Beth's Real Life Journey to Success

[Low Carb Mommy]

Candy & SueI have to be honest. I really didn't like the coconut bark. I couldn't get it to taste right. I made it with coconut oil, cocoa powder, sf davinci's vanilla syrup. It wasn't sweet enough though, so I started adding splenda. And then, it still was too bitter, so I added more davinci's. It still tasted bad, so then I added peanut butter. I froze it and it came out icy. It tasted like bitter coconut oil. Maybe I just don't have the gift. I ate enough of the "batter" tasting it to about make me sick of chocolate. And now my stomach hurts from eating too much coconut oil. Maybe this is a good cure for the chocolate cravings after all!

[seb]

O.K. that was too funny

I like dark chocolate, so maybe that is why I like it. But, I wonder if having the SF choc syrup makes the difference. I've never tried it with my SF vanilla. Well, hope you aren't too sick from having too much coconut oil.

sorry......this just hit my funny bone.

[Edwards20]

When I made mine, I just used the CO, splenda, cream and cocoa. When I made it with liquid sweetener, it was horrible. Powdered was better, the more packs the less bitter .... but then I was just adding more carbs. So, I gave up.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Back up again this morning! I was 137.8! It has got to be hormones! I have been on edge lately. Or this has got to be my first stall. Either way...this is no fun guys!!! I had in my mind that this was not going to happen to me. I guess stalls are no respector of persons. What can I do? I am thinking about going back to induction. My carbs haven't been that high (have they?). I try to make sure that they are accurate...maybe I am messing up somewhere?? I have been eating some things like fruit, yogurt, and cottage cheese. Should I just drop those?

I had a funny thing (funny now) happen to me yesterday. I put on my one pair of jeans I have and they were really loose. I showed DH and was pumped. I mean they were dramatically loose. I was prancing around...you should have seen me! I was going to measure this morning because I knew that I had lost some inches. Well, last night when I took them off I realized that my old jeans had gotten back into my clothes (DH had found them in the bottom of the closet where I have been putting my clothes that are getting too big and hung them back up.). Those jeans are the same jeans as what I wear now just a bigger size! Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!

We had "Muffins for Mom" at the boys school this morning. They took a picture of us. I can't wait to see it. DH stayed at home with sleeping Kate, so I didn't have to get her ready. I had coffee and wasn't even tempted with the muffins in the least! I will post the picture whenever they give it to us.

I was diligent and walked a mile yesterday. I heard on the radio this morning that just because you are losing fat under your skin doesn't mean that you are losing weight around your organs! A study has shown that people who just lose weight by just diet are more likely to keep the fat deposited around their organs. That has been me...but no more! I mean who wants to have fat around their heart?! Now when we eat stuff that we aren't suppose to we will have to say it is going to our liver/ heart/ spleen rather than our hips! Anyway, that report is motivation to me that exercise must be incorporated into our lifestyles.

Enough talk....Yesterday's menu:

Breakfast~2 eggs(1.2), 2 bacon(0), 3 strawberries(3)=4.2
Lunch~3 tuna muffins(3), chocolate coconut peanut butter bark (2?)=5
Snack~1/2 cup cottage cheese(2)=2
Dinner~2 hamburger patties(0), cheese(1), mayo(.1), LC ketchup(1), 1 cup lettuce(1), cucumber(1), ranch(2)=6.1
Later~coffee w/ HC(.4)= .4

Total~17.7

[Low Carb Mommy]

Here is that study! Timothy posted it in the ML this morning!

Study: Thin People Still Need To Worry About Internal Fat

by KYW's Dr. Brian McDonough

Call it another way of looking at weight.

According to researchers at Imperial College in London, being thin on the outside doesn't mean you're not fat. They think the internal fat surrounding vital organs like the heart, liver, or pancreas, could be as dangerous as the more obvious external fat that we all see.

The researchers began scanning people with M-R-Is back in 1994, and they've drawn up fat maps where people store fat. Now here's the key finding: people who maintain their weight through diet rather than exercise are likely to have major deposits of internal fat, even if they're otherwise slim.

