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Today marks the beginning of my 12 weeks on this new way of life. And since I think a whole lot about random stuff, I felt moved to write it down today for your reading pleasure. When I started, I wanted to drop 50 pounds overnight, but alas, it was not to be. Instead, I am happy to report that I have lost 16 slow and steady fat-bags and my clothes are so loose that people now make fun of me and I love them dearly for it. I am exercising because now I can. And that is all well and good. I am happy with the life of an Atkineer.
But there have been some rotten moments. I wanted immediate loss---even though I have spent 10 years accumulating all my extra poundage, I thought it should just evaporate with the wave of some steak and gallons of water. I saw other peoples' miracle induction losses and felt deflated (no pun intended) because my weight loss was slower than a turtle in a coma. And I craved empty junky food...new people should know that the induction flu is a wonderful thing. Yes, it is challenging and feels bad but that's because you are letting go of the JUNK's long-term effects on your body, not because of any element in Atkins. But don't quit. That would be like quitting cigarettes and then telling yourself that you will feel better if you start back so you won't have to miss them so much..an endless chain of bad choice. Good grief.
ANYWAY, the biggest and most important lesson I have learned so far is that the most important benefit of this whole way of eating is this: THE RETURN OF HOPE. Over the years of being fat, I had lost it, completely. And during my second week, and fourth and seventh, etc, everytime I wanted to break bad and mess up, I took a moment to sit down and visualize how it would feel the next day to wake up without any shred of hope of losing this weight. Once you get over the big hurry, and accept that this might just take a while, it creates this new precious hope, and that hope grows and grows as you start to feel really dang good, physically and mentally. You go out of your way to walk by a mirror just to see yourself (yes, really). And you can begin to imagine what you might look like in the coming year or months. It dawns on you that you are finally doing it and you are changed forever and that you will have ups and downs, but this hope will keep you going...or even coming back to restart, if you lost your way down the road. As my sons say, "It's all good."
But there have been some rotten moments. I wanted immediate loss---even though I have spent 10 years accumulating all my extra poundage, I thought it should just evaporate with the wave of some steak and gallons of water. I saw other peoples' miracle induction losses and felt deflated (no pun intended) because my weight loss was slower than a turtle in a coma. And I craved empty junky food...new people should know that the induction flu is a wonderful thing. Yes, it is challenging and feels bad but that's because you are letting go of the JUNK's long-term effects on your body, not because of any element in Atkins. But don't quit. That would be like quitting cigarettes and then telling yourself that you will feel better if you start back so you won't have to miss them so much..an endless chain of bad choice. Good grief.
ANYWAY, the biggest and most important lesson I have learned so far is that the most important benefit of this whole way of eating is this: THE RETURN OF HOPE. Over the years of being fat, I had lost it, completely. And during my second week, and fourth and seventh, etc, everytime I wanted to break bad and mess up, I took a moment to sit down and visualize how it would feel the next day to wake up without any shred of hope of losing this weight. Once you get over the big hurry, and accept that this might just take a while, it creates this new precious hope, and that hope grows and grows as you start to feel really dang good, physically and mentally. You go out of your way to walk by a mirror just to see yourself (yes, really). And you can begin to imagine what you might look like in the coming year or months. It dawns on you that you are finally doing it and you are changed forever and that you will have ups and downs, but this hope will keep you going...or even coming back to restart, if you lost your way down the road. As my sons say, "It's all good."
Great insightful post! 
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