Hi everyone
I lost 40 lbs on Atkins last year but I guess I didn't stick to it very well and gained most of it back. I decided to try again in January and have only lost a few lbs. There are some days that I can get into ketosis but not consistantly. I thought I was doing great keeping the carbs under 20, but am wondering if the low carb bars are slowing down my progress. I usually eat one every day.
The weight has been so slow coming off compared to last time that I weaned myself off hormone replacement (hot flashes have returned, yuck) Started taking L'Carnitine , Q 10 extra B's and all the EFA's. I also walk on the treadmill at 3.4 mph for at least 45 minutes 5 days a week but have only lost 6 lbs.
I am having symptoms of low thyroid so have an appointment tomorrow to have it checked since my mother and one sister have hypothyroidism. I am sticking to it even though the progress is S-L-O-W.

HI there - I, like you, lost 40 pounds a couple of years ago (from 170 to 130) - then I put 15 back on and started this WOE again in Jan. I have lost all of the regain and I am 3 pounds from my goal of 125. So hang in there!

As for the low-carb bars - I think most people think they trigger a stall - and should not be used during induction - and I don't even eat them during OWL. I will probably start eatting them again once I hit my target weight as they are quick and easy.

Welcome to the forum - this is a great place for info!

Good luck

congratulations on losing your regained weight. I hope I will be able to do the same. I plan to stick to it,even though the results so far are not as good as I expected. If I do find out that I have a low thyroid level I will know the slow loss is probably because of the sluggish thyroid and not because I am doing something wrong. I will just have to try harder to get results.

Greetings and welcome aboard!

The thing that you have to realize, keep in mind and focus on is that you ARE getting results. You will lose slower the second time around - as with any diet. You have a relatively small amount to lose (relative to someone like me). You can generally expect to lose about 10% of your desired lose somewhere between the first two weeks and the first month. And it generally slows down from there.

The thyroid may be a problem and the carb bars generally have a lot of hidden carbs (20 to 30 grams is common) that you may be reacting to (not everyone does, but quite a few do). Do I'd ditch them for a while (at least two weeks) to see.

Since this is a permanent way of eating for you (right? Hint. Hint.) do not worry too much about the speed at which the weight comes off. Even at only 0.5 pounds per week you will be half way to your goal - 20 pounds lighter - by about Christmas.

Thanks for your response. I had no idea that the bars had so many hidden carbs. I ate them the last time and had no trouble losing weight but I am going to stop them for a while. I know I will reach my goal but had hoped it would go a little faster since I will be going to California for my daughter's wedding in June and wanted to be a little 'lighter'. I noticed that you are from Colorado Springs. My other daughter lives there.

Is she single? Perhaps interested in an economy sized engineer?

She's married to a Green Beret who is currently in Bosnia and will be home in a few weeks. I hope he is not sent to Afganistan but will probably be sent out again soon to somewhere in that region.

Figures.

So is he stationed down at Ft. Carson? When I was flying (and hope to start again soon) I would go down and do pattern work at Butts Field. With all the choppers deployed it makes for a nice, quiet place to practice precision landings.

Usually they try to give them some significant down time to be with family and get the units all back in shape from the deployment before they send them out again - but who knows anymore.