Just Why Do People Fail???

[Belle1984]

This might be a question with obvious answers to some (including me, if I think about it!), but I thought that trying to understand WHY and HOW people get to the stage of falling off the wagon, I or we can understand what it takes not to get to ever get to that stage??

What has caused you to fall off the wagon the first time round? What will you do to ensure you dont revisit this behaviour in the future??

I guess it could be looking for ways to manage stress, frustration, stong emotions which impact your ability to succeed on the AD??

[kellymch2006]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

Good one. I quit smoking and gave myself permission to eat EVERTHING. And I did.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

The first time I did Atkins, I let my perception of what "normal living" interfere. I had just started dating my now Husband, and I didn't want to appear "odd" for eating such a different way then him or anyone he knew. Not that he *EVER* said anything...it was ME and my not wanting to be different.

Well, let me tell you....being FAT, no being OBESE, was way more "different" and had far worse of an impact on my impression on others than the way I eat EVER has. When I realized that and decided I wanted true change and decided that I was going to do this the right way....that's what made it work.

[flpooh19701]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

For me, it's self imposed lack of variety and not being prepared. I tend to not think outside the box when it comes to different recipes. Also, I tend to find myself at the end of a day realizing.. oh man, I forgot to defrost dinner" And I am not one to cook up several days worth of dinners. To me, there are few things that actually taste better the day after. The ones I do like are DEFINATELY not compatible with atkins lol. I need to make up a 3 week rotating menu to help with my variety issues..

[zoewmu]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

I think it's a fear of being different for me. I don't want to be the only one not eating cake or smores or ice cream. You have to be ready for that and have strategies to deal with it. I went camping while on induction. Even my DH fell off the wagon (several times) while we were there. I didn't. We were with a friend and I warned her in advance that I was going to stick to my diet while we were there. It was hard, but knowing that I didn't blow it was enough for me. At the end of the weekend, even though she had offered me a smore or ice cream from time to time, she told me she was proud of me for following through. More importantly, I was proud of myself.

I also get burned out by some of the food. There are times I can't stomach another salad or more eggs. But, if that happens, I just don't eat that for a while. I haven't had a salad for at least a week. I've been eating raw salad veggies instead. I've discovered a zucchini/tomato dish that I could eat every day....and I do because I want it. When I get sick of it, I'll stop.

[steady as she goes]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

it was a weird thing for me. firstly, my uncle who I loved very much passed away unexpectedly, and I self medicated with food. that all started when we went to his neck of the woods for the funeral. it was a huge food fest. yeesh.

while I was there, I was bombarded with compliments from relatives I hadn't seen in awhile, and it kind of freaked me out. I just couldn't handle the attention. I didn't realize it at the time (though at the time, I was wishing they'd just be NORMAL instead of gushy), but looking back on it, I was clearly freaked out and not ready for that.

it's a tangled web. LOL!

[TWS]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

As a species we're programmed to find and eat high density foods and add weight for the 'lean times.' In today's world, of course, those lean times never come but our Stone Age metabolisms don't understand that just yet. Add this to all the mis-information about health and diet (from the latest diet craze to Gov'ment recommendtions) plus the overall condition of our food supply and it is a recipe for disaster.

I'm concerned that these next few generations are going to completely overwhelm our health-care system.

TWS

[flpooh19701]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

it was a weird thing for me. firstly, my uncle who I loved very much passed away unexpectedly, and I self medicated with food. that all started when we went to his neck of the woods for the funeral. it was a huge food fest. yeesh.

while I was there, I was bombarded with compliments from relatives I hadn't seen in awhile, and it kind of freaked me out. I just couldn't handle the attention. I didn't realize it at the time (though at the time, I was wishing they'd just be NORMAL instead of gushy), but looking back on it, I was clearly freaked out and not ready for that.

it's a tangled web. LOL!

I completely understand the compliment issue. THAT is something I have noticed about myself as well. IT never failed. I would be doing great and as soon as someone told me how good I was looking I bailed! I seem to be handling it better now but geez! I attribute it to a self destructive streak which I am hopefully out of !

[momtomany1]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

Lack of preparation.

Think about it, we have to be always prepared. The right foods have to be available, so we have to plan our grocery trips. There is little you can do 'last minute' on Atkins unless you want to live on eggs and canned tuna. As one member blogged, it sort of becomes a 'religion' in your life, you devote a lot of time to it. If something else steals away enough of you time and attention, you will fall off. Once you do, the old carb cravings assert themselves and it gets tough.

No on plans to fail, just fails to plan.

[buddysgirl50]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

HI, My name is Hilda and I am new to this board. I have been reading through some of the posts and just had to comment here. I started Atkins in May and lost only 5 pounds from then until July. I was getting very frustrated and along came my first excuse..Hubby's birthday. Well down went the cake,ice cream and hot dogs buns and all..that was the start of a 2 week stampede on anything sweet.
Well I have figured out that if I only lost that much then the Atkins way was not working..Looking back on it I am sure it was probably me not working, Granted my meds don't help but I am going to follow the diet so close I will get eye strain from the book..
Today is the first day of my new life and will be from now on..Imay only be able to walk due to Cardiomyopathy but I will just do more of it then..
Hilda

[Belle1984]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

I think its particularly hard when you decide to take something on such as a new way of eating or regular exercise and are so determined to succeed that you sort of overwhelm yourself soo much that suddenly 'cave-in' on the slightest misfortune, fat-day(!), compliment, bad-spell etc

Another thing which really gets me, is when family or most often 'friends' who decide to question you about your choice to change, say that theyre pleased for you but then offer you wine/alcohol or 'bad' foods when you've already stated that you just dont want it! What is with that??

I think boredom or stress leads me to eating something (or many things in one go!) that im trying to avoid! I guess its a case of trying to control your mood as and when it occurs and learning to recognise that you need to find an alternative way of handling yourself at those moments in time.
When or if you cheat, its also important not too go over-board with yourself, not to go crazy and eat more thinking theres no return or mentally torture yourself for one little error. Have to write it off and get back on track the very next day

[kellyf48]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

Stress definately!!!!!!!

[Lulubell]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

in my case, it's because i'm an addict. a sweets addict, to be more precise. every time i have lost it, it was because i could not resist a slice of cake or some good chocolate.

and here's my advice: DO NOT be tempted to make sugar-free sweets a simple substitute for the regular sweets you ate previously. this does not work. you must cut it out completely in the first weeks and then gradually introduce them (if you must have them). i have made this mistake several times now, and i'm still right where i started.

this time around, i have gone sweet-free. and that includes splenda in my decaf coffee and decaf tea.

[kirbychristian]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

I'm right there with Lulubell...total sweets addict.

And I hate dieting...that doesn't help either!

[sincub]

Re: Just Why Do People Fail???

The first time, I had lost 80 pounds, felt and looked great, and then... snagged a boyfriend I thought was really hot (at the time - he's an ex now!). I got a little too comfortable and started making bad choices, and eventually I was just gaining like crazy.

The second time, I was going strong until I lost my job and couldn't afford many groceries for awhile. I was eating the ramen I found in the back of my pantry, etc. Now I'm teaching myself how to eat low carb but not spend lots of money - last week I bought a whole chicken for the first time ever, and then used the remnants to make chicken broth (also for the first time ever! I feel so domestic!). Now I think I can weather a financial storm and stick to my diet at the same time, should the need ever arise.