Even if this is possible, it doesn't mean it is probable.
The authors of the book The New Atkins For a New You have said in an interview that this kind of weight loss is not the norm, and when it does happen, it is usually to people who would be classified as obese. And even for some of those folks, it does not always happen that fast.
And even if it happens, that doesn't mean you continue to lose at that rate after the two weeks. Let's say you lose 7.5 pounds of water one week, then lose, let's say, 6 pounds of water the next week along with 1.5 pounds of fat. Does this pattern remain constant throughout the coming weeks?
No. You are "out of" water weight to lose, and will then start losing fat at the rate of 1/2 pound to 2 pounds per week, depending on many factors, including, but not limited to, the amount you have to lose altogether, your age, your dieting history, medications you are taking, and so on. In some cases, you may not even lose 1/2 pound per week.
So not only will your weight loss slow down, most likely, but the closer you get to your goal, the slower it will probably get. If you have 40 pounds to lose, it could realistically look like this, even if you lose quickly at first, which many people don't:
Week 1 - 7.5 pounds
Week 2 - 7.5 pounds
Week 3 - 1 pound
Week 4 - 1.2 pounds
Week 5 - 0 pounds
Week 6 - 1.5 pounds
Week 7 - 0 pounds
Week 8 - 1 pound
Week 9 - 1 pound
Week 10 - 1 pound
After 10 weeks, it would not be surprising to go a couple or a few weeks without losing anything, and then drop 2 or 3 pounds suddenly, then go back to losing a 1/2 pound or 1 pound per week for the next couple of weeks, and then stay even again for a while.
The closer you get, the more likely that you will slow down, maybe even painfully slow down!
To think that because Atkins says it is possible to lose 15 pounds in 2 weeks, does not, therefore, mean that it is normal to continue that trend and expect to lose 2.5 or 3 pounds every week, consistently, for the next 14 weeks.
Here is the actual meaning of the quote - "You can lose up to 15 pounds in 2 weeks" means that you can lose between 0.000001 pounds and 15 pounds in two weeks.
If you lose 0.000001 pounds in two weeks, the statement is still accurate.
Saying you can lose UP TO 15 pounds, is not the same as saying you WILL lose 15 pounds.
The following statement is also true:
You can lose UP TO 1,000 pounds in 2 weeks. See what I mean?
So the moral of your story with Atkins is that your body will let go of the fat when it is good and ready. You may be doing every perfectly and still not lose very fast.
Think of it this way - Atkins is a way to get healthy, and as you get healthy, your weight will adjust to a normal healthy weight, whether it happens fast or slow. Either way, you win!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
MARCH 30, 2010 - YEP - IT'S A TUMOR
I had my ultrasound this afternoon. I do, in fact, have a tumor about the size of a lemon. It is in the preferable position, so will be easy to operate on. I see the doctor on Thursday to talk about my surgery and to schedule it. So that part is fine.
However, based on what has been happening with me, and what happened last week and the severity of it, they are concerned that the tumor is not all that is going on. So, when they do the surgery, they will also be doing a biopsy.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
MARCH 25, 2010 - THE GRANDDKIDS ARE COMING
Well, had a rough night last night. Again. No sense in going to the ER again, because there is nothing they can do for me. Except maybe try to kill me again! LOL!
This morning the pain is low. I am watching the grandkids today, along with Bill. That is to say, Bill is helping me watch the kids, not that I have to also watch Bill.
I usually take my granddaughter Annelise to the library for story time, but I'm going to ask Bill to take her so I can relax while little Will is taking his nap.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
MARCH 24, 2010 - TRYING TO FUNCTION
I slept pretty good last night. No pain and no hemorrhaging. I was still pretty "ill" with the latter until I went to bed. I woke up several times in the night just from nerves, but managed to keep falling back asleep pretty quickly.
For the past two days, the pain has started around 10-11 in the morning, so I'm nervously watching the clock...
And here's the rub - I gained 0.2 pounds since yesterday! Now that defies the laws of physics, as far as I'm concerned!
I spoke to my hormone doctor, who told me that my bio-identical hormone replacement is not to blame for my fibroid tumor(s). So that is good news.
