success vs. failure

[peacefuljourney]

Hi,

This question is for the 'oldtimers' who've been here quite a while. Who've met or are near their goals. I'm interested in what you see as criteria for success. I'm sure many people come and go here - and come again etc. Can you tell us what you see differentiates those who are successful vs. those who aren't able to change their lives to make these changes last? Are there pitfalls or attitudes that you see regularly here?

Thank you. S-

[kate58]

I'm not an oldtimer really, or near my goal, but this was something I looked for from the beginning - what have the successful people got in common? What have the people who come and go got in common? I've certainly seen a lot of people fall by the wayside even in the short time I've been here - though the flipside of that is I've also seen people leave and come back even more determined or have great success at a second/third/etc attempt or after a period where they struggled.

These are some (pretty random) impressions I've formed:

the successful people:
- do it by the book
- eat a LOT of vegetables!!
- exercise regularly
- drink a lot of water, don't drink diet drinks much
- eat mostly home prepared food, rarely eat low carb products or processed food
- tend not to have many sweet things, even Splenda sweetened
- when they fall, just pick themselves up and get on board again, even if its a struggle
- have totally embraced this way of eating as a lifetime rather than a temporary thing

Those who have less success:
- haven't read the book!!!
- rationalise cheats, or deviations from the plan
- think of Atkins as a temporary thing, even if only semi-consiously
- expect miracles
- eat a lot of convenience food/processed food/branded food/junk food
- don't have regular home cooked meals
- don't eat enough veg, getting their carbs from other sources instead
- eat a lot of (legal) sweet things

As I say, fairly random impressions, but they are the ones I've formed reading posts here.

[Hudson]

Some keys to me:

1. Education. I started as a desperate, worried about my health skeptic that was ready to try almost anything. Now I am a total convert. Not just that LC is better for weight loss, but is the superior diet for overall health. If you think deep down that Atkins may not be healthy, it only takes a little to sink the ship. I also found Gary Taubes book VERY encouraging.

2. Food preparation. This gets me in trouble as much as anything. When I am cooking and preparing the right good food I have little trouble. When I am not cooking, looking for convenience food and getting bored with the food, I have problems.

3. Thinking long term. Many times the weight does not do what I expect. I eat well, expect to lose... and nothing. It is important to remember I am not in a race to lose weight. Actually a pound every 3 months ends up being significant. Healthy long term, not I've got to drop 10 lbs by ...

4. Evaluation. I have made MANY mistakes. LC Ice Cream, LC tortillas, Etc. You have to sit back every now and then and evaluate what is good, working activities, and what may be causing problems. It took me about a year to honestly evaluate what LC Ice cream was doing to me. But it sure tasted good.

[JerseyGyrl]

I do low carb...Atkins (nearly 4 years now). I too, have found a way that low carb works for me...following Dr. Atkins plan the way it was written. What I mean by that is, I eat real foods, not processed foods or "low carb products" (i.e. lc tortilla's, breads, Dreamfields pasta, etc. etc. etc.)

Unless someone has taken the time to read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution...they tend to have a distorted opinion of the Atkins lifestyle. They believe we Atkins followers live on lbs. of red meat, bacon, cheese & butter. This is very untrue! If you look at the Induction rules,from day 1 on Atkins, it states "Eat no more than 20 grams of carbohydrate...at least 12-15 grams of which must come in the form of salad greens and other vegetables (see the acceptable foods list). Many people also believe food quanities are unlimited...another total misconception of this lifestyle. The book clearly says "up to 1 Tablespoon" or "up to 3 ozs." When referring to meats, it states the word "Liberally"...which means until satisfied. Processed foods such as bacon (unless you can find a variety that is nitrate & sugar-free) are strongly discouraged

When you progress to OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss), you are instructed to add more vegetables, healthy varieties of nuts & seeds and fruits. In the Pre-Maintenance phase of the Atkins plan, starchy veggies (carrots, peas, even a small amount of white potatoes) are added, as well as legumes & grains, such as brown rice, old fashioned oatmeal & semolina pasta. This will prepare you for lifetime maintenance of healthy eating!


Contrary to popular misconception, Atkins is low carb...it is NOT no carb! Carbs are healthy for us...however, they must be the right carbs...not the bad ones that are in white bread, white potatoes, white rice, most pasta, sugar & white flour.

I hear so many people saying "oh, I tried that diet and it doesn't work...or it made me sick" When I ask, what were you eating and they reply "lots of meat, eggs & cheese", I don't wonder why it hasn't worked or why they're sick!

