My deep thought for the day

[dreamof145]

Today I went in to get my hair trimmed and styled. My hair dresser said he couldn't believe how much weight I've lost this past year. He said that he wished I would talk to his mom and help her lose weight. I gave him this website address and told him that if he really is concerned about his mom to buy her the DANDR Book and give her lots of love and support.

Since I came home today, I've been thinking about the best way to help people with this WOE. Over the past year, I've tried to share what I've learned with 10 people. I thought that seeing me do it would be enough to motivate them to do it too. I now realize that it can't be about me -- it has to be something they really want for themselves.

Out of the 10 people I tried to help, there are only two that are still doing Atkins on and off. In the past six months, one has lost 45 pounds and gained back 20. The other has lost 15 pounds and is at a standstill.

I spent years wanting to lose weight and saying that I was on 'this diet' and 'that diet'. But, I wasn't being honest with myself. I didn't put action behind any plan. I was aimlessly going through my days trying to avoid food - making myself miserable and hungry.

I wish we could magically help people reach that point in their lives where they realize that they need to change thier attitude about losing the weight, make a plan and put action into making it happen. We can advise them to read the book, give them the Induction list, introduce them to this website and cheer them on...but we can't do it for them. (I've even copied recipes and called them 2-3 times a week to keep them inspired) It has to be something that they want so badly that they make it happen.

I'm glad that this time around it finally sunk in and I put action behind my wishin and did something about it.

[Yoly1001]

Re: My deep thought for the day

I know what you mean Dream. I try not to talk to much about my atkins because I think people are just all out sick of hearing about it. But my daughter's physical therapist was asking me what I was doing to lose so much weight. I wanted to help her so bad I went out and gave her my copy of DANDR, I told her about the websites that I use, and gave her some of my recipes. I was really excited to ask her how she was doing the next week when I saw her but I held back, what if she had quit, I didn't want her to think I was being mean or judging her or something, so I just said nothing. Every once in a while I'll ask how she's doing, she'll say good or oh I cheated but I'm back on. I just had to realize, like you did, that I couldn't do it for them. She has to want it, I had to want it when I started it. Want it so bad I was willing to fight for it, hard.

Here I am, I hope she is successful but I have to be careful not to get in the trap or else I'll feel dissapointed if she doesn't succeed. And I really don't need to hold anyone else's accountability but my own, that's hard enough as it is.

[brabea22]

Re: My deep thought for the day

I understand what you mean as well. My mom started atkins about a year before I did. She lost 100 pounds on the WOE but when her first big stall hit, she gave up and said it wasn't going to work for her anymore. She knows it was just an excuse she was telling herself so that she could go back to her old WOE, but I talk to her on the phone and hear about her going back and forth, on again-off again. Sometimes I want to strangle her lol. I think to myself, how could you lose 100 pounds on a WOE and then just decide when it got a little tough to throw it all away? But I understand, too, that we are dealing with an addiction cultivated over an entire lifetime. It sometimes isn't as easy dealing with the cravings and urges as it would be in a perfect world.

At the moment, she is off again. She is about 60 pounds lighter than she was at her highest, but that number is growing smaller. And though it breaks my heart, I guess it is true. You can show them the path or even reintroduce them to it (in my mother's case), but you can do no more than that. They have to walk the path on their own.

[mcotton]

Re: My deep thought for the day

Dream, you have wonderful insight. You are so much inspiration for me. Your pics really help to motivate me. Thank you so very much!!!

[bizzlekitty]

Re: My deep thought for the day

I think you are doing all you can for your friends, etc. You're a shiiing example of making Atkinss work, you're giving them the book and showing them it does work. People have to get to the point of making the full commitment themselves. Some will, some won't.

Things I hear alot too:
- Atkins doesn't work for everyone. You gotta find the diet that works. (Well, I partially believe this, but believe Atkins could work for everyone if they do it right and are patient).
- Atkins will only work for a little bit then stops. (Stalls are common with Atkins, and you often need to make adjustments to keep it working).
- I'm doing my own version of low-carb (my favorite, then they wonder why it doesn't work)
- I'm gonna get gastic bypass because nothing else works (when they haven't tried a serious diet, nor have tried changing their eating habits permanently)

I have very slow weight loss and a long way to go yet, but I'm sticking with this because not only does it work, but it helps me feel so much better too. I only wish I had known about Atkins sooner.