People at goal...

[changing]

I have a question for you.

I've been struggling a little with my mental state lately. My eating and exercise are fine, but emotionally, I've been in a bit of a funk. The weight continues to come off faithfully every month and I enjoy my food, especially cooking and working on new and old recipes, and revising my exercise plan.

But I get discouraged from time to time when I step back and look at the whole picture... basically, I end up forcing myself to just keep my same old habits and try to do the "one day at a time" thing. I haven't stalled yet but I tell myself, "you know, a stall would be okay... at least you wouldn't be gaining like you did on the Doritos and hot pockets diet, and your clothes would end up fitting properly (not too big or small) for once." But still, I feel like I have so far to come and that I have just started this journey... it doesn't help that I have some friends who are anti-Atkins (though my closest family and friends are very supportive---mostly because they witness my massive intake of veggies). I have the old "well I've lost 35 pounds, but look at how fat I still am" problem right now.

Oh, the question... lol ... have any of you at goal felt this way? discouraged, I mean, during the course of your weight loss... because I think if I realize that people who were ultimately successful with the weight loss had the same feeling, that'll help get me through the weird/tough days.

[Carbaholic]

Re: People at goal...

Hi there Changing,

Though I am not at goal, I don't have that much weight to lose, and I still feel sometimes like it's a way to go yet, and in the past I have let that be an excuse to stuff myself with loads of high carb rubbish (strange way of thinking there, huh?).

The time will fly by hun - keep setting those mini-goals, I'm sure you don't want to go back to that 281 again, and as you say the weight is still falling - how great is that?

I have quite a few friends that are anti-Atkins, but they are fortunate enough to be able to eat mostly what they want and not gain an ounce - though one of them is vegetarian. I don't know if it's jealousy that you're losing weight, or just that they believe everything that they read in the papers (all the bad hype Atkins used to get).

Somewhere on the forum, there was a post that had an article from the New York Times, saying that this lo-carb WOE has a lot of studies and doctors/surgeons backing it up. You only have to point out to your skeptic friends how many low-carb/low GI/low sugar books and products there are around today to think, 'there is definitely something in this'. More and more people are adopting this healthy WOE (maybe you should show them the before and after pics on this forum?) as can be seen here.

We are all behind you, don't forget that.
Everyone has their off-days - hormones, bad weather, low-light, all sorts of things can trip you up - BUT....you have lost 35.8lbs! That's a massive amount of weight!
And NO-ONE can make you put those pounds back on.

I hope your funk clears soon, sweetie.

[iyamamaschke]

Re: People at goal...

OMgosh Changing I have felt like this, OH I could have Wrote that just after I started and I felt like nothing was happening I was doing all the hard work and didn't see a thing. That's why I started my Picture Diary cause pictures don't lie. I don't know if the feelings ever go away I still feel this way now 13 pounds from goal. It's crazy we get in this Mind set and have seccum to our old selves then when we change our mind still sees the same ol same ol. I hate it and I am sure a lot of people have been there too.

Just stay strong you are doing AWESOME in time your brain will catch up with your body changes and all of a sudden you will be like WOW I did that. And the whole picture will come into play.

Sarah

[Jack W.]

Re: People at goal...

I lost a bunch of weight a few years on Atkins. I gotta a bunch of flack from people.
They think Atkins is all about consuming as much fatty foods as you like.
They have no Idea it is about QUALITY fats, proteins and carbs. They have no Idea
how adversely processed foods containing white flour and white sugar affects our matabolism and causes us to gain weight.
Given the right quantity and combination of foods on Atkins, I can loose weight
and NOT FEEL FAMISHED ALL THE TIME !!!
I am back on Atkins because I fell into bad habits and gained a bunch back.
I started out trying out a more low fat traditional approach but I was hungry all the time and didn't loose more that a couple of pounds in 2 months. Back on Atkins, I have lost about 20lbs. in 3 months.
I have not told anyone at work I am on Atkins. I just tell them I am eating more nutritional whole foods and exercising moderately. Thats pretty much what Atkins is all about. They just don't understand because the haven't done their homework.
Thank God for this board. I helps to align youself with people who are on the same
wavelength! Stick with it and read or re-read chapter 21.
Good luck!
Jack W.

[Brook]

Re: People at goal...

I think we've all been where you're at. You aren't alone in how you feel!

There were many times during the bulk of my fat removal journey where I felt like I was standing at the bottom of Mount Everest. I couldn't see how far I'd come, even though I knew it logically, all I could see was the rest of the mountain I had to climb. There were times (and still are) that I was angry that I had to work so hard while others around me spent time either mocking or questioning my choices or those that don't have to worry about anything they put in their mouth.

