Whats my problem..

[Aussieinaz]

Ok I just cheated AGAIN tonight and ate some cake my husband made for him and the kids. Ive been doing so well, but have been cheating a few days a week. I tell myself ok start fresh tomorrow and well for a day or so then do it again..

I am under allot of stress right now, so Im thinking that has allot to do with it and then I crave sugar and BINGO i cheat...

I dont know what to do, I feel Im falling off the wagon and its getting harder to stay on and easier to cheat. Im scared Im just going to say screw it and quit. I dont want to though, Im tried of all the little cheats..

What can I do to get back on track? Any ideas would be great I feel lost right now.

[Alexa]

Hi,

I know exactly how you feel - I have cheated a fair few times since September. Some people seem to be able to start and stick to it, others like me, require a bit more practice.

I would advise making sure that you know why you are doing this. I've made a list of pros and cons before when I felt myself wanting to quit for good. The outcome - this WOL won by miles because it helped helped me to lose weight, feel healthy, exercise and feel in control. I'd recommend doing this and actually writing it down. Remeber to focus on the weight you've lost (7lbs is quite a proportion of the weight you want to lose) and on inches too as the scale can be deceptive.

As others have said to me before it is not a crime if this is not the right WOL for you. Other plans may be helpful in trying to lose weight. It is what you feel good on, what you can stick to. Going back to old habits, however, rarely do anyone much good.

Being cheat free for a certain period enables more non-cheating. You say you are craving sugar - that is because you are eating it, I think you said once a week or so?

I have found looking through the loser's lounge really good motivation, worth a look: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...=losers+lounge (The Losers' Lounge)

Also I signed up to the How Long Can I Go thread run by Maribelle: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=32341 (How Long Can You Go???) It really worked for me when I chose a target and I have a journal based on this. I feel like by stating it so publicly (here and to my family and friends) I would be embarrassed to cheat. The idea isn't to cheat after a certain period, but to get that far cheat free at least

Also, in my opinion, if you are having a hard times and haven't got the food in, and things sorted right, it doesn't hurt to choose a day to restart and really plan it for then.

Finally (mega long post ) as others have said to me and it really helps identify your triggers and PLAN around them. For example if you know there will be cake take along a legal treat or dessert that you can have when everyone else is enjoying cake so you don't feel deprived. When going out always take a snack or two. That way you won't be 'forced' to cheat by circumstances.

I really wish you good luck with all this - let us know how you get on

[jimmie 48]

i have told many in the past that this woe is sometimes the only thing they have control over. someone might bake a cake but they aren't forcefeeding you. you have the power to either eat it or not. it may be the only thing you can actually control. eating the things you know you shouldn't, didn't make the stress go away, did it? most likely not. so why jeopardize the good work you have done by eating things that caused the weight gain in the first place?
are you worth it? i'd say "yes"!
stress is just an excuse. don't use it as a crutch.
we see things each day listing this is why i cheated, this is why i hate _____ (fill in the blank). make your list on why you won't eat _______. and take a look at the following thread.
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=42078 (What excuse do you have......)

THINK POSITIVE!

[Carbaholic]

firstly, I would like to say, 'WOW! you look absolutely gorgeous in your after picture!!!' and secondly - I know exactly where you're coming from, and it's easy to feel like you're spiralling out of control after one cheat - it takes a lot of strength just to put it behind you and carry on, but you know it's worth it. Also, you now now how depressed and guilty you feel (probably a bit sick too) after you ate the cake, perhaps you'll be able to channel that into a second wind of cheat-free atkins?

Good luck - I hope you stick with it after all your hard work!

[harmony3098]

i have decided to start asking different questions when i have a cheat...b/c i want to find out what my triggers are...i am not able to stop in the middle of a binge or a cheat. i am interested in knowing my triggers so i can be better prepared...i find that one cheat leads to a spiral for me and it's more and more difficult to get back on track. and right now i feel like i am fighting to keep myself at 180 rather than allowing my self to move forward...it's a weird feeling...anyway, i like the no cheating commitment...i want to challenge my self to do this...

[sugarfreeone]

I dont know if this applies to anyone else or not, but I know for myself, I make a CONCIOUS decision to eat the "cheat food" right before I have cheated in the past. It takes making a concious decision TO CHEAT to pick up the illegal food and place it in your mouth. It also takes making a concious decision NOT to cheat to avoid a relapse.

Last night I was at the grocery store. My FAVORITE dessert food (pre atkins) of all time CHOCOLATE "SIN" Gourmet CHEESECAKE was on sale at my local fresh and easy market. It usually sells for around $4 a slice and it was on sale for a mere $1.50 per slice. I put it in my cart and removed it about 4 or 5 times before I finally took it out and left it on the store shelf and RAN away from it. And it was HARD. I was jones-ing for that cheesecake......Instead I bought the ingredients to make a legal cheesecake....yes it cost me more, but I'm worth it...and I feel I avoided a possible fall off of atkins by making that concious decision.

It's so hard to remove old habits and if you have an addiction to certain foods you just have to conciously set your mind against eating them. This is what is working for me right now.....The best approach for me is to be pro-active and not let my guard down or allow the thought of cheating into my head. Hope maybe someone can relate to this...

[determined2shrink]

Have you ever tried putting a scale in your kitchen and stepping on it before you eat? I havent tried it because i havent had cheating urges but i heard it works.