A little discouraged

[tiredofWW]

I just started Atkins a week ago. I was previously doing Weight Watchers with quite a bit of success, losing an average of 1 pound per week. I just felt tlike my eating habits were not too great. I was eating lots of high carb foods. I read Dr. Atkins book on vacation and switch From Weight Watchers one day to Atkins the next.

I know some people don't agree with the daily weigh in but I think it's fine. After two days on Atkins I lost 1.8 pounds. I was thrilled! And then over the next three days it came back! Today I was down a little but total I'm only down .6 for almost an entire week. I know men are different, but my husband is down over 5 pounds! We both have similar goals, to lose between 15 and 20 pounds. The testing strips show I am in ketosis. I drink at least 96oz of water daily. Any thoughts?

Has anybody else gotten off to a slow start? I feel like this may not be for me.

[lkonzelman]

You have to realize that because you don't have much to lose, that it will go slower for you then others.

Average weightloss for most people doing Atkins is 10% of the amount you wish to lose during induction (that would be 1.66lbs in the first two weeks for you) and then approx 5% of the remaining weight each month after.

Sounds like you are doing quite normal. Relax and remember that this is a way to eat to satisfaction and not be deprived, to be healthy and slowly get to goal.

You are doing great.

[RedheadFl]

Have patience. You said you read the book....do you remember Dr. Atkins saying its not a diet.....its a way of life with many health benefits? Focus on how you feel after a few weeks. The weight will come off as a side effect. He promises!

[Annie-Pie]

They sure said it well!

I just want to encourage you to stop focusing on the scale. I do weigh myself too, but just pretty much in fun. You have to remember that one gallon of water weighs 7# (a gallon of milk weighs 8#). You will drive yourself silly if you weigh each day and being so good at water drinking.

Many of us here are old WW drop-outs. I think I joined something like 3x's. Wow. $12 a week, plus weigh-ins, and 22 points to stay at. I sure lost weight, but did I ever gain it back and more.

Throw out the old thoughts of lowfat and fat free. It is a hard thing to realize that it takes fat to burn fat, although you don't have a lot to burn. But still you want to be healthy in this WOE (Way of eating). Eat the whole foods like Dr. Atkins recommended. Weigh yourself in a week. Look at your slimming face in the mirror, see how much more energy you have each new morning.

Check out the recipes on the reader's recipes and check out the Atkins support forum. You are gonna' be successful, and an inspiration to co-workers and family.
Not trying to give too much advice, just thinking of things that you may not have thought of.
Blessings, Annie-Pie :wiggle:

[tiredofWW]

Thank you for all of the nice words! After my first week of induction I managed to gain .4 pounds. I am going to keep at it. I know it is just a number, but seeing the scale go up is scary for me. When I think about how hard I worked on Weight Watchers to lose each pound, it's scary to see the numbers go up, even if I know it's just water retention.

It's funny how your mind works. I totally believe in the Atkins plan and I I really can see it being part of my life. In part of my mind though, I still think that it is bad to have too much fat. I'm afraid that if I keep trying, i'll keep gaining.

I'm going to keep at it though. I'm going to try to watch my portions and maybe count my calories for a little while just to make sure I'm in a decent range. Thank you, again. It really did help a lot.

Corrie

[Annie-Pie]

Corrie:
You can't count calories, at least in the beginning, because the more fat you eat, the higher the calories. You count carbs. You can subtract fibre from carbs to get a net carb effect.

Portion sizes: You mean well, and you'll do yourself a favor to make sure you eat plenty of protein and fat, stopping when you're full.
It isn't about eating lots of chicken skin, which still grosses me out. It's about adding a pat of butter here and there, or grated cheese to your scrambled eggs, or a little whipping cream added to your coffee, or searing shrimp in lots of garlic butter. It is pretty easy to do as you go along and gain more confidence in the Atkins WOE.

Hugs to you this day!
Annie-Pie :wiggle:

[Annie-Pie]

PS> Corrie,
Go to www.fitday.com

You can enter what you eat and it will keep count for you, if you haven't already.

Annie

[Jeli85]

I too, am a WW drop out. It helped me go from 238 postpartum after my second daughter,(back in January 2001) to 190 (September 2002) or so. ((Can I mention that it also helped me almost go BROKE? :read2: Notice that Big Bill he is pointing to??? Those weekly fee's add up for us middleclass, one working spouse parents! :exclm: ))When I was diagnosed as being border line Hypothyroid, the Doctor mentioned cutting out a few carbs to see what could happen, so I figured why not read up on ATKINS. So I did. And now, here I am. Believe me, I have started and re-started numerous times but I always come back to the reality that with Atkins, I can eat and lose. With Weight Watchers, I would eat my points 22-25 and still have a growlings stomach and then I would end up bingeing!!!!


Cheers to us that dont give up, but keep on trying! :yay:

Kristie

[Kristine]

Hello, :wave:

I agree with what everyone else said, and I'll just add that another reason you wouldn't have lost much weight is that you were already dieting. The drastic weight losses sometimes seen on induction come from people going directly from packing away a lot of food, to going cold turkey. You were already on a low-calorie diet. Your body may have even lowered your metabolism because of it. You're on the right track, you just have to be patient with yourself and let your body move at its speed. :thup:

If you're concerned that you're doing something wrong, you can post a day or two's menus and we can see if there's anything wrong.

Best of luck to both of you!

