Help me to START!

[DAA]

My weight is out of control since my dad passed away. I am now 230. I was 170. I say every day im going to start. I east salad, yogurt and whole grain foods. but its not working. I know depression causes me to eat but im starting to hate myself now. I read the books but I just need that push to start. how to I start now, what do I take for lunch to work?

[Miss Phode]

DAA, I've walked in your shoes. My dad passed away, at a very young age, very unexpectedly 6 years ago. I have literally gained 100 pounds since his death. I was using food to stuff down the bad feelings, instead of coping with them. Problem is, I still don't know how to deal with those feelings. I talked to my doctor about my problem, and she gave me some pills. I started taking those, and I became numb, and felt non-existant. I was without emotion. I dropped out of school (college), entered into an unhealthy relationship with a guy that had serious emotional, drinking and drug problems. He also had lost someone very close to him, but used drugs and alcohol, instead of food to deal with it. I also began to hate myself, and my behavior became self-destructive. After several months of this, I quit taking the pills, and broke up with my nightmare boyfriend, and made an honest effort to make changes. Clean up my act.

And I realized, for the first time, that it's OK. It's OK, and normal, to feel, sad, angry, lonely. When we lose someone we love, we look for a remedy to block the pain, instead of working thru it.

Please don't let it go as long as I did before you do something about it. Seek counseling. I wish I had done that a long time ago.

Think about your dad. Wouldn't he be sad to know how much you're suffering Wouldn't he want you to be happy, and healthy? Of course you miss him. I still cry over losing my father. I still think it wasn't fair. I still wonder if I had gotten to his house just a little sooner, if I could have saved him. But I can't die, because he did. I have to go on living. That's what he would want for me.

Good luck. :hug

[G-Mom]

Re: Help me to START!

My weight is out of control since my dad passed away. I am now 230. I was 170. I say every day im going to start. I east salad, yogurt and whole grain foods. but its not working. I know depression causes me to eat but im starting to hate myself now. I read the books but I just need that push to start. how to I start now, what do I take for lunch to work?

Your current plan doesn't have nearly enough protein, which is one reason low-fat/low-cal plans result in muscle mass loss.

What you need to do for lunch is pack two separate containers, one with 1 1/2 cups salad veggies and one with grilled chicken breast (or any other non-deli meat you like with salad). Then, I suggest about three small fresh broccoli flowerettes with low carb/high fat Ranch dressing for dipping. Also include a high fat dressing that is zero or only 1g carb per serving for the salad.

For dinner, a steak with 1 1/2 cup salad veggies, and the remainder of 1 cup other veggies would do it.

After a bit, forming a menu will be like second nature for you. Check the recipe section. This is making me hungry...I actually CRAVE low carb foods, yum!

[Finelly]

The real key here is to pre-plan. Do not wake up in the morning and tell yourself you are starting Atkins!

Here are some tips:

1. Check out the recipes section and also the sticky about what foods are allowed. Select at least 5 things that you are willing to try.

2. Go to the grocery store and stock up on ONLY the allowed foods. You'll quickly find, after a few trips, that you have a set of "stock" items you always keep around, plus new things to use in new recipes.

3. Plan tomorrow's meals today. This doesn't mean you can't be flexible, but have a general idea of what main meals you are going to eat the following day.

4. Make sure that you have plenty of high fat, high protein snacks around. I always have in my fridge:

- olives
- broccoli and ranch dressing
- cheese
- devilled eggs
- salami or some other meat product
- sugar-free black cherry jello blended with cream cheese and allowed to set.

5. Read everything on this message section (14-day) and post daily. You will find that it is highly motivating and that EVERYONE ends up having the same concerns! AND you will see the amazing successes!

The first three days are the hardest, because you aren't in the habit of eating the proper foods. However, you SHOULD start to feel less bloated and more energetic fairly quickly and the pounds and inches will start to slide off in no time!

Started Atkins again 6/20/05
218/218/140
I exercised yesterday and will again today!
No weighing or measuring for 2 weeks.