a bit downhearted

[Monique]

I have been on induction for about 11 days now and the first week went well, I lost 5 pounds, but this week I havn't lost any, infact I gained some, and my clothes definately don't feel any loser. I have been sticking to it so well too, drinking lots of water and exercising as well. I had such high hopes for this... I don't want to give up, but am really feeling frustrated and disapointed. I really want to be able to lose at least about 14 pounds before I return home to New Zealand and see my family and friends again after more than 2 years, I don't want them to look at me and think gosh Monique's got fatter since she's been travelling. I also want to be slimmer and feel better for my 30th and thats only 2 months away
I guess I'll just have to keep at it and hope for the best.
This is a really good support forum, I check it everyday and I have been getting so much inspiration from everyone. Unfortunately I don't know where to find good low carb products here in dublin. But at the moment just sticking to eating meat and salads, and eggs for brekky. moneys pretty tight since I am saving for travel so can't really afford to get protein shakes and stuff like that.
any way I will try not to give up....

[numberonewendy]

Ahhh my dear,

the magic word, and wish I would do it! Exercise.....with exercise comes muscle building. Probably why no weight loss the second week. Your building muscle....Way to go girl :)

Relax...you will lose more weight :) It took time to gain it, and will take time to come off.

WTG with the weight loss so far, thats great and to think your building muscle....gosh I gotta get into that, with me everything is sagging....yuck!

Wendy...keep up the good work :)

[nrussell]

Kia ora again Monique

Is there any possibility that it has anything to do with that which we dont talk about? I know I experience fluid retention for 4 or 5 days.

I know what you mean about the weight and what people will think and set yourself deadlines and stuff but I suppose you just got to say - I'm going to do this until I get home and see where it gets me. I'm starting work in a few weeks and I really wanted to have lost another12lbs but nothing much is moving although my neck is smaller!!! Another motivational trick I learnt, measure everything in site so invariably when you dont seem to have lost anything, you can find some minor part of your body that's got smaller!!!!

I sort of get the impression this is not a kind of 2lb a week diet but a sort of a up and down kind of thing where you have to largely ignore whats going on, then one day without realising it you sort of pleasantly realise where you're at.

The only thing I focus on now is the daily ketostix - not colour depth or anything, just I know that if they turn colour at all from beige, I am in ketosis therefore I am losing weight even if it may not be apparent for a while. What do they say on the Mainland Ad??? 'Good things take time'.

Also when I was away and came home, I obsessed about my weight and was embarrassed on trips home and avoided meeting up with some of my friends because I didnt want them to see me looking like this.

Well, what you forget is that time catches up with everybody - there's my effortlessly size 8 friend who's now a size 18 and old mate pat who no longer has a hair on his head and the list goes on ..... At least I got to say I got fat whilst living it up all over the world and not aging badly in the same small town....

Nicola;)

PS: From what town did you escape??

[Monique]

thanks Wendy and Nicola

Thats true Nicola, good thing do take time, its a great NZ add "A"
I know I just have to keep on going, although today I really felt like some chocolate, but had some nuts instead!

Nicola I am from a small town called Oamaru in the South Island, I have also lived in Dunedin and Wellington. I guess I am lucky my parents live on a farm, so when I go home will have plently of fresh organic home grown meat!

[dankar]

Congratulations on the weight loss thus far and your decision to adopt a new WOL. (way of life)

I have never found a diet that is so effective when even a small amount of exercise is performed. The results seem to be greatly enhanced. I attribute my weight loss thus far primarily to the Atkin's diet, however, I am certain I would not have lost as much had I not exercised. As little as 20 minutes a day, 3 or 4 times a week may "TURBO CHARGE" the effects of a LC diet. I am no expert - just someone who has been fat most their life and has tried just about everything.

In addition to having more energy and a clearer mind, one of the most pleasant effects of exercise has been a further reduction of appetite. The LC diet itself produced powerful appetite suppression - exercise brought it to another level.

Go for a walk, a bike ride, a swim - ANYTHING- just move the muscle and see for yourself. Good Luck. Dan

[r.mines]

Despite the fact that in his book Atkins goes on and on about how you can drop 20 or 30 pounds a month, and although some people actually DO lose weight very quickly, I believe that is the exception rather than the norm. It's also quite normal for the scale to 'stick' for days or even weeks and then suddenly drop a pound or two (or maybe more). Remember women, especially, tend to gain and lose water weight rather easily.

I think of low-carbing as a long-term venture. I'm going away to England in a couple of weeks, and sure, I'd like to impress my friends there by showing up another 10 pounds lighter, but it's probably not going to happen! I find setting deadlines just sets me up for disappointment. One day at a time, try not to take the scales too seriously (I weigh every day, but try to ignore it if it doesn't say what I like!), and over time, maybe weeks, maybe longer, you WILL see progress!

I have finally come to realize that giving up and gaining weight back is NOT a good alternative to low-carbing! I don't find this way of eating difficult or painful (as I do low-cal!), so if it takes longer than I want it to to get thinner....I have time!

Rachel

[Mrs. Y]

MONIQUE, you are in my birthplace! Definitely a tough place to do lo-carb, surrounded as you are by Guinness, endless varieties of crisps, tons of fried pub food, bakeries and potatoes, potatoes, potatoes... :) I don't know why, but my cousins are all skinny as rails... go figure.

They do have excellent fish, eggs, fabulous bacon, cheeses and meats (well, that may have changed in the last month or so :( , but there should still be plenty of choices...). Tough to find fresh veggies, though, I would imagine.

Good luck with the program and do look at it as more than a short-term fix. It's a lifestyle change that will stay with you and you won't want to go back to sugar cos it will make you feel lousy.

Stick with daily exercise, drink tons of water, and you'll do fine. Good luck and give my regards to dear old Dublin!