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Full Version: Help!
What am I doing wrong? I have completely cut out any sugar and sweets (you don't understand the trauma involved there) and have stayed under 20 carbs/day and I feel like a huge cow! I feel bloated and lazy. My diet has consisted of summer sausage with cheese, celery and PB, peanuts, hamburger, and egg salad. I haven't researched lots of low carb foods yet so eventually my menu will expand. I thought after the first week, I would feel better and would have lost a few pounds. I feel like I have gained! I am not doing well at my portion sizes but don't feel like they've been out of control either. Losing 10 pounds will put my BMI at a normal range but I'd like to lose 15. I'm 5'5, 150 pounds. Is it going to come off slower since I'm not severely overweight? I thought this would go alot easier. I feel like giving up. I'm afraid to step on the scale because a gain will discourage me even more. Any thoughts? Thanks!
PS: I love this site. Just what
I needed. Now, give me some
advice that I wanna hear!!!
PS: I love this site. Just what
I needed. Now, give me some
advice that I wanna hear!!!
Hi Trig,
I'm going to suggest cutting out the peanuts. They are so easy to overdo, and if they are salted, you will be retaining water as well. I'm not sure what summer sausage is, but take a look at whats in it. There could be sugar products in it.
How about picking up some chicken, ground beef to make bunless cheese burgers, bacon, lots of eggs. Buy meat that you like, and either bbq or fry them. You will probably find that if you vary your diet a bit more you will feel better too.
Scrappy
I'm going to suggest cutting out the peanuts. They are so easy to overdo, and if they are salted, you will be retaining water as well. I'm not sure what summer sausage is, but take a look at whats in it. There could be sugar products in it.
How about picking up some chicken, ground beef to make bunless cheese burgers, bacon, lots of eggs. Buy meat that you like, and either bbq or fry them. You will probably find that if you vary your diet a bit more you will feel better too.
Scrappy
I recommend getting a low carb book, and doing low carb by the book. (I really like Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution because you can customize it to your own tastes, preferences, metabolic requirements, budget, and so on.)
For me, actual sit-down, non-snacky meals work best.
For me, actual sit-down, non-snacky meals work best.
trig73
Is it possible there is something else going on with your body right now such as TOM. Summer sausage and peanuts probably have a lot of salt in them as well. I agree with everyone else. Less peanuts, get a book, and use the clothing method to determine if you are getting smaller, not the scale.
And to answer your question, yes, you will probably lose slower if you are down to the last 10 lbs. Remember to think of weight loss in percentages and not lbs. as in you can expect to lose 5% of your body weight in the first 2 weeks as an example. That means if you weigh 300 lbs. that would be 15 lbs. vs. 7.5 lbs. for a 150 lb. person. So keep that in mind and don't feel frustrated just yet. Good luck!
Is it possible there is something else going on with your body right now such as TOM. Summer sausage and peanuts probably have a lot of salt in them as well. I agree with everyone else. Less peanuts, get a book, and use the clothing method to determine if you are getting smaller, not the scale.
And to answer your question, yes, you will probably lose slower if you are down to the last 10 lbs. Remember to think of weight loss in percentages and not lbs. as in you can expect to lose 5% of your body weight in the first 2 weeks as an example. That means if you weigh 300 lbs. that would be 15 lbs. vs. 7.5 lbs. for a 150 lb. person. So keep that in mind and don't feel frustrated just yet. Good luck!
I don't want you to get discouraged by what I am saying, the last thing I would ever do is pick on anyone, but I cannot figure out a good way to say your choices really are not the best. Your body is different than mine, but if I ate what you are eating, I would gain weight.
Atkins is mostly about making choices that include whole, real and fresh foods. LindaSue has an entire site of recipes that are great, and could help you, if you are interested. She posts a lot in the Recipes section. Low carb is a process, and you really should try to get a book and read it, so that you can fully understand what is giong on inside that makes this work.
As for your food - again, I am going to share my expereiences, and your body might be different, but I cannot eat highly processed meats like summer sausage, salami or even bacon on a regular basis, because it causes my weightloss to slow way down. The same goes for cheese and peanuts, I really have to be careful how much I eat, and have actually completely cut out peanuts. Lastly the egg salad, really look at what you are making it with, because sometimes even real mayo contains sugar. It took me a while to find a mayo that does not contain sugar, despite the carb count being acceptable. I am not able to find peanut butter that is acceptable for me to eat. Either they have a lot of sugar, or a lot of trans fats, and I have problems with both. I also have a problem sticking to a decent portion, because the carb count is so high, and a serving size is small.
