Lost nearly 6lbs in first week!

[TryingAgain]

I started Atkins again just over a week ago, and at my weekly weigh-in, I'd lost just under 6lbs! Really chuffed with it. At first I only had the incentive to lose weight to feel more comfortable with myself, and cos I'm going on holiday for Christmas. But then yesterday, my boyfriend dumped me. So now there's the extra incentive of wanting to have a bit of fun of the "F*** you, look what you're missing" variety!

Suppose it helps that I've not wanted to eat ever since cos I'm feeling too rubbish haha. So yeah I've got 5 weeks til I go on holiday...is losing a stone from now til then too much of a challenge? I just want to lose as much as I can and keep it off, cos I feel absolutely rotten at the weight I am. Really hope that I can get a wee bit of encouragement here that I don't get at home!! And good luck to all you low-carbers! I will try and keep this posted with my progress.

Lynne xx

[scottie mike]

Congrats on the weight loss.

Common thought is one will loss about 10% of the total weight you have to loss in the first weeks. This is the loss of glycogen and its associated water ie the water loss. Generally more muscular and athletic, the more glycogen to lose. Men generally have more than women.

Then you slow to a more sustainable but slower rate. Healthy loss is up to 2% of your total body weight per week. Most people are at lower end. Men are better than women. YMMV.

Unfortunately Atkins is not partially fast. But then again this is a way of eating (WOE) and represents a life long eating practice. Although I understand your passion, you must really think long term. Personally, that passion could work to encourage you to succeed. To a great extent, your will to succeed is as important and following the plan. Get the book. Read it a couple of time. And read this and other LC sites on what people are doing and how they are succeeding. Plan and work at it. You need not be perfect. But you need to be persistent.

Good luck.

[tracy5447]

hi Lynne,
i agree with scottie mike, you have to think of this as your new way of eating now, and is does get easier as you move through the stages, if you stop at christmas and revert back to old eating habits you will put every ounce back on very quickly.
This forum is great for getting you through any tough days, you will get loads of support here which helps to keep you on track, it will get easier and you will get healthier, so i look forward to loads of positive updates from you!
this is a new chapter in your life now and let it be a happy slimmer one, go girl!!!

[Aradasky]

HI Lynne, here to echo what Tracy and Mike said. It is not an easy road if you look at how easy it was to grab a hamburger and pizza before, but it is a very rewarding road. I was in a real funk when I started last August. This past week, I feel like I did several years ago, energy wise as well as no depression. It is incredible. You should look for a pound or so a week loss, sometimes more, sometimes less. You can do this even when you are on holiday and at other people's homes. I know, I have. Just keep in mind how your cute next boyfriend will react when you offer to fix him eggs and bacon for breakfast when other girls he knows don't even eat! And you eat with him and still look incredible! I look forward to reading your progress!

[TryingAgain]

Thanks for the advice
I'm definitely in this for the long haul, it's the only diet I've ever been able to stick to for any decent length of time. Just wish I'd kept at it last time instead of going back to old habits. This time, however, I'm going to stick at it...I just know it'll be easier to keep up the motivation if I see results, hence why I wanted to lose a decent amount of weight quickly...but I can see that looks like I'm just looking for a quick fix! Definitely back on Atkins long term...I want to be slim permanently, not just for a few weeks Nearly time for my weigh in so in a couple of days I'll see if there's any improvement on next week.
Thanks for all your support!!

[TryingAgain]

Lost just over a pound this week, so that makes it half a stone exactly in two weeks! Big difference between first and second week, and although I know that can happen, I'm thinking perhaps I'm still eating too many carbs. Trying to keep them as low as possible but maybe I'm missing some of those nasty "hidden" carbs that you end up eating when you think you're being really good!

Overall, though, I'm losing, which is the main thing! Hopefully will keep it up long term!

[Aradasky]

You did well, a pound is very good! We all would like to lose all our weight in two weeks, but this road is a long one. Atkins says that loosing slowly is the best way so we can find what triggers we have and solve them, as well as learn how to eat again. You might even stall, some do.... But if you stay concentrated on the right way to eat, you will do well.

[tracy5447]

well done, you have done fantastically well, a huge pat on the back for you
post a days menu, ive done that loads of times, its good to see it written down, and someone will be able to advise you if your eating too many carbs but it sounds like you are doing everything perfect.

[TryingAgain]

Thank you for your encouragement! This week (3 weeks in) I've lost 2lbs, so I'm happy with that! I think I was maybe missing carbs in small things I was adding to my food. Little bits at a time, but they would have all been adding up! So now I'm being very strict with myself, possibly stricter than I should be, but at least I know that if it gets too hard I am allowed more carbs, as long as I count them.

I find myself mostly eating chicken legs and ham as snacks, and then not really wanting a full meal when it comes to dinner. This has helped as it stops me from craving anything I shouldn't allow myself.

Last week I'd had one "bad day" - not even a day, just an evening - and thought that I could maybe give myself treats now and again. This weekend just past I decided it wasn't worth it, and look at the difference! Almost double last week's loss! Even more of an incentive not to "treat" myself, cos the biggest treat I'll have is having more self confidence! I've lost 9lbs so far, and I can see a wee bit of a difference already. Long way to go yet, but I'm thankful I'm managing to stick to it, and I'm really excited to think that in a couple of months, I'll be a lot closer to my goal. Thanks for the encouragement, everyone, it really helps!!

[Aradasky]

Congtratulations, you have passed two big steps. You have learned how to help yourself not be hungry during the day and you have succeeded in in learning what the most important thing in all this new way of eating is....... YOU!!! You are looking for a new life, a new way to be healthy and a new way to think and you are on the way!!! Hurrah for YOU!!! No one else can do it, only you and you are!

[TryingAgain]

Oops! Went well off the rails this weekend. So will probably have gained this week However, I'm back on it today for some damage control and hopefully can fix some of it before weigh in day!!

[tracy5447]

i used to struggle at the weekends, my husband used to sit and watch the xfactor with a couple of beers and i really wanted to join him with a wine, do you know what i did? took up knitting (and my kids laugh at me) it means my hands are kept busy and i have to concentrate for a few hours at a time, by which time the want for a wine went completely.
your doing so well it would be a shame for the weekend treats to stop the weightloss, your goal is just around the corner so keep at it!

[Aradasky]

Tracy, Great Idea and good advice!