Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

[Nutri_Nut]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Peytonn,
I'm sorry to hear about your father. I lose my mother to cancer nine years ago. The first time she was diagnosed with cancer (breast), I was devastated. Then I was diagnosed with breast cancer just a month after she was! Two years later, my mother's cancer came back in her lungs. I had a dififcult time, but I made it through it as well as her death a few months later. You may be surprised by the strength you have!

[Peytonn]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

we won't know for sure the diagnosis until Wednesday.... 10 years ago, the tumor in his leg.. they said first thing they would have done is amputate except that since he'd been a runner, he was in great shape....

[AllieCat0817]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Although I've learned that there are people on this board who are perfect and never cheat, I don' t believe that this is normal or mentally healthy...

Oh my gosh. It has NOTHING to do with perfection.

[cleochatra]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Although I've learned that there are people on this board who are perfect and never cheat, I don' t believe that this is normal or mentally healthy...hence your incredible guilt. (Dr. Atkins himself addresses this very issue in his book.)

Streetcorner Philospher, I have to say that I don't agree with the tone of this comment or with the 'go ahead and eat it' philosophy. WTH?! I respect you, but am about to take a huge step away from that comment as I see it. Please feel free to agree to disagree with me, but I have to stick up for this way of eating and the people trying their darndest to succeed.

Why the slam? Why the thumbs up to cheating?

The tone of your comment sounds as though trying to follow this WOE faithfully is pejorative and that people who don't are somehow castigated by those you deem as somehow 'perfect' and wanting.

I can't speak as a non-cheater (because I guess I'm just not perfect), but look at iyamamaschke. She never has cheated once and has never rubbed it inyone's face. Neither has Isabeau.

You're painting with a pretty broad brush miladdio, and I'd appreciate it if instead of blasting people who have lieterally worked their butts off on this way of eating, if you'd kindly afford a little credit where it is due, and stop trying to push negative peer pressure on people who really want to follow this woe faithfully.

There's the Atkins way of doing things and the non-Atkins way of doing things. The people who have succeeded doing Atkins HAVE followed Atkins. The ones who have failed, who have thrown their books down in the dirt and who do not follow this woe are not following Atkins. They're following their own version of what they perceive Atkins to be.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm a little tired of hearing
that people at an Atkins board
are following Atkins,
and doing it to the best of their abilities.

As if their lives depended on it.

Funny how that works.

Please give support and don't dismiss what others have worked so hard to achieve.

Thank you.

[Nutri_Nut]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Wow...I just caught that comment by Street Corner. I don't feel guilty because anyone else has made me feel guilty. I feel guilty because I broke MY standard and my goal. No one is perfect, and guilt is sometimes a good thing. Without it, we would have no motivation to change behavior.

I have not lost any weight this week. So my induction has yielded a net loss of only 3 lbs. - compared to 7 the first time I was on Atkins. Perhaps I can chalk it up to my cheat. But I'm moving on and hope to shed more pounds SOON.

[not2late]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

I have not lost any weight this week. So my induction has yielded a net loss of only 3 lbs. - compared to 7 the first time I was on Atkins. Perhaps I can chalk it up to my cheat. But I'm moving on and hope to shed more pounds SOON.

Nutri, I proud of you because you're not giving up on your personal goals.

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Cleo,

wow!...I didn't know my opinions would be so upsetting....I certainly didn't mean them to be. Nor was I trying to knock those who claim to be cheat-free.

However, I lost over 30 pounds by not being perfect. My wife did the same thing at the same time. Both of us drastically changed our lives and our daily food choices for the better. We'll never go back to eating like we once did. But having said that, I honestly don't believe being 100% cheat-free is necessary to lose weight. Not only that, but I don't believe having huge guilt over an occasional treat is a healthy way to live your life.

You have to be realistic with this -- or any -- diet. 100% cheat-free is not realistic for most folks -- especially at first. I believe 90-95% is a good place to start....and then work your way up as you get better at it.

