Atkins explanation

shortie_sarah

Before I begin, I know the majority of people on this site will bash Atkins/HFLC diets... I'm not looking for negative naysayers about low carb dieting.. I've made my decision to start this diet (lifestyle change). With that said, the point to this post..

Today is day 8 since starting Atkins. The first few days I had the 'typical' Atkins results, lost a few pounds, headaches, felt weak and tired. By about day 4 I felt AMAZING! All the negative effects went away... as well as the weight loss . In fact, of the 4 pounds I lost, I've gained 3 back and have been stuck there for 4 days. Now, I know weight loss takes time. I'm being patient with it, not feeling worried, but I am looking for an explanation. I just want to understand what the problem is.

I've been maintaining my carbs at 20 or under. I weigh all carb foods down to the gram to make sure it's accurate. I'm testing my ketones and I've been registering 40-80 mg/dL so I know I'm in ketosis and burning fat for fuel. Just not understanding why my weight isn't budging.

ladymiseryali

Sounds like water retention to me. With low carb, your sodium tends to be nigher, which is normal. I would get more potassium in you, as well as more water to counteract the retention. I do keto, which is basically Atkins induction, and I've been doing this for over a year now. I try to drink 40 cups of water a day, 30 at the least.

shortie_sarah

Thanks. I know I don't get enough water and that's something I should work on. Also, I can feel the retention because my hands are all puffy. <grabs a bottle water>

RunnersLament

BUMP!

I'm interested in the HFLC diets myself as I always have issues with what is almost a carb addiction. Once I start eating sweets, I can't stop.

Interesting advice re: Potassium to counter the sodium.

LeonCX

Low carb forums are full of people who stall out. I think it's because many think calories don't count. The debate will continue, but I still think it's about caloric intake.

MelRC117

BUMP!

I'm interested in the HFLC diets myself as I always have issues with what is almost a carb addiction. Once I start eating sweets, I can't stop.

Interesting advice re: Potassium to counter the sodium.

When eating low carb, your body dumps sodium and potassium and you need to make sure you have enough of those on a LCHF diet. Which is another important reason to drink plenty of water when eating HFLC.

Arleigh7

Yep..it's Water. I've been doing low carb forever and it's what works for me. Sugar is my enemy in many many ways.

Another tip my doctor gave me is add Fiber to your diet. I add a teaspoon of a fiber supplement to a glass of water with breakfast and another at dinner. I have also kept increasing my green veges as this adds more fiber and they have very low carbs.

When you look at carbs you can deduct the grams of Fiber in a food from the total Carbohydrates. Fiber is a carbohydrate but it doesn't get broken down or absorbed. So food that has 10 grams of carbs but has 5 grams of fiber is only delivering a net of 5 grams of carbs.

So Water and Fiber are your best friends on this lifestyle. Or at least they have been for me.

And last piece of advice..it's a journey. So do your best to stick with it and don't sweat it when you cheat just get back on board as quick as you can. It's going to take time but in 6 months you'll be so proud of yourself. There always is a quick drop when you start low carb due to the 1st effect is the quick short term drop in water weight.

All the best!

PikaKnight

Before I begin, I know the majority of people on this site will bash Atkins/HFLC diets... I'm not looking for negative naysayers about low carb dieting.. I've made my decision to start this diet (lifestyle change). With that said, the point to this post..

Today is day 8 since starting Atkins. The first few days I had the 'typical' Atkins results, lost a few pounds, headaches, felt weak and tired. By about day 4 I felt AMAZING! All the negative effects went away... as well as the weight loss . In fact, of the 4 pounds I lost, I've gained 3 back and have been stuck there for 4 days. Now, I know weight loss takes time. I'm being patient with it, not feeling worried, but I am looking for an explanation. I just want to understand what the problem is.

I've been maintaining my carbs at 20 or under. I weigh all carb foods down to the gram to make sure it's accurate. I'm testing my ketones and I've been registering 40-80 mg/dL so I know I'm in ketosis and burning fat for fuel. Just not understanding why my weight isn't budging.

It's been 8 days. Be patient and give it a little longer.

Just make sure, regardless of what diet or whatever you follow, to log everything and do it everyday and make sure that you are staying in a calorie defict. If you aren't eating at a deficit, you aren't going to lose weight.

And note weight fluctuates..sometimes a lot due to water retention, food intake, etc. Pick one day and time to weigh and do that versus everyday since you are getting worried about it.

ladymiseryali

Low carb forums are full of people who stall out. I think it's because many think calories don't count. The debate will continue, but I still think it's about caloric intake.

Stalls happen for a number of reasons, not just because of lack of calorie counting. Most on low carb don't count calories because their fat and protein intake are satiating enough that they create a deficit.

shortie_sarah

Before I begin, I know the majority of people on this site will bash Atkins/HFLC diets... I'm not looking for negative naysayers about low carb dieting.. I've made my decision to start this diet (lifestyle change). With that said, the point to this post..

