Low Carb & Atkins Diet

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Hello everyone. I've been low carbing for about 5 weeks now and I
had lost a total of 7 lbs and gained back 4 lbs. I have not ate bread,
pasta, rice etc. during that time. I have not found that too difficult to
avoid. However, I was drinking diet coke and thought this may be the problem, so I eliminated diet coke from my diet. I also am a big tea drinker with milk. I thought the milk might be a problem as well. So I began drinking my tea black to see if this made a difference. It didn't. So now I back to drinking a couple cups a day with half and half cream. I season
my meat. I changed just changed the seasoning to see if this helps. If
not, then I am just going to do without the seasoning. It's bit frustrating
because I am going nowhere, when I want to move ahead. Any advise
on how I get myself moving a long to my weight loss goals? Thank you.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

I think I am going to start the induction phase all over again. No diet coke,
only water. No milk or cream, drink my tea black. No seasoning on my
meat. No cheese, because I love cheese and will eat more than the allowable amount. I'll start again tomorrow with a clean slate.

bluehex · Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

OK, to get the most annoying (for you, not for me) thing out of the way: there is absolutely no need to worry about seasoning on your meat. It's perfectly OK to use spices. Otherwise you will find the diet unbearable.

Some general questions: what are you basing your efforts on? Did you read the book? Or the website? Or are you eating just eggs, meat and cheese?
Are you eating all the required vegetables?
Are you drinking all the required water?
Are you exercising?
Are you restricting your calories?
Are you trying to do a lowfat version of Atkins?

In other words: it is absolutely impossible to answer the question "why am I not losing weight" without some basic information.

Are you male or female (yes, it does matter)?
How old are you?
What is your starting weight?
What is your height?
How much do you want to lose?
What is your detailed daily menu? (including chewing gum, if any, chewing tobacco, if any, medication, if any, water!)

All those parameters have an impact on HOW you are going to lose weight.
The menu will help the collective wisdom of this board to find possible problems.

Please post your stats, so we can try to help you!

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks for the response Bluehex. Constipation is an ongoing problem.
It's like trying to move a boulder. I didn't have a problem this
morning because because yesterday I drank a couple cups of Body
Balance tea. Since I restarted today, I am not certain if it is okay
to continue the Body Balance tea to help alleviate constipation. It
seems to work even better when you drink lots of in combination with
the tea. The only thing I am not certain about is carb content if any.
It's not indicated on the package. I am going to abstain for the time
being and stick to water. I hope that works. It's not easy trying to
push a boulder.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

I did good yesterday and so far today. Yesterday I had about 3 grams
of carbs and 6 -500ml bottles of water. My goal was ten. I didn't make it.
Today I'll try for 8 -500ml bottles. I better get going since I haven't
had one bottle yet. I've had a lot of black tea and peppermint tea.
but no H20. No carbs yet today. I have to do some grocery shopping
today. I'll get some greens. Now that I think of it, I have mushrooms.
I'll have some of those as well. If I can stay clean, that is stay within
the rules of induction, then I can get a more accurate assessment of
why I am not losing the weight I should.

bluehex · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject:

If you are eating 3 carbs a day, you are NOT following the rules of Induction (it also explains your constipation). You should eat 12-15 g carbs from vegetables every day - vegetables from Acceptable Foods list. It will provide you with necessary nutrients and will add fiber (and bulk) necessary for proper functioning of your intestines. Cheese is limited to 3-4 ounces (approx. 100 g).

You have not answered any of my questions. How much do you weigh? There IS such a thing as too much water. You may wash out the electrolytes (sodium and potassium) from your body and get seriously ill. Are you sure 5 liters is appropriate for your height and weight? Rule of thumb

says you should drink half your weight (in pounds) in ounces, e.g. if you weigh 200 lbs you should be drinking 100 oz water.

