Why?!?!?!?

[chutton]

Why can't I stop cheating?!?!? I restarted this WOE Jan 1st after having a baby 9/3/04. I had lost weight before I had gotten pg but had to go off Atkins at that time. Now that I have finally stopped nursing and started back up again I can't seem to get through a day with out some little cheat!

I am good most of the time, and will keep telling myself that I am doing this and next thing I know there is something BAD in my mouth!!!

Or I see a big (great) jump down on the scale and suddenly I'm eating everything in sight and totally sabotaging myself!?!?! I don't even like the taste of this stuff anymore nor do I like the way it makes me feel...so why can't I stop myself????

Any help?????

[Moochiecat]

You must have a theory as to why you do this....think about it...
I used food as a reward/consolation/celebration...you name it, I used food as a balm for it. Once I realized that, the light bulb went on and that's when I really started to change. We're so wrapped up emotionally with food that we need to see this, recognize it, and untangle ourselves.

At the risk of sounding trite....only YOU can help YOU.
It's not easy sometimes, I know...but it really all comes down to you and the choices you make.

This is from a thread I did a few days ago on cravings...the whole thread is right here if you want to read the rest, it may all be of some help.
Dealing with cravings

We are so used to being mindless with food. Ever been sitting there with a bag of cookies/chips/whathaveyou and you look down and see it's empty...but not really remember eating all of it? I've been there done that. We have to learn how to stay with ourselves when it comes to eating...to not let our mind shut off in the middle of it. We have to learn to talk to ourselves as if we were talking to a friend.
"Do you really need a second helping or can you stop now and eat later if you are still hungry?" "Will having 'just one bite' of that cookie help or hurt?" "Wow, I'd really like a big bite of that illegal food, but instead, I'll have a big glass of water and wash that icky thought right out of my head."
"I usually have a treat at this time of day, but instead I'll eat an egg(or something legal) and I'll start on that hobby to keep my hands busy."

We are so used to being mindless with food. Ever been sitting there with a bag of cookies/chips/whathaveyou and you look down and see it's empty...but not really remember eating all of it? I've been there done that. We have to learn how to stay with ourselves when it comes to eating...to not let our mind shut off in the middle of it. We have to learn to talk to ourselves as if we were talking to a friend.
"Do you really need a second helping or can you stop now and eat later if you are still hungry?" "Will having 'just one bite' of that cookie help or hurt?" "Wow, I'd really like a big bite of that illegal food, but instead, I'll have a big glass of water and wash that icky thought right out of my head."
"I usually have a treat at this time of day, but instead I'll eat an egg(or something legal) and I'll start on that hobby to keep my hands busy."

[LosinTheBabyFat]

I'm working on the 70 plus pounds (YIKES) I gained with my son who was born on March 12, 2005. I just came out of a serious rut where I just couldn't stop cheating either. I have been cheat free for over a week and find that if you can just hold out long enough to get in ketosis you won't have the bad cravings. Also, I joined an exercise challenge on the exercise board and it has been such a blessing because it keeps me on track with my exercise and I have support and a place to check in everyday. If it's something you're interested in, check out the Vidiots challenge Part Deux, it's not too late to join.

[Analog6]

All moochiecat said is true. I read something about obesity recently where the author said as babies, we have a reflex which, in effect, 'turns off mouth' when we are full. A babe suckling at the breast will stop when he/she is full. Unfortunately, many parents, espoecially of bottle fed children, force the child to keep eating till the bottle, or plate, is full. This was certainly true for my generation, I can just hear my mother saying to eat all my peas/beans because of the starving children in Africa or where ever (I was often tempted to tell her to send my greens there but never quite dared!).

So our hunger satisfied sensor has been damaged, if you like, and you need to learn to reset it. When you feel hungry, have a drink of water. Wait a few minutes, then ask yourself if you are REALLY hungry. If you are, have some cheese or meat, something legal. Keep some cheese cubes and meat slices on hand always so you won't be tempted by the crap food. And get rid of the frankenfoods. If your partner/kids/others in the house want them - tell them to consume them outside, and keep them there.

You have to be firm with yourself and with your family. You are committing suicide by obesity, and I know, I've been there. You CAN do this, you just have to change your mindset and work out what you really want for you.

[Desertthorn]

Just do it one day at a time. Some folks can't do the whole package at once, they find it overwhelming to diet, exercise and drink water, but if you start with just one and then ease into the others it helps.

[chutton]

I am currently at a disadvantage. I am currently seeing an orthopedist for issues with my hips and am not allowed to exercise right now. Before when I would get cravings I would jump on the treadmill and I used to walk/run about 5-6 miles each evening. Can't do that now.