This means that exercise is very important, because this is what keeps that internal fat down. And it also tells us something else that I think is crucial: you may look like you're a little bit overweight on the outside, but if you're exercising on a regular basis, that may be ultimately the most important thing you can do

[Tippy Toes]

Hi Beth! Thanks for inviting me over! I had a lot of fun here reading the last few pages. I don't do the Atkins bars... Sugar alcohols and the like stall a lot of folks. However, that said, since you have been losing just fine with them from the start they shouldn't be a problem. I think overall your menu looks pretty good. Not too much fat, carbs are fine, ect. I too stalled for a very long time and it was not fun at all so I can feel what you say. Try the extra fiber and see if that works. You know the last 10 lbs are tough...

I'll keep checking in on you, Beth. I think this will do the trick for you but if not I have a few more rabbits in the hat...

[Edwards20]

Beth, don't go backwards. I agree that these last 10lbs are gonna be hard. Even Dr. A said that. Listen to TT .... I trust her whole heartedly.

[KrystaLyn]

Beth, If it were me, I wouldn't go backwards. I would just push through this doing what you are doing. You don't want to accustom your body to only eating induction foods. The point is getting to your goal weight eating a variety of foods so that by the time you are on maintenance you have an entire list of whole foods that you can pick from. You don't want to get to the point where you are maintaining and go up simply because you eat a 1/2 a piece of fruit!

I remember when I did this the first time back in 02. There was a lady on here that lost a huge amount of weight in a very short period of time by staying on induction the entire time. She was big on here and I'm sure there are a bunch of people that would remember her. Once she was maintaining, she commented on how she kindof wished she hadn't stayed on induction the whole time becuase of how hard it was for her to start adding foods back on maintenance, and she was only adding in more veggies at that point! I wish I could find that post, but I don't think the cache goes back that far. Anyway, it's something I have always remebered as a testimony of how important it is to follow the steps of this plan. But of course, it's always up to you and how you feel about it.

If it makes you feel any better, we ALL have stalls. I'm sure I'm hitting my second one since the beginning of April. Even though I know a lot of it has to do with my pill, it is still FRUSTRATING. But I am determined to do this the right way. I know I am eating healthy food and I know eventually I will start losing again.

I hope I don't sound like I'm lecturing.

[AuntieMame]

That article was really interesting. Very motivating. I rarely get to the ML so I would have missed it.

BTW ~ Great post, Krysta!

[seb]

Beth, it is interesting that this discussion is going on here today, because I was thinking about this subject and you yesterday.

I was reading one of my Atkins books, Atkins For Life, and he was talking about moving up the carb ladder. You have added in things like yogurt, nuts, berries, etc...but you haven't added many more total carbs to your diet. You should be figuring out what your CCL is right now, which means moving up in 5 carb increments to see how you are affected.

I wouldn't go backwards at all, in fact, if I were you and so close to goal, I would be added more total carbs in per day, as recommended in the book. Krysta is right about people not adding carbs in, then having a terrible time keeping their weight down. This has happened to too many people to count in the years that I've been on this board. One lady spent her whole time on Stillmans, very low carb and fat, and then poof, she was gone. Why, because we found out later that when she started adding carbs in, she started gaining weight. She had been the poster child for Stillmans, but in the end she failed because of how she did it.

Be encouraged that you have lost so much weight. Just think about how big those pants were on you. I know they were your bigger pants, but you've come so far! You'll get to goal, I have no doubt, but it will take some ups and downs.

[Edwards20]

See that's where I was confused ... if you have climbed the ladder, you should have more than 20 carbs, right ? That's what I try to do but it never works out to be much more than 30, 40 max. Which is about right I think.

[seb]

Candy~everyone is different about where their CCL is. Some can go over 100, but some have to stay much lower. Atkins also says it depends on activity level. So, yours might just be lower. I have no idea what mine is. Never have gotten that far in my 5 years of low carbing. What a loser I've been with this whole thing. (And not a loser in the good sense when dieting.)

[Low Carb Mommy]

OK guys! I realize that I have a lot to learn still. I am really confused right now. I am going to have to ask a lot of questions from those who understand the carb ladder.

First of all, I want to tell you what my understanding of the carb ladder has been. In my mind during the OWL phase of Atkins, you are adding more veggies(the really low ones), and salad, cheese, nuts, berries etc. learning which ones effect your body positively or negatively. You increase your carb count by doing this in order to find out just how many carbs you can eat and still lose.

