I have been on Atkins for over 3 weeks and all I have lost 5 pounds! I read all of these success stories, and feel that it is not working for me. I have read 2 of Dr. Atkins books, feel I'm doing everything right (with the exception of a drink or two over the weekend...but none that included any carbs) and am just getting frustrated. I also work out at least an hour and sometimes 2 at least 5 days a week! I bought the test strips and it shows that my status of burning fat is "trace." How can this be? Can anyone relate to this? Or give me tips on things they think I may be doing wrong?

I think this is just normal for you. I went through something similar. I also measured because I will lose weight OR inches, but not both-especially if I exercise. I am a smaller size now than the last time I weighed this. Don't despair! You can see where there are many weeks I lost NOTHING in weight, but did in my inches.

Date weight waist
20-Sep 160 36.3
27-Sep 157 36.3
7-Oct 154.5 35.7
11-Oct 153 35.3
20-Oct 153 35
25-Oct 152 34.5
1-Nov 150 34.3
8-Nov 150 34
17-Nov 148 34
24-Nov 146 34
30-Nov 146 33.5
6-Dec 144 33.2
22-Dec 143 32.5
2-Jan 143 32
13-Jan 142 32
27-Jan 140 32
31-Jan 140.5 32
8-Feb 139.5 31.8
14-Feb 138.5 31.5
22-Feb 138 31.2
2-Mar 138.5 31
7-Mar 137 31
14-Mar 136 31
21-Mar 137 30.8
29-Mar 135 30.6
5-Apr 135 30.5
12-Apr 136 30
20-Apr 135 29.8
28-Apr 133.5 29.2
2-May 132.5 29
9-May 133 28.8
16-May 130 28.5
24-May 130 28.3
30-May 131 28.3
7-Jun 133 28.3
13-Jun 130 28.1
20-Jun 130 28
28-Jun 129 28.1
6-Jul 129 27.8
12-Jul 128 28
19-Jul 126 28
26-Jul 126 27.8
2-Aug 127 27.6
9-Aug 125 27.5

Hey maxi72 - don't worry about it. You may be repairing muscle tissue (years of not enough protein) and building new muscle tissue (working out). Muscle weighs more than fat. Just stick with it.

On another note, why not post a sample menu so the more experienced folks around here can take a peak and maybe suggest ways you can 'tweak' your foods for optimum results!

As for losing slowly, well I started at 193 and currently weight 169 and I've been at this way of life since mid-August '03. No cheating, just a very slow loser. It's okay with me. I feel good and I figure the slower I lose it the less chance I have of really piling it back on if I do slip up now and again.

Hang in there. We're all pulling for you.

shortstuff

ps - as for those stupid sticks - the best place for those things is in the waste basket. They really are stupid sticks and can lie like anything.

I have been at 0 weight loss for the past week and was really getting frustrated, so I can sympathize with you! However, I posted a sample menu of my daily diet (on another board) and a poster pointed out the areas I was "cheating" in, even though I thought I was following the induction phase to the letter. Basically what I was told was--don't eat or drink anything that's not on that induction list--even if it has low carbs or no carbs. I'd been using those low-carb tortilla wraps...Atkins Endulge bars...etc. This week I'm going straight back to the basics and see if that helps. Maybe that would also help you--I figure it's worth a shot!

Also, if it's the wrong time of the month--your weight loss can really slow down. I was at 0 that week too--but lost 4 lbs the next week.

Why don't you post a sample daily menu and somebody who knows more than I do might be able to point out the problem areas?

You are not alone I am a slow loser also!!

Thanks, everyone, for your responses! Here is basically what I do/eat on a daily basis. If someone can tell me if I am doing/eating something wrong, I'd appreciate it! Thanks!

Morning: 2 hard boiled eggs
(on the weekends this turns into 3 scrambled eggs with bacon or sausage)

Snack: Occasionally an ounce or two of Montery Jack or cheddar cheese or another hard boiled egg

Lunch: Either a salad with flaxseed oil/vinegar (not balsamic) with a few chopped veggies (but not exceeding a cup), 2 ham or turkey slices chopped in there, sprinkles of bacon bits, a little crumbled feta cheese, olives

Another lunch option: Turkey slices rolled with lettuce, mayo and cheese

Sometimes I will have an Advantage bar late afternoon if I am hungry

Dinner: Either chicken or steak and sometimes salmon with salad. I usually marinate the chicken with the Atkins terryaki sauce or the steak with the Atkins steak sauce and 2 tbsp of sour cream (YUM!). I have also made the "fried" chicken that is in the recipe section of the New Diet Revoution and had 3 pieces (drumsticks) of that for dinner (with a salad).

