[Immarsecice]

Hi everyone. I am new.

This is my third attempt with the Atkins diet. You would think I would give up! However, I really want this diet to work for me. I have a huge sweet tooth so once I sweat through the induction stage (caffeine withdrawal, fatigue, head aches), my sweet cravings stop. I can actually stick with the diet no problem, except for one reason, it doesn't work for me!

For the life of me, I don't know what I am doing wrong. The first time I tired, I followed the diet with my boyfriend. We were eating the same thing and the pounds were just flying off while the scale never budged for me. The same thing happened the 2nd time and this time (and stuck with it for over 4 months), I am finishing up on my induction stage now and the scale is the same as I started. My sticks always turn dark purple. I exercise regularily. Here are the types of food I eat:

Protein:
eggs
fish (fresh and canned)
chicken
steak/meat

Fats:
Mayo
Oil
Salad dressing

Carbs:
about 1 -2 cups of lettuce with a little bit of cucumber a day

Limited Foods:
cheese
pepperettes
no-carb protein shakes
pate

I don't cheat. Honestly! I try not to eat too much either.

If any of you have any suggestions on what I am doing wrong, I would greatly appreciate it! I truly want this to work.

Thanks!!
P.S.: I have about 35 pounds to lose so I am not skinny

[TiepayWrary]

It's not just about what you're eating... it's also about how much you're eating. I suspect, because you're not eating enough veggies, that you're over doing the meat, eggs, fats, etc and you're simply at a maintenance level for your body.

Other factors to consider:

Water intake
Exercise (intensity, duration, aerobic or anaerobic)
Medications
Hormones (stage in life, issues like diabetes or PCOS, etc)
Food sensitivities or yeast problem

There are more but those are just off the top of my head. And, of course, like any dietary change, it sometimes works better for others than it does for yourself.

Post a few days' menu with amounts/servings sizes and maybe one of us could spot a potential problem... or at least make a suggestion or two. Don't give up yet!

[Immarsecice]

Thanks very much! It's nice to have a support system like this site!

Okay, I am starting to think that I am focusing too much on the meat and cheeses and could be over eating. This is a typical day:

Morning: one egg, a table spoon of mayo, one once of cheese

Lunch: a can of tuna, 2 tble mayo, one cup of lettuce , 2 tble salad dressing

Snack: one egg, 1 tble mayo,

Dinner: 4-6 oz of fish or chicken or meat, 1 cup of lettuce with cucumber and salad dressing

After dinner: Protein shake after work-out.

That's during the week at work and on the week-end I will make up a good meal of bacon and eggs.

That's interesting about the sticks. When I was on the Dr. Bernstein Diet (I don't recommend it), I was losing weight like crazy. However, my sticks always turned negative. Not even a trace. The nurses were telling me I was cheating and the sticks proved it. However, I wasn't cheating and I was losing weight rapidly! So when I see the dark purple, I think the opposite and that I am putting on weight.

So, even though I drink 8 glasses a water a day, I am going to increase that, as well as decrease the meats and cheeses and add more green veggies. Oh, and I will avoid the scale! I will keep trying.

Thanks guys!

[Immarsecice]

Me again. I have "portions" stuck on my mind now. So how much is too much fat? What precentage of my intake should be fat? I do like my mayo and salad dressing but I probably should cut back...

[TiepayWrary]

Well... no one anything about you having too much fat, so maybe that's not the issue. But are you actually measuring the mayo and the salad dressing or just guesstimating one or two TBS?

Looking at your general every day menu, the first thing I'd suggest is adding more veggies... get at least 12 net grams each day.

Limit cheese to 3 to 4 oz a day. If you're only having one cheese stick, that's probably not your problem.

Are you using cream? Are you limiting it?

Are you drinking enough water... which means do you feel like you're spending a lot of time each day in the bathroom? A hydrated body will urinate often.

How tall are you and what do you weigh? How old are you? I'm assuming you're a woman... Do you have any metabolic or hormonal issues like diabetes or PCOS? Do you take any medications? What do you do for exercise?

