Bad Low carb Habits

[LC_Dave]

What I've found most challenging to get going again, is that I slip into bad low carb habits.

Eating, that is contrary to the guidelines.

Does anyone else find it hard the second time around to abandon bad low carb habits?

(Ie. like eating nuts after lunch and having energy drinks (low carb ones))

[Skeptika23]

Re: Bad Low carb Habits

I'm actually finding it easier this time, because I know the rules better, I understand where I'm going, and I make fewer mistakes.

[fetch]

Re: Bad Low carb Habits

Hello, Dave. Welcome back.

All I have to say is - YES. And it was too, too easy to fall into the fallacy of "Hey, I'm eating low carb and I know what I'm doing because I've done it before" to justify it. I looked at several months of diet journal on FitDay from Spring-Fall 2007 before cleaning up my account and it was like "ah durr...and I was REALLY stumped as to why I wasn't losing weight back then?!?!?! No wonder why!!"

To be honest, I also listened to and tried waaaayyyyy too much low carb "fad" and "troubleshooting" being touted by well respected members of the low carb forum communities and blogs. I know you know what I'm talking about. I think these boards are wonderful to try to help people struggling with the plan and to just pass the time and socialize a bit but make no mistake - they can definitely be double-edged swords.

It's taken me almost three years, but I think I've finally got it and my head sorted out. So far, so good. May you find the same. I'd suggest you log off, re-read Atkins, follow it to the letter, dump putting anything into your mouth that Dr. Atkins didn't expressly write was okay and use the boards only for their wonderful moral support and recipe ideas, not plan ideas or tweak ideas unless you become truly and utterly, hopelessly, stalled. For months and months. If climbing the rungs and re-reading and applying the appropriate chapters don't do the trick.

[Barb1965]

Re: Bad Low carb Habits

I think my past low carb bad habit was Alcohol, but it was Michelob Ultra Light, only 2.5 carbs per bottle I'd tell myself. But it didn't really matter when I'd drink 12 of them and then want something on my stomach before going to bed that wasn't low carb. But I've given it up completely this go round and will be extremely careful when I get to that rung if I don't skip it all together.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Bad Low carb Habits

I had a lot of bad habits the first time around cause I thought I could do this WOE my own way. Boy was I wrong and that made falling off the wagon easier. I thought I could have a little bread, a little pasta, rice and alcohol here and there and be fine, especially because I was still losing weight... for a while. Then I hit a stall and injured myself and it was up downhill (or uphill?) from there.

This time around, what has helped me the most is tracking everything I eat in fit day, especially net carbs. I know if I cheat, I have to track it and see it and know that it is slowing my weight loss.

So my goal is to make it through each day without cheating. What helps is to not be hungry that I am tempted and to know what my trigger foods and situations are. And the longer I do this, the less I'm tempted as I like my progress and knowing I can turn down things that might sabotage me. It's still not easy sometimes however.

[adreliluc]

Re: Bad Low carb Habits

YES!! I'm finding it hard to not have low-carb foods I was able to have on the rungs.
A lot of it is habit, I just grab and don't even think about it. Like sf Redbull.
sigh!!
It'll get easier... and if not, soon enough I know I'll be able to add some of this stuff back in. But we gotta get back there first...

[hu11aba1oo2]

Re: Bad Low carb Habits

I'm with Skeptika, I'm actually finding it easier this time around to avoid carbs as I'm more knowledgeable about this WOE. I also did it wrong last time, I didn't pay as much attention to where my carbs were coming from as long as I was under that 20g mark. This time I'm making sure that I'm getting most of my carbs from veggies. Having said that, I'm just two days in, ask me again next week!

And Barb, I'm with you on the alcohol. Because I will be burning the alcohol before fat, it doesn't matter if it is low carb, I'm just going to avoid it all together. And you're right, get enough low carb beers in me and my judgement goes right out the window, Lord only knows what I will find to eat after a tipsy night out on the town!