I'll probably need some support...

[woodym]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

AIYEE! Ditto on the sorry for not being around to respond promptly... Don't let a setback in one battle dictate a surrender in the war. Regroup, analyse the enemy. ("We have seen the enemy, and he is us." -Pogo)

It's the social occasions that really get us --- if we could always eat only in our own controlled circumstances, things would sure be easier. Eating with friends is the hardest thing to deal with in Atkins.

Doc A wrote this plan for people like us -- chronically overweight, essentially pre-diabetics -- and a lifetime of excess carbs has turned our pancreasses into insulin pumping monsters. A few bites of pizza crust and a swaller of Doctor Pepper (my personal favorite sugar water) rushes sugar into the blood, monster pancreas dumps in the insulin to sweep that sugar into the fat cells, so within minutes blood sugar plummets and we get that monkey on our back, the monkey wants more sugar! Lather, rinse, repeat.

That's why it's so hard to just have that one cookie, that one thin slice, that one sip.

It really is hard, there's no doubt about it. We all have to figure out ways of dealing with the temptation. Sometimes it means we must forsake certain situations, places, people. Often we can work out compromises. Maybe the hotwings at that pizza place are also good. With 2 and a half cups of diet coke. Hard to say.

This weekend is one of several in our culture that celebrates gluttony. I'm sure you're not alone in your having caved in. Have some water. Take a long walk. Don't run up the white flag because one ambush caught you off guard. Learn from it, enjoy your smaller pants.

[woodym]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

Frank! Speak to us!

[itzfrank]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

I'll speak, but I got nothin good to say. I don't feel like starting over. I feel like quitting. I want to but I think I'll just screw it up again. Why in the world is it so hard to just stick to eating like this. I can do a billion things right, but I don't eat right. It needs to change. I just don't know how, I feel almost sure that I'll just screw it up again.

[woodym]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

Don't be too hard on yourself. This is hard work. Frank, you're a helluva great guy. Look at this:

I'm also a full time college student. I work 12 hour night shifts and goto school in the day. I also edit/design various local websites. I'm an outside salesperson for a wireless carrier. I give alot, and tend to neglect me.

Doing this kind of major lifestyle change is a big project, it's hard work. You're spread a little thin, doing so many great things for your own future and the benefit of your community. There will be a right time, a right place, a right strategy. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year. You're young, there's time.

I myself was only able to lost my weight while I was unemployed after the MCI layoffs. I finally had time to think about myself and work a health strsategy for me, instead of greasy-burritos-to-go so I could drag it to work & eat it while I stressed out in front of a computer screen.

Trying to lose major weight is a big project, and you're running several other big projects at the moment. There's no pressure to do everything this instant. You're fine, you'll find a way and make it work.

\w.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

I'll speak, but I got nothin good to say. I don't feel like starting over. I feel like quitting. I want to but I think I'll just screw it up again. Why in the world is it so hard to just stick to eating like this. I can do a billion things right, but I don't eat right. It needs to change. I just don't know how, I feel almost sure that I'll just screw it up again.

Self-fulfilling prophecy, every word of it. All you need is a change of attitude! Go back and read what you just wrote: Everything about this 'diet' or WOE or your weight is 100% negative self-talk. Words you speak and write are VERY powerful. Your mind-set is formed by these ideas, thoughts, including written and spoken words. Your mind is very powerful and how you think is what your subconscious tries to give you. What you expect to happen is what you get. If you continue with the negative self-talk, you will continue not to succeed. It's almost like you want to be a failure, so you don't even have to try. I know that, because that kind of attitude was my 'safety net' for the years I was morbidly obese. 'I can't' was a very big part of my vocabulary.

If you change your attitude to positive self-talk, you CAN and WILL succeed. We can't do it for you! Only you can change yourself. I'm wondering if you ever read our comments to your original post????? Is it hard to accept praise? Do you have a hard time seeing your own good qualities??