You are doing well with the hamburger, but are you eating it plain? Ketchup has carbs, even the sugar free still has some, so you may have to be careful about portion sizes.
I think it would do you well to buy a book, or at the very least check out th egreat information posted here about getting started. I feel confident if you make a few modifications to your food choices, you will feel a lot better. Maybe in the coming week, you can try to eat some other meats, and vegetables, and like foods on the acceptable foods list. I had a lot of difficulty wrapping my head around a lot of this when I first started, but once I got it, it is second nature now.
Good luck! Please keep us posted on your progress.
Atkins is mostly about making choices that include whole, real and fresh foods. LindaSue has an entire site of recipes that are great, and could help you, if you are interested. She posts a lot in the Recipes section. Low carb is a process, and you really should try to get a book and read it, so that you can fully understand what is giong on inside that makes this work.
As for your food - again, I am going to share my expereiences, and your body might be different, but I cannot eat highly processed meats like summer sausage, salami or even bacon on a regular basis, because it causes my weightloss to slow way down. The same goes for cheese and peanuts, I really have to be careful how much I eat, and have actually completely cut out peanuts. Lastly the egg salad, really look at what you are making it with, because sometimes even real mayo contains sugar. It took me a while to find a mayo that does not contain sugar, despite the carb count being acceptable. I am not able to find peanut butter that is acceptable for me to eat. Either they have a lot of sugar, or a lot of trans fats, and I have problems with both. I also have a problem sticking to a decent portion, because the carb count is so high, and a serving size is small.
You are doing well with the hamburger, but are you eating it plain? Ketchup has carbs, even the sugar free still has some, so you may have to be careful about portion sizes.
I think it would do you well to buy a book, or at the very least check out th egreat information posted here about getting started. I feel confident if you make a few modifications to your food choices, you will feel a lot better. Maybe in the coming week, you can try to eat some other meats, and vegetables, and like foods on the acceptable foods list. I had a lot of difficulty wrapping my head around a lot of this when I first started, but once I got it, it is second nature now.
Good luck! Please keep us posted on your progress.
Hang in there. As others have said, this is a process.
My motto remains, I didn't gain it overnight, I won't lose it overnight.
Others have told you to read the book. If you are trying to do atkins, you must read the book. Go to atkins.com and read the acceptable foods during induction. Peanuts and peanut butter are not acceptable on induction (and I assume that since you are on day 5, it is still induction. I apologize if my assumption is incorrect.)
Also, you must read the label on your summer sausage. I love italian sausages, but each brand has a different recipe and a different carb count. Its not 'pure protein" so that could be causing your issue. Also, sausage is highly salted, as are those peanuts (one of my downfalls, peanuts).
As Simon mentioned above, try to focus on natural foods...not overly processed ones. A hamburger with a slice of cheese (count the carbs), a cup of leafy greens with an oily dressing (to better absorb the nutrients) ...
You'll get there....
My motto remains, I didn't gain it overnight, I won't lose it overnight.
Others have told you to read the book. If you are trying to do atkins, you must read the book. Go to atkins.com and read the acceptable foods during induction. Peanuts and peanut butter are not acceptable on induction (and I assume that since you are on day 5, it is still induction. I apologize if my assumption is incorrect.)
Also, you must read the label on your summer sausage. I love italian sausages, but each brand has a different recipe and a different carb count. Its not 'pure protein" so that could be causing your issue. Also, sausage is highly salted, as are those peanuts (one of my downfalls, peanuts).
As Simon mentioned above, try to focus on natural foods...not overly processed ones. A hamburger with a slice of cheese (count the carbs), a cup of leafy greens with an oily dressing (to better absorb the nutrients) ...
You'll get there....
I eat a lot of water packed tuna when I am stalling and it seems to help break a stall
Hey Trig, I agree with Valerie: YOU GOTTA READ THE BOOK! It will save you a TON of headaches like you are experiencing now and you'll know peanuts aren't exactly a good choice when you are first beginning a low-carb diet.
