Back at the beginning

[12YearsofBabyFat]

Hi Everyone,
My story is far too familiar. I have done Atkins 3x now and lost 20-30lbs each time. I go back to my wreckless eating habits because of stress in my life and other things/ people become more important than my new way of eating. Also, I just lose focus. Each time I quit Atkins I am at a point where my jeans and other clothing feel lose, people have begun to compliment me on my weight lose and even though I am so far from my goal, somehow it feels like the new way of eating is burdensome and my weight lose is "good enough".
Here I am again- 10 lbs up from the last time I was on Atkins- embarrassed, discouraged, and ashamed. Why can't I get this right? Why do I keep quitting ? How many more years will I spend obese and hiding? I know this is supposed to be a new way of eating and not just a diet.
I have not begun Atkins induction again -yet. Tomorrow I will go to the grocery store and get ready for it. If I am really honest, I feel like I will fail again.
Any advice will be appreciated just please do not be too hard on me. Posting this is very difficult for me because I have to admit my failure to you and to myself as well.

[liv]

I read a book called "The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person" by Judith Beck a bit ago. It is was very interesting to me.

She argued that we have to change our mindset. That part of the reason fat people stay or return to fat is psychological.
Here are some of her points

Fat people

• Confuse Hunger with the Desire to Eat
• Have a Low Tolerance for Hunger and Cravings
• Like the Feeling of Being Full
• Fool themselves about how much they eat
• Comfort themselves with Food
• Feel Helpless and Hopeless when they gain weight
• Focus on Issues of Unfairness (they can eat donuts why cannot I)
• Stop dieting once they lose weight (and therefore gain it all back again)

Her solution to all these issues that plague us (and I recognize myself in several of these) is to write down little notes to remind ourselves why we do this. So we do not stick food in our mouth every time we feel sorry for ourselves or things do not go our way. We have to change our mindset. It helped me reading this and thinking about this because I know there are psychological issues and habits that I have formed as fat that I cannot have as thin

[chinadoll]

Fat people

• Confuse Hunger with the Desire to Eat YES
• Have a Low Tolerance for Hunger and Cravings GETTING BETTER AT THIS
• Like the Feeling of Being Full GETTING BETTER AT THIS TOO
• Fool themselves about how much they eat YES
  
• Comfort themselves with Food A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME
• Feel Helpless and Hopeless when they gain weight NOT WITH ATKINS
• Focus on Issues of Unfairness (they can eat donuts why cannot I) NOT ANY MORE
• Stop dieting once they lose weight (and therefore gain it all back again) WELL, HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TO GOAL - WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

Her solution to all these issues that plague us (and I recognize myself in several of these) is to write down little notes to remind ourselves why we do this. So we do not stick food in our mouth every time we feel sorry for ourselves or things do not go our way. We have to change our mindset. It helped me reading this and thinking about this because I know there are psychological issues and habits that I have formed as fat that I cannot have as thin.

wow. there are some things to think about here. great post, liv

[allegra15]

Fat people

• Confuse Hunger with the Desire to Eat
• Have a Low Tolerance for Hunger and Cravings
• Like the Feeling of Being Full
• Fool themselves about how much they eat
• Comfort themselves with Food
• Feel Helpless and Hopeless when they gain weight
• Focus on Issues of Unfairness (they can eat donuts why cannot I)
• Stop dieting once they lose weight (and therefore gain it all back again)

Great, great post! I think people really underestimate the PSYCHOLOGICAL parts of their weight loss issues. The bullet points may hit home (different ones to different people) for many of us. I have Insulin Resistance and it's often hard not to feel "WHY can't i eat the same as my friend?" when we're out to lunch. I may have eaten many wrong (for me) foods (carbs) in the past - but my calories were low, my portions in control. So I would so often look on with envy and be discouraged.

Also, I was raised that "rewards" were often foods. When you came home from school, or for a special treat on the weekend, or visiting grandmom's house, you know? In turn that makes it so easy to confuse "special foods" with a perk when you are sad, or upset, or tired. It's so easy to fall back into "comfort food".

So in many cases, we have the desire to change behaviors and our WOE -- but after years of abusing our metabolism, it's often long and slow. And in addition, we discount the psychology of it all.

Thank you for a great post. Many of us will benefit from seeing ourselves on this list -- and thinking about how to deal with and overcome, and compensate for these things.

Excellent post.

[sham]

Hi I will start by saying you are thinking negative dont do that if you think your going to fail before you have even started then you will fail because you dont have no faith in yourself.Think positive and hopefully the outcome will be positive.
You tend to always slip on the diet work on your willpower think how much you want to do this for yourself.If you feel you can give it 100% and you are really determined to suceed then start the diet dont just start the diet as a test.Set your mind to it.
If your having a hard time sticking to the diet always get yourself a diet buddy here or why not start the diet with a friend or family member that way you will keep tracks on eachother.
You have to realise that if you dont tackle this problem now then it will go on for years,why not give yourself a year and enjoy the benefits all your life.
I lost over 100lbs after having the 3rd baby and I lost the weight because I wanted to prove to myself and others that this time I wasnt just saying it I was really going to lose the weight and with dedication I did.
We can give you loads of info and advice but at the end of the day it all depends on you because its your life,you control it.All the best please do think hard before you start the diet.I do hope you suceed.

[12YearsofBabyFat]

Fat people

• Confuse Hunger with the Desire to Eat yes
• Have a Low Tolerance for Hunger and Cravings yes
• Like the Feeling of Being Full yes
  
• Fool themselves about how much they eat yes
• Comfort themselves with Food YES YES YES
• Feel Helpless and Hopeless when they gain weight yes
• Focus on Issues of Unfairness (they can eat donuts why cannot I) Absolutely
• Stop dieting once they lose weight (and therefore gain it all back again) Yes!

Thank you for this post. I am starting a journal and now I know the direction to go with it. I very much appreciate the encouragement and practical advice!!!
By the way- I just purchased the book online that you mentioned, Liz. Thank you for the suggestion. <3