I'm not saying it will be easy, or that you can change overnight, but CHANGE you CAN! Starting with making a list of your good qualities. Make a goal contract, filled with positive phrases. Not something like "I want to lose weight"--that's not specific enough. Make a statement like "I will lose ______ pounds in the next month." "I will lose ______ pounds in ________ months." Do NOT, under any circumstances, pick a number so high that it is impossible to achieve! Pick a number that is possible and is a bit challenging, but not impossible. This is one of my favorites: "I am releasing fat and pounds from my body ever day." "I will create and start an exercise program after one week of Induction, and I will increase my program as I lose fat and gain strength and endurance." Map it out, what you intend to do.

I have a goal contract written out and I read it aloud and sign it each and every day. As I have lost 120 pounds, the contract has been revised many times. Mine is now a legal sheet in length.

You have so much going for you. Take the time to see it in yourself. Expect a miracle; make it happen.

Sunny!

[READY_2_CHANGE]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

Hey Frank
Welcome and like everyone else has said this place is GREAT!! I have no doubt you'll succeed
Lisa

[itzfrank]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

I JUST SIMPLY BELIEVE MY LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN EATING FOOD.

I will not start again. This will be the last time I do atkins. I'm starting today, Dec 4th, 2007. Everything previous was not Atkins. It was some sad attempt that I never really believed in myself for. Today I begin a journey that will never end. A journey which will allow me to feel good each day. A journey of right decisions about my health, and a journey of the rewards of right decisions about my health. There is no other option, except to do this. It will require discipline. It will require everything I have in some moments. It could require interventions by my God when I'm not strong enough. It's okay, because I know him well, and tomorrow I'll know him better. I want to go out on the lake next summer feeling great, and looking great. I want to stand next to a beautiful woman as a handsome man. I deserve that life. We all do. If you're shorting yourself like I have been, we've got to stop it guys. We deserve the finest quality of life. A PIZZA IS NOT WORTH YOUR LIFE. In a hundred years we'll all be gone. Let's enjoy this now. Feel Good. Change your life. I know I am. I will. There is no other option for me. I won't restart this diet again. I promise me, and you... Watch as I succeed. I'll post here often. I'll talk about how I feel. My life is stressful, but it is not so stressful that I can't fix it. If I can offer you any inspiration, or assistance I will. I believe in this way of eating and way of life. I'm getting control of it. I'm doing it in small bites. For right now, I'm going to do induction until Jan 3rd. That's 30 days. Then I'll make another decision. I'll keep you guys up to date, and thanks for reading.

-Frank

[sillygirl]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

Oh Frank! Sorry you had a backslide. We have an "I Am Worth It Challenge" coming up this month. It's a discussion about how worth it is for us to lose weight and why we are worth a thinner, healthy body. I'd love to see you there.

In order to really stay on track, it is important to check in to the board often. In fact, if you feel a cheat coming on, come right to the board and many supportive people will talk you down!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

Frank--I have been worried about you! This is a great post full of positive statements! I am proud of you. One thing, though, you already are a handsome man! You will be more handsome when you lose the weight and exercise to get buff.

Do come here often--when you are not strong enough--your friends can help hold you up and vice versa. We're all in this together; none of us perfect, but we are great people! I want to see you succeed as bad as you do. We want to share your progress and celebrate when you succeed--every step of the way.

Sunny!

[sallyseachange]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

Great to read your last post Frank! Sounds like you've really committed to Atkins this time. Don't worry... the longer you do it, the easier it becomes, for real. You'll find all sorts of substitutions for the foods you no longer eat and all sorts of wonderful new choices. At the end of the day, and by the time you reach maintenance, all you're really taking out is white flour, sugar and highly processed foods.

I'm really looking forward to applauding you when you reach goal. I know that's gonna happen!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: I'll probably need some support...

Frank--it was a week ago today that you said you were going to come here often and post--you haven't posted since. How are you doing? Don't leave us hanging.

Sunny!