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  #61   ^
Old Tue, Oct-01-02, 08:57
EBesanko EBesanko is offline
New Member
Posts: 11
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 275/275/190
BF:
Progress: 0%
Location: OH
Default Great thread, good info, healthy debate!

manique - I don't mean to cause frustration for you or other LCers on the board! As most folks on this site know, it's not fun being fat and it's even less fun to TRY and beat it repeatedly without improvement - Having read/heard all the great successes with LC plans, I was really hoping to finally kick this!

I've been commited to LC and have to accept there's no push-button solution - I have learned much (in a short time) about my body and my willpower already from LCing! This plan is no "gravy train" and not without risks but (based on anecdotal data) is as promising as any other approach I've tried...and way better than GIVING UP!! Let's hang on and try a little more experimentation!

Peter - Thx for your ongoing advice and suggestions! I think you offer an excellent/alternate LC point of veiw...it's hard for me to understand the notion that a calorie is NOT a calorie if it comes from dietary fat in a human body in ketosis. At some point, a real (or virtual) calorie defecit has to occur for a body to lose lbs!

The explanation that our human bodies/minds are all a bit different and that mine may be more efficient at processing protein/fat into glucose makes good sense...unfortunately this conclusion means another bad break for my LC weight loss efforts - Damn! Time for another try...less cals, more fish?

BTW, aren't mammals (seals, caribou, etc.) the primary food source of most Inuits (eskimos)?

Brian - Congrats on your success and continued luck with reaching your goal! I appreciate your comments and am very curious about the effects of the gut-candida on your ability to lose weight! Did you immediately see an improvment in your ability to lose when you completed the treatment for the infection?

Was this condition something you or your doctor diagnosed - Other than the web symptom-survey, what method/test was used to confirm the diagnosis? What was the treatment and how did you determine the problem was finally cleared up? What is contribution of eliminating candida toward your success in weight loss...5%, 50%, 90%?

BTW, isn't table vinegar an acidic (acetic acid) solution vs. a basic solution?

Thx again to all for your continued help - enb
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  #62   ^
Old Tue, Oct-01-02, 09:42
manique manique is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 36
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 192.5/174/155
BF:
Progress: 49%
Location: New Brunswick
Default

Ebesanko - I'm actually grateful you started this thread. I'd been having stall problems from the first this time around and this became my favorite thread!

I may be frustrated but I'm determined. I'm starting my yoga back up every night to boost my metabolism. I'm hoping if I keep my food intake the same, that has got to help in the scheme of weight loss!!

We shall overcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  #63   ^
Old Tue, Oct-01-02, 09:42
manique manique is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 36
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 192.5/174/155
BF:
Progress: 49%
Location: New Brunswick
Default

Ebesanko - I'm actually grateful you started this thread. I'd been having stall problems from the first this time around and this became my favorite thread!

I may be frustrated but I'm determined. I'm starting my yoga back up every night to boost my metabolism. I'm hoping if I keep my food intake the same, that has got to help in the scheme of weight loss!!

We shall overcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  #64   ^
Old Tue, Oct-01-02, 10:26
TeriDoodle TeriDoodle is offline
Starting Over!
Posts: 3,435
 
Plan: Protein Power LifePlan
Stats: 182/178/150 Female 67 inches
BF:Jiggley mess
Progress: 13%
Location: Texas!!
Default

I've just gotten through reading this thread from beginning to end.

WHEW!!!!

There's a LOT of information here and a LOT of opinions on what poor ol' EBesanko should do about his stubborn metabolism (and others, too!)

If I were a newbie I'd definitely be at the "Ah to he** with it" stage!!

The problem is that we are all different.... and what works for one doesn't work for the other. That is a FACT.

EB... you're only choice is to do this very systematically and try one new thing at a time for a week or two. If that doesn't make a difference, then move to the next thing.

What would I do if I were you? First I'd do more research about the candida/yeast possibility. There's lots of info on the web and here's a link from the Atkins website that answers some basic questions. If the problem is candida you will be advised to cut out certain foods, many of which are "known stallers" anyway.

If you'd rather try something else first, FINE! I'd rather see you keep your calories at least between 2500-3000 (or more) while you try other things.

If you want to try increasing your fat, do so with good fat sources....olive oil, fish oil, avocados.

If you want to start eliminating known stallers, I'd start with nitrates and artificial sweeteners. Keep foods as whole as possible.

If you want to try increasing your carbs, do so with lots of high quality vegetables: asparagus, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.

If none of those things work, then I'd suggest increasing your calories. If that doesn't work, next I'd suggest decreasing them...but never below your basal metabolic rate (click here for a calculator)

I know it's confusing....and I'm very sorry you're having such a problem. It CAN be done, it's just more difficult for some people. No matter what, this is still a much healthier diet than Krispy Kremes and beer!!

