Began induction today - Using the SWOT

[anewdawn]

Hi - I'm brand new and on my umpteenth time working to get started on a new way of life with Atkins - I know it works, my doctor has a greater respect for it now, as I kindof beat her about the head and shoulders with the book and showed her the cube of butter example that this is not "high" fat - just reasonable fat.

Plus my latest blood work gave me a very undesirable status as her most insulin resistant client on record.

So, if you haven't heard of SWOT - it's a strategic planning tool developed at Stanford University in the 60s. It stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

I'll start -

My Strengths: I can stick to this program - once I "decide" to do it, nobody can wave the chocolate under my nose and tempt me.

My Weaknesses: Deciding - I negotiate myself into procrastinating one more day, one more SuperBowl party, etc. I also forget to plan ahead and pack my own lunch - vegie nibbles, etc. to get me through the day. CAFFEINE - or the need for it - very bad crutch and leads to other problems. I'm also a bad shopper. I have a 15 yr old son who's 5'11" and 125 pounds. His favorite self-cooking foods (since I'm a working mom) is raman noodles, pot stickers, sloppy joes, chicken nuggets, milk, and "Frosties" (yes, the boy can cook a few things, run a blender and a deep fryer - but as you can tell, he's the carb devil!)

My Opportunities - to truly turn a corner on the insulin resistance, dodge the diabetes bullet, get in shape, change my energy levels, stay awake to make money on my job (in sales) and sleep well at night. Have my hormones balance out and have the vitality at 50 that I didn't have at 40!

My Threats - procrastination has drug my successful results through the dregs of failure for 3 years. I will wind up barely getting by financially - or worse, dependent, if I don't get enough energy to show up, on purpose. Feeling good is absolutely essential to all aspects of my life

If you care to share, it will help me figure out areas that I haven't been willing/able to see about myself as you share your experience with me.

If you have recovered from the procrastination demon, how did you do it? Share share!!

Thanks! I love what I see here!

[Debi2007]

Well, I loved your post. I can totally relate to one of the first things you said: umpteenth time! lol. SWOT sounds really interesting and helpful. I am not so much a procrastinator as I am constantly jumping around from plan to plan trying to find something that works for me longterm. I have done Atkins about 4 times, once losing 35 lbs. I am a carb addict. I just ended 2007 with a 70 lb loss and have a ways to go. It is good to ponder strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Your bloodwork sounds excellent. Feeling good is definitely my goal. Thanks for sharing.

[not2late]

When I decided to go on Atkins, I told myself to give it 14 days and I told myself to give it my all. If I lost weight, woo-hoo! If not, then at least I had a valid excuse to eat all those yummy foods (yummy Brie and Camembert, rich egg sauces like Hollandaise, etc.) for 2 weeks.

I did and I got results, which re-inforced my determination to succeed----plus I was happy because I was doing low fat and couldn't eat things like those cheeses, real cream, eggs, etc.

Since you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, you might want to start changing your son's diet too. Diabetes runs in families. Moderating his carb intake now may save him from medications and other things in 10-20 years.

[anewdawn]

Thanks for the pointers. Debi - congrats! Thanks for the inspiration.

Megs - I've promised him I'm not buying the carbs anymore - but I'm more worried about his lack of vegies - he can cook more than his dad can. I have baby carrots, pea pods, celery, radishes, and other grab-n-go vegies stocked in the fridge - I have apples in the fridge going soft and oranges going hard - he was sooo good when he was a baby - he loved cabbage and cucumbers, salad, and homegrown tomatoes. Now he ignores them - acts stupified that he missed them right there in front of his face in the fridge.

I'm actually pretty good on the blood sugar, just non responsive on the thyroid and female hormone therapy - T3-T4, progesterone and estrogen are key indicators of insulin resistance problems even when the blood sugar measure comes in at a perfect 80. However, son's paternal grandfather has late-onset diabetes and his great grandfather died from diabetes. I'm hoping that his father gets a clue and follows my lead. It sure isn't working to nag him into going to the gym - he'll get on a treadmill and walk 2 mph in defiance!

[not2late]

Well, then set a good example to your men. Once they see mom getting fit (and getting happier for getting fit), it will be easier to persuade them.

[ThinSoon]

Great post! I'll have to write mine out this weekend!

Tracey

[IrishIrish]

Great post! Figuring out your motivation and dealing more with the counting carbs is key to long term success. Like Megs said, I also began giving Atkins a "shot", but knowing deep down inside that this was my last hurrah! I was delighted when after a month I saw weight coming off and wasn't bored ... and a month later eating shrimp and scallops and cheese and veggies and hamburgers. I love cooking, continue to cook and adjust recipes. I really haven't had to look back and ever regret my decision to do Atkins. And the health indicators are proof this works.

Best wishes to you! Just remember it is a day at a time ...

[Bettestress]

I wanna play! I love analyzing things and identifying potential problem areas before they get too big.

Strength: Have no desire for sweets and not easily tempted. I have pie in the fridge right now. Real apple pie. Not for me, I won't be partaking and it simply does not phase me.

Weakness: I have bad hip joints (not just from weight, all my life), so exercise is a real challenge. And I often blow it off. I have a cardioglide that I should be using. Easy on the joints.

Opportunities: To stave off diabetes, and alleviate wear on my hip joints.

Threats: Boredom. I thrive on variety, and get tired of cooking all the time.
So the first thing I did was gather up some recipes, and start an Atkins cookbook in my Master Cook program. Easier the better.

Thanks for the thought provoking post!

[anewdawn]

Two week weigh in yesterday - my current weight is now 254 - down 15 from last November, and down 8 from the beginning of induction.

I put on my smaller size suit pants yesterday - when I bought the suit, I bought two pair of size 22 pants, but one pair was at least three inches bigger around the middle and quite a bit more roomy through the seat and legs.

I get my lab work back today on my thyroid levels.

[Elizellen]

Weigh to go