urgent advice please

[MANDYTHROWER]

Hello everyone,

I would like some advice please. I planned to start induction again today for the 1000th time and i've failed on day one. I just feel so depressed and low that i'm at a point now where i wont even try because i know in the back of my mind i'm going to fail.

I so want to do this. could someone please give me some advice Should i just give up and except that i can't do this. I've done atkins before and lost weight.

Mandy

[Honeybean]

I'd like to stand in line behind you Mandy. I'm really having trouble staying on track. I'll do ok for a couple of hours, sometimes making it all the way to week 2, then Whammo. I crash.

What can we do to make this work for us? I MUST lose some weight. I even changed my goal to "make it easier" to work toward, but that didn't seem to help much.

Ultimately I need to lose 105 pounds. Right now, I'd be super happy to lose 25 pounds! It's that bad. I really have no one to blame but myself, do I? I get frustrated with no results on the scale since I lose so slowly, even on induction. I probably will (like before) only lose about 4 pounds.

I'ts so discouraging. I have to stick with low carb because of my health problems, but getting to goal would be nice too!

Hang in there.............. I hope we can figure this out!

[Alexa]

Hi Mandy,

Sorry to hear that you are feeling down about starting. It is totally understandable that you feel afraid to start this WOL. For many of us here, beginning yet another new diet may not hold out much promise - so many others have failed.

If you feel like today has not started great there is not reason why you can't wait a little longer and really get things in place for a better start. Perhaps give yourself a week to get in lots of meat, eggs, salad and veggies. Maybe make a meal plan so you have a reference point? Plan some light exercise to get into the swing of it. Prime all your friends and family so they know what to expect and won't be constantly offering you food you cannot eat at this point.

During the week, if you have some spare time spend time researching the diet - read the book again, read stickies on ADBB. It is always great motivation to read success stories, like those in the loser's lounge:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=3995 (The Losers' Lounge)

It is probably better that you don't start today if you don't think you can do it right and happily. There need not be a massive sense of urgency. Planning is the best way to accomplish what you want. You've done Atkins before so you know it can work for you, but give yourself time to get it right. Perhaps start a journal here (if you haven't already) in order to keep yourself on track and to chat about getting everything in place.

Let us know how you get on. Sending hugs your way ((((((Mandy))))))

[julirama723]

I think Baarb gave you some GREAT advice!

It can seem daunting to start this journey. I remember in August when I started, the road seemed so LONG to get to my goal and I wondered if I could do it. I wondered if I truly WANTED to do it. But then I looked at myself in the mirror, and I realized that I wanted to lose those 90 pounds MORE than I'd ever want a piece of pizza.

So perhaps your first step is to figure out why you want to do this. For good health? To be fit? To improve blood sugar? To live longer? Write down all those reasons why you want to be successful at atkins.

Now write down all the reasons why you think you can't do it, or you think you don't want to. Will you miss sweets? Will you hate exercising? Compare these "reasons" to your motivations for starting the WOL. I did this, and my reasons for not starting were little more than silly excuses to keep eating junk. The list is a good way to get in the mindset to start the plan. Sometimes we know in our hearts what we need to do, but the mind just can't see it.

Like Baarb said, make SMALL minigoals. Say to yourself, "I'm going to do this for a week." Then say, "I'm going to do this for 2 weeks." Keep extending your time. Or have a minigoal every 5 pounds. Plan non-food rewards for your success and reaching these minigoals.

And hey, if you slip up, DON'T QUIT. One bite should not be an excuse to eat poorly for 3 weeks. Get back on plan with the next bite, drink some water, get some exercise; get back on plan immediately.

Also, Atkins is a fabulous way of eating. It's by far the healthiest eating plan I've ever been on. But, there are OTHER eating plans out there that stress healthy foods, exercise, and healthy habits. Have you researched these other plans? Maybe Atkins is not suited to your tastes or likes, and another plan is better. I love Atkins, and I think it CAN work for everyone, but I don't think it's neccessarily the plan FOR everyone.

I hope this helps Mandy! Best of success.

[Maerow]

One thing that helps with the cravings, is have atkins friendly foods available. If you get a craving for something and find yourself heading to the fridge...its ok. Go to the fridge. Eat something, but make sure its atkins friendly...chicken wings, cream cheese cheesecake, cheese, etc. Let me tell you something wonderful about atkins. It is seriously hard to binge on low carb healthy foods, because you will get to the point were you are totally full.

Another thing that helps is to set yourself up to succeed. Throw out everything that isn't low carb from your kitchen (if possible). That way you have no choice but to eat low carb. Make sure to pack large lunches at first, so if you are at work and you are overwhelmed with cravings you can eat low carb stuff.

Once you get into serious ketosis, the cravings will start going away. Then you can focus on eating when you are hungry.

You are worth it. *hugs*

[Maerow]

Oh and...the above poster *waves* has seriously good points too...you have to decide why you want this. If you want it for the wrong reasons (boyfriend/family harrassing you, etc) and you aren't ready yet, you will subconciously sabatage yourself. It's really important that you undertake this journey with an understanding of what you want, and most importantly, why you want it. If you aren't doing this for yourself because you want to, it will be much harder and easier to cheat.