The Dead-End Ten...

**Bluebelt2007** · November 11, 2007, 07:02 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

You said it yourself "I feel so good physically", the reason you feel good is you are losing addictions to unhealthy foods and weight. Why would you want to stop feeling good? I too have done the same things many times in my life, but it make sense, those "little treats" make you feel bad. Who wants to feel bad, personally I am tired of feeling bad.

Choose you and Choose feeling good. Good luck, you can do it!

***Emma*** · November 11, 2007, 07:08 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

When you want it enough, you'll do it!

**RIMedusa** · November 11, 2007, 07:24 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

Yes -- I agree with both of you!

My question, though, is about the mindset that if we ever have one bite of sugar again, all will be lost.

This is just an opinion, not the truth, but if we believe we will "fall off the wagon" and be out of control, won't we?

Whereas if we believe that once we lose the weight we want to lose, there is a healthy way to enjoy some potato chips and a piece of chocolate now and then, then won't we be able to do that?

I guess that what concerns me is the widespread opinion of Atkineers that we are "unable to tolerate" foods that others eat. While that may be true for some of us, I think that the bad rap we get out there is due to the stance we take that we will be out of control if/when we allow ourselves to eat foods that are not part of this plan.

I am crystal clear that this WOE causes me to lose weight in a way that NOTHING ELSE does. And, a year down the line, I may even say the same thing about myself and non-Atkins foods that others say: if I eat them, I willl be out of control, will gain all the weight back and then some, and will have to start all over again.

But I tend to believe that we will be, do, have, what we say we will be, do, and have...

Just a thought.

Medusa

**cgdat136** · November 11, 2007, 07:27 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

what you have to do is......get on your computer or laptop, log into ADBB....and just start posting. there are so many different forums available. here us a goal for you, every day, post one comment in each forum.....and it cant be the same comment posted repeatedly in every forum. just spill everything, your currents thoughts, feelings, attitudes emotions. what plans you have coming up, what you did yesterday......what gets you excited and motivated....etc

just continue to extend yourself back to all of us....because we will always be here for you. pushing you on to better tomorrows.......

**Bluebelt2007** · November 11, 2007, 07:46 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

Hi Medusa,

I guess everyone is truly different. For some people (I believe very few) they can lose weight and then start eating other things and as long as they watch what they are doing they will be okay. I can only speak for myself, but I have battled my weight since I was 8 years old, my parents are overweight and even my sister had the gastric bypass surgery. I have lost and gained hundreds if not thousand of pounds over the years. The only plan that worked for me for any period of time (several years) was Atkins, b/c I AM A CARBOHOLIC (not everyone is). I thought I could manage it myself and to be frank with you I couldn't, I have proven it time and time again in my life. But I have spent more time being upset with my weight or how I look (b/c of the weight), than the enjoyment a bag of doritos has ever given me.

However, if I were to have a bite of sugar, no I don't think all is lost, but I have to make sure, the next meal or next day, to bounce back. I have to be realistic with myself about what has caused me to get so heavy. Will I be perfect on Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday, vacation w/ the family, anniversary, etc.. I don't know, but if I'm not, I just have to realize it's not the end of world, I just need to get back on track.

I think as long as a person is honest with themselves about how and why they are overweight, they have a chance.

Just my ramblings. Thanks and take care of yourself.

**mitzimarie** · November 11, 2007, 07:57 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

Hi, Medusa

Just a few comments (and this is just from my own personal experience, about myself)...

First - I don't think that the real reason that I stopped short on reaching goal my first time around was because I felt so good where I was that I didn't see the urgency to continue the commitment... I may have thought that at the time, but I now look back on it and think that I didn't continue till I reached goal because I didn't really believe, deep down, that I could actually get to goal. Even though I had lost a lot, I didn't think that it was possible to go as low as my ultimate goal. So, since I was better off than when I started, I just wandered away from the plan. You have to believe in yourself.

Second, I want to address this:
---------------------------------------------
You wrote:
"My question, though, is about the mindset that if we ever have one bite of sugar again, all will be lost.

This is just an opinion, not the truth, but if we believe we will "fall off the wagon" and be out of control, won't we?

Whereas if we believe that once we lose the weight we want to lose, there is a healthy way to enjoy some potato chips and a piece of chocolate now and then, then won't we be able to do that?

I guess that what concerns me is the widespread opinion of Atkineers that we are "unable to tolerate" foods that others eat. While that may be true for some of us, I think that the bad rap we get out there is due to the stance we take that we will be out of control if/when we allow ourselves to eat foods that are not part of this plan."
------------------------------------------

Again, I want to stress that what I am about to say is how *I* approach this WOE... I *do* operate by the mindset that if I ever have a bite of sugar, that it is possible that all will be lost. This may not be a popular idea to most people, but it is the truth for me. I am, and always will be, a carb addict. Alcoholics and heroin addicts don't occasionally fall of the wagon with the idea that they can just hop back on at any time. I consider myself a hard-core addict, and plan on *never* having another bite of sugar. I have managed to stay absolutely cheat-free since my re-start on February 25th of this year. I believe that has been the key to my success. Now please don't get my wrong... this does NOT imply that I feel that if someone cheats, they might as well give up! NO, NO, NO! That is NOT what I am saying. But, I cannot go into it with the idea that I can stray at times, and just easily get back on. I am at my goal weight now, and I intend to *NEVER* have potato chips or chocolate cake ever again... why in the world would I? Is life not worth living without those things? NOT MINE! There are way too many Atkins friendly substitutes that I could have to satisfy that urge, without putting garbage into my mouth ever again.