Sorry -- didn't mean to offend.....Just my opinion. S

[Elsie150]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

NutriNut...you only fail if you fail to learn the lesson...which I think you did learn...no more baking...next time exercise or come to the boards...

((((Peytonn and Dad)))) Me thoughts are with you and yours!! Stay strong.

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Ok....just for fun I ran across a few quotes in the Atkins for life book! (It's always interesting to see what Dr. Atkins says....It makes the discussion that more interesting.):

1) "Jef Gray, a thirty-seven year old executive keeps a close eye on his carb intake during the week so that on weekends he can eat popcorn or ice cream with his kids." page 107

2) Aerobics instructor Adrienne Chavers, who lost 36 pounds doing Atkins is a proponent of the second battle plan. She can satisfy her taste buds with small portions of favorite foods. She is famous among her friends for her cornbread dressing. "I eat one small serving," she says. "And I might have 2 spoonfuls of cherry cheesecake for dessert. It's just enough." page 107 ---- Hmmm....seems like I suggested 2 bites of cake (instead of 2 pieces) earlier in my original post.

3) "Don't fall into the guilt trap of punishing yourself for a backslide with more inapporpriate eating." page 135 (Guilt must not be healthy!)

4) "Do acknowledge what you did, forgive yourself -- and get right back on the program" page 135. (Wow...this sounds like my advice too!!)

5) "For many people, a meal isn't a meal unless it includes bread, pasta or rice. As detailed in chapter 3 you CAN eat these foods -- preferably the better choices -- but always in MODERATION."

6) "Some people are able to have a taste of cake, regular pasta, or a few french fries and stop there. If you don't have that degree of self-control, it's probably better for you to stay away from the foods that once did you in. Realistically, does this mean you will never again have a piece of birthday cake or dip a conventional crispy cracker into a dip at a party? Of course not, but you have to know where you stand in terms of such deviations."

[Kent]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

I would have hard time believing SCP that you could find a quote anywhere regarding cheating or eating off the List being acceptable for a person in Induction. For someone in complete control in OWL or Maintenance phases perhaps, but in Induction eating the forbidden fruit is often the "kiss of death." Find me a quote for Induction phase acceptable cheat system, and then perhaps I would be more understanding. As for whether being cheat-free or partaking of the occassional treat makes you a better dieter, I would say whatever keeps you losing and at goal the longest is the healthiest for you. For me, it is was being utterly rigid with what (and not so much how much) enters my mouth even now that I am at goal. That works for me, if taking a break works for you and your wife, I don't have a problem with it, but I couldn't ever recommend it to someone else.

Just as you should never judge your success or failure by comparing your weight loss against someone else's, comparing your eating style is just as problematic. I make recommendations based upon what has worked for me and the book, which for Inductioneers is about as rigid a diet as they come.

Back to the topic, Nutri-Nut, I am glad you recognized it as soon as you did, and that you are already on the path to proving when those next pounds are leaving.

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Kent, Yes you're right about how Dr. Atkins suggests having a tight diet while on induction. But this person did not indicate she was on induction. This is what she said that specifically made me respond in the way that I did:


"Has anyone else ever blown it this big only to come back and win the war??? Please tell me I'm not the only one, and that I can rise above this."

I was just assuring her she's not the only one...and it IS possible to lose weight despite 1 cake-eating episode. S

[Nutri_Nut]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Streetcorner,

I am on induction; however, I am following the induction plan that I did the first time I was on Atkins that allowed for induction-friendly desserts. The first time I was on Atkins, I lost 7 lbs. during the two-week induction. This time, I lost only 3 - and those three were after the first week and probably due to water-weight loss. This is very discouraging. Right now, I'm thinking to myself, "If I can maintain my weight by giving up foods I enjoy and maintain my weight while eating ALL the foods I enjoy, does it make sense to continue on a strict diet?" I'm giving myself another week without cheating to see if any weight loss occurs.