Finally... what's in your "protein shake"? THAT might be your culprit.

[Immarsecice]

Thanks Tril. You are very helpful.

I guess when I was writing what I ate throughout the day, I noticed a high amount of fat so thought that is what is preventing me from budging on the scale.

After my work out yesterday, I was happy to see my stick turn "medium". I wasn't going to step on the scale in the morning but after the medium ketone result I jumped on thinking it might give me some motivation. And what do I get? I'm up half a pound! Geesh! I can't seem to win. I'm not on medication and I truly do have weight to lose. I am not one of those thin people who think I am over weight. My doctor even told me I should try to lose weight. I am trying so hard. I'll keep going for now.

Other than exercise, is there anything else that I can do to speed up my metabolism? I am convinced I am have no metabolism

Thanks again for the help!

[TiepayWrary]

Throw those stix away. LOL Seriously, they don't tell you anything except that there are ketones present in your urine. Ketones are the by product of fat metobolization... eat fat and test the stix, they'll be purple. Does that mean you burned body fat... or dietary fat? Can't tell... the stix can't differentiate between the two. Same with the scale. You can't tell WHAT you gained or loss... just that the number changed. So... try not to get hung up on those things (stix and scale) and give the diet and your body time to work.

Make the best choices you can... be patient... and it will work.

If you want some actual suggestions on your menu, post a day or two and someone here will give suggestions.

[Immarsecice]

I AM going to throw away the ketone strips! :P You are so right, I always think they are showing the fat I consumed earlier on that day rather than the fat on my butt and thighs! Lol!

And you are right, I think I just need to be patient and not freak out from day to day. I just hate the thought of sweating through it all with no results. But I shouldn't think that way.

I will start a little food diary. Is this the section to do it or is there another?

Thanks so much for all of the help and support!

[Immarsecice]

Sorry, I forgot to ask a question in my last message. Is one soda made with splenda okay once in awhile while on induction? And what is the deal with coffee? I cut it out but do miss it. I never use cream with it. It makes your sugar levels go up and down, correct? But it doesn't actually slow down the fat burning process, does it??

I guess that's more than one question.

Thanks again.

[TiepayWrary]

Check out the progress board... most of us keep a journal there. We'll read your journal and respond in that. That way, you have a record of your journey!

Coffee and diet soda... or, more accurately, caffeine... can cause an insuline response in SOME people. It doesn't effect me (it doesn't make me hungry or give me cravings) unless I drink too much of it on an empty stomach. I have two to three cups of coffee every day... and usually one (or two) Diet Cokes as well. You'll have to try it to see how your body responds. It's all one big science experiment around here. LOL

One other thing... there are benefits to eating this way that you can't see. Try to find a way to measure success that doesn't include the scale. I like to call those NSVs... for non scale victory. It might be your pants are getting looser... or you passed up the office donuts... or you didn't eat dessert at your parent's house. Whatever it is, THAT is a measure of your success, too. Let us know when you have one... we love them!

Tril

[Immarsecice]

Thanks again! You are wonderful. This morning my bf and I went out for brunch. I would automatically order the omelette and cheese but thought: Tril says eat more veggies! So I ended up ordering an omelette with asparagus and mushrooms. It was delicious! I am taking in every suggestion and very thankful for each and every one of them.

[tipokotap]

Tril's "NSV - Non Scale Victories" is SO true! I say, "The scale is fickle but the tape measure IS your friend!" And it is!

I also love her reference to everything being "one big science experiment around here", since there is no ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

All I can say is, IF you stay on plan, IF you do not cheat you WILL lose weight. My loss may not be Matt's loss (wish it were) but I am a 65 year old short little lady who is pretty sedentary. My body will take its OWN SWEET TIME to do what it does. And I have lost 33 pounds and have 7 to go. It may have taken me since but January, but I don't care...I am SO enjoying the journey!

My best to you!

Toni