Please do yourself a favor and read the book - "Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution" or at least get familiar with principles and rules of the diet on Atkins website. You will also find basic rules and the list of acceptable foods as stickies on top of this page. Atkins is NOT "just eggs, meat and cheese! Atkins is NOT a zero-carb diet.

Please get some knowledge, because the way you are doing things now, you may do yourself some serious harm.

merlot · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:48 pm Post subject:

Atkins is often characterized as a NO carbohydrate diet and that just isn't true. Please visit the Atkins website and read their little tutorials available so you have the ammunition to do GREAT on Induction...I did. I lost 5 pounds each of two weeks, amounting to 25% of my weight loss goal of 40 pounds! That was so very motivating. I have continued to lose and am now about 7 pounds away in pre-maintenance.

And if the tea you used for constipation has a nutrition panel and it does NOT list any carbs, it is fine. Read the ingredients. I Googled it and it has the natural laxative "senna" in it. I would not use it daily, since as a laxative, your body may become dependent on it.

I wish you the best...

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Hello Ladies. Thanks for your responses.

How much do I weigh? I'm not comfortable with making how much I weigh
public. You'll just have to trust that you are helping me. And by the way
you are helping.

That's good about Body Balance. But I'll only drink it if I really have to.
That's the only time I drink the tea anyway. I had chicken for supper
yesterday and I used Club House Montreal Chicken spice. Whatever
carbs are in the spice, that's how many carbs I had yesterday. My guess
probably about 3 grams of carbs. A half a teaspoon is zero carbs.
I had 6-500ml bottles of H20. I understand about the electrolytes.
But I think I am ok.

Today, I am following the recommended 12-15 grams and I'll continue
to follow Hex's recommendation. Tomorrow morning I'll check to see if
I am in ketosis.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

I'm in ketosis.

tracyred · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:53 pm Post subject:

by the way, it's 12-15 NET carbs, so the carbs minus the fibre= net carbs. you can use this webistie to see the counts - they are very trustworty:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

use the 100-gram coutns for the food, then weigh your food to get the count
so say if you have 89 grams of cucumber, you take the count, which is think is something like 3.7 (anyway, you can check yyourself, but this is just for the sake of example)

you grab your calculator and calculate 3.7 x .89 you know?

it pays to invest a little $ on a digital scale for your kitchen (you can find them cheap on ebay) and a little calculator to keep nearby.

i don't think you're really listening to Blue, so i wonder if she'll get back to you. having 3 grams of carbs in a day is NOT the way to go. even having 12-15 isn't enough. you need 20, that's what the doc said, and since HE's the doctor, i think we'd do well to listen to his advice. ut's not a quick-fix, it's a way of eating for life, and for life, you need the right amounts of veggies. so the 12-15 nc's is a guide, and you can have the rest in cream, cheese, sour cream, avocados etc. which you would know if you just get and read the book.

good luck
tracy

catsandtrees · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:22 am Post subject:

Sharwell,

I will give it to you straight...

do yourself a favour and read Blue's first post to you.

Ok so you dont feel comfortable telling us how much you weigh....why is this? we dont know you, we are not going to bump into you in the street and shout 'guess how much she/he weighs'.

This forum is full of lovely people who are here to help people like me and you who are making an effort to get healthier.

I think it is only right that you answer most of the questions blue asked if you want a more assistance.

I have been on induction for almost 2 months now but I have not lost any weight over the last 2 weeks BUT I dont care because my trousers continue to get loser and loser.

Come on, let those who can help you, help you.

tracyred · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:25 am Post subject:

or at least how much you need to lose - it's just that if you need to lose, say 10-15 pounds to get healthy, that will definitely go much more slowly than if it's say, 60 pounds...you know??

t

merlot · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:06 am Post subject:

SharWell, I hope this helps you ...

My life is an open book, but I understand that is not for everyone, so if you don't want to state your weight, fine with me. BUT it is fair to say you need to tell us "I want to lose 10, 40, 80, 120, 200"...since Atkins is different DEPENDING on where you have to start.

