OK...good job! You lost more than the expected 10% of your total loss during Induction. Excelllent!
You are doing a great job!
and should continue to see good results...especially doing exercise.
While it doesn't promote weight loss per se, it does aid in weight loss when you are eating the way you are.
It is also a very good tool for maintaining weight loss....and I know that as I am a long time maintainer, not only a big 120 lb loser. The more muscle you build now will make it easier for you to get to your goal and maintain your loss.

Yes, I too have a mood lift when the scale tells me nice things.

Wow, you are doing well, especially considering that 2 days ago (Wednesday) you reported you'd only lost 4 lbs. Hopefully, you are feeling a little more optimistic now? Good job!

Good job for getting through induction. I am sure you'll find foods that work for you!! There are lots of great low carb recipes on this forum.

I lost about 7-8 lbs on induction. You lost 12 lbs in two weeks, Kristy? Better than me. And they say men lose faster than women. I'm jealous. Congrats.

So as I am still rather new to correctly following a LC lifestyle (tried it when I was 15...mother bought me TONS of frankenfood) I really do not have a ton to input. However, I was wondering if you had any blood work done?

I was speaking with my PCP 2-3 days ago about the fact that I am following a LC diet, and that I have in the past been diagnosed with insulin resistance. Now, since I started LC (Dec 26, 2012) I was over joyed with my weight loss in the first 2 weeks, dropping an astounding 17 pounds (I have 150 to lose give or take). However, now that induction is mostly over I have noticed my weight loss seemingly grinding to a halt. I know part of this is due to my body freaking about the weight loss and retaining water, but I wonder if some of it is just me not losing weight.

So back to my original point, I spoke with my PCP about all of this and she ordered additional blood tests. According to what she told me if I am still insulin resistant then that could be slowing my weight loss and adding metphormin could push said weight loss up to the point I expect it to be at. So we are waiting to find out what that says.

I suppose my point is, if you feel that something is wrong maybe you should talk to a LC supportive Dr. and see if there might actually be an undiagnosed illness that is preventing you from seeing the numbers/inches drop the way that you want them to. You know your body better than anyone else.

Wow. The OP has gotten some great insight since yesterday.

This is an old thread and it may not have 100, but it does have at least 50 different induction friendly foods to choose from;

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...82&page=5&pp=30

If you're using DANDR--starting on page 124 begins the induction friendly lists and on that page alone I count at least 35 different foods in the protein list, 7 in the cheese list, 21 in the salad vegetable list, 35 in the vegetable list, 5 in the garnishes not including what's listed in fats, oils, and beverages--I think that hits about 100. It seems that YOU are limiting the choices, not the plan.

And yes, this diet, WOE, lifestyle--it doesn't matter what you call it--does eliminate or reduce one whole macronutrient group, i.e., carbohydrates--but you are under the misconception that this group is not replaced by anything--untrue (and this is where many people fail the plan) when LCing and reducing carbohydrate intake, the reduced carbohydrate intake is REPLACED WITH FAT. Many who have been on a calorie restriction/LF diet find it difficult to follow thru with this concept, But this concept--that of replacing carbohydrate with FAT is the basis of Atkins, The Ketogenic Diet, LCHF etc.
MYTH ALERT!!!! Atkins, LCHF, Ketogenic--these are NOT HIGH PROTEIN diets but ADEQUATE protein HIGH fat diets.

It takes more than a month to become fully keto adapted--if you have been on a calorie restricition, fat restricition it takes time for your body to produce the enzymes necessary to metabolize fats and proteins efficiently. Usually you can feel the switch over physically in the form of induction flu--for some it lasts a few days for others much longer--use the tips given to make yourself feel better.

