those people that will never change the color of the stick. Your body doesn't "spill" ketones all day, just when you have an excess. If you feel good about what you are eating, I can only suggest measuring yourself. Like I always ask people....would you rather be a size 6 and 200 pounds, or would you rather be a size 20 and weigh 120 pounds? If your measurements are shrinking, don't fret!!