I started with 40 lbs. to lose - about 25% of my total body weight...so I only stayed on Induction the 2 weeks and went right into Owl, important so I could go through the steps. If one has 80 to lose, one might stay on Induction for 4 weeks; 10 pounds? May start right in OWL or Pre-maintenance. A lot of weight? Stay on Induction several months, with no ill effects. But NEVER go below net carbs of 20 grams on Induction, drink water, and make sure the veggies are 12-15 grams. Pretty easy, agree? No alcohol or added sugars...no room for them.

I hope you are able to turn this around with your new information.

My best to you!

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks for the responses. I want to lose 50lbs.

bluehex · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier - life got a bit hectic.

See, if you don't give your actual stats all we can do is offer some general tips and "usually works" kind of thing. It may or may not work for you.

Ok, so here is some general stuff:

The less you have to lose, the slower it will go. It just is this way and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Believe it or not, 50 lbs is not all that much (trust me, we had people losing in three digit numbers here...). Be prepared for slow progress.

Same goes for age. If you are post menopause, your metabolism slows down and your energy needs decrease. Weightloss would be slower.

Trying to do zero carb is BAD. Your body needs a small amount of carbs to operate properly. It also needs the fiber and nutrients from vegetables. Eat your vegetables. When on Induction, make sure you stick to Acceptable Foods list. Vegetables there are all low GI (glycemic index).

Low fat Atkins DOES NOT WORK. This is not to say you should eat butter by spoonfuls, but you should not restrict fat intake, if you eat dairy products always select full fat ones, etc. Heavy whipping cream is better than half and half.

Restricting calories will work AGAINST your weightloss goal. Your body needs a certain amount of calories to be comfortable that it is not starving. It's a survival mechanism, inherited from the cavemen, intended to enable them to survive prolonged periods of famine. If you eat too few calories, your body will begin conserving energy as best it can and hold on to every single adipose cell it has, just in case the "famine" would last long. Before Atkins, I lived for months on 800 calorie diets without losing a single pound.

What you need to do is calculate your BMR (just google "bmr calculator"). It is a simple tool which, based on your height, age, weight and lifestyle calculates the number of calories your body uses up by just existing - breathing, heartbeat, keeping warm. In order to lose weight, you should eat approximately 100 calories ABOVE your BMR. Yes, above, not below. BMR does not include any movement or exercise, so by eating 100 cals above it, you will still have a calorie deficit. But your body will never find itself in a situation in which its basic needs are not met, so it will not reduce energy use.

For the exact same reason you should make sure you are never hungry; whenever you feel hunger, snack on acceptable foods. On Induction, it's even OK to pig out completely; you body needs to know it will not be starved. Hunger will subside after a couple of weeks and your eating will return to normal levels. Actually, many people complain they have to force themselves to eat lack of appetite is one of side effects of ketosis.

Most people lose weight and inches in turns, but hardly ever at the same time. Maybe you are losing inches, but not weight? Check your clothes.

Don't try to wing it; DO read the bloody book, woman! It is short, well organized and explains in very clear way what the diet is all about. If you understand what you are doing and why, all future decisions are easier. You can buy it really cheap (Atkins is not fashionable anymore, thank God) or borrow it free from a library. Make sure you go by the book; don't try to do better than the book. Many, many years of research and practice went into writing it. Don't presume you are smarter than medical professionals who wrote it.

At the very least, read the website.

Avoid constipation - it causes water retention and masks weightloss. Regular use of laxatives may lead to colon dysfunction, so it's better to increase the fiber content in your diet. My favorite form of fiber is flaxseed - you can use it whole or ground, it provides necessary bulk, fiber and - ahem - glide. A couple tablespoons a day should solve the problem. And I know what I'm talking about, as this has been my problem all my life, even in infancy.

