Off Home

[carbcounter999]

Hi all,

Well, I'm off to visit my family tomorrow. I posted awhile back about my concerns about telling my mother about doing Atkins, so I guess I'm just looking for some support. My last time on Atkins my trip home stopped me in my tracks. Any words of advice or good ways you've learned to explain Atkins to those who aren't open to it are appreciated.

I'll be on a few times while home, so I'll pop in for what I know will be great words of wisdom!

[Finelly]

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Wow, good luck! How long will you be there?

I take it your mom would disapprove highly, eh?

Well, you can say:

1. I'm trying to eliminate all refined flours and sugars. So I'll stick with veggies and meat, please.

2. I'm trying to get more fiber into my diet, so I'll have lots of veggies, please.

3. Mom, I'm on Atkins. Don't say anything. Or I'll have to kill you. <g>

4. My doctor wants me to eat more roughage. The only way I can do that is not get full on the potatoes, bread, whatever she is offering.

5. Not hungry for some reason! (then dash out the door, head for the nearest mcdonalds, order a hamburger wrapped in lettuce)

Man, this is tough! I'm tired - maybe I'll have better ideas in the morning....but I'll be thinking of you!

[Iapetus999]

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I just say, "oh I don't eat that."

Would you make a vegetarian eat meat?
Don't make an Atkineer eat cake.

Us -999's need to stick together.

[carbcounter999]

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Here's what I posted in the other thread about family and friends support: "I'm going to visit my parents in 2 weeks and I'm not sure what to expect. The last time I did Atkins the trip home for Christmas was part of what led me off plan. I didn't want to have the confrontation with my mother about how I was eating so I didn't follow Atkins. She often talks to me about my weight (the last time the conversation was started with "Now let's talk about your weight. You're heavier than I've ever seen you" - not exactly conducive to a discussion). I have a history with my mom where she puts pressure on me to lose and then undermines my efforts. "You'll never stick with that... don't waste your money on the gym, you know you won't go" At one point I lost some weight by exercising and eating low fat. One of my friends was my exercise buddy, so my mom proceeded to say to her (in front of me) "that's so great, she'd never do this without you." Talk about losing any sense of my own accomplishment (and the pounds came back on).

This time I will NOT go off Atkins when I go home. I expect she'll flip out about the meat, butter, eggs, etc, both from a health perspective and saying that it's too expensive. I'm 30, so it's well past time to have the "it's my body not yours" talk. But I know I need to be very strong to not get sucked into the "you won't succeed" attitude she has. I do have access to the internet while home so I'll be on here for encouragement!"

My mum and I have always fought over my weight. Even when I was 13 or 14 she was talking to my dr about getting me a breast reduction but I was "far too heavy" for the operation. I look back then and I seem skinny!! I learned early on to cope with life by eating - I was the kid buying chocolate bars on the way home and hiding the wrappers so that she wouldn't find them

My main concerns are explaining the amount of fat we eat on this diet, some of it saturated fat. My mother believes that fat is the devil, and will be shocked when she sees me eating things like bacon or chicken with the skin on. My plan is to buy her a copy of DANDR so she can read about the WOE. The funny things is that I think my dad would love this WOE - he's a meat eater and my mom is constantly picking on him about how he eats. All of this stems from her own struggles with weight as a child and teen and her continuing sense that she is too fat (and she isn't, she's beautiful!). But it's been put on me for so long it's hard to fight off sometimes.

Thanks for the encouragement so far. This is my life, my body, and she'll just have to see the results and be wowed by me!

On a happy note, I am leaving today and am now down 20 pounds since May 21st. Woo Hoo!!! Thank you TOM whoosie fairy!

[Terry]

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Thats got to be hard. Keep focused on your progress and come here as often as you can for a little boost. There will always be someone here to help. <hug>

[Sarah1341]

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You go girl - congrats on the loss! Stay the strong woman that you are. You are doing great on this diet. Follow the advice given above and you can do this. I do suggest throwing out "my doctor told me to." Who can argue with what a doctor is telling you to do?

Your stats are very similar to mine (and also to my buddy Dragonflymoon). I am 5'8", HW: 278, CW 268 GW 165.

Good luck with your trip!!

[carbcounter999]

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Ahhhh, "dr approved"!!! I hadn't thought of that one. It really is silly that I'm so concerned about this - the point of the trip is to relax and have a great time with my family and friends, which I will. I just have such a long history with my mum and weight issues. It's time to put that demon to rest!!

[Finelly]

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How long will you be there?

[victoriansoup]

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Good Luck! You can do it, I always say something like "its my diet" and i'm doing great! For some reasons i have found with my own mother, that she wants to be the one to succeed first, then i can. I haven't seen my parents since i started this. They are coming for a 4 days visit tomorrow. My dad will be thrilled, my mom will ask me WHY are you doing this? Then she will cop an attitude with me! I'm 50 years old, but still her baby!
I don't let her get to me, and ask her nicely to DROP IT!
You can do it!! Your doing GREAT!!! You have all of us for support!!