Plateaus are those annoying times when you stop losing weight, even if you're still doing what worked before. Plateaus are common in every diet, including Atkins, although what would break the plateau is definitively different when you're following a very-low calorie diet. Not all methods work for everybody, so keep this in mind when trying out different ways to get the Atkins diet working again.
Step 1
Go back to reading labels. Even if you're not eating grains or sweets, the truth is that carbs can be hidden in a number of products, from sugar-free candies and cookies to soups, sauces and salad dressings. While most cheeses have close to zero carbs, milk and other dairy products do contain carbs. Keep count of the carb content of the products you're eating every day to ensure that you're not eating hidden carbs and going over your daily allowance.
Step 2
Reduce your caffeine intake. Atkins recommends cutting down to a minimum or eliminating caffeine from your diet. If you have gone back to your daily Java, this might be causing ups and downs in your blood sugar levels and in turn causing cravings and interfering with your weight loss. Caffeine can be found in coffee, teas, sodas, energy drinks and chocolate.
Step 3
Try the induction phase again. If you've been unable to lose any more weight after a while of being in a different phase of Atkins, go back to the diet you followed for the first two weeks. You only need to maintain this strict level for a few days, until you see some weight loss. Then start adding carbs slowly to get you back to a more advanced--but still effective--phase.
Step 4
Increase your exercise intensity. People sometimes slow down their workouts during the first two weeks of Atkins, as the strict food guidelines can cause you to feel too tired or weak to exercise. Once your carb intake has stabilized, you should be able to keep up an exercise routine. If you're already exercising, increase the length or intensity of your workouts, or add weight training if you've been doing only cardio.
Step 5
Eliminate artificial sweeteners. While they contain no carbs, sweeteners like aspartame can affect your blood sugar levels and lead to cravings. Aspartame is part of all diet sodas as well as many sugar-free foods and desserts. If you buy low-carb products at your local health food store, make sure they contain no aspartame. Instead, look for products that use Splenda, stevia--a natural compound--or newer sweeteners, such as Tagatose.
Step 6
Talk to your doctor about possible medical causes for your stalled weight loss. Certain medications, including diuretics, beta-blockers and antidepressants, can cause weight gain. A sluggish thyroid can also affect your weight loss.
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