He also felt that I did not have an allergic reaction to the Morphine, but rather had a drop in blood pressure due to being vasically (sp) constricted due to hemorrhaging. So the Benadryl just sort of jump started me back to normal blood pressure.
I decided to go back to the doctor who did my other fibroid surgery in 1998 to have him do this one, too. I have an appointment with his nurse practitioner on April 9 to have another ultrasound done, and then they will schedule the surgery.
So, in the meantime, getting my strength back. So far, so good this morning - no problems of any kind except headache and backache.
For the past two days, the pain has started around 10-11 in the morning, so I'm nervously watching the clock...
And here's the rub - I gained 0.2 pounds since yesterday! Now that defies the laws of physics, as far as I'm concerned!
I spoke to my hormone doctor, who told me that my bio-identical hormone replacement is not to blame for my fibroid tumor(s). So that is good news.
He also felt that I did not have an allergic reaction to the Morphine, but rather had a drop in blood pressure due to being vasically (sp) constricted due to hemorrhaging. So the Benadryl just sort of jump started me back to normal blood pressure.
I decided to go back to the doctor who did my other fibroid surgery in 1998 to have him do this one, too. I have an appointment with his nurse practitioner on April 9 to have another ultrasound done, and then they will schedule the surgery.
So, in the meantime, getting my strength back. So far, so good this morning - no problems of any kind except headache and backache.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - Drama in the ER
It was just like a scene out of an episode of House. I was in the ER this morning, in terrific pain and begging for painkillers. I already had an IV in for fluids, so they gave me an IV push of morphine.
Just as the last drop of the drug was entering my vein, I was talking to the nurse, and suddenly, in mid sentence, I stopped talking, dropped my water glass and fell lifeless onto the gurney. I felt like a giant hand was pushing me down and I was burning hot. I could hear the nurse asking me if I could hear her. I felt the doctor pushing on my sternum to rouse me. I could neither respond nor move.
I sensed Bill standing there, and thought, "Well, this is certainly dramatic." And then I thought "This is what it feels like to die."
They pushed an antihistamine into the IV to counteract the morphine, and I lived.
I am now home, feeling better, but I'm facing surgery in a couple of weeks to remove a fibroid tumor, which is the thing causing me the ER-level pain I've been having.
Oh, I'll be glad when this is over! I had this surgery in 1998 and 2005, and I feel so much better afterward!
Here is my problem - I had a good breakfast this morning, and then to the ER, where I spent the rest of the day until dinner time. So I did not each lunch.
So here I am at the end of the day, needing to get in enough food to hit my goal for the day. I am short on everything!
I only have 12 net carbs and 1400 calories. I need 20 net carbs and 1800 calories! And it's 9 o'clock at night!
Just as the last drop of the drug was entering my vein, I was talking to the nurse, and suddenly, in mid sentence, I stopped talking, dropped my water glass and fell lifeless onto the gurney. I felt like a giant hand was pushing me down and I was burning hot. I could hear the nurse asking me if I could hear her. I felt the doctor pushing on my sternum to rouse me. I could neither respond nor move.
I sensed Bill standing there, and thought, "Well, this is certainly dramatic." And then I thought "This is what it feels like to die."
They pushed an antihistamine into the IV to counteract the morphine, and I lived.
I am now home, feeling better, but I'm facing surgery in a couple of weeks to remove a fibroid tumor, which is the thing causing me the ER-level pain I've been having.
Oh, I'll be glad when this is over! I had this surgery in 1998 and 2005, and I feel so much better afterward!
Here is my problem - I had a good breakfast this morning, and then to the ER, where I spent the rest of the day until dinner time. So I did not each lunch.
So here I am at the end of the day, needing to get in enough food to hit my goal for the day. I am short on everything!
I only have 12 net carbs and 1400 calories. I need 20 net carbs and 1800 calories! And it's 9 o'clock at night!
Monday, March 22, 2010
MARCH 22, 2010 - PROTEIN NEEDS
Here is an excerpt from The New Atkins for a New You - The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great (2010).
HOW MUCH PROTEIN?
