Journaling and Atkins...

[littleblessing]

I am a bulemic/compulsive over eater...Well I used to be but it's something I fight everyday (equivalent to alcholism)

The very first time I was introduced to Atkins was from my health therapist...she said that Atkins would give me the freedom to let me be in control and not let food control me. It would subside those nasty cravings that cause me to tailspin. She also told me to keep a journal. In that journal every day I am to put:

Daily goal: to exercise, to take a compliment, to walk the dog, whatever you can think of...

Short term goal: to lose 3 lbs by next saturday..or the such.

Long term: to stay on Atkins, to like me, to enjoy the foods I make.

Then I write when I have to. What torked me off, what stressed me out, why I feel like I want to eat something I shouldn't. I write down what I did eat and how it made me feel. Good or bad. By the time I am done writing, I feel like I have told my best friend everything and time has passed and I go have a boiled egg, celery with cream cheese or a flax muffin or just whatever I KNOW I can have...

When I don't journal I lose sight and purpose of why I do this, and why I should do it. It keeps me motivated, keeps me in my right frame of mind..and most important of all it keeps me ALIVE...

I say if it helps get a notebook and write your feelings down, it will keep you motivated and when you aren't...read back on those past entries and look how far you have come...

I know it may not be for everybody...but for me...it's a life saver and a great motivater...

[JoanOH]

That's a GREAT idea. I wish I'd done that back when I started this WOE. I know I've changed a lot -- it would be fascinating to see those changes written down.

It's wonderful that your health therapist is pro-Atkins, too. So many nutritionists are so set in their ways, they can't and don't want to see the benefits of this WOE. You are so fortunate to have this person on your side!

I'm sure your journal is a very personal thing for you. But just in case you're interested, do you know we have a JOURNAL forum here? Just FYI.

Thanks for the idea -- I do keep a journal of sorts on here, but I like the idea of the mini-goal, long-term goal, etc... I may start including those!

Joan J

[JeffGuidry]

It's my opinion that journaling merely acts as a resonance chamber for your thoughts, rather than a place to put them aside. Think about it; how many times have you written down basically the same thing? Like "I can't believe I'm eating again" or "so and so said this to me, it made me mad and I started eating"?

I say this from experience, though in a different arena. I used to be a hard rock/heavy metal fan, and like most devotees of that kind of music, I thought that the music was an outlet for my anger and depression. Strangely, after listening to the music, I would always get angry and depressed again. So what does that say about catharsis? It holds out the false promise of healing, and only serves to bury you deeper into your problems. If something doesn't get rid of the bad feelings permanently, then clearly it is just a crutch that in fact makes your problems WORSE.

Did you hear about the shooting of the famous heavy metal guitarist recently by a deranged fan? How much do you think listening to heavy metal music helped him with his anger?

[JoanOH]

I'm not so sure journaling is an attempt to release any kind of anger... I see it as more as a way to help oneself identify what's going on inside, and to recognize patterns of eating in an effort to break them. Overeating is often a symptom of suppressing feelings -- journaling can be a "safe" way to counteract that suppression.

Heavy metal is an outside influence, where journaling is internal. While I appreciate what you're saying, and your own recognition of the bad side effects heavy metal had on you, I'm not sure comparing the two is viable in this situation. While heavy metal may "bury you deeper into your problems" by affirming those negative feelings, journaling is used to identify those negative feelings and patterns, AND give you a tool to prevent repeating those same patterns, when used correctly.

Just my two cents
Joan J

[Trying2]

While heavy metal may "bury you deeper into your problems" by affirming those negative feelings, journaling is used to identify those negative feelings and patterns, AND give you a tool to prevent repeating those same patterns, when used correctly.

Joan, I'm in total agreement.

[cleochatra]

I think he's intimating that to write in a journal can reinforce negative emotions through dwelling on them?

But I am an Aquarius with my moon in the house of d'oh! What do I know!

[JeffGuidry]

You got it.

[loonatika]

It's my opinion that journaling merely acts as a resonance chamber for your thoughts, rather than a place to put them aside. Think about it; how many times have you written down basically the same thing? Like "I can't believe I'm eating again" or "so and so said this to me, it made me mad and I started eating"?

I say this from experience, though in a different arena. I used to be a hard rock/heavy metal fan, and like most devotees of that kind of music, I thought that the music was an outlet for my anger and depression. Strangely, after listening to the music, I would always get angry and depressed again. So what does that say about catharsis? It holds out the false promise of healing, and only serves to bury you deeper into your problems. If something doesn't get rid of the bad feelings permanently, then clearly it is just a crutch that in fact makes your problems WORSE.

Did you hear about the shooting of the famous heavy metal guitarist recently by a deranged fan? How much do you think listening to heavy metal music helped him with his anger?

While I see where you are coming from, I think for women it does help to write things down to 'get them out'. We've had many rants on this board by people unable to stay on plan - and just by getting that frustration out, and with the support of other members, they are now successful losers.

Your journal doesn't have to be online, even if its just a page in microsoft word that you delete at the end of the day - you are still getting those feelings out.

Best of luck with your journey blessing.

[bodypumper]

Journalling helps to organize my thoughts. It doesn't reinforce negatives thoughts because I don't write those down. If there is a problem then I try to address it in the journal and write down the solutions. This morning I wrote..Ate junk last night, feel like crap this morning, make plan.

I've been having a problem with sweet eating monster at night lately so I'm writing a plan in my journal to deal with it. I can look back today at it to make sure I'm on track, look at my list of ways to deal with it and to remember how yuchy I felt this morning.

Mind you I'm a list maker. I have journals and list all over my house.

Sue

[2big4mysize]

when you journal your eating please be sure to incluse what you were doing and feeling and who was with you so youcan se if there is a pattern develop[ing and then you can take steps to alter the events that trigger you too.

[BestestNana]

:yes Yes, a terrific idea....thanks so much for sharing.... :wave

[goin2Bgood]

Fitday has a PC program you can buy online. I find I use many functins of it. One function is a 'diary" to write your daily thoughts in. Another function is a "mood log" that I like. Also, when you enter your daily meals in, an option is to enter what meal, why you're eating (hungry, thirsty, low energy, emotional etc), where you're eating and with who is available. For me that was an eye opener. I was eating a majority of my meals alone, at the computer (I work at home on here). I've changed some things so when I eat, I eat at the kitchen table. It's cut down on my snacking a lot. There are other functions too, like body logs, weight log, activity log etc. so it might be worth looking in to for some people.

[full-wit]

I also have the PC version of Fitday. I like it alot.