New member, crying with disappointed, the golden shot

[Kathi22]

Hello everyone. I am new to this board, but not new to Atkins. I started in June 2003 and lost 93 pounds in a year and a half. I have been the go to girl for low carbing and have been under the watchful eyes of everyone as I melt away. I stuck to induction for 8 straight months!!!

Well I had my big wedding 6 months ago and my splurging honeymoon...to only lead to this:

I have been "off plan" for 6 months now, since my wedding day, and have gained back 45 of the 93 lost. I am disgusted with myself, I am depressed, and I am simply scared that I ruined everything.

I feel today like I did the weekend before I started Atkins in 2003. Sad, fat, and feeling there is no hope. Here I am, almost 2 years later and only down 48 pounds because I failed myself. I called Atkins Nutritional Center and explained my situation. I explained that I yo-yo'd when promised to never yo-yo again. I was mentally with it - healthy food and healthy living- and I allowed myself to use my wedding as an excuse to splurge, then never bounced back.

The rep at Atkins explained I WILL still have results and getting back on the wagon will STILL keep me healthy. BUT, I will most likely not lose weight as fast as I did the first time because I damaged my metabolism by falling off the wagon. I am OK with slower weight loss, as long as I didn't ruin my chance at being healthy.

I am ashamed, disgusted, and just down about this. Today I started over, hoping to lose what I gained back by the end of the summer. I will need a lot of support. I hope to get the support here without being bashed for being a yo-yoer. I promised myself today, and my husband, that nothing tastes as good as thin feels, and being healthy is a goal for me and for our future.

:no
Kathi

[ChixRule]

Congrats on making the decision to get back on Atkins! I did Atkins about 4 years ago, lost 50 lbs within 3 months, and then fell off the wagon. I not only managed to gain back the 50, but an additional 25. Many times during the past 4 years, I would start back on Atkins, only to quit a few days later. I finally made the decision back in December that I was gonna do it this time.

About the slower weight loss... I have found this to be true in my case. It took me 4 1/2 months to lose 50 lbs this time. Of course there are other factors... I'm almost 5 years older, my metabolism is probably slower, and I don't exercise as much as I did the first time. So, I'm partially to blame. But I've decided that this isn't a race. This is pretty much the way I'm gonna eat the rest of my life. Even though I haven't lost as much as I would have liked, I definitely look and feel much better.

So... don't beat yourself up! It could have been MUCH worse. At least it didn't take you 4 years to wise up!

Good luck!!!

[tickletussler]

Hi Kathi,

Have you read this excellent discussion on the "One Golden Shot"?

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=69443

Have a read of this, because it discusses the article and by the looks of it, it seems not all of us are subjected to the "one golden shot"

However, I can say that as we get older, our bodies aren't going to behave the same way as we did when we were younger. Even in DANDR, it specifies that we may have lost those 20lbs more easily when we were younger, and it may be harder the second time round, but it is still very feasible.

Cheers.

[Peytonn]

HECK.. I know you feel bad... but just think.. you've STILL got less to lose than ME!!!

and only about 1/2 what you had to lose the first time!

(and besides... sometimes I actually enjoyed myself while I was getting fat)... not as much as I will when I'm thin again... but don't beat yourself up


Welcome HOME :icondance

[Kathi22]

Thank you all so much. I feel my spirits lifting already! The strange thing is, people tell me I look the same. I guess I gained it all back in the belly. I see a big difference, to the bad, but I hope to see it to the good in a few months. I will defintely utilize this board and all of your great spirits.

Getting happier...

[cleochatra]

The Golden Shot doesn't apply to everyone. I've lost and gained hundreds of pounds (literally), and I still lost 100 pounds in 7 months, even though I'm 5 yrears older than the last time I lost 120 pounds.

Yes, results will vary from person to person, but one golden shot is only a theory and doesn't necessarily pertain to everyone for obvious reasons.

You'll do it to it.

You just have to have faith and jump back on the wagon.

It all comes down to this in the end: Even if the loss is slightly slower, you're on this WOE for life anyway!

[not2late]

Agree with Cleo and the Atkins Rep: you will lose weight. But you might not get the same immediate results you did the first time around. Soooo...

This just means you will have to work harder at your Atkins this time: count your carbs, measure your foods, exercise, drink your water, take your vitamins, etc.

Kathi, you're not alone in regaining after going off. You're especially not alone in terms of the folks who stayed on Induction for an extended period in order to lose weight "quickly", then regained once they got goal. The four phases are there for a purpose: Dr. Atkins said that the folks who go through the phases have a better chance of keeping the weight off because they learned about their bodies and how to maintain their weight----from what I've seen around here the successful 'Lifers' are the ones who did the phases. You might want to seriously consider "moving on to OWL" after your Induction.

[Kathi22]

WOW Cleochatra, you look great!!

Thanks for the advice and thoughts.

[Kathi22]

Not2late-

I am wondering the same thing. I never truly moved into the second phase, and I need a re-read on DANDR.

Thanks!

[casash]

Hello, Please forgive my english, I am from Guatemala, so I speak spanish. Well you have lots of things to be happy... you have a handsome husband a new family...so why are you going to destroy all these ?? So you gain some pounds, well go back to the induction phase, promise your self that you are going to do it, and stop crying and saying you are disgusting.... common. If you believe in yourself you have the half of the way... Please keep going and show us pictures of your wedding maybe when you see yourself you will realize how pretty you are. I hope to hear from you next time happy and motivated.

[Isabeau]

Hi and welcome! The thing that struck me about your post is how you said you want to be healthy. In my opinion, that's what it's all about! Forget the numbers on the scales. Eat your Atkins, drink your water, come here for support and have an exercise plan and you will feel yourself becoming healthier each and every day. I know you can do this with us!

[tabekat]

welcome home

Kathi welcome back. :hug

I don't buy into theories that limit me.
I determine my destiny, no one else.
In my opinion, attitude is everything.
If you believe going back to Atkins will be harder, it will.

If you believe this is where you want to be, and resolve to
be happy in this way of life, I see no reason why things
need to be difficult for you.

Your body may be confused. It is entirely appropriate to
give your body more time to adjust this 2nd time around.
Extra time is a good thing - there are many levels of discovery
on the Atkins journey, and weight loss is only one of those levels.

Above all, stop berating yourself. You are not disgusting -
you simply have a carb addiction. We all do. Thats why
we are here. You aren't alone.

So put the blame back where it belongs, and free yourself from
high carbs for good. Those extra pounds will soon vanish.

[Kathi22]

Thanks gang! I woke up feeling good, then getting dressed for work I had to skip past all my "thinner" clothes and all that did was sadden me. At first I was down, and my husband came in and told me I am doing what I can to fix it and he will help...I then became aggravated that I am having this weight problem again, a problem I though would no longer interfere with my life and happiness. I am angry now, not sad, and when I am angry I kick butt LOL. I have realized my mistake and I am correcting it, I can only go forward from here. :yes

[FightingTheFight]

I don't buy into theories that limit me.

Now that is a great quote!


Golden shot didn't apply to me either, I lost more weight this time on induction than last time, but I also uped my exercise quite abit this time around.

Then again I am a male in my twenties...so my metabolisim is probally alot different.