I have been on the Atkins since the beginning of June. I lost during induction ... about 4 lbs to 137.

I then went between Induction/Fat Fast for a few weeks and got down to 133.

I went off it this week to Induction and suddenly jumped up to 138. I figued it was just water weight so I then stayed on induction because I did feel bloated.

I am eating about 1200-1400 calories and eating no more than 10-15 carbs a day.

I hadn't been exercising but started after I saw my weight jump this week. So this is the first week to exercise. Been doing about 30 minutes three times this week.

I have not cheated on the carbs during the entire time on the Atkins but I have periodically on the calories ... sometimes going up to 1600 (maybe once a week).

I drink at least 8 oz of water per day (if not more). I drink Diet Rite when craving a soda (about one a day) and I have to have regular caffienated coffee in the morning (even had this while I WAS losing) with 1/4 C Heavy Cream.

My mouth is always dry and the testing strips always show that I am in the purple/mauve area.

I love this WOE so I won't be going off ... but I get so depressed when I don't see results.

I only have a few pounds to lose. I lost from 160 doing the Zone but got tired of counting all the other stuff. It was a beating doing all that calculating every day.

A little history ...
I used to do Low Fat/low protein and fasting which was successful at losing but ended up with bullemia just out of college because I was always hungry but always felt guilty for eating my favorite high fat/carb foods. I really only ate carbs during that time in my life.

I mostly recovered and then started having reaction to eating high carbs in the afternoon. If I ate a baked potato for lunch I would have what I called "low blood sugar" episode with loopy feelings and shaking like as if I had an overdose of caffeine even if I had had no caffiene.

I read up on Reactive Hypoglycemia and decided to increase protein.

I thought maybe it was because I was so thin in those days so I ate pancakes for breakfast with syrup and hashbrowns on vacation a few months ago and had an episode while driving home at about 1 PM and had to pull over and let my hubby drive from feeling so loopy.

Since I have LC'd I have had none of those episodes unless I eat an entirely carb meal (almost never). I love the food and I will stay on it for the rest of my life. I can actually eat and not feel guilty (for the most part). But I would like to lose to my goal.

I need some encouragement and some advice. I used to gain as soon as I ate fat. It is nice not to gain when I eat seriously fatty foods which as I said are my favorite.

Hey there! I would try adding more water. You need about 100 oz. a day to flush ketones and metabolic waste from you body. Next, I would try cutting back on the caffiene. I have found that one caffienated drink a day is all I can take. More than that and I stall. Also remember to watch for high sodium content. Just remember that it didn't come on overnight and it won't come off overnight. Stick with it... you'll see the results you want!

I agree, I think the amount of water you said you consume was a typo. Surely you drink more than 8 oz a day. Just keep up the good work and remember the less you have the lose the longer it will take. Hang in there!


TennisBum

Yes sorry ... I meant that I drink 8 - 8 oz glasses of water a day.

I will increase my water even further.

Keep in mind that TOM can do it to us females. Might that be it? If so, as aggravating as it is, it's temporary. You have lost so much already! You are doing great. Also, I found that if I weighed everyday it drove me crazy because we all go up and down to a certain degree. Don't know if you're doing that or not but if so, why not weigh once a week or so instead? Good luck!
Lori

I definitely think you need more water. If your test strips are coming up purple that is an indication that you are dehydrated. Drink at least 100oz a day and it will help with flushing out your system.
Good Luck

O.K. my 2 cents, you are not eating enough carbs, your body has stopped giving up the fat, cause it figures it's not getting enough food. you should be getting as close to 20 carbs a day, just stick to the Atkins, for a few weeks more, don't give in, and don't mess with the fast fats, it's not nessesary. Let your body do it's own adjusting.
That is the route I choose and here I am 3 pounds from goal, and boy I have had lots of weeks where I did nothing. I just came out of a 3 1/2 wk stretch of zero, loss, but I stuck right to what my level is, about 30 to 40 carbs, and then 2 days in a row a pound off each! NO ryhme nor reason

Good Luck. Kathy