Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

[Thumper1616]

So I'm sitting here thinking (after a couple of days of binging on carbs) am I really so sad that I can't stick to this diet. I look at all the successes and wonder what you have that I don't have. What made it work for you? I HAVE the desire.
Did it come easy to you or was it a daily struggle like it seems to be for me?
I can go a week without thinking about what I shouldn't have then BOOM...there is a cake or a chip or a sandwich...
I guess I'm just asking...
1. What made it work for you
2. Even with slips I'm not hopeless.........

[Tracie515]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

I just made up my mind and that was it~! I still struggle every day but you just have to be strong and not feel sorry for yourself cause you can't have that cake or cookie. And remember this isn't a diet its a way of life! You have to permantley change your eating habits. You can't go thinking about all the things your gonna have when your done dieting. You can do it just be strong and believe in yourself!

[Debi2007]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

Good question. I am sorry you are having a hard time.

I think for me it is a mindset to begin with. I am finding that the more I put myself around like-minded people (on the board) - the better motivation I have to get through the rough times. I think another thing I am noticing, not just in myself, but in lots of the posts is that people take the diet and modify it. They don't do it exactly the way they are supposed to and there is a science to it. It has to be done exact.

So, I guess those are the two main things that make it work for me. I follow the program exactly and try to keep myself mentally focused.

[Thumper1616]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

URGH...I guess it's just me then....
well I'm going to break out the book tonight and get MOTIVATED!!!!
I should post a picture of me on the fridge...that would motivate anyone.

[Tracie515]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

It really helped me because my husband does atkins also. It would be great if you could find a friend to do this with or something. Or better yet start a thread somewhere posting how long your gonna stay cheat free and write to it everyday it might motivate you. If you would like i will start one.

[Thumper1616]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

Awww, thank you. I think that's part of it for me. My partner is a big snacker..I MEAN big SNACKER...and I'll sit there and watch him eat this or that or this or that and I get sooo frustrated. Of course it's my choice to sit there and dream about how that food must taste soooo good.
So I'll take you up on the offer for the cheat free days.
today makes ONE for me.
lol

[Tracie515]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

I am going to the challenges threads and posting it, follow me there!

[Porcelain]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

Awww, thank you. I think that's part of it for me. My partner is a big snacker..I MEAN big SNACKER...and I'll sit there and watch him eat this or that or this or that and I get sooo frustrated. Of course it's my choice to sit there and dream about how that food must taste soooo good.
So I'll take you up on the offer for the cheat free days.
today makes ONE for me.
lol

It doesn't really ever get any better as far as people around you eating. Imagine have to buy food for your whole family and feeding kids and stuff. You just have to decide if it is worth it to you. We all say "I really want to do this" but you have to put everything into it for those first two weeks. I was one of those people who tried to modify a bit, a shake here or a few nuts there. Hey, they're still on Atkin's right? Well, wrong. Until January 13th when I restarted with resolve and planning ahead, I never saw gains like I am getting now. I was rubbing my butt yesterday and noting how good it felt. Well, how good the actual butt felt, not so much the rubbing. Ya know?

Being here helps a lot, read as much as you can and post. We are here to help you but the decision is up to you ultimately.

Edit: When I said "gains" earlier, I meant gains in body image and resolve. I started losing inches significantly and I can tell my whole body is getting firmer. I have been swimming too and I can feel my muscles getting stronger and I can actually feel them through the fat now.

[Thumper1616]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

So you all did not struggle with Atkins?? Once you made up your mind you were there 100%?

[kate58]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

The second hardest thing I did was take pictures right at the start - few of me pre-Atkins exist, I was an expert at avoiding the camera. Even the one in my sig is a few years old, I was worse than that.

The hardest thing was posting pictures here. I did it very early, and really struggled with it. BUT having them out there really does make me focus. First, because I don't want people to continue to see me like that - I want them to see the real me, not the huge person I'd become. Second because I now cannot avoid seeing how far I've come every day, multiple times a day. It's very, very powerful and public motivation not to turn back or do anything to prevent me getting to the point where I can post an even better one.

[Porcelain]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

I did struggle, mainly because I wasn't doing it right. You have to get that resolve though that despite that crave and despite that sick feeling. I got the straight up flu when I did induction and I felt miserable. But once I got past 14 days it got easier, then it is was 15, then 16. Now I have gone the entire first 13 days of February cheat free. The longer you do it, the eaiser it is to do it. Nothing worth this much is easy all the time though but you become stronger, something inside you just "gets there."

[ttdriver]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

Hon, let me make one thing perfectly clear:

YOU ARE NOT HOPELESS. (did ya hear that?)

You are VERY MUCH worth the effort of becoming healthier, stronger and better than ever.

Here's what I suggest.

Take all your clothes off and stand in front of a full body mirror. Look yourself over VERY WELL and ask yourself: Is this how I want to live the rest of my life? Or do I want to be a healthy weight with a strong, toned body that will age gracefully?

Then, get dressed and get your family around you. Look at each family member individually and ask yourself: (if you have children): Do I want to be around to see them grow up and become responsible caring adults? Do I want to ENGAGE myself in their lives as they grow? Or will I stay on the sidelines and only wish I could? Ask yourself:

Is my health, (both present and future) worth this effort?
Is my family worth the effort?
AM I WORTH THE EFFORT?

