Moonwatcher's Atkins Diary

[moonwatcher]

Sounds like another very busy day in the garden. Please tell me you are having a rest today?? I'm trying to concentrate on the bit by bit approach to my garden but given I end up doing it on my own most of the time I am not sure I'm even keeping up with stuff let alone making much progress. Better than nothing though. Very cute that you are leaving the tree until the pigeon leaves

Lovely sounding salad for dinner last night. I approve of anything that has two types of cheese in it generally

Goldilukes - i am very jealous that you have sheep next door that wandered into your garden! I am more than a little sheep obsessed and would love to have some.

Not a rest day Atomic, but not quite as busy as yesterday! I am looking on it as my exercise!

We had a deer in the garden last year, but he was eating the plants and the few veggies I had, so he had to be discouraged by lots of loud noise and general anti-social behaviour until he decided to leave! The pigeon - I know they are pests, and they ravage my veggies too given half a chance, but she is going to be a mum, so we can't pull her house down yet!

 

[Atomic pink]

Pants that the scales aren't cooperating on weigh in day at the moment but does definitely sound like a blip. Great attitude to focus on the other changes you are seeing.

Have a fun day at the tip and garden centre.

 

[moonwatcher]

Sunday 2nd June

No breakfast or lunch as such today. Nibbled on snacks of caramelised onion cheddar, rebluchon, ham during the day. The tip was absolutely heaving with people - obviously we were not the only ones out in the garden yesterday. Popped into Asda (hate the shop usually, but they do cheap work shirts for the OH), and picked up some burgers with the intention of having a bbq later, then the garden centre for the secateuurs and - ahem - a few more plants. Well I really needed some yellow ones! Had a coffee there and redesigned the garden using the tray and the salt and pepper to help us! On the way home we stopped at a roadside plant stall - clematis and calla lilies at £3 each- well it would have been rude not to... I think a hardy fuschia and a rather fetching white pelargonium may have come along for the ride too!

Home and the sun was still shining so OH mowed and tidied, while I planted up a couple of planters for a little seating area in the front garden and was very proud that I was able to cut the bamboo canes and the hazel rods I needed from my own 'crop.' Strangely satisfying to have grown your own! Too cold for bbq though as it suddenly turned really cold, so we ate our burgers inside...

Dinner - Leith's venison burgers, salad leaves, fried turnips and a few fried onions. The burgers were 10g of carbs for two and had some wheat in them, but... I had 'em anyway! No excuses, I just did! The wheat has given me a few stomach rumbles but not too much.

However the highlight of the evening was, on Atomic Pink's recommendation, a bottle of Kopperberg elderflower and lime cider. This was so good. Calories, carbs, weight gains... who cares? It has to be the most wonderful cider ever created. I am not sure how long the other bottle will survive!

All in all, a lovely day. Yah boo sucks to the scales!

 

[Goldilukes]

I'm not sure Goldi - I'm not exactly the poster girl for successful Atkins results, as you'll see in a moment! I don't snack much because I just don't really want to - I find Atkins reduces my appetite after a while. This week isn't typical for meals though, because once I am back at work I will be back to three meals a day. Half term has been two meals a day on quite a few days. On your diary I notice that you're like me, and eat salami/pepperoni/chorizo and cheese quite a bit. I think these can have an effect because of salt tbh. Are you getting enough veggies? If your days are light on veggies it can also have an effect. When I was on Atkins a few years ago a different forum I belonged to then used to have a 'veggie challenge month,' to encourage everyone to eat enough of the right veggies. People who did the challenge recorded good results, and were often surprised at the difference compared to other months, so that may be something to think about.

WI this morning - hold the drum roll, get out the tissues...

Yesterday morning the scales showed 14st 6.8lbs - a drop of 0.6lbs since last week, so I was optimistic for a loss this morning, but oh no - scales today show 14st 8lbs! Exactly the same happened last week, when the scales were slowly going down during the week, and then overnight from Saturday to Sunday went up again! This means that technically I am up another 0.6 lbs since last week, making a gain over the last two weeks of 2.6lbs over the last two weeks.

Right - there are all sorts of possible reasons - I ate a lot of salty stuff yesterday - bacon, chorizo, cheeses... although I also drank loads of water. I did notice that I was very thirsty again overnight - drank 5 full glasses of water whilst asleep. Well, not while I was actually asleep obviously! I had a diet cream soda quite late in the evening and exactly the same thing happened last week when I had a diet flavoured fizzy water in the evening, so I am going to limit the occasional diet drink to earlier in the day only and flush it out during the day.

