Quit Atkins, Rapid Weight Gain - Please Help!!

I tried the Atkins plan for about 3 weeks. I lost a few pounds, but felt very weird, both mentally & physically eating all that meat & no fruit or grains. In the last 3 days I had a bowl of Kashi Go Lean cereal w/skim, added some fruit back to my diet, and ate some brown rice. No sugar, no white flour. I have gained back the few pounds I lost, plus another couple. Is this a temporary thing as my body readjusts to carbs again? Does anyone have any advice? I'm going back to fruits/veggies/whole grains, but staying off the white sugar white flour. Just hate that I'm back to like a negative step one.

It's very common that when people eat off-plan, they gain weight. (It's also why so many come back!) This would be no different. I would think your body has to adjust to it's energy source, just like when you first started Atkin's.

When you reduce carbs you lose water weight. If I remember correctly a molecule of carb carries with it 4 molecules of water. If you can stick to low carb for a while longer your body will eventually adjust to converting the proteins into glucose and you would feel much better.

I stopped Atkins, just this April. I gained 17 pounds, but I also swithed to "diet" food which has a ton of sodium and I overindulged. I lost that by eating mostly whole foods, sticking to around 2000 calories (which isn't as low as I wanted to be) but it came back off. The thing that sucks is I'm right back to where I started, but I haven't got control of my calories yet or really started exercising. Don't freak out, there might be an adjustment period, but you'll be okay. Oh and buy the way, I think the weight I lost on Atkins was just water weight...that's easy to gain back

Looking at your menu kaava you were never on Atkins...carbs way to high for induction and eating things not on induction. You start slow and add carbs as your body adjusts. If you did a clean two week induction and followed Atkins the way its suppose to be done you might be pleasantly surprised. I hope what ever you try works for you...good luck

I agree with BCLenny, what you were doing was not Atkins. You were eating a lot of things that were not allowed!! If you would have done a clean induction you would have felt a lot better, and your body would have had time to adjust!

Just keep your calories in check and you'll lose weight. You can't gain 2 pounds of fat in 3 days. It doesn't work that way. I have read that people lose a lot of weight on Atkins in the beginning, but it is mostly water weight. You you probably just retained some of that water again. I'd actually be willing to bet that 2 pounds you gained back will be gone by the end of next week if you keep up with your diet.

Also, are you exercising?

Kate is right the weight loss at the beginning is mostly water, we unfortuneatly don't lose the fat that fast. Atkins isnt for everyone one, perhaps counting calories would suite you better Kaava and give better results. I hope you find something that works..

Thanks for all the replies! Prior to starting the (poorly adhered to) Atkins plan, I was eating WAY too much sugary dessert and pasta, so even tho I was working out almost daily, I couldnt lose weight. When I started my "Atkins-esque" program, I quit working out. Partly because I felt so weird, but also because I was being lazy and thought I would still lose weight. NOW I am trying both working out & my usual fruit & veggie rich diet, MINUS all the sugar & white flour. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, including any groups that may help if I join. Thanks again!

This is my favorite group (because I started it, lol!)
http://www.fatsecret.com/groups/we-dont-need-no-stinkin-diet/Home.aspx

Just have patience. It takes time to see results no matter what you do, and it takes a lifetime to keep it off. So there's no hurry. You don't get to go back to your old way of eating, ever. Unless you want to go back to your old body.

Your current diet sounds a lot like mine- I eat less carbs than most people and I don't care about fat %. I just try to get as real, clean and healthy fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc as I can. And I stay off the sugar, unless it's in fruit.

I can't tell you how important exercise is though. Now that you told me you just started exercising again THAT's the reason for the temporary weight gain. When you start working out, your muscles retain more water than when you don't. Don't worry about it, just push through and you will see better results than ever.

Kaava

I was on Atkins for almost 2 months (less than 20 total carbs a day) I lost some weight, but I was not feeling well, no energy at all. I decided to change diets but I upped my carbs slowly, not at once. Atkins works, but its not for all.

Now I am still kind of eating low carb (not on purpose though), which is considered anything bellow 150g of carbs, because I have found what works for me (40% fat, 30% carbs, 30%protein +-5% variation daily). Like you, I avoid sugar and white flour, prefer complex carbs (though I ate chocolate the other day). I eat around 1500-1600 cals daily.

My advice to you: experiment and find what works for you and that you can sustain as a lifestyle, not a temporary solution. That is what I am doing successfully right now, since I joined FS (end of Feb) I have lost 24 lbs.

And dont forget exercising, that is extremely important

Wow, great words of encouragement k8yk. It's a good reminder for the rest of us too.

Oh, and I forgot to say that if you did not follow Atkins to the letter, you wont be able to judge if it works for you or not! Follow it correctly for at least 2 weeks and see.

I lost 16 pounds on Atkins. Then hit a plateau and decided I would do better if I could have fruit and yogurt. So yesterday I started the Mediterranean diet.I feel better and am just as satisfied. However I feel less restricted. Now I just watch my calories and eat healthier foods.

I agree w/k8yk. You can do this by just being patient, & burning more calories than you are consuming each day. Look at your journey as a day by day challenge and before you know it you will consistently see the lbs. fall off. I've always allowed myself a few treats each day, but I've also been determined to burn more calories than I've consumed each day and within 4 mos....I lost 25 lbs. You can do it!!

i lost 30 pounds on atkins but gained them all back
but i also didnt stay on plan .... i just got burnt out

Also check out Eco Atkins for vegetarians if u feel weird earring all that meat. Eco Atkins is great and it leaves u feeling great because all you are eating Is veggies, tofu,seitan, soy milk , eggs. I feel so fresh all day. I tried to eat fish today and felt really greasy afterwards. Although my goal is to at least keep eating fish.

I have been on Atkins since Good Friday of this year and have lost 16 lbs. Thats a little slow for the Atkins plan, but I think its better slow than quick wt. loss. I've cheated along the way to make it where I can stay on the plan for the long haul. Having taught school for 33 years,with 25 min. for lunch, I developed the really bad habit of eating extremely fast. Retired now, I eat slowly and find I consume about 1/2 of what I ate in the past. When eating out I divide my food and put 1/2 in take home before I begining eating. Little tricks like this make it easier to stay on track. Am also walking the 10,000 steps a day, which is like walking a golf course. Small goal big step to wt.loss. Good luck all on your journey.

I think he fancies me

Its the sunglasses...they give an air of mystery lol