Not losing (repeat from LC Lobby)

[Transplant]

It was suggested that I post here as well as the lobby, so here goes

I know there are hundreds of variations to this post, but I feel like I have tried most of the suggestions without any changes and I could really use some advice.

To quickly recap: Started Atkins (5'10, 221lbs) about 2 years ago after not losing on a very low fat diet. Lost about 20 lbs. in 3 months (12-14 lbs the first 2 weeks). Kept it off about 8 months doing half-hearted low carb (few days a week at induction levels, rest of the time much higher carb). Gained about 6 back.

Started Atkins induction again 5 weeks ago at 200 lbs. Lost 5 lbs in 1st week, then have gained and lost about 2 lbs. each week since. Net loss 5 lbs in 5 weeks. No real loss in inches (1/8" down in waist and 1 arm, but same elsewhere). 'Clothes feel slightly less snug, which fits with the 5 lb. loss, no more. Walking 45 min. 3 X's per week, drinking 3+ liters water daily. I'm on BP meds and a diuretic.

I eat no artifical products, avg. 16-20 (no more) carbs per day, exclusively from raw vegetables (weighed and measured carefully and entered into fitday at least 4 days per week). Calories avg. between 1200-1600 (9 days out of the 5 weeks were up near 1600, otherwise they are generally around 1400). I eat a protein with each meal/snack, stopped caffeine 2 years ago, and do not drink any beverages other than water and 1 cup decaf per day, and about 3 cups green tea (unsweetened) per week. I had coffee with davinci once in week 3.

Sample menus for this week:

Sunday
B: 2 scrambled eggs (no fat), 1 piece bacon (natural)
S: 1 slice natural ham, 1 slice cheese, 1 slice red pepper
L: 2 hamburger patties, 1½ cup mixed salad (romaine, baby spinach, 2 mushrooms, 1 radish, 1 T. homemade blue cheese dressing)
D: 1 grilled chicken breast, repeat salad

Monday
B: 3 egg omelette with natural ham, 2 T. shredded cheddar, 2 T. homemade salsa (½ sm. tomato, chopped jalapeno)
L: 1 can sardines, 2 leaves bibb lettuce, 1 T. homemade mayo (olive oil and egg yolk)
D: 2 med. tuna steaks, grilled veggies (½ mixed bell pepper, ½ tomato, 1/4 small onion), 1½ c. mixed salad (same as Sunday + 1/4 avocado + 2 black olives)

Tues
B: 1 boiled egg, 1 slice cheddar cheese, 1 slice natural ham
S: ½ small burger patty, 1 stalk celery, 1 T. blue cheese dressing
L: 4 slices roast beef (only salt and pepper added), 3 broccoli florets, 2 large cauliflower florets, 2 radishes, 1 T. blue cheese dressing
S: 6 oz ribeye, grilled + ½ c. steamed cauliflower with 1 T. butter

Wed
B: 1 hamburger patty, 1 boiled egg
S: ½ c. chicken salad (2 T. homemade mayo, boiled egg, 2 slices cucumber, 1 T. celery, seasoning, about 1 med. sized boiled chicken breast)
L: same as Snack
D: 2 large slices turkey breast sauteed in 1 T. olive oil, 1½ c. spinach salad (raw measure) with ½ boiled egg, red wine vinegar, olive oil, 1 T. bacon

Thurs:
B: 2 scrambled eggs, 1 t. butter, 1 slice cheese
L: pan fried chicken breast, in 1 T. butter, 1 t. olive oil, fresh herbs
S: ½ small bag pork rinds
D: 5 chicken wings broiled with 2 T. olive oil, sprinkle of parmesan and hot sauce (no sugar)

Friday
B: 2 poached eggs, 1 slice bacon (natural)
S: ½ c. chicken salad (see above)
L: 1 can sardines, 1 cup salad (romaine/bibb, 2 T. red pepper, 4 slices cuc, 4 cubes (small) feta, 1 radish)
D: 3 homemade "sausage" patties(chopped pork mixed with egg and seasonings), 2 c. sald (same as above, plus ½ avocado, 3 black olives, 2 T. blue cheese dressing)

Saturday
B: 2 fried eggs, 2 strips natural bacon
L: 1 can tuna, 2 leaves bibb lettuce, 3 florets cauliflower, 2 T. homemade mayo, 1 strip yellow pepper, 2 small slices cuc
D: 1/3 Pork tenderloin, grilled (marinated in 3 cloves chopped garlic + olive oil and stuffed with 1 whole jalapeno), wrapped in bacon, veggie kabob (mixed bell peppers and onion: total less than 1½ cup), 3 olives, 2 tiny cubes feta

Sunday:
B: 3 fried eggs, 1 slice bacon
Planned:
L: leftover pork tenderloin with salad
D: omelettes with ham and cheddar

[LindaSue]

I'd say that your menu looks perfect, except for Thursday (no veggies) and today looks a bit light on veggies too. I can't offer any suggestions though and I'm sure that eating less or more isn't the answer since your portions look pretty good. Perhaps something else is preventing your weight loss, such as yeast. I hope you can get an answer that will help.

