Day One

[attek]

I successfully used the OWL phase of Atkins 2 years ago to lose 40 pounds. Unfortunately, I did not do Pre-Maintenance or Maintenance, because I wanted to see if I could just keep the weight off my own way. Obviously, I can't!! I regained 17 pounds and several inches, virtually all of it on my abs, and most of it in the last 4 months. Yuck. I don't want to look pregnant when I'm not. I browsed through the book and was really struck by the statement that if you don't do PM, you'll put your weight back on again, probably because I've proven that one true. I am going to be a bridesmaid on the first Saturday of May. I don't want to pressure myself into losing it all by then, but I definitely want to have made good headway. My main goals this time are to

[attek]

Re: Day One

Oops, I accidentally didn't finish this! My main goals are to tone up my abs and to reach an eating plan that I can be satisfied with permanently. I started Induction today, ate a cheese omelet for breakfast, homemade rotisserie chicken and salad for lunch, and I'm having pork and sauerkraut for supper. I also did a 10 minute Abs workout. I just started browsing around the board; I relied heavily on it for inspiration the last time. Nice to see you all!

[Wonder Woman]

Re: Day One

Hi Attek!


I obviously never got the hang of pre-maintenance and maintenance either or I wouldn't be here.

This time, I am really excited to find out my CCLL (I never found that before) and really figure out how to eat for life. I just really fell off the wagon and then did like you and though, hmmm, maybe I can just do this on my own. Well, it took me 3 years and 50 lbs to figure out that I can't! But in maintenance, it seems like there's so much variety that I will never be bored!

Good luck and you've come to the right place! Your goals sound wonderful!

[attek]

Re: Day One

Thanks Jamie! I never calculated my CCLL either. I reached my goal weight and just completely quit Atkins. That's why my goals this time involve more than just losing the weight and the fat. I am determined to pursue this into a long-term way of eating rather than a short-term weight loss plan which was how I treated it the last time. I hate all the carb cravings and how I couldn't seem to stop eating food. An hour after breakfast (big bowl of oatmeal with no sugar) and I was hungry again.
Thanks for your encouragement! Are you in the middle of Induction?

[Outback Jess]

Re: Day One

Welcome Attek, Sounds like you know what you need to do, while you are gettin back and adjusted to eating low carb, drinking the water and exercising, it will be time to really go thru the 4 phases...Studying PreM and Maint. So you can get a handle on it.

I've been on a modified induction for 5 plus months and I will have to really get myself organized with PreM and Maint. study soon.
I would encourage you to make a shift in thinking, not so much weight loss as lifestyle! Such a key concept.

[Wonder Woman]

Re: Day One

I reached my goal weight and just completely quit Atkins.

Yup, I did the same thing! What were we thinking?

I hate all the carb cravings and how I couldn't seem to stop eating food. An hour after breakfast (big bowl of oatmeal with no sugar) and I was hungry again.

I felt exactly the same!!!!! It's a horrible feeling and I endured that for three years before coming back here. It's really miserable to feel like you can't stop eating and to feel hungry no matter how much you do eat. Yesterday, in the cafeteria, people around me were eating sandwiches and I was eating a salad. And I remembered when *I* ate sandwiches for lunch every day and feeling so bad all afternoon and thinking, "What am I doing wrong? I am miserable. I feel yucky after every meal. But I'm also hungry and want to eat more." It's not a feeling I want back. It feels very helpless and out-of-control and that is no fun!

[attek]

Re: Day One

Thanks you two! I am trying to think of what I did right so I can repeat that this time and what I did wrong, so I can avoid that this time. Jess, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I really looked at this as a weight loss program. Most of the weight I had gained in the first place came while during my two pregnancies. So I think I mistakenly assumed if I got it off, I could keep it off. Biggest problems with that thought: I am now 8 years older and my last weight gain came from poor eating habits, not another pregnancy. I just can't eat the way I did when I was 20 or 25 (I'm now 35). I have to really accept the fact that this can't be just a short-term weight-loss solution, but a long-term weight control. That does mean going through all the rungs of OWL, PM, and Maintenance. Last time I stopped at the Berries rung of OWL till I was done losing weight. Another weakness is still looking at food the wrong way - as a reward, as something I deserve, etc.

I think my strengths are that I never once cheated the last time, and I did successfully reach my goal of 40 pounds in 6 months. So I already know I can do it. I also know how to plan ahead for many situations, like vacations, camping, fast food, church potluck meals, etc. I stayed right on track through all those situations last time, and I know I can do it this time too. I also have a few ideas of some foods that don't work well for me in those first few rungs, so I don't have to waste time trying those out this time.

I think the biggest temptation for me might be to assume that I must lose everything by the wedding and rush through the weight loss without finishing all the stages and going into a proper Maintenance. And while I want to look good in the bridesmaid's dress, I definitely want to still look good 5 years from now!

Thanks for your support!

[Wonder Woman]

Re: Day One

Attek - I could have WRITTEN your last post. Every word of it. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what worked that first time. I was like you - I was always able to handle any situation that was thrown at me. I just planned ahead and always found an alternative and I was so proud of myself for that.

Like you, I stopped at berries too! I continued to lose while eating nuts and berries on a regular basis but never figured out my CCLL so I didn't really use any method beyond the berries to figure out what to do to keep the weight off.

You are right, we know we CAN do it, we have done it before. When I was off the diet (but trying to get back on), I would tell my mom, "I can't do it," and she would say, "You just aren't doing it right now. But you CAN." That really helped me realize it was a choice.

I have decided that instead of losing faster, I want to spend more energy on working up the rungs (as fast as I can, not as slow as I can!) so that I can find my CCLL, and find the variety of foods that works for me. I am currently TTC so part of me wants to lose faster so that I can be more healthy and lighter before I become pregnant but I also know that I have to have some knowledge about OWL so that I can not gain too much during pregnancy and get right back to losing after I have the baby. Plus, you can't live your whole live from event to event...you have to live it on a continuum (sp?).