Posted on 12/05/2004 4:53:41 AM PST by what_to_do_123
I have been doing an Atkins-ish diet for 2 years now. I was an obese 26 year old at 240 pounds and I am now a more respectable 28 year old at 165 pounds. I have not been able to move off induction phase as my tolerance for carbohydrate seems to be about 25 grams a day. After a year of following it religiously I substituted my bacon and eggs breakfast to a carbo-rich muesli (at my Doctor's advice) and was pleased to find that it didn't affect the weight loss. I have also kept up a regular exercise routine of short (15 mins) jogging 3 times a week. I now have a muesli breakfast, salad lunch and meat and greens dinner. Time has come to be able to re-introduce some very basic carbohydrates back into my diet, but my body just won't accept it. If on any day I stick to my healthy routine and add half a small bowl of rice for dinner, I will wake up the next day 2 pounds heavier. Same if I have half a piece of cake or a small biscuit - whatever I introduce over 25grams a day comes back the next day as 1-2 pounds extra. This has now become personally depressing as it appears I will either gain back all of my weight, or can never ever eat more than 25grams of carbs a day. Neither of which are healthy, and causing me severe distress and depression. What to do?
Uh Oh.
Your doctor can best answer these questions.
This is something you should discuss with your doctor.
Btw, welcome to Free Republic, and good luck :-)
See a doctor.
dont worry...I'm not going to jump off a bridge or anything :) has anyone else had this experience and dealt with it?
Do you know, over the years, how many times I've seen
Freepers tell this story, or something closely related?
freeper?
I have little experience with it, but I'll pass on what Rush said about Atkins; he used it as well.
"Atkins is not a diet. Atkins is a lifestyle change."
First off, check you frmail. I haven't neccessarily had the problem you describe, but I'll bet I can make a fairly good guess at what is happening.
I agree that you should see doctor, or nutritionist as others have advised just to have a professional check things out.
How much water are you drinking per day?
Check your private reply mail.
A "freeper" is a person who has ensconced himself as a Free Republic patriot...Where all thing in life basically revolve around this Free Republic Site.
Basically a person who can't stay away from the board for over an hour!!
ahh...got ya
Hat's off to you for being able to stick to that for so long. WOW! I could only handle pork skins and salad for about two months.
They all must obey basic thermodynamics--intake less calories than you burn-lose, intake more than you burn-gain, even it out--you maintain--
Keep in mind that 1 pound is about 3,500 calories.
So it's literally impossible to put on "one or two pounds" of fat unless you're eating 3,500 or 7,000 calories of excess food per day.
Take heart in the math: it's not possible to "gain weight" if caloric output exceeds caloric input.
And see your doctor.
"I have also kept up a regular exercise routine of short (15 mins) jogging 3 times a week."
Speaking as a non-healthcare-professional, who has doofed around with Atkins without actually getting any of the books, I'd say that the exercise will have to be increased if you plan to increase quick burning calories.
The first person I ever encountered (over ten years ago at this point) who was on a low-carb diet was also very muscular, a bodybuilder. He was sitting around eating a block of cheese one time, and I asked him if he'd like a carrot. "I can't eat carrots."
That's not to increase your depression though...
Another thing he said has stuck with me -- "the more muscle you have, the more you burn just sitting around." Right now your body will store carbs as fat because you've peeled off so much fat. Generally, our bodies will always do that because modern diets are so carb-rich they can't be used right away. If you want to add back carbs, keep in mind that you can't add them back in to their old levels.
Any of those "high fructose corn syrup" products such as "low fat" salad dressings are out, as are those non-carbonated refreshments like Snapple. The only thing I've done continuously for the past two years is stay off sugared drinks (diet only). If the calories don't go in, they don't have to come out.
I hope this was helpful.
Your new carbs are allowing you to absorb water. Keep up the exercise and try the small amount of rice for a few days. Stay off of the scale, but watch the beltline. Remember your body loves Carbs, so stay strict on the small amount for awhile, and try to use the new Carb intake to increase your exercise base a few more minutes gradually.
Possibly you have shifted a compulsive tendency in eating toward the discipline required of Atkins. Watch out for an appetite increase that comes with increased Carb intake.
Try weighing yourself once a week, so you don't let the Yo-Yo weight changes to scare you.
Get someone to hold you to your plan, and if you begin to balloon on the carbs, cold-turkey right back onto Atkins
(Speaking as someone who tried to maintain their way all the way back to their original high weight)
I had great success by having a Fruit/Yogurt breakfast. Try a can of Crushed Pineapple (unsweetened)or fruit of your choice, along with 1-2 cups of NonFat Yogurt. You can pre-mix these in the Fridge. However, some of the acid in certain fresh fruit does a number with the yogurt,(if you remember your chemistry)
It is a lot of food, first thing in the morning, but the variety away from grease will be refreshing. For a snack, try Natural Peanut Butter (Just grinded peanuts in their own oil, with salt) on a puffed rice cakes, cracker or wafer. This avoids breads and wheat products, as some of us have a tendency to lose control around bread. If you feel the need to binge, the Peanut Butter is safe on Atkins, and there are not that many carbs in the Rice Cakes.
Evaluate the nutritional aspects of your regimen, using Atkins materials and the Life Extension Foundation, which has a comprehensive website and their own line of supplements and a large reference book.
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