Changes... inside and out

[RachelnLa]

A few days ago I received an email from an atkin friend who said "Hopefully, this time you will make low-carb a way of life and ...."

A way of life. A total commitment. I think that is what I was missing. Though I always knew I'd have to eat this way forever, it really never sunk in that in order to maintain a weight and healthy lifestye... this was going to have to be my way of eating the rest of my life!

I stopped harping on what I couldn't have or what I would have as a reward.. and starting looking at it as a turn around in my life. Rewards will still be there. I need to find other outlets and not just food!!

This time around I've been doing a lot of soul searching. What makes me eat? What am I feeling? Why am I feeling this? Why do I turn to food? What can I do instead? Feel the feeling - don't stuff it down with food.

This weekend I took son and his friend to a chinese place. Before going in, I pumped myself up with *I will stay on track."

While I really did good, you cannot get all the sauces off the veggies no matter how hard you try. That little bit I did have bloated me by the time I got the truck. I was breathing hard and tummy was bloated and tender. I was miserable. I learned right then and there it was just not worth it!

I was miserable for about 3 hours. Why would I want to be that way??? Why would I stray from low carb? It was enough to teach me I just cannot/do not want live like that anymore.

Each day that passes I feel so much better. I want to look in the mirror again. I want to make myself pretty and dress nice and go out in the world again.

I realized in the past 2 weeks that:
My arms hang straight down by my side!
I can sit on the floor and pull my foot close and paint or clip my toenails again!
I can turn around easier and look behind me while driving.
I can bend down easier.
I don't get so short of breath when walking through parking lots, stores, etc.
My undies don't roll down anymore!
I have a lot more energy.
I am not so moody!!

That's just in 2 weeks. Wonder what the future holds?

Best of luck everyone!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Changes... inside and out

Rachel! Good for you! It sounds like you've got the right mind set to be successful. Those are all really good motivators aren't they? How sad is it that we let ourselves get to the point where those types of things weren't possible? You are right, Atkins...the ENTIRE plan of Atkins is something we'll do for the rest of our lives...if we want to maintain the healthy, thin bodies we morph on this plan. I'm going to get on my soap box now and start preaching again...it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO important to go through OWL and add foods back in. Atkins isn't induction...of course you can't eat that way for the rest of your life, and you aren't expected to!

You keep that positive attitude and you'll be very successful! Use this board to help keep your commitment strong, and get support whenever you need it.

[RachelnLa]

Re: Changes... inside and out

Thanks! I think that is where I messed up last time! I need to start keeping a log again. Induction was easy to remember.. but now I really need to keep track. Though, I have been eating more carbs than allowed.. I really need to keep that log! Every carb counts and I need to see how many I'm actually getting and still losing weight.

Thanks for the reminder. I plan on making this work for the rest of my life.. and NEED those other foods to be successful.

I REALLY need the book - darn hurricane!

[Atkid]

Re: Changes... inside and out

Sounds like you are doing fantastic. Keep it up and try to get your stats in your siggy so we can see how you are making out.

[Terry]

Re: Changes... inside and out

Great post!

I liked that you listed what you are gaining in only just the past 2 weeks from making the change in your woe. Its all the little things that we get to do once again that make it worth it in the long run. That is something you can look back on when you are having a hard time or wishing you could go back to eating something you shouldn't. A very good reminder of what you have accomplished in such a short time. That list is gonna grow!!

It's important to look inward while you are working on the outside stuff.

Good for you!

[RachelnLa]

Re: Changes... inside and out

I'm a work in progress. I'm trying to notice all those little things that I took for granted. All those things were nearly impossible before. One day at a time.. sometimes one meal at a time. Some days are easy, some are hard. I'm working on ways to get through them.

Today the weather was bad - no bike riding. TOM is here and I ate everything in site. All legal. Just more than I wanted.

How do you change the ticker numbers? I plan to weigh after TOM. I had said I wasn't going to weigh myself at all - I don't care what I weigh, it has to come off! But I realize now I need to weigh and measure to see how foods affect me.

Thanks everyone! It's a journey, that's for sure!