This morning the scales can 'do one.' Yesterday while I was gardening I noticed how much more I can do compared to last year - I can bend over and crouch down without my stomach making it practically impossible to stay there for more than 30 seconds, I was forking over the veg beds wihout even thinking about it, I can get up and down to do things without it being a major event. I worked for several hours with only a short tea break - instead of 10 minutes work then 10 minutes rest. I cannot have physically gained nearly 2lbs of fat overnight, so this is a blip - probably fluid retention. I must be due a 'whoosh' on the scales soon. I am not going to let a little battery operated set of circuits and lights dictate a miserable day on the last day of the hols!

Off for another visit to the tip now, then popping into the garden centre to get some new secateurs - some plants may fall into the trolley. Who knows? Then home for a few more hours in the garden, in the ... wait for it ... sun!

Have a great day everybody.

morning moonwatcher,
l think you may have a point about the pepperamis and salty meats holding water, I drink loads and have the thirst for it so maybe I'm never getting the chance to empty my system ever. It's just like a lottery roll over haha.
im certainly not getting enough veggies so will definitely be upping them and watching for the difference.

As for your scales drama, do you think it could be water retention? Maybe we a drinking the fluids lost back so it looks no difference on scales or goes up a little, like you said you are doing far much more now and so the scales can do one. I'm having that battle myself although have had a good result this morning, a mini breakthrough.

you know your body better than the sales do and you are right. More active is such a good sign that things are moving in the right direction, we are in for some sunshine so enjoy the garden!

 

[Goldilukes]

Ps I laugh my head off every time I see your avatar..lol that's me to a t.

you like your plants, don't blame you...I just love them too and spend way too much once I'm started. My oh doesn't take me to garden centres much these days as I used to drain Dobbies dry....

sounds like you are hAving a great time in the gArden.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Ps I laugh my head off every time I see your avatar..lol that's me to a t.

Oh yes that's an excellent avatar

 

[moonwatcher]

morning moonwatcher,
l think you may have a point about the pepperamis and salty meats holding water, I drink loads and have the thirst for it so maybe I'm never getting the chance to empty my system ever. It's just like a lottery roll over haha.
im certainly not getting enough veggies so will definitely be upping them and watching for the difference.

As for your scales drama, do you think it could be water retention? Maybe we a drinking the fluids lost back so it looks no difference on scales or goes up a little, like you said you are doing far much more now and so the scales can do one. I'm having that battle myself although have had a good result this morning, a mini breakthrough.

you know your body better than the sales do and you are right. More active is such a good sign that things are moving in the right direction, we are in for some sunshine so enjoy the garden!

A lottery roll over type of water retention. Hehe, I like that! I'm totally back on track today after yesterday's small rebellion. Am more fed up today about the scales not moving though. I should be used to it - my usual weight loss pattern is 2-3 weeks with losses, then a couple of weeks STS or gaining, but it is painfully slow overall, and I have to fight to not just throw in the towel and move into sod it mode. Sometimes that is easier than others!

 

[moonwatcher]

Monday 3rd June

Back to work today. Always tough after the cushy long holidays! At least the sun is shining.

Breakfast - two oz of cream cheese with a sprinkle of xylitol and lemon juice

Lunch - ham salad with a little rebluchon cheese

Dinner - pork mince and herb burgers with a sort of ratatouille - onions, aubergines, butter and olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, red pepper and chestnut mushrooms - topped with one oz grated cheddar, sour cream



Snack - half avocado with a little sour cream and lime juice

Drinks - one coffee with cream, two earl greys with almond milk, one green tea with vanilla, waters

Managed an hour in the herb garden this evening, weeding out an awful red weed that drives me crazy - got it before it seeded. Nice way to spend an hour in the evening sun, with all the herby smells wafting around.


Oh, and a pic of Saturday's breakfast

 

[Goldilukes]

A lottery roll over type of water retention. Hehe, I like that! I'm totally back on track today after yesterday's small rebellion. Am more fed up today about the scales not moving though. I should be used to it - my usual weight loss pattern is 2-3 weeks with losses, then a couple of weeks STS or gaining, but it is painfully slow overall, and I have to fight to not just throw in the towel and move into sod it mode. Sometimes that is easier than others!

