Why can't I give up carbs???

[abouttime]

Hi everyone,

I re started atkins on April 1st, was doing great, eating well, i even started an aquafitness program. I had a bad cheat weekend a few weeks ago and i just can't seem to get my but in gear.

I am so frustrated with myself. Im just not too sure what to do anymore. It's so hard to admit that i have failed... again...

And for some reason when i cheat... i have cheated really badly, with chips, chocolates & deserts.

Any advice??? I could really use it!

thanks!!

diana

[IrishMom82]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

I had a really bad cheat weekend at the end of Induction. I was very hard on myself about it not to mention I got really sick from the foods I had.

My advice to you is to just pick up the pieces and continue on the journey. I was determined to never cheat again. It wasn't worth it. I had lost 9 lbs. on Induction and if I didn't cheat I probably would have lost more in week 3. Since I cheated my body had to get back into Ketosis and as my mom says "1 day of cheat undos 3 days of fat burning". I say that to myself all the time when I'm being tempted. I don't want to undo all the hard work I have done.

Just stay strong and say no to temptation repeat the words in your head: "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" and "1 day of cheat undos 3 days of fat burning". Good luck, and keep us posted!

[spirittalker]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

this, like any addiction is one you will have ups and downs with. The problem with food addiction is no one is telling you not to. I mean sure there are but more often than not i get the "aw comeon, one (fill in the blank) isn't gonna kill ya". You have to find a way to remove all of their justifications in your head. Thankfully, i have my wonderful bf who is a tremendous support to me. If you can't find some IRL, come to the board before you cheat, talk about why you want to...see how you feel after.

[CATBLUE]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

Man, you are not alone...

I've started every day this year.... only to mess it up one way or another..

Yet today... I PLANNED my food for the day. Everyday I'd wake up and say to myself.. you did this for years and then you stopped. Now is the time to get back to reality. I feel better, I look better and I have more energy... so why not just do it.. Good question? I didn't have my own answer and so I'd do something to mess it up every day.

For some reason today.. I work up and didn't cheat. I think it's because I planned what I was going to eat. That meant that I couldn't give in to any cravings.. I didn't even have any. I feel really good about today.

If I can do it so can you. Just plan the next few days.... maybe it will work for you too?

[Creek]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

When I feel weak, this is my favorite thread to read for inspiration!

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=42078

[Outback Jess]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

It's like the strangest pheonomenon. I wish I understood it, but once I falter, I almost can't realign myself with atkins, and I bumble around doing all that I can. For me, once the cravings kick in, all things low carb are so hard to maintain.
I am back, day 21, and it's been so hard to do this, but now that I am here, and feel good again, in all aspects, I am just not soooo WILLING to throw it away.
Keep working it!

[knicknack]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

Hi there... My advice to you is not to let a cheat derail you. Say to yourself - okay fine, i cheated, so what? I have X years of eating crappy food in my history, it's hard to erase those bad habits in a day, let's just get moving forward! I think the mental attitude towards food is hard to get past, and that's probably what is making you cheat.

I agree 100% with the planning thing as well. The thing is, one day you'll wake up and just do it. Probably without even thinking all that much about it, even.

[TWS]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

I am so frustrated with myself. Im just not too sure what to do anymore. It's so hard to admit that i have failed... again...

And for some reason when i cheat... i have cheated really badly, with chips, chocolates & deserts.
diana

The concept of 'failure' is a strong one. Mentally, replace that with 'relapse', 'slip-up'...something not so fatal.

To keep me on the right path I have two strategies. One is to think how those bad foods are out there only to make money. It's not about my health or well-being, but a profit margin somewhere. They are playing on taste and conditioning to tempt me into spending my money on things that are harmful. (But they do taste wonderful, don't they? Dove's Caramel Pecan Perfection ice cream is aptly named)

Strategy #2:
A full length mirror. I'm not even going to tell you the conversations I have there.

TWS

[TheDogAteMyName]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

You're addicted to carbs...I'm addicted to carbs. You wouldn't tease an alcoholic with a table full of beer and wine. What I'm trying to say is that since we're addicted that's the reason we're overweight. Once we break that cycle of addiction with Atkins we're set free. Once you cheat, you're back to square one. It's a vicious cycle. The only advice I have is that you cannot allow yourself to veer off this path...not again.

[colleenieweenie]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

I'm going to take a slightly different approach...

How bad do you want to FEEL and look better?

There's pro's and con's to everything. Every action has a reaction. Eat too much crap and fat magically appears on your hiney When I stopped smoking (7+ years ago), it was TIME for me to stop. I was ready. - and I stopped, never looked back. It was the same when I started Atkins... If you're not ready to make this change, you will continue on the same road. If your mind is ready, your body will follow. You just gotta do it. Keep telling yourself you can do it. Challenge yourself to mini-goals and reward yourself with a small prize (no, not caca food , a pedicure, massage, shopping trip, etc..)

You can totally do this!!

So you want something crunchy, like a chip? Take pinches of shredded cheese and put them on a cookie sheet and bake them till they're crispy.

Want something sweet? Have a cup of coffee w/ splenda or a diet soda (some might not agree with me on this, but it always helped me - diet cherry chocolate dr. pepper is like candy to me - one a day and I'm good )

Want some bread? Look up a recipe called Oopsie Rolls - they're induction friendly - pretty much baked cream cheese & eggs - actually taste like bread - super yummy

There are so many tricks of the trade to get the same sort of sensations one might feel from eating "regular" food. Do some research, look up recipes, experiment, find what works for you and run with it

You're so deserving of being healthy, your body will thank you - Keep on keeping on - remember, you can TOTALLY do this!

Best of luck to you!!!

[lindyj]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

im with you collen
i drink a diet coke and sometimes that does help when craving something sweet but im going to try the dr pepper
try puting a picture on your fride when you were the heavest and it will make you rethink that cheat

[chinadoll]

Re: Why can't I give up carbs???

You have to really ask yourself if you are ready to commit. I know there are times when I havent been ready and I fumble around to. Your head may not be there yet. The Atkins WOE wont fail you. It will be ready when you are, but sometimes sitting down and asking yourself what you really truly want helps you get your head on striaght.If you are commited then it is easier to bypass the carbs. The fact that you fell off the wagon right after induction has me wondering if you need to look at a different reward system. Like maybe you should go buy yourself a new top to celebrate rather than loosening up on carbs because you survived induction. We've all been there more than once. Best advice is to not let a day of cheating become a week of cheating. Just dust yourself off and fix it.