Afraid to move up...

[goin2befit]

I think I am really just afraid to climb this ladder. I tried it half attempted one time and said no way, the scale moved on the first week and I didn't give it a second, nor did I feel comfortable.

I have been on Atkins for almost a year and during this time never get past introduction except to cheat, cheat, and cheat some more. I realized I am only cheating myself.

I know deep down that most likely my CCLL is high (because with all the cheating I have done, so many times I can well eat 60 carbs a day from cookies not veggies or fruit, and still stay the same or even drop)... but even it is low. I need to learn how to eat!!!

I have many problems that are embarassing to say and sometimes I will post in a way to avoid that this maybe my problem, it must be something else.

I started yesterday at 12 noon and focused 100% by staying on plan. I was successful. I will continue on introduction for 2 weeks. From there I will move up one step at a time.

[Georgiana]

Re: Afraid to move up...

I think I am really just afraid to climb this ladder.

Scared of heights, eh?

the scale moved on the first week and I didn't give it a second

There are weeks when we lose no weight. Nothing unusual there.

nor did I feel comfortable.

In what sense?

Did you only add back more vegetables? Or was it diary?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Afraid to move up...

Keep in mind that you can't get to maintenance without going through OWL.

[Barb1965]

Re: Afraid to move up...

This is the first time in my many attempts at Atkins that I have actually tried climbing the rungs. Usually I stay on induction, loose a few pounds, get bored and fall off plan for a long time. So I decided to do it differently this time and try climbing the rungs, so far so good. But the one thing I wanted to say is that climbing the rungs doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat the new foods every day or even every week.

I've been on rung 2 for about 6 weeks and in that time I've had exactly 1 serving of low carb yogurt and 1/2 cup of milk. I will be moving to rung 3 soon, but intend to use nuts only as an occassional treat. For me the rungs are my "permission" to use food from a certain group, not a requirement and certainly something I have to keep close tabs on, as I don't seem to have a very high CCLL. Has climbing the rungs slowed me down any? I don't believe so, the way I tend to loose weight is drop several pounds in a short period, then a standstill of 3-5 weeks, so it may seem like climbing is causing a momentary pause but it may just be your body's normal reaction regardless of what rung you are eating from.

Go on, give the rungs a chance, just climb really slow and remember that being at a certain rung isn't a requirement to eat from that food group on a routine basis. Good luck!

[JulieB]

Re: Afraid to move up...

Good for you - deciding to do it, even if it is a bit scary, is half the battle! Remember, many of us have been there...we're here to help & support you.

[dewolfe]

Re: Afraid to move up...

This same thing has happened to me!!! I lost 12 pounds the first 2 weeks and then I went to the next rung and did not lose any more weight! I think it is because I started eating those Atkins bars and shakes any way I was able to lose 18 pounds in 5 months and then Thanksgiving hit and I gained 10 back!!! So if it’s ok with you I would like to go on the induction for 2 weeks and maybe we could help each other out!

[goin2befit]

Re: Afraid to move up...

Dewolfe~ That sounds great... lets start it again...

Thanks everyone for all the support! It really does mean alot. And I especially like the idea of not necessary eating from it daily! I guess I never really thought about that, and I see that that is the "permission" I need. For example, after 1 month of meat and veggies... (2 week introduction, 2 weeks rung 1), if I wanted to add just a serving of yogurt one day a week or so then I could...

In general I'm happy with my veggies and meat, I think I just need that little change here and there. I am really a routine time person, although I'm unorganized sometimes.. I thrive on routine!!! Possibly that is why I get scared because there would be so many options.

Thanks again everyone.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Afraid to move up...

>>if I wanted to add just a serving of yogurt one day a week or so then I could...>>

When you're on the dairy rung, right?

[adreliluc]

Re: Afraid to move up...

I was SO afraid to move up the rungs too! I stayed on extended induction WAY too long... And I suffered the consequences because of it..
Don't be afraid, there's nothing to be afraid of!! Just add things in slowly and see how your body reacts. If you do it right you can't go wrong.
And m aybe if you keep 'cheating' it's because you need more variety - OWL provides that!!

[Skeptika23]

Re: Afraid to move up...

Good for you - move on up to OWL and enjoy it! Once you get past the first few rungs I find it gets easier.

What's so wonderful about it is that you learn what works for you, in a systematic way, as you move to Pre-Maintenance and Maintenance. It's the necessary process to find what you can and cannot tolerate as an individual, so adding in different foods (and more carbs) into your diet over time is the best way to figure all that out!

This is the genius of Atkins, the OWL rungs, as scary as they may be (I admit, my first time I was scared of them too). Because the good Doc knew none of us are identical, not everything works the same way for everyone, and his diet plan provided us a way to compensate for that.

He also knew that people can't eat in such a regimented way (like Induction) for a very long period of time - most of us get bored or get tired of tracking every carb and food eaten.

Think of OWL as the process where you learn how to eat the right way for you, eventually in a way where you don't have to be so regimented and strict, for the rest of your life. Isn't that an interesting journey?

[adreliluc]

Re: Afraid to move up...

Good for you - move on up to OWL and enjoy it! Once you get past the first few rungs I find it gets easier.

What's so wonderful about it is that you learn what works for you, in a systematic way, as you move to Pre-Maintenance and Maintenance. It's the necessary process to find what you can and cannot tolerate as an individual, so adding in different foods (and more carbs) into your diet over time is the best way to figure all that out!

This is the genius of Atkins, the OWL rungs, as scary as they may be (I admit, my first time I was scared of them too). Because the good Doc knew none of us are identical, not everything works the same way for everyone, and his diet plan provided us a way to compensate for that.

He also knew that people can't eat in such a regimented way (like Induction) for a very long period of time - most of us get bored or get tired of tracking every carb and food eaten.

Think of OWL as the process where you learn how to eat the right way for you, eventually in a way where you don't have to be so regimented and strict, for the rest of your life. Isn't that an interesting journey?

You said it sista!

[maxima]

Re: Afraid to move up...

going2benefit, I think I'm just like you. I like routine, I like it very simple and for awhile I looked at going beyond Induction as complicated and "too many choices!" - I'm seeing now that it's not like this, and I'm calming down about the whole thing. I do like things very, very simple and I'm thinking I can actually keep it that way and still do the rung thing, for me it may be nothing more than a mental "adjustment" as I go along.