[NautiNurse]

First post on FR is a vanity about weight loss.

Uh Oh.

[Neets]

Your doctor can best answer these questions.

[TheSpottedOwl]

This is something you should discuss with your doctor.

Btw, welcome to Free Republic, and good luck :-)

[Tax-chick]

See a doctor.

[Jaysun]

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.

[Ditter]

Could the 2 lb gain over night be water weight gain from adding the carbs and not 2 lbs of fat added over night? Why don't you try it for a week without weighing? My weight doesn't stay exactly the same it bounces up and down. Also when ever you go off of a diet you always put on a couple of pounds.

[angkor]

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.

[SunkenCiv]

"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.

[Dustoff45]

Two words - Water Retention

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.

[Rockingham]

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.

[Revelation 911]

to a carbo-rich muesli (at my Doctor's advice)

a wise move - I didnt and suffer from a nasty spastic colon now

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

I noticed the same thing -chart it out daily and if youre like me, youll drop to your pre-rice weight the second day -

The hardest part though is setting my ethnicity aside - Its hard being italian and having to pass by pasta when it is so ingrained culturally

[Revelation 911]

oh - and welcome newbie

[Bicyclist_Barbara]

I am so relieved to find another person that has not been able to have more than 25 carbs a day and maintain. I actually have not been able to loose on more than 20 carbs a day. I would love to chat with you more about this. Please email me ( bchapnick@lycos.com)

I am 59 yrs old. Been on Atkins since mid Aug, 04. Never lost more than 1 lb a week and was on a plateau for 2 months. Total weight loss was from 197 to 184. Not much. I am 5'9" and extremely active. Bicycle, xc ski, spinning classes, yoga. I lost my first 10 lbs on a high carb diet. Then went on Atkins and lost the other 13 lbs. But I need to drop more and I just cannot take off any.

I need to transition off this to something like SouthBeach diet which is lower fat, lowere calories and lower carbs. Its a difficult question you are asking and you are not alone in your search for a answer.

[glockmom]

you CAN get off Atkins, I did. I'm 25 & started out at 175lbs and dropped down to 138lbs in about 6 months with Atkins. I'm now at 136lbs and have been off atkins for about 2 months. What worked for me may not work for you and may not be recommended by any doctor, but like I said it worked for me. I didn't lose all of that weight just to gain it back and I was really missing my chocolate cake at times. So it took me about 2+ weeks to totally transition, so be patient. Basically you gradually go from Atkins to introducing some more healthy carbs (like vegetables) but not going over 1000 daily calories. It regulated my weight, and as you introduce more carbs you still need to watch your calories. Then when you feel your at a comfortable carb level, you can gradually increase your calories. Now I can eat my baked potatoes, bread, in proportions. But I did this to transition to eating healthier overall and still get the complex carbs needed to satisfy my carb need. Good luck.