anyone know why I haven't lost a single ounce?

[farewellfigure]

Hi

I started a lo-carb sensible eating diet last Monday. I've radically changed my diet with no 'bad' stuff (cake, biscuits, chocolate etc), have really cut back on carbs (no bread, no processed cereal, a tiny bit of rice and pasta) and am eating loads of veg but only one bit of fruit a day. I can't think of anything I've been eating that is considered really bad for you. I know it's only been 11 days but surely I should have lost something? Just a teenie bit? Oh I've been drinking loads of water as well. I do feel a bit lightheaded and weird.

Does anyone know if I'm doing something wrong? I am soooooo disappointed and feel like giving up. Not good as I have a really really long way to go...like 6 stone would be nice :)

still overweight though crypes so not such an expert! I can't shift any more through diet (or don;t want to ?) so have resorted to couch to 5K plan to up exercise levels. And you can;t eat whilst you're running...

porridge or scrambled eggs both more fulling and better/lower carbs than muesli.

and crypes just to totally deflate your opinion of me - I actually lost 47 kgs but have put back 7kgs over this year seem to have stopped the rot though!

I have just signed up for www.myfitnesspal.com off the back of a thread on MN. Been using it for the last few days.

This one:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/1480554-Dont-Starve-The-Eat-More-to-Weigh-Less-Group

It's been very educational if somewhat depressing where the calories come from. I think it is a good tool for monitoring what you're taking in - if you can avoid becoming obsessional about it. You might find it helpful to keep a track of what is going in.

Carb cutting really works best when done ruthlessly, as said already, you may be better calorie counting (though reduced carbs is never a bad thing!)

No, it really shouldnt take longer for weight loss to happen at 6stones overweight, if anything you coukd usually expect a fairly rapid loss at the beginning.

The thing with your menu is, anyone could pore over it and point out lower fat or calorie or carb alternatives - fat free yogurt instead of fromage frais, no cheese/ dressing on salad etc- but A) you have to enjoy what you are eating and most of us would fail an utterly puritanical regime and B) you really ought to be achieving weight loss after almost two weeks of eating this way.

At the sort of weight you are (im estimating) it really would take more than the food you are consuming to maintain.

Google BMR calculator to work out your own personal metabolic rate, it will tell you the amount of calories it takes your body to simply function every day. Then maybe reassess what you are eating, write down every single thing you eat.

Its dull but simple, if energy in is less than energy out you cant not lose weight. (everyone always says on these threads that if you dont eat enough you wont lose weight, and theres a little truth in that because your metabolism may slow a bit but you would haveto be eating very poorly indeed and even then we know not eating really does =dramatic weight loss. and not in a good way! Obv not advocating starving yourself, just pointing ou that this advice often muddies the waters)

I did a bit of research into this for work (be warned, my field is more advertising than science!) and there's a couple of possible things that spring to mind: one is that, as someone said above, if you don't eat enough it's almost like your body panics and holds onto everything it can. The other thing is that, from what I've read, a lot of people don't lose weight in a steady downward line, it's very much a case of plateaus and then a steady drop to the next plateau. (It's sort of interesting that body building is the opposite - sometimes you have to pile on weight for a bit before you'll get to the next stage in bulking up. I'm not a body builder, I just have a weird job.)

In terms of more exercise have you thought about using a pedometer? I used one as an experiment once, as there was a craze for them in the US to help with weight loss. There's something about having a set number to work towards that does magically convince you that going for a walk at lunch is better than sitting reading a book. The other thing I found in terms of exercise is doing something that you find really fun - I was definitely at my fittest when I happened to live across from a kickboxing gym. Whenever my option is only running my clothes begin to feel a bit tighter.

I think doing skimming world would be good for you because you won't feel you're on a diet and there are plenty of vegetarian options. One think I would say is don't drink pop diet variety or not it will make you crave sugar foods and make you more hungry.

diet fizzy drinks are spawn of the devil I have given them up completely

I don't drink diet drinks. I don't really like fizzy stuff.

Thanks for all the advice anyway. I think you're right and that maybe I need to stop doing a bit of everything. I should probably cut down on carbs but also watch the fatty stuff as well. Muesli is a tough one though. It's really the only thing I can be bothered to do in the morning. I have a seriously small amount though...like 3 tablespoons.

I'm really impressed by Kewcumber's loss. Very inspirational.

I think it must all be about more exercise. I must get off my butt!

I have 2 weetabix with semi skimmed milk and a banana for breakfast. This might be more,satisfying than teeny portion of musli

just to be totally transparent some of my weight loss came after putting a pile on due to steroids then coming off the steroids, and a bit more being ill again after that and not being able to eat properly for a while.

It wasn't entirely willpower! Though now it is entirely will power!

Small amount of muesli is fine.

Seriously keep a food diary be totally honest including portion sizes then count the calories - you should be 1500-2000 no higher no lower. Exercise is good but unless you do serious amounts of it, it won;t make you lose weight. BUt it will make you feel better, speed up how fast you burn calories for about 15 hours afterwards and lower your insulin production. All good things and helpful. BUt most importantly is what and how much you put in.

Unless you go very low carb like the BIWI bootcamp or dukan I think you need to calorie count as easy to eat too much. Museli, cheese, dressing & nuts very calorific.

Its hard being veggie on low carb but maybe you need more protein - cut the rice / pasta and go for carbs that also contain protein like pulses, buckwheat and quinoa.

I suggest myfitness pal and have carb, protein and calorie targets - I aim for 100g of protein and 100g of carbs but as a veggie maybe 75g protein and 125g carbs more appropriate?