Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

[I Am So Fly]

I just wanted to share that I'm considering going off Atkins.

I've been on a few weeks. I lost weight, put back on a bit of the water weight, and am still losing. But, it doesn't feel like anything miraculous (I lost 40 pounds at the beginning of the year counting calories and exercising).

I'm exercising, planning my meals, and everything but I'm starting to feel like I'm very limited for no good reason. I think that any diet/lifestyle would work for me if it's realistic and I stick to it. And, I always feel more energized and healthy when I'm exercising.

I don't think I can make this a lifestyle. What will I do when I'm traveling and the only thing that available at times is beans and rice and the only purified water comes in the form of regular coke and beer? I can't just eat cabbage for months on end.

Has anyone else had doubts even though everything was going fine?

[sadie147]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

Have you moved onto OWL? I'm assuming you haven't since you are posting in the extended induction forum. If you are feeling limited I highly recommend you start adding foods from the OWL ladder.

I am in now maintanence and I eat a wide variety of foods, fruits, starchy veggies, whole grain breads, popcorn, yogurt, nuts, etc in moderation. I can eat up to 100g's of carbs a day while exercising regularily.

I have learned how my body/blood sugars react to different foods, portion control, and how to overcome emotional eating. I do not feel at all deprived. I learned not long after I started that this is not a diet, this is my lifetime way of healthy eating.

I'm not sure if you have read the book, if you have not I really recommend you do so you understand the entire way of eating.

Maybe it's not for you, if so I wish you the best in whatever way of eating you choose.

[Lisa M]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

Keep on thing in mind...Atkins is a way of eating for life, not a diet that you can jump on and off to expect miracles to occur with fat just flowing out of your body like the river Jordan.

That being said....

Yep, there's times in my life that I think I could do better than this but then I realize my "better" is the emotional attachement I have with food that I think I "can't" have. It's the emotional attachement we have with comfort foods because we think we're limited..and we're really not.

If you travel a lot, plan ahead. If you have to be away from the house, plan ahead. Ice coolers, hotel conserage (those people who bend over backwards for a buck to help you), and resturants you visit. They will ALL accomodate people who are diabetics and have sugar intolerances. All you have to do is plan ahead and speak up

Are you reading more about the OWL rungs of this way of eating? Don't forget to think outside the box. Trust me I wouln't eat cabbage every day or for months on end either...my stomach would surely hollar at me! lol.

If you're losing weight and enjoying life, it sounds like you're doing a great job then. If you need to change things up a bit, start working the rungs of OWL.

Hope this helps!

Best wishes on your journey!

[Twilight]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

Induction is super hard. But you won't be eating the way you are eating forever. Once you start OWL and climb up the rungs of Atkins success, you'll find it much easier to contemplate doing this for the rest of your life.

You have to understand, you can't just "diet" and then go back to eating how you used to eat. Any eating change you make has to be a lifestyle change. Or else, you'll just gain all the weight back.

One of the benefits of Atkins is that you learn self-control. Like Sadie said, you add more and more different types of food, but in moderation.

But ultimately, what you do and how you eat is your choice. But consider how amazingly some people have done before you consider quitting.

Good luck with your decision!
Tori

[2big4mysize]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

I'm confused you had lost over 11 pounds on day 6 which was jjust 10 days ago. what happened? you finished your induction 2 days ago and did what?
are you reading your DANDR and seeing all the food you can add back in OWL the more veegies they nuts the seeds the fruits the legumes the fresh dairy and the grains or did you move to extended induction?

One thing you will notice different with your Atkins weight loss is you don't lose lean body mass like on low cal plans which means you lose more stored body fat for each pound you shed.

what are you doing as thhe exercise part of your plan?

[I Am So Fly]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

I'm doing 30 minutes of tae bo in the morning before work and walking/jogging/dancing for 30 minutes in the evening five days a week.

I think what set me off is knowing that I'll be going back to Central America (no Hiltons, concierges, running water, and supermarkets) for about six months. If I were traveling just in the US, Europe, or Asia it could probably work.

I'd better just cut portions, cut calories/fat, and excercise in order not to be doomed.

This is a great board, thanks for all of your feedback and help!!

[Desertthorn]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

I think everyone as doubts but I also think our brains, sneaks as they are, keep sending us subliminal messages, "eat that gallon of ice cream, it won't hurt", "dont do it this way, that way works easier". "Just one wont hurt" Do you know what I mean? So that might be whats happening.
BUT I believe that to be really successful on a diet or in our case WOE, you need to really embrace it as your own, for life. So make sure those little voices aren't just trying to get you off track and sabotage your great start before you switch to something else.
What ever you descide, we're hear for you.