Oh tell me about it, the Sod it mode does tend to linger when the scales are our enemy.. I just keep thinking about how rubbish I felt eating what I wanted when I wanted. I remember one day especially towards the end before starting diets. I woke up had a whole packet of short bread with my morning coffee, by lunch time I opened the second pack. Oh took me over the road and I ate a double cheeseburger with bun, fries, grabbed a costa coffee and brought home a full box of 12 assorted Krispy kremes.....I was so emotional, ratty, irritated and aggressive all day and no blummin wonder.

i do feel more levelled out on this diet even if I still feel the need for something slightly naughty. Akins for me is like a net I've wrapped myself up in which keeps me going forwards and not backwards for once.

 

[Atomic pink]

Glad you liked the cider, moonwatcher Its lovely isn't it?? My friend brought round a new mango and raspberry one the other week that I had a sip of to try - also very good. But I should probably stop encouraging you...

Glad start back at work wasn't too bad. I always find it difficult not to feel really really gloomy when returning to work after a holiday. Its not like I even dislike my job but I much prefer not being there.

Dinner looks lovely.

 

[moonwatcher]

Well, am so fed up today... scales are up another pound. Can't find any enthusiasm for even getting a loss this week, next week, whenever, as I just feel that so what if I lose a pound or two again, it seems bound to just go back on. I am now exactly the same as I was before Christmas last year, which means I have managed nearly six months of nothing! With almost six stone still to go I feel completely down, discouraged and fed up with the whole thing. I need to get some summery clothes as I have practically none in my wardrobe, but have no enthusiasm for that either. I thought I would wait until it actually got warmer as I would probably need smaller things then, but that hasn't happened. This is definitely not the right mood in which to go clothes shopping though.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Oh hun I'm so sorry you're feeling down about it.

Do you want to stay on low carb? Your meals look amazing, but maybe you need to look at the induction rules closely again and cut out all the extras?

Otherwise, maybe it's time for a rethink - I have way more to go than you and have jumped from eating plan to eating plan - and every person here has been supportive of that, bless 'em Such a lovely bunch!

I realised after much soul searching that I wanted to be able to eat stuff like yogurt, fruit and veg, so I'm on calorie counting - but there are other options that many of us have tried - so you have a wealth of experience here

Whatever you decide, don't get downhearted - we're here for you.

 

[Emmaline]

Well, am so fed up today... scales are up another pound. Can't find any enthusiasm for even getting a loss this week, next week, whenever, as I just feel that so what if I lose a pound or two again, it seems bound to just go back on. I am now exactly the same as I was before Christmas last year, which means I have managed nearly six months of nothing! With almost six stone still to go I feel completely down, discouraged and fed up with the whole thing. I need to get some summery clothes as I have practically none in my wardrobe, but have no enthusiasm for that either. I thought I would wait until it actually got warmer as I would probably need smaller things then, but that hasn't happened. This is definitely not the right mood in which to go clothes shopping though.

Hi Moonwatcher, Thought I would come and see what you are getting up to these days!
Know that feeling of no enthusiasm .. my plateau lasted nearly two years but now changed to low carbs this year and find it has helped my weight to start going down again. Don't know what the difference is between this and Atkins but I would assume they are fairly similar.
Don't get too disheartened tho' as it does happen to most of us from time to time. Often the body is adjusting to the new weight etc. and I am quite sure you will be getting some losses very soon. .. and anyway look how far you have already come!!

 

[Atomic pink]

Hey, hope you are feeling a little less disheartened today. I do emphatise with how you feel. There is that constant 2 steps forward, 3 steps back going on which just makes you want to band your head against a wall and scream. Been there. Atkins does seem to have had some non-scale victories and did work for you in the past didn't it? I think the tip about going back over induction rules with a fine tooth comb to make sure you are being absolutely 100% and seeing if that makes a difference might be worth a go. If not maybe its about finding which ever eating plan you are happiest following rather than the one you think is going to make you lose the most weight. Which ever way - you've got a lot of support from here x

 

[Goldilukes]

Well, am so fed up today... scales are up another pound. Can't find any enthusiasm for even getting a loss this week, next week, whenever, as I just feel that so what if I lose a pound or two again, it seems bound to just go back on. I am now exactly the same as I was before Christmas last year, which means I have managed nearly six months of nothing! With almost six stone still to go I feel completely down, discouraged and fed up with the whole thing. I need to get some summery clothes as I have practically none in my wardrobe, but have no enthusiasm for that either. I thought I would wait until it actually got warmer as I would probably need smaller things then, but that hasn't happened. This is definitely not the right mood in which to go clothes shopping though.

