When will it finally sink in??

[xdream73]

This is my very first post on this board, and probably not at all where I should start, but I just couldn't resist.

I want to repeat what has already been said, I think this was a great thread. My sister told me about this board and I think that my poking around here over the last week or so has really solidified my goals and desire to make this work. I was a little disenchanted when I was following Atkins off the Atkins site, simply because I had too many unanswered questions. I've found all my answers here...and then some!

That being said, I have to agree with both sides. I am new to this, and have had NO desire to cheat. I am completely floored by this since there isn't a soul alive who loves mashed potatoes like I do!! I started because I wanted to lose weight for a big event, but I've told everyone I know that if I never lost another pound, I would never go back. I've never felt as good as I feel right now and I've got a LONG way yet to go! If 23 lbs can make me feel this good, I can't wait to see what 100 does to me!! I have wondered in my head if I will feel this way always. I am going to Vegas in October and I wonder just how good I will be. But all I can do is live one day at a time. When everyone around me at work is eating french fries and ice cream, I remind myself how good I feel, and how they always complain about having no energy. I wake up at 4 in the morning 6 days a week to get my workout in before I go to work. Yet even with that, I have more energy, more motivation, and more of a positive attitude than any of the people who sleep in and eat what they want. When I think about that, there isn't a pile of fries in the world that could compete with that feeling.

All I can say is bravo to those of you with iron-clad willpower, and good luck to those of you who don't. The fact that you're here puts you five paces ahead of everyone else in my book!!

[soliwit]

Wow, now that is worth a big round of aplause, i don't think I ever seen such a wonderfull first post on this board ever !!!!! :clapping
Thanks for creeping out of your hidingplace and post this here !!!!!
And welcome aboard !!!!!!

btw thanks to everyone for this beautyfull thread.............gotta run for work again, byeeeee :wave

[Jen111]

Phew! A slightly controversial thread!

For me, personally, occasional breaks from my diet on vacation or visiting a friend's house for dinner or going out for dinner are what I can manage to some degree. I don't go off plan for 2 years type of thing after that. I hop right back on plan the minute I can. Low-carbing is my preferred way of eating anyway. I have to tell you, though, that there is a price to pay for these occasional vacations that I take. I usually gain a bit of weight and it takes at least a month to get back to where I was again.

For some people, it is imperative that they remain on guard all the time for potential slip-ups, as they have the personality that with a big cheat, they will feel so guilty, that that will make them stay off plan long enough to put back all the weight lost and yet some. It can indeed be a very slippery slope for some folks. I think it depends a lot on the person, the degree of carbohydrate addiction, the circumstances in one's life and a bunch of other things probably, as to whether an occasional "cheat" will derail one completely for a long period of time.

We really have to decide what is best for us and each one of us is so incredibly different. The above thoughts are just my opinion, and, of course, I could be wrong.

I have another opinion, and that is if we want to eat like the rest of the population who live a high-carb lifestyle, then we have to accept the fact that we may also look like the rest of the population. (wink)

[ttdriver]

I have another opinion, and that is if we want to eat like the rest of the population who live a high-carb lifestyle, then we have to accept the fact that we may also look like the rest of the population. (wink)

:yes :nod :yes :nod

Yes, and I have an opinion that I won't eat anything I don't want plastered to my butt. :guns

Betty

[bnzstar]

That's funny...it made me think of that commercial where the woman has two big cinnamon rolls attached to her butt or the guy with the donut around his waist.
That said; I have to have balance in everything I do or I will go overboard. So I allow myself some infrequent indulgences for events and occasions. I've actually gone to weddings and not eaten anything I normally would and then slip the next day because its stuck in the back of my mind that I wanted to do something enjoyable and I didn't.
More power to you with the iron will, but I feel like as long as I'm meeting my own goals; I don't really care what anyone else thinks about how I do it. It's only food.

