Linda here

[Lovetotest]

My name is Linda. I am 48 yrs young and weigh 370lbs. It is not my highest which was 411 in 1998 and not my lowest which was around 352lbs maybe mid 2005. I feel like a train wreck. I can't seem to stick to anything I start for more than a couple of weeks at best. There is lowcarb, then no carb then there is 12 step programs too. All seem to work as long as you work them. But why am I not willing to pick just one and stick to it! Sigh. I have really managed to confuse myself completely. I wind up doing nothing because one minute I am thinking about Weighing and Measuring my food which is from a 12 step group and the other minute I am wanting to do Atkins because he says we can eat more food until satiety. Then I read that no carbs, zero carbs are best. We don't even need veggies at all! So I do well for breakfast and lunch and then by 4 in the afternoon I am heading thru Drivethrus or going out to dinner with DH at the local all you can eat chinese buffet pigging out on eggrolls and dumplings and anything sweet that I can get my hands on. Icecream, cake, cookies. Until I feel sick, and then swear off the foods, until the next time. I just want this cycle to stop. I worry that eating the induction way that I will eat too much food. Stupid right. As if cake and icecream and cookies don't stick to my A$$ like glue. I Never seem to get full. Not ever. I am stuck. Stuck on always starting over on a Monday. Stuck on I will begin tomorrow. Stuck in the fat hole at 370lbs.
I have surrendered my whole life to this miserable fat body. I wouldn't even know what it would be like to be a normal size. I don't know how to stop the mind chatter when the 4:00 mental BS starts. The food calls. I give in. One more time. Any suggestions on how I can stop killing myself with the food.
Are you all sure that if I stick to eating induction style, that I can't eat too much protein or fat to gain? I need results. Steady results. I want to stop making excuses and get it done!!!!

Linda

[Spikey1341]

Re: Linda here

I know that once I get past day 3 all my cravings disappear and I am much happier and have more energy. What usually causes me to fall off the wagon is a luncheon or social gathering of some sort. I have to keep my carbs at 30 grams or below or I get the carb cravings back and start to creep up until I am diving off head first.


Try to do induction for three days and see if it doesn't make a difference. For me I have found that day two is the worst, day three is better and by day four the cravings have left.

Hang in there! (BTW I have tried every diet in the world and keep coming back here because it works. All the others I cannot control the cravings and end up gaining back everything I have lost)

[Lyssie]

Re: Linda here

I'm with Spikey, it takes a couple days for the cravings to stop but it's really worth it. The thing is to eat until you are sated, meaning you shouldn't feel like you have the 4p starving thing going on since you've eaten all day. It helps to keep snacks around that you can grab when you do need something at snackie time too.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Linda here

welcome to the CC forum and to ADBB.

First the notion of fullness neds to be addr4essed. Eating should not be about filling up the space in your tummy to activate the strect receptors giving you fullness feed back. Give up that idea that you got to be full. Learn what your body feels like when it is hungry and work on satisfying that feeking only food is needed to fuel the body not fill the belly. Dr Atkins has some wonderful suggrstions about eating only 1/2 the amount of your induction meal and stopping. Put the food away knowing you can eat again just as soon as you get hungery be it 10 min or 6 hours. If you discover you are not hungry until later then the next meal fix only 1/2 the amount you fixed last meal and try eating just 1/2 of that. You are goiung to be amazed once your ketosis kicks in about just how little food we need to fuel our big bodies when we are fatburning as our primary fuel and ewr got 100s of pounds in the bank so to speak. Once you get used to the idea of I can eat any time I'm hugry you will feel more comfortable doing Atkins too.

Next keep a food journal and write down the all the W who what when where why and how you were feeling before during after and 1 hour after you ate. This will allow you to discover triggering events for you cheating. I know it sounds silly but many foods contain chemicals that mimic neurotransmitters and your Dr Brain has done a remarkable job of cataloging what foods help you overcome many emotions. When it sees you are feeking that way it wants to help you feel better and will medicate you with the foods it knows will fix you. You will need to know how you were feeling so you can use nonfood stuff like exercise for stress to getr those same neurotransmitters and givce Dr Brain a better more powerful "drug" to medicate you with.

Some times it doesn't become obvious just loking at the days event so you need to see weeks of them I discovered celery was a triggerring food for me and I also discovered eating with my younger sister even though I had an on plan Atkins friendly meal with her would cause me to want to pig out hours later so I stopped eating with her and don't have that issue any more.

In order to want to stick with any plan to cure an addiction which overing is you need for the cost either financial emotional social and/or healthwise to be greater then the temporary benefits you derive from having the addicted stuff. it is the same for cigaretts drugs and alcohol. when you want the cure more then the hunk you will stop using. So make yourself a list of all the reasons you can think of from health to looks that you need to lose weight and be honest about then if looking good in a bikini on a beach isn't important to you then don't list it. Once you got that list make a list of all the reasons you can think of why you should contine your overeating ways like I want to be full. once you have both lists rank the importance of those reasons from 1 to 100 and you can use a number more then once. total the lists and which ever list is larger is what you want to do right now, if the weightloss list is higher then you are ready to start Atkins.