HANG TIGHT!!
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  #65   ^
Old Tue, Oct-01-02, 10:46
bmeloche's Avatar
bmeloche bmeloche is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 137
 
Plan: My own plan
Stats: 381/239.8/160 Male 5 ft 6.25 inches
BF:61%/38.4%/25.6%
Progress: 64%
Location: Cleveland, OH
Default Candida and my success

I had made the connection that I had fibromyalgia last year. My ex-girlfriend mentioned it to me because I had exactly the symptoms described. When I first looked it up on the web, I went to a site that focused on it being a mostly "female" problem, so I initially discounted it. I started thinking back to my initial diagnosis of sleep apnea, and I remembered that my sleep specialist said I had something called Restless Leg Syndrome and thought I might have Fibromyalgia, but then, for some reason, DID NOT TREAT IT. So, I started researching it more and discovered that Restless Leg Syndrome and Fibromyalgia were connected, and I also stumbled upon the candida connection, but didn't pursue. I started taking Magnesium and Malic Acid last October, and I did notice an improvement but not a cure.

Fast forward to May. I started adding more protein to my diet and started losing faster. I felt a little better, but not a lot. I was still drinking my Coke, but trying to reduce how much I drank.

Then, in late June, I started on Herbalife, with a vast array of supplements and stricter low-carb diet. Within a few days, I noticed a marked improvement. Right around this time, I talked to Kristi at work, who was diagnosed with Candida infestation by her acupuncturist/naturopath and had lost a lot of weight. She gave me a book to read, "The Yeast Connection Handbook". This helped tie everything together. I found that Candida can cause weight gain AND fibromyalgia. I put myself on a pro-biotic (I had already taken them on occasion) and modified my low carb diet, but only slightly. I think I was basically doing what I needed to do to kill off the Candida already - the biggest thing being eliminating sugars and starches from my diet. Exercise also helps.

I think that eliminating Candida is important in my success. I could probably do a little better, since I occasionally get gas, but not nearly as much as I did before this WOE. I don't know if I could put a percentage on it.

Diet would be 40%. Exercise would be 35%. Supplements to supply my body with the proper nutrients and speed my metabolism would be the remaining 25%. The biggest thing supplements do is replenish my energy levels. My body has a natural tendency to want to be sluggish, and the exercise and supplements offset that tendency.

I posted some new content on my website last night...

www.brianmeloche.com

... including my progress chart and some recent pictures (in the other pictures links). This weekend, it will be time to add another column and set to those pictures on the home page. I have lost another 20 since the third set was taken last month.

About vinegar... I stand corrected. I looked it up, and vinegar affects PH balance in the stomach and intestines, and also destroys "good" bacteria, which promotes yeast growth.

http://www.nutritioninstitute.com/yeast_info.html

Reading that makes me think I should do a better job at reducing vinegar. I still eat a lot of mustard, mayo and salad dressing...
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  #66   ^
Old Fri, Oct-04-02, 10:43
brooky's Avatar
brooky brooky is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 43
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 242/211/170
BF:
Progress: 43%
Location: Florida
Default Re: 4th week of LC - No weight loss??!!

Quote:
Originally posted by EBesanko
Hello to all - Great forum! I'm new to LC and am in the middle of my 4th week of strict induction (<20g/day) with ketostix consistently indicating ketosis for the past 2+ weeks. I hope this is a case of me being impatient...if so, forgive me - If not, maybe someone can offer some advise! I am getting concerned because all of the reading/listening I have done suggests that others see/feel results by now. I have not moved the scale or waist size at all and don't what to do to get in gear!!

I am drinking between 6-8+ QUARTS of water a day - Other than an occasional decaf coffee w/cream, I've had no other liquids. I am eating green salads and other induction-permissable vegs plain or with LC dressing. I am eating 4oz or less of hard cheese (cheddar, swiss, feta, etc). My primary food includes unlimited lean beef steak/roasts, pork chops/roasts, chicken & turkey breasts, lamb and the occasional no-carb burger, sausage or bacon with no sauces, etc! I've had an Atkins LC choc-bar (just to try it - ugh), beef jerky and a handful of raw pecans once each.

I am a middle aged dad with a hard core carb crave/addiction that needs to lose about 75 lbs - I started LC when all other plans failed to deliver results. As predicted, the first week/10 days really sucked with chronic headache, loss of sleep, cravings and feeling lousy!! During this same time, I have been actively exercising 1.5 hrs every other day with 45 min of weights & 45 min of walking/treadmill! I feel much better today as the withdrawl symptoms seems to have passed - I didn't measure myself but no real change in clothes fit, etc at this point!