YES YES YES ON ALL THREE.

Sugar and white flour/starch and transfats are HUGE enemies to your health. Not only do they make a person overweight, but they will undermine your future health and make you feel horrible in the process. They are directly responsible for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Atkins is not a DEPRIVATION lifestyle. If it were, I'd have never lasted 6+ years. Its simply a change in CHOICES .. this is a greatly satisfying, luxurious way to eat, but it does take effort and planning. There are lots of great recipes on this board and here: http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/recipes.html to get you started.

CHANGING YOUR LIFE TAKES DISCIPLINE, DETERMINATION, AND DEDICATION. Take it ONE DAY AT A TIME, ONE HOUR AT A TIME. Commit yourself 100% to this plan FOR TODAY. Then tomorrow, build on the success of yesterday. Soon, you'll be at goal, and you'll be fit and fabulous!! Then you'll look back and ask yourself: WHY THE HECK DIDN'T I DO THIS SOONER?!

YOU CAN DO IT!

Betty

[Debi2007]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

It doesn't really ever get any better as far as people around you eating.

It totally got better for me. I have a husband who is thin and lean and a junk food junkie. I used to have such a hard time watching him eat, or even having the stuff in the house. The more committed I get, the easier it is and it doesn't even bother me most times. I just have my focus. So, I guess maybe for some it gets better and for some it doesn't.

[julirama723]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

Betty's post is EXCELLENT!

For me, I didn't have any other choice. When you're so far down that even the gutter looks up, you know you've got to change and change NOW. I had to hit rock-bottom. A big reason why I didn't start earlier was because I was in denial. Me, fat? No way! I exercised semi-regularly! I had a boyfriend who thought I was hot. I still could wear "cool" clothes. I'm not fat, these clothes must have shrunk, or that mirror is distorted, or that chair is just cheaply made.

When I finally couldn't ignore the truth, that I didn't look hot, that it wasn't the mirror or faulty furniture, that I could BARELY WALK in the mornings after getting out of bed, I had to face it.

It was at that point I realized that if I wanted to end up like my parents (overweight, health problems galore, diabetic, and completely unwilling to change) that I would go to an early grave and be miserable the whole way.

I also figured out that I DESERVE to be a healthy size. I deserve to be active and energetic and healthy. I deserve to turn heads and be "the hot chick"!

It's a question of how bad you want something. I won't tell you that Atkins was always easy, or that it's a walk in the park, especially for someone like me with a serious carb addiction. Induction was tough, but I felt SO good, that NOTHING was going to change that. Sure, a cookie looked good, but would I let a stupid cookie ruin my succes? Would I let those potato chips be my downfall? NO, darn it, I wanted to prove that I was STRONGER than food, that it could not control me anymore.

There are days when Atkins is a breeze. That's most of the time. There are days where it's tough for whatever reason. But I have my eye on the prize and that longterm satisfaction beats hedonistic pleasure EVERY time. These days it's a little bit harder. I'm on the KISS plan for a yeast overgrowth, and an induction menu sounds like downright luxury to me! Cheese? Heavy cream? Olives? Mayo? LUCKY BUM!

And as for a diet buddy...don't hold your breath. It would be nice, but you've got to rely on YOU for your successes. ADBB is as close to a diet buddy as I will ever get, and honestly, it's been such a huge help. My boyfriend is supportive, but he still eats some foods that I cannot eat (either due to Atkins or food sensitivities) and I just deal with it. Life isn't "fair" but that which does not kill us only makes us stronger!

I prefer to think of all the things I CAN have. By now, I can't even begin to imagine how I would eat if I had to base my diet off of the food pyramid. No butter? 3 eggs a week? 6-11 servings of carbs? I'd be bloated as big as a semi, screaming at everyone, and lost in a brain fog. It truly has become a way of life, probably because I don't think of it as a DIET. If you think of it as a diet, you are doomed to a diet mentality. A diet is a quick-fix, and Atkins is for life.

I will always be a carb addict, hopefully I'll always be in a state of "remission".

So no, Atkins isn't always easy, but it's ALWAYS worth it.

[ttdriver]

Re: Hopeless or just learning? those who have lost please tell me

OH MY GOSH, JULIE, WHAT A GREAT POST!

I'm not fat, these clothes must have shrunk, or that mirror is distorted, or that chair is just cheaply made.

When I finally couldn't ignore the truth, that I didn't look hot, that it wasn't the mirror or faulty furniture, that I could BARELY WALK in the mornings after getting out of bed, I had to face it.

It was at that point I realized that if I wanted to end up like my parents (overweight, health problems galore, diabetic, and completely unwilling to change) that I would go to an early grave and be miserable the whole way.

I was *SO* there !!! Constantly making excuses, rationalizing, telling myself 'well, so what, its only normal to gain weight as you age...RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT?' WRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG GGGG.

Fact is, you only get so many chances to CHANGE YOUR LIFE .. and the older you get, the less chances remain for you. Start when you're young so that as the years go by, you'll have more QUALITY in your life! Gad, I wish I had known at 30 what took me till 46 to discover. But be that as it may .. its all history now ... bottom line: DO IT NOW!!!! EAT AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, BECAUSE TRUTHFULLY: IT DOES!

Betty