HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

[naeemah]

Okay, so I have been on Atkins atleast 4 times now (with clean inductions). I have made fautatoes and oopsie rolls and all of that. I make it through induction and always fail in the third week. I have tried doing extended induction, I have tried moving on and still I fail. I love this woe but am wondering if some people really just can't do it. I sooooooo want to be thin and healthy but I just give in to my cravings. I always lose 15lbs. on induction, then stall and then give up.

Should I just stop trying? I tried to start again today but my cravings overwhelmed me and I had a vanilla cream cookie. I can't take the food out of my house because I live with other adults who could careless about Atkins. What do I do? Someone please help me. Please!!!!!

[Clarasassycat]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Have you tried chewing a stick of extra gum when you get the cravings? You have to count each stick as one of your sweeteners, but it does help! We have things in our house that arent induction friendly because of the kids, so I know the temptation and my hubby just decided this week to do atkins so the temptaion for me has been really large. Maybe try the gum, it usually works for me

[naeemah]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

No, I haven't tried that. I will try it though. Does it stall you?

[-FOXY-]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Here are some old and new habits for me...

Chips=Pork Rinds
Hard Candy=Sugar Free Hard Candy
Potatoes=Mashed Cualiflower
Sweets=SugarFree Gum
Pop=Diet Pop
Juice=Water
Dessert=Cream Cheese'n'Splenda

Keep in mind, these are for me, more to curb crazy cravings, not really an everyday type of thing.

Also I use Ketostix, they keep me in line too. I never want to fall out of Ketosis...and if I see things kinda falling I will get an extra workout in to ensure I am burning up any extra carbs that may have snuck into my menu!

Good luck, and when you are about to cheat, writing in the forums are my biggest support, as well as looking at the before and after photos!

[APanthesilia]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

This is what I said to another person in the main forum today and I think it applies here too so I'm just pasting it in!
"It's time to get tough with yourself. If you really want to lose the weight then you will stick to it! You have to decide what you want more- to be thin or to have that ice cream. If you are really ready to want to be thin more than you want the ice cream then it won't be nearly as hard to stay on plan. Of course temptations and cravings happen and for those times just be prepared. Have good, healthy, legal foods with you so when you are hungry and are craving ice cream you can have something else to satisfy you. Also try to give yourself a set of goals and rewards. I give myself money in a dedicated savings account for each pound lost that I get to spend on new clothes when I reach my goal weight. Other people have rewards such as a manicure when they've lost ten pounds or a new outfit. Someone is even buying a car when they reach goal! Make a list of the situations that are hardest for you, when you are most tempted to cheat and then make a list in advance of how to overcome those situations so you will be prepared when they come up. Look around this board for tips and for support. You can do it!"

And this is something that Chinadoll said to the same person that I thought was really good, I hope she won't mind me copying her advice here too!

"sometimes we really have to ask ourselves the hard questions--Am I really ready to do this and be committed to it? There have been times in my life when I have been ready, and times when my head wasn't in it. Those latter ones are the times I did exactly what you are doing. But asking the hard question, gets you closer to making a true, deep down, life shaking decision--that's a hard thing. Once you really decide to be ready, you can tackle this WOE with a much better attitude and the phrase "nothing tastes as good as thin feels" will mean something. A few hours of being really honest with yourself may give you the steel you need to continue. Or you may decide you aren't ready yet. It's all up to you."

Good luck, Naeemah! You can do this!!

[Lisa]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

I sympathize for you. It's really hard sometimes. I wonder if you could start working up the rungs after the 2nd week. Since you said it's the third week that gives you the trouble and you lose 15 pounds, I could really see you moving up the OWL rung. So, no, don't give up...just keep going

[SunnySmile501]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

You need an attitude adjustment. Whether you believe you can do something or you believe you can’t, you’re right. You are programing yourself to fail in the third week. You haven't failed until you quit trying. Next time, plan to succeed and it will happen.

BY CHANGING YOUR THINKING

By Author Unknown

By Changing Your Thinking,
You change your beliefs;

When you change your beliefs,
You change your expectations;

When you change your expectations,
You change your attitude;

When you change your attitude,
You change your behavior;

When you change your behavior,
You change your performance;

When you change your performance;
You Change Your Life!

[moniegail]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

you have to have the right mind set in order to make a change in your life and really stick to it. if your mind's not there yet then it's gonna be harder to succeed. if you can make it through induction, to me that's the hardest part. start OWL on the third week, even though your only adding more veggies to your daily intake it allows for more variety. set small goals for yourself like just making it through just one week, and then the next week. don't give up though.

if there are certain things that trigger your cravings, try to find a legal alternative to make instead.

i wish you luck and hope you can find your way to stick to this woe.

monie

[chinadoll]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Amy, saw you quoted me--don't mind at all. Nice to think I said something worth passing on!

[Tomorrow_I'll_Be_Perfect]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Hi naeemah. I suggest you move on to OWL and add more variety into your life. Dr. Atkins never said this WOL meant you would never eat more than 20 carbs a day for the rest of your life. Induction has several purposes, but torturing you isn't one of them. Be kind to yourself and follow the rest of the plan. I'd say my biggest mistake in the past with Atkins was to focus too hard on Induction, when in fact it's the tip of the iceberg. (Hmmm, that's pretty good advice....I think I'll follow it!)

[WestcoastDeb]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Naeemah,

I understand and sympathize with everything that you wrote. I too have done clean inductions and fail in the 3rd and 4th week. I am not really sure what the answer is for you. For me it was getting bored with the foods I was eating. I was making the same things and it just got monotonus. This time around I am trying new things on the menu and every day I find an Atkins website or low carb forum and look at the before and after photos to try and keep my motivation up. I know that this can be done because thousands of people do it. It is just about finding what works for you and what things you need to set in place to help you achieve your goals.

Hang in there.
Debby

[naeemah]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Everyone, thank you for your words of inspiration. I do realize that it is a matter of will power and that I have to take it one day, maybe one minute at a time. I am going to give it another try. I have to make my life more important than a cookie. Sounds easy...don't know why its so hard. I will keep posting. Hopefully, that will help keep me on track!

[naeemah]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Thanks Debbie,

The last time around, I went all out. I made burgers (with bread aka oopsie rolls). I did lettuce wraps, amazing omelets, taco salad. I think I just have to have more will power. I have to create a plan of action for when my cravings act up. Another problem is that I feel incredibly thin after two weeks and I always give in to the kiss of death mentality. You know...one bite won't hurt. I guess I have to realize that I am an addict and act like one!

[illy]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

I've started Atkins several times and I am very much like you. I generally lose about 18-19 pounds in the firs two weeks, stall and give up. Phooey. If you're anything like me, it's not so much that the cravings that are hard to resist, it's stalling, getting bummed and THEN giving in to them.

I have a plan this time. I'm basing it on a workout plan I've been seeing on TV. Supposedly, if you change up often, your muscles don't have the chance to get used to what you're doing and the result is that you keep right on losing without a stall. I'm so flippin tired of being tired. And fat. And having this new, nifty thing which my doctor calls, "Moderate high blood pressure" which basically means I am now in the bottom of the range that's just above acceptable. Mine is normally very low.

So I am just getting back into it too. This time, I'm going to try it differently with exercise. Eating clean isn't always enough and exercising the same old way over and over again, well your body gets used to it.

[Outback Jess]

Re: HELP!! I don't know if I can do this...

Hang in there, and just keep working at it, til it clicks.....