Omg could it be the salad?

[Muffabuff]

Weighed in today and I am six pounds up from my lowest weight since starting this woe. I think I am expecting TOM, but bought ketostix and am not in ketosis.I eat a really big salad of just lettuce and carb free dressing everyday, could my really big salad be keeping me out of fat burning mode? It's probably three times what most people would consider a regular salad but it is the only veg I eat. I'm thinking of cutting them out entirely to see if the salads are the culprit. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

[theredhead]

If you're eating at a low enough carb level, you're burning fat. Ketostix aren't always accurate. I never showed any color on a stick, but lost almost 90 pounds.

I'd be looking at other things rather than the salad. Perhaps if you post some of your typical menus here, some folks can give it a look and see if there's something that might help.

Otherwise, remember that weight loss is not linear. Sometimes it goes up and down a few pounds for seemingly no reason. If the trend is still down, you're good. Hope this helps.

[Muffabuff]

On an average day I will have a big serving of bacon for breakfast, for lunch
I have some cheese with a large salad, and dinner is either a cheese omelette or some kind of red meat. I will sometimes snack on cheese or pork rinds. I stay within my cheese budget .I have sugar free jello for dessert. I just can't imagine what I'm doing wrong here, and I really do love my salad and have been eating them since day one. I'm starting to feel really depressed about the whole thing. I do HIIT twice a week. I would exercise more but can't motivate myself if I'm not losing. Ugggg!,

[Neeters]

Originally Posted by theredhead

If you're eating at a low enough carb level, you're burning fat. Ketostix aren't always accurate. .

I agree. I never show anything on those darn sticks. I tested every day in the last 2 weeks, and showed nothing, yet I am down almost 6 pounds.

Sometimes I gain weight from water retention. Even when it's not that TOM. Maybe try lower sodium bacon, and cheeses??

[stardustshadow]

Weight bounces! Sometimes it is a mystery! Sometimes it is just water retention and will go away on its own....

Do you use a dressing on that salad?

[brewstate]

I usually gain about 6 pounds a couple days before TOM come rain or shine. I also gain right before ovulation (Isn't being a women fun!). I wouldn't worry about it, even eating a lot of carbs in a meal would not cause you to gain 6 pounds in a day. Just give it a few days and your weight should be normal again. I have found that women rarely ever weigh their true weight during most of the month while men always do, its really hard but you have to hang in there and not put so much faith in the number on your scale. If everyone who has been here years had let a few pounds bother them, most of us wouldn't be here.

[ab1ht]

In addition to what everyone else said, I would add this:

1. Metrics are important. As Laurie said, Ketostix aren't always accurate. To use the vernacular, they suck! As long as we're on the subject of poor metrics, you can add the scale to that list, especially for women.

Better metrics to progress include how you feel as well as inches and how your clothes fit. There is more to health than just being thin and/or losing pounds!

2. Personally, I would add more color to the salad. Veggies have lots of vitamins that your body needs and lettuce just ain't gonna do it. I suggest tomatoes, olives, cucumber, carrots, and avocado (if you can afford them). I usually top my salads with olive oil and cheese.

Good luck.

[girondet]

There is something called the Chinese restaurant effect that dr. Richard Bernstein talks about in his book called diabetic solution....a woman would eat a whole head of lettuce for lunch and find that her blood sugar would go high, even though it was so low carb and low calorie....dr. B explains that the large volume stretches the stomach and triggers enzymes that raise blood sugar and therefore insulin, keeping you out of ketosis....that is the best explanation I can give from memory....you might do better with less salad and some protein and fat...worth a try anyway...

I did think this happened to me sometimes.

[artsyfartsy]

I never ever used Ketostix at all. So, technically I would have not known if I was or wasn't in ketosis.


I would cut the cheese.....it seems excessive, even though you say it's in your budget. That's most likely the problem. Do eat any protein for breakfast or lunch?

[ab1ht]

Originally Posted by artsyfartsy

I never ever used Ketostix at all. So, technically I would have not known if I was or wasn't in ketosis.

Being in ketosis is like being in love. You just know.

[Muffabuff]

I use blue cheese dressing, no carbs on my salad.

[Kim6980]

Too many veggies always threw me out of ketosis. When I consumed meat, chesse, and eggs only I stayed in ketosis. Once in moderate levels, I added two 1/2 cup veggie servings or one 1/2 cup veg and one 1/2 cup fruit serving a day and remained in ketosis.

[pico]

Originally Posted by girondet

There is something called the Chinese restaurant effect that dr. Richard Bernstein talks about in his book called diabetic solution....a woman would eat a whole head of lettuce for lunch and find that her blood sugar would go high, even though it was so low carb and low calorie....dr. B explains that the large volume stretches the stomach and triggers enzymes that raise blood sugar and therefore insulin, keeping you out of ketosis....that is the best explanation I can give from memory....you might do better with less salad and some protein and fat...worth a try anyway...

I did think this happened to me sometimes.

that seems to make a lot of sense.. Thank you for this info. I would assume then that even if we ate low carb such as meat and veggies to make sure not to overeat to a point of stretching the stomach? I wonder though if this is true when one is bloated from gas..

[pico]

Originally Posted by ab1ht

Being in ketosis is like being in love. You just know.

love the "scotch eggs" making it today thank you!!!
Pico

[ab1ht]

Thanks, pico. Let's continue the conversation over here

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/lo...n-allowed.html

[lwcrbldy]

I'm thinking TOM and bacon could cause a double whammy of water retention. I usually cut back on my sodium intake before TOM and stay off a lot of it until several days afterwards. This includes pork rinds (which usually have A LOT of sodium in them just like their bacon counterparts).

Hope this helps and keep your chin up!

[Muffabuff]

I just love my breakfast bacon and when PMSing I have to have pork rinds. At least it's not ice cream. I'm going to start drinking lots more water. The more I drink the less my body will try to hold on to.

[Neeters]

Originally Posted by Muffabuff

I just love my breakfast bacon and when PMSing I have to have pork rinds. At least it's not ice cream. I'm going to start drinking lots more water. The more I drink the less my body will try to hold on to.

I hear you. Luckily, I drink mostly water and only 1-2 coffees a day. The water does help.

[Russell1974]

I do NOT eat salad.. I figured out I like ranch dressing, not greens..lol.

Salad dressing is always a problem. I see people talk about eating a salad, but they always kind of forget the dressing, or guesstimate how much it was, always low, of course.

[breadaddict]

I doubt the salad is affecting anything. TOM bloat sucks, and I gain about 5 pounds at TOM. Thankfully, it goes right away after TOM starts. Just remember it is only water and not fat. Water is lost very easily once your body decides to let go of it.