Today is day 8 since starting Atkins. The first few days I had the 'typical' Atkins results, lost a few pounds, headaches, felt weak and tired. By about day 4 I felt AMAZING! All the negative effects went away... as well as the weight loss . In fact, of the 4 pounds I lost, I've gained 3 back and have been stuck there for 4 days. Now, I know weight loss takes time. I'm being patient with it, not feeling worried, but I am looking for an explanation. I just want to understand what the problem is.

I've been maintaining my carbs at 20 or under. I weigh all carb foods down to the gram to make sure it's accurate. I'm testing my ketones and I've been registering 40-80 mg/dL so I know I'm in ketosis and burning fat for fuel. Just not understanding why my weight isn't budging.

It's been 8 days. Be patient and give it a little longer.

Just make sure, regardless of what diet or whatever you follow, to log everything and do it everyday and make sure that you are staying in a calorie defict. If you aren't eating at a deficit, you aren't going to lose weight.

And note weight fluctuates..sometimes a lot due to water retention, food intake, etc. Pick one day and time to weigh and do that versus everyday since you are getting worried about it.

I am being patient, I just wanted an explanation to understand. From all that I've read, the first 2 weeks of Atkins is supposed to give you a decent weight loss (i know most will be water) and wanted to understand why I wasn't achieving this.

simplydelish2

I don't follow Atkins per se but I do eat a fairly low net carb diet. With high protein/high fat I've found that drinking a ton of water is essential.

I also find the moderate carbs help be lose more weight than really low carbs. You may want to experiment just a bit.

The other item is that you say you are measuring your carbs - are you measuring/weighing your protein and fats? Regardless of diet, you still need a deficit to lose weight.

Good luck!

shortie_sarah

Low carb forums are full of people who stall out. I think it's because many think calories don't count. The debate will continue, but I still think it's about caloric intake.

Stalls happen for a number of reasons, not just because of lack of calorie counting. Most on low carb don't count calories because their fat and protein intake are satiating enough that they create a deficit.

in response to feeling satiated... I agree! Sine starting I am just simply not hungry. No cravings at all. People have eaten mac and cheese and cheetos around me (things I used to love) and it didn't phase me one bit.

PikaKnight

Before I begin, I know the majority of people on this site will bash Atkins/HFLC diets... I'm not looking for negative naysayers about low carb dieting.. I've made my decision to start this diet (lifestyle change). With that said, the point to this post..

Today is day 8 since starting Atkins. The first few days I had the 'typical' Atkins results, lost a few pounds, headaches, felt weak and tired. By about day 4 I felt AMAZING! All the negative effects went away... as well as the weight loss . In fact, of the 4 pounds I lost, I've gained 3 back and have been stuck there for 4 days. Now, I know weight loss takes time. I'm being patient with it, not feeling worried, but I am looking for an explanation. I just want to understand what the problem is.

I've been maintaining my carbs at 20 or under. I weigh all carb foods down to the gram to make sure it's accurate. I'm testing my ketones and I've been registering 40-80 mg/dL so I know I'm in ketosis and burning fat for fuel. Just not understanding why my weight isn't budging.

It's been 8 days. Be patient and give it a little longer.

Just make sure, regardless of what diet or whatever you follow, to log everything and do it everyday and make sure that you are staying in a calorie defict. If you aren't eating at a deficit, you aren't going to lose weight.

And note weight fluctuates..sometimes a lot due to water retention, food intake, etc. Pick one day and time to weigh and do that versus everyday since you are getting worried about it.

I am being patient, I just wanted an explanation to understand. From all that I've read, the first 2 weeks of Atkins is supposed to give you a decent weight loss (i know most will be water) and wanted to understand why I wasn't achieving this.

Well, it might mean water retention due to sodium intake, change in exercise routine/intensity or activity level, or you are eating more than you think despite cutting carbs.

The reason there is a "decent" weight loss at the first two weeks is more due to the glycogen depletion versus fat loss. Either you aren't cutting as many carbs as you think or it's the examples above.

shortie_sarah

Today the scale finally budged by 2 lbs

Turtlesallthewaydown

I've been on keto for 2 weeks and a few days. I've lost 11lbs. But it hasn't all been in one go, I'll be up three or four pounds for days and then finally the scale will go down a bit. And then it can go back up again before it comes back down.
Water, sodium, hormones and accidentally ingesting too many carbs all effect me pretty quickly since I'm just at the beginning.
Focus on non-scale victories like not craving those things you used to while you wait on weight loss. Dealing only in weight lost will put you in jeopardy if you don't see the scale move enough and become discouraged and fall off the wagon. (Which is what usually happens to me)