[cathyjobob]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

I'm doing 30 minutes of tae bo in the morning before work and walking/jogging/dancing for 30 minutes in the evening five days a week.

I think what set me off is knowing that I'll be going back to Central America (no Hiltons, concierges, running water, and supermarkets) for about six months. If I were traveling just in the US, Europe, or Asia it could probably work.

I'd better just cut portions, cut calories/fat, and excercise in order not to be doomed.

This is a great board, thanks for all of your feedback and help!!

Honest question...won't you be able to access meats and vegetables you can prepare there? I realize you won't be at the Hilton, but you will be STAYING somewhere that you can prepare and cook food for yourself, won't you? What part of Central America?

[Quitstretchin']

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

Since it does not seem to be any physiological problems associated for you with this WOE (Way Of Eating) and your body seems to be responding to the decreased number of carbs (noted by your weight loss during induction), you may be experiencing the psychological affects of beng a carbaholic for so long.

I know I continued to crave carbs, despite my steady weight loss the first time I attempted ATKINS. I eventually crumbled under the pressure...no one says it is easy.

I'm sure many of us on this board have struggled with "getting used to" this WOE. Usually, people do not have to eliminate certain groups of food when doing different diets, so this WOE approach may seem strange at first.

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind me asking....
1) If the counting calories along with exercising worked for you...what made you decide to consider ATKINS?
2) What types of foods are you missing or wishing you could eat that you are not currently eating.
3) Are the above foods that you are missing (from question #2) really worth eating or contain nutritional value? If not, why would you make a habit of eating them (even on a diet where you count calories)? (for example...just because I can have 1200-1500 calories daily for my height and weight doesn't mean I should meet my caloric intake requirement by eating 1500 calories worth of french fries and pizza...believe me, I've tried to justify this!!)
4) How often are you on the road or away from home that makes you fee that you could not find a suitable ATKINS friendly meal during that time?

**One last question and you can say "Quitstretchin', shut up, get off your high horse and go jump in a lake...I'm gonna do what I wanna do!!!)

5) What type of doubts are you having even though you say everything is going fine? Are you doubting that ATKINS is for you or are you doubting your ability to stay on this way of eating?

I hope I do not sound like I'm drilling you (as I step off my high horse...) and if I am, I apologize now. I just don't want you to give up on yourself or this WOE before you weigh the pros and cons. If you still come up with the same answer and decide to stop ATKINS, at least you thought about it. Whatever you decide.......good luck!

[cathyjobob]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

Note to self:

Don't mess with Quitstretchin'!
She's an Agatha Christie fan and I think she watches Columbo... ...lol J/K...

[Quitstretchin']

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

Yeah!!!
(either that or I wanna be a a Psychotherapist when I grow up!) LOL


Subconsciously, I do all this hoopla and give all this advice so that I too don't give up...If I preach it loud enough, it will drown out the the bread I hear calling me (with supportive cheers coming from the fridge from Ms. Jelly and Mr. Miracle Whip and Ms. Bologna!)

[cathyjobob]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

Yeah!!!
(either that or I wanna be a a Psychotherapist when I grow up!) LOL

Subconsciously, I do all this hoopla and give all this advice so that I too don't give up...If I preach it loud enough, it will drown out the the bread I hear calling me (with supportive cheers coming from the fridge from Ms. Jelly and Mr. Miracle Whip and Ms. Bologna!)

I like your style Quitstretchin'! But...stop being so respectful to your condiments, they don't deserve proper titles! LOL...

[Quitstretchin']

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

I'f I hadda laid off all the big words, I would have said it as Desertthorn said it...ever so to the point and so much more simplier!! So less dramatic...


Did I say I wanted to be a Psychotherapist or I wanted to (go see) a psychotherapist when I grow up? Hummm!!

[cathyjobob]

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

I'f I hadda laid off all the big words, I would have said it as Desertthorn said it...ever so to the point and so much more simplier!! So less dramatic...


Did I say I wanted to be a Psychotherapist or I wanted to (go see) a psychotherapist when I grow up? Hummm!!

I don't get it. Seems like a cool quote, but I don't get it.

[Quitstretchin']

Re: Maybe This Isn't Right For Me

See, I offically confused cathyjobob!!!!

Just pointing out how "crazy and dramatic" I am tonight with my posts. Using big words brings out the Psychotherapist in me....... on the flip side..........Using these same drama-filled big words in my replies may inadvertently show how much I may actually need to see a Psychotherapist myself.

And shouldn't I consider seeing a psychotherapist if I subconsciously think I am a psychotherapist?