stopping for a while

[pools_mib]

ive done really well i know but after 2 months and about 26lbs lost im stopping this woe for a while. im crazy i know but the pressure of being away from my family and seeing 3 other men who i live with eat what they want has grown too much.
i was ok for 6 weeks saying how easy it is but im ashamed too say i long for pizza and bread. i know this is what made me put on weight in the first place but i dont know what else to do ive grown tired and my will power has gone .

thanks

mike

[DigitalMocking]

Re: stopping for a while

Mike, you have to find a way to change how you relate to food.

My wife makes an atkins pizza that's fantastic, there are alternatives out there, but frankly you have to learn how to live without them and be happy. The 26lbs you lost will come back, and probably bring friends. I don't think you want that.

[IrishSarahHB]

Re: stopping for a while

Mike are you finally to the weight you are comfortable with? Did you reach your goal?

Your just gonna give up? dont just give up completely!! 6 weeks is a long time to just toss out the window..

[misplaced southerner]

Re: stopping for a while

aaawwwww you don't want to do that! old habits just bring old results.......what is worse...watching friends eat something you think you want or feeling unfit?

hey DM, we want your wife's pizza recipe!!!

[peacefuljourney]

Re: stopping for a while

Hi,

Can you have 1 night of pizza and then get back on the next day? Will that keep you going? I know it's a cheat but I think it's better than tossing in the towel.

I know what you mean about peer pressure which is worse when you are away from your family - but why not use your family as a motivator. Simply put: being overweight is unhealthy. Strive to live a long and healthy life to be with your kids as much as possible without the accompanying disabilities (heart is a big one, but also energy levels, happiness and role model...)

Or - last preachy thing here - why not set a goal like: another week and if I still want the pizza I'll have it. Maybe you'll be in a different state of mind by then.

Good luck.

S-

[kellypa2678]

Re: stopping for a while

I can tell you I know where you are coming from. I have had my moments (cheats). What I felt afterwards was horrible, and the very thing that I cheated with, just didn't seem worth the guilt. It didn't taste wonderful, it didn't even taste good as I had dreamed it would. My guilt over powered that. Were your last 6 weeks induction? If so, why don't you move onto the "rungs" and you can add in more stuff gradually as you go. Eventually when you get to the Grains rung you can make Ellizens flax bread and I'm sure it would be excellant sliced and then used as a pizza crust of some sort. If you are so hungry for pizza, buy a pizza with all the extra toppings on it, and then pull them off and only eat them,,,,I find that the most desirable thing to eat anyways. Look for answers here, before you give up.

WOW, I really need to look in the mirror and say this to myself.

Best of luck to you with whatever you decide.

[clogger]

Re: stopping for a while

Mike,

We ALL know how you feel. It may feel enjoyable to eat pizza and bread, but only in that moment. Then it's just a memory. I'm sure you have other memories associated to food that are not so good. Try to think back to other memories you have associated with high-carb foods - being tired, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable, becoming bloated, wanting to eat more even though you are full, etc. Do you want to feel that again?

Someone referenced Linda's website that is FULL of low-carb food ideas: http://genaw.com/lowcarb/recipes.html. You should take the time to check some of these out. They will make your mouth water just like thinking of pizza and bread, BUT they are Atkins-friendly and won't make you feel bad like high-carb foods.

Do it for YOU!

[pools_mib]

Re: stopping for a while

thanks for all the replies. right............ its my birthday tomorrow (33) and on saturday me and my 3 flatmates are going to have a night out to celebrate, our first since starting work in holland. then on monday our 12 hour shifts start at work and i will go back to atkins then. i cant believe the change in me over the course of a week going from feeling fantastically in control and not craving anything to desperate to eat something im not allowed.

i tried to introduce more vegetables into my eating but seemed to get bored thats why i faultered, i actually cant believe what im doing my clothes feel great and jeans that didnt fit me in december are actually alittle too big now!! right thats it sunday im back on and just hope a few days wont wreck 8 weeks hard work

thanks

mike

[kellypa2678]

Re: stopping for a while

Sounds like you already have you mind up that you are going to cheat. Just keep thinking about everything you just posted,,,,jeans fit loosely, feeling good, ect...
Use them as your motivator,,,plus thats great you will go out with your friends, if you go out to eat, get a massive juicy steak and some broccoli with loads of butter, or a nice salad to accompany your steak with some ranch and other veggie fixins,,,and if you really have too,,,,order a low carb beer or wine.

