[zibTefapparia]

I am a vegetarian and I have been on the Atkins Diet for around 5 days so far. I am around 16stone and I wish to loose about 2 1/2 to get back to a comfortable weight, but nothing is happening whatsoever.

So far I feel quite lethargic. I am eating quality low carb foods, I have been vegetarian for 26 years, so its no problem to eat 'boring salads' as others call it, as its something I readily enjoy. Heres my usual days food -

Breakfast - Four egg ommlete with cheese, quorn pieces.
Lunch - salad with spinach, onion, cheese, cucumber, mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame)
Dinner - same again, (mixed salad) or quorn sausages / pieces, cauliflower, broccoli, kale.

Any snacks are a handful of seeds, piece of cucumber,

I take vitamin supplements on a regular basis as well as Omega 6/9 oils, again in vegetarian form.

I am exercising every day despite the lethargy, riding my road bike about 6miles of fairly intense riding (rather hilly where I live)

So far I have gained 1lb! What on earth is going wrong? I never actually feel hungry which is really good, but my body is not liking something that is going on here. All I can think is that the excessive protein from the eggs is actually building muscle mass and making me heavier, although I dont look thinner.

Any help gratefully accepted as my morale is dropping, not my weight...

Martin

[softy54534]

I think for starting you are having too many carbs still - one of the administrators will tell you for sure they have the figures at their fingertips- but seeds are quite high in carbs and Quorn products vary hugely in carb content some of the sausages can be your entire allowance for a day. Cheese also has some carbs. I would suggest you work out the exact carb content of one of your days food and you might be surprised. 'A handful' of seeds can be a huge carb load if it's a big handful and at the beginning you need to be very strict. My cousin wants to do this diet but is being held back from it because she is also veggie. I'll be following your progress to see if it can help her.
You will feel lethargic at first, that's normal, it wears off.

[Jifyicyfuhpop]

Because of a lengthy stall, I decided to go to the Atkins website and start their online course (same information as the book, just condensed). They have a section that specifically mentions how to approach Atkins from the vegetarian point of view. If you haven't gone through that yet, or read the book, I'd suggest it.

From what you describe, there isn't anything that really jumps out (although, I have no clue what quorn is).

Standard questions:
1. are you drinking enough water? Others have said this, but it seems like the most important part -- 64oz (2L) is a bare minimum, from my point of view. I typically drink at least twice that (and I'm still on a stall!).

2. nuts/seeds are for introducing the phase after Induction, but the "rules" are different for vegetarians. That's why I suggested reading above. That's the best way to learn the rules.

3. I just read this morning -- it is important to get enough fat and protein, to manage hunger (which then prevents overeating of carbs). I don't know the rules for vegetarians, but the looks of your menu says that you're probably getting enough fat.

4. there are limits on cheese (and cream, and artificial sweeteners), but I don't know if those same rules hold for vegetarians.

Good luck on solving this mystery. Honestly, the early weeks of Atkins are all about learning your limits. A week isn't really enough time to learn anything, but I think you'll figure it out. Just stick with it.

Guy

[soonahonsefalh]

I'm not seeing much fat in your diet, Martin. If you're exercising and not taking in enough calories - you're going to be tired.

You can keep pushing yourself into the ground if you want, but you'll end up giving up because you quite simply can't keep expecting your body to do what it can't do.

You're up against it from the start by being vegetarian. Okay - that's your right to choose. But you need to be kinder to yourself if you're going to make a success of this.

Start by looking at your calorie intake. It's a tired expression, but if you're working out like a lumberjack, then you need to eat like a lumberjack. If not, you'll become lethargic, you'll become unhealthy and you'll fall off your diet. You can only starve yourself for so long if you're upping the effort level.

Chances are, if you don't have enough ready fats available, your body hasn't got used to the idea of using your fat like a wallet rather than a long term savings account. Fat in - fat out is a system that's based on fluid fat that moves around the body and fuels it. At the moment I'd bet a veg-burger that your body is shedding muscle to keep hold of its fat reserves.

Consider reading "why we get fat" by Gary Taubes. (Sorry guys. This is plug number 4 for this book) Education is the key to success.

Be patient. If you've ditched carbs you WILL become slim, over time.

[lipitrRrxX]

many thanks for the fast and helpful responses so far. I really does amaze me that no one has a conclusive answer for vegetarians. I had a good look around the Atkins website and I cant find anything at all on being vegetarian so once again I am still none the wiser.

I have just realised I am not drinking enough so I will make sure I am drink much more.

Quorn is a mycoprotein, in other words its fungus based protein source. It comes in all different flavours, most commonly used by vegetarians as meat style pieces, chicken pieces as well as deli ham style slices. Its got hardly any carbs at all and its a great source of protein that is regularly included in my diet.

