I have commitment issues...: (

[Hoping]

I have commitment issues with Atkins.
I've been trying to get myself out of that "diet" train of thought and more into the lifestyle thought process.
I need support and encouragement.
Last time around it took me an eternity to really commit to this way of eating and even then I really really really struggled. Help!

How did you commit? What made you commit? And how have you stayed committed?

[Chicklady]

Re: I have commitment issues...: (

Looking down at the scale and realizing that there were only 10 pounds I could gain before I could no longer register on a regular scale got me committed!

I guess it's like quitting smoking (which I haven't managed yet) You gotta want it. Bad. This is my 3rd go round on Atkins....and a lot of "false starts" in between. I think it's finally sunk in...this is a way of life.

[Alexa]

Re: I have commitment issues...: (

Hi Hoping,

I have really struggled with commitment too. My issue tends to be with cheating and falling off the wagon over and over again. For me, I was determined to chalk up the cheat free days because the longer you go the easier it is not to cheat, the more you slim down and the better you feel. It was my objective to get as far away from the cravings as possible.

I decided last year to set a goal of 169 cheat free days and that really helped me. I stated it publicly. I nearly made it! I got to 153 and since then have been struggling again - I really regret that slip up.

The cheat free thread, the 6 Week exercise challenge and other exercise challenges on ADBB are a great way to keep you going. I'd recommend using them, month by month and really trying to get to each goal you set yourself in them.

Finally, have a think, write a pros/cons list about doing this WOL. Maybe Atkins is not for you. Think about what it gives you, and be honest about what you dislike. Can you live with the cons? It is fine to try to lose via another diet, but it is not a good idea to try to take these important decisions if you are in the grip of a carb-frenzy.

Best of luck and keep coming here and never give up!

[marcella]

Re: I have commitment issues...: (

Well said, Alexa.

[carbless_in_seattle]

Re: I have commitment issues...: (

I'm just fed up.

I'm fed up with always wearing shorts when I swim. Not being confident enough to let my boyfriend see me without the lights off. sucking in when I wear a swimming suit and constantly thinking about it. trying on jeans in the store and getting mad at clothing companies because I can't fit in their pants. Feeling lazy and sluggish after stuffing my face with crappy food. knowing there are certain things that i cannot wear at all. trying to angle myself in photos to look thin. Looking at myself in the mirror and not liking what I see.

I'm willing to adjust my diet, to make all of the above go away.

When I was little, I think 11, I was looking through a magazine when I ran into one of those ads for some fad diet. You know the ones that have all of the before and after pictures, and you read them and they make all of these promises, and it sounds so good, but they never actually tell you what their diet product is. Is it a shake? a pill? a plan?

Well I really really wanted this miracle product that they were selling, even though I didn't know what it was. I figured it could make all of my problems go away. I wanted it to be a secret though, I didn't want people to know I was ordering this thing, or going on some diet. That's where I had a dilemma. You see in order for me to order this product, I needed to send them a check. I had cash from saving up my allowance, but I didn't have checks.

It took all the courage I could muster to ask my mom to write that check for me, and having to show her what it was for was humiliating for me.

I was so excited when I finally mailed in my order. It came a couple weeks later and was nothing more than a journal to keep track of exercises and a recipe for a shake.

It, along with all the other things I tried, failed.

I recently came across my journal from back then, and I saw the journal entry I wrote on the day that I sent in my order, it said "I'm thin! I'm thin! I'm so close I can taste it!" I was 11 years old and my number one concern was going on a fad diet so I could be thin.

I've been 11 years old, "so close I could taste it" for 14 years now. I want to grow up, stop letting my problem with my weight control my life, i want to be free.

That's my motivation.

[Carb Addict]

Re: I have commitment issues...: (

Interesting but you are not alone in where you currently are. Everyone of us has had struggles and times when we want to kick a wall. For me, I hit 204 in Jan. and knew that was it. It also dawned on me that I was responsible for the way I looked, felt and weighed. I couldn't blame anyone else and knowing that mad me mad. I was mad a myself and that motivation has kept me going. Atkins is not a quick fix. If you want long term results, you have to committ to a process. It is a minute by minute conscious decision of what to consume and when and how to get moving. It is like a puzzle that has lots of different pieces but only fit together one way. You can't make it fit, you have to take the steps and do it every single minute of every day. You have to determine that you are worth it and that you can succeed ( which you are and you can, by the way!) No other way of eating has worked for me and I have tried scores of diets and shakes, etc.
How do you stay on track and motivated? Well I read alot, I read the postings here. I read stuff on the web. I read books. What you put into your mind is what will come out. I also journal. I set realistic goals. When I started, I wanted to be 150 by the summer. Well I am at 174 and could be depressed by not making my goal. I have to look at it another other way - that is an incredible THIRTY pounds gone. If I hadn't made the decision to stop sabotaging my life and health way back in Janaury, I would probably still be hauling those 30 pounds around every day since and possibly more. It is a complete head game. You have to decide how bad you want to be lighter and healthier. You have to stop making excuses and bad food choices, own the responsibility and GET GOING. Believe me...the feeling of fitting into size 12 shorts (down from an 1 is absolutely worth missing birthday cakes, easter eggs, french fries, etc......
Are you up for the challenge???

[joee5]

Re: I have commitment issues...: (

Seeing that you are down 15 pounds(as per your ticker). That should commit you some I would think. Stay strong, stay focused and stay true to yourself. If you feel that now is the time you want to change your life around, you will. However, if you feel doubt and feel you arent ready and or willing to commit, then you wont. Hopefully you find the strength within to continue and follow through. God Bless, Joe