Feeling BLUE today

[wayless]

I don't quite know what's wrong with me. I'm feeling kind of sad, and I've been a bit depressed since starting Atkins. It's not "Atkins" that is causing my sadness, it is just not getting to eat what I want. I feel like I'm depriving myself (which I am). It's hard to describe.

This may sound silly, but I'm venting here because my heart is set on seeing this through. I've been on this WOE for a week now. Yes, I have lost, but I can't explain it because I'm not that excited about it. Weird, huh? I think it's bizarre. I don't understand it.

My weight fluctuates between morning, afternoon and evening, but my LOWEST weight now is 285. My highest (fully clothed with shoes) is around 290-292. This morning and yesterday morning, I was 285. I should be ecstatic to see my weight dip into the 280s, but I'm not. I'm not sad BECAUSE I'm losing the weight. I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself. I don't know. Someone posted for Girl Scout Cookies today at work. I felt so sad when I realized I can't have any. I guess I'm just missing some of the stuff I used to eat. I've been wanting something sweet, but I've tried to resist. The worst I've done is having two mock cream cheese danishs (which aren't a real temptation to me) in the last week. I wanted to make the cream cheese clouds, but I did that the last time I was on Atkins and it wasn't a good outcome. I was too weak to resist them. I imagine at this stage in my weightloss journey, the same is true, so I'm just staying away from temptation.

It's funny, some days I feel pretty good. Today, I'm feeling down. I guess it'll be this way for a while. You know why I think I'm sad (I just thought of this)...because I've given up most of my favorite foods. I've only drank water for a week. I haven't had any desserts (aside from the mock cream cheese danish). I've lost roughly 10lbs., and I can't see it. I can't tell. I look exactly the same. My clothes fit me the same.

I guess I just want to see some results from my efforts. Oh well. Like I said, i think I'm just venting cuz I don't want to do something stupid.

I'll sign off now. *Sigh*

Tracey (wayless)

[jroche5998]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

Well Tracey, I can totally relate. But what you need to focus on is new tempting foods. Some of the things you can eat on this plan are very tempting. Distract yourself, try not to focus on what you can't eat, but try to think up new things you can. Browse the recipe section of the board. Go do something. Drink some water. It's not really as simple as the optimist pessimist comparison, but it is similar. Focus on what you can have, not on what you can't. Soon you'll be craving a salad, with a cheeseburger (that's what I crave), or something like that. Think of those sweets as poison, you wouldn't deliberately ingest poison, right? These things help me. While it doesn't make those thoughts totally go away, it does help some.

Good luck.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

Definatley come check out the recipe section! OMG we can eat some of the most awesome foods!

Cheese for one thing, what other "diet" allows you to eat real cheese? or heavy cream? or the skin on your chicken?

Try some spaghetti squash with a nice rich alfredo sauce, you can even add in a few shrimp if you like.

How about lasagna made with eggplant instead of noodles? Its delicious!

Try some fried chicken, made with parmesean for the breading.

Fried pork chops, crushed up pork rinds and spices make an awesome breading!

Broccoli or Cauliflower with butter and melted cheese on top.

Try to stay away from anything sweet for at least a couple of weeks, you'll be surprised, the cravings will diminish and then go away!

You can do this! You just need to find new things to try!

[Momtofour]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

I felt the same in the beginning. What helped me was finding something great in the recipe section. I have mixed cream cheese, cocoa, and splenda together for a little treat. It took 30 pounds for me to go down my first pant size, but now I'm going down a size every 10 pounds. It will happen, believe me!

[wayless]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

Thanks guys. You know I know better. I really do. Sometimes your emotions just take over and make you think/feel irrationally. I have been drinking lots of water, and experimenting with recipes (and have come up with some good ones!). I think it's just hard because unlike alcohol, tobacco or crack cocaine, you can't escape food just because you are giving it up (you guys know what I mean). It's everywhere. If sweets are your worst weakness, you can't escape. They are EVERYWHERE. Everyday. It's just a major adjustment, and it's hard. Sometimes I feel bitter and wonder why I can't be "normal," and not have to stress so much about my body. The other thing is that I think it will feel like the struggle is more worth it when I can actually see the difference this is making. I've had my ups and downs this past week, but I'm still here.

Before I give up, I'm going to use every resource, life-line and ear I can to get through the tougher days. I don't normally like to rely on people for anything. This group thing is new to me in my life. I normally try to do things on my own, but with my weight I have realized that I can't. I've tried things my way and they don't work. So now I have to ask for help, and that's what I'm doing. I don't want to fail this time. You guys are my inspiration to keep doing this, and I appreciate the many people here who provide support either by their examples or by their messages.

Thanks guys. It's just a rough day, but I'm sure tomorrow will be better.

[californiacasey]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

I've been where you are. You may want to think about how your emotions are connected to eating. Start rewarding yourself with other things rather than food (get a haircut, buy some new slippers, take a walk with a friend) Anything that doesn't revolve around food. Sometimes you just have to get your mind off of food and your weight loss. And you might consider weighing yourself less. Do you keep a food journal? An exercise journal?


