I am on day 13 of induction and I havent lost anything this week? I havent cheated at all but I have been drinking diet pop and eating the atkins bars. Could that be the reason? I have been exercising 5 days a week and I feel good but I my weight won't go down. I am working so hard at this. Whats going on?

Yes, the citric acid and aspartame in diet pop can stall some people. And the bars really aren't for Induction. This is confusing because some sites say the bars are OK. But there are dozens of threads on the board that report that many people don't lose until they quit the bars both in Induction and after.

The good news is that you are NOT stalled. A stall is about 6 weeks of staying on the plan but not losing EITHER pounds or inches. So stick with what the book says and the losing will resume.

The other important point is that you only want to lose 21 pounds and are already 1/3 of the way there in ony 13 days! The last 10-15 pounds will come off slowly and this will allow you to really learn how to eat LC forever and keep from regaining. Like any eating plan, if you go back to the way you used to eat, you'll regain.

So be patient and enjoy the new feeling of better health that comes along with LCing.

Welcome to this board. You will learn lots here.

First of all, don't panic. You're not in a stall. (Technically a stall is at least 4 weeks with no pounds AND no inches lost while sticking faithfully to Atkins.)

Weight loss isn't a straight-line loss. You will have ups and downs, periods of quick weight loss and periods of slow weight loss. This is just from our bodies adjusting to the changes it is undergoing. Take your measurements - you may find that you're getting smaller even if the scale isn't showing anything, especially if you're getting lots of exercise.

Some people will have slowed weight loss from artificial sweeterers, some don't. But you shouldn't eat Atkins bars (and I'm assuming you're talking about the Advantage meal bars and not the Endulge candy bars) while on induction. Stick with what the book says. The purpose of induction is to start training you to eat properly -- ie. get rid of any bad eating habits (sweets, etc.). When you're on OWL you can add the bars - but only if you don't mind their possible slowing side effect. Lots of us use them as "emergency" food, which they're excellent for, but they shouldn't be a regular item in our daily diet.

Good luck!

Joan

Hi Fitness Gal:

Personally, if I eat one of those Atkins bars, I go immediately into a several day stall. I would lay off them for a few days and see if the weight loss resumes. Good luck... mad

I've done much better since cutting out Splenda and cutting down on cream. Seems I was in a real stall, 9 months worth. So you're doing great. Try just eating whole foods and not processed things like bars and sweeteners and see how you do.
Elaine

you are doing great! I went thru stalls thruout
the summer and now I am back on track. I did cut out the diet sodas and that helped (maybe have one or two a week now). But I do eat about 5 bars a week and that has not seemed to stall me. everyone is different.

The less weight you have to lose, the slower it goes. What I concentrate on, is that this is a WOL, not just a quick weight loss program. By biggest moment was while on vacation this summer I did not GAIN weight, which I always do.

sandy