Good Morning to All! Ok, last week I started atkins again and I seemed to have gained five lbs. I cheated Tuesday and went drinking Friday but only drank vodka and soda water. Hmmmm. I was feeling like I was losing but when I jumped on the scale I freaked. Not sure what I am doing wrong. My daily food is fried eggs and bacon and lunch is romaine lettuce w/parmesan cheese and maries ceasar dressing.. dinner friend brocolli with some kind of meat. Throughout the day I snack on cheese. Just don't know what to do... I am trying again...

Liza,

If you want to succeed in Atkins, you really need to succeed early on and from the beginning. The first three weeks are crucial.

My best advice for you is to give up 2-3 straight weekends where you don't party with friends and drink, and if you do go out, limit yourself to unsweetened ice teas or diet cokes. Remove the lemon if they put on in the glass.

For stubborn weight loss, remember that some people may take 2-3 days to get in to ketosis. So if you cheat every 3-4 days, you'll never really get in to it.

Also note, that mixing high fat, high sat fat foods with normal carb consumption, ie, over 15-20 grams, can cause weight gain, and other side effects like an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol. Over the holidays, I did some "cheating" and mixing and my cholesterol went up and my triglycerides went up 100 or more points (estimating).


Get rid of the cheese as a snack. Super high in calories and probably a stall point for you.


TomC

Tom C - Thanks for the advice and I know I need to just stop the partying... Ugh.. It is hard cause I don't want to go home and be bored. Give up the cheese.. OH No.. What would you suggest I snack on? The cheese I munch on are the mozzarella cheese stick and I usually just have one.. Hmm. I will have to see if you have a journal so I can get some pointers.. I really need help with my daily food plan..

Thanks again!

Tom...while I agree with not drinking alcohol during induction, I'm curious why this recommendation since lemon juice is allowed during induction?

Have you read the Atkins book? Its very important to obey the rules of induction. Unlimited food is not in the rules. If you need to snack, the food is not satisfying you. Check for hidden carbs. Best wishes to you.

I would give up the partying too for a couple of weeks. You can always go to a movie if you can't go out with friends and stay out of the alcohol. Alcohol is absorbed by the body and does raise blood sugar, but it's often allowed on low carb plans because it does so slowly. However, it may do so more quickly for you than most people and be affecting you.

Try eating harder cheeses like cheddar if you have to have cheese. Also, unless I misunderstand, your lunchtimesalad has no protein and only fat in the salad dressing. How about adding meat to that meal so you're balancing that carb intake with more protein and fat.

Squid

Harb boiled eggs make a better snack choice.

Mem2 - Thanks for your reply.. Yes I have read Atkins more than 3 times and know what to eat.. It says I can eat what I want as long as it is on the list of foods. It also says that I should eat if I am hungry but not to the point where I feel stuffed. I actually eat alot less when on atkins. I don't think I have been eating too much.

Cheese and bacon has ALOT of sodium in it.
Dont worry get back on track and u will be fine.

Whenever I think about cheating I come to the boards first. By the time i'm done reading. I dont want what I was craving

Goodluck to u. You can do this

Bacon and cheese = lots 'o sodium = water retention UNLESS you are drinking lots and lots and lots of water to flush it out. Good luck

i would suggest cutting out the vodka and cheese as well. i know it's hard at first--i've finally talked myself into losing this last thirty pounds--but after awhile it gets so easy. and i know it's difficult but JUST SAY NO to carbs and cheating. the cravings are sooo bad, but just please know that's normal. i know you can do it!!

oh!! deviled eggs make a GREAT afternoon snack, and cheddar cheese from kraft, i believe, has 0 carbs, though i'd still watch my portion sizes on it.