You can do this, but you have to make sure that mentally and emotionally you stay in the right place. Everyone gets sad at times, but don't let the emotions cause you to eat something you shouldn't. Something that helps me a little....when I see things that I "want" to eat but shouldn't, like Girl Scout Cookies, I think of other times that I ate them, and "relive" in a way eating the cookies, then I don't have to actually eat them.... this helps me at times. I know what they taste like, but I don't need to eat them....

[goin2Bgood]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

I think a grieving process is normal. For me it was when I quit smoking but I did that with food too.

I can only echo what the others say. Hang in there, it gets better. Not I can have cake and candies shoved into my face literally and there's absolutely no craving or want. Now I'm weird and crave jicama and revolution rolls and things like that.

[softnred]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

I also went through a grieving process...and sometimes still do. I give myself a little while to whine to myself, then I gotta get up, start looking at all the GOOD things about Akins, then get on with the business of losing. It definitely gets better...I promise!!

I think a grieving process is normal. For me it was when I
quit smoking but I did that with food too.

I can only echo what the others say. Hang in there, it gets better. Not I can have cake and candies shoved into my face literally and there's absolutely no craving or want. Now I'm weird and crave jicama and revolution rolls and things like that.

[wayless]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

Let me tell you guys what just happened! I just got home from work, and my brand new shiny Tanita 400lb. capacity scale was waiting for me on my front doorstep. This thing is supposed to be one of the better scales and accurate to .2lbs. My old scale is unreliable, which is why my signature keeps changing as to what I actually started out with in weight. My hubby THOUGHT he calibrated it correctly based on his own weight since he just went to see the MD last week.

Well, let me tell you! I get on that sucker, and not only did I not start out at 306lbs (like I thought at first)...not only was I not 300lbs. (like I thought after hubby calibrated scale)...I started at around 312lbs according to this scale!!!!!! I know, I know...it's only a difference of 6-12lbs, but my God, I can't believe that number! The scale currently says 302.8. I know I've lost 10lbs. (based on my old scale), but even with that I'm *still* over 300lbs.! Good grief I had no idea that I weighed that much! Wow...never under-estimate the importance of a good scale.

All I can say is that I'm glad I started Atkins when I did. No wonder I've felt so lousy for the past year or so. Well, my day can't get any worse (fingers crossed), so I'll look to the future and look forward to REALLY getting under 300lbs!

[Analog6]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

It's really depressing, but you are lucky. Mine were reading 23 kgs under! Yes, about 50lbs. I thought it was way too light but did not realise they were that bad. Instead of starting at 108 it was actually 131 (289 lbs).

Don't focus on it too much. You've still lost the weight. And only weigh yourself once a week MAXIMUM. It sounded, from your original post, like you are doing it 3 times a day. Be warned, that way lies madness!! The men in white coats will come and take you away to the funny farm, like in that old song.

Once a week, woman! Good luck with it, too.

[Mary-chan]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

Something that helps me a little....when I see things that I "want" to eat but shouldn't, like Girl Scout Cookies, I think of other times that I ate them, and "relive" in a way eating the cookies, then I don't have to actually eat them.... this helps me at times. I know what they taste like, but I don't need to eat them....

This is excellent advice, I do the exact same thing but I have a hard time explaining it to people.. But it really helps!! I think what's the difference between eating it now and the last time I ate it? It will be gone in less then five minutes and become a memory anyway. Why not just relive the old memory and "pretend" I just ate it. This mental trick has saved me so many times!!

Wayless - you are doing great!! I know what you mean about having a hard time asking for support. I also tried to do it on my own for the last billion attempts, and none of them worked. This time I have my supportive fiance and this messageboard, and it appears to be working so far.. so I truly believe the support is what is making the difference this time!!

I used to get resentful when I would try diet after diet and not lose, and meanwhile I would see all these skinny people who looked like they were pigging out constantly, and I would do the 'why me's and 'it isn't fair" mode,. One thing that helped me was changing my outlook. Okay, overeating is my addiction. It will always be a problem for me. Just like recovering alcoholics who fight there battle one day at a time, so will I. There are other people out there like me, it is not something that is wrong with me, I am not being punished, I am not bad.. But this is something I will need to conquer one decision at a time... Anyway that helped me.

There was a lot of helpful advice on this thread from other people. And congratulations on losing ten pounds, that is an amazing achievement!! If you can lose ten, you can lose twenty.. if you can lose twenty, you can lose thirty, and so on!!

[wayless]

Re: Feeling BLUE today

Thanks for all the support, guys. I'm over my pity-party. When I got on that scale and saw how much I *really* weighed, it was like somebody knocked me upside the head (and I needed it)!!! Getting that scale when I did was Divine Intervention! God was telling me to quit whining about what I can't eat and get to work. I'm grateful I got that scale when I did because it really made me feel a sense of urgency about how out-of-control my weight has gotten.

So now, it's full steam ahead. I'm ready to get busy!