Help and Advice needed!

[Slidesdownmountains]

Hey guys - it's been a while since I last posted (and we all know what that usually means...)
YES: I admit, I have been cheating like crazy!

It started with a little very dark, high cocoa chocolate here and there, and now am eating chocolate most days, have been having yoghurt with muesli and honey on a couple of occasions, some chips, and even had half a slice of bread on Sunday....feeling very out of control around food, guilty and have low self-esteem.

I was doing really, really well and was very motivated especially all throughout July - mainly due to the pole-fitness I do boosting my endorphins, strength and self-esteem, and also because I had a target point where I was going on a pole-fitness workshop and photoshoot with the World Pole Dance champ and needed to be lighter and fitter (plus, she is about 5'2" and incredibly lean and flexible - probably 100lbs soaking wet! I would have to stand 3ft behind her in pics just to look in scale!).
This was right at the beginning of August, and by that time I had done really, really well, getting down to 148lbs, nice and toned - but during the pole-jam and shoot, I pulled the muscles between my ribs to such a degree that I am now on codeine and anti-inflammatories and have had to spend the last month not doing any classes.

This injury has got me really down, frustrated and bored (and obviously, not exercising), so have not had any real goals, or been motivated and have been eating more and more. I have also moved house in the last few weeks, which was quite stressful, and hurt my back even more! Plus, now am out of routine...
So I really, really need to get myself back on track, as I can feel myself sliding out of control. I have put on about 6lbs and feel very down about it - would love any ideas and tips on how to regain momentum.

Thanks

[EmDee]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

as with any skid, the first thing to do is regain control! seems to me you are doing that by coming back here...climb back on board the train!

(sry to hear about your injury, but what is "pole fitness"? are you skiing this time of year??)

[imagood1]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

First - get rid of the food that you are having problems snacking on. Go back to induction - start at day one. When you get back into keotsis go back where you were before you started cheating.

Make sure you drink your water and eat only the foods on the acceptable food list. You'll get back in stride quickly.

Good luck.

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

Thanks guys - is a nightmare here at work today as it is literally littered with toffees and chocs from people's hols and someone is leaving so has bought in cake and doughnuts! AHHHH!
Am sticking to the dark chocs if I must have one today, and then going to start afresh.

(sry to hear about your injury, but what is "pole fitness"? are you skiing this time of year??)

Thank you - it's getting a lot better, I'm happy to say (not as bad as when I compressed and fractured my L1/L2 vertebrae snowboarding at least!). I have to leave snowboarding til the winter, unfortunately!

Pole fitness is my favourite exercise class - basically it is a fitness class based on pole-dancing (no nudity, obviously!): so a combination of dance, gymnastics and acrobatics on a pole (always loved gymnastics when I was younger, so this is perfect for me!).
It's so good for toning, flexibility and strength, and has really improved my self-confidence (had never even owned a pair of shorts before, but now have at least 20 pairs!).
In the classes I go to we have people of every age and shape and walk of life - I have made great friends there, and would recommend anyone have a go
What's Good For You?
Pole Dancing to Fitness

If I am feeling brave, I may post a pic of me doing some poses I never thought I'd have the strength to do - my upper body strength has really rapidly improved (right up until I hurt myself, that is!)


Right - just tucking into my 3rd pint of water and booking on to a pole class tomorrow...
Thanks for your advice

[Alexa]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

Hey,

These guys have given some good advice.

I tried pole dancing a while ago -man my biceps hurt like nothing else for days and I thought I was quite strong!

It sounds like you're on track for getting back in control. One thing I'd say is consider what made you slide. Firstly, having a event goal like you did is good, but you need to be eating in a way which enables you to stick to it long term. So work the rungs.

Secondly, you mentioned you were having cocoa now and again. FOr me, this is always a disaster - I can never control portions or frequency for long and it tends to lead to a proper cheat. It might not be the case with you, but beware - some foods are just too dangerous!

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

yes - cocoa is probably the culprit. Am possibly best keeping away from all sugars!

Does anyone else find that within the rules of Atkins they find a food that they really prefer, (and that has limits on amounts you can eat), but that you end up eating more and more of it - as a sort of surrogate 'naughty food'?
I feel this is probably my issue... I am always pushing my boundaries in this self-desctructive way... like eating a few cashews now and then, to eating more and more, and then onto salted cashews and then smoked, and then honey roast, and then M&M's.... etc etc - you catch my drift.
Either I do this or go completely the other way and go further and further into restriction until I am barely eating anything to feel in control. And then the hunger turns into a binge... Stasis seems to be the challenge.
This is not a stable, healthy way of living. I think I have a very poor relationship with food and that it really is a food addiction to be dealt with (although I don't want to label myself negatively, as I don't think that does any good).

Ho-hum - almost the weekend: yippee!!

[diamonds]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

I've done that with cool whip. Once I'm allowed to have it instead of just having a small amount I end up eating the whole container!! Then I found chocolate cool whip and well lets just say wen you add some nuts to it its like having a sundae. Shortly after that I added chocolate chips and chocolate syrup etc.... eventually it was probably more calories than if I'd have just had a bowl of ice cream. wen will I learn?

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

Doh!
Yes - easy to get carried away! I get the feeling that even the mildest taste of chocolate will set me off... possibly glasses of wine, too (more's the pity - love an ice cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc of a friday evening :-( )
Why can I not do 'moderation'???! I successfully gave up smoking, but I have such trouble leaving sugar alone!

[liv]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

Cool whip contains all kinds of illegal things. Try real cream
(And never forget to read the whole ingredient list)

[EmDee]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

unforunately (or fortunately), one can add some cocoa and splenda to real cream and whip it up and ... yummmmmmmm

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

Right - update: back at classes and feeling a little strength returning, and even some muscle tone - which itself is a motivation (so is being around a bunch of svelte ladies in shorts...)
I haven't been 100% with eating - having an apple, and a very thin slice of lemon drizzle cake on Monday - but yesterday was pretty good: had scrambled eggs with cheese and sausage, salad with king prawns and then tikka salmon and curried veggies and creme fraiche, with loads of water - think my only illegal was a full-fat creamy yoghurt.
Will try and kick myself up the butt today - have a 2 hour pole class tonight and so far am on track with my eating (though it is only 8.30am...)

Will try and post, even if I do cheat (which I won't...)

Must weight myself as well...

Thanks guys!

[Elizellen]

Re: Help and Advice needed!

I am glad to hear you are doing well in spite of being not quite on-plan
you wrote

think my only illegal was a full-fat creamy yoghurt.

as you are now on rung 3, yogurt could be on-plan if it had no added sugar or fruit in it