why is this so hard????

[honeychild08]

I'm almost through one week of induction, but it definitely hasn't been completely clean. I'm having the hardest time staying away from splenda packets and diet coke, as well as too much cheese I don't feel like i'm losing any inches at all, and i think it's because my carbs have definitely been over 20/day.

Did anyone else have troubles like this??? What do I do? Just try again, and try harder? Cut cheese and splenda out altogether?? Fat fast for a few days?? I hate being fat but I can't give up caffeine. I'm in law school and it's just not an option I'm so discouraged, please advise me!! thanks so much in advance, all advice is appreciated!!

[cypressgirl]

Re: why is this so hard????

You aren't trying again.. You are just continuing to try! You haven't wasted a week, you have made significant changes! It does not happen overnight. Everyone here has gone through what you are feeling right now. We are human. Just keep putting one change together with another and they will add up to success.

Try not to look at it as a mountain you have to climb or some huge effort that lies before you. That puts way too much pressure on you and encourages failure. Some might not agree with me saying this but here goes anyway..If you really for whatever reason feel like you can not give up diet coke, start by setting a limit. If you currently drink x number of sodas per day, reduce it down to a lower number. i would say to stick with your atrificial sweetener limit and have no more than 3 cans a day. As you accomplish that, be proud of your self and move down to two. Just set goals that you can achieve and don't look back after you reach them. Head up, be proud, keep on truckin'!

It is hard only because we tell ourselves it is hard. That mindset is what got most of us here to begin with. Just concentrate on the core Atkins principles and get as close to a clean Induction as you can..Closer and closer every day. As you see and feel the results you will find it easier.

Once your new energy kicks in from detoxing your body, you will most likely find it is better than any caffeine you ever had. And just think, when you get out of school and into practice, won't you look and feel hot arguing your case in front of the judge and jury!

[sombersusie]

Re: why is this so hard????

well you're right! all of the above could be doing it. I'd try cutting down on the splenda and limit your caffiene to two or less per day. Grab some extra water bottles to help when you're thirsty.
It's way to soon to be thinking about a fat fast. Try to cut down on the rest of the stuff and give your body a chance to catch up.

[Angseu]

I had to cut out any sweetness at all. I didn't have Splenda, diet pop, or cheese. I know where my weaknesses lie and decided to avoid them completely.

It was hard, but it really did help.

I should add that I have added them back in during my 3rd week and haven't had any problems yet.

[honeychild08]

Re: why is this so hard????

thanks for the encouragement... i'm going to keep trying, cut out the cheese (i'm just not buying it for now) and try to just do 3 max diet cokes a day--- i know this seems like a lot, but to me it's nothin, so it will definitely be a good goal and if i can do it, something to be proud of!!

[apopson]

Re: why is this so hard????

I think that this is the hardest thing ever! I wish you the best though. Really! Really!

[coitrina]

Re: why is this so hard????

I see you only have 21lbs to lose. I started out only needing 25lbs. So, either you are almost at the weight you want to be, or that is a mini goal. I am assuming that 21lbs is all you want to lose. If that's the case, take me for a good example. I have been on this WOL for 2 months and 2 days, and I have lost 7-9lbs..depending on what I wanted to put down for my start weight. I will guage about 9. That seems like a long time to lose 9lbs compared to some of the people on here that lose that in the first 2 weeks. Just remember, if you do everything RIGHT <including cutting back on your splenda consumption> you will lose. Don't be discouraged too quickly..I lost 1lb my first 2 weeks of induction. GL!!! Don't give up!
PS: I see you said you *think* you are going over 20 grams of carbs. Well, put EVERYTHING you eat into your fitday. You can sign up @ fitday.com It's easy as pie, and will calculate your percentages for you. I tell ya what...I do everything right, and don't lose at a rapid pace. If you don't do it right, you may not lose at all. You can do it!!!!!!!! I am also a diet coke drinker..but I limmited myself to diet in the morning, and diet in the afternoon. My husband is a daily coffee drinker <mornings> and has split it up between regular and decaf. He has lost 27lbs, so it doesn't affect EVERYONE but only you will know if you don't get control of it.

[tabekat]

Re: why is this so hard????

I can't give up caffeine

Caffeine isn't helping you with law school. The blood spikes are deadly and keep you moody and constantly craving futher false stimulation.

Caffeine gives you a false high then it drops you even lower. Over and over again. It is so unhealthy for the blood and for the body.

You will find that if you give caffeine up completely in a few days you will be on an even keel again and you will feel so much better. Coffee was hard for me to give up too, but it was also the most rewarding.

Drink decaf and rejoice!

How you speak to yourself is everything. Eat and stay full and tell yourself "Loving myself the Atkins way is easy, easy, easy to do." And it is.

[artangel]

Re: why is this so hard????

Hey honeychild08,
I'm starting again for the second time, and also am tending to go off/over the limit. One thing that helped was getting a good decaf coffee.
artangel

[sunflowergrl]

Re: why is this so hard????

You CAN give up caffeine!! You can do it!! You will have more energy on this WOL than coffee and diet coke ever gave you!!! It may be why you are having a hard time sticking to the plan. Just give it a try, and I think you will be very happy you did! Keep working, keep trying, its totally worth it!

[donkey23]

Re: why is this so hard????

Try Sprite Zero (aka Diet Sprite). At least there is no caffeine. I am not sure if the sweetener is great for you or not, but you might get the soda taste in your brain.

[Moochiecat]

Re: why is this so hard????

If the soda contains aspartame it's not allowed as per DANDR.
Have you read this sticky about artificial sweeteners? It might help you understand where your addiction to sweets is coming from.
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=5922

And yes, to echo what everyone else has said, you CAN live without caffiene....it's just the caffiene addiction talking when you say you can't do without it.

Another way of looking at sweetener, soda and coffee is from a nutritional standpoint. Ask yourself what they are doing for you in terms of assisting your weight loss.
There's a lot of mental adjustment that comes along with Atkins...and it can take time to wrap our brains around a new way of thinking when it comes to food.

I found that when I ditched the caf coffee and went to decaf I still have the same excitement for my morning cup as I ever did....it's the ritual of it all that I enjoy the most. Someone mentioned to get a really tasty decaf and I agree.