What gives? Ilost 51/2 pounds the first week and nothing the second week. Finished induction yesterday and today (even tho I'm stayingon induction) I was up a pound! I eat only real foods. No bars no muffins no nothing. Just meat eggs and veggies and cheese and cream. Sooooo! Here's my question.

I know all about how the fat cells are supposed to be refilling with water and how the body is trying to find a balance BUT!!!!! I s there anyone here who didn't lose weight at first and then went on to lose40 or 50 pounds? And how long did it take you to start losing and how long did it take you to finish losing? I am determined to do this. but I have to know it works first!

I know this must be frustrating. The only thing I can do is tell you to hang in there. I bet the 1 lb. you are up is water retention. The majority of people who do Atkins for a while are successful with losing weight. Are you measuring? That is another indicator if you are losing.

Also, are you drinking enough water and exercising? Water makes a BIG difference as does exercise.

If you can, focus on the good things about eating this way (assuming they apply to you): more energy, better focus, etc. Please don't give up now!!

Have you tried measuring yourself too?

A big difference between low fat diets and low carb diets is that in low fat diets you lose muscle a lot easier and since muscle is very heavy it appears that you have lost more weight. In low carb diets you lose mainly fat which weighes less but has a lot of bulk. Especially if you are exercising you can actually gain weight and lose inches.

Both my parents, who followed atkins, lost about 50 lbs each. Myself, I haven't really been a dedicated low carber since recently.

ummmm.... if i'm reading your stats right, you've lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks, which is an EXCELLENT weight loss by anyone's standards. and unfortunately, our bodies often take a break and hold onto the weight for awhile. mine does it like clockwork: every 10 pounds!!!

so hold on.. hang in there... don't give up.

I am in the EXACT situation that you are! These chicks have been a great inspiration to me. Please hang in there an d give it some time. Your body will give!
GinaMarie

Every 8-10 lbs, my body decides to take a break and hold on to what it has. Then about 2 weeks later, I'll notice a big difference in my clothing (not necessarily(need spell check lol) the scale weight).

Im still not sure how its happening, but at 205lbs, Im wearing a very loose 18 and snug to just right 16, and thats not the "W" sizes. As well as "Large" the XL's are too big now. What gets me is, when I was 175-185 I was wearing a snug 16 and still in XL's. So be patient, take your measurements and judge by your clothing.

Keep doing what your doing, and it will come off

Robin, I am in the same size clothes as you are! I weigh 220 right now, and am in regular 18's (when I want circulation in my feet LOL) and 16's when I go out. When I was doing low-fat, I was 180 and wearing 20's. Go figure!

Eating protein builds muscles. Exercising builds muscles. Losing weight is not as important as slimming down. I would gladly gain 10 pounds to drop a pants size. Nobody looks at you and sees your numbers on the scale, they see what you look like. You probably just aren't noticing it yet, but I bet people around you are!

Hang in there, I promise it will get better. I dropped from 267 to my current weight of 220 and it took FOREVER! But, 47 pounds is gone and not coming back. You may drop 5 pounds next week.

its a strange phenomena(sp?) anyway, you'll put on your fav jeans one day, and notice they are baggin in the butt so bad you feel like you've had an accident. This sort of thing didnt happen on low-fat lol, so hang in there Wishing, it gets better!!

Thank you all for your responses. It's just that when I'm not losing and everyone tells me how bad Atkins is then I start doubting too. But then nothing else has worked. I bail everytime I hit a platuea on a diet and this time i want to hang in there. By the way at 228 I'm a sz 18. Isn't that weird how bodies are so different? I'll just try not to get discouraged! Sigh. It's such a long hard road.

Like the smart girls say hang in there baby!!! if your protein intake has not been high enough to support your muscle mass and suddenly you are tinkking in enough then your body will get all excited ans start to rebuild muscle and as muscle weighs much more than fat you will get thinner but the scale will not show it. but the best thing i had posted a while ago for one of the girls regarding water retention. in essence as your body suddenly looses water with this and any weight loss program, your body says to itseld i am in a drough so i will retain water. so drink girl drink show the body you are not starving it or in a drought. then suddenly it will all release. by the way i remember youa re doing fitday. how many calories are you eating??? if you are not taking in enough to met yoru BMR then that will aslo trriger your boy to hold on the weight. give us numbers girl!! let us see where we can help!! ps i have done this many times staying still the worst thing to do is start to relax on the diet and loose faith then you will gain!!!

ok you asked for numbers. Here they are. I had 947 cals today and 8glasses of water. My fat for the day is 66% and protein is 31% and carbs are 3%. I have no idea what is the right percentages. Ok go to town on me. Idon't see how cals are only 900 because I am stuffed I had 8 pieces of bacon and three eggs and 2 oz of cheese and 4 oz of steak and some broccloi and 2 T cream cheese. Ok what did I do right and what did I do wrong. I'm really depending on you gals now. I need you badly!!!

YOU'RE NOT EATING ENOUGH!!!!!

i eyeballed your numbers, and it looks more like 1000 or a tad more. maybe you typed in a wrong amount by accident on fitday? but even at a little over 1000, it's too little...

sue... ruth... kel... leenie... come on ladies..

Yep. Not enough calories. I did the same yesterday. I wasn't paying attention and only ate 906 calories. Paid for it on the scale today. Up .5 lbs. Grrr.

Eat more!!! Fill up on veggies and ceasar salads to bring your calories up more.

lol, and I bet you didnt think anyone here would be telling you to eat more!!

I try for a MIN of 1200 cal a day.....sometimes its hard.

Yup, I'd add some more veggies with butter, etc. You definety need to keep your calories above 1200 so you won't enter 'starvation mode' where your body holds onto fat. You could try eating more cheese -- you can have up to 4 oz. per day. Try a cheese crisp spread with avocado....OMG so good!