In terms of calories--The beauty of LC (whichever plan you choose) is that once you get your insulin and blood sugars under control, you find that you're not always seeking the next meal or snack. It means that you begin to listen to "real" hunger cues, not hunger cues due to hormonal imbalances. Nor does Atkins give you license to gorge--the key is to eat to satifaction, not to busting For many who have broken metabolism, this may have to become a re-learned behavior. It takes time. Nowhere did Dr. Atkins ever say that calories don't count :

Quote:

Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution1992, 1999, 2002 p.143 “Although there is no needto count calories, they do matter. Gaining weight results from taking in more calories than you expendthrough exercise, thermogenesis, and other metabolic functions. Research has shown that on a controlled carbohydrate program, more calories are burned than in a low fat/high carb dietso that there is a certain metabolic advantage to the controlled carb approach. But understand that this doesnot give you a license to gorge.” Dr. Atkins Super Energy Diet 1977 p.205 “If weight loss stops short of your ideal weight, even though you are producing ketones. You must conclude that the quantities within the diet are too great. The diet usually works best with just enough calories to stave off hunger. Too many people misinterpret the instructions regarding the diet as “Eat Unrestrictedly.” When they do this they will still lose weight in the beginning, which will reinforce their assurance that no heed whatever need be paid to quantities. In most cases, this practice will lead to a stalemate part way to the desired goal”.p.205 “`You may have to countcalories in addition to carbohydrate. I have never said that calories don’t count, because I know of course that they do. I say that carbohydrate counts more. If your case is especially difficult, you may have to count both. For most people,restricting carbohydrates is all that is necessary. However, there is no question that a 1500 calories 10 gram diet will take more weight off, and more quickly than a 2000calorie-10 gram diet. So if you are having trouble losing you should cut down on your quantities, but not to the point where you where you have to put up with discomfort or hunger” Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution 1972 p.275 “Q. Don’t calories play any role? A.There’s no question—of course they do. A 1500-calorie, 10-gram diet will take more weight off—and more quickly—than a 2000-calorie, 10-gram diet. If the carbohydrate levels remain unchanged,then the extra caloric intake does make a difference. People who eat out of force of habit and don’t cut their quantities lose more slowly because of their high caloric intake.If you can cut down on your quantities, you are better off to do so—but not when it gets to the point where you have to put up with discomfort or hunger.I’m not saying that calories don’t count, I’m saying that a low calorie diet is a second best diet.”

LC is a metabolic advantage, not a magic wand, it's a much more satisfying way to lose weight and the health benefits by far out weigh the conventional wisdom. During my hardcore weight loss mode the conventional wisdom told me that I needed to eat less than 1200 calories a day--LC, my average calories per day were 1800. 600 calories makes a big difference--that's an entire meal. As I got closer to goal the calories dropped down to about 1600 but still nowhere near the less than 1200 as proposed by conventional wisdom. For maintaining aI probably stick to about 1700-1800 with more items from the higher rungs, but still eating the way I lost the weight to maintain the loss. What some of us have finally come to realize....you can NEVER go back to the old way you ate if you expect to keep it off for good. Sure, if you're in it to lose fat then it's a diet in the beginning, but if you're in it to keep the fat off then it becomes your lifestyle.

You've done well so far. Its really up to you if you feel that this diet, lifestyle, WOE is compatable to your life, your personal tastes, and your goals.

Progress not perfection.



Lisa

Sorry for the crappy formating--it did wierd things when I cut/pasted and quoted it--but you get the gist.

Oh and BTW--I'm one of those people who lost NOTHING on induction and went on to achieve goal.

Induction is not the be-all-end-all of the plan. There are FOUR levels to the plan.

Just think where I would be if I did induction, lost nothing and quit. I'd still be 40-45 pounds heavier, wearing a 14-16, hungry all the time instead of maintain my loss for over 3 years.

Progress not perfection.

Lisa

I've heard the "magic wand" argument so many times. When somebody says "it's not a magic wand", what they're really saying is "I heard somebody said it was a magic wand, but I'm here to tell you what they said is not true: It's not a magic wand." Nobody ever said it was a magic wand, so stop saying it's not a magic wand as if somebody said it was. Please.