It gets easier.
You'll get where you need to be and the journey will be worth the effort you put into it.
You'll find that all of these habits you're forming now will become a part of who you are and you won't have to work so hard at it.
You'll find that you are worth the time and effort to climb the mountain, and it won't be long until that mountain feels like the molehill it really is
You'll find that it won't be long before you can turn around and look at how far you've come and give yourself the pat on the back that you so richly deserve.

Congrats to you on your success so far and many more successes to you.

~Brook

[changing]

Re: People at goal...

Thank you very much, everyone.

[iyamamaschke]

Re: People at goal...

You are soooo WELCOME (((HUGS))))

[sallyseachange]

Re: People at goal...

Brook and the others have said it all... and yes, it definitely does get easier. Hang in there! It's sooooo worth it in the end. Also, when you're at goal, that losing phase that seemed to go so slowly at the time, will suddenly appear to have flashed by.

[msnicksmom]

Re: People at goal...

I'm not at goal yet but I want to address your question anyway, and mine is a pretty successful story I think.

For me it was NEVER about the weight. It was about overall health, being there for my boys for a long time, and esp getting my energy level up so I could keep up with them. When you get in your funk, inventory what is ALREADY better, lots better, and remind yourself that the weight loss is just a perk.

You are doing AWESOME by the way, I can't believe how different your face looks.

Hugs
Denise

[jimmie 48]

Re: People at goal...

in addition to what the others have said, i think some of the let down that i felt and i think i could speak for some of the other goalies, is we got there, we arrived and then it was like , okay what do we do now? we had done this for so long and i know several of us were stuggling with keeping our exercise going. there was a thread started to address that issue and then another to help us have support.
we must remember that this is journey that didn't end just because we hit a goal weight or a goal size.

[Smallerizing]

Re: People at goal...

I like how Jack put it. I've used that tack before and it works, not just on others, but to myself. I am following a more healthy lifestyle. That's all that needs to be said, OR thought.

[k5commando]

Re: People at goal...

I STILL feel that way and I've stayed at goal now for 1 1/2 years. It's the fat goggles. I still think I need to lose weight and constantly consider doing induction again to try to lose another 20 lbs knowing darn well that if I do lose 20 lbs I'll be too thin. You may need to get used to the idea that you will always view yourself as a fat person no matter how thin you get. This way of eating changes your mind if you do it right and soon you won't think about counting every carb and every drink of water, it becomes second natureand you'll just do it. It's so worth it I can't even tell you how wonderful it is to reach goal, but soon you'll find out for yourself and prove your doubting friends wrong.

[jimmie 48]

Re: People at goal...

oh my goodness! k5, i think you are in need of a goal award! i don't know these things unless somebody points it out or i jump from my usual forums.

i'll get on that right now and you should get a pm in just a matter of minutes!

[sadie147]

Re: People at goal...

I kept a pair of pairs of jeans from before I lost weight, and every once in a while when I really feel like i haven't accomplished much, I try them on. I only lost 20 something lbs but i went down 4 sizes, so the difference when I try those jeans on is huge! It is a really good boost to the ego. I agree with K5 though..the fat goggles really never do go away.

I also find when you've been in maintainance for a while, and everyone gets used to you at your new weight, you stop getting the compliments etc, it also makes you forget how much you accomplished..so every once in a while you need to try on some old 'fat clothes' or look at old pictures.

[2big4mysize]

Re: People at goal...

in my early days on Atkins I was WOW lookie how much I've lost and was the happy go lucky Atkinneer doing my exercise and eating by rote running full speed from the 300+ pounder who used to own my body. then when the prize got closer i tool my eyes off how far I'd come and started focusing on the road ahead with those mini goal thingies and boy was that a mistake. It becomes very frustrating focusing on achieving the prize instead of winning it evryday cause so much has already been shed.
I was working hard and eating perfect and still the scales were not rewarding me as much going forward as I thought they should. We get spoiled losing in big chuncks when we start out and even though 1 pound when we got 10 to go is the same as 10 when we got 100 to go it jusat didn't seem to be the same. I went back to running for the 300+pounder and ran past goal. I still run from her when old high carb foods call my name cause as a carboholic i know i'm just one binge away from returning to being the 300+ pounder. Make good use of your fat googles and see how much you have already shed not how far you got to go. Celebrate the great job you have done morphing your body and working your Atkins as of today. Tomoorow celebrate how well you did today use a cheat free logo if that will help you i know it did me.

Happy low csarbing.