Next read the 2002 edition of DR ATKINS NEW DIET REVOLUTION known as DANDR around here so you know what you are about to do pay close attendtion to chapter 11 and see Atkins is about eating veggies too 3 whole cups aday just to start! The make a plan for your Atkins program. I will clean out the house of all high carb foods
I will tell my husband I am starting a new way of eatting and he will need to be part of my support network so he nneds to read the acceptable fooods lists and not expose me right now to any place or food not on my list. he will need to be strong for me when I feel weak and about to eat a box of doughnuts. He will need to be my biggest cheerleader and defender should anybody else dare try to disuede me from my plan with just one bite or even negative words abuot my plan.

I will need to get out my day planner and block out time every day for me to do the exercise required for Atkins to the best of my current physical ability starting with simple walking and building up my endurance and scardio strength. As I get in better shape I will push myselkf to do more faster longer. I will join one of the ADBB exercise challneges for support and fun doing the mandatory exercise part of Atkins.

I will join the cheatfree challenge because I know from reading my DANDR and from personal experience that just one bite is the kiss of death as Dr Atkins puts it in rule 5 of induction!

I will plan out my foods and pre prepp them so I always have atkins induction acceptable foods handy for when I am hungry.

I will drink all the required water for my weight.

I will take the vitamins and minerals I need to be taking based oin my poor food choices prior to my starting Atkins and any I might make during Atkins.

I will discuss with my Dr my plan to do Atkins and with their help make sure I don't become malnurished in any vit or mineral should I decide to do an extended induction for faster weight loss.

I will find and join a free online food logging site like www.fitday,com in addition to whyW eating journal so I can see the carbs proteins and fats in my daily eatting and also track my nutriants too.

I will make a plan of action of what to do in the event my Dr Brain feels the need to prescrib some old comfort foods.
I will have an Atkins emergency kit talored to my likes and needs. ( use the search feature to see how this works).

I will start a journal chat so I can have support from others who have been through it and are doing it too and I can meet and communicate in others journals about anything I see them doing that I want to do too or have a question about,

I will use a tape measure to see the inches of my biody fat being shed too so when the metal monster doesn't reward my hard work doing my Atkins with a loss of a bizillion pounds when I think it should I will not think my Atkins isn't working for me and abondon it.

I will join the 14 day induction forum and root my fellow inductees on as we struggle together to control our high carb addiciton and anything life throws at us.

Iwillput my sclaes away until day 15 and then I will jump for joy when I discover how well I can shed fat enjoying being not hungry working my Atkins plan.

I will post YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I LOST topics on day 15 in the induction and the CC and in my journal and tell everybody how well I did in both pounds and inches as I am morphing my body shedding fat mass and adding healthy lean body mass. ( those are my favorit kind of posts)
I will not hid and feek ashamed to show my face on ADBB should I jump off the wagon and eat some high carb food. I will run like heck here to get help and support in the event I feel a cheat coming on too.

I will do all the home work 2BIG4MYSIZE gives me too

[dreamof145]

Re: Linda here

Hi Linda. Welcome to the ADBB.

We all know the frustration that you are feeling. We've all been there. The good news is that you have come here to the ADBB and found people who are willing to share your journey with you. This is the best support group for getting healthy and losing the weight. There is a journal section for you to write everything down, challenges to join, motivational stories/photos to inspire you, health and life forums to educate you and friends that want to see you succeed.

2big4mysize gave you great info on how to get prepared to lose the weight. It takes committment on your part, but the outcome is SOOOO worth the effort. You can do this. We are all here to give you support and friendship. You are not alone. Keep us posted on your progress.

[IrishIrish]

Re: Linda here

Bless you, bless you, bless you! You've arrived at the Century Club and you won't be disappointed. 2BIG gave you the Atkins primer. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and make copies of the Rules of Induction and the Acceptable Food List for Induction. Carry them with you, keep them in my home, your purse, your car, your workplace ... anywhere you make decisions about food.

Personally, I believe in a three step stool for my success. I believe in the Atkins Way of Eating and follow it and don't worry about the speed with which the weight comes off or any other food issues. If I follow the plan, I lose the weight. My second leg of the stool is my spirituality. I too have been part of a 12 Step Approach to eating and while I needed more guidance related to the food (thus DANDR), I can't dispute the steps and working them. My spirtuality is with me and in my heart and I couldn't be successful with out it. And the third leg of the stool is the support I get from my friends, family, my DH, my doctors, posters who have inspiration to share.

Focus on what is important to you. To borrow a phrase, Keep It Simple and it will work for you! Bless you and Welcome.