And sometimes at night I will have some cocoa...I mix a TBSP of cocoa powder, a packet of splenda and a little heavy cream together.

If I have snacks, they are usually always cheese or eggs or Advantage bars.

I also work out approximately 8 hours a week.

Am I eating to much or little of something? Any suggestions would be welcomed!

I have lost 6 pounds in 7 weeks. You see examples of great losses on Atkins, Maxi, but have you ever looked across to the left to see how much those folks had to lose in the first place? I will guarantee anyone who lost 25 + lbs on induction, probably has 50-100 lbs to lose.

You've done fine. You lost 10% of your total weight to lose on induction which is exactly what Atkins promised should happen! He also says, expect to lose about 5% of the remainder each month. Although also expects months where you'll lose nothing.

Having just 30 or 40 to lose doesn't mean it's going to be rapid for us. It can take nearly as long as those with much more because we are already so close to goal (I know it doesn't seem that way...but we are )

Try skipping those bars for now and see what happens. Give it a week.

Are you cooking in Fat? If not you should try it too. The more Fat you use the better. Olive oil is great and I've just starting using Virgen Coconut Oil which promotes weight loss by boosting your metabolism up.

Skip the cocoa for now too. I know from experience that this stall me big time. I won't see results till 4-5 days after I've stopped consuming the cocoa.

Keep up the good work with working out. That is key!

Are you getting a total of 20g's in vege's? If not try bringing that up too as close to 20g's as possible. I eat half of my count in the morning, I've noticed it helps to break it up throughout the day then leaving it for one meal, say Dinner.

Keep up the good work. Though I'm sure others may have a different opinion this is what's worked for me.
Oh and lots and lots of water too.


Good luck,

Lily

Oh...my suggestion to help get things moving...

Go by the book and get back to basics for a while. Meat...veggies...light on the dairy. Just for a while give up the bars and any other LC frankenfoods and little homemade desserts. They are known stallers in many and may be in you but you'll never know until you elliminate them for a while. Cheese is also a known staller for some as are nuts.

Up your water and excercise of you haven't already.

But if I slow down on cheese, or cut it out, I feel like I really do not have many options to eat for quick snacks. I want to stay on Induction until I get closer to my goal weight and do not feel that there are many options. If I cut out the cheese and Advantage bars, I feel I will then eat too many veggies, which will bring me up past 20 grams per day. Does anyone know any good "Induction snack options?"

When I stopped eating the bars everyday, I lost 6 pounds in just a matter of days. This is my last day of Induction, and that is all I have lost. I feel certain that the bars had something to do with the slow weight loss. I found out that the yeast thing may be an issue for me too. You might think about that too. It will happen. Try to stick with it. I like to have a slice of ham rolled with a little cream cheese in the middle for a quick snack. Hope this helps!
Leslie

Veggies have less carbs then the bars and a ton more nutrition. Eat the veggies.

Induction snacks
deviled eggs
bacon wrapped scallops
tuna or chicken salad
1/2 an avacado
cream cheese
celery with cream cheese or tuna salad
broccoli and cauliflower mix with a light touch of melted cheese
smoked salmon or sliced meat wrapped with cream cheese
dill pickle
cucumber or zucchini with sour cream dip
roasted zucchini
pepperoni chips
sugar free beef jerkey
some people can handle sugar free jello (splenda sweetened best)
Chicken skin chips
hot wings


Check out the snack and quick meal forum in the recipe section on here for many more ideas.

I would not up the exercise at all. You say you are already doing around 2 hours per day.....if you add anymore you are at serious risk of overtraining. Instead of adding exercise I would challange you to instead get more efficient at the exercise you are doing. Cut some cardio and add free weights, your body will thank you.

Ditto on what LadyBelle posted.

Lily

I agree as well, better to get your 20 grams in veggies even if that equals more than the 3 cups allowed than to eat bars and such. The bars are really bad news for a lot of people.