help

[losemythighs]

Between 3/05 and 3/06, I lost 42 pounds on Atkins. Then, from 3/06 and 6/06, I gained every pound back. I'm thinking about doing Atkins again, especially since I gained another 3 pounds this morning. I'm at 191. I'm just afraid I'm going to lose the weight, then gain it all back again....it's very depressing. I've even thought about gaining 40 more pounds so my insurance will pay for gastric bypass surgery. I guess I'm feeling hopeless right now. Any advice on what motivated you guys to begin again?

[ValidRouge]

Re: help

Let's put things into perspective. The Atkins plan is a plan for the rest of your life. If you "go on Atkins" for a period of time and then resume eating the way that got you fat to begin with...of course you are going to get fat again.

With that in mind, in order for the weight loss to be permanant, we have to make a lifestyle change. The successful long term goalies on this board will tell you that they will eat the Atkins Way of Eating (WOE) for the rest of their lives.

Here's the good part, Dr. Atkins lays it all out in his books. His plan is laid out in 4 stages:
Induction--the most restrictive phase and can be as short as only 2 weeks if you choose.
Ongoing Weight Loss--this is where you customize the WOE to YOUR body. We add foods back in one at a time to see how our bodies react and we learn what foods we can eat in what amounts in order to continue to lose weight.
Premaintenance--just before we get to goal, we add even more carbohydrates back in to see how many we can eat and maintain our weight.
Maintenance--eating for the rest of our lives and maintaining a smaller, healthier body.

I encourage you to look at this as a lifestyle change if you want it to be a permanant change.

[ValidRouge]

Re: help

Oh, and I'd much much rather learn to eat Atkins for life rather than go through the horrible things I've heard and seen of gastric bypass patients.

[dreamof145]

Re: help

Joy's right. The key is making Atkins a life-style change. Don't think of it as depriving yourself of living....look at it as a way to eat healthier for life and receiving all the benefits of looking your best, and feeling your best. Doing Atkins in the 4 stages that Dr. Atkins devised helps us to learn to make the best choices in our foods that will keep the weight off after we've reached goal. I wish you the best of luck. The ADBB is filled with people who are doing it and making it happen. You'll find lots of information, motivation and encouraging people who want to see you succeed.

[Outback Jess]

Re: help

Hey losemythighs...
The motivation is locked up in what YOU really want. For some it's a short term FIX. For some it's freedom from cravings and constant noise foods caused, for others its to regained control...
If it is short term, you will be in trouble the minute you leave the plan, because of the pull and cyclic nature of the carbs and sugars...they draw you in to want more, not less, they never leave you completely satisfied, and it will be no time before you are right back where you started and it's amazing how many people come here the second time around and say the very same thing, "I am back, I gained everything back, and MORE" because the carbs control, and they are never satisfied.

I am satisfied every single day. Sugars and processed foods no longer keep me on that cycle of never feeling completely satisfied, AND THATs WHAT I WANTED, FREEDOM FROM FOOD. I just enjoyed bacon and eggs and I am completely satisfied. I can go and focus on other things because the cycle of sugars don't hold me in their grips. HUNGER WILL NOT PLAY ON MY MIND ALL MORNING LONG AT ALL.
DO you want TO BE free, if so this way of eating will lead to a way of life. 4 Stages with a huge amount of flexibility within them, and a book that teaches a good mindset and puts managing foods back into your hands AFTER you get the controlling carbs OUT!!!!
Amazingly you then really DO HAVE CONTROL BACK...The longer you go, the more you gain discipline and control...DO YOU WANT THAT? MOTIVATION IS IN GETTING WHAT WE WANT.

[knicknack]

Re: help

I agree with everything everyone has said. You have to figure out what you want. If it is to keep the weight off then you have to make a lifestyle change, be it Atkins or something else. Atkins just happens to work really really really well if you follow it correctly!

The few people I've known who did gastric bypass or the lapband all plateaued way before their goal weight, so I don't think I'd go that route if I were you. You just need to commit to being healthy - eating right and exercising, and you will be fine. You want to be around for your children, right? You want to teach THEM healthy eating habits so that they will be around, right?

What motivated me to start up again was that I gained the weight I'd lost times two back. That may not be a lot of weight to some people (I gained 35 pounds) but it was a wake up call to me - I was heading down a road that I didn't want to go down. I also felt that my life was spiraling out of control, and the eating was a big symptom of that. So, I decided to take control of at least one thing that I could definitely control: the food. And, oddly enough, other things seem to fall into place when I do that, probably because my self confidence increases.

