Why doesn't this seem to be working?

I've been doing the low carb/no carb thing for almost 2 months now.
Even prior to starting, I didn't eat processed carbs, only those found
in whole grains and vegetables.

I've been keeping the carbs to well below 20 grams/day. I lost a few
pounds in the first month - which I attribute mostly to the fact that
I was eating much less than I used to. I drink around 3 litres of
water per day.

My weight hasn't budged an ounce for over a month now. I've tried the
Ketostix, and come up negative every time. What am I doing wrong?
How do I know if I'm in Induction? How long can you healthfully stay
in Induction? And where can I find a carb count for Havarti cheese?

I miss french fries.

wrote:
|| I've been doing the low carb/no carb thing for almost 2 months now.
|| Even prior to starting, I didn't eat processed carbs, only those found
|| in whole grains and vegetables.
||
|| I've been keeping the carbs to well below 20 grams/day. I lost a few
|| pounds in the first month - which I attribute mostly to the fact that
|| I was eating much less than I used to. I drink around 3 litres of
|| water per day.
||
|| My weight hasn't budged an ounce for over a month now. I've tried the
|| Ketostix, and come up negative every time. What am I doing wrong?
|| How do I know if I'm in Induction? How long can you healthfully stay
|| in Induction? And where can I find a carb count for Havarti cheese?
||
|| I miss french fries.

Is this for real?

If it is, then you have some serious issues.

#1: Which low-carb plan are you following? The only one I know of that has
"induction" is Atkins, and if you had read the book you'd know what
induction is, and how long you can stay on it. If you didn't read the book,
then read it. If you don't know what induction is, you probably have no
idea what low-carb really is and aren't actually eating low-carb.

#2. As far as I know, it's nearly impossible to eat "no-carb." How have
you been doing a "no-carb thing" for two months? What are you eating?

#3. You ask what you are doing wrong, but don't even mention what you're
eating. (Miss Cleo hasn't been around here lately).

#4. If you're really low-carbing and know how to use a computer, why would
you ask where to find a carbohydrate count for Havarti cheese? I just
simply put in "Havarti cheese carbohydrates" the Yahoo search box: and came
up with more than 200 websites that had the information.

And if I sound a bit cynical or skeptical, I apolgize. We've had many
trolls here at ASDLC in the past few years that begin with a post that
sounds similar to this. The theme is always, "I'm following low-carb
exactly, but am not losing ... (or gaining)." Yet they cannot cite the
specifics of the plan they are on, because they are not actually following
one. And if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck ...
--
Peter
website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo

You probably eat too much and don't exercise enough.

--
JC

Eat less, exercise more.

--
wrote in message
...
I've been doing the low carb/no carb thing for almost 2 months now.
Even prior to starting, I didn't eat processed carbs, only those found
in whole grains and vegetables.

I've been keeping the carbs to well below 20 grams/day. I lost a few
pounds in the first month - which I attribute mostly to the fact that
I was eating much less than I used to. I drink around 3 litres of
water per day.

My weight hasn't budged an ounce for over a month now. I've tried the
Ketostix, and come up negative every time. What am I doing wrong?
How do I know if I'm in Induction? How long can you healthfully stay
in Induction? And where can I find a carb count for Havarti cheese?

I miss french fries.

wrote:
I've been doing the low carb/no carb thing for almost 2 months now.
Even prior to starting, I didn't eat processed carbs, only those found
in whole grains and vegetables.

Whole grains are high carb - you're not low carbing if you're eating them
in more than very tiny amounts. Two pieces of whole grain bread will
take you over the 20g you claim to be following.

My weight hasn't budged an ounce for over a month now. I've tried the
Ketostix, and come up negative every time. What am I doing wrong?
How do I know if I'm in Induction? How long can you healthfully stay
in Induction? And where can I find a carb count for Havarti cheese?

Only Atkins diet has Induction, and if you'd read the instructions you
would know there is no grain allowed in the Induction period, whole
or otherwise. If you're not following Atkins, there is no Induction
to your diet. Whole grains are probably why you have negative readings
on the ketosticks, and by combining such starches with lowcarb fatty foods
such as cheese, you are promoting fat storage.

--
jamie )

"There's a seeker born every minute."

On 20 Dec 2003, jamie wrote:

wrote:
I've been doing the low carb/no carb thing for almost 2 months now.
Even prior to starting, I didn't eat processed carbs, only those found
in whole grains and vegetables.

Whole grains are high carb - you're not low carbing if you're eating them
in more than very tiny amounts. Two pieces of whole grain bread will
take you over the 20g you claim to be following.

The OP didn't say they were eating whole grains as part of a low carb
way of eating, he or she ate them *prior to starting* to low carb.


My weight hasn't budged an ounce for over a month now. I've tried the
Ketostix, and come up negative every time. What am I doing wrong?
How do I know if I'm in Induction? How long can you healthfully stay
in Induction? And where can I find a carb count for Havarti cheese?

Only Atkins diet has Induction, and if you'd read the instructions you
would know there is no grain allowed in the Induction period, whole
or otherwise. If you're not following Atkins, there is no Induction
to your diet. Whole grains are probably why you have negative readings
on the ketosticks, and by combining such starches with lowcarb fatty foods
such as cheese, you are promoting fat storage.


Was there some other part of the OP's post that makes you think that he or
she is eating grains now?

Advice to the OP. Do a little research on the various plans, decide which
one you think you can follow and then get the book (buy or borrow it) and
read it. It sounds like you're not following any particular plan. That's
fine, many of us here do a roll your own version, but it's good to have
some basis from which you're starting.

Martha

--
Begin where you are - but don't end there.

wrote:

I've been doing the low carb/no carb thing for almost 2 months now.

The fact that you mention "no carb" shows that you haven't read any of
the books on the topic. Or if you read any of them you had near zero
comprehension. None of the books discuss no carb in any way shape or
form.

I've been keeping the carbs to well below 20 grams/day.

Why? Atkins starts at 20, not below 20.

My weight hasn't budged an ounce for over a month now.

Zero surprise. Just read the postings on ASDLC for a while. Hardlu
a day goes by without someone who stayed too low reporting a stall.
It's the second most common cause of stalls among newbies.

I've tried the Ketostix, and come up negative every time.

Douobtfull. Two points here. 1) Trace and darker is positive. Do
NOT go for any darker as there is no value in darker. Positive is the
goal. 2) The sticks tend to go bad after a month and stop registering.
Especially if the cover is left open and any moisture allowed in. Even
the humidity in the air is enough to destroy them in a few days if left
uncovered.

What am I doing wrong?

Not moving on to OWL. You failing to understand that the best carb
level is higher, so you stayed too low. Sure enough like so many
others you have stalled because of that. So move on to OWL and resume
loss.

How do I know if I'm in Induction?

Is this a trick quustion? The rules of Induction are in the book. If
you follow those directions you are on Induction. Eat strictly from
the list of allowed foods, have a daily goal of 20 grams of carbs,
do not count calories, do not avoid fat, do not stuff yourself.

How long can you healthfully stay in Induction?

According to the book the limit is 6 months unless you are under direct
medical supervision. This is a safety limit.

And where can I find a carb count for Havarti cheese?

Most cheese is 1 per ounce.

I miss french fries.

Who doesn't, join the club. Dwell on what you *can* eat.

Now go read the book. Don't skim it this time, read it like a college
textbook. It is important to get the point that the initial 20 is
merely an undershoot not an ideal level.