Today for instance, I have eaten a 4egg omlette with spinach, cheese and quorn. Lunch was a salad with three slices of cheese, water cress, rocket, onion, a little coleslaw, cucumber, a small handful of mixed seeds and a couple of sun dried tomatoes.

For main meal I am eating fried cheese, an extensive salad, with much of the above plus a little pepper and more vegetables.

I will try to keep this up for a little longer, but I am looking a little pale and I must admit my morale is getting lower by the day. I dont seem to feel very hungry which is good, just a little weird at the moment, like I am slightly under the weather.

Can anyone please point me at any online links to help me 'solve this mystery'? I have no idea why, in this modern age, its so difficult to find online information about how to lose weight as a vegetarian Atkins.

Martin

[warrgazur]

I found this on the Atkins site:

"Though it’s not widely known, the truth is that it’s entirely possible to follow all four phases of Atkins and be a vegan or lacto-ovo vegetarian as well. Tofu, eggs and cheese are the main source of protein for vegetarians and supply all essential amino acids. In addition, fiber, and a variety of nutrients are provided by the vegetables, avocado, and olives which accompany the meals. After the induction phase, other proteins can be added for variety including cottage cheese, yogurt, nuts and seeds. As with non-vegetarians, we recommend a daily multivitamin and fish oil supplement-- vegans can substitute flax oil for fish oil.

Please note that vegans, because of limited protein sources, will have difficulty following the induction phase of Atkins but may start the program in one of the other three phases: OWL, pre-maintenance or maintenance. The “Eco-Atkins” diet was essentially a maintenance phase diet for vegans. Presumably even more weight loss might have occurred if carbs had been lowered to OWL or pre-maintenance levels."

Suggestions...

Up the water.
Ditch the nuts and seeds.
Watch the quorn (the carbs can be very high on some products) http://www.livestrong.com/thedailypl...es/food/quorn/
Add salt to your meals.
Don't exercise vigorously yet.
Spread your carbs out over the whole day.
Eat smaller meals and add several snacks to maintain even blood glucose.
Give it time... your body must be forced to produce an enzyme necessary for your body to use ketones for energy, you'll get your energy back once that enzyme kicks in... it's still too early for you to be producing it, especially since your carb restriction has not been at Induction level.
If you need to, consider moving to OWL so you have more choices (nuts, seeds, soft cheeses).
Limit cheese to no more than 3 or 4 oz per day.
Count EVERY carb... eat no more than 20g per day.
Get on the Atkins site and read every you can find about doing Atkins without meat.

[feseEscaple]

Sound advice, many thanks...

I have been realising I am eating too much cheese. You are right, I will look at each element and make sure I am not overdoing it.

I managed to get Rose Elliots 'Low Carb for Vegetarians' book today which I have been reading carefully. I am making a few mistakes, so I must scrutinise what I am doing a bit more.

Thanks for the list of helpful advice.

Martin

[slowlexrese]

I have just come back from a trip to abroad. I continued the diet plan out in the freezing arctic and got home to weigh myself this morning.

Its been two weeks to the day that I started this diet and I have lost 1lb. I am no thinner at all. Its extremely disappointing. I have absolutely no idea what is going on at all. I have been really strict, but all I can assume is that what little weight has been lost has been turned into muscle due to the excessive proteins.

Unless anyone has any bright ideas I am just going to keep the carbs lowish and train like I have never trained before. Its the only answer I can think of....

Martin

[zdoppiklonikaa]

Your body is adapting, I would say. Also if you've been somewhere really cold it will be naturally hanging on to fat more than usual I would guess. (that could be totally rubbish but I'm trying...). I bet you are converting fat to muscle - have your body proportions changed at all?

[MedicineForUs]

Its better for you to take less carbs or may drop the one time food or reduce the quantity of carbs and then see the differnce. Because sometimes it happens that the excess of everything is bad.

[cypedembeda]

Just found this site. Don't know if it will be of help or not!

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/atkin...getarians.html

Good luck!

I've been on a constant diet for the last two decades. I've lost a total of 789 pounds. By all accounts, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.
ERMA BOMBECK

[appabessy]

Ha ha love your quote - reminds me of ' I started running 5k a day on my 50th birthday. Now I'm 55 and totally lost'

Not sure I would trust that article - they recommend brown rice and Special K on a low carb diet where did they get THAT idea? lowER carb, they are talking about I think. How are you doing Martin we haven't heard from you for a while?

[inmeirulez]

my suggestions are to take in more salt and drink lots of no calorie fluid..water the best but Health Canada now states any fluid is fluid for the body..of course 8 cups of coffee is not good for you,,common sense is best. the nuts and quorn may be too high in carbs also. count every thing that goes into your mouth and follow the Atkins carb counter. It will work.