My suggestion for a book is Living The Low-Carb Life by Dr. Jonny Bowden. It gives an EXCELLENT overview of the low-carb lifestyle and then a comparison and rating of each of the 19 or so major low-carb plans. It's a MUST-HAVE book for anyone trying to do low-carb.
YOU CAN DO THIS, so DON'T GIVE UP!!!
My suggestion for a book is Living The Low-Carb Life by Dr. Jonny Bowden. It gives an EXCELLENT overview of the low-carb lifestyle and then a comparison and rating of each of the 19 or so major low-carb plans. It's a MUST-HAVE book for anyone trying to do low-carb.
YOU CAN DO THIS, so DON'T GIVE UP!!!
| QUOTE (trig73 @ Oct 3 2007, 11:01 PM) |
| What am I doing wrong? I have completely cut out any sugar and sweets (you don't understand the trauma involved there) and have stayed under 20 carbs/day and I feel like a huge cow! I feel bloated and lazy. My diet has consisted of summer sausage with cheese, celery and PB, peanuts, hamburger, and egg salad. I haven't researched lots of low carb foods yet so eventually my menu will expand. I thought after the first week, I would feel better and would have lost a few pounds. I feel like I have gained! I am not doing well at my portion sizes but don't feel like they've been out of control either. Losing 10 pounds will put my BMI at a normal range but I'd like to lose 15. I'm 5'5, 150 pounds. Is it going to come off slower since I'm not severely overweight? I thought this would go alot easier. I feel like giving up. I'm afraid to step on the scale because a gain will discourage me even more. Any thoughts? Thanks! PS: I love this site. Just what I needed. Now, give me some advice that I wanna hear!!! |
Oh darlin, we DO understand the trauma involved in cutting out sweets and sugar! That's why we're here! :-)
You've definitely got some research to do. I'm seeing no veggies in your menu and if you keep eating like that odds are you're going to get really bored. I'm not even counting the celery as a veggie because it's mostly water and fiber, like iceberg lettuce. You should be starting out with at least 20 grams of carbohydrate a day (not counting fiber), and at least half of that 20 should be from low-carb acceptable veggies. Less is not more for most people. Eat them veggies!
I'm going to take a guess that part of the reason you're feeling bloatey and lazy MIGHT be at least partially due to constipation, since you're not eating substantial veggies? Peanuts and summer sausage are also likely to be salty, and too much salt will make you retain water like whoa. Also, I find if I let my veggie consumption slack off, I get hungry, tired, and irritable. I suggest broccoli florets, and lots of 'em. :-D Pooping is good. ;-)
You need to research those low-carb foods ASAP so that you can properly fuel your body. Metabolism is not something to take for granted. A lot of people have found that out the hard way.
It might not be the advice you WANNA hear, but it's the advice you NEED to hear...if you haven't researched and picked a plan, do so. Learn it inside and out. Also you must recognize that low-carb is for life...it can be particularly unforgiving of cheating, and if you just do it until you lose the weight and go back to eating "normal", you WILL gain it all back and probably some more. Not trying to scare you...it just is what it is.
A lot of people who don't have a lot of weight to lose find that they lose slowly in comparison to people who have a lot of weight to lose. That's normal and okay. As long as you are losing you're doing good, even if it's slow.
You don't really have a lot of weight to lose, honestly you MIGHT be better off just simply cutting out flour, potatoes, and sugar if you ate a lot of that before and carefully monitoring your whole grain and legume (bean) intake. Being aware of the kind and quality of the carbs you eat can go a long way.
But if you want to do a full fledged plan like Atkins, South Beach, Protein Power, etc, you really need to do some research as to what lowcarb is and isn't (there is a LOT of patently false or misleading info out there, and the media isn't very helpful). Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution is a great book to start, and in the meantime if you go to www.atkins.com you can get a good start with food lists. (Try to ignore their plugs of Atkins products for now, it's better to just eat real, whole food).
Welcome!
Nikki
| QUOTE (Npnfeef @ Oct 4 2007, 04:11 PM) |
| Pooping is good. ;-) |
I got a good chuckle from this. You're right, it is good
| QUOTE (trig73 @ Oct 4 2007, 12:01 AM) |
| Is it going to come off slower since I'm not severely overweight? |
Yes. When I started Atkins, I lost 20 lbs the first month. I let my weight creep up about 5lbs over the last 6 months and I figure it'll take at least a month to drop it.
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