Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

[vicky-b]

Greetings from Oregon, fellow Atkiners....

My name is Vicky and I was once an Atkins eater. I changed my eating habits about 4 years ago and lost 30 lbs of the 40 I had intended to lose, all within 5 months. Shortly following that 5 month mark, I started eating things I should haven't and slowly but surely started putting on the weight. Then, my beloved 14 year old Blue Point Himalayan took his journey to the heavens above and I absolutely fell apart, completely giving up the Atkins way, and barely existed for quite some time. I was a mess.

In any event, those days are behind me and I am now in desperate need of help because I can't seem to get back on track, myself. I've gained 25 lbs back. It has been a long time (for me) to be off Atkins but I absolutely must lose this weight before it kills me.

One of my problems is that I have a slight case of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) so it is hard for me to stay on any menu unless it is put in front of me, word for word. I don't like a lot of foods.... only meats, eggs, cheese and I can't stand salads anymore. I do like green beans and snow peas (out of the fridge w/ranch dressing) but my tastebuds are pretty limited overall.

Anyway, thank you for being here because I am somewhat hopeful that I will be able to find the help/encouragement I terribly need. Thank you for reading my introduction. I know it isn't much, but it's me.

Vicky

[bykerdruid]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Hi and welcome back to Atkins. There's one thing you know for a fact. Atkins works. Nothing like that knowledge dangled before you like the proverbial carrot.

It really is hard to stick to anything when tragedy strikes. But it is doable. And there are many things on Atkins that can be considered "comfort food". I found a favorite indulgence last time around was cream cheese with splenda and a drop or two of vanilla. It's not Edy's Samoa Ice Cream, but one satisfies the cravings, the other puts 20 pounds on me!

Since you are one of those "gotta have it written down" people (I have to write it down, too, not becuase I'm ADD but because I forget) then create a menu. Wheter it be weekly or monthy, write down your basic menu. You'll also find it easier to shop and not go over the budget if you know what you are going to be eating over the next week.

Right now, I feel like a living, breathing, walking Atkins advertisement. This is my "second" time around and I feel SO committed. And seeing my blood sugar drop 70 points and weight drop 7 pounds in LESS than a week only confirms what I've always known. Atkins works. And once you break those sugar and carb addictions, it's easy as pie! Meat pie, that is. Crustless.

[vicky-b]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Byker, I am glad to see you back, as well. Congrats on this. I think, for me, is a need of motivation. It is amazing how we can fall back so easily (over time) and not even realize or foresee the lingering doom that waits ahead. Before you know it, you are back to square one and with such a strong feel of failure. I want to get rid of this feeling.

Sure, I could blame it all on the death of my beloved Toby, but that's not it. I simply became weak and allowed myself to fail. There is no other reason for my setback. It was an "easy out" when I was most vulerable, and I took it. This is it in a nutshell.

Anyway, I am glad I'm here and will try my best to start induction soon. I haven't yet but, on my next shopping spree at the grocery store, is when I will be tossing out all foods that are bad, and replacing them with Atkins friendly foods.

Thanks for your reply.

Vicky

[bykerdruid]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Agreed, we can use any excuse we want, but the fact of the matter is, it's our own control. I lost mine and am seriously regretting it. So, I want to try to encourage others not to make my mistakes. Once you're going on Atkins, stick with it. There's all kinds of controversy about "Atkins for Life", but like any diet, as soon as you go "off" it and go back to your old way of eating, you're going to be your "old" self...and I'm not talking the good kind of self.

Stay strong. And keep coming to the boards. It's full of the most wonderful motivation.

[alexandra22]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Vicky, I am SO sorry to hear about your loss. It must be so difficult dealing with the loss of something you love so much. I don't blame you for "falling off the wagon" at all! Sometimes, life throws us curveballs and we deal with them in ..not so healthy ways.

But listen! You can still turn it around. Each day is new, and fresh, and inviting. Start off small! Don't be too hard on yourself. Start with induction, if you'd like, and you'll have a new sense of accomplishment once you start dropping a few pounds again.

GOOD LUCK!

[vicky-b]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Thank you, Alexandra. Yes, it was tough losing my cat. Toby and I were bonded at the hip. I use to take him everywhere with me, even shopping in the stores. Never had to leash him, either, he was such a good boy.

I am going to try this again. I need to get back in the Atkins frame of mind. With every one's help here, I am sure I can do this!

Thanks again for your kind words.

Vicky

[bykerdruid]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Go back on Induction to break all those addictions you let back into your life. In fact, any time you break down for any extended period, Induction is a great way to get back on track. Break that desire for whatever foods you splurged on. I know once it kicks in, it's so much easier to resist the temptations. It's actually better than diet pills, and without the side effects!

[imagood1]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Vicky --

Welcome back to Atkins -- I've been "off plan" for awhile also and am starting back Monday.....you need to find more than just a couple vegetables you'll eat, even if you have to put them in your meals to get them in - there are so many vegetables to eat you should be able to find more than just green beans and snow peas. Good luck to you -- check Linda's site for different recipes (not all are complicated) http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html.

