Looking for Atkins advise

Each time I do Atkins I lose an initial 6-8 pounds and then stall....big time. I am a nutritionist and have been studying this for YEARS so I know what to do. Reality check:
I have 30 pounds to lose
I eat 20 net carbs or a little less
I eat the foundation vegetables every day
I eat around 1200 calories per day
I have little chance to excercise due to work travel but I do try
I bounce in and out of ketosis regularly with no idea why
I avoid alcohol for induction and might add vodka or white wine on rare occaisions

I would appreciate some advise on how to really keep the weight loss going...it just doesnt happen to me. I will go 6-8 weeks and get fed up...again... if I dont see some progress!!

Replies

  • martinah4
    martinah4 Posts: 583 Member
    That's a tough one. On paper, it sounds like you're doing everything right. Are you eating too much cheese, nuts, or hidden sugars? Caffeine?
    I'm going through my own plateau right now, and I think I've narrowed down the culprits to Peanut butter and almonds. Darn nuts!
    Don't give up...even if you aren't losing, you're still doing a great service to your body by eating and maintaining this lifestyle!
    Is your diary open for viewing?
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    I bounce in and out of ketosis regularly with no idea why

    Too much protein is one possibility.

    You didn't give much away about yourself, but 1200 may not be much of a deficit (or a deficit at all) if your metabolism has slowed a bit.
  • baffybalfour1
    baffybalfour1 Posts: 2 Member
    Hi Jan,
    I had the same problem as yourself and started to experiment myself. I have found that i consistently lose weight if i keep my carbs under 10-12 a day. Very easily done. I eat more salad items than i do veggies as apparently they digest quicker and i excercise often. But to me the biggest thing that is vital to my weight loss is water. I drink about 4 pints of water when i get home up to bed time. In the morning and afternoon i have a couple of decaff coffees with double cream and drink about 3x750ml bottles of water. I spend all day in the bathroom:happy: but defi worth it. Hope that helps.

    Looking for new Atkin buddies so feel free to add me as a friend
  • janetteluparia
    janetteluparia Posts: 318 Member
    I will try this, thanks. I am 48, 5'7" and right now....181.8 pounds. Ulitmate goal 150, will be happy at 160.
  • janetteluparia
    janetteluparia Posts: 318 Member
    Baffybalfour, thanks. Looks like I should pay more attention to water. I do drink it all the time but I dont really track the amount. Pee all the time....ugh! @Yarwell, thanks for your thoughts. See my stats on previous post and feel free to share your thoughts. Pu_239, the previous post I think was for you. Martinha4-no nuts yet. I havent been keeping a good journal for awhile. Found I was becoming dangeruosly obsessed so I have been keeping a diary to double check where I am every few days. I am pretty predictable on food. I plan to start resistance training again as soon as the Dr. clears me from tendonitis. About 2 weeks. Need to protect and gain some muscle mass. Ketosis has been better this week. light ketones to medium daily.

    Thank you all! I feel so much better!!
  • steinbok
    steinbok Posts: 82
    Wouldn't u say that balance is the key? I've never been a fan of atkins. I'm vegetarian for one thing, I've seen examples where it's not sustainable for a long period. I know a friend who did it, lost a lot of weight with it, then put even more of it on, on the back end. That could go with any "diet". Just eat sensibly.
  • janetteluparia
    janetteluparia Posts: 318 Member
    Well Steinbok, I am a nutritionist...of traditional nutrition education. What I have learned is that I cant eat things that Atkins discourages. I just cant. Even in moderation I gain. I have used moderation and calorie counting with whole grain, fruits vegetables and eating based on meeting all of my nutritional needs and until I embraced Atkins and the science behind it including keeping my pancreas quiet by not requiring an insulin response I just yo-yo dieted for years. It works. Plain and simple but you have to tweak it to your personal needs. I have never been obese, thank god. But I am a small framed person. I was thin my whole life until I had kids, slowed down and partied on the weekends. It slowly crept up. With each pregnancy and was very difficult to lose. Now that I am approaching 50 I have to accept the fact that in order to get this weight off for good I have to listen to my body. Plain and simple, easy to digest and water packed veggies and berries are the only form of carbohydrate I can have and lose weight, albeit slow.... I can never go back to eating lots of rice, even brown, breads and occaisonal treats such as chips. Lean meat, veggies, berries are it. I feel better, my inflamation markers are down and even though it is painstakingly slow at about 1/2 pound per week if I am lucky, that's what it is. Everything else has failed. The science of Atkins has contributed to today's diabetic guidelines and while I am not at risk....it is a lifestyle I have become resigned to embrace. I still need help and encouragement like everyone else despite my resolve.