Flax has a distinctive flavor, sort of nutty, which some people find unpleasant. If you don't like the taste of flaxseed, psyllium husks are an excellent, completely flavorless pure fiber supplement. You can take them as capsules, or buy it loose in a health store and make a dessert - psyllium husks are a powerful gelling agent, stronger than gelatine. Mix cream, sugarfree syrup and some psyllium and you have a panna cotta to die for. While giving your body the fiber it needs.

Some women retain a lot of water in the week or two weeks before their period. Some as much as 10 lbs! Check the time of month before you start worrying about weight gain. As soon as you start bleeding, water will be released.

Beware of sugar alcohols! (sorbitol, manitol, maltitol, lactitol and pretty much anything else that ends in -tol). They are the main ingredient of low-carb sweets (and chewing gum). Some people tolerate them really well, but for some weightloss stalls completely after they eat a single low-carb candybar. Be careful.

Is your weightloss goal realistic? Atkins will get you to a healthy weight, but never to the anorexic range of Victora Beckhams, Lindsay Lohans or Nicole Richies - while on Atkins, you get proper nutrition.

Also, if you are over 30 and want to get back to your highschool weight - forget it, it's not going to happen. Different bone density, different tissue composition, different hormones. You may - if you are lucky - get back to the same size (although not likely), but never the same weight. You will never be a teenager again.

Check for food allergies. If you are allergic to a food, your body will retain water to dilute the allergen, thus masking the weightloss.

Check your sodium/potassium/calcium levels. In a nutshell, sodium retains water, potassium releases water (but you DO need both!) and calcium deficiency stops weightloss (not sure about the biochemical mechanism here, but if you google enough, I'm sure you'll find it)

Some types of medication may prevent weightloss - birth control pills, hormonal medication, some antidepressants, some heart-related medication. If you are taking ANY meds, check with your doctor.

OK, this is pretty much all I can do when I don't know ANYTHING about you. For more information, check our FAQs and Atkins website. And please, please DO read the book.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress or lack thereof - we'll try to help.

tracyred · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject:

WOW BLUE that was awesome!!!! i'm sooooo trying that psyllium thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and hey - shar - don't forget to drink a heck of a lot of extra water if you need psyllium or flax - won't work without a LOT (didi mention a LOT) of extra water Smile

- you don't want bricks in there Smile

have fun! we all do!
tracy

tracyred · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject:

oooh, and another tip with psyllium - try a little with hot water, sweetener and cinnamon.....tastes sorta like cream of wheat!

t

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks ladies for all your suggestions. I have taken note of all of them

This morning I got up and I checked to see if I was still in ketosis.
Guess what? I wasn't. How could that possibly be? Is it the amount
of water I drink? Is it exercise? I know that I am following the rules.
There is no way I should be out of ketosis. So what's up with that?

bluehex · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:58 pm Post subject:

If you didn't eat anything out of the plan, you are still in ketosis, it just doesn't show on the sticks. When you are in ketosis, your body is deprived of glucose, so it produces ketones out of fat to serve its energy needs.Sticks only measure excess ketones, ones which were not used for energy and get excreted from your body with urine. So if you test negative, it may mean you burned all the ketones or you drink enough to dilute them so they don't show on the sticks. Try testing two hours after dinner - you will see at least trace amounts.

Some people lose huge amount of weight and NEVER test positive. Sticks are just an indication, not an absolute measure. Don't get too attached to them.

Also, don't weigh every day. Your weight may fluctuate with water retention/release. Weigh not more often than once a week. And read the article "why the scale lies" here: http://lowcarbsite.com/forum/why-the-scale-lies-t3897.html

Actually, anybody who reads this post, DO read the article, it's great. When trying to lose weight, the scale is your enemy, not your friend.

merlot · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:16 am Post subject:

I didn't use the sticks and relied on my tape measure and my scale. I learned to be very patient and not panic. I discovered it is not a STRAIGHT LINE DOWN, but a wiggly line down. I found out that when you get "bottled up" that weight stays with you, and can easily be 2 pounds of waste and water!! I developed will-power to resist temptation because I worked altogether too hard to give back my hard earned weight loss for a crummy donut [or whatever temptation presented itself.]