I know that what I have said may sound a little fanatical, but I have been there and done that with regard to losing a lot of weight, and then losing focus. It is *my* experience that success on Atkins is way more than just eating right and exercising... it is a mindset... You need to be able to view this way of eating with the attitude of not missing the garbage that you can no longer eat... you need to view it with the attitude of "look how much great food that I CAN eat!". It is only when I started eating to live, versus living to eat, that I became 100% happy with this WOE. I can honestly say that I don't miss the garbage anymore.

I can't say it enough... Atkins is not just about food. It has developed a sense of discipline in me that I never knew existed. I am much tougher than I thought I was. And now that I have a deep belief in myself, I *know* that I can do this for a lifetime... and I don't feel deprived in the least. Look at how much awesome food we are allowed to have!

Good luck to you.

**LishJustLish** · November 11, 2007, 08:07 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

Medusa,

I started out having to lose 230 lbs. Yes, I've been carrying the weight equivalent of a large man on my body! Some people can eat "just one bite" and get back on track, but I have learned (the hard way) that it is not true for me. Example: I was doing Atkins from Aug. 2002 to Mar. 2003. I lost 60 lbs. and made it through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Valentine's Day without slipping or falling off my eating plan. Then, that fateful March night, I was at my daughter's pre-school auction event, and I ate a small plate of pasta (not even very good pasta, as I recall) and a glass of wine. Well, just get back on track the next day, right? WRONG! That little slip set me off on a 4-plus year carb binge. I not only gained back the 60 lbs. that I had lost, but an additional 8.3 as well.

It took me until April of this year to start Atkins again. I had to come to grips with the idea that I am a sugar addict (or refined carb addict), and "just one bite" may send me over the edge. I consider it a physical addiction, not a psychological one, because I have been back on Atkins for 7 months now, and I have literally lost the desire, craving, taste for sweets and other junky carbs.

What has really kept me going past the first 10 lbs. is the idea that this will not come off overnight, but eventually I am going to get to my goal. I am not hungry, I am not deprived, I am enjoying my food. You might consider doing what I am doing, that is, staying at or near the Induction level for awhile. The Atkins book has said it is safe, and the level of weight loss keeps me motivated to stick to it.

I know now that I just can't go back to where I was, because I always gain it back and then some, and I was too close to 400 lbs. for comfort. I am now losing to be healthy, happy, and live a good long life.

Lish

**RIMedusa** · November 11, 2007, 09:35 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

Thanks, all, for your incredible, heartfelt replies.

I guess my wish has always been to be able to eat the way "normal" people do. And I guess it's my prerogative to try. What I've never done is lose the weight I've wanted to lose, so until I do, speculation about what I'll be able to eat when I get there is probably not that valuable.

What I would love to hear is someone who has reached goal, saying that they have come to terms with the addiction and can indulge from time to time without it wrecking all of their gains (or losses, as it were).

For example, I quit cigarettes more than ten years ago -- and believe me, I never would have believed I could ever sustain it. I smoked for more than 20 years at an average of at least a pack a day. A few times over the past few years, I allowed myself the indulgence of a cigar (yes, I'm a woman) -- and yet I never became attached to them, won't ever have one again, because I simply don't desire them, and will never smoke a cigarette again.

As addicted as I was to cigarettes -- and I mean MAJORLY addicted -- I was able to have a little cigar and not "return" to my addictive ways with smoking.

So, I simply wonder if the same thing will be possible for me and non-Atkins food; but, as I said in my earlier post about this, I, too, may choose never to have sugar again, once I've met my goal...

Medusa

**dreamof145** · November 11, 2007, 10:14 AM

Re: The Dead-End Ten...

I know that I'll never be able to eat like what is perceived 'normal'. I accept that. Its all in our minds as to what we consider normal. What I consider normal now is totally different from what I considered normal before Atkins. Yes, lots of skinny people eat loads of carbs each day and never gain an ounce. I'm not one of them. I will never be able to eat like I did, but I'm 100% okay with that. I've found the secret to eating good and living a healthier and better life than I had when I ate carbs. I feel it is our attitudes and the way we train our minds to think about ourselves, food and our lives. I now live a good life. I didn't before.

Each of us are different in our abilities to cope with cigarettes, carbs and stress. We have to find the route that agrees with the way our bodies react and work that plan. Some people here can have occassional indulges and it doesn't interfer with their weight. I can't. Just as some people hop on/off Atkins without having any changes in the way their bodies lose. Others hop on/off and then have problems getting their metabolism to start burning fat again. We are all different. To me, I didn't understand how my body worked until I was told to keep a food journal and record what different foods did to me mentally and physically. To me, keeping that food journal was the thing that opened my eyes and allowed me to see what course to take in getting success.

Take baby steps, record what works and what doesn't. Form your life-style change around the path that is going to help you reach goal. Don't stress over what you are giving up (foods)...instead envelop the wonderful foods that are allowed on this weight loss plan and get comfortable with those changes. You can do it. We are all here, we've all had those frustrations when we began....but to be successful in anything you do in life, you have to put positive actions into your plan and work on getting comfortable and happy with the new decisions you are making. I hope this makes sense -- this program has worked for me and changed my life. I want the same for you!

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