So, that's what motivated me: I didn't want to let external circumstances have that much control over me, to the point that I was eating badly. So, I stopped eating badly, and whattya know, i'm feeling better.

[RachelnLa]

Re: help

What motivated me? My life had been turned upside down. We were hit hard by Hurricane Rita. I felt powerless and helpless. I sunk into a depression and knew the only way out was to start Atkins. My head fog cleared. My motivation came back. I saw light. I added in exercise and now I see my life is coming back together. It's not moving as fast as I'd like LOL - but then, neither is my weight. What does that teach me? Good things come to those who wait. Slow and steady wins the race. A very good friend mentioned to me that God rewards those who suffering is great and how wonderful my reward will be. I was thinking it was a new house or a move to another town. Now? I'm rethinking and leaning more towards a healthy, happy life with my wonderful family. And it only took a hurricane to open my eyes

So for me.. the motivation was inside. I wanted to feel better, be able to take care of my family, and live a healthier lifestyle. It's all coming together!

[knicknack]

Re: help

Rachel, that's really inspiring. Good for you!

What motivated me? My life had been turned upside down. We were hit hard by Hurricane Rita. I felt powerless and helpless. I sunk into a depression and knew the only way out was to start Atkins. My head fog cleared. My motivation came back. I saw light. I added in exercise and now I see my life is coming back together. It's not moving as fast as I'd like LOL - but then, neither is my weight. What does that teach me? Good things come to those who wait. Slow and steady wins the race. A very good friend mentioned to me that God rewards those who suffering is great and how wonderful my reward will be. I was thinking it was a new house or a move to another town. Now? I'm rethinking and leaning more towards a healthy, happy life with my wonderful family. And it only took a hurricane to open my eyes

So for me.. the motivation was inside. I wanted to feel better, be able to take care of my family, and live a healthier lifestyle. It's all coming together!

[losemythighs]

Re: help

Every time I've been on Atkins, I meant it to be a wol for me. I have a real problem with sweets. Sometimes they're all I can think about (especially if my husband purchases them and they're in the house) and yes I have asked him not to do this, but he does anyway. So, anyway my addiction pulls me back to my old ways. I would LOVE to have control and to not be a slave to food, it has just never happened for me, even on Atkins. But, I have never stuck to his plan to the T. The first two weeks I've always had nuts, lc yogurt, processed foods, morning start bars, etc... I really need to do a clean induction, I have just never been able to do it in the past. I'm going to start today and do check ins. I might even start a journal. thanks everyone.

[knicknack]

Re: help

You should definitely start a journal! If nothing else, it really helps you keep track of what you're eating, what might be stalling you, etc... You can look back and look at your food and moods and see what is going on.

I agree that a clean induction is a good idea. I tend to not do a super clean induction either but it actually helps a lot when I do.

As far as the sweets go, I don't know. Once you're on maintenance you might be able to have some once in a while, depending on your tolerance. The problem is that they might suck you back into the whole cycle. That is something that each of us has to figure out on our own - how maintenance will work for us.

[RachelnLa]

Re: help

Every time I've been on Atkins, I meant it to be a wol for me. I have a real problem with sweets. Sometimes they're all I can think about (especially if my husband purchases them and they're in the house) and yes I have asked him not to do this, but he does anyway.

Journaling may help you understand the whys behind your addiction to sweets. Is it the feeling it gives you? That high? That same feeling can be replaced with other things - even exercise! Just remember, after that high of the sugar comes the sudden drop into feeling miserable and the cycle continues. You need to break that cycle.

So, anyway my addiction pulls me back to my old ways. I would LOVE to have control and to not be a slave to food, it has just never happened for me, even on Atkins. But, I have never stuck to his plan to the T. The first two weeks I've always had nuts, lc yogurt, processed foods, morning start bars, etc... I really need to do a clean induction, I have just never been able to do it in the past.

Doing a clean induction will put you into ketosis and rid you of those cravings. Old ways? You gotta make NEW WAYS, HEALTHY WAYS!

Basically, you have to change. Sweets (or whatever you downfall is) will always be in this world.


I'm going to start today and do check ins. I might even start a journal. thanks everyone.

Good for you! If you do a clean induction you will see results, feel better than ever and .. lose weight