You CAN do it...

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

I tried the sticks again this morning. Guess what? I am in ketosis.
I don't know what happened yesterday. The only thing that I can think
of is perhaps the time of day I had some carbs. and water.

merlot · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:24 am Post subject:

Glad to hear it. Good luck!

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks.

I am going to weigh myself on Sunday. I hope the scale doesn't
disappoint.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Yesterday I broke down and had a cup tea with half and half cream.
Since I was at work that's all they had in our cafeteria other than milk.
I only had a little of spinach earlier in the day so, the tea with half and
half was ok. I am going to have a cup today too.

The day before, Thursday, I only had 3-500ml bottles of water and
I paid for it on Friday. It was hard going, literally.
Friday I drank 6-500ml bottles of water to ensure smoother
sailing.

Tomorrow is weigh day. If I haven't lost anything, I'll scream, but
I think I have. I better have or the scale is going to have to go!

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Well I just got off the scale. I lost 5 lbs. That's the most I've lost
in one week. Now if I could just keep up the momentum.

merlot · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:34 am Post subject:

SharWell,

You did NOT "break down" and have tea with half-and-half. What makes you think so?

OK. We have to "live" with the plan. The half-and-half is fine when cream is not available, in that small quantity, and the tea is not a sin...it has a little caffeine, but that is NOT the end of the world if used in moderation, and if it does not stall you. Only YOU can find that out. MOST of us can have tea and coffee, IN moderation.

Please tell us why you find that so bad...and I HAVE to ask, have you read the book?

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Before I started low carbing, I always put milk in my tea. Then I went
to half and half. I drink a lot of tea and the half and half adds up over
the course of the day. I am talking 10-12 cups per day. That's why I began drinking my tea black to see if it made a difference and it did.

merlot · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:48 am Post subject:

Glad the "black tea" made a difference. You are right, carbs can add up with many additions of half and half to your tea per day. Believe it or not, you would have fewer carbs with heavy cream, and have to use less to get your tea "creamy." It also adds to your fats you need in Induction for that "satisfied/full" feeling. Should you get to feeling "deprived", try that for your first or last cup a day. In-between, either try to substitute plain water, or as you are doing the tea plain.

Hope you are finding some more success! Enjoy the plan!

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

You are right about the heavy cream Tony. I had several cups of tea
Yesterday with whipping cream. This morning I checked to see if I was
in ketosis ( I doubted I was) and to my surprise I was still in ketosis.
What a relief that was.

Yesterday I also went out to for dinner at Red Lobster. I've never
ate there before. If you are low carbing, it is a great restaurant for
low carbers because the dishes are predominately seafood. I had shrimp
and lobster tail. I've never had lobster before, It wasn't bad. It had
kind of a subtle sweet taste to it. I didn't touch the dinner rolls or rice.
Keto sticks proved this morning that I was a good girl.

merlot · Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:21 am Post subject:

Congrats!

I, too, enjoy Red Lobster. And I have been eating lobster for 50+ years and absolutely LOVE it, as well as King, Snow, Dungeness and Blue crab, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, abalone...everything except oysters!

Do NOT be embarrassed to say, "I don't eat rice. Can you substitute a vegetable?" They always have broccoli, if you like it. Then you get extra veggies, no temptation, and they DO NOT MIND AT ALL. No extra charge, and you get really full!

Restaurants are getting, "Low-Carb Savvy." Always ask. And if you are by yourself or with another Atkins dieter, just say, "Please, just don't even bring the bread (or biscuits, whatever.) They will honor your wish.

And a white lie to those snooty folks who might wait on you, say you are a diabetic with special food requirements...they may sneer at low-carb but NOT at your health issue!

Good luck!