[Marrilee]

I have been doing this hardcore for almost 5 weeks. I lost 7 pounds the first two weeks, then nothing. I am the first to admit that I don't drink the amount of water that I should. I am working on that. I also started working out three times a week. Shouldn't I see more progress than what I have? I am using the "sticks" and have never showed out of ketosis. It is always some shade of pink to purple. What am I doing wrong? I also went off birth control pills about this same time. Could that have anything to do with this? I kicked my scale this morning, I was so tired of trying so hard and seeing nothing. It still didn't move, and now I probably need to buy a new scale.
Any encouragement or advice would be appreciated
Marrilee

[RedheadFl]

Marrilee,
7 pounds is great! It is what I lost after 2 weeks on induction. I am now at 11 I think but it has taken another 2 weeks to get there. I keep telling myself to STOP standing on the scales! I know its hard but If you can focus on how you feel and take one day's eating goals at a time then weigh at the end of a week things might change. Remember when starting exercise it is NOT uncommon to gain weight. I usually gain at least 5 pounds because of building muscle. I KNOW 5 POUNDS......but with Atkins I have not gained I have just stayed the same for a week now. Don't get discouraged.
NOTHING EVER STAYS THE SAME! a 7 POUND LOSS IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT...BE PROUD OF YOURSELF!

[Marrilee]

Thanks for the encouragement. It still bothers me that I haven't been more sucessful.
Marrilee

[tiredofWW]

It seems like water is a huge factor anytime you are losing weight. I would start there. And the birth control pills, I'm sure those could mess things up. I know you're not thrilled with 7 pounds but I think that is great! Hopefully you'll get that big "whoosh" everyone talks about. If not, 7 pounds is better than 0! :-)

[TN Jeni]

7 pounds IS great.... think about it the way that I do....

You have lost the weight of nearly 1.5 bags of sugar...

You have lost the weight of a newborn baby...

Think that way.... its how I feel good about the weight I lose here and there... for me, considering how much I have to lose in all, just a couple or 3 pounds at a time may not seem like much, but it builds up.

Right now... I have lost the weight of a 2nd grader. That makes me feel good. Kinda like.... this other person that I have stuck to me is starting to peel away.

And Drink that water! That washes the weight away.

[Kathyah475]

I am too discouraged about only losing 9 lbs in 7 weeks. The scale doesn't budge for me. (my hubby lost 31). It helps reading this thread, thanks a lot!

[summerbree]

I lost 3lbs from 07/01/03-07/16/03 then on the nite of the 16th I ate 2 very large bowls of edys ice cream and lost 3lbs more after I had be following atkins to the T I mean I was really sticking with it then I decide screw it and gave in ,, and lost weight heh thats wild.... maybe my met. was way down... anyways today Im switching to Scarsdale Medical Diet.. I have lost on that diet and it was not bad... alot like atkins diet but has fruit ... anyways I will keep you all informed on how it goes for me :)

[Kathyah475]

Hi Summer....what do you mean by met was down? I want to stick with the atkins plan for at least 2 weeks.....i have been on induction forever it seems, and i do want to add 1/2 of hi fiber cereal beginning Aug 4

[Marrilee]

I'm still plugging away. I can't give up, because even if I haven't lost more, I haven't gained either. I know that I am eating more than what I would be able to calorie wise on any other eating plan. So, I'm not starving. Inches aren't dropping off, but I did check this morning and I am getting a bit smaller. Half an inch here and there. I guess I just thought that the first 20 would come off fairly easy. That isn't happening at all. Thanks for the support. I know that without someone (s) to talk to, I'd probably give up. As for my scale....one of my ferrets backed up to it last night and let it have it. I feel the same way!
Marrilee

[lkonzelman]

A half inch here and there is AWESOME!! I swear you are looking at this all wrong.

Wouldn't you rather be a size smaller then weigh 10lbs less and no one be able to tell you???

You are doing great!!!

[Marrilee]

I suppose that is a better way to look at it over all. I know that there are no quick fixes. I have struggled with my weight all my life, but managed to keep it under control until 35. I didn't get the part of the manual that said we fall apart at 40, but I seemed to. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. You really help put things into prespective.
Marrilee

[tiredofWW]

I guess the ferret has great animal instincts!

I would think that if the inches are coming of the weight will soon follow. It seems like a lot of people experience the inches first, followed by the weight loss. This board is definitely helped. There are so many experiences of so many different people, it seems that at least a couple of people can relate to any situation.

Keep at it, a lot of people swear by it!

Also. good luck summerbree, I hope you do well with your new plan. :-)

[summerbree]

I can lose inches and not pounds?

[Lori H]

I am a WW dropout too. Honestly, I lost 50 lbs. on it but I was starving and when I got tired of starving, I gained it all back plus. Atkins keeps me from feelin hungry so I honestly think I have found my WOL. I love it. The only thing I would add to what's already been said is you might consider what time of the month it is. That is something that plaques us women. I stay away from the scale during TOM because even though I know what it is, it's still discouraging. Lastly, don't base your mood on the number on the scale. I did that for a lot of years and it accomplishes nothing. I personally weigh once a week but just remember there are other things that can influence the scale besides actual fat. Good luck and hang in there! You don't really have a lot more to go.
Lori

[tristesas]

Summerbree!!!!

Where the heck you been girl I've been looking all over for you!!...You need to start a journal see then I could visit with you...No you make me go through all the trouble of looking for you lol...In the meantime come visit me, I'm the lady with same kind of hubby as you lol...I'll be watching for you...

[ALEKA]

Hi, I think it is great to read how supportive each of you are for the other. One thing I need to remind myself of is---What are my measurements showing. I do not really care if I weigh 200 pounds if I can get into a size 12. I know that is an exaggeration--but don't for get measurements. For me, when I am not losing pounds, I am usually losing inches. Hang in there--keep on keeping on --one day at a time!!! Aleka