I started Atkins a week ago and at first I was seeing dramatic results. I lost a lb a day the first 4 days...

Question

however, after that I began to put it back on. They say the average person loses 6-8 lbs the first 2wks. What is wrong with me that I am struggling on this diet?? I used to have the best metabolism ever and now I am stuck at a certain number. I am only 24. I excercize atleast 5 times a week as well.

Answer 1

First, drop the Atkins diet. As a nutritionist, I can tell you that ANY diet that limits ANY food group is not going to help you lose or maintain a healthy weight. What I tell most people is that large weight loss that you experienced during the initiation period of the diet was not weight loss but water loss. You might have felt a bit tired. A bit slugish or fuller than you normally do when you eat. Its a long drawn out explaination but the short of it is, the longer you stay on the diet the more damage you do to your organs. With that said, lets look at what you are eating and what type of exercise you are doing. When you work out, can you hold a conversation with the person next to you? Could you belt out the words to the song you are listening to on your walkman or ipod? If so...you're not working hard enough. You should be able to utter two or three words at the most. BUT on the other hand you shouldn't be gasping for air either. You should be pushing yourself hard enough that if you were asked to push a bit harder you could do it. Are you lifting weights? Muscle (which helps to burn more calories due to the fact it takes more to maintain it) building exercises are GREAT for weight loss. and no (if you are female) you wont become the next Ms. Olympian, and if you are male...its gonna take a lot more than a couple of times a week to get the bulk that will make you the next Arnold.

Do you feel that if you work out at the gym *(hopefully for 60 minutes at least 3 times a week) you could have a treat to reward yourself for a job well done? You have to do this and I guarantee that the weight will begin to fall off.

Ask yourself how long it took you to gain the weight that you are now at, and realize that is the time it will take to lose the weight.

Re-evaluate your portion and see if they are distorted. Start to read the labels of the food you eat and try to eat the serving size.

Try to stay as close to the source as possible. Eat fresh, it natural, it whole grains.

lift weights 2-3 times a week. cardio 3-5 times a week and try to add or push a little harder every 2 weeks.

Throw the scale out the window. If you begin to lift weights the added muscle weights more than the fat you are so disgusted with. As someone who has lost over 135lbs over the last 10 years and kept it off. I can tell you that it took me 5 years to lose that weight just like it took me 5 years to gain it. I work out 6 days a week, I lift weights 3 times a week and I do everything from running, kickboxing, salsa dancing, power sculpting, step aerobics and swimming. All because I want to insure that I get a well rounded workout for my entire body. Find a workout that fits you. If its belly dancing so be it. If its step or some other group exercise. You may find (much like I did) that things are so much more fun and less daunting when you have a partner or a group.

Good luck and realize that if weightloss was so simple and easy, nobody would be over weight.

Answer 2

How much weight do you have to lose? The more overweight you are, the faster the weight comes off. If you're not very heavy, you might lose more slowly. Really, that's the only thing I can thing of if you're doing Induction correctly. My father and I both slimmed down on Atkins and we lost weight pretty quickly in the first two weeks. Exercise is neccessary too. If you aren't exercising now I'd advise at least 30 minutes a day. Also, to note: Most of the people who say that you shouldn't be doing Atkins don't know what it really is. A lot of people seem to think that the diet is all bacon and think that how you eat in the Induction phase is how you eat during the whole diet. Atkins actually helps you kick sugar and caffiene cravings and if you do the program correctly you end up eating plenty of the right carbs, fruit, and vegetables. It's not all bacon and red meat. My father and I both went on the diet several years ago, got in great shape, and I've never felt better.

Answer 3

I did the Atkins diet before and at first the weight came off quick and then it got harder. I had to cut out even more food and was exercising like crazy (over an hour a day). It took a little over a month, but I lost 30 pounds (unfortunately I gained it all back some years ago). I'd just suggest keeping at it, once your body gets used to your new diet, you should start seeing more results.

Answer 4

Atkins is not a practical diet( go check your cholesterol). When I want to trim down I eat a little bit a lot. Just snack all day. Don't let yourself get hungry. Putting on some muscle increase the amount of calories you burn at rest. It's one of the reasons man have an easier time on loosing weight. They can pack on muscle much faster. Don't get discouraged the best diets work gradually. Good luck. Also a trick I use that keeps you healthy and full...Bake a few sweet potatoes, keep in the fridge and peel them like a banana to snack on. It will instantly curb you hunger and it taste much better than you think. It has the sushi effect..lots of energy without the bulk.

Answer 5

Atkins is an extreme diet for people in urgent medical need of weight loss (losing 100lbs or more to avoid diabetes or heart problems). If you're just trying to shave off a couple pounds, it's a dangerous thing to do to your body, and can really screw with your metabolism. If things were good before, best to leave them alone!

Answer 6

THe first few pounds were most likely water weight. It's virtually impossible to lose more than 2-3 pounds of fat per week is you are of normal build. You're not finished yet, so stick with it and I'm sure you'll get to at least 5 pounds in two weeks. You're body also has to get used to the new routine. Also-make sure you weigh yourself at the same time-prefereable in the morning before you eat or shower.

Answer 7

I believe the Atkins isn't a healthy diet. You also need to eat fruits, in order to get your daily intake of vitamins and carbohydrates. And all the fat you eat can affect your arteries and your heart. so, you should quit it. (That's my opinion. Who am I to give you advice, after all?)