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

well i went off the rules this week. tomorrow i will start again.

merlot · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:08 am Post subject:

SharWell,

It happens...glad you just came forth and said that. So many just stop posting ... we hate to lose folks...would rather help them.

Hey, you are among so MANY that will be here after Jan. 1st resolutions!

My best to you,

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks Merlot.

You know, some things take practice. For example, I quit smoking three
years ago. But do you know how many times I tried before I finally
quit? How many times I thought about it, before I quit. Many times!
All those times of thinking about it, quitting and then starting again,
like within two hours, I think the longest was eight hours. That was
all practice sessions leading to the big day, when I finally quit smoking.
So I see Atkins in the same light. I will eventually be successful, I
just needed a little practice before. Tomorrow, will be day 1 (again, lol).
Monday, I should be in ketosis. For all those that are embarrassed about
falling off the wagon, don't be. Your are just practicing. Practice makes
perfect. Happy New Year!

merlot · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 2:36 am Post subject:

You are ABSOLUTELY right...this is exactly like quitting smoking...I must have "quit" about 4 times in my life, (once for 2 whole years until hurricane Isabel stuck me for 6 days with a chain smoking husband and no electricity...enough to make a SAINT start up again...LOL!). 4 years ago, I was FINALLY ready to say, "I can do this...I really want to!"

Before it was because I "should", not because "I want to." Same with dieting.

I must have gone on 20 diets in my 65 years, but this one is now a WOE and not a diet, and it is "because I want to."

Have a terrific 2010!! It will be good...I just feel it.

Toni

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

I am not in ketosis today. I'll check again tomorrow. I have to do exactly
what I did before to get into ketosis. So I am back to drinking my tea
black, for now. No diet soft drinks. Tomorrow or Wednesday, I should be in ketosis. This worked for me before. So I'll to stick to what works
for me.

Tril · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:57 pm Post subject:

How do you know you're not in ketosis? You can't rely on those ketostix for this. They only show excess ketones that your body doesn't need for energy. You can be in ketosis and have a negative reading on the stix... this happens for several reasons. Maybe you're using all of the ketones (great reason!). It may also be that your body is expelling most of the excess through exhalation... fewer in your urine. If you're drinking the water you should be, any ketones will be diluted... and might not register on the stix.

Another thing to consider... dietary fat that's metabolized will produce ketones and show up as a positive result on the stix. So a dark purple reading could be from the fat in the meal you ate last... NOT from body fat that's been metabolized.

These are the reasons why I don't bother with the stix... I don't have any way of knowing what they're telling me! LOL

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks Tril.

I checked this morning and I am not ketosis. I was hoping I would be.
I deviated slightly by having two cups of tea with whipping cream a day.
I am thinking that's the problem.

When I went into ketosis before the holidays, I drank my tea black.
Once I was in ketosis, I drank my tea with whipping cream. I remained
in ketosis. I figured that since the whipping cream didn't take me out of
ketosis once in ketosis, it wouldn't affect my ability to get into ketosis.
But that may not be the case. I'll eliminate the whipping cream tomorrow.
I'll see if it makes a difference.

In the future I may not care about the keto sticks. But in the beginning
I think you just need confirmation that you are on the right track. The
keto sticks are my confirmation that I am on the right track, at least
at this stage. As long as the keto sticks are showing I am not in ketosis,
I have to continue to make adjustments to my diet until I am.

Tril · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:21 pm Post subject:

"In the future I may not care about the keto sticks. But in the beginning
I think you just need confirmation that you are on the right track. The
keto sticks are my confirmation that I am on the right track, at least
at this stage. As long as the keto sticks are showing I am not in ketosis,
I have to continue to make adjustments to my diet until I am."