Should I be seeing results by now - Has anyone else had a SLOW start only to see results later?? What's up with me - Am I the odd one in the population that doesn't respond to this LC approach? Any/all advice or suggestions are welcome - I want this to work and am commited to success but need some kind of sign besides little pink K-stix filling up my wastebasket! Thx, enb



Hi there. Your story sounds like my daughter's. She had to switch to the Candida version of Atkins (there's an entire chapter in the Atkins book about Candida Albicans). Give it a try.
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  #67   ^
Old Tue, Oct-08-02, 19:35
PoofieD's Avatar
PoofieD PoofieD is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 2,389
 
Plan: Schwarzbein Principle
Stats: 195/176/125
BF:too much
Progress: 27%
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Thumbs up weight training

bmel: if you check out my diary you would find that you were indeed preaching to the choir about weight training.
Women have to get that all figured out much quicker than men..
although you guys have been hogging the secrets wonders of weight training by making us think we all get "big" if we do it.
Check out "The Firm" Buddy.. ... those women will weight train you under the table.
Howver for those that don't want to start that. .still not understanding.. walking is still about the best miracle around.
PS: just so you know.. I was doing 2 1/2 hours walking and one hour weight training a day..
And still the carbs caught up on me.
Nope.. logic tells me that is a wrong corner. .even if peter wants me eating pasta and bread for whatever reason I can't fathom.
Poofie!
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  #68   ^
Old Wed, Oct-09-02, 04:32
plum's Avatar
plum plum is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,809
 
Plan: Primal Blueprint
Stats: 230/136/136 Female 5'5"
BF:
Progress: 100%
Default

Ebesanko and manique...... congratulations to you both for seeing it through and dont give up !! Ive been LC 14 months now.... with little to show for it on the scale, but because Ive kept a diary, Ive amassed a lot of things that are relevant to me Life sure does get complicated at times !!

coffee doesnt affect me
d'Adamos recommendations for feta and mozz. only to group A's applies to me (and thats the only bit of that darned awful diet I will accept , apart from the suggestion that group A needs real coffee to increase stomach acid Yippee)
under 1600 cals stops me dead ( MyBMR being 1578)
over 1900 and I gain.
I cant tolerate a lot of fat... 60 % ok and thats with 2 tblsp dressing a day being added to my diet.
I feel much better with more protein. My ideal ratios being 60 / 35/ 5.

yet some people do so much better with higher fat we are all individual. just try one thing at a time and see how you feel.

my latest tweak is to reverse my eating day and have the bulk of calories as brunch.

And so it goes on.......I do get very frustrated with it...... but you ought to have seen me in my years of low fat/ high carb healthy diet. This way my scale results havent been stunning but I do feel Alive and can run with my kids..
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  #69   ^
Old Wed, Oct-09-02, 06:56
jlee949's Avatar
jlee949 jlee949 is offline
New Member
Posts: 24
 
Plan: atkins
Stats: 249/245/200
BF:?
Progress: 8%
Location: santa fe, NM.
Default

Interesting post Plum. I'm curious as to how much weight you've lost in your 14 mos. I'm in my 10th week of induction and have only lost 4 lbs. I too am type "A" and am wondering if that effects things???
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  #70   ^
Old Wed, Oct-09-02, 07:36
plum's Avatar
plum plum is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,809
 
Plan: Primal Blueprint
Stats: 230/136/136 Female 5'5"
BF:
Progress: 100%
Default

hi jlee949
history is, 2 years ago starting at 224, lost 12 lb on induction then nothing for ?4 months... gave up.

returned to LC aug last year. Induction lost 12 lb again. Since end of induction Ive lost 8 lb in real terms. However, have lost 12 lb twice and a fair bit of yo-yoing has gone on !!

Ive always lost well on induction then stuck for months, and I mean months. In retrospect I think I hit a normal post induction stall, and then since some of my problems have been due to undereating. A lot of the time Ive been stuck, Ive been hungry.... a side effect of terrific will power and long dieting history. But Im beginning to see the light.

I hate to admit it, but I think some of d'Adamos diet rings true for me. ER4YT was what I did between my inductions, I felt dreadful on it, despite doing things gradually. I could never, ever consider it again.

and yet......d'Adamo says tomato is poison for A's ... and I cant now tolerate tomato at all... gives me heartburn ++++. So is
there anything to the group A thing ? Perhaps if I didnt have such insulin resistance it would have suited ??

Heres my compromise . Ive picked the bits of ER4YT that I Like
Definately the coffee, cheese and tomato "things" are me to a T.
there is a website with the lists on it if youre interested, I think www.dadamo.com

Overall, I think Im a slow loser cos of undereating ( below the 10X cals ) and I think you have to find your individual things.
Wish you lots and lots of luck
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  #71   ^
Old Wed, Oct-09-02, 12:22
Yank_in_NC's Avatar
Yank_in_NC Yank_in_NC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 358
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 155/112/107 Female 5'3"
BF:?
Progress: 90%
Location: North Carolina
Unhappy no results?

