Not a fast as I thought or would like

[milomilo]

I've been doing Atkins for about a month while reading the book. My cloths are looser and I'm told my face looks thinner. I feel great. I've used the ketostix and they register a trace, occasionally a little more. But when I get on the scale my weight loss amounts 5 pounds.

I'm positive I'm under the 20g of carbs a day. I've considered my fat/protein ratio may be not right, but I don't know. I'm eating omlets in the am. At lunch an occasional small salad, no carb dressing, and some kind of meat- chicken, turkey, beef, pork. and then generally more meat in the evening with or without veggies depending on what I've had earlier along with a little cheese.

I'm running 30 minutes on a treadmill 2-3 times a week, drinking at least a half gallon of water a day and have for the last 2 weeks have stopped drinking any alcohol. But the weight is coming off very s-l-o-w-l-y. Am I putting too much emphasis on the scale or doing something wrong? I'm open to suggestions.

[lkonzelman]

Just a guess - but from your menu posted it sounds like you aren't eating near enough (considering you are exercising too) and your body is hanging on to the weight because it thinks you are starving.

Maybe start a journal and post your daily menus - we would all be glad to help if we can. Also, fitday.com is a free service to add all your food and find out your calories/fats/protein/carbs to see how much you are really eating. This is often useful at times that we are having issues.

But quite often with low carbing - we lose inches faster then lbs so you may want to take your measurements to see how well you are really doing. Plus - did you just start exercising because muscle weighs more than fat. See back to taking measurements...

And while you were drinking alcohol... that stalls a lot of peoples weightloss so that maybe what was slowing you down then.

All the best to you.

[milomilo]

I've been running for quite a while. In the winter I slack off some and am now just getting back into it. For the most part I don't think the loss in inches I've experienced is new found muscles.

As for eating more, I never thought of that option. I don't feel as if I'm "starving myself" or lacking for food whatsoever, but it's certainly something to consider.

I am familar with the Fitday site, but am really bad at journaling what I eat, but it may be worth a try. In the mean time I'll get the tape measure out and see how it goes. Thanks.

[lkonzelman]

My feeling is...

If you are losing AND your body feels good AND you enjoy what you are eating AND your body is changing in good ways!

Then for you maintenance will be easy as Low Carb Cake. :D

[kmwebb1967]

Try upping your water!!!

[Lisa N]

Actually, according to averages you are right on the money; a bit above even. You started out wanting to lose 20 pounds. Average weight loss during the two week induction period is about 10% of what you need to lose, or about 2 pounds in your case. Average weight loss after induction is about 5% of what you still need to lose each month after that. So...you are actually above average in your weight loss.
A lot of people see the large amounts of weight loss reported by some people (usually those that start out needing to lose a large amount of weight) and think, "Aha! Here's a way to drop 10 pounds in 2 weeks!". Unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way for most folks, especially if you start out with relatively little weight to lose. If I start out needing to lose 100 pounds, my weight loss of 10 pounds in2 weeks may look impressive, but if you compare that percenage-wise with someone who needed to lose 20 pounds and lost 2, they are exactly equal.
Most weight reducing methods don't produce weight loss much in excess of 1-2 pounds per week. In fact, higher rates of loss aren't particularly healthy for the body.
From what you've reported as average daily menus, you're probably well below 20 grams of carb and that won't help you lose any faster. Dr. Atkins actually recommends that those with 20 pounds or less to lose start with the ongoing weight loss phase at 25-30 grams of carb per day. So....add some more veggies or some nuts or low glycemic fruit and be patient. The weight will come off...just not overnight. Then again, you probably didn't gain it that fast, either. ;)