Honestly, it's not even a craving thing right now, it's just a mindless grab and eat thing.

Part of the problem may be that somewhere in the back of my mind I still think (because soooo many people have already said this to me) that since I'm really not that far from where I would like to be that it isn't really crucial to lose the rest of this weight. When I was 190lbs it was different, at 150lbs and a size 10 I'm not too bad, yk?

I know I should be smaller, I could use the help with my cholesterol, and I WANT to be smaller so I know I need to do this! I am doing the water thing when I feel cravings, I just need to control the mindless grabbing (like when I am fixing the kids snacks or meals, etc...)

Thanks soooo much for the support! I will definitely take this one day at a time and get through this until my mind is totally in the right place!

[ttdriver]

1. Ya gotta WANT IT worse than anything. Sounds easy and it is. Set your mind on success and REFUSE to settle for less. Talk to yourself, say it over and over and over OUT LOUD: I AM WORTH THIS. I CAN DO THIS. I WILL DO THIS.

2. Recognize food is FUEL and nothing more or less. Its not a reward; its not a security blanket; its not comfort. IT IS FUEL!!

Betty

[softnred]

There are exercise videos for people who are in wheelchairs. I rented one once and tried it...and boy was it tough!!! You stay sitting the whole time, but you get a good cardio workout. You might consider trying one of those as a way to get some exercise while your hip issues are being ironed out....

[chutton]

Thanks JoAnne! I go back to the DR on Friday, so I'll see what he says re:exercise. If I am still not allowed, I will look for some of those videos!

[Aussie_babygurl]

Ill say this, i started atkins just around christmas 2004. i was on it for 4 months, and was only about 4 - 5 kilos off my goal weight (8.8lbs) i was so damn happy for myself, i was into a nice size jeans, i had new clothes i felt so proud.. although i still looked at myself as fat.. VERY WEIRD as everyone told me how much they seen the change, i went from 207lbs, to 158lbs my goal was 147lbs as the docter said that was what i should weigh for my age and height. Although i was also told by my docter, that 72 kilos (which was what i had gotten down to, that was normal for girls my height as well.. so uh yeah)

Anyways i made the biggest mistake ever, i went away on a wrestling trip ( huge fan here) where i went inter state, and stayed with my friend in PErth... so i could see a few extra shows. Well for some reason his family didnt like me so i was hiding in his bedroom while he was at work, and wouldnt even go to the toilet till he got home, he would bring me back take away for dinner, i didnt have a huge choice while being there and stayed there for 3 weeks.. 3 weeks off diet i came home noticed i hadnt put any weight on so i stayed off atkins.. i went back to normal eating... now im back here, 2006.. if i had of stuck to atkins i would of bet my goal weight and been as thing and healthy as i want to be, im back to being big now, my perfect jeans dont fit me, my c ute lil top i loved doesnt fit me. and im VERY depressed..

I restarted atkins 5 times during them months i dropped out of atkins... each time id last a day or two, and then id be back to normal eating carbs, eating whatever.. chocolate, ice cream, chips take away, and whatever else...

5 days ago today, i somehow put myself back on atkins, and i feel how i did the first time when i did atkins, now all of a sudden of STUBBORN, and i feel so happy with myself,im walking around on a natural high because i have lasted 5 days, and i lost 8.8lbs in four days, thats HEAPS, i have been drinking loads of water ( i love my skin again yay) im doing excersise and i just feel so much better. i can see this time i will last and get down to goal weight again.. this time i will be very careful.

Hon, Sometimes we just need to take control, i went to mc donalds the other night.. on the 3rd night of atkins. My mum said if i wanted a meal she would buy it.. we actually drove in and we ordered.. when i had it in the car, i decided there was no way in **** i could eat it, and ruin the last few days of hard work i had done.. i gave it to my little brother.. and for some reason.. again that made me so happy that i was able to turn it down

Maybe... if you can do little things like that, praise yourself for not grabbing something that you want, if u have friends eating around you, leave the room or go do something else.. You have done it before, and you can do it again.. and even if it takes a few goes at trying it.. Maybe u will have the luck i have had.. where you just get stubborn and start a postive attitude on it.. i found it so hard to restart atkins, and i could never understand why.. as when i first started atkins, i never had cravings, i never felt sick, and i lived on a VERY boring menu, i was basically eating lettuce cheese & bacon, in roll ups (via lettuce) for lunch and dinner, sometimes like once a week id add chicken.. the funny thing is, i started not caring about food, food used to be a big part of my life.. back then during atkins, i was eating to live, that was all.. i focused alot on my water, and i felt the best i had ever felt. no more cravings

If i can somehow pull myself back onto atkins, so can you.. i BELEIVE you can do it