need help getting through induction

[silverstang1991]

hi .......i did atkins diet like 4 years ago..........i did good for like 2 1/2 years........then i started to eat anything........i've been trying to do the atkins and i just can't do the induction phase...........i've tried several times and the longest i made it was a day and a half on induction...........what can i do to help me get through this................................thank u in advance

[chinadoll]

Re: need help getting through induction

This may sound harsh but I am speaking from my own experience here. There isn't much I can offer you on this to get you through. The bottom line is you have to decide if you are really ready and want this. It is only two lousy weeks. You have to get your head in the game and decide that you are not failing at this. If you can't complete Induction, you aren't ready to commit to losing yet. It took me a number of unsuccessful tries to finally get my head ready to do this.

You need to hit that point where you decide to get tough on yourself and the instant gratification of that chip or ice cream isn't worth how you feel about yourself anymore.

I wish I had an easy answer but there isn't one.

[Desertthorn]

Re: need help getting through induction

Silver, you just have to keep on trying..hard.. until you make it. The same thing happened to me but I kept talking to myself until I made it thru the first cheat free day and that was DAY ONE
We can do this kiddo

[kibskix]

Re: need help getting through induction

i agree with china. however, what you -can- do to help through those really bad cravings is -remove all bad food from your house-. for the first few days, avoid going out to eat, and avoid situations where you will be offered or tempted with bad things.

but you have to get your own butt in gear, we can offer suggestions and support, but no one here can babysit you to make sure you don't cheat. and learning that self control and having that ability to envision your goals and work toward them every day is just as big a part of it all as the weight loss itself.

[chinadoll]

Re: need help getting through induction

I will add this...If you get Day One down, then the next day is easier because then you can say "if I made it yesterday I can make it again today!" Each day gets a little easier to be strong.

[JulieB]

Re: need help getting through induction

Also, the more days you have invested, the harder it is to throw away.

Try imagining how good it will feel when you need to go buy smaller pants, when you've lost 10lbs and realize that YOU CAN reach goal. No food can taste as good as that feels.

[phil h]

Re: need help getting through induction

Don't do it.Unless you are committed,you won't stick it out anyway and then you will get frustrated. Get yourself psychologically prepared, then begin it again.Been there, done that too many times.

[chinadoll]

Re: need help getting through induction

Phil has a point. For me, the try and try again worked. But if you are likely to get frustrated and depressed, then you are better off talking yourself up to the "ready" point before you begin. Get the house ready, the frig ready, the family ready and most importantly your head ready before you even begin.

[NYCityGirl]

Re: need help getting through induction

I have to say, what keeps me motivated are the boards and the daily blogging. I am very honest with myself and w/ the blog, so it is motivating to keep up the success rate. So after day 1, go on the computer and just blog about everything you ate. You'll be so proud of yourself!! Willpower is a muscle that you have to train and let get stronger.

Also, keep busy during your usual "binge" times. Like, for me, it's at night when I get home, so I try to get out of the house, whether it's window shopping or going for a walk around the neighborhood, or even meeting a friend at the park or something. There is a direct relationship btw eating and boredom.

And like everyone has said, the immense guilt that you feel when you overindulge is not worth it. Just stay motivated until you are in ketosis-- then after that, train yourself to think that if you mess up, all that effort has gone to waste and you'll end up gaining weight from all the fat you've just eaten!

Above all, recognize that being healthy is really important and this is, by far, the easiest way to jumpstart you into a healthy new you.

[NYCityGirl]

Re: need help getting through induction

One more thing-- go on itunes and find songs that make you feel good, whether its a dance song or a beachy summer song or whatever. Imagine yourself in an outfit that you feel great in, out and about, with no self-consciousness, talking to the guy or girl of your dreams. You are confident and feeling great about yourself. Then make a playlist of all of the songs that make you feel this way, and listen to it when you think that you may succumb to temptation. Never underestimate the psychology behind why you are eating and learn to find ways to counteract.

[Emerald5816]

Re: need help getting through induction

One thing I did was for about 4 weeks cut my carbs to 50 or less a day (I kept a diary), so when I went to 20 carbs or less a day (On day 5 YAY) it was much easier and my withdrawal symptoms weren't as severe.

[TxLady]

Re: need help getting through induction

I can tell you that what I did that helped me get started on induction was - - a week before I began lowering my carb intake and then I made a complete meal plan for the whole first week. I bought only the foods I needed and took my lunch everyday. I didn't eat out, not even once, the first two weeks and I am currently down 17 lbs, only 3 weeks in. Other than "planning" such as this, it's all willpower as everyone else has said. Just don't cheat. When you think you can't NOT cheat, drink a big glass of water and do something to keep your mind off of it. You can do it!!