Five weeks in, no loss but gaining inches???

JennypegMarie

Hey gang.

I'm really stuck here..
Week 5 I have gradually dropped carbs from 50 -20g
my stats are now;
Fat 90-100g
Protein 70g
cals 14-1500

Wk 1 -3lb
By week 2 back on
Wk 4 measurements -2inches waist
Wk 5
+5 inches waist
+1IN collar (I measure everywhere)
+ 2IN bust
+ 1 inch calves

Ive got to the point now where i seriously want to come off but this woe is having awesome results in others!!

I'm dropping the cream and having fat free quark as from yesterday in case its that.

any advice would be helpful.

Acoording to ketostix I am in ketosis, ++ some people say not to read them but info is there.

Activities I have a disability that hinders physical workout so not majorly active but swin, small walks, cleaning etc.

Look forward to some advice

thank you.

KnitOrMiss

I'd look at your diary for triggers, but it isn't public. The things that jump to mind are:

1) not enough sodium - will make you swell/get edema.
2) artificial sweetners. @Karlottap gained almost 20 pounds in a single month with them due to inflammation.
3) some sort of food intolerance - swelling most in the waist signals to me some type of gut distress...what did you add or remove to your diet lately???
4) not enough water - again, will cause swelling and retention...
5) gluten/wheat reactions

Anything else isn't one of my defaults without looking at your diary.

And that being said, I'd truly ask how you're feeling. If you're feeling great, I'd keep with the plan at least 6-12 weeks before deciding anything. Since you are disabled and likely have some metabolic dysfunction to have ended up on this WOE, you may have to do some internal healing before your body will start burning fat intensely. There are many to whom this happens. Typically, the body can't heal and lose weight at the same time. Healing nearly always comes first. The first week of loss was mostly released water retention combined with a small bit of burned fat. @FIT_Goat may be able to explain the healing before losing process better, as one of his friends ended up slowly gaining weight over 6 months, but making major health strides during that time - and then started dropping weight like crazy once all the "repair" was mostly handled... It's crazy how the body works.

But the biggest thing I would say is, go to the Launchpad post here, focus on getting your basics nailed down, and follow your plan for at least 12 weeks before giving up! It can take that long for your body to catch up to the process...

JennypegMarie

KnitOrMiss wrote: »

I'd look at your diary for triggers, but it isn't public. The things that jump to mind are:

1) not enough sodium - will make you swell/get edema.
2) artificial sweetners. @Karlottap gained almost 20 pounds in a single month with them due to inflammation.
3) some sort of food intolerance - swelling most in the waist signals to me some type of gut distress...what did you add or remove to your diet lately???
4) not enough water - again, will cause swelling and retention...
5) gluten/wheat reactions

Anything else isn't one of my defaults without looking at your diary.

And that being said, I'd truly ask how you're feeling. If you're feeling great, I'd keep with the plan at least 6-12 weeks before deciding anything. Since you are disabled and likely have some metabolic dysfunction to have ended up on this WOE, you may have to do some internal healing before your body will start burning fat intensely. There are many to whom this happens. Typically, the body can't heal and lose weight at the same time. Healing nearly always comes first. The first week of loss was mostly released water retention combined with a small bit of burned fat. @FIT_Goat may be able to explain the healing before losing process better, as one of his friends ended up slowly gaining weight over 6 months, but making major health strides during that time - and then started dropping weight like crazy once all the "repair" was mostly handled... It's crazy how the body works.

But the biggest thing I would say is, go to the Launchpad post here, focus on getting your basics nailed down, and follow your plan for at least 12 weeks before giving up! It can take that long for your body to catch up to the process...

Thank you for your feedback.

I'm off to an appointment right now but I'll post back in detail for you.

I appreciate the advice. Thank you

FIT_Goat

First, I'll second the thing about avoiding artificial sweeteners. They caused me to gain massive amounts when I experimented with increasing them in a controlled manner. If you're eating them, cut them out.

Second, everyone is an individual and some people are more sensitive to carbs than others. For some people, 20 grams of carbs is way too much at the start. Some people have to start lower. Keep on dropping them, or start at 0 and work your way up 5g at a time (the original Atkin's method). As you lose weight and heal, you may be able to tolerate more carbs than you can right now.

Third, healing is the very first thing your body is concerned about. Think of it like this, someone is in a horrible car accident. Their legs are broken, their nose is broken and distorted, and they have stopped breathing. Well, that nose makes them look pretty bad. Should we fix that first? No way! The broken nose isn't going to kill them. We worry about breathing first. Once they're breathing, we're going to take care of those legs. Those are the next most important injury. We'll get to the nose, eventually. It's the last thing to fix because it's the least critical for health/life. Your excess weight is the same. Fat doesn't look good and we want it gone, but fat is often the least of the evils. Fat is often the response to reduce the damage of other processes going wrong. Fat protects us from things that would kill us sooner (high blood sugar, for example). So, the body is going to go in order of most important for health. It will get to the weight, but weight is often the broken nose of health.

Fourth, I would up your protein. Yeah, I am sure that 70 grams is a "fine" amount, but protein is used to rebuild and heal. You want more than the bare minimum while you heal. It will allow things to go as fast as your body is capable. Don't worry about 100-120 grams a day, or even more, being too much. It's not going to harm you, and it's very likely to help.

Finally, relax. Take this easy and remember that it's a slow process. You didn't get in this situation in a month or two, and it won't be a month or two to get out. Give your body time and trust the process. Stressing about not losing as fast as others will only make it worse because your body doesn't want to lose fat in times of stress.

NonnaTurtle

@JennypegMarie
I am routing for you! I am so impressed with the detailed advice @KnitOrMiss and @FIT_Goat have given you. They are so helpful.

Hey, I've been in the same boat as you. If my story of how I got here is helpful....