[tickletussler]

For some people, it is imperative that they remain on guard all the time for potential slip-ups, as they have the personality that with a big cheat, they will feel so guilty, that that will make them stay off plan long enough to put back all the weight lost and yet some. It can indeed be a very slippery slope for some folks. I think it depends a lot on the person, the degree of carbohydrate addiction, the circumstances in one's life and a bunch of other things probably, as to whether an occasional "cheat" will derail one completely for a long period of time.

We really have to decide what is best for us and each one of us is so incredibly different. The above thoughts are just my opinion, and, of course, I could be wrong.

:clapping
Well said Jen - I've been struggling to word it so well myself. Although I agree with Betty that to live with Atkins to the tee for the rest of our lives is the best thing for all of us, it also really depends on each person. For most of us who end up doing Atkins, we have the need to stay on this WOE regardless what, because any slip-ups could mean we are back to the beginning of Atkins 2 years down the track. For the very small % of us, some variations and a close-eye on eating can still keep us at GW and we need only come back to Induction to take off those couple of pounds after a family holiday.

This has been a great thread! Thanks Betty for starting this

[FightingTheFight]

think it depends a lot on the person, the degree of carbohydrate addiction, the circumstances in one's life and a bunch of other things probably, as to whether an occasional "cheat" will derail one completely for a long period of time.

Yeah, but if you only knew what that one cheat is doing to a person. I wish I had a diagram like they have for smokers. The pictures that show what just one cigarette does.

Do you know what one insulin spike does? or One big cheat does? Its so bad for the body health wise. You may not feel it now....but if you keep doing it....the damage will set.

[cmcole]

I'm adding input to this exceedingly informational and thankfully respectful post.

Yes, I would like to weigh less, but have come to the point where the scale is not going to keep me from continuing.

I'm sure the exercise I've done in the past few months getting ready to join the military and going through Basic Training has added muscle. I'm sure the clothes fit looser, but the scale hasn't moved.

That being said, I really worked at maintenance-type eating during Basic Training. However, I was not always successful in completing eliminating white flour or sugar from my menu, as I was not the one doing the preparation of the foods. So, if they happened to use bread crumbs on the chicken breast, or a bit of sugar somewhere, I had to live with it.

I chose not to have fries, onion rings and pasta, as there were usually other choices. I did have higher carb veggies occasionally, as it was all that was offered (mixed vegs with corn, for instance).

I stayed away from most of the prepared salads that were obviously high carb (pasta, potato, creamy coleslaw), and went for mixed greens or veggies.

I had a few (too many) sugar-free candies or nuts in my room on occasion - just because we had a rushed meal and I didn't get enough to eat, or I was tired, or whatever the excuse of the day was.

I'm working toward getting back on track and completing the second half of the training, as I ended up with a pinched nerve in my neck and could only complete the first half of Basic Training/Soldier Qualification. Thankfully, I don't have to complete that again - just the SQ.

So, while I appreciate all the comments that have taken place, and would have at first totally agreed with ttdriver, I have to say that sometimes, despite your best efforts, circumstances make it difficult, and you have to be very conscientious.

Now, the second half of the training will be a lot of time in the field/trenches, and we will be eating IMPs. These are pre-packaged (take what you get) meal options, and it will be even more difficult to stay starch-free. Exchanging a chocolate bar, bread, or dessert for a tea bag or something from another's package is an option, as long as you don't get chastised for not eating enough calories to get you through the training. So, when I return from that phase, my story may be different.

[tickletussler]

think it depends a lot on the person, the degree of carbohydrate addiction, the circumstances in one's life and a bunch of other things probably, as to whether an occasional "cheat" will derail one completely for a long period of time.

Yeah, but if you only knew what that one cheat is doing to a person. I wish I had a diagram like they have for smokers. The pictures that show what just one cigarette does.

Do you know what one insulin spike does? or One big cheat does? Its so bad for the body health wise. You may not feel it now....but if you keep doing it....the damage will set.

In saying this, are you assuming that most of us are the same? ie one cheat will affect all of us in the same way?