Atkins, when done correctly, is very healthy. To do that, you MUST read the book and follow it the way it was written. Don't rely on hearsay...READ THE BOOK!! I can't stress this enough.

It works!! I'm living proof!! But, it requires commitment, determination & consistency. "If You Did What You Always Did, You'll Get What You Always Got!" In a nutshell, successful & permanant weightloss requires changing your eating habits for the rest of your life. You CAN do it!!!

[julirama723]

I think Kate, Hudson, and Jersey have posted EXCELLENT replies, and I agree 100% with them!

Another thing I'd like to add is that many of the successful people are focused on attaining a certain "place" or striving to feel fit and healthy, rather than weighing X amount of pounds. They're not letting a number on the scale determine their futures, but instead are striving to be a healthy person in control of their foods.

The most important things I can stress:
*DO IT BY THE BOOK!
*Be honest with yourself.

[ValidRouge]

Kate, Hudson, and Jersey, I agree 100% with all of your points.

I've done Atkins a couple times. The first time I was determined to do it "My Way" instead of doing it by the book. I was unsuccessful. The second time I came back I was determined to do it the right way. I was humbled and ready to be real with myself.

Be HONEST with yourself about what you do to honor your goals or DISHONOR your goals.
Follow the eating plan the way the book says.
Be HONEST with yourself about even LEGAL foods. Be open to evaluate your foods at any time. Legal foods that don't agree with YOUR body, are not legal for YOU. They no longer are legal foods. For instance, I've found that if I eat anything with wheat in it, I'll bloat and get cravings. If I eat nuts, I become a raving beast that will eat the house down. If I et dairy, once again, the cravings are overwhelming...and I'll bloat. Any of these foods cause me to gain weight and become cranky. They are no longer legal foods for me. If I eat them, I am cheating myself.

Completely give up the thought of going back to the way you used to eat. Change your mind set about this. I CHOOSE to not eat those foods. If I eat them, I WILL get fat again. I choose NEVER to get fat again, so I choose not to eat those foods EVER EVER again. It's all about choices. Sometimes I still find myself thinking "it's not fair", but the reality is I could have those foods. I can have them right now if I *really* want that. But, what I really want is to maintain this weight and this feeling of well being.

Always, have real food prepared in advance. Convenience food is JUNK. Low carb junk food is STILL junk food filled with chemicals, preservatives that are not good for us.

[LCer09]

I guess I'm an old timer, I started Atkins 11/03, joined this board 12/03, and my husband and I had lost over 100lbs each by 10/04. Have kept it off for the most part over the years, I'm back lurking and seeing what's new because I put on 10 lbs over the holidays through my own carelessnes. (half of which is gone now, but I've always kind of wanted to lose another 10, so maybe this will be the year I do it, who knows?)

Anyway, I really only see one major difference between people who are a success with this WOE, and people who are not.

People who fail look at Atkins as a punishment. They whine about how unfair it is that they can't have pizza, pasta and cake. They constantly try to cheat, ('sugar free' treats and whatnot) thinking they are somehow special and can break the rules, and then complain about not losing.

People who are successful at Atkins look at it as a godsend. They embrace it because FINALLY they can actually eat and loose weight. They feel as if somebody has given them the key to a treasure chest, and the treasure is the answer to all their hopes and prayers.

All in all, from what I saw back in the day, and what I see now, it's 100% attitude. Everything else, including lack of knowledge, can be overcome.

[sadie147]

Wow there is some awesome advice here! Really not much more I can add, but to stress what most of the others have said. You must follow this by the book. Especially when it comes to moving to OWL. I notice that many people who fail, stay on extended induction far too long. OWL not only helps you learn your self control, learn what foods are your trigger/problem foods (or possible allergies), but it also adds variety that makes this a way of living, and not a diet. Had I not moved to OWL, I would have walked away from this plan long ago out of food boredom alone.

Just remember that Ongoing weight loss is exactly that: ONGOING.

If you follow the rungs properly, by the time you reach your goal weight you will be in control of your eating habits, eating a healthy variety of foods that you can easily maintain for life.

Also another thing I've noticed over the years I've been here, is alot of the people that fail are doing this woe to: get thin for my sisters wedding; highschool reunion, vacation etc etc. You didn't gain this overnight you aren't going to lose it overnight. slow and steady, try to remember this is a lifetime woe and not a quick fix.

[DigitalMocking]

LCer09, that's some of the best and most honest advice I've seen about Atkins in years and years of being involved in various communities.

[blue996]

Excellent replies everyone!