Desperate!

[Zeebi]

Hello All. I have had the pleasure of reading posts here, from time to time - courtesy of Google searches. I finally got it together and joined!
I have been doing Atkins on and off for over a year. I didn't have access to the book, only the website, and it turns out I was doing a whole heap of things wrong.
Finally got the book (though a 1992 version) and got on tract 8 weeks ago. 8 weeks of solid, strict adherance. Results - initial loss of roughly 13 pounds. I say roughly because of all the gendre based water retention - ie. being a woman and menstruating.

Then....nothing. Up and down between about 5 pounds. I thought it was raising my CCLL to 25. But I've been at 20 or less for 4 weeks now. NOTHING. At first I was still losing 'inches' (well, centimeters) and now....NOTHING. I am exercising 4 hours a week. I am cutting out ALL suspects, including caffiene, cheese (weep), and Splenda. And STiLL nothing.

At first the stix were still light pink. Lately, bare trace to naught. I just don't GET what is going on. I even tried taking thyroid meds, but these made me very, very irritable. And, seemed to make things worse.

I have no hidden carbs/sugars. I take no meds. I am taking vitamins. I have even tried NOT taking vitamins, in case they were to blame. I just don't know what to do anymore!! There are no doctors here who know or respect Atkins. I am convinced that Dr Atkins was describing my body exactly = hyperinsulinism, etc. People keep telling me to give up, or be patient, etc but IT'S NOT FAIR. Everyone else seems to SHED weight eating as I am now. WHAT"S WRONG!

Any advice welcome. Thanks for listening to my venting, if nothing else!

Zee :q: :help: :help:

[penelope]

Do you use Fitday.com?
Sometimes little things sneak in. How is your water consumption?

Pene

[MaryToU]

I just wanted to start off by saying that you sound like a very well informed person. You have really done a lot of research on the Atkins way of life.

I can only offer two possible reasons, or suggestions as they may be. The first off and what is most likely the case. Post induction stall, this happens to a lot of people. As you will see soon enought hanging around these boards. The fact that you have lost 13 pounds to begin with tell me that this eating style can and will work for you. Give your body a little more time to adjust to thing. I know that answer sucks, but there it is. And even if you are indeed in a stall (which is no loss either on the scale or inches for at least 6 weeks) then my answer would still be the same, wait it out. You are looking at a lifestyle change after all. What is a few more weeks going to hurt?

OK, moving along... you mentioned that you have been doing Atkins on and off for over a year. That may also be a reason why things are going slower now. There are many people that state over and over again the each time they come back to the eating style, the weight loss is slower and harder. But it does still come off. This is one lesson I hope to learn through other people, and not stray for my current eating style back to days of old.

Oh, and the sticks get bad pretty fast some times, so they are not alway the best way to tell what is what.

[empire99]

I am so sorry for your frustration. I agree with Penelope- have you used Fitday.com? Even if there are no hidden carbs, maybe your caloric intake is very high, and could be holding you back. I have found fitday to be eye-opening. I would also post everything that goes into my mouth in a journal, even gum, and people on this board can help you assess what you are eating and what might cause a stall.

[LCme]

Hi Zeebe, welcome. I can relate to your frustration. Above advice is great; fitday or similar can often give give you clues and at the very least provide a basline reference point. Re: diet 'tweaks': since you have read DANDR, I'm sure you have also eliminated mushrooms, vinegar (salad dsgs) etc? Also, I don't remember if it's in Dr. Atkins book, but I have read in Lyle Mcdonalds 'Ketogenic Diet' that many people are sensitive enough to Citric Acid to be thrown/kept out of ketosis. I have had trouble w/ this myself. Citric Acid is a very common preservative in food and beverages, surprizing really how often it shows up on labels. Anyway, 13 pounds is awesome! Keep on plan and you are bound to pick up again soon.

[LCme]

I even tried taking thyroid meds, but these made me very, very irritable. And, seemed to make things worse.

Hey zeebe - Almost forgot, wanted to ask about the thyroid meds you mentioned. If they were prescribed, I hope that you have checked in w/ your MD about stopping them. The irritablility you described *could* be an expected reaction to a new prescription being started out at too high of a dose and *might* be lessened be starting at a lower dose and titrating up to the goal slowly. Also, You don't mention how long you were taking them, but w/ thyroid it can take several months for an improvement. Also, as a woman, estrogen (from you own body's production as well as from hormones such as birth control pills) and iron levels play a significant role in your body's ability to utilize your thyroid hormones. Well, anyway, I am hypothyroid myself but am certainly no expert. An endocrinologist can be very helpfull in sorting these things out. Also, there is a thyroid board on this site which you may find very helpful. Good luck!

[Zeebi]

You guys are all so great! I am really relieved to hear about this 'post-induction stall'. Certainly sounds like me!
I guess I was too impatient. But not knowing it's common fueled that. I feel so much better! And I WILL keep going. I do feel so much better. And you are spot on...this is a LIFE change. I see now how messed up my bod is with carbs. Even fruit - which I long considered the purest, best food available. So, I will just keep up my exercise, water, and keep down my carb count....and be patient!
Ooh, I measure myself every Sunday and today there WERE losses! Yay. That despite PMS so....I'm happy. I just pray the scale does eventually go down!?? Still, I could handle being a size 10 (I have a big frame, despite being short) and weighing 200lbs! Hope it doesn't come to that.
Thanks to all. I feel so much better knowing I'm not alone. Zee

[Zeebi]

Hiya. Just thought I would let y'all know....I LOST 2lbs. Don't really know 'how', it was a shock to me, after all this time of not a notch....But finally - actual weight loss. AND, this WITH PMS! Kewl. Frankly, I stopped the strawberries and cream (actually a kind of 'icecream/smoothie' with Splenda). I must consider that the most likely suspect. My other thoughts are port products. I have been eating baon, rinds, and pork belly. I had NO idea the latter had so many calories (never have been a counter) until I followed advice and joined Fitday.com. Perhaps I have been eating too many caloires. Or, I have some kind of allergy to port products. I have had almost unnoticeable reactions to the rinds, and the belly...now that I think about it. HMMM> Well, I will keep experiementing but for now....JOY! :D

[Zeebi]

Make that PORK products, please!