The government’s recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight. For a 150-pound person, that’s about as much as you’d consume in a large chicken breast and a handful of nuts. It’s important to understand that the RDA reflects the minimum, not the optimal, amount of protein an average healthy person needs. Many factors increase your minimum protein needs, such as your age, gender, body composition (ratio of fat to lean body mass), and whether you’re still growing, are pregnant, have inflammation, or are dieting. Even the amount of stress you’re under can be a factor. Research indicates that adults benefit from protein intakes above the RDA, particularly when they are losing weight.
HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO YOU NEED?
The ranges below for women and men should give you an idea of the flexibility in protein intake allowed across all phases of the Atkins Diet, while the listing for typical protein intake will cover the general protein needs of most people.
Recommended Protein Range in Grams for Women
4’9” 63-125
4’10” 64-130
4’11” 65-135
5’0” 66-138
5’1” 68-142
5’2” 70-145
5’3” 71-149
5’4” 73-152
5’5” 75-156
5’6” 76-159
5’7” 78-162
5’8” 80-166
5’9” 81-169
5’10” 83-173
5’11” 85-176
Typical Protein Food Intake in Ounces for Women
4’9” to 5’0” 14 ounces
5’1” to 5’2” 15 ounces
5’3” to 5’5” 16 ounces
5’6” to 5’7” 17 ounces
5’8” to 5’11” 18 ounces
Recommended Protein Range in Grams for Men
5’1” 74-154
5’2” 75-157
5’3” 76-159
5’4” 78-162
5’5” 79-165
5’6” 81-168
5’7” 82-171
5’8” 84-175
5’9” 86-178
5’10” 87-182
5’11” 89-186
6’0” 91-190
6’1” 93-194
6’2” 95-199
6’3” 98-204
Typical Protein Food Intake in Ounces for Men
5’1” to 5’5” 17 ounces
5’6” to 5’8” 18 ounces
5’9” to 5’10” 19 ounces
5’11” to 6’0” 20 ounces
6’1” to 6’3” 21 ounces
(Rebecca’s Notes)
These are recommendations only, and you may need to do a little experimentation to see how these different amounts of protein work for your body and metabolism. However, these numbers should get you going in the right direction.
If you want to start in a very general way, just try to consume the amount of ounces recommended for your gender and height.
If you want to be more specific, and want to track your actual grams of protein, eat toward the lower amount of recommended grams if you are very sedate, eat toward the middle of recommended grams if you are fairly active, and eat toward the higher end of recommended grams if you are extremely active. And remember, everyone is different, and you may still have to make adjustments until you hit the right amount of protein for your body.
HOW MUCH PROTEIN?
The government’s recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight. For a 150-pound person, that’s about as much as you’d consume in a large chicken breast and a handful of nuts. It’s important to understand that the RDA reflects the minimum, not the optimal, amount of protein an average healthy person needs. Many factors increase your minimum protein needs, such as your age, gender, body composition (ratio of fat to lean body mass), and whether you’re still growing, are pregnant, have inflammation, or are dieting. Even the amount of stress you’re under can be a factor. Research indicates that adults benefit from protein intakes above the RDA, particularly when they are losing weight.
HOW MUCH PROTEIN DO YOU NEED?
The ranges below for women and men should give you an idea of the flexibility in protein intake allowed across all phases of the Atkins Diet, while the listing for typical protein intake will cover the general protein needs of most people.
Recommended Protein Range in Grams for Women
4’9” 63-125
4’10” 64-130
4’11” 65-135
5’0” 66-138
5’1” 68-142
5’2” 70-145
5’3” 71-149
5’4” 73-152
5’5” 75-156
5’6” 76-159
5’7” 78-162
5’8” 80-166
5’9” 81-169
5’10” 83-173
5’11” 85-176
Typical Protein Food Intake in Ounces for Women
4’9” to 5’0” 14 ounces
5’1” to 5’2” 15 ounces
5’3” to 5’5” 16 ounces
5’6” to 5’7” 17 ounces
5’8” to 5’11” 18 ounces
Recommended Protein Range in Grams for Men
5’1” 74-154
5’2” 75-157
5’3” 76-159
5’4” 78-162
5’5” 79-165
5’6” 81-168
5’7” 82-171
5’8” 84-175
5’9” 86-178
5’10” 87-182
5’11” 89-186
6’0” 91-190
6’1” 93-194
6’2” 95-199
6’3” 98-204
Typical Protein Food Intake in Ounces for Men
5’1” to 5’5” 17 ounces
5’6” to 5’8” 18 ounces
5’9” to 5’10” 19 ounces
5’11” to 6’0” 20 ounces
6’1” to 6’3” 21 ounces
(Rebecca’s Notes)
These are recommendations only, and you may need to do a little experimentation to see how these different amounts of protein work for your body and metabolism. However, these numbers should get you going in the right direction.