On the subject of counting calories. At the time, maybe Atkins himself didn't know about things like insulin-induced lipohypertrophy. It's a condition which cannot be reversed by diet alone. It's growth of fat tissue on top of just more fat inside fat cells. The extra cells are there to stay. You could cut total calories, but then you'd have to keep up with that cuz nothing will make those extra fat cells go away, except liposuction, and now a drug called Adipotide which can physically destroy fat cells.

And then there's things like infection, which lead to inflammation, which lead to insulin resistance, which lead to high insulin, which prevents low-carb from working as it should. Cutting calories won't fix the infection, or any other condition that is not directly related to calories or carbs.

I mean, if you think low-carb is not a magic wand, then I'm here to tell you that cutting calories is not a magic wand either.

Counting carbs has been like a magic wand for me, but I have never been "normal", probably because of the PCOS coupled with insulin resistance.

I am happy with my results and another friend of mine who hasn't seem me since before xmas actually said "oh girl have you lost weight?" today. So the mood is deff positive and i've come to terms with the food choices. Addatives like mayo oils etc i dont' consider that food, that's "seasonging" food is meat cheese and green veggies now, and i'm gonna stay on the induction limit of 20nc per day to keep my weightloss boosted, if the weightloss stops i'll consult with yee all wisen sages . Thanks for the possitive feedback and i did end my TOM and lost an additional lb from yesterday to today so technically 13lbs lost in induction(since when i posted that my last day of induction hadn't quite ended yet)! Wooot!

Wow. Sorry this got you all in a knot. I'm sure "nobody" ever said it WAS a magic wand..it implies that just because you are LCing doesn't mean the fat magically disappears as if your fairy god mother waved her magic wand and tiddly bop, your thin (but I think you knew that ) Brace yourself because I'm sure you'll see it again somewhere.





Kristy--so glad you're feeling more optimistic and congrats on the loss.

Progress not perfection.

Lisa

I think folks should avoid saying it like this, as I think there's some misunderstanding going on caused by the statement. Insulin doesn't convert carbs to fat, insulin pushes glucose across cell walls; be they muscle, organ, or adipose. What the cell does with the glucose, and how resistant it is to the signal determines the whether and where of fat and glycogen and blood sugar and metabolism...

Its why Cal-in Cal-out is true, but a lot more sneaky than its adherents (including me) often give it credit for. If you take 6 months, measure all the food in, all the energy out, and all the failed absorption along the way; the equation will balance against fat loss to the degree of accuracy that you can measure. But in that 6 months, all kinda of plateaus, gains, and crashes can occur, because you have 5-10 pounds of water and water bound glucose(glycogen) that your body can toss or gain at the slightest provocation, and the energy density of glycogen by weight is pretty lame. So you can be eating below expenditure, but accidentally get to much salt, and poof, you gain three pounds. You can drop carbs from your diet, and your body will blow off five pounds of glycogen like it was nothing, and then stall for a long while as glycogen is rebuilt slowly even in the presence of a deficit, so you're losing fat, gaining glycogen, and your weight is steady or maybe even slightly increasing.

Its very, very messy.

And the only thing that can un-mess it is LONG TERM measurement and patient, diligent adherence to whatever caloric deficit form works for you.

nb... depending on a hunger signal that depends on proper functioning of your hormone system, when you already know your body is not properly functioning is a key flaw in a LOT of diets. Eat to the numbers. Exercise to adjust the numbers where you are comfortable.

I think maybe the 'magic wand' came from the "whoosh fairy," remember her? I'm ready for a visit!!
~Chris

I think this is very good advice. Often we are so messed up when it comes to food due to years of low-cal dieting and subsequent overeating, that we have no idea what hunger feels like anymore. And underfeeding your body cannot possibly be what Atkins et al mean by "eat until you are satisfied".

I find since I've upped my salt intake, the scale tends to lie less, the scale doesn't fluctuate as much. Although maybe that has more to do with salt intake being constant, rather than high.