EBasanko:
I've only been on Atkins for 6 days and am already getting discouraged because the scale hasn't moved!!! I've followed the diet to the tee and have read all these posts from folks who have lost 14 lbs in one week! or 10 lbs in one week! I'm bummin. I have, however; been on Prozac which I stopped as of today (after speaking to my dr.) I thought that could be why. I'll let you know if the weight starts to come off now or not. I hear your pain though......those krispie kremes are callin my name. So far, I've resisted, I know you can too. Good luck!
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  #72   ^
Old Wed, Oct-09-02, 14:12
bmeloche's Avatar
bmeloche bmeloche is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 137
 
Plan: My own plan
Stats: 381/239.8/160 Male 5 ft 6.25 inches
BF:61%/38.4%/25.6%
Progress: 64%
Location: Cleveland, OH
Default

Plum - as you probably saw in an earlier post, I have been reading Eat Right 4 Your Type. From what I've read, it's interesting, but I have read a lot about people like yourself with similar complaints about the Type A diet. I tend to think that he's got the A diet a bit off, that the fact that the diet doesn't really go into percentage of calorie breakdown, or there are more complexities about Type A's than is mentioned in the book. I am within about 20 pages of finishing, and will read Live Right 4 Your Type to see how the theory has progressed and to get more detail, although I have several books I want to read in front of that (the latest Atkins edition being one of them).

I still don't know what my blood type is (for sure - but I think it's an O), but if it's an A, I will laugh my a-- off and never think of the book again. I would be the anti-A!!!!

Poofie - I am glad you also see/believe the virtues of weight training. You say that the carbs caught up on you. I guess I will have to go through your journal at some point to get the details. I think carbs are bad for many or most of us.

I heard some statistic on CNN Headline News that made me laugh last night - that more of us are obese than think we are, and then they repeated the fact that we are much fatter now than 20 years ago. No kidding!!! Us low-carbers are riding the crest of not only a new fad, but the correct WOE.

Unfortunately, losing weight is not easy. If it was, we all wouldn't be here in this forum, no would we? There are so many factors - willpower is only one of them. Deep down inside, it's all biochemical. You have to create a calorie deficit, but there is no simple solution on how to do that. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

For those of you that are struggling - continue to struggle. Keep it up as long as you can. Alter your diet and try new things if you think they will help. KEEP AN OPEN MIND. Read about the benefits of supplements and take those that are beneficial for increasing metabolism. KEEP TRYING!!!
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  #73   ^
Old Wed, Oct-09-02, 17:15
tigersue's Avatar
tigersue tigersue is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,226
 
Plan: Schwarzbein
Stats: 222/199/120 Female 62.5
BF:?/30/20
Progress: 23%
Location: Utah
Default

I just started reading some of SP II, she addresses the fact that you may not initially lose on a LC program, and you may even gain and your metabolism heals on various levels. It is very interesting. Just another reason to stick with it and not focus so much on the weight but on your health.
Positive thinking and endurance is the frame of mind we all have to stay in from time to time, isn't it.
Tanya
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  #74   ^
Old Thu, Oct-10-02, 15:17
plum's Avatar
plum plum is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,809
 
Plan: Primal Blueprint
Stats: 230/136/136 Female 5'5"
BF:
Progress: 100%
Default

Question:
Does a person's blood type make a difference regarding weight loss?

NUTRITIONIST:
There are some people who believe that blood type is an indication of what diet may work best for them. I have read the book and Dr. Atkins and I have discussed it. Unofficially, we have certainly found that there is a consistency with people that are Type O doing better on low carb. As we do not use a vegetarian diet in the office, I can't comment on other blood types


the above quote taken from interview with nutritionist at Lowcarbfriends.Interview is on homepage at http://www.atkinsfriends.com/

tigersue:thats interesting and reassuring to read about metabolism healing. Have been looking out for the book but dont know if its available in UK.
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  #75   ^
Old Thu, Oct-10-02, 18:49
tigersue's Avatar
tigersue tigersue is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,226
 
Plan: Schwarzbein
Stats: 222/199/120 Female 62.5
BF:?/30/20
Progress: 23%
Location: Utah
Default

I don't know if it is available there yet either.
For people who don't feel well LC, who don't have weight loss, or feel that it isn't working it would be a good read to at least keep them on target.
I saw the same news feature, and I wondered why can't people figure out what it is that happened over the past 20 years to make people fatter. It is beyond me.
Tanya
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