[Kent]

Re: Linda here

Let me just say, I know first hand the desperation in your post. I know how frustrating it is to try so hard and fail, and then on top of everything fill the guilt about failing, which normally cycles into more eating or more despondency about how can I ever be successful. Let me just offer this one hope in addition to those above, everyone in Century Club will do what they can to help you get to goal. In my experience, following the Atkins WOE and rules is the best way to do that.

I think once you experience the benefits of ketosis and the appetite suppression, the 4 pm diet death knell will subside a bit, and you will regain contorl over what you are eating. That was what saved me, and allowed me to learn brand new eating habits. I think the same can happen in you as well if you work at it. Be accountable to yourself, and the results are just waiting to happen.

[Momtofour]

Re: Linda here

Welcome, I'm so happy you found us. Everytime you feel like eating something Non-Atkins, just get on here and work yourself through it. That is what I do. In the beginning I felt like I was on the board all day. I still get on her 1-5 times a day. This board is what helped me be successful this time around. Believe me, I know how many times a person can try to lose weight. Most of us here have had the same struggles that you are dealing with, and can now happily live without high carb junk. It is soooo worth it in the end. Every aspect of your life will improve, not just the scale.

[Nanarama]

Re: Linda here

I'm really new to this board, but want to just say hi and hang in there. You've gotten some really great advice here from folks who absolutely know the drill ... and know how to get through it all.

I'm not new to Atkins and without a doubt, getting through the first couple days is crucial to success. The cravings and hunger just disappear. When my thin friends used to tell me they forgot to eat lunch, I would just think yeah, right, how can you forget? Let me tell you, I now have to remind myself that it's time to eat and I know if I don't eat that I'll get light-headed. It really works.

Good luck and keep coming here.

[inhisgrip]

Re: Linda here

Hi Linda...I could relate to every word of your post. I too have tried TONS of different diets starting when I was a child and have not been able to stick to any of them! I constantly tell myself..."I'll start tomorrow." Well tomorrow turns into next week, and next week turns into next month, and next month turns into OH MY GOSH A YEAR HAS GONE BY AND I'VE DONE NOTHING!!! So here I was at 365 POUNDS!! I definitely know how you feel Linda.

You are right that most any "diet" will work if we work them but the key is finding a way of eating that is satisfying to our senses and doable for the LONG run. You have come to the right place. ATKINS DOES WORK. Just commit yourself...FULLY commit yourself to following induction for 2 weeks. Read the rules of induction, keep them close by at all times, and FOLLOW them. If you do this I promise... I PROMISE you will see and feel results. You can do this Linda. You've already taken the first step by posting here in the first place. I'm pulling for you. Feel free to PM me or stop by my journal anytime you need some support or encouragement. I hope to be seeing you around the board.

[Curveegrrl]

Re: Linda here

Hello Linda! Welcome to the Century Club! *waves*

I don't think I can really add to any of the wonderful advice that the other members have given you. I'm glad you've found this place. It has been so important for me on my weight loss journey. The help and support you will find here are amazing.

I know the stuck feeling. I have heard the food calling to me in the middle of the night. I too have wibbled back and forth between diets. This way of eating seems to sort them all out for me. I feel empowered, rather than stuck. I don't get the cravings anymore (although they were NASTY in the first few days of induction!). I keep my copy of the New Diet Revolution handy, so it's easy to stay on plan. Atkins has given me tremendous power to take control of my eating. It has gotten me moving too.

*hugs* I hope you find your way to stick to the program too. We're all cheering for you!

[Lovetotest]

Re: Linda here

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for your inspiring posts! I can't thank you enough for the wonderful words you have all shared with me here.

I want to tell you that I am starting Induction tomorrow Tues, Sept 5th 2006.
All of you have been where I am. It is so good to be talking to people who come from high numbers and know the **** I am going thru carrying over 225 extra pounds around. Last week my DH and I went to the coast for our 26th anniversary. Anyway, it had a spa bathtub. Getting in was okay, but getting out was like a baby elephant struggling in mud. Ugh! I have the bruises on my legs to prove the stuggle, not to mention enough humiliation to last me me a lifetime. Just one of many things that I hope to never, not ever have to experience again. Looking forward to walking 25 feet without being out of air. Looking forward to being able to walk up a flight of stairs that everyone else just seems to glide up. Can't wait until I can detox and the sugar stops calling to me. I know that I MUST be vigoursly honest if I am ever to get this weigh off. I will take even this program one day at a time. One meal at a time if need be. I will take the suggestions that you my new friends have offered. I will be to journal. Look for a challange on these boards to join. Do induction by the book! Kent your videos are great! Thank you all for sharing your expereince and strength will me. I hope to one day pay it forward.

Hugs,
Linda

[Thinner08]

Re: Linda here

HEY LINDA WELCOME TO THE BOARD. YOU MY FRIEND HAVE DEFINITELY COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT SOMETHING IS TELLING ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER FROM THIS DAY FORTH. CHECK OUT MY REPLY TO YOUR REPLY IN "CAN ANYONE RELATE"?