If you want to start in a very general way, just try to consume the amount of ounces recommended for your gender and height.
If you want to be more specific, and want to track your actual grams of protein, eat toward the lower amount of recommended grams if you are very sedate, eat toward the middle of recommended grams if you are fairly active, and eat toward the higher end of recommended grams if you are extremely active. And remember, everyone is different, and you may still have to make adjustments until you hit the right amount of protein for your body.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
MARCH 21, 2010 - WEEK 53 RESULTS
I did not lose weight last week, but I did lose inches, so I decided to increase calories and net carbs again. If I was truly at a set point, I should not gain with these increases.
1,874 calories
144.7g fat (69.5%)
96.4g protein
46.6g total carbs
27.1g fiber
19.5g net carbs, of which 9.5 were from veggies
Starting weight – 144.8 pounds
Ending weight – 144.2 pounds
Weight loss – 0.6 pounds
I lost 1/4” from my midriff
I lost 1/4” from my waist
I lost 1/2" from my navel
Monday, March 15, 2010
MARCH 15, 2010 - COLETTE HEIMOWITZ - WHY ATKINS WORKS
Right click here to listen to Colette Heimowitz, the Atkins Nutritionist, explain the many reasons why eating the Atkins way works!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
MARCH 14, 2010 - HAPPY ATKINSVERSARY TO ME!
I can't believe that today is Day 365 of doing Atkins! I have never stuck with a way of eating for more than a few months. I am certainly convinced that this is the right way to eat, and I will be doing this for the rest of my life!
I lost 1/4” from my waist
I lost 1/2" from my navel
I lost 1/4" from my hips
I lost 1/4" from my thighs
This week I gained 1.2 pounds.
Beginning weight – 143.6 pounds
Ending weight – 144.8 pounds
Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:
1729 Calories
133g Fat (69.2%)
98g Protein
35.1g Carbs
18.6g Fiber
16.5g net carbs, of which 9.5g came from veggies
Even though I gained weight, I lost inches. Go figure!
I lost 1/4” from my waist
I lost 1/2" from my navel
I lost 1/4" from my hips
I lost 1/4" from my thighs
Sunday, March 7, 2010
MARCH 7, 2010 - WEEK 51 RESULTS
From February 26 through March 6, 2010:
This past 9 days, I lost 7 pounds.
Beginning weight - 150.6 pounds
Ending weight - 143.6 pounds
Here is an average of my daily food intake for this 9 days:
1760 Calories
142g Fat (72.6%)
97.5g Protein
23.1g Carbs
9.9g Fiber
13.2g net carbs, of which 5.8g came from veggies
Friday, March 5, 2010
MARCH 5, 2010 - I'M IN THE NEW ATKINS BOOK!
Over the next week, I managed to lose a few pounds, which was mostly water I had gained on vacation. But is still weighed only a few pounds less than when I started a year ago. Very discouraging!
Then the new book came out on March 2, 2010, and I am a success story in it! You can read my story by right clicking here. Reading the book was so encouraging, and I felt like I wanted to just forget the past year and pretend I was a new person just starting Atkins for the first time! For the past four months, I had been eating around 1,650 calories, 66% fat and 14 net carbs and could not lose weight. I wanted to start again, eating 20 net carbs, 1,650 calories with 70% fat. But I was afraid that if I could not lose weight on 14 net carbs, I would most certainly gain weight on 20! I was really scared!
After communicating with Colette Heimowitz once again, it was concluded that I had probably reached a set point with my weight, and adding calories or net carbs would not make me gain. So I took a deep breath and decided that, on March 7th, I would start eating more.