How many fails does it take till success?

[slowjam]

Hey guys. its been awhile since ive been on this site. I was doin atkins induction for 11 days which is the longest i have ever followed a diet ( i kno, kinda sad) and been in control of my weight. I feel off after a night and vowed that the next day i would start over.. but then the next day i would eat perfectly for breakfast, lunch, and come dinner time i would cheat or crave something and fall off again. this has been a continuing vicious circle...

.. i was wondering how many times it take a person to fail before they can finally do what they are determined to do?

I also wanted to know if anyone is having the same issue with me, as they promise themselves they are goin to go cheat free and manage all the way till dinner time then fall off..

any ideas, comments or advice is greatly appreciated. I really wanna get thru this

[blueberrylady]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

I have that problem too and it's plagued me all my life! I find that it's a habit of eating around that time that started when I was in school. I went home and started eating. Then it was with my kids when they got home and it's so hard to break free of. But I find that if I schedule my exercise at that time, it's much easier to stay in control.

Habits can be broken with alot of persistance and planning. Planning is the key because you have to be prepared for the cravings that strike at a certain time and just do something to take your mind off of them until they go away. I hope this helps. Good luck!

[Milliesman]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

This was my fear when I started this again. I love bread. I love pasta. I love pizza. I love pancakes. Rich, starchy high carb foods make me feel all warm and fuzzy. One day, I just got tired of it. Sleep apnea, the getting winded walking up a flight of stairs, not being able to fit a pair of jeans under a size 48. On Jan 14th of this year, I decided I was tired of not being what I wanted to be. I pledged that nothing NOTHING! would stand in my way this time. I planned ahead. I cooked my own food. I looked up recipies that were easy and delicious, but mostly filling. I cook more now than I ever did. I looked for inspiration that this diet will work for me. After about a week with no cheating, I stopped craving the stuff I was craving. I stopped being hungry. I had more energy. What I'm saying is this: You've got to reach WAY down and grab those marbles and PUSH BACK! Get angry about it. Cry about it. Do what ever it takes, but don't let your enemy push you back if this is what you really, really want. If not, have a pizza. Good luck to you and post often.

[tfek70]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

What I never did before, besides succeeding, is become a daily poster. I get so much strength from everyone here that it's easy to stay motivated. It's not about letting myself down, but my friends here. There are so many people that I draw strength and inspiration from here that don't even know how important they are in my life. If you are a daily poster, someone probably feels the same way about you. We are in this together. In the Navy we have a saying that applies here:

One screw, One crew. This means that while the ship may have only one propeller (screw), if it stops turning, everyone is literally in the same boat. It takes everyone to maintain the ship.

Also, since I've been back this time I have had pizza and pancakes. Linda's low carb site has recipes for the foods you love and didn't think you could eat. Just be careful not to over indulge in legal foods (way guilty) The first time I made Linda's low carb deep dish pizza, I did eat the whole thing and it knocked me right out of ketosis. I know now that since it's a trigger food for me that I have to cut the recipe in half and it's an easy day.

I guess my point is this: Draw strength from this group, we are plenty strong. Give strength back to the group when you can. Know your limits. And keep in touch.

T. J.

[AlaskaGirl]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

Many times?

I have failed for various reason's that do not matter. I am the one who allows it. What I learned from the last time was you have to be prepared. If you are know that you are going to want to cheat make sure that you have legal stuff on hand and when you are tempted grab the legal stuff.

I like the never ending induction recipe's http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...recipes-5.html

Linda's Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home

I look through them daily to keep myself from getting bored and give myself ideas.

Julie

[cpb0214]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

Hi Everyone! What a great group-this is try 4 or 5 for me... don't even remember. I am one of those people who would sit in a weight watcher's meeting and get dirty looks-like people thought I was joking to be there. I am 5'7 and 43 years old. From the time I was 21 (that freshman 15 was my first experience with weight gain)...I have weighed between 125 and 170. I only got up to 170 once, and it was a really low point in my life after a divorce. Once I lost weight from 170, I had stayed between 125 and 148... That 20 pound Yo Yo for the past 10 plus years. I prefer to be really lean and 125... Starving and the unhealthy 1 meal a day was easier to do in my 30's. I found I could really use my will power and lose the 10 or 15 pounds in a matter of a month or so. Long story short, at 43, it doesn't work anymore and I want to enjoy eating and a new lifestyle. My husband is awesome, he says I am beautiful at any weight (he NEVER saw 170 on me!), but I got on the scale last week at 148 and wanted to cry. Eating whatever I wanted and dessert always after dinner out! The madness had to stop! Now I am stuck with the reality that my body has been worn out and I am dedicating myself to this diet as I plan to have a surgery in the next 2 months. I have consulted for a breast lift- and for the men out there... I have to say too, my husband thinks I need my head examined. When you have weight gain and loss, it takes its toll on the female anatomy in ways I never expected. I want to wear a bikini again and not feel like I am a sagging old person. I want to wear pretty lingerie and feel pretty again. Thank God I am not that large (34C) and the cosmetic surgery consults I have had told me that it should be a simple lift-nothing major... I don't want implants at all, just to be back where I was when I was a younger person! Try taking all of your clothes off in front of a doctor and having him mark up your breasts with a pen and push them around... That is humbling! Then they take photos! What a wake up call!!! I am motivated this time to hit my target weight so I can have this surgery and stay at my ideal weight-or I should say, ideal for me... I weighed in yesterday and have actual;ly lost 2 pounds and am wide awake now at 4:50 a.m.- that, I believe is the effect of the carb dump! I am unable to eat the Atkins bars as they sabotage induction for me. I e-mailed Atkins and they told me there was absolutely no reason why I should not be able to have a bar once a day... I felt they didn't listen to me, or invalidated me-like I was mistaken. I instead joined this forum as you are all so supportive! My pre-surgery goal is 130, so 16 pounds to go. Induction this time will be -different for me... No McDonald's. That too I think was a deal breaker as I was having egg mcmuffins and double cheeseburgers without the bread and plain... Maybe the salt? So I am looking for recipes to stay in induction and not get bored-mornings and sweet cravings are the worst about 4 p.m. Want to wait a few more days and see if i ever get into Ketosis...Just as a Guide. Good luck to everyone and again, this is a great source of support! Thanks!!!

