Um, if this is kinda typical, and I recall a message from before Christmas that this is so, my feeling is that you are not lowcarbing. You are eating an Extremely Low Calorie Diet, and any weight loss is because you have lost some water (initially, but who needs it anyway?), some fat tissue, and lean muscle as well. The body will adapt to this quite nicely, slow your metabolism right down to starvation mode - the weight loss will stop, because your body is now able to function nicely on fewer calories and less food. The body is amazingly adaptive, look how it manages every morning, often a very physical time with kids, etc..... and we don't give it any fuel from 6 pm until noon the next day. Hmmmmmmm.... I'm trying to avoid "lecture mode". Eating breakfast is a HABIT, that can be learned. There's no such thing as "can't", just "I choose not to". You could probably keep adjusting your calorie intake downward, eating less and less food, and your body will respond with a 10 lb or so loss, then adapt and plateau. And so on, and so on.
At least you are eating protein when you do eat! Good.
Here's the nutrient breakdown of your day's intake :
breakfast - nothing
(do you not have some coffee or decaf., maybe with a little cream? - the fat wouldn't hurt)
Lunch - 2 small palm size minute steaks
(approx. 3 oz each - 300 cal, 45 gm prot, 12 gm fat, 0 carb)
palmful green beans
(1/2 cup - 25 cal, 1.2 prot, 4.9 carb, 2.0 fiber)
Supper - 2 weiners
(assuming standard 10 per lb. size - 280 cal, 10 gm prot, 26 gm fat, 2 carbs)
w/ 4 tbsp of sugar free cranberry sauce
(30 cal, 0.2 prot, 7 carbs)
1 slice feta cheese
(1 oz - 80 cal, 5 prot, 6 fat, <1 carb)
TOTALS - 715 cal, 51.4 gm prot, 44 gm fat, 14.4 carbs, 2 gm fiber
- Anything under 1,200 cal per day will invoke starvation mode (your metabolism will slow). As time goes on, and your body keeps adapting, it will take fewer and fewer calories to force your body into "save our fat cells" mode. This is exactly what you DON'T want.
- An average sedentary woman requires a minimum of 60 gm protein per day, spread out. If you are larger frame, or physically active, you need more. Protein isn't just needed to "build muscles". The body needs protein to make its hormones, brain chemicals, enzymes, tissues, organs etc - as you know, all cells and tissues live, die and must be replaced on a regular basis. If we don't consume enough protein, our body will consume US (ie, our muscles) to get what it needs.
- You are certainly well below Induction carb level of 20 carb grams per day. Atkins only recommends this extreme low level for 2 weeks.
- 2 gm fiber?? Are you taking a fiber supplement, such as psyllium or sugar-free Metamucil to keep the bowel happy??
- think of the low protein, high fat, high salt, high nitrate content of weiners next time the kids want a snack. Some of the turkey or chicken weiners are a bit better in this department.
- water, or other carb-free, calorie free fluids?? How are you flushing out the ketones and metabolic waste products?
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Suggestion -
1. Start eating more quality protein. Invent ways to have some protein (20 gm would be ideal) within 2 or 3 hrs of rising in the morning. Meat roll-ups are fast "finger food" - roll a slice or two of good ham or turkey breast around a finger of cheese, or a with thin smear of cream cheese wrap around a dill pickle, carrot or celery stik, etc. Investigate the lowcarb whey or soy protein shake mixes, very fast - a handful of frozen strawberries adds less than 5 carbs and 2 gm fiber. Here are more fast ideas for using them (thanks Judi)
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?threadid=282 , 2 hard-boiled eggs dipped in seasoned mayo. Small portion of meat leftover from supper. ETc....
2. What program are you following?? Sounds like you're just trying to cut down, without really having a plan in mind? ALL of the lowcarb programs provide sound, healthy, quick menus to imitate. Get your hands on your very own copy of "The Book", whichever one it is that you choose.
Read through my Tips and FAQ for more suggestions.
http://www.lowcarber.org/tips/tips004.html and
http://www.lowcarber.org/tips/tips005.html also, Karen Barnaby's great ideas for fast, quick lowcarb menus
http://www.lowcarber.org/tips/tips001.html It would really be good to also buy yourself your very own copy of a good food counts book, one that lists calories and protein grams, not just carbs. Corrine Netzer's "the Complete Book of Food Counts" is excellent, 5th ed. just published in 2000 so it's up-to-date, under $10.
3. There are no sources of good unsaturated fatty acids in your menu (oils from plants) such as olive or canola oil, flax, nuts etc. Fresh dairy butter and egg yolks are not the killers the media and margarine manufacturers want you to think. Butter contains butyric acid, which increase the GOOD cholesterol. Egg yolks contain lecithin, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides. Bumping up your intake of good fat will help bring up your calories to a safer level. Good fats will ensure beautiful skin and hair, and provide satiety from meal to meal.
4. Yes, it's possible you may have an initial "gain" as you adjust your eating pattern. Your body will be rebuilding the muscle and protein stores it lost. Give it a couple weeks, then you'll be on track. After all, you've been a couple months not really having overwhelming success as it is. It's normal to want to see results right away, we're so sick of being overweight. But trying to "hurry things along" will only backfire in the long run. You'll do fine!! ARe you following an exercise regimen too? That would help. Doesn't have to be exotic or expensive. Dancing for 1/2 an hr around the living room with your baby every day is lots of fun! And winter will soon be over, get out and push that stroller up a few hills! ...
Well, I wasn't going to lecture, was I? I'll shut up now. I have to go eat breakfast, since it's been over 2 hrs that I've been up, and I've only had 2 coffees (with cream).
take care Sandi,
Doreen
[Edited by doreen T on 19-01-01 at 10:01]
HELLO ALL
hi Sandi, happy New Year to you
However today I began the day with 2 eggs and 4 sausages..cooked in olive oil with a big glass of water to wash down numorous vitamins. And no, I don't drink coffee, occasionally tea. I am also happy to say that I am down 2 more lbs this morning putting me at a 15lb total loss. I should also mention that I use my clothes as a way of telling, they are definately getting looser, so I try not to pay much attention to the scale. I have a pair of pants that I keep trying on and when I get into them I will get another smaller pair. It works for me. As for exercise I am even incorporating that by pushing my little one in his stroller to the grocery store. I have done this daily for a week now. Feels Good! 
Linear Mode