Start a journal to keep track of what you're doing and to meet others who can help you along your journey. Good luck to you!!

[imagood1]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Here is Linda's recipe site -- for some reason the link I posted above isn't working now:

http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/

[vicky-b]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Go back on Induction to break all those addictions you let back into your life. In fact, any time you break down for any extended period, Induction is a great way to get back on track. Break that desire for whatever foods you splurged on. I know once it kicks in, it's so much easier to resist the temptations. It's actually better than diet pills, and without the side effects!

Bykerdruid, thank you for such nice encouragement. The trick is to simply start Induction. I think I am fearing it, subconsciously, because I fear salads most of all. I overkilled the salads the first time around, until I was terribly sick of them. Green veggies is not my thing but I did it the 5 months I was on Atkins 4 years ago.

It's the starting that I am having a problem with.

I just got back from the store to pick up a couple of little things. I actually broke down and got me a tub of Spring Mix lettuce and some shrimp. The only way I can eat a salad is with lots of shrimp in it. Nothing else works for me, including chicken. Fortunately, I have always loved shrimp most of my life.

Anyway, I fully understand what you are saying in how, once everything kicks in, it's really a breeze. THIS, I remember quite well.

Thank you again.

Vicky

[vicky-b]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

Vicky --

Welcome back to Atkins -- I've been "off plan" for awhile also and am starting back Monday.....you need to find more than just a couple vegetables you'll eat, even if you have to put them in your meals to get them in - there are so many vegetables to eat you should be able to find more than just green beans and snow peas. Good luck to you -- check Linda's site for different recipes (not all are complicated) http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html.

Start a journal to keep track of what you're doing and to meet others who can help you along your journey. Good luck to you!!

Hi Carole,

It is nice to meet you. There aren't many Carole's in the world who spell it with an "e". My late mother was one of them.

I do love brussel sprouts. I forgot to mention them in my earlier post. In fact, to this day, I eat brussel sprouts quite regularly. The only green veggies I can eat are green beans, brussel sprouts, cold out of the fridge sugar snap peas with ranch dressing, and peas. No other green vegetables appeal to me. I LOVE corn most of all, but I also realized long ago that corn is a big no-no and don't have it very often, even to this day.

I think I have a childhood issue about food. My mom use to force me, back in the 60s, to eat my vegetables and some of these foods I just cannot eat today. Asparagus is the ultimate worst - I can't even smell it or it makes me nauseated.

It's funny but the residues of my last bout with Atkins 4 years ago, has left me loving some of the foods I was eating during that time. I never could shake diet sodas after that, and drink them even today. I don't drink many but I just cannot tolerate a full sugar soda anymore. In fact, I use splenda in everything today.

Another thing I could not seem to give up are my daily Atkins shakes. I drink one every morning for breakfast and have since I stopped the Atkins way 4 years ago. But, by lunch, I am starved and here comes the sandwiches with bread and whatever else I eat the remaining day. Sort of defeats the purpose, huh. I forget if the Atkins shakes are allowed on Induction as a snack or breakfast supplement. I will need to check into this. I can't imagine giving them up for a while but I might have to.

All in all, I do eat towards the Atkins way and watch carbs, however, not nearly as I should. I eat pastas, breads and the ocassional Starbucks pastry which I know are all bad for me. And, with the additional Atkins shake in the morning, I have ruined everything by the end of the day.

I MUST get back on this program.

Vicky

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

>> MUST get back on this program.>>

Then do it.

Seriously ... what's your eating plan for tomorrow?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

>> forget if the Atkins shakes are allowed on Induction as a snack or breakfast supplement. I>>

They are not a meal replacement.

Rather than focusing on what you "can't" do, why not focus on what you can do.

[vicky-b]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

>> MUST get back on this program.>>

Then do it.

Seriously ... what's your eating plan for tomorrow?

This is exactly what I intend to do.

As soon as my paycheck comes, I am off to the store to restock my kitchen. In the interim, I am getting rid of things that shouldn't be here.

However, I really don't think it would be very wise to go into this 1/2 way when I don't have full stock of the proper induction foods in my house. Do you??

Vicky

[vicky-b]

Re: Fell off the Wagon - Desperately Need Help

>> forget if the Atkins shakes are allowed on Induction as a snack or breakfast supplement. I>>

They are not a meal replacement.

Rather than focusing on what you "can't" do, why not focus on what you can do.

I have time on my hands until my shopping spree and new kitchen restocking to figure out what is going to work for me while in Induction phase. So, whatever I am voicing here, is only in conversation and reflections of my 1st time around on the Atkins way.

Once I get going on this, there will be no stopping me this next time around. Until then, however, I am introducing myself, giving every one a little insight to my before/during/after experiences with food, and posing questions from time to time.

Vicky