Back in March, before I ever thought about any type of LC WOE, I heard a segment on NPR talking about 'Leaky Gut'. Say what???...... I didnt even know that was a 'thang. I kindled the book and was astonished to realize it was me to a T. I took the Quiz and followed the recommendations to repair my gut. Depending on how 'sick' your gut is, it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 16 weeks. It took me 13 weeks and the change was A-MA-ZING!. I know, I know - I sounds like an infomercial, but I am not kidding. Learning about Leaky Gut also educated me on internal inflammation, which turned out to being the root of all evil, for me.
Besides being morbidly obese, I started have trouble walking about 12 yrs ago. I chalked it up to being obese. Over the years, the pain around my knees kept getting worse, til I could not longer manage stairs without a cane. After 2 weeks on the Leaky Gut plan, my daughter commented that I seemed to be having an easier time walking. I hadnt even noticed it, but she was right. The pain in my knees had quieted down a bit. By the time my system was 'repaired', I was able to walk thru the grocery store without leaning my entire weight on the cart. I had not been able to do that in years. I still have knee issues due to my weight (my poor knees) and I struggle on stairs, but it was eye opening.
The end of the story is, I then spend a month reading everything I could about Paleo, LC and Keto - looking for science based information. Took everything I learned and made a decision to go Keto, which I started 07-02-2016. and I am lovin it. I truly believe the reason I am having good success is exactly per the advice @KnitOrMiss and @FIT_Goat wrote you - I healed my 'Leaky Gut' before I started.

Whew! lot 'o words, there. Sorry. Hope that didnt come across as a rant. (HA!, I was getting carried away with my own story. LOL)

Good Luck! Will watch for your update. Hope all goes well.

Sunny_Bunny_

My daughter gained 30 pounds over 5 months of very low carb but regained her health. She started with an A1c of over 14 as a Type 1 Diabetic and got that down to 7 in the first 9 or 10 weeks. She got her monthly cycle back and feels good for the first time in years. As a 21 year old that couldn't go to a concert without staying seated the entire time, she wasn't having a good time.
She is just now starting to see the scale go back down very small amounts, as the 30 pounds did take her into being technically overweight, she does hope they go, but feels too good to care too much.

JennypegMarie

Guys, I can' thank you enough for this information.
Yes, I have stevia - but will cut this out as on now.

@KnitOrMiss I'm lactose intolerent so reintroducing small amounts of lactose (quark) as I thought I was eating too much l/f cream! I was having 250ml a day to stave off hunger. Some in my bpc, some on its own through the day.

Would you say it's too much on this diet??

Theres no guidlines on how much hf foods too eat, they say eat until full. I'm never full so snack on the cream. I think this is where Im going wrong but marcos are fine?

My sodium level is fine but Im worried my potassium is low- I'm getting awful palpatations.
I need to invest in the pink salt, I was desperate the other day and made the mistake of having half of rehydration salt.
glucose! - low carb but sugar non the less.

Im having advacado regularly now.
I need to drink more so thats a must also Im having no wheat or gluten at all.
im sticking to the allowed list apart from the quark, stevia & the mistake hydration salts.

I also haven't managed to have real butter. My fat is from/ was cream and extra virgin coconut oil.

Obviously from cutting sweetner and drinking more water with the pink salt, is there any other foods I should know of?

You guys are awesome, @FIT_Goat @NonnaTurtle @Sunny_Bunny_ & @KnitOrMiss
Thank you

DebSozo

Thanks for all of this information. I started keto this week and gained 3 pounds. It is scaring me. The advice about healing makes sense. I do know when inflammation is being healed the body pulls water into the tissues. Maybe I should go with this process, but I was hoping that I would lose 3 pounds the first week rather than gain. I'm wondering about the whole leaky gut thing myself. Perhaps I should read up on this phenomenon.

JennypegMarie

DebSozo wrote: »

Thanks for all of this information. I started keto this week and gained 3 pounds. It is scaring me. The advice about healing makes sense. I do know when inflammation is being healed the body pulls water into the tissues. Maybe I should go with this process, but I was hoping that I would lose 3 pounds the first week rather than gain. I'm wondering about the whole leaky gut thing myself. Perhaps I should read up on this phenomenon.

Hi @DebSozo I really can't advice you on the process but I'm there myself and I know how deflating it is.

My mother in Law is on Slimming World and has lost 2.5st, I tried it and never lost a lb...

I keep telling myself that something will work.. it has too and likely for you too.

It's likely this 1st week it will be water due to the diet change.

Feel free to add me as a friend if you want.
It's a crazy, strange journey this LCHF diet, but some people are having excellent results and health benefits so this is what is keeping me still going.

Good luck

KarlaYP

It was sucralose that had my whole body inflamed last July! After using it via sugar free coffee syrups I did gain 20 pounds. This was after avoiding all artificial sweeteners for approximately 6 months. Just know that sucralose is in almost anything that is sugar free. I have to avoid it, completely. Was the first thing I thought about when I read the title of your post.

JennypegMarie

Karlottap wrote: »

It was sucralose that had my whole body inflamed last July! After using it via sugar free coffee syrups I did gain 20 pounds. This was after avoiding all artificial sweeteners for approximately 6 months. Just know that sucralose is in almost anything that is sugar free. I have to avoid it, completely. Was the first thing I thought about when I read the title of your post.

Thank you for your input. Muchly appreciated.

kmn118

Another thread poster put a link to Dr. Eric Berg's site, where there are a LOT of videos about healing the body before weight loss. His overriding principal is that you must work toward health before weight loss. And there was an anecdote about one of his patients, who was over 300 lbs, who didn't lose for the first month but by month 3 had lost 63 lbs, by healing to that point. So, keep calm and keto on!

https://www.drberg.com/