But... this isn't true. You CAN be in ketosis and the stix register NEGATIVE for ketones!!! I've never gotten a reading over "trace". Only excess ketones spill over into urine and exhalation. EXCESS. If you don't have any excess (you're using them all for bodily functions, growth, repair, etc) then there won't be any to register on the stix. You could have extra, but if you're drinking the water you SHOULD be, your urine will be diluted and the stix may not register. Your stix could be old... if you're keeping them in the bathroom, and they're not brand new, then they could have gone bad. Any moisture at all (wet hands, damp room, cover left off for any length of time) they won't work.

There are other more reliable methods to determine if your body had made the switch from burning glucose to ketones. A few examples would be "ketone breath"... that's the taste/odor you get when low carbing, diminished hunger, weight loss, improved mental alertness, no low sugar issues, etc.

And, for what it's worth, tea and cream aren't bad... you're allowed those things. If you're not losing weight, post your intake for a few days and maybe one of us could spot the reason. Are you weighing/measuring your carbs? Are you actually counting each fraction of a carb in everything you eat? Do you know exactly how many you're eating? According to a study I read, women typically UNDER estimate their intake by about 25%.

We'd love to help... but we'll need more info, I'm afraid.

bluehex · Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 1:13 am Post subject:

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Ok, ok, ok ladies lol.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

After reading posts from Tril, blue and Merlot, I went out and bought new
keto sticks, and a measuring tape, so I can take my measurements.
I am also not giving up whipped cream in my tea either.

I went to McDonalds three times because I was out and about and got
hungry. I order a Big Mac and requested knife and fork every time because I removed the bread. I was happy with myself for doing that.
Had I ate the bread I would have been really down on myself. So I
am glad I didn't.

Tril · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:54 pm Post subject:

Shar.... I tried to find the nutrition info on those big macs. McD doesn't break it down by ingredient. So I took the total carb grams in one big mac (47) and subtracted the carbs in one hamburger bun (23)... the difference could be as high as 24 grams!!! Maybe the bun was bigger... so the difference would be smaller. But it's NOT carb free... or even low carb... with all of the condiments and toppings. Each slice of cheese is 1g. Ketchup/sauce/etc all add carb.

Be careful... fast food can work, but you have to be very careful about your choices.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks Tril. I am okay with it. I'm happy. Sometimes you do what you have
to do, that's eat. I ate and removed the bread. I am glad I removed the
bread. It's better than eating it. If I had ate the bread, there would be a lot
more carbs to talk about. So I am cool with it.

Tril · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:05 pm Post subject:

Ok... just thought that maybe in the future it would help you make a better choice, that's all.

I'm more of a "if there's nothing I should eat, I don't eat at all" person. LOL

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Ok Tril I understand where you are coming from. The carbs I ate
were the only carbs I ingested n the days I had the burgers.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

I checked to see if I was in ketosis using my recently purchased keto sticks.
It showed a trace. I am on my way. Some time this week I'll take my
measurements.

tracyred · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:26 pm Post subject:

argh sharwell - you are very frustrating Smile

you NEED TO EAT VEGETABLES - the only carbs were the ones from the burger??? you should have gotten the salad - you will hurt your health this way!!!

tracy

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Tracyred, I do eat vegetables. It just worked out that on the particular
days I couldn't eat more carbs because I had the hamburgers. That's
just the way it goes sometimes.

SharWell · Established Member Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Yesterday, out of the blue, I was hit with a really strong craving. I told
myself it would go away in a few minutes. A few hours later, I realized
I had forgotten about the craving I had earlier in the day.

A co-worker tried to induce me to go off the low carb diet by handing
me a candy and quickly walking away before I had a chance to say,
"No thank you." I didn't eat it. I placed on the table where her personal
belongings were sitting. And how was your day?

tracyred · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:06 am Post subject:

well done sharwell!!! hmm, was your coworker being mean?? or does she not know about your new Plan?? pretty mean if she DID mean to tempt you - well done in resisting....

for me - my day (s) have been good...no cravings, jsut re-read protein power though, and i'm trying to get enough protein, especially as i do a bodypump class twice a week....

anywa, that's me - gotta go put away the groceries now...
tracy