Plz Plz Plz help me!

[FAT2PHAT]

Ok, I have been doing this WOE since May 24th in that time i have dropped 33 lbs. Yes, that's great, but i'm having a problem. This last month (possibly more not sure) has been a hard one on me, long story short i gave in numerous times spending a few days off plan at a time. Then i would get back to it go strong for a week or so then fall down again...I'm really upset with myself because I fell again today! But it kind of doesnt matter because I have been having little bites here little bites there of food im NOT supposed to be eating! SO..back to my problem..I'm confused if i should even pick myself up this time. I have no desire whatsoever to GAIN so either i do this or count calories. I enjoy both ways and can succeed at both but i just feel Atkins is just better in the sense that when done RIGHT the cravings go away and the weight just falls off...but im worried and thats where i need some experienced atkineers to help me. I remember reading in the book that you cant use this diet as a crutch meaning stick to it then cheat then back and forth and back and forth and as embarrassing as it is thats exactly what i have been doing due to stress in my life ..Should i just pick up and move on like maybe counting calories or dust myself off and get back to it tomorrow? and if i get back to it will it even work anymore? i have screwed up so many times ..please help me. I am willing to get back to it the right way and commit fully as i was before but im worried its over for me and atkins will no longer work... thanks so much!!
signed, a VERY upset former atkineer

[gman]

Hello-
1. Congrats on losing 30+ lbs.!
1A. Just how did you lose those lbs.? Can you help us with what you've learned?
2. Congrats on being honest.
3. A kick in the pants for letting yourself down a few times. (OK move on!)
4. Congrats on posting this request knowing you want to improve and that you need some help.
5. Please consider this process you can try:
- Re-read the DANDR book tomorrow, on Sunday.
- Re-read the stickys here.
- Post and share more information with us so we can help you. Such as: What are your stats? What are you eating? Are you tracking ratios on fitday or something like that? What are your triggers to going off plan? What exercises are you doing? How committed are you to reaching your goal weight? Are you happy where you are? Do you have some life events coming up that you want to be ready for?
- As you are sharing information you will be thinking about what you read in the book and ADBB.
- Then we'll have some good suggestions also.
- As we start a new month, you might set some reasonable goals for diet, exercise and most importantly reflecting and learning about yourself.

If you can solve this little issue you can move ahead and reach all of your goals.
Sound like a plan?

[FAT2PHAT]

Thx gman for your quick response! i will try to answer your questions to help those who want to help me...i lost my 33 lbs by sticking to atkins strictly. At least for approx 2.5 months..i made it to the dairy rung in this time. I exercise as much as i can 5x a week is what i try for but settle for 3x when its a busy week. I do walk away the pounds videos usually 2 miles a day. i have used fit day at one point but usually cant find the time to sit here and put my foods into it. As for what i eat typically...since i have been giving up on myself a lot i have been trying to go back to induction typically i would have a cup of coffee in the morning 1 packet splenda and 1 tbsp heavy cream accompanied with 2 eggs scrambled and bacon or sausage..lunch time is usually on the go most times side salad and a hamburger bunless of course then dinner if i feel like cooking at that point in the day i will broil a steak or grill some chicken and have a vegetable broccoli, green beans etc..but for those times i am too tired to even think about standing over the stove i will just nuke some green beans and a hotdog (i know frankenfood i dont eat them all the time) For snacks i have a cheese stick or a handful of porkrinds even. This site is great and in essence i have learned that you are either on atkins or your not there is no in between and no room for "oh this little piece wont hurt" mindset. That being said im an emotional eater like most, had it under control or so i thought. My triggers are just normal life i guess. I'm an almost 24 yr old military wife, my husband is currently deployed and im on the west coast of the country (family and friends are on the east). so im stuck here alone with my 2 yr old. Stress gets the best of me at times between being mom and dad and school. so i hope that answers what you needed to know i think i got it all sorry if i missed something. so are you saying i should just get back on plan because it will work? im just worried that i have cried wolf too many times and ketosis is no longer something my body will do ....

added>I am very committed to reaching goals just keep falling...I am NOT happy with where i am now still 20 more to go!...and i have my husbands homecoming and my bestfriends wedding coming up soon...thx so much

[moniegail]

FAT2PHAT, congrats on the loss thus far. you started about a week earlier than i did. i've lost about 27lbs myself. i know that stress can do all kinds of things to a person. close to the end of my 2nd month back on plan, my DH and i lost our dog to cancer. she was the first pet we had as a couple and we had her for 12 and a half years. during the initial greiving period after her passing, i had a really bad day off plan. i managed to get back on plan the next day, but i think i'm still paying for that bad day as the weight has slowed for me now. so i can totally understand your frustrations and concerns that your body will just not work with you after yo-yoing so much lately. your body may put up a bit of a fight, but if you stay on plan and stay true to yourself, your body with eventually give in and the weight will come off again.