I just took another quick look over your menu and it does seem a bit low on fat. Could that be the problem?

[pbptm]

Hi I'm also on bp meds and take a diuretic every other day plus am hypothyroid. I get occasional yeast problemstoo. I have found that exercise really is the key for me.
Your menus look good like Linda Sue says a bit low on veg perhaps and fats maybe even too low on carbs? I can't lose if I go too low , I suggest investigating your thyoid and yeast situation and upping your exercise.
I go to the gym and where I workout they have qualified instructors who are aware of my health situation and required a doctors certificate before I could start.
I have regular assessments and followed a planned program.
Hope this helps, am interested to see the expert opinion too.
angie

[Transplant]

Thursday was a freak day--was doing student orientation all day long (13 hours ) and left my big salad bowl at home. Nothing available at the university that wasn't stuck between 2 pieces of bread.

This is where I get confused....I hear lower the fat, lower the calories, up the fat, up the calories. I honestly do not know which way to go.

[Catheryn]

Originally posted by LindaSue
I'd say that your menu looks perfect, except for Thursday (no veggies) and today looks a bit light on veggies too. I can't offer any suggestions though and I'm sure that eating less or more isn't the answer since your portions look pretty good. Perhaps something else is preventing your weight loss, such as yeast. I hope you can get an answer that will help.

I just took another quick look over your menu and it does seem a bit low on fat. Could that be the problem?

Where does this menu look low in fat? Between all the eggs, bacon, cheese, mayo, ground beef, sausage, pork rinds, olive oil, blue cheese dressing, again, how is this "low on fat?"

[xavier_grad]

"This is where I get confused....I hear lower the fat, lower the calories, up the fat, up the calories. I honestly do not know which way to go."

Exactly...EVERYONE is different and every body reacts differently. IMHO...I would try lowering the calories and see if that helps. By taking out just several of your high fat/calorie foods, you could drop several hundred calories without even feeling it. Cut back on your cheese servings or not use as much butter/olive oil.

Just remember....NEVER let anyone tell you calories do NOT count. For some lucky people, calories do not count. However, for many of us, calories are just as important (if not more so for some) as carbs. If I was a betting girl, which I'm not, I would bet that you are also one of the many that need to count calories.

Good luck finding your way on this long journey!

Amy

[LindaSue]

Their menu isn't low fat, but most of the meats used seem to be lower fat ones, such as chicken breast. Other than a tablespoon or so per day of oil or mayo, I don't see much that's fatty other than a little cheese (not much per day) and the occasional sausage or bacon.

Obviously this is much higher in fat than a low fat diet, but Atkins isn't a low fat diet. I don't see much use of butter, cream cheese, cream, etc. that you typically see on people's low carb menus. I don't mean to say that those things are required, but that this person seems to be eating less fat than most people starting out on Atkins. Remember we're not supposed to have to count fat or calories. If we're going to do that, we might as well be on the same old low fat, low calorie diet as the rest of the world.

[Transplant]

Thanks LindaSue...that is what I was going to reply! I never tried to say my meals were low fat either, but you are right...I chose (this time) to stay away from cream, lots of butter and cheese, cream cheese, etc. that a lot of people use.

I just didn't feel like I needed those and to eat them usually means mixing them with artificial sweeteners, which I would rather avoid (for one, I cannot buy splenda here, so I have to use others and I'm not sure how to convert for recipes!).

I do try to keep an eye on the portions of fat I eat, but that is mostly with respect to calories and trying not to pig out.

I have had no sweet cravings since the 1st week, but I do get hungry every 3-4 waking hours and I eat when hungry, til satisfied. If I "crave" something, it's usually veggies, LOL

I have really just tried to eat very basic, healthy, natural, organic foods as much as possible. But like I said, I do want to start losing....so I'm still looking for advice!!!

[LindaSue]

I guess we'll have to wait for the Atkins Nutritionist to reply, Transplant, and see what ideas they might have. I'm really stumped because you seem to eat so well and seem to be doing everything right.

[mephy]

From your previous reply in the main LC lobby, I think it's the diuretics. They can really slow weightloss.... particularly since they can mess with mineral levels and blood sugar/insulin. You also said that you're not taking supplements... I find that they really do help. A simple multi without iron is a good place to start (we tend to get enough iron from our foods).

I wouldn't worry about lowering calories. I eat more than you and have never had problems. I could be wrong, but I'd definitely start with tapering the meds in coordination with your doctor first. LC tends to naturally lower blood pressure and it's also a natural diuretic. You should be able to taper quite easily... but be sure to let your doctor know!

[Transplant]

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. I am quite interested to hear what the AN has to say, too!

I feel like I'm in a little bit of a ugly cycle with the meds and my doc. I had avoided going to the doc for a really long time, even knowing my BP was high. I thought if I could just get the weight down...anyway, I didn't and when I finally did go in, she felt like getting my BP down fast was the #1 priority. She did agree to wait and see what happened with diet changes before prescribing a cholesterol lowering drug.

