Frustrated

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Frustrated
4
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 3:58pm
I started Atkins four weeks ago. The first two weeks I lost 11 pound and then at about 3 week I "switched" to South Beach-basically stopped measuring my veggies, had ricotta cheese dessert once a day and ate more nuts. I had strawberries like 2 times a weeks (no other fruit) and only starches from list about 3 times a weeks. So here I am at week four (total of all dieting) and have lost no more weight. I am thinking I need to go back to atkins induction. I am getting some cravings for sweets, however I stick with "sugar substitutes" snacks like sugar free raspberry ginger ale or crystal light. I don't understand why I am not losing weight and 1 1/2 weeks since I changed to SB. Also I have energy all day, but get tired out and ready for bed early (8:30pm). Any suggestions and advice? Should I return to atkins strict phase? Seemed abit unhealthy but since I stopped measuring I have lost NO weight but followed the guideline. Thanks for any tips.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
In reply to: lmdiello
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 6:00pm

Welcome to the South Beach Board!


It's not unusual to maintain your weight and even gain a pound or two back when you begin phase 2.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2001
In reply to: lmdiello
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 9:08pm

Hi and welcome to the board. I can totally understand your frustration but hang in there. I'm heading into week four of Phase 2. It took 2 1/2 weeks for the scale to finally start moving again for me, but it has!! This is my 3rd time round. The first time, I did Phase 1 and lost 11 pounds. Started Phase 2 and when the scale didn't move, I quit. The second time, I couldn't get myself in the right mindset and didn't stick with it. This time I told myself I wouldn't give up and boy I'm sure glad I've stuck with it!!! If I hadn't given up the first time chances are I'd already be at my goal weight!!!

Here's what I did to get it going. I made sure that I was getting in 2 litres of water everyday, cut back on my cheese and nuts and kicked up my exercise a notch. It did the trick eventually.

Adding some dairy to your diet might encourage weight loss too. Do you drink milk? Or you can make South Beach hot chocolate with sweetener and cocoa. Or make a s/f pudding and get your milk that way.

Maybe if you have a carb later in the day or at dinner to keep your blood sugar up. Maybe some brown rice, sweet potato or fruit for dessert.

Do your clothes feel any looser?

Shar

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2003
In reply to: lmdiello
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 9:44pm
I'm struggling with the same issues! I never did Atkins, but since I hit phase 2, I havent lost anything, in fact I gained 1.5 lbs! I'm starting to think the same things you are. But I keep reading that

  May the Road rise to meet you, and the wind always be at your back!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
In reply to: lmdiello
Mon, 02-07-2005 - 11:21am

I just wanted to post my experience in case it helps! I'm in my 3 rd week of phase 2. I lost 8 pounds in phase one and was thrilled (I started with about 45 lbs total to lose). Then my first week on phase 2 I GAINED 2 lbs back! I was devestated and SO close to quitting. I said if the scale didn't go down by the end of the next week I was done. I had not cheated even ONCE, not a single bite of anything illegal - and yet I was gaining! I felt like it was so unfair. Well it did go down, by the middle of that next week I had lost those two I had gained, then by the end of the week I had lost one more. Now half way through week 3 I have lost yet another pound - so now 10 total lost (actually today the scale showed even another pound lost - but I'm not counting that yet until I still see that at the end of the week!).
My dh is also doing SBD, he had a similar experience last week. He has about 75 lbs to lose. On phase 1 he lost 14 lbs, the first week of phase two he lost another 2 - but then last week he gained 2 instead of losing. By halfway through this week though, he has lost what he gained, plus lost two more. So he is up to 18 lbs total now.
My unscientific theory is that its usually a couple things - I have read some articles about how fat cells resist losing their fat. When you lose a lot all at once they try and compensate by filling with water. I think after a drastic loss like phase 1 or Atkins induction (I know that to us 10 lbs may not seem drastic, but that is a HUGE loss over just a couple weeks) some peoples body needs a week or so to "adjust" to that new weight. Then once it does and you lose that extra water your fat cells filled up with, then you will continue to see a loss.
I'd say hang in there! It really will start coming off again, even if it is very slowly. I had started thinking "maybe I need to be on a stricter diet" - but now I am losing again (looking like it will be 2 lbs this week) I would worry about the going back to the Atkins induction - I know that on Atkins you are allowed to stay in induction as long as you want - but that just doesn't sound healthy. Sure its tempting to see a great loss every week, but from everything I have read, the slower it come off, the more likely it will STAY off. I truly believe this because I think if you lose slowly it means that you have adopted a healthy way of eating that you can stick with for a lifetime because it isn't overly restrictive. If you lose fast on a very restrictive program, I think you are bound to gain it back as there is no way you could stick with it for life!
Good luck!! If I can do this and stick with it - anyone can! I am the most impatient person and I usually give up very easily, but for once I decided to stick with it, and so far its paying off again!

MichaelAnn
181/171(170 on the scale this morning, but I don't believe it yet!)/135



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