if you could sit down and re-evaluate the reasons why you started this plan, and the reasons why you have been having these little cheats what would the answers be?
*if you started this plan to be healthy, then you should definately stick to it for the same reasons.
as for the cheats:
* is the reasons you are cheating because you planned poorly for a specific day?
if so, take the time on the weekends to do some batch cooking. get some ground beef(5 or 6 lbs) mix up a big meatloaf, while it's in the oven cook up the rest of the beef up for taco meat, you could even throw a pot roast w/ some celery and turnips in a crock pot at the same time.
*could it be that something you were eating was causing a craving and you need to cut that out of your diet because it's a trigger food.
*maybe it's a food that you've loved all your life, so you just have to have that one bite. if that's the case, try to find or figure out a recipe for it in a low carb version. if some of the ingredients are in a later rung of OWL, make that recipe a goal you have to look forward to have when you reach that rung.
*one last thought, are you bored with your food choices? you had made it to the dairy rung, but if you are getting bored with your foods, maybe you should try to move up the first couple rungs a little quicker so that you have more choices. just a thought, although i'm not real sure how long you had stayed at each of the first 2 rungs. if you stayed at each an extended period of time, you may just be ready to move on to the next rung to add a few more choices to your menu.

i wish you luck and hope that you stick with it.
monie

[gman]

Thanks for writing your story it is very helpful.
I say you are doing very well! I think you miss your husband and I can understand that.
I know if you can stay on this WOL you will be better off for yourself and family.
The other day I started a thread on stress and relaxation that might help - ADBBers came up with lots of ideas. Some are easy to do like breathing exercises and some are harder and may not be possible now like volunteering your time.
I've noticed some ADBB members start journals - this could be a great way to talk with others about your journey - both the ups and the downs.
Let's see what others have to say.

[Razzle39]

Gman, you are so right.

I have never been the type to write down anything about myself. I never got the whole 'journal' thing. Hypocritically I would suggest it to all my patients as a therapeutic tool.
I have been keeping a journal on here and it is helping me realize how much of an inner voice I have that I listen too. I even named my voice in this journal entry:

I really think that somewhere in my subconscious is a voice that I listen to much more than I think I do. A traitor lives within, and she really is a . She does not have my best interest at heart and she is the reason I am so fat in the first place. I am going to call that subconscious traitor,'Bimbet.....Bully In My Brain at Every Triumph.' So stand back Bimbet I know your there and I am coming at you Blazing.

Just knowing Bimbet is there whispering into my ear to self sabotage myself has given me more power to not hear her. I suggest you do keep a journal and dont be surprised if you start to self diagnose your troubles. It really is helpful.

[FAT2PHAT]

Ok, so its officially day 1 for me..picking myself up off the floor and starting again. I feel better thx to all you wonderful ppl! Just know that what i get back from ppl on here is the ONLY support i have on this. I am alone and when i say alone i mean alone..not trying to gather a pity party by any means just letting you know that i am on my own in this. All the friends i have made in the last 5 yrs of living out here have since pcs'd or their husbands got out of the military. Anyway thx sooo much for telling me to move on I almost started a low calorie program instead thinkin i would feel better because i could eat a quick bowl of cereal in the morning instead of having to cook etc..just the thought of burning FAT for energy is enough to make me think twice about caloire counting though. SO it's back to the drawing board for me and here's to hoping that my body doesnt hate me and will easily get back to low carb living!

[gman]

PHAT-
Congratulations on Day One!
You are making the right choice today based on your past success ... and your bright future.
By the way, we all know that "a bowl of cereal" is a slippery slope. I have a hard time stopping at one bowl, and then later it's on to lots of other carbs that day. Am I right?
Enjoy Day One!

[boonie stomper]

So glad to see so much good advice and support already headed your way!
Don't worry, Atkins WILL still work for you, if you work it!

Remember to keep those GOOD quick-grab foods easily accessible for those times of rush, stress or just plain don't-feel-like-the-bother times. I've been there, and saved many a time by having had the foresight to stick away something in my purse on the go, or in my desk for the right time; and there's nearly ALWAYS boiled eggs, and, yes, even a couple of salty meat franken-choices (- better than the cereal option! ) in the fridge or cupboard. Pork skins rule!!!