No Self Control

[Olya]

Hey guys. Okay... So I'm new here. I'm having some issues... I have been starting the atkins diet for the past month. ( sad I know ) I do good during the week, and then the weekends come. Usually, I get depressed or frustrated and end up binge eating sweet food ( I am the worst sweet tooth ever ) So then I start again for the week, but it seems as though I dont loose as much weight. Also, just by eating some carbs on the weekends I end up gaining like 4 pounds. Sick. ARG! I want to lose weight so bad but I swear I have NO self control. I see a cookie, and next thing you know, I'm eating it. It's like I dont even think about it. My brain shuts down and my sweet tooth takes over. By the time I start realizing what I'm doing I'm 3 cookies into it. Help!! I need some words of wisdom here cuz I'm sick of it! I have a two week deadline that I need to reach... I want to lose 5 pounds by then...BUT I keep screwing up. Seriously.. what is wrong with me?!?!?

[dreamof145]

Nothings wrong with you. You are fighting the cravings and since your doing good during the week...I would urge you to make some weekend plans. Make some legal snacks on Friday night to last you through the weekend. When you start to have cravings, have a thought out plan that will help you. For instance, make it a point to always keep water with you. Sometimes you are dehydrated instead of hungry. Plan what you will do when you see the goodie that you think you can't resist. Take a walk, do some exercises, come to the ADBB and read the inspirational posts. Call a friend or write in your journal. Anything except give in. Write out why you want to lose the weight, keep that list with you and read it when you are tempted.

Some post pictures or inspirational sayings around the house, in the car, or carry them in their purses. Visual images work wonders. Do you have photos of yourself at a thinner stage in your life? Take those pictures out and really committ to losing the weight and feeling better about yourself. If you don't have any of yourself, cut a photo out of a magazine of someone at the size you want to be.

Don't look at this WOE as being deprived -- instead take out the induction list and concentrate on the foods you like, and experiement with the recipes that you want to try.

You can do this. Make a plan to make it happen. Take your measurements and see yourself getting smaller as well as recording your weight. You can do this. You aren't alone. This board is full of people who are sharing ideas, suggestions, and tips to help you. Join some of the challenges to give you motivation. Everyone here is very supportive and wants to see you succeed. Keep us posted on your progress. Soon this WOE will become a habit and you will feel so good about yourself for not caving in with temptation.

[abstractillusions]

Actually, i don't think there is anything "wrong" with you, but when you change something in your life, there is only so much others such as Dr. A giving you what to eat, how to eat it etc can do. In the end, the results HAVE to come from you. Its your decision each and every time to go off plan. Yes i know its very hard when outside influences are pounding at you, but no one is going to do this for you but you. Perhaps its time to start asking yourself WHY, and the answer isn't i don't have any self control, you need to really sit down and truthfully start identifying what is causing you to go off plan, why these triggers are so hard to overcome, and what you can do to alleviate this struggle.

Perhaps you may need to start journaling to figure out your triggers, when you know something is going to come up i.e. a weekend, and you have idenfified it as your "weak" moments, then its time to figure out a plan of action so you don't throw all your success during the week by the wayside. This lifestyle doesn't just occur Monday through Friday, its a 24/7 determination and persistence.

What it sounds like you also do is habit eat. Maybe you can make a rule with yourself that you won't put anything in your mouth unless you write it down first. This may help you be more aware of what you are doing BEFORE you do it. Or you can ask yourself a question before your first bite, is this on my plan?

Or make a conscious rule where you only will eat at certain places, i.e. the kitchen table etc.

It sounds like the main thing you need to do is a plan/course of action to see you through your tough spots. But in the end, YOU have to make it happen.


Just remember, if you aren't in the game and/or you decide not to play, there is no way you will make any goals to win the game. So maybe you need to have a very truthful straightforward talk with yourself and decide a game plan for when you get in a bind.

You can do this - but no one can help you unless you are willing to help yourself.

Good luck, look forward to hearing about your success after this up coming weekend!

[nettypooh]

They pretty much summed it all up. try to keep busy. And to talk about SWEETS, my mouth is watering just because I LOVE IT TOO!!!! That is the reason why I have gained as much weight as I have through out the years, becuase of junk food. I don't eat a lot of food, but put some junk food in front of me, and I would have a problem. ALSO....keep sweets from in front of you. Don't keep it in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aslo I have noticed...since being on day five that I haven't craved for sweets since day three. Believe me I'm shocked!!!! Plus I work around food & junk food. I am DETERMINED to lose this weight. When I tried Atkins for the first time three weeks ago I gave up on the fourth day around 9:30 I WANTED something sweet. I have to CONTROL my urges with want I want in life. Keep water with you always....this will help. Especially lemon water.

Hang in there...If you want you can post me directly through my personal e-mail and we can encourage each other day to day. I have logged in everyday since starting Atkins.

[Olya]

Thanks guys so so much!!! Today is day three and it's a lot better! I even watched my mom eat oreos (yum) last night and didn't have a single bite~now that's self control! haha. Seriously tho... you guys really do give some great support!! Now its Friday... The first day of the weekend... I will not cave, I will not cave, I will not cave!! I'll be on here for support this weekend that's for sure! Thanks again guys!

[Lyssie]

I was always really bad starting induction, and I would be so hungry that when there would be a weekend I would be like, well, this snickers bar is here and i'm hungry, and eat it. If I keep around a lot of induction-friendly snacks, and make sure that i'm actually hungry, not just bored, or looking for water or something, I do a lot better with staying on track. Good luck this weekend. If I can do it, you can do it!!

[Recital Mom]

Hello!

One more thought on the "No Control" issue. I have the same problem. I KNOW that I have an "addictive personality."

I gave up cigarettes cold turkey 21 years ago.
I gave up alcohol cold turkey 2 years ago - after trying and failing many times!
I know now that I have to give up sweets/junk carbs cold turkey and not turn back!

If I smoked for a weekend, I'd start smoking again.
If I drank for a weekend, I'd start drinking again.
I have already seen many times that if I have one cookie, I also have ice cream, chocolate, candy, cake, etc.

It's time to give up the junk food addiction. I know I'll turn to something else when I'm frustrated. I want to make that thing exercise. Of course, it could be this bulletin board. I think many people have made the bulletin board their addiction, and it probably doesn't take any more time than it used to take thinking about, buying, and eating junk food!

Barb

[G-Mom]

About Mom, you need to recruit her and have her support you by not eating sweets in front of you (at least for awhile). Perhaps you can also help to educate Mom about the horrors of trans fats and that a middle aged woman should be eating healthfully.

And while I am up here on my soapbox, we have ALL been through periods where we want the bad stuff. You just need to have some willpower AND let ketosis do its magic. Once you have gone a full 7 days being in ketosis, your cravings will subside and you won't be tempted. ALSO, make sure you don't let yourself become famished.

[Bren]

You have been given excellent advise. I can only think that maybe it is time to start a journal and write, write, write. Write down EVERYTHING and be 100% honest with your self. Not just what you ate, but why you ate it. That includes legal food too, even if you ate cause it was time and you were hungry. Do you have your goals and rewards written down?
I can honestly tell you that every temptation you pass up makes the next one that much easier!

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

[Desertthorn]

Congrats on the last 3 days. Induction isn't easy as it is when we learn to deal with our cravings, kick that sweet tooth and learn about our addition to carbs. I found that the best way is to find foods that you really like that are legal.