Yes - if for some of us who are food-addicted, then it can be likened to smokers giving into "one smoke" or an alcoholic giving into "one drink"

No - if there are other reasons we got overweight the first place. Having gone through so many posts in this forum, one cheat affects different people in different ways. For some, it completely derails them. For others, it is a delay in the weightloss process or a lesson learnt into the cause of this cheat etc

[Carolyn492]

I can only speek for myself on this one.. I know that when i started Atkins I was changing my ways for life.. For the cravings i do i do understand them and i have them like anyone else. I am no better nor worst than anyone else. When i do have a weak day i look in my Atkins book and find something to cook with low carb.. even if its not in my rung. In doing this i feel like i am not punishing myself and i get my sweet tooth what it wants..I never cook it ahead of time for i know i will eat it. I cook it when i really really want it. Okay i do not do this all week mabe once every 2 or 3 weeks . Most of the time when i finish cooking what i wanted the craving is gone. My hubby is a jumk food addict and there is chips and chocolate in my house like you would not beleive. :yikes I dont touch them.. He is lucky he is real thin and eats what he wants but i have to tell myself that we are different and can not eat the same thing. That is it that is all.. I will never eat the way he does. If i do well i know what is going to happen. The cravings usually last only a few minutes.. if i really really want what i can not have well i go walk my puppy or use my stationary bike.. I just get out of the kitchen. This Atkins diet does not have much restrictions if you look at it from beginning to end.. There are sooo many recepies that you can almost have what you want with the right ingredients.

[AllieCat0817]

When i do have a weak day i look in my Atkins book and find something to cook with low carb.. even if its not in my rung. In doing this i feel like i am not punishing myself and i get my sweet tooth what it wants..

Oh MAN that is a great idea. Super.

This Atkins diet does not have much restrictions if you look at it from beginning to end.. There are sooo many recepies that you can almost have what you want with the right ingredients.

Exactly. Which is why I have never felt the need to go off plan!

[ttdriver]

In the end, your success is up to you.

Everyday we're surrounded by food, junk foods!! Its up to YOU to decide if you want to deal with a delay or derailment in your weight loss journey.

Even in maintenance, I have to stay vigilant. I know I'm just a sour cream donut away from falling back into my old ways. I know if I skip an exercise session, its far too easy to skip another and another...

So yes, its a battle. A daily battle. But I WILL MYSELF TO WIN IT. Is it easy? Of course not. Do I still struggle with the temptations to eat junk? Yes I do. Will I? No I won't. I WILL MYSELF TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOODS. I WILL MYSELF TO EXERCISE. I have no more willpower than the rest of you. But what I do have is the RESOLVE to stay in this for life and to keep myself strong and healthy for as long as I possibly can.

If I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT.

Betty

[AllieCat0817]

I believe you get out of it what you put into it.

[wannabethintoo]

think it depends a lot on the person, the degree of carbohydrate addiction, the circumstances in one's life and a bunch of other things probably, as to whether an occasional "cheat" will derail one completely for a long period of time.

Yeah, but if you only knew what that one cheat is doing to a person. I wish I had a diagram like they have for smokers. The pictures that show what just one cigarette does.

Do you know what one insulin spike does? or One big cheat does? Its so bad for the body health wise. You may not feel it now....but if you keep doing it....the damage will set.

Fighting,

Don't you agree that it's healthier to keep trying to lose weight (with the occasional cheat if that's what it takes to keep you going) than to give up totally and remain overweight?

[FightingTheFight]

I realise that we are all different, but then again we are all the same, and there is only one way to find out what will screw you up. I would save all the experimentation till closer to goal....to me its just not worth any setback, maybe because I have alot riding on the line, more than most people.

Don't you agree that it's healthier to keep trying to lose weight (with the occasional cheat if that's what it takes to keep you going) than to give up totally and remain overweight

I guess you can look at it that way, the lesser of the two evils, but in reality those are not the only options.

TTdriver said it, You get out what you put in.