Atkin's therapy needed!

To give up or not to give up. That is the question. I am not ready to give up, but the scale just has not moved in the last 3 weeks of a month on induction. I thought i was following it to the letter, but only lost 10 the first week. I know, 10 is great but when you are looking at 135 to go, not so great. I received advice to eat more, but I am clueless how to increase my calories without increasing fat or carbs. Please help! I need some Atkins therary!!!

First of all, please do not give up. 12 lb in 3 weeks is a great progress. I do not know why most people expect to consistently lose tons of weight on Atkins, but it does not happen. You lose some water weight initially and also deplete you glycogen storage. That accounts for rapid weigh loss during first couple weeks of induction. After that you should slow down to a healthy steady sustainable pace of about 2 lb per week, or even less. Some people with a lot of weight to lose can lose more in the beginning but most lose less. This does not mean that the diet does not work, this means that it took time to gain weight, and it will take time to lose it. I stick to low carb diets because I feel better when I do not eat a lot of carbs, plus I do not gain a lot of weight even if I do not watch my calories for a few days as I do not feel hungry, not because I lose 10 lb a week. Try to find some balance with adding more non starchy vegetables, and learn new recipes. If you decide to stick to low carbs, it is lifestyle, not a quick fix.

Also many people on FS (me included) noticed that artificial sweeteners even in Atkins products make them stall. Others seem OK. Just try to exclude all products with artificial sweeteners for a couple of weeks, and see if it makes any difference.

Good luck.

It took me a few MONTHS to lose 12 pounds. You are doing a great job! Keep it up!

Please don't give up. I love this diet. I feel fantastic ( I hope you feel the same) I was having some trouble with upping my fat and calories too ( it goes against everything we've ever been taught) but I did little things like cooking everything in butter or olive oil. And I find cream cheese really helps too. I love the flax bread on this web site ( super low in carbs ) with a spread of cream cheese and sprinkled with cinnamon...I hope this helps

Stay the course KimKimber! It can and does piss me off when the scale spews it's lies and hatred. But don't give up. Keep clicking along, one day at a time.

Hell, I am writing this while I am watching the minutes pass. I will be sure to send out a HALLELUIAH when I get to "one day at a time". But I can't give up on me, not again. And if I do, it will be no more than that moment in time before I pick myself up and start over.

Don't give up!!!

I feel your pain. 12 pounds in 12 weeks. And no, not a steady 1 pound a week. more like 5 down, 2 up. 1 up, 3 down, week after week. nothing consistent. but overall, if you feel better, have more energy and your clothes are a little looser, then you are doing great! pounds are not everything. if you are building muscle, that's heavier than fat and it may seem like you aren't losing when you are. Stay the course....

I've never been on a diet. I just have watched it, and been okay. Then I started driving truck, and have been for 3yrs+. Doctor said losing weight would help the blood pressure, the cholesterol, and heartburn. I certainly believed him, but now what? I eat because I'm hungry, and because I'm bored. Well, seeing myself in a video shocked me and motivated me. A friend suggested Atkins. WOW! Like magic! Almost ten pounds immediately, then nothing. Apps on Android make it fun and easy, but nothing? I was so glad to read your post and all these comments. I do feel great. Heartburn is gone, I'm not always hungry, I don't get sleepy, I generally feel great. SO I WILL KEEP ON. Thanks everyone.

Here's a couple of links that may be helpful...

Stalls & Plateaus:
http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips008.html

Fat Fast:
http://www.carbsmart.com/fatfast.html

Hope this helps!

Oh No.....Don't do it!You have come too far!I am into week 5,and only 10.lbs down,don't let that define your success,forget the scale for now,do your clothes feel better,do"YOU"feel better?My thought,Is this,you did not gain this weight overnight,it's gonna take some time to lose it!See it through.You will be happy that you did.Good Luck!

KimKimber-I feel your pain too. week 11 and 14# down. Lost 6.6# my 1st week-yeehaw! but been fightin' the scale ever since. Just like Knitwint, I'm down and up. But my clothes are fitting better. Make sure to take your measurements (Iknow! Scary!) but even if the scale is being stubborn you can re-measure after a month or so and SEE the results in loss of overall inches. We can do this-we're worth the fight!

Dont be discouraged! We so just cannot rely on the scale to judge our progress. Like rksoup said, take your measurements!Thats the best advice, sometimes it just takes time for the old scale to catch up. But you will notice your progress through loss of inches. I wish you all the best, try to stay positive and remain focused. We are in this for health, for the rest of our lives. Dont let the numbers on the scale dictate your mood! Smile and know that you are on the road to better health!

I just want to say upfront, I AM NOT BEING CRITICAL - just looking at this thru the eyes of experience.

Far too often, the very reason Atkins Followers have trouble is because they are not really following the rules of Induction completely.

It's easy to think that the 'Atkins Bars' must be ok, since they market them to you ...and they invented this low carb way of eating?? Right? Well, not so much! The artificial sweetners and ingredients in them - are known STALLERS to alot of people.. so if you ARE trying Atkins, and you DO eat them... and you are STALLING OUT... then try cutting them out (as was suggested).. and just see if that helps. But it will take about another one to two weeks of eating a clean Induction period to see if there is any impact.

Most people don't realize how long it takes, between changes, or between 'slips' or 'cheats' (don't like that word) - but the original poster has some clues in her food diary.

Sugar free products - while they might say 0 Carbs - have artificial sweetners in them. (they too can stall you).

Some of the suggestions of limiting sweetners to 1-2 servings - then seeing if that helps - wait two weeks - eat clean (all other ONLY ALLOWED INDUCTION FOODS). If that doesn't help, eliminate them completely. It's kinda like an experiment w/ your own body. You will find what you have to cut - and what you have to add!

Cooking w/ Olive Oil, Butter, Coconut Oil.. all great sources of healthy fats while on Induction. Later you will be able to add in some healthy fats from other sources, but not while on Induction. And you can stay on Induction for much longer than the two weeks, if you get into a groove of losing, and you have a decent amount of weight still to go.

Basically, proteins, healthy fats, and lots of low carb veggies.

Go to the Atkins site at atkins.com - it's free - and look for the Induction Foods List. Print it. And utilize the tools here to track daily. Read the What to Do, and What Not to Do.. and follow this closely.

Shoot for your precentages at the bottom of your food log to look something like Prot 25%, Fats 65-70%, Carbs 5-7%.

Be sure to be drinking your water daily - and keep checking in to ask questions and get others support here.

And as has been said... DON'T GIVE UP! Just by adding in one thing that causes your Insulin to spike and pushes you out of Ketosis... can take 2-14 days to get back to fat burning. Just accept this new lifestyle choice, learn about it... enjoy the foods you can have... and stay the course.

Otherwise, stick w/ counting calories, or weight watchers, etc... because you will frustrate yourself to death, losing, then not, gain, lose, stall, gain.... it's crazy! Either eat low carb... or don't ... but the inbetween, will drive you nuts!

Good luck. Much Love.

I just broke a two month stall where I was moving up and down for two months. I wanted to give up too but don't!! I cut out processed meat and switched out my coffee for tea and it seems to be helping. Green tea is my new best freind Added some berries in a few days which are not induction friendly but I stayed below 20 carbs. I think I just needed to switch it up and that is the best advice I have gotten. Try to mix up what you eat (staying true to induction foods) and what your activity level is. Keep moving. Drink water