I just cannot tell you how bad you are going to feel if you stray to far. I was in the same predicament on Sunday.

Hope you have a nice time out with the fellas.

[samira]

Re: stopping for a while

Hi Mike,

You don't know me, but I hope you will take this to heart. You CAN do this. You really, really CAN.

Please, have some more juicy steak, more crispy bacon, more fresh fish fried with butter. Have some tangy Swiss cheese, runny brie, or creamy, lacy, havarti. Go out and get 2 orders of spicy buffalo chicken wings with thick bleu cheese dressing. Have a lite beer. Eat the toppings off a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, with extra cheese, sausage, pepperoni, olives and mushrooms.

You can do ALL these things and stick to the plan, really! Do you want to give them up for some dry bread? Maybe si, maybe no. But I bet if you had more of the above available to you you'd do fine. What's blocking you - the guys you live with eating what they please? The lack of cooking facilities? Are you unable to bring a healthy lunch to work? Whatever it is, you can get around it.

However, if you're going to go off plan, make a night of it, but not a week of it. It's a slippery slope because you wake up the next day and the memory of the bread is still in your brain but the 26lbs aren't magically back on. If only it worked that way - one day of healthy eating and they were lost, one day of unhealthy eating and they are back on - but it doesn't. So you'll still look the same in the mirror, but mentally it's hard to get back on the straight and narrow because there aren't any immediate consequences. You might see a gain of a couple pounds of water weight though. Does this sound like something you could do?

Happy birthday, Mike. Do the best you can, the rest will take care of itself.

Seattle, USA

[spazzyhilo]

Re: stopping for a while

Why not move up the rungs? the first rung is more veggies yes, but the 2nd is dairy. This includes low carb yogurt, hard cheeses, even ice cream! The next rung is nuts & seeds. In my mind cashews taste so much better than pizza ever did. Are you quitting just because your bored with your food? Thats why we encourage OWL so that you DONT get bored and so that you can add more foods in.

Whatever you decide to do is your choice of course, but I'd hate to see you throw away so much hard work just because you're bored with your food. 26lbs is no small matter. Try carrying around a large bag of dog food - thats how much you lost!! Do you wanna keep doing that?

[pools_mib]

Re: stopping for a while

you guys have been fantastic to me with your replies and ive decided im starting again tomorrow. its me who will be angry when my jeans dont fit anymore so i will start again have a couple of drinks saturday then thats it. ive come so far and dont want to be fat again , cant believe what ive been thinking of.

thanks guys

mike

[peacefuljourney]

Re: stopping for a while

Hi Mike,

Happy Birthday! Go out and celebrate! It's a long term way of living. Enjoy, forget the guilt and move on regardless.

S-

[FatBottomGirl]

Re: stopping for a while

Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday dear Mike, happy birthday to you... And you couldn't have given yourself a better present than to stick with the program! I am sooo glad you aren't giving up on yourself

[KellyNew4Me2]

Re: stopping for a while

Mike! Quick! Write this down!!!

1 cup shredded Mozzarella
.5 to 1 cup of whatever veggies you want, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, spinach
Add liberally whatever cooked meat you like, pepperoni, sausage, bacon
Spices: I use garlic powder, basil and crushed red pepper

Put the cheese in a dense circle in the middle of a NON-STICK pan on med. low heat
Add the veggies, meat and spices.
Let the cheese melt slowly, so the veggies will cook a bit.
When the cheese is fully melted it will begin to brown and make its own crust.
Start to lift the edges with a spatula. When the bottom is firm, slide it onto a plate.

This will be the envy of everyone you live with.

Last night I made one for my husband with chopped broccoli, onion and bacon.
For myself I made one with shredded kale, onions and pepperoni.

The aromas will make everyone beg for it!!! I promise.

Another one is the Fried "Rice" recipe from Linda's Low Carb. I've had it at least 5 times already. It's AMAZING!!!! I made it yesterday for my co-workers. They were so stoked. For me the main challenge is having stuff on hand. There are so many things you can try. Just try things until you find your rhythm.

http://genaw.com/lowcarb/deep_dish_pizza.html This deep-dish pizza recipe looks amazing, but sometimes I'm too hungry to do all these steps. My recipe takes about 10 minutes. (Especially if you already have cooked meat)

I wish you luck. There's nothing that Hi-Carb eaters can offer you that will taste better than losing weight feels. Cheating on Atkins packs a heck of a hangover!!

You can SO do this!!! By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SLIMBOY!!!