When I was on Atkins the first time, after I reached my goal, I was able to "cheat" occasionally and not gain weight. The problem was that the "cheating" became more and more frequent. Then I started gaining. It is difficult for me to cheat in moderation! Besides, it was eating all things in moderation that got me to the weight I am now!

As far as the quote, "Don't fall into the guilt trap of punishing yourself for a backslide with more inapporpriate eating," Dr. A wasn't saying guilt is a "bad" thing. Look at the context of the sentence. What's bad is continued inappropriate eating after a cheat - not the guilt itself. In this case, the guilt would be motivating bad behavior. Guilt can also motivate good behavior. So whether or not guilt is good or bad depends on the situation.

It's my understanding that induction involves a strict regimine in order to eliminate cravings. Well, I had cravings even after a strict induction; however, they were not as bad as the initial carb withdrawls.

I was hoping for better weight loss results this second time around. But I won't give up....yet.

[cleochatra]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Nutri-- I think your fat cells are fighting back! So oftentimes we find that on this way of eating, our fat cells (especially if we are women) rebel. Bred for survival, as you already know, the female has to be able to sustain long periods of famine, and so our hips and legs hold fat. This is also for the purpose of bearing life under said conditions.

That said, everytime we lose and gain, it does become more difficult to get rid of the weight momentarily.

Our female fat cells are saying

<--she did this to me before

<---- c'mon hip and thigh, she doesn't mean it! Just hang onto that fat. She'll cave!

<--- Wait a ding dang minute! She's really doing it this time!


It is of uber-importance that we don't give those fat cells a reason to think we're going to repeat the cycle. Like little nannobots of adipose, they are already at work, sitting about, waiting for the day they can be free and party again inside your right thigh.

We can't give them that chance!

Out! Out darned fat!

You are going to lose that fat! It's just hard because we have to first rectify what we've done to teach our fat cells to be more of a problem than we thought they'd be.

There's an excellent book called "Outstmarting the Female Fat Cell" by Debra Waterhouse. While I wouldn't follow her eating plan (low-fat, low-cal--I did it and was hungry all the time), her scientific principles and understanding of the evolution of the female fat cell merit a good read. They are very sound. I highly recommend that if you have time, borrow it from your local library or you can find it used at Amazon.com.

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

Nutri,

Yea cheating can definately get you in trouble...no doubt about it. However I look at weightloss/healthy living as PROGRESS, not PERFECTION. My life before Atkins consisted of at least 7-8 sodas per day, tons of bread, pasta, mega-carbs at every meal etc. To change those eating habits on a dime is very very difficult...both physically and mentally. I believe expecting no cheats from day one is setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. I know others have done it though. Maybe I'm just weak.

[cleochatra]

Re: Got Stressed and Blew it BIG TIME!

I believe expecting no cheats from day one is setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.

Again, I totally disagree.

This sounds like you're saying self-sabotage is a fact of life and without it we aren't whole people. *lol*

I don't think you're weak, though. I just think one of two things:

1) You don't have the blood sugar issues so many people face, and so you do not react adversly to small intakes of high GI foods;

2) You just chose not to follow Atkins to the letter.

Either answer is ok; telling others to follow your lead is not.

I mean, yeah, we all may muck up from time to time. But if I were to say, "I lost 100 pounds in 7 months, and I cheated every week!" what kind of an exmple is that to set, especially when everybody's body reacts differently?

You have a method that works for you; but it's not Atkins and you can't sell it as Atkins. Especially to someone on induction.

Not to be an accolyte for Atkins or overly-proselytize, but this is an Atkins board. If we don't follow Atkins and push for the "whatever works for you" mentality, it ceases to be the special place it is.

Let's stick to Atkins, and leave the other low-carb plans to the Low Carb Bulletin Board.

{{{SCP}}}