Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

[LC_Dave]

Who here has the belief that they will be able to go back to eating what they used to once they have lost the weight ?

You may think you don't, but I believe a lot of people think this.

There are pressures when you get close to goal. There is a lot of peer pressure.

People treat you different (better) and they say 'You can indulge now, you've got your weight under control'.

Think about this now. Y

ou have an obese person sitting next to a thin person.
People undersatnd that the obese person has to moderate, some even tell the obese people they should moderate.
But the thin person, can eat anything they damn well want. They can be 'naughty', and they say things like 'it's okay I don't have a weight issue, the obese person does'.

So when you lose weight, you'll be seen as a thin person.

Those of us who have been heavy all our lives know that some thin people can really pack away the food, and in contrast our intake is quite moderate.

Dr. Atkins says obesity is a result of a carbohydrate metabolism disorder.

Just because we lose weight, that does nothing to change the carb disorder. We will still have to watch our carbs. Our carb sensitivity will always be there.

Don't think you can go back to junk food or eating lot's of high sugar fruit.

What are your thoughts ?

[ontheway2Stephanie]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I definitely agree! I'd like to think I can slowly introduce things back into my diet after I lose the weight - like whole grains and fruit and apples with peanut butter (one of my favorite snacks) and yogurt... but we will see. I don't want to do all this for nothing.

I know that once I get "there" I will be more concious to do something each time the scale creeps up a pound, instead of waiting to do something until it's so far out of control you can't get a hold of it.

[Laurenfra]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

Dave I was an other. I thought as soon as I get to goal I will get to eat everything in moderation. It has take 2 years of learning about myself and to know. I cant eat carbs even in moderation. My stop eating this button is broke.

[meena-beena]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I think thin people are that way because their bodies are not reacting to the things they eat. It's not magic--it's science. And I don't blame them for it or curse my own body for being this way. ;-) (I used to though)

The first step is realizing you have an issue. Then, you have to figure out what you are going to do to fix it. I tried hundreds of quick fixes and doctors, everything short of gastric bypass.

Nothing has ever worked except one. That was a diet I found in a dusty book I found about 5 or 6 years ago in the library on food addiction. In that book were the bare bones diet that Dr. Atkins has so perfectly adapted and expanded. I found out how my body works against me when I consume flour and sugar. And I came to understand why I overeat or binge whenever I eat those things. I followed the basic diet for 8 months and dropped 100 pounds. I was so close to goal and went from 275 to 175 and from a size 22 to a 10.

However, unlike Dr. Atkins--the basic diet offered no structure for what happens after you drop the weight (There were no variations and no extra recipe books to help out) and I found the inches creaping back and that vicious cycle of eating sugar and becoming consumed by wanting more came back.

It's not like I have no idea why I am the way I am. I know that I have issues with both flour and sugar. So when I get to goal--through Atkins--I already know that there will always be things I can never have again. It seriously doesn't phase me. Let everyone else have their cake and ice cream. I will have my body.

[Kate113]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I'm not one that thinks I can go back to my old ways of eating. I am in the fight of my life with being overweight and I never want to have to start all over again. By the time I get to my goal weight, I'm hoping my metabolism will allow me to have a tiny sliver of chocolate cake on my birthday once a year and it won't kill me, but I'll have to exercise more to be sure it doesn't go to my hips.

[omnimomma]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

Not me. I know better. When I was on Atkins in 2003, I did really well -- lost 70 pounds. Unfortunately, I had a health crisis from infection, and almost died. I spent 6 months in a hospital/nursing home. Obviously, they don't know anything about Atkins. When I came out I had gained 30 pounds. Now I have to do it all over again, and it's much harder this time. I WON'T do this again. It's eat this way for life for me!

[Vampyre]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I really can't think of a good reason to go back to the way I had been eating. I don't have cravings for any of the food that's not allowed. I really loved bread, popcorn, and chocolate. Now bread and popcorn taste really bland and I don't have the cravings I used to have for the chocolate. Why eat a piece of toast when you can eat hot wings with bleu cheese dressing?

[LC_Dave]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I find, if I'm at my lowest (depression wise) I can indulge in some frankenfood, without breaking the WOL.

Liek an atkins bar, or Low Carb chocolate. etc etc.

But it doesn't help weight loss!

But the options are there, just in case, so i don't have to cheat.

So many yummy foods on this diet, why would I eat cakes and all that rubbish!

[Labarum]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

My response when pressed is very simple "I'm a reformed fatty - I don't eat . . . biscuits, bread, cake . . . anymore."

I will be moving to a new job soon, with a completely different set of aquaintances. Many of the folk here watched me lose weight and know the story so they understand and are supportive. The Senior Medical Officer is pro-Atkins, so there are a number of us around who have gone through it, and that helps the community understanding. Getting the Officers' Mess cooks to understand that a fruit salad with apples, oranges and grapes is not something I will eat instead of a sugar laden chololate pud has been more difficult!

In the new job it should be fairly easy to manage cos I will be the boss - running a residential conference centre - the pressure will be on the Admin Officer and the kitchen staff to get it right. At home I will have to adjust to the range of products in German Supermarkets, but that should be OK. When eating other places - we'll see. If I have to go to a formal meal as a duty I no longer have any expectation that I will enjoy the food, or even be fed appropriately - If it happens it's a bonus. I never arrive very hungry and I can always stoke up when I get home!

But to the central question of going back to old eating habits - NO NO NO. I don't want to, and I don't like that stuff any more.

[hey_nelson]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I don't think I will be able to go back Dave. I have broken down a couple times and eaten carby things only to watch the scale go up and my esteem go down. In my opinion, its not worth it.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I know I won't be going back, because I was eating so unhealthy... low fat, high carb, fried foods, soda etc. Bad bad bad.

I'm not doing this to reach goal weight, I'm doing this because it's the way of eating that works best for me and my body.

Will I have an occasional treat? Sure. But I don't see myself going much above maintenance levels, as I know I won't be in control of my eating.

[BenandHallesMom_1]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

Nope, I know I have a carb sensitivity issue. When I eat carbs, I eat too much (begins a vicious, unsatiable attempt to fill the bottomless pit) and too unhealthy. When I eat carbs I feel like crap! Even if I didn't lose another pound I know I would have to eat this way for the rest of my like (if I wanted to have a quality life). So its Atkins for me!

[Jasmain]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

News Flash - Atkins is a new WOL and WOE. The standard for me is now Atkins. Why on earth would I want to go back to what I was? I agree with the comments previously. Eating the way I did before leads to the bottomless pit syndrome, where nothing is ever enough. No thank you.

[Analog6]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

I'll never go back. The couple of times I've indulged in bread or other carbyu things (on an eat out type affair) I've sat up half the night with acid reflux and felt lousy the next day. It's just not worth it.

In the Atkins for Life book (for those at goal) Dr A says to weigh every week and if you gain 5lbs take action. This sounds like good common sense and I'll be vigilant all my life.

[changing]

Re: Who thinks they can go back to Standard eating afterwards?

Ugh. Yeah, I'm with the rest... My old WoE was a bag of Doritos for breakfast, 3 frosted pastries for lunch, and 3 plates of Chinese buffet (with extra fried rice) for dinner. For me, "normal" was actually binge eating -- and yep, I was up half the night with acid reflux and felt like a slug on a log... no energy, always depressed or agitated. Yick.

I've been looking at some of the Atkins For Life stuff, and I've got to say that maintenance looks pretty damn sexy, especially concerned with the alternative (eating crapola again; eww). I used to think I liked that stuff, but not anymore.