[tipokotap]

I am puzzled...you started this time around with only a little to lose, right? 10-11 US pounds (I hope I calculated right.) You are eating only 20 carbs 12-15 of them veggies every day.

My ONLY guess is you have very little fat left for the body to address! The big losses we are used to when we start are often a lot of water held by the cells that is gotten rid of when we go into fat-burning mode. Perhaps that is why you don't appear to be in ketosis (but never having used the strips, I have no idea.) I'm thinking you cannot have the BIG loss we get when we start 30+ or more pounds overweight, because it is harder for your system to "find" the fat.

Does anyone have any knowledge of how Atkins affects folks already almost at goal ASIDE from those of us on the last OWL rungs or pre-maintenance? Is it the balance of fat, protein and carbs? Should folks starting out with only 10 pounds to lose be eating the high percentage of fat? I THINK if you only have 10 pounds to lose, you are advised by the Atkins experts to start on the higher carb rungs and expect to lose quite slowly...as you said, 10 pounds in 3 months. I'm thinking the fat percentage is too high for someone almost at goal. I know it is for me.

Maybe that should BE your expectation-more carbs, longer time, but if so, up the carbs in a balanced way and be patient...it WILL come off, but you won't feel at ALL deprived or disappointed! AND it should be "for life" as you have your lifetime eating plan pretty much figured out!

Hope someone wiser than me has some ideas.

Toni