OK, this is where I am confused. My carbs have been under 30 carbs (and I don't let them get that close too often because I know I won't lose anything) and I have lost very slow and now not at all. He says continue to go up in carbs as long as you are losing steadily. I wouldn't call my weight loss as steadily. So, that would lead me to believe that my CCLL level would be around 30.

Now, I still have anywhere from 10-15 pounds to lose. Why would I up my carbs at this point and start pre-maintaining? Also, what makes someone gain weight when they start adding back foods? Is it that their bodies are not used to the food? Is it that they are adding too much too quickly?

My ketone sticks have gotten to only a trace these last few days. Does that mean that my carb counts have been too high? But look at them....they have been low! How would uping your carbs make you start losing again? I have heard people say that. Let's say that I have a high metabolic resistance. How in the world would I be able to get to 50 or 60 carbs and not gain weight? I just don't understand this at all!! Help!

[Sadler_Girl]

Everyone is diffrent is right. I know the last 10-15 are the hardest and will be the slowest to lose sorry. As far as the sticks they will verry from all kinds of stuff too much nor enough water high amounts of fat. I only trust them so far.
As far as the what makes everyone gain, from what I have seen that just depends on you. Some people can eat stuff others can't. Trail and error is the only way.
Sense you are so close to goal you can add back in more stuff fruit nuts veggies ( more verrities of those).
Sorry I am not very helpful.

[Low Carb Mommy]

Thanks Sadler Girl for the kind words. I just want to do it right. Back to reading the book and understanding better. I don't want to gain my weight back...terrified that the answer I have found to living thin might come back to bite me if I don't do it right!

[Sadler_Girl]

Just remember if you do see a small blip in the scale it will pass but try new foods. If the food gets boring that when you would be most temtted to go off plan. Try new stuff and add one new thing at a time.
I see alot of posts where people rush too add stuff then BOOM they go up and have to figure out what, and keep in mind it is like learning to eat all over agian.

[KrystaLyn]

Beth, I am going to think about this for awhile before I try to help answer your questions. I will be back!

[Tippy Toes]

Originally Posted by Low Carb Mommy

OK guys! I realize that I have a lot to learn still. I am really confused right now. I am going to have to ask a lot of questions from those who understand the carb ladder.

First of all, I want to tell you what my understanding of the carb ladder has been. In my mind during the OWL phase of Atkins, you are adding more veggies(the really low ones), and salad, cheese, nuts, berries etc. learning which ones effect your body positively or negatively. You increase your carb count by doing this in order to find out just how many carbs you can eat and still lose.

OK, this is where I am confused. My carbs have been under 30 carbs (and I don't let them get that close too often because I know I won't lose anything) and I have lost very slow and now not at all. He says continue to go up in carbs as long as you are losing steadily. I wouldn't call my weight loss as steadily. So, that would lead me to believe that my CCLL level would be around 30.

Now, I still have anywhere from 10-15 pounds to lose. Why would I up my carbs at this point and start pre-maintaining? Also, what makes someone gain weight when they start adding back foods? Is it that their bodies are not used to the food? Is it that they are adding too much too quickly?

My ketone sticks have gotten to only a trace these last few days. Does that mean that my carb counts have been too high? But look at them....they have been low! How would uping your carbs make you start losing again? I have heard people say that. Let's say that I have a high metabolic resistance. How in the world would I be able to get to 50 or 60 carbs and not gain weight? I just don't understand this at all!! Help!

I say wait to up the carbs... OWL=ongoing weight loss and if you aren't losing this isn't time.

[KrystaLyn]

Beth, I sent you a PM!

[Edwards20]

Beth ... I don't have an answer for you. I am certainly no expert, and sometimes the things I say confuse people more. I am just going to pray that God sends you the right advice, and that I don't hinder you with my comments.

[Tippy Toes]

Beth, I am curious to see how the fiber went. Pretend it is orange Tang...

[Livywilltim-mom]

Beth,
I have ABSOLUTELY no advice regarding your stall or moving up the carb ladder...BUT, I want you to know that like Candy, I am praying that God will guide your information gathering and choices.
Peace

[Tippy Toes]

Beth, I did dig up some interesting info. It surprised me. There could be a reason why some folks do up the carbs/veggies and begin to lose again so perhaps I am wrong to say not to try it. I sent you a PM about some study out, ect...

[Sadler_Girl]

Good Morning Beth!