3 weeks out and NOT LOSING WEIGHT ! hmmm

[Wheetsin 714]

With most diets, and this probably isn't much exception, you will see an initial weightloss (glycogen stores, etc. - I have a previous post with more detail on what's happening) and then a plateau while your body "levels out" and adjusts to the changes.

I lost 25ish lbs my first week, then 8 more, then 6... then just lost & regained 3 more pounds for the next 5 weeks, then another 5 lbs... then nothing... I've *just* started losing steadily again -- about 12 lbs in the last 2 weeks.

It's just a "thing", really, and nothing to get worried about. The weight WILL come off as long as you're doing your part, but not until your body gets into the groove.

On another note -------------------------------------------------------

Eating just Protein isn't safe. You can actually get a type of "poisoning" from eating just Proteins (which is why survival experts always preach that if you're going to hunt animals to survive, you have to eat the organs/bones/etc. and not just the muscle). Ketones can build up in your body and if they build up enough you will become... well... I've seen it compared to diabetics who do not take insulin, with the same dangers. I'm surprised ANY doctor would say "protein only" since there have been deaths documented in medical literature, caused by high protein-only diets (I've read them! - given to me by 3 different personal friends who are doctors when I was all gung-ho on Atkins)

Here are some add'l potential side-effects of protein-only diets:

Unpleasant body odour and bad breath - if you eat only Protein foods, then you start to smell like a carnivore - the bad smell is caused by the ketones that accumulate in the body

Increased risk of high blood fat levels - high-protein foods are often also high in animal fats, particularly saturated fats and cholesterol, which raise blood fat levels and increase the risk of heart disease, and certain types of cancer

Loss of muscle tissue - you will agree that this is not the object of weight-reduction diets and it is ironic that the more carbohydrate you cut out of the diet and the more protein you eat to slim, the lower your body protein stores will be, because you are burning protein foods as fuel

Risk of deficiency diseases - cutting out fruits and vegetables, which are our main source of antioxidant Vitamins such as beta carotene, and Vitamin C, protective bioflavonoids, and certain minerals, to eliminate carbohydrate from the diet, exposes you to the risk of developing a whole range of deficiency diseases; cutting out wholegrain cereals also exposes you to the risk of developing Vitamin B and E deficiencies

Constipation - carbohydrates such as fruit, vegetables, grains and cereals, particularly the wholegrain varieties, are the main source of dietary fibre in the diet; eliminating these foods will inevitably cause severe constipation, which in the long-run can lead to diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and may even make you more susceptible to bowel cancer.

One of the most telling indications that high-protein slimming diets are not good for you, is the fact that most of the diet books that advocate such diets, always warn that you should only use the diet for one, or a maximum of two weeks, at a time. The writers know that these diets are fraught with negative effects, so they cover themselves against law suits, etc, by issuing these warnings. If you use these diets and suffer adverse effects, the blame rests with you for using the diet for too long.

[leatha_g 4]

Great post, Wheetsin.

A person can get in veggies by doing something like drinking one V8 per day. Personally, I fix myself whatever Protein I'm having and a side of veggies right next to it. It doesn't have to be raw salad type veggies, it can be canned green Beans, asparagus, broccoli, pinto Beans, butter beans, black-eyed peas - anything that your little heart desires. I use a dessert plate, put my one serving of chicken breast, tuna, egg, whatever Protein, then a spoon or two of veggies next to it and move along.

[roseann 0]

thanks for the ideas. I know Protein in lg. quantities isn't good, so i will try to vary the diet with other stuff. thanks, will keep in touch.