Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

[mom2jjl07]

So how do I fight off these extremely heavy and crazee hard cravings...and that lil mean devil that sits on my shoulder and tells me..."Go ahead Amy eat the candy or chips...you know you cant do this thing...just start over again tommorrow with another diet...you can do the low calorie thing and lose...its not gonna work for you" BLAH BLAH BLAH

I hope i dont sound too crazy..but this is what its like for me every time
and i listen every time to that lil devil who wants to keep down,fat and miserable and hidden away in my home

Anyone been where I am, gotten past it and have been successful? Please...what helped you get through it?? I am desperate

[2big4mysize]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

You need to create an atkins emergency kit to clobber that devil with.
so while you are highly motivated write yourself a letter about why you deserve to become the healtheir smaller person you are wanting to be. make copies of it and read read it morning and night update it as you need to.

also if you have a picture of yourself at your heaviest replace your image of a devil on your shoulder with her talking to you. Now you need to shut her up so if you have a pic of your smaller self put it with your letter too.

So the big heavy you is telling you give me control eat eat eat. You whip out your letter and read it outloud. did she shut up and leave you alone? if not have her write you a letter about why you deserve to eat that object she is tempting you with more then you deserve to be the healtheir smaller you. If you finish that letter go a head and eat that food, BUT make the very next bite back on plan. don't wait till tommorrow morning immediately get back on plan.

2 things should be happening first you will never finish the second letter so you will never eat that food.

if you should finish that letter you are practicing carb harm intervention by making the next bite back on plan and that will cause your wants to cheat to become smaller and smaller and fewer and fewer.

Now that you have your emergency plan in place you need to plan for the day with foods ready to eat and know what you are eating where and when so when you are hungry you know you are eating there, now, and what is legal for you. Brook used to remind folk that failing to plan was planning to fail.

so get your plans in order and your emergency kit ready.

[Summerdressgirl]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

So how do I fight off these extremely heavy and crazee hard cravings...and that lil mean devil that sits on my shoulder and tells me..."Go ahead Amy eat the candy or chips...you know you cant do this thing...just start over again tommorrow with another diet...you can do the low calorie thing and lose...its not gonna work for you" BLAH BLAH BLAH

I hope i dont sound too crazy..but this is what its like for me every time
and i listen every time to that lil devil who wants to keep down,fat and miserable and hidden away in my home

Anyone been where I am, gotten past it and have been successful? Please...what helped you get through it?? I am desperate

Every time that little devil starts to speak to you shove an Atkins friendly food in his mouth and tell him to shut up. Nobody controls you but you.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

I think it's about finding what works for you, based on ideas from others.

For me, it's:

• Not every letting myself become too hungry by not skipping meals, having safe snacks at hand at all times. If the worst happens and you do get real hungry, try and figure out why (a trigger food, not eating enough, not eating enough fat, etc.) and make a point to not use it as an excuse to cheat.
• Track EVERYTHING, even the bad stuff, in some place like Fitday. It keeps you accountable and makes you face the music when you slip and know that that slip is going to slow your weight loss
• Keep away from temptations if at all possible. Get them out of your house if possible. If you're going to a situation that might tempt you to not eat right, make sure you eat right before hand so you're not hungry
• Make sure you are eating enough and of the right things.
• Try and address emotional issues that might cause you to cheat. Stress, family issues, illness, etc. And look for alternatives where you do eat right and find another outlet
• Don't think "one little cheat" or treat is acceptable, especially if you know you can't keep on track. Make no exceptions.
• Recognize that this is a Way of Life, not a short term weight loss program. The sooner you accept that you can't eat like you did before and probably shouldn't ever again, you'll begin to appreciate the many wonderful foods you can eat now that are better for you anyway and not miss the old stuff.

I've had my ups and downs alot too. I've been much better this time around (about a year now) with very few slip ups. I go by the candy jar at work all the time and am not tempted. I go to a Mexican restaurant with free chips and never have a single one. It's a mental mindset more than anything, but something you have to find that works for you and keeps you on track.

[mission to lose]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

For me, it's the picture in my mind of how I will look and feel after I reach goal weight, that is worth a lot more than candy or chips.

I used to make homemade Baklava for Easter, Tiramisu for birthdays. Do I miss it? Sure, a little, but an Atkins friendly cake does me just fine, now. Do I get cravings?...of course, but it is just a craving, not something holding my arms and forcing me to eat something...

My family isn't too happy that I am not making the Baklava this Easter, but it is way too much work for something I will not be eating, and not a necessity for the dessert table. Too bad, they will survive...LOL . Let them eat cheesecake!

I just had to decide what is more important to me. I do not think anything anyone can say to give you any tips will help--until you decide what you want to do, YOU are in charge of what goes in your mouth.

Good Planning, and Good Atkins Eating to You!

[PolarBearKing]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

I know how you feel...I think we all can relate.

There is some great advice here. Find one that works for you and do it.

For me, I've had a few white knuckle experiences where I knew I just had to get thru it. What is it that Alcoholics Annonymous says??? One is too many and a thousands not enough. I am always happy that I have abstained, especially when I stepped on the scale or tightened my belt another notch.

It took me a couple of years to finally decide to make my health a priority. Since I've done that I have choosen to remain steadfast and "stay the coarse" (R Reagan).

People often comment on my will power. I just want to get healthy so I can move around better and participate in the activities I love. I think that is my motivation...What's yours? Find it and you'll be on your way.

Best of luck to ya!

[msanjelpie]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

I gave in to the voice... I had a MASSIVE binge, then I told the voice... OK, that's all you get... been fine since...

[poobears1972]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

Only you can commit to this WOE. You have to decide that nothing is more important than sticking to plan and getting to your healthy goal weight.

It's hard at first but once you start seeing good results it gets easier. I mean if you hit a mini goal you don't want to blow that by a carb binge. If you are close to your next goal you don't want to get further away by carbing. Keep your mini goals, well mini and doable so they motivate you.

I'm to the point now that I see dramatic results and there is no way I'm going to blow that by eating crap. Not to mention I know how horrible it physically and mentally makes me feel and how good I feel eating on plan.

That's not to say I won't go off plan ever. I'm sure I will since I'm doing this as a lifestyle change. For now though my focus is getting to that next mini goal.

[whereami]

Re: Why can't I beat this lil devil that sits on my shoulder??

Wow what an awesome thread with awesome things said! I love it!

Anyways, Ive come a long way myself losing around 30 pounds on Atkins and stuck to it like glue until I took a vacation to the US to see my family and then it all went down hill from there. I ve been losing and gaining the same ten pounds for over six months. I try to remember how I stayed on Atkins with such commitment and how I did it because now I can't stay on it for more than a week without cheating and jumping off.

I do want to look good for myself and for my family. I want to be healthy and active and in good shape. I think you just have to really focus on what you want and try your best and work the diet. This advice is to myself before it is to anyone else.