jsfantome's Journal, 06 June 2011

Hope he enjoys Hawaii. Thanks for the story; it kept my heart pumping to the end. Glad you're feeling better. 

I guess this is somewhat of a life long journey! 

I'm glad this worked for you. Nothing more frustrating than not knowing why you were gaining. 

Seriously, I had no idea. Between thinking...could it be TOM? (haven't had a period in months.) Could it be water retention? Could it be from lifting weights instead of cardio? Tried not to make tooo many changes all at once...so do one thing for 3-5 days, and up a pound, try something different up another... it was crazy. Still not sure what the real answers are, but I am glad this High Protein / Zero Carbs is working. From what I read, this will have a slight increase as I add back in carbs slowly... so my hope is to get things back to the 140 mark. Then if it goes up a little, fine... but it should return to losing again w/in a few days. We shall see... 

I had the same experience of gaining for no reason and cannot blame TOM. Also, was feeling hungry the minute I added more than 10 carbs, not net carbs of veg. Did the "Fat Fast" for 3 days (in original Atkins book) and seem back to normal. I also developed a terrible rash last week and after research and advice from natural dr., I have determined that I am over run with Candida. Many people experience such a rush of well-being on Atkins because they are not feeding the organism and it goes into remission. I had 15 checks on a 20 symptom list. Well, there is so much I can say about this, I was so totally unaware, but I will just sum up by saying that it can be that cravings for sugar, alcohol and all the bad stuff could be traced to this - it's not lack of will power. I will be trying a natural approach and removing dairy, except for a bit of heavy cream (low lactose) and in a few weeks, some mozzarella cheese. Probiotics and Low fat is also recommeded so I guess I am now "Paleo". Ick, I feel like I am restricting my life even more and now I am TRULY the person you hate to dine out with - 20 questions about the food to the server. I would encourage anyone who seems to be "stuck" to investigate Candida Albicans. Have taken a rest from recording here just to focus on getting well. Isn't it funny, I took a day off from low carb and really did not even eat very poorly. Gotta' love that.  

I took a peek at your food diary and your are not getting you 17-20 net carbs from your foundation vegies. This will cause stall and I am wondering if you are eatting enough with your working out. From the sounds of it your body is acting like it is in starvation mode taking every little bit and storing. If I were you stop the "meat fast" and get to the heart of the problem. Should be eatting 17-20 grams of foundation vegies net carbs. 65-75% fat 20-30% protein. And of course your weight in water divided by 2 in ounces. I think if you go back to these basics you will be back on track. 

fshfly - that's great info...thank you. And, thersmith - just a bit of background (although I do thank you for aiming to help!) Early on in Atkins I discovered I was extremely sensitive to carbs. I count 'old school' TOTAL carbs. Not .net. So for me, Induction is 20g's of carbs. Period. And I am typically in that range when I eat induction, and well within my %'s as well. On any given Induction day, my calories would range 1350-1650. I have been hovering in Maintenance since last October. I am not advocating this meat fast for anyone else, but I am convinced after these last few days, that my body needed to be shocked into doing something different. I had moved up the Owl ladder, and was doing fine in Maintenance. Then blew myself out of the water w/ a couple of back to back indulgences, and even though I went right back to a much lower carb level, the weight continued to climb. This was a positive result for a few days of mindless boring eating, in my book. And down the road, I will not rely on this...but will be aware if I ever need to turn the ship again. I am all about the basics, and this is a way of life to me, so I totally agree with you - not looking to be in starvation mode, or create any further issues. I will say, I have been drinking probably a little more than my normal in water ounces, as everything I read about the meat fast suggested to up the water intake. So I did. Been going to the bathroom just fine. (not that you asked, but thought some might want to know.) Much Love. 

Happy you have regained control over what your body is giving you. If anyone can get the upper hand - that'll be you. Way to go.  

Keli, as much as my head wants to think I am in Maintenance... My body has yet to truly level out and stay consistent without an awful lot of work! I'll be happy when I can get where I want to be, and eat low carb, and stay that way - without it being a daily thought process. Is that asking too much? I don't know. But for now... thank God for this site, for logging, for friends like you! You make me smile!!! Much Love. 

I admire your dedication and the way that you continually investigate and analyze where you are at and what you need to be doing. You live in the solutions and not the problems. Thank you so very much for being an inspiration and role model. 

I too, must count ALL carbs, not just net carbs in order to lose, it seems. Eliminating bars and shakes helped. And there is an entire body of research on the "seal diet", that suggests periods of time on protein only, can be beneficial for some people. Those of us who follow the original Atkins know that going back to protein only for a short time can work wonders. My goal is to get back to a period in my life when I did not think about what I ate. All I did was eliminate flour, sugar, alcohol and white food for 5 days a week and ate ANYTHING the other 2 days. It was 7 years of good living. Soon! (Oh, and my rash has spread from my chest to my arms-yeah, just in time for the first hot day here.) 

Do you ever just think "maybe I should just get a lap band"? I hate having to think about what I eat all the time. that is why I like Atkins, it does not really require that much thought - at least the old one didn't. My friend is going tonight to start on the process for getting a lap band. I have such mixed emptions about that. I would not think I would want to live on 6 spoonfuls of yogurt at day (I saw a Dr Oz thing and they basically had to count spoonfulls). I just think that would be too restrictive for me. But the fact that the weight could get off and stay off without really trying sounds really nice. That plus the fast weight loss. It just sounds like such a great thing to do. But then my mind come back into play and I think there is no way I would want to do that to myself. I want to be in control not some plastic band. Just wondered if anyone else ever gets disgusted and ready to throw in the towel...  

Elizabeth - the last thing you need in your life right now... is lapband surgery! Honestly, once you hit your groove, 1-2 steady pounds a week of weightloss, and the pain will be over before you know it. One milestone reached encourages you enough to keep going... and it begins to roll. Build up your momentum and don't look back! Typically 100% focus of good healthy, low carb eating for 2-4 straight weeks...and you're rolling! Much Love. 

fshfly - do you know what this rash is from? You're the second person this morning I have seen is having a rash problem...do you think it is an allergy? or were you rolling in the hayfields w/ someone? LOL!  

Paula, so glad to hear that the weight is moving in the right direction again! And I so understand the frustration, but as Keli said, if anyone can do it, you can! Keep up the freat work, my friend, and I am anxious to see the results of your ongoing meat fast. Have a great day!!  

Paula - Isn't it strange how our bodies will fight us? Have heard of "meat fasts" and "fat fasts". Hope you don't have to go through that again! Wishing you the best - you deserve it after all this!!!  

Gotta do what you gotta do to take control. So glad it helped!! Good luck with everything :-) 

Oh Paula, I know that you are correct. I don't want to do that to myself. It is just that - this weight loss thing takes work. I am not talking will power, I have that. But it takes serious work to figure out what to do about stalls etc. I honestly don't think i had ever heard of the meat fast. I rememeber the fat fast from the first Atkins book. I have never done it exactly, but i do use that method as a help when I am on the road and can't have breakfast. I just eat 2 or 3 little pots of cream cheese and let that be breakfast. i also often grab some machadamia nuts and eat a handfull of them when I can't get out for lunch. What is the meat fast? I assume it is only meat? where did you learn about it? 

How long did it take you to lose the weight. Is it possible your body would just rather be at 145 than 140. I know of people who find that that they get to a certain point that way. 

Paula good to hear things are moving in the right direction for you again! I am also very carb sensitive so maybe I'll give the meat fast a try for a few days. I just finished a salad so I'll give it a go tomorrow. I have to get back to the 'pure' eating and not get too fancy with ingredients