[Lisa]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

.. i was wondering how many times it take a person to fail before they can finally do what they are determined to do?

I also wanted to know if anyone is having the same issue with me, as they promise themselves they are goin to go cheat free and manage all the way till dinner time then fall off..

any ideas, comments or advice is greatly appreciated. I really wanna get thru this

I'm from that boat of "if at first you don't succeed....try try again"...and sometimes the try gets very "trying" but when you know it works after "doing", you just have to find the bottom of your soul and get back into the game. It's a challenge to make changes and stick to the changes, but it's worth the challenge!

[cpb0214]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

Lisa- I know you will make your goal weight! We both will>>>>>

[judyintn]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

I'm with tfek70. Posting here every day gives me a sense of accountability to you all, which helps me stay on track. It's also interesting to see how others are succeeding and have weight stalls. Everyone who sticks with it is losing, and that is encouraging!! This works. Only you can make up your mind to do this, but if you decide to stick with it, we are all here for you!

[Carb Addict]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

I have heard the saying that where you focus your attention is where all your energy goes! If you are focusing on how many times you have started and then re-started, you are feeding that fire and taking all the energy away from making this a way of life for you! Sorry if I sound tough, but I got to the point where I was pretty disgusted with myself and had a lot of self-loathing -it began to consume me! I figured that that was going to be the sum total of the rest of my life. Not a real great future, was it?

A friend of mine would not allow me to pity party and encouraged me to get going. Atkins is not a diet - it is a moment by moment decision to eat in a way that makes you and your wellbeing the focus and priority! It is not about the pounds so much as believing that you are worth it! Don't live in yesterday-- get going! Take the first step and focus on what your new YOU will feel like, look like and even radiate! Read everything you can about people who have had success - it will motivate you! Get posting on these boards - its a great community of accountability! Choose to fill your mind with good and positive things! You really can do this! You just have to love yourself enough to start fresh!

[shaunawa]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

Slowjam.... from this and many posts you will find that you are not alone. We have all been there. And I will be the first to say that after work, high carb foods are dangerous for me.

I was good ALL day and then I would come home and things would start to call my name. I would eventually break down and give in to the temptations.

So, you need to clean house... get rid of the temptations. If you were an addict trying to stop drinking or doing drugs you wouldn't keep a full supply in your cupboard. The same goes for the carbs - get rid of them.

Next, I have found that I need to keep busy. Of course after a hard day at work we all just want to come home and veg on the couch...but then the muchies start to kick in. Start an exercise program...find something to do with yourself. Dream of a carb free supper for you and your family.

You can do it... we are right here waiting to help you get through those first few days..those are the hardest and then it gets easier. Just one day at a time - give yourself a gold star... just one day, and then the next and then the next. Soon induction will just be a after thought & so will the lbs. you have lost.
Shauna

[cpb0214]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

Has anyone tried this Shiela's mock pumpkin cheesecake? It says induction friendly, but I didn't think Pumpkin or cream cheese for that matter were allowed on induction? It is on her website as induction friendly and she seems to know her stuff the old school Atkins way.

[CrystalAnn777]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

I've always found that a few days before then 14 day mark on induction...about day 11...the urge to cheat gets EXTREMELY strong. I don't know if this is boredom kickin' in, or just my inner "carb addict" making a last ditch attempt to convince me that I really, REALLY just need carbs!

And once the cheat happens...the cravings are back in full force. Hang in there...you'll make it. If you can just get through the 14 days of induction, it gets SO much easier after that. The temptation is never gone-My 1000 times on and off the diet are proof of that! But it does get easier.

It helps me to think, when I really want to cheat, that the wonderful thing that I *think* I need right then will be gone the minute I've scarfed it down. I've always found that the very first thing I cheat with is the best...after that, it's just eating. Once that wonderful first moment is gone, it takes a LOT of work to get back to where I was. To talk myself down off of it, and just decide it's not worth it...an hour later, I'm so proud of myself, so glad I didn't cheat.

Also, to decide THIS SECOND that I'm not cheating again. This means I've gotten back on the wagon at lunch time before, after a carb filled breakfast. THIS is the moment when I'm going to be cheat-free. Not tomorrow. There is no "I blew it for the day, so I'll just eat whatever."

It's not easy to break a lifetime of habits (that's an understatement). Don't feel like a failure. I know this sounds like some inspirational, cheesy book author, but...tell yourself that you are not a failure. Form this moment on...you're succeeding!

[josie2]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

You've got to reach WAY down and grab those marbles and PUSH BACK! Get angry about it.

I love that! You have to do this for you! We can't do it for you, we can only support you and understand when you do fall off of the wagon. Just don't stay off the wagon, jump right back on and after time you will stay on it longer and longer, and hopefully one day never fall off!

[Desertthorn]

Re: How many fails does it take till success?

Me too, I would start out strong in the am and then by dinner something else would temp me, but I kept on trying til I had a full day cheat free behind me, the next came easier, and easier.