**I'm lost and I need help. Please advice would be great! **

[littlegem]

Last wednesday would have been my start of 4th week on Atkins, and weighing in at 158 pounds and 5ft4.5 inches I feel fat, frumpy and horrible.
I've beeen sooo good these past weeks, and my goal weight is 10 stone, hopefully to be achieved by october time.

I woke up normally but I've felt rough the past few days with a bug,and some how persuaded myself, toast buttered would be a good option ( I obv knew this isn't the case)

so down a couple of slices went.

followed by baked beans, potatoe waffles, icecream, chocolate, more chocolate, 2 bowls of cereal, bit of water...and I obviously feel terrible, physically and mentally.

I'm at a loss as to what to do.. I have exams coming up, and I'm stressed, somehow I think i managed to make myself believe that eating carbs , would give me brain power, how wrong I was, I feel so low, will I have put on all those pounds?

How do I move on from tomorrow??? ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS I am usually incredibly sane LOL!

[Alexa]

Hi Littlegem,

First of all hugs to you

You are not alone. Being ill can throw a real spanner in the works. When I was ill last time I OBSESSED about toast. I managed to cope that time, but the time before I didn't, and ate many carbs.

I would say if you feel properly prepared to do so, start afresh tommorrow. Re-do induction if you want to. But then start moving up OWL after 2 weeks if not already as it will make you feel less deprived and you are near goal weight so need to move up anyway.

I know exams can be a real pain but don't let them be an excuse to slack on this WOL. I've been a student for about 1,000 years and I have found that when I eat right and exercise I feel so much more in control and far less likely to start screaming at my desk. It's good to exercise to take a break and give you more energy and let the brain relax. Sugar and processed carbs will make your energy, your willpower and your enthusiams yo-yo around like crazy - not good for exam prep.

If you need to give yourself a few days to get in the right foods, etc, then do, but don't eat mad stuff in the meanwhile. And keep coming back here and tell us how you do

Best of luck!

[kislandmom]

Well, you have just told my story. I originally started Atkins last May and was able to lose about 20 pounds and a lot of inches. I was feeling good and ready for anything. Well, in October I got sick with pneumonia and was working full time with 2 kids to raise. Planning my meals fell to the bottom of the list, thus beginning my 7 MONTH LONG binge. Just one day turned in to another, then more carbs etc.

If you are anything like me, emotional eating is a very hard habit to get away from and the only way WOE that works is an all or none plan. With this plan, you can either have it or you can't. There is no such thing as a "little taste is ok". We both know that a little taste leads to the whole shebang!

So, get right back on track. Don't allow too much time to pass. You can do it!!!! I promise you, your spirits will be better and your emotional "need" to eat the bad stuff will go away.

I posted in the "How long can you go" challenge that I realized that whatever food I thought would make me feel good, may have done that for a moment. But it made me horrible for far longer!

[Justwannaloseafewlbs]

Dear Littlegem:

Sometimes staying on track can be a real challenge when one is feeling sick and under stress. Your ticker indicates that you have lost nearly 10 pounds so far, and that is considerable considering that you do not have a lot of weight to lose. I doubt your progress so far was all for naught. The fact that you have posted here suggests that you want to get back on track, so I will tailor this response to that goal. It's sounds like you are still in the game, so don't give up!

This is what I would do if I were in your situation (as I have been). Go back to induction for three days or so until you are in ketosis again. At that point, the glycogen stores in your liver and muscles will be exhausted and you can resume the WOL where you left off.

Personally, I would not start over from the beginning and do another two week induction as this would feel onerous to me. Induction is so hard! I also think that by setting out to do another two week induction, there is a danger that you could be setting yourself into a cycle of induction-binge-induction-binge-induction-binge, etc., which is not healthy and is not what the Atkins WOL is all about.

Finally, a caveat: I am new to this way of life, at least in the sense of attempting to do it correctly. I have a wealth of experience of doing the diet the wrong way, but hopefully someone with a lot of experience in doing it the right way will see your post and make recommendations. I am sure it will happen!

Hang in there!

[littlegem]

To everyone who gave me encouragement.

I actually cannot thank you enough, today is a new day, started with a pint of water drunk and some scrambled egg!

I then listened to some of my feel good music and got dressed and am now attempting to start some revision for my first exam in the next couple of weeks.

The guilt has turned into determination and I feel up for the challenge.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. Thanks tofor all your advice you are amazing. xxxxxxxx

[Justwannaloseafewlbs]

Hey, LittleGem: It sounds like you are feeling better. I am happy for you! I wish you the best of luck on your exams!!!

[sallyseachange]

Really good news that your "guilt has turned into determination and you're up for the challenge". Congratulations. Lots of us have fallen from the wagon before and then gotten back on. It really is a case of looking to the future and learning from the past.
Hugs to you and all the very best for your exams and your Atkins!

[SandyL2002]

Originally Posted by littlegem

To everyone who gave me encouragement.

I actually cannot thank you enough, today is a new day, started with a pint of water drunk and some scrambled egg!

I then listened to some of my feel good music and got dressed and am now attempting to start some revision for my first exam in the next couple of weeks.

The guilt has turned into determination and I feel up for the challenge.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. Thanks tofor all your advice you are amazing. xxxxxxxx

Great job getting back on track.. I think the most important thing we need to do is that if we screw up once..is not to let it become weeks... and get ourselves back on track that one day the urges will be gone

[Uk Girl]

You know it is so easy to read a thread like this and KNOW ourselves that it is 'there by Grace of God go I' !!

And isn't it great that when we do make a lash up - and confess - we just get encouragement to keep going and not berated for it on this board

Thanks everyone!