Im so sorry to hear your feeling s down about this. Are you doing everything correct and no cheating even if legal ver cheating? I got stuck for so long and now it seems to be moving again and I find it does after totm, but that is at monthly intervals and with nothing in between which I know can be disheartening. Don't give up, remember you when you were saying that you could do loads more now? Do you have any before pics to look back at?
i know ts easier said than done to keep upbeat when the scales show what we don't wAnt to see but you've come a long way and with a bit of experimental tweaking you can go the rest comfortably chin up, go shopping and you never know it may just cheer you right up once you are there dressing up in nice things.

 

[superclaire999]

Aww sorry the scales are going in the right direction but don't give up, I was stalling last week so just going clean and green this week, meat and loads of green veg with butter, sounds boring but nice to have a huge plate of food, are u getting into ketosis there might be 1 thing holding u back , last week for me was cream, was using emlea which is twice the carbs than normal, got some of those stick testers to point me in the right direction, good luck

 

[moonwatcher]

Thanks everyone for your support and your suggestions. I have been a few days replying because I just felt I needed some time out - have not felt this low about my weight and dieting for ages. If I had replied earlier it would have been more misery and doom and gloom!

Susie - to be honest I don't mind unduly which diet plan I use, but in the past (and this time too) I feel most healthy on low carb. Cutting the wheat down to practically nothing has made a huge difference to how I feel, and low carb is also best it seems for my OH's blood sugar levels. I had upped my veggies from induction levels, but I suppose a clean start would be a good thing to try, although if I gain on the carbs I was eating, how does that bode for later on?

Claire - I've never used the ketostix - always felt it was enough having the scales to worry about, without ending up obsessing about a purple stick too! I know people find them useful, but I think I might find them another stick to beat myself with (haha - no pun intended!) Probably worth me cutting down the cheese/cream to see what happens, but then again the relative freedom with them compared to that on other diets was one of the attractions of Atkins/low carb tbh.

Goldi - I do have a few pics - I can see a bit of a difference, but not much. OH says there are huge differences and that I'm not being fair to myself - he could well be right - I'm not exactly my own favourite person at the moment! Will be doing a bit of shopping tomorrow - just for some work clothes mainly. Not really looking forward to it, but hoping I will feel more positive with some new stuff. Hoping it doesn't work the other way and end up making me more miserable!

Atomic - the eating plan I would be happiest with almost definitely wouldn't help me lose weight! Seriously though, and back in the dieting world, I'm not looking for big and quick losses really - I have accepted that isn't very realistic, but even half a pound a month since last December would have been a total loss of 2 - 3 pounds, rather than a total of STS!

Em - nice to hear from you again. So you are on the low carb wagon now too! I am pleased I have lost around three stone - know in itself that is an achievement, but cannot seem to lift myself out of the slump at the moment.

Since I posted on Tuesday I have given myself a few days grace, and have had evening meals of small sized takeaways etc., but stuck to low carb breakfasts and salad lunches. I have been checking the scales each morning and have stayed the same overall it seems - up and down by half a pound or so. Not felt tempted by chocolates etc., and not physically able to eat as much at mealtimes, so it would seem I *could* crack the maintenance code, but I need to lose more weight - not even in anyone's wildest imaginings could 5ft 2ins and 14st 9 be an acceptable weight - I still look far too big.

We are out all weekend as Sunday is our wedding anniversary. The plan had always been to let go a bit on Sunday. I am not even going to think about any plan, restrictions, cals, carbs etc until Monday. The only thing I am going to stick to is the wheat embargo - planning a gluten free honey nut muffin on Sunday. Monday will probably be an induction restart. I say probably because I still have no enthusiasm for getting back in the zone, but hopefully that will change...

Thanks again ladies for your support.

 

[Emmaline]

I hope you have a lovely WA meal and celebration and let your hair down for the evening.
I'm sure you will feel much better for it and plenty of time to get back on the wagon.

arty0016:

 

[superclaire999]

Have fun in your anniversary weekend

 

[superclaire999]

I think a few days off will do u the world of good, never forget how far you have come to already lose 3 stone , that's an amazing loss and you don't wanna sabotage all your hard work so far, I lost 2 stone on ww and ended up putting 3 back on and now I am having de ja vu having to do it all again lol, it's way harder this time tho