Having trouble moving up the carb ladder

[ladyathome]

I am trying to move up the ladder, really I am.

Five gram increments is small and I know that it is reasonable.

Here are my issues. Of course, I don't have a big appetite due to ketosis , so I am satisfied with less food. When I eat more in the evening at dinner, I feel bloated. I do have digestive issues which are improving , fortunately. Maybe spreading carbs out more during the day would help?

I keep a food diary and count carbs daily. I am almost two months into Atkins and still hovering at 25-30 grams per day. Sometimes less. I added in nuts and seeds a week or two ago. I just don't feel like eating nuts/seeds every day. I didn't do the dairy rung because I never really eliminated dairy. I used small amounts of cheese all along and cream in my coffee.

Today I added in strawberries. Dr. Atkins said five regular size ones are five carbs. So I ate three with my egg and sausage breakfast. I will eat two with lunch.

My loss is very slow , so I am not really afraid of losing too fast and not being prepared to maintain. At the same time, I don't want to slow my loss down even more. I want to do it right and be prepared to maintain.

I just don't feel like eating nuts , seeds and berries daily.
Sometimes I run out and can't get to the store also.

I hope this makes sense. I just think I should be up to about 35 carbs at least by now. Maybe since my loss is so slow,I have found my CCLL at 30?

I dont' know.

[lisabinil]

You are only 8 lbs away from goal and that is probably why your loss is slow. This is a good thing you want the weight to stay off. Why not read the chapter in DANDR about premaintenance? You are at that stage now with only 8 lbs to go.

[KajunDC]

Try upping with non-starchy veggies in the beginning instead of fruit. Eat a big salad - or add another if you were already doing that - and see what happens.

Not saying strawberries are bad - they are a 1 on the glycemic load index, which is about as low as you cn get. But Veggies should be a prominent staple before fruits.

[ladyathome]

lisabinil,

I was wondering if I shoud be in premaintenance. But, I haven't even figured out my CCLL. Maybe I have and it is just really low. I will get my book out and re-read about premaintenance and decide if I am ready for that. It kind of scares me since my carbs are still so low and I am losing slowly. Yes, I am closer to goal and I expect a slower loss. Still, I haven't much interest in adding foods in and don't want to force myself. Ha-never thought I would say I didn't have a lot ot interest in adding foods.

kajundc,

I did the rung of adding more non starch veggies. I guess I could add more , but I was trying to move up to the other rungs during OWL. I have been doing Atkins for almost 2 months. I did the extra veggies, added in some sunflower kernels another time and now tried the berries. Like I said, I never gave up dairy, so didn't add more in. I am getting the book back out and try to figure out what to do. I am still losing slowly, but don't feel like really eating much more.

Today I had about 32 g of carbs. I feel pretty full. I have a hard time thinking of adding more.

I will admit it is a bit scary also.

Thanks to both of you for your help.