If I could just lose some weight quickly, I feel like I'd have a "case" to go off one or both of the meds for a trial period, but the measly 4.5-5 lbs I've lost in 5 weeks isn't going to provide much "evidence" for me. My BP is lower (still too high) with the drugs (if I've only lost 5 lbs, why would she believe it's my diet lowering it, rather than the meds?!). This may help explain my sense of desperation. I don't want to be on the meds, believe me. They freak me out.

LC is totally new here and I feel fortunate that my doc is at least open minded enough to support my trying to lose with it, rather than putting me back on LF. But I gotta show it works!!!!

[cokermom]

Transplant, there's another thread on this forum called A Few More Thyroid/Carb Count Questions. You should check it out, as I think it might be related to your issues (mine too!). I'm also on BP and diuretic, and haven't been able to get my doc to take me off of them, yet. I'm still hopeful! I've been taking them about 5 years now. At my last doctor's visit last Thursday, my BP was 117/72! The best it's ever been, even with medication! So - here's hoping!

BTW - my cholesterol numbers have SIGNIFICANTLY improved since choosing this WOE. The nurse at my doc's office commented that she wished hers were so good!

One important question that has not been asked...Do you exercise? It really IS part of the plan

Hope you get it figured out!

[nonstickpam107]

cokermom might just be onto something else, too. High cholesterol and blood pressure, not being able to lose despite a really GOOD menu....hmmm, can anyone say "thyroid"??? Untreated hypothyroidism raises BP, makes one bloat, increases insulin resistance, raises cholesterol REALLY high (and it usually doesn't come down until the thyroid is treated!!), hypothyroidism keeps one from losing weight, even on lowcarb (especially if carbs are under 30 net...Dr. Atkins used to Rx. Armour Thyroid for his hypothyroid patients....cuz it had T3, and lowcarbing can reduce conversion of T4 to T3, the energy thyroid hormone).

Just a thought....you might want to get a TSH, FT4, FT3 (full thyroid panel, just a TSH won't tell much).

Your menu looks very similar to mine when I started LC'ing....and that's about the time I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism...I had high BP, high cholesterol, couldn't lose no matter how I ate, worked out, etc. I sure wouldn't want to see you try your heart out, and not see the wonderful results you SHOULD see!!

Pam

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Maybe you can clarify for me, are you upset because you are not losing more quickly?

The meds you are taking can slow weight loss and I think you are doing ok, weight and inches are down, cloths are loose...

I would say keep up the good work. Some people lose at a slow consistent rate and you sound like you are one of those people.

[Transplant]

So, you would say that 4.5-5 lbs. in almost 6 weeks, including induction, is a reasonable rate loss rate?

I may have explained poorly...I do not believe I have lost inches (1/8th inch in ONE arm and about that in my waist--both could be sloppy measuring or water). I have sense measured again and see no change from the original measurements. I bet if I measured again tomorrow there might also be a tiny fluctuation.

My clothes (waistband) feel slightly loser--as in the difference between right after you have eaten and 2 hours later. I most certainly have not changed a size or even a ½ size.

Yes, I am exercising lightly (walking 1 hour 3X's per week). I have had my thryoid checked but will ask for the individual results next time I go to the doc.

Thanks everyone.......guess for now I'll just keep plugging along and see what happens.

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Your waistband is your best way of measuring. If it is loser, then you have lost inches.

Yes, I think you are doing great despite the fact that you are loisng more slowly.

[Druktenis]

first check out www.low-carbdiet.co.uk/forum/default.asp. These people are really experts at LC WOE and are recognized by the Atkins people. FAT is essential to LC and most people don't eat enough of it. Even Dr. Atkins will recommend a fat fast to people who cannot get their metabolism going because the body uses either carbs or FAT to burn energy. I find it hard to believe some on this board recommend lowering fat - that will completely work against the Atkins WOE. check out the board above, you will find it very informative.

Daryl

[lkmjbc3]

Your menu looks good. Best bet is your medications.

Better messing with anything.... is there anyway you can up your exercise regime? I would suggest some more strenuous form of exercise. Is their anyway you can do some resistance training?

(BTW, this is not to put down your walking.... which is excellent..You may just need more!)

lkmjbc3

[IrishAngel40]

Hi Transplant..
Hang in There !! I started like you did.. very slowly.. I lost 8 pounds the first two weeks.. the nothing for the next month.. then slowly lost.. 1-2 pounds per week.. some thoughts..

... exercise regularly.. it makes a huge difference..
.. so does taking the proper supplementation... If you can find an alternative practioner who can help you.. great !! If not, start with the vitamins and the DOSAGES recommended in DANDR.. add in the chromium polypicolinate.. Get a copy of Dr. Atkins Viti-Nutrient solution..
.. be aware of food intolerences and yeast
.. your meds could be slowing your loss.. I don't know the severity of your BP problem.. but be